CN218751609U - Packaging Equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

A packaging apparatus (1) for manufacturing a bundle body having a plurality of articles, respectively. The packaging device (1) comprises at least one horizontal transport device and at least one manipulator (25, 35). The group of articles is moved into a working area (AP 1, AP 2) of at least one manipulator (25, 35) via at least one horizontal conveying device. At least one manipulator (25, 35) is designed to combine the respective articles of the respective group of articles moved into its working area (AP 1, AP 2) by means of at least one horizontal conveying device, and to this end at least one packaging medium (40) can be applied to the respective group of articles. The packaging device (1) further comprises at least one supporting and/or pushing beam which is provided for abutting against the respective group of articles on the rear side and which guides the supporting and/or pushing beam which is provided for abutting against the respective group of articles on the rear side along a preferably circumferential movement path which extends through the working area (AP 1, AP 2) of the at least one manipulator (25, 35).

Description

Packaging equipment

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a packaging device for packaging articles, in particular a packaging device for manufacturing a bundle having a plurality of articles.

Background

Containers, which can be formed, for example, by beverage bottles, beverage cans, etc., are usually sold as a packaging (Gebinde) in which a plurality of containers are grouped together and combined by means of a packaging medium. In practice, such a packaging medium can be formed, for example, by a strapping (umreifying) or by a shrink film (schrumpfolie), wherein the containers in the respective strapping are held fixedly close to one another as a finished sales unit. Furthermore, so-called bottle clips (bottleclips) have existed for some time, which are designed as flat packaging blanks, have a respective opening for each container in the respective bundle and hold the respective containers in the respective bundle close to one another in a form-fitting manner.

For example, mention may be made of: the bottle clips are applied to different types of containers, thereby connecting the containers into a bundle. For example, such a bottle holder is configured in the form of a well plate (Lochplatte), and is configured as a lid or the like that is multiply connected.

Bottle clips typically have an additional handle function. For transporting groups of containers which are combined together by means of bottle clips, the containers are grouped into larger groups, for example in cartons or on pallets, wherein the cartons are closed for further transport and the groups on the pallets are wrapped, for example, with shrink film.

It is also known that: for transport, a plurality of groups of containers, which are assembled together by means of bottle clamps, are placed on a so-called tray, which has edges folded upwards in order to hold beverage containers in a form-fitting manner, which are assembled to a bundle by means of the bottle clamps.

Bottle grippers are usually applied to respective groups of containers in separate machines. The packaging process and the associated machine area are divided by separate, individual machines. Such machines require a lot of space if they are to be built in a machine room.

Application of the bottle clamps is typically performed after the articles are grouped. This interrupts the usual process chain in the packaging machine. For subsequent processes, such as closing of the outer carton or wrapping the grouped articles with a film overwrap, the grouped articles must again be placed on a stationary machine section and transported to the machine for application of the bottle grippers. Only then can the carton be closed or the wrapping by means of a film be effected. In this embodiment, in addition to the above-mentioned disadvantage of requiring a large amount of space for the entire installation, the occurrence of faults due to the large number of modules required for manufacturing the bundle cannot be ruled out.

The following solutions are known: the application of the bottle gripper is integrated into a method flow. DE 10 2009 026220 A1 describes a method and a device for grouping and connecting articles, wherein at least two articles are combined into a bundle unit by applying a first packaging medium. During the course of the continuous conveying movement, the individual bundle units are connected to form larger units using additional second packaging medium.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The utility model aims at: a packaging device is provided which has a compact structure and in which a plurality of articles can be combined to a bundle by means of a packaging medium in a manner which is as reliable as possible.

The utility model relates to a packaging equipment, it is used for making the body of tying up that has a plurality of article respectively. Features of various embodiments of the packaging process, which may be performed by the packaging apparatus, described below, may also be present in embodiments of the packaging apparatus described below, and some of the contents are not repeated. Likewise, features described below in relation to the following illustrative embodiments of the packaging apparatus may also be provided in embodiments of the packaging process performed with the packaging device. The packaging device can, if appropriate, be designed as an embodiment for carrying out or for carrying out a corresponding packaging method or be prepared for this purpose.

The packaging device comprises at least one horizontal transport device and at least one manipulator. The at least one horizontal transport device is designed such that the article groups can be moved into the working area of the at least one manipulator via the at least one horizontal transport device. Furthermore, in order to combine the respective articles of the respective article group moved into its working area via the at least one horizontal transport device, the at least one manipulator may apply the at least one packaging medium onto the respective article group.

The packaging device comprises at least one supporting and/or pushing beam which is provided for abutting against the respective group of articles on the rear side, the at least one supporting and/or pushing beam which is provided for abutting against the respective group of articles on the rear side being guided along a preferably circumferential movement path which extends through the working area of the at least one manipulator.

The following embodiments have proven to be reliable: wherein the transfer plate is positioned in the working area of at least one manipulator, along which the at least one supporting and/or pushing beam can slide the respective group of articles through the working area of the at least one manipulator with the transfer plate lying against the rear side.

The at least one supporting and/or pushing beam and the transfer plate positioned in the working area of the at least one manipulator can thus form at least one horizontal conveyor or form an integral part of at least one horizontal conveyor. It is also possible to form at least one horizontal conveyor by at least one conveyor belt, which moves the article groups into the working area of at least one manipulator.

The at least one supporting and/or pushing beam provided for abutting on the rear side against the respective group of articles can also be connected to at least one endless traction means, preferably designed as a chain and/or a belt, via which the at least one supporting and/or pushing beam provided for abutting on the rear side against the respective group of articles is guided along a preferably circumferential movement path, which extends through the working area of the at least one manipulator.

In a further embodiment, the at least one supporting and/or pushing beam, which is provided for bearing against the respective group of items on the rear side, can also be guided via an electromagnetic direct drive and/or via a further drive along a preferably circumferential movement path, which extends through the working area of the at least one manipulator.

It is conceivable that: the at least one manipulator is formed as an integral part of at least one work module of the packaging device, which has at least one carrying and/or supporting structure, which defines a periphery of the at least one work module. In this case, the preferably circumferential displacement path can extend in sections beyond the circumference defined by the at least one supporting structure and/or supporting structure.

In particular, the at least one manipulator may be formed as an integral part of at least one work module of the packaging device, which at least one work module has at least one carrying and/or supporting structure, which defines a periphery of the at least one work module. In this case, the preferably circumferential movement path can extend in sections beyond the circumference defined by the at least one support structure and/or support structure and in this case also in sections above the circumference or in the vertical direction above the circumference.

Optionally, the packaging plant may comprise at least one horizontal conveyor and two or more manipulators in a downstream work module. The at least one horizontal transport device is designed such that the article groups can be moved into the working area of the manipulator and subsequently into the working area of the other manipulator via the at least one horizontal transport device.

Furthermore, in order to combine the respective articles of the respective group of articles moved into its working area via the at least one horizontal transport device, one of the manipulators may apply at least one packaging medium onto the respective group of articles.

In addition, for higher machine performance, a further manipulator can apply the same type of packaging medium to the group of articles which has not previously been provided with packaging medium. Alternatively, another manipulator may apply other types of packaging media to the group of articles previously equipped with the first packaging medium.

The packaging device comprises at least one supporting and/or pushing beam which is provided for bearing against the respective group of articles on the rear side, said at least one supporting and/or pushing beam being provided for bearing against the respective group of articles on the rear side and being guided along a preferably circumferential movement path which extends through successively arranged and typically directly interconnected working areas of the manipulator.

The following embodiments have proven to be reliable: in this case, the transfer plates or the common transfer plate are each positioned in a respective working area of the manipulator, along which at least one supporting and/or pushing beam slides with the respective group of articles lying on the rear side, past the working areas of the manipulators arranged one behind the other.

The at least one support beam and/or push beam and the transfer plate positioned in the working area of the manipulator can thus form at least one horizontal conveyor or form an integral part of at least one horizontal conveyor. It is also possible to form at least one horizontal conveyor by means of at least one conveyor belt, which moves the article groups into one working area of the manipulator or into a plurality of working areas of the manipulator.

Furthermore, at least one supporting and/or pushing beam provided for abutting on the rear side against the respective group of articles can be connected to at least one endless traction means, preferably designed as a chain and/or a belt, via which at least one supporting and/or pushing beam provided for abutting on the rear side against the respective group of articles is guided along a preferably circumferential movement path, which extends through the working area of the two or more manipulators.

In a further embodiment, at least one supporting and/or pushing beam, which is provided for bearing against the respective group of items on the rear side, can also be guided via an electromagnetic direct drive and/or via a further drive along a preferably circumferential movement path, which extends through the working area of the manipulator.

Further, it is also conceivable: the manipulators are each formed as a component of a work module of the packaging device, wherein the work modules each have a common carrier structure and/or support structure, which define the periphery of two or more work modules. In this case, the preferably circumferential movement path can extend in sections outside the circumference of the plurality of work modules, which is defined by the at least one supporting structure and/or the supporting structure.

In particular, the handling devices can each be formed as a component of a work module of the packaging device, which work module is coupled to one another and arranged one behind the other in the transport direction, wherein the work module has at least one carrying and/or supporting structure, which defines a common circumference of the work modules. In this case, the preferably circumferential movement path can extend in sections beyond the circumference defined by the at least one support structure and/or support structure and in sections above the circumference or in the vertical direction above the circumference.

It is also conceivable that: the section of the preferably circumferential displacement path which extends externally over the at least one supporting structure and/or supporting structure extends over a housing which is part of the packaging device or over a closed channel which is part of the packaging device.

In various embodiments, the packaging device may comprise at least one first manipulator and at least one second manipulator connected with the control device and/or the adjustment device. It is possible to:

-operating the at least one first manipulator and the at least one second manipulator via the control device and/or the regulating device to apply a plurality of different packaging media onto respective groups of articles; and/or

The at least one first manipulator and the at least one second manipulator are preferably arranged to be operated by means of the control device and/or the adjusting device in order to apply the packaging medium to the different article groups associated via the control device and/or the adjusting device.

Such an embodiment with a plurality of manipulators and a plurality of work modules is characterized by a very high throughput.

It is possible to guide at least one supporting and/or pushing beam provided for bearing against the respective group of articles on the rear side along a preferably circumferential movement path which extends through the working area of the at least one first manipulator and through the working area of the at least one second manipulator.

It is furthermore possible that the packaging device can be designed for producing bundles each having a plurality of articles, in which the articles are formed by beverage containers. In addition or alternatively thereto, provision may be made for: at least one manipulator can apply or sleeve the packaging medium (formed as a planar packaging blank) onto the article groups moved into its working area by means of a force (kfftbeaufschlagt), the planar packaging blank having an associated opening for each article of the respective article group moved into its working area by means of at least one horizontal transport device.

A plurality or a plurality of support beams and/or push beams can be applied or arranged at the ring traction mechanism in any individually set position or in a fixedly set position. The support beam and/or the push beam can thus be adapted to different machining processes. Thereby, the method and the device enable, for example, handling various bundle groups and/or beverage container groups, i.e. for example 2 × 2 groups, 2 × 3 groups, 2 × 4 groups or other groups.

Furthermore, it is also possible to handle groups of beverage containers which have been repacked in a tray, for example groups of 4 x 6 which have been repacked in a tray. Thus, for example, four repackages (Umverpackung) grouped in 2 × 3 can be applied or slipped over a grouping of 4 × 6 beverage containers already repackaged in a tray in a force-applying manner, wherein the four repackages grouped in 2 × 3 are formed, for example, by packaging blanks applied to the grouping from the upper side.

The utility model discloses still relate to a equipment for packing for being directed at packing medium is applied to at least one article group, include:

at least one supporting and/or pushing beam provided for bearing against the respective group of items on the rear side,

at least two work modules, each comprising a manipulator for applying the formed packaging medium to the groups of articles moved into the respective work area of the manipulator,

in which guide means for supporting and/or pushing the beams are provided, which guide means extend along at least two working areas of the two working modules, seen in the direction of movement.

In particular, the guide extends laterally beside (but parallel to) the transport path of the group of articles. The guide device can be, for example, a chain guide device for a driven chain, at which a support or push beam is arranged. In particular, the device may comprise two laterally arranged guide means in/along which the support beam or push beam runs. As an alternative to the driven chain, it is also possible to use a long stator linear drive (langstat-linear) with so-called runners, each of which is arranged on a runner, which in turn has running rollers arranged in/at the guide, to drive the supporting beams or push beams.

All aspects mentioned before and after the device may also be part of the device, if possible.

Furthermore, a packaging method which can be carried out by means of a packaging device and which combines a plurality of articles into a bundle by means of at least one packaging medium is described. The articles which are combined to form the bundle by means of the method which can be carried out by the packaging device can be designed, for example, as beverage containers, and in particular as beverage bottles and/or beverage cans.

Within the scope of the method, which can be carried out by a packaging device, a group of articles is formed from a plurality of articles combined to form a respective bundle, wherein at least one manipulator applies at least one packaging medium to the respective group of articles after a time, and the respective group of articles is thereby combined to form the bundle via the applied at least one packaging medium.

The article groups can be formed, for example, by first moving the articles in a plurality of parallel rows, after which the articles intended for the respective article group are accelerated relative to the lagging article, so that a gap is formed between the accelerated article and the lagging article. For this purpose, for example, at least two conveyor belts can be provided, which are connected to one another in the direction of movement of the articles, wherein the conveyor belt located at the front in the direction of movement of the articles has a higher article transport speed than the conveyor belt located at the rear in the direction of movement of the articles, and/or wherein the conveyor belt located at the rear in the direction of movement of the articles runs intermittently.

Furthermore, there are embodiments in which at least one restraining means is provided, which lets through the articles provided for the respective group of articles and temporarily delays the articles following the articles provided for the respective group of articles.

In the method which can be carried out by the packaging device, it is provided that: at least one supporting and/or pushing beam is brought into contact with the respective group of articles on the rear side with respect to the direction of movement of the respective group of articles. Furthermore, at least one packaging medium is applied via at least one Manipulator (Manipulator) when the respective at least one supporting and/or pushing beam is in contact with the respective group of items on the rear side with respect to the direction of movement of the respective group of items.

In this way, during the application of the at least one packaging medium, the respective group of articles can be stabilized via the at least one supporting and/or pushing beam which abuts the group of articles on the rear side, so that the risk of undesired tilting of the articles during the application of the at least one packaging medium is kept low. Furthermore, the exact position of the item to be provided with the packaging medium can be determined by using such a push beam without having to use additional sensor devices, the signal correlation and signal processing of which are relatively costly and can lead to delays in the packaging process.

In this case, the supporting and/or pushing beams are movable such that the respective supporting and/or pushing beam comes into contact with the articles provided for the respective group of articles, and then temporarily accelerates the articles of the respective group of articles and thus separates them from the lagging articles.

Thus, at least one support beam and/or push beam itself can form an article group from a plurality of articles combined into a respective bundle, by: the respective supporting and/or pushing beam, with respect to the direction of movement of the respective group of articles, first comes into contact with the articles provided for the respective group of articles on the rear side and the articles delayed with respect to the articles provided for the respective group of articles are accelerated at least temporarily.

The advantages which preferably apply in this context and which occur with the rear abutment of the at least one supporting and/or thrust beam are: the respective position of the respective group of articles is known or exactly corresponds to the predetermined position as a result of the rear abutment of the support and/or push beams. This ensures high reliability: the at least one packaging medium can be applied to the respective group of articles via the at least one manipulator without any problem.

In order to apply the respective packaging medium to the respective group of articles, the movement performed via the at least one manipulator can therefore be coordinated in time with the respective actual Position (Ist-Position) of the respective supporting and/or pushing beam which, with respect to the direction of movement of the group of articles, lies against the respective group of articles on the rear side.

Embodiments have proven to be reliable in which at least one packaging medium is applied to the respective group of articles via at least one manipulator when the respective at least one support and/or push beam slidingly pushes the respective group of articles along the transfer plate with the rear side abutting. The respective group of articles can already be formed here before the respective at least one push bar comes into abutment with the respective group of articles on the rear side.

Furthermore, embodiments are conceivable in which at least one supporting and/or pushing beam is brought into contact on the rear side with the articles of the respective article group to be formed, which are accelerated relative to the lagging articles and thus build up or form the respective article group from the accelerated articles.

It is also conceivable: provided with at least two balustrades oriented in the direction of movement of the respective group of articles

The balustrades are located on both sides of the path of travel of the conveyed group of articles. It is possible here to: the respective article group is guided laterally during the application of the at least one packaging medium via at least two rails oriented in the direction of movement of the respective article group.

Furthermore, at least one supporting and/or pushing beam can be guided along the circulating travel path by means of at least one endless traction means, which is designed in particular as a chain and/or a belt, or a traction means formed by a chain or a belt, and during the course of the guidance along the circulating travel path comes into contact with the respective group of articles on the rear side. Then, during the application of the at least one packaging medium by the at least one manipulator, the at least one supporting and/or pushing beam can be brought into contact with the respective group of articles on the rear side with respect to the direction of movement of the respective group of articles during the continuous guidance along the circulating movement path.

In a preferred embodiment, at least two endless traction means are provided, to which a plurality of support beams and/or push beams are respectively fastened, wherein the at least two endless traction means jointly guide the plurality of support beams and/or push beams along a circulating movement path.

In practice, therefore, embodiments have proven to be reliable in which a plurality of supporting beams and/or push beams are guided along a circulating movement path by means of at least one endless traction means, which is designed in particular as a chain and/or a belt, wherein during the course of the guidance along the circulating movement path, a respective supporting beam and/or push beam of the plurality of supporting beams and/or push beams comes into abutment with a respective group of articles on the rear side.

Then, during the application of the at least one packaging medium by the at least one manipulator, the respective supporting and/or pushing beam can be brought into abutment with the respective group of articles on the rear side with respect to the direction of movement of the respective group of articles during the continuous guidance along the circulating movement path.

The at least one manipulator may be formed as a component of at least one work module, the circumference of which is defined by at least one supporting structure and/or supporting structure of the at least one work module. Here, for example, it is conceivable that: the at least one manipulator is carried in a suspended manner by a carrying and/or support structure defining a periphery of the at least one work module.

In particular, the at least one manipulator may be mechanically fixed at a peripherally determined carrying structure and/or support structure of the at least one work module.

Proven to be reliable are: at least one manipulator is carried at a carrying structure and/or a support structure determining a periphery of the at least one work module via at least one linear guide via which the at least one manipulator can be moved along a direction of movement of the group of articles.

Furthermore, at least one endless traction means, which is designed in particular as a chain and/or belt, can extend in sections beyond the circumference defined by the support structure and/or the supporting structure. Thereby, it is also possible to move the at least one support beam and/or push beam via the at least one endless traction mechanism outside the circumference determined by the carrying structure and/or the support structure.

Furthermore, the chain drive and/or the belt drive, in particular with an endless traction means, can extend in sections beyond the circumference determined by the carrying structure and/or the support structure. Thereby, the at least one support and/or push beam can also be moved via the at least one endless traction mechanism outside the circumference determined by the carrying structure and/or the support structure.

The at least one manipulator can be formed as a gantry system (portal system) or as a component of a gantry system. Furthermore, other embodiments exist in which at least one manipulator can be designed as a multi-axis robot (mehrachscooter) and/or a trigonometric robot (Deltakinematik-robot).

The following embodiments prove to be reliable: wherein the at least one manipulator is formed as a component of at least one work module, the periphery of which (as already mentioned) is defined by at least one supporting structure and/or supporting structure of the at least one work module. The at least one endless traction means, which is designed in particular as a chain and/or a belt, can extend in sections outside the circumference defined by the supporting structure and/or the carrying structure and here also in sections above the circumference or in the vertical direction above the circumference.

One particular advantage of the above embodiments may be: the chain drive or belt drive and/or the endless traction means together with the support beam and/or push beam guided thereon are guided through the single working module or through two or more working modules following one another and connect them to one another in terms of transport technology, wherein the back-guiding of the endless traction means together with the support beam and/or push beam guided thereon takes place on one working module or on two or more working modules.

In this way, when, for example, a plurality of working modules, which are each provided with a distributor device shaped like a circumferentially guided distributor web or the like, are coupled and synchronized with one another in terms of transport technology, no coupling and/or synchronization problems can be expected between the working modules arranged one behind the other, as is the case with conventional arrangements.

The system according to the invention with thrust devices spanning modules represents a significant improvement and simplification, in particular for said arrangements and machine dispositions, even when new problems of guiding the push beam by means of a plurality of modules and of guiding the push beam back beyond a plurality of modules need to be solved. However, because of the advantages, the additional costs of the push beam guide and/or the abutment beam guide can be accepted.

In order to be able to keep the risk of undesired contact with the at least one endless traction means at a low level and thus counteract injury to persons, embodiments have proved in which a part of the at least one endless traction means, which extends outside the periphery defined by the carrying structure and/or the supporting structure, is guided through a housing (inaccessible from the outside) or through a channel (inaccessible from the outside), which part is constructed in particular as a chain and/or a belt.

If at least one endless traction means, which is designed in particular as a chain and/or belt, extends in sections outside the circumference determined by the carrying structure and/or the support structure and here also extends in sections above the circumference or in the vertical direction above the circumference, sections are guided through a housing (inaccessible from the outside) or through a channel (inaccessible from the outside) which extend outside the circumference determined by the carrying structure and/or the support structure and here also extend in sections above the circumference or in the vertical direction above the circumference.

For the method, which can be performed by the packaging device, at least one first manipulator and at least one second manipulator can be provided. Here, it is conceivable that: the at least one first manipulator and the at least one second manipulator work together to apply a plurality of different packaging media to respective groups of articles.

Alternatively or in addition thereto, the different groups of articles are optionally associated with at least one first manipulator and at least one second manipulator via a control device and/or a regulating device, wherein the at least one first manipulator applies the at least one packaging medium to the group of articles associated with the at least one first manipulator, and wherein the at least one second manipulator applies the at least one packaging medium to the group of articles associated with the at least one second manipulator.

Furthermore, the packaging medium can be applied to the respective group of articles via the at least one first and the at least one second manipulator during the abutment of the respective at least one support and/or push beam with the respective group of articles on the rear side.

Multiple articles may be formed by multiple beverage containers. Furthermore, the at least one packaging device can be formed by or by at least one planar packaging blank (Verpackungszchnitt) which provides a respective opening for a respective beverage container of a respective beverage container group.

For this method, which can be carried out by the packaging device, provision can then be made for: at least one manipulator applies the respective at least one packaging medium, which is respectively formed by the planar packaging blanks, to the respective beverage container group in a top-to-bottom direction such that the respective beverage containers of the respective beverage container group are inserted into the respective openings, after which the respective planar packaging blanks applied via the respective manipulator are held in a form-fitting manner adjacent to one another and are combined to form a bundle via the respective planar packaging blanks applied.

It is also possible for the formed article groups to be advanced onto a pallet, wherein at least one manipulator applies at least one packaging medium to the respective article group at a later time, wherein the respective article group is still on the pallet.

Furthermore, a method performed by a packaging device for applying a packaging medium to at least one group of articles is described, comprising the following steps:

pushing the group of articles past the two working modules by means of a supporting beam and/or a pushing beam abutting the group of articles at the rear side, the working modules each comprising a manipulator with a respective working area,

applying the packaging medium in its respective working area by means of two manipulators onto the group of articles moved by the support beam and/or push beam,

wherein the abutment of the supporting and/or pushing beams at the rear side at the group of articles passing successively through the at least two work modules and the work area is maintained by the same supporting and/or pushing beams.

All aspects mentioned before and after the method can also be part of the method, if possible.

In particular, the first contact between the support or push beam and the group of articles takes place before the first working area.

In particular, the contact between the support or push beam and the group of articles is not broken again until the second work module, which is located behind the first work module in the direction of movement, is removed.

With the aid of the packaging device described and the method which can be carried out with the aid of the packaging device, it is possible to: different packaging media are applied to the group of articles in one work flow (arbeitsdurchauf). A workflow means that no operational interruption of the device occurs.

In particular, blanks of different sizes may be applied to the group of articles, wherein the blanks differ with respect to the number of articles to be accommodated.

Thus, the first manipulator in the first work area applies, at least partially or temporarily, a different blank to the group of articles than the second manipulator in the second work area.

One or both manipulators may apply different blanks to the group of articles, respectively.

A manipulator can apply two identical blanks to each article group in one process step.

A manipulator can apply two different blanks to each article group in one process step.

A plurality of magazines (magazines) can be arranged in or at the working module, which magazines are in the access region (Zugriffsbereich) of the respective manipulator.

Accordingly, one manipulator may access two or more magazines in which different or identical blanks are provided.

Two blanks taken together (i.e. simultaneously) can be arranged side by side in one magazine.

During a work traversal (Arbeitsdurchlauf), multiple manipulators may be equipped with tools that are different from each other.

The tool of the manipulator may be designed to be wide enough for the tool to simultaneously access two magazines near each other with the same or different blanks.

Finally, reference is made here to a further machine arrangement which is likewise part of the invention described here. The invention therefore comprises a packaging device or packaging machine for applying a packaging medium to at least one group of articles. The packaging machine or packaging machine comprises at least one supporting and/or pushing beam which is arranged to bear against the respective group of articles on the rear side and at least two working modules which each comprise a manipulator for applying the formed packaging medium to the group of articles moving in its respective working area.

According to the utility model discloses can set to: the rear-side contact of the support and/or push beams on the respective moving article group is maintained at least until the article group leaves the working group of at least the second working module.

What can be reliably ensured by this means is: maintaining accurate article transport from one work module to the next and into the next work module allows the manipulator in the subsequent work module to also obtain accurate orientation information, thus eliminating the need for additional sensors to detect the exact orientation and position of the group of articles moving past the module.

Drawings

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention and advantages thereof should be explained in more detail according to the accompanying drawings. The size ratios of the various elements in the drawings to each other do not always correspond to actual size ratios, as some shapes are shown in simplified form, while other shapes are shown enlarged relative to other elements for better illustration.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging apparatus according to the present invention and illustrates various steps that may be provided in various embodiments of a method that may be performed by the packaging apparatus.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic detail view of the individual components of the packaging apparatus according to the embodiment of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a bundle which can be produced by means of the packaging device according to this embodiment according to fig. 1 and 2 and by means of an embodiment of the method which can be carried out by means of the packaging device according to fig. 4.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging apparatus according to the invention, which is also suitable for performing the method executable by the packaging apparatus.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of another embodiment of a packaging apparatus according to the invention, which is also suitable for performing the method executable by the packaging apparatus.

Fig. 6 shows a flow diagram of various steps that may be provided in various embodiments according to a method that may be performed by a packaging apparatus.

Fig. 7 shows a schematic view (top view) of an embodiment with different strapping bodies.

The same reference numerals are used for identical or functionally equivalent elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only the reference numerals necessary for describing the respective figures are shown in the respective figures. The embodiments shown merely represent examples of how the invention may be designed and do not represent any final limitation.

Detailed Description

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs or the following description and drawings (including their different views or individual features of each) may be used independently of each other or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment may be used with all embodiments unless the features are incompatible.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging apparatus 1 according to the present invention and illustrates various steps that can be provided in various embodiments according to a method 100 (see fig. 4) that can be performed by the packaging apparatus 1.

The packaging device 1 is configured to produce bundles 4 each having a plurality of articles 2 (see fig. 3). For packaging the articles 2 or for producing bundles 4 from a plurality of articles 2, the articles 2 are transported continuously along the packaging device 1 in the direction of movement BR. In the packaging apparatus 1, the articles 2 are therefore not at all stationary, so that the packaging apparatus 1 is able to produce bundles 4 with a high throughput.

In order to be able to apply the respective packaging medium 40 to a plurality of articles 2, and thus to combine the articles 2 into a bundle 4, it is first necessary to form a respective group from these respective articles 2, which group comprises all the articles 2 provided for the respective bundle 4. For this purpose, packaging unit 1 has grouping means (grupperieneinching) 10.

For this purpose, the grouping means 10 are able to: the plurality of articles 2 provided for the respective bundle 4 are briefly accelerated relative to the following article 2, so that a gap is formed between the accelerated article 2 and the following article 2 and the accelerated articles 2 form an article group.

In practice, there are a large number of conceivable embodiments for such a grouping device 10. Thus, in various embodiments, the grouping device 10 may comprise a plurality of conveyor belts which have different conveying speeds and/or may be operated intermittently and thereby constitute respective groups of articles from a plurality of articles 2. The known grouping device 10 can also have a restraining element (ruckhalteelement) which passes the articles 2 of the group of articles to be formed and temporarily delays the subsequent articles 2.

Irrespective of the configuration of the grouping means 10, in the packaging device 1 according to fig. 1 and 2 it is provided that: the supporting and/or pushing beams come into contact with the respective group of articles on the rear side and move together with the respective group of articles remaining in contact on the rear side during the further movement thereof in the direction of movement BR.

A plurality or multiplicity of such supporting beams and/or push beams is/are arranged at the parallel-running or substantially parallel-running endless traction means 15 and 17, such that the longitudinal extension of the respective supporting beam and/or push beam is perpendicular to the direction of movement BR of the articles 2. In this case, the respective supporting and/or pushing beam comes into contact with the respective group of articles on the rear side before the respective group of articles leaves the grouping device 10. Alternatively, the article groups can leave the grouping device 10 first, after which the respective supporting and/or pushing beams come into contact with the respective article groups on the rear side.

The group of articles is fed via the grouping device 10 to the first work module 20 with the first manipulator 25. In the embodiment according to fig. 1 and 2, the first manipulator 25 is formed as a portal system or is a component of a portal system. In another embodiment, the first manipulator 25 may be configured as a triangular robot or another operating device.

A packaging medium 40 (see fig. 3), for example in the form of a planar packaging blank 41, can be applied to the group of articles via the first manipulator 25 of the first work module 20. For this purpose, the article groups are moved into the working area AB1 of the first manipulator 25, and the first manipulator 25 then presses the respective packaging medium 40 or the respective planar packaging blank 41 in a force-exerting manner onto the respective article group in the top-to-bottom direction.

As can also be seen from fig. 3: the articles 2 are thus combined to form a bundle 4, wherein the packing medium 40 or the flat packing blank 41 holds the articles 2 of the bundle 4 close to one another in a positive-locking and non-positive manner.

Furthermore, the first manipulator 25 of the first work module 20 is arranged suspended at the carrying structure and/or the support structure 22 of the first work module 20 via a linear guide. During the application of the respective packaging medium 40 or the respective planar packaging blank 41 to the article group, the first manipulator 25 can be moved along the linear guide together with the respective article group.

In this embodiment, therefore, there is no need to stop or to hold the group of articles stationary in order to apply the planar packaging blank 41. Therefore, the bundled body 4 can be manufactured with a high throughput through the packaging apparatus 1.

As is evident in particular from the schematic perspective view of fig. 3: the packaging medium 40 or the planar packaging blank 41 forms an associated opening 42 for each article 2.

In order to be able to apply the packaging medium 40 or the planar packaging blank 41 to the group of articles via the first manipulator 25 in a top-to-bottom direction, the articles 2 must be in a configuration in which the articles 2 are aligned with the openings 42 of the planar packaging blank 41.

Therefore, the packaging devices known from the prior art often present problems, since it cannot always be reliably ensured that: the articles in the respective group of articles are exactly at the position provided for applying the planar packaging blank 41, wherein the articles 2 are aligned with the opening 42 of the planar packaging blank 41. Furthermore, by applying the planar packaging blanks 41 in a force-applying manner, in the apparatuses known from the prior art, the individual articles 2 can be accidentally tilted when applying the respective planar packaging blank 41.

As already mentioned above, in the packaging device 1 there are provided: the supporting and/or pushing beams follow the respective article group with their rear sides abutting during the movement of the respective article group in the direction of movement BR.

In accordance with figures 1 and 2In an embodiment, the packaging apparatus 1 further comprises a transfer plate (

Plane) through which the respective supporting and/or pushing beam moves with the respective group of articles against the rear side along the transfer plate during the movement of the respective group of articles, through a first work module 20 and through a second work module 30, which will be described below.

The application of the respective packaging medium 40 or of the respective flat packaging blank 41 therefore takes place-in time-during the rear abutment of the respective support beam and/or push beam with the respective group of articles with respect to the direction of movement BR of the respective group of articles. The support and/or push beams can thus support the respective group of articles by their abutment on the rear side during the application of the packaging medium 40 or during the application of the planar packaging blank 41 with a force, so that the risk of an unintentional tilting of the articles 2 is thereby kept low. By placing the respective group of articles against the rear side and pushing the respective group of articles in the direction of movement BR, the position of the articles 2 of the respective group of articles coincides precisely with the predetermined position, so that the planar packaging blank 41 is inserted precisely with its opening 2 target onto the articles 2 of the respective group of articles when applied thereto.

The second work module 30 with the second manipulator 35 follows the first work module 20 in the direction of movement BR. Both the first manipulator 25 of the first work module 20 and the second manipulator 35 of the second work module 30 are connected to the control and/or regulating device S.

The control and/or regulating device S associates different groups of items with the first and second manipulators 25, 35. Furthermore, first manipulator 25 and second manipulator 35 are operated via control and/or regulating device S such that first manipulator 25 applies packaging medium 40 only to the group of articles with which it has been associated by means of control and/or regulating device S.

The second manipulator 35 applies the packaging medium 40 only to the group of articles associated with the second manipulator 35 by means of the control and/or regulating device S. First and second manipulators 25, 35 thus cooperate to apply at least one respective packaging medium 40 to all article groups.

The group of articles associated with second manipulator 35 may thus pass through working area AP1 of first manipulator 25 without applying packaging medium 40 to the group of articles.

The respective supporting and/or pushing beam pushes the respective group of articles past the working area AP2 of the second manipulator 35 with the rear side in abutment, so that the second manipulator 35 can also apply the respective packaging medium 40 to the respective group of articles when the respective supporting and/or pushing beam is in abutment with the respective group of articles on the rear side. The article group is precisely in the position intended for applying the planar packaging blank 41 due to the abutment of the support beam and/or push beam against the rear side.

The respective group of articles leaves the second work module 30 together with the applied packaging medium 40 or the applied flat packaging blank 41 and can be moved by means of the transport and handling device 50 in the direction of the palletizing station and/or in the direction of the other stations. Here, for example, a blank of thermoplastic packaging material can be applied to the bundle 4 and the bundle 4 is subsequently guided through a shrink tunnel.

Other aspects of the packaging device 1 become clear when considering the detail view according to fig. 2. In fig. 2, the carrier structure and/or support structure 22, which is part of the first operating module 20, and the carrier structure and/or support structure 32, which is part of the second operating module 30, are now visible in detail. The support structure 22, which is part of the first operating module 20, defines the periphery of the first operating module 20. Likewise, the carrying structure and/or the support structure 32 of the second work module 30 determines the periphery of the second work module 30.

The endless traction means 15 and 17 extend in sections beyond the respective outer periphery, wherein the support beams and/or push beams are fixed at the endless traction means and the endless traction means predetermine a circumferential movement path for the support beams and/or push beams fixed at the endless traction means, wherein the outer periphery is determined via the carrying and/or supporting structures 22 and 32 of the first work module 20 and the second work module 30.

The schematic diagram of fig. 2 also shows: the endless traction means 15 and 17 also extend over a respective periphery, which is determined via the carrying and/or support structures 22 and 32 of the first and second work modules 20 and 30. Advantageously, it is thereby possible to prevent the user from accidentally coming into contact with the endless traction means 15 and 17 and possibly being injured there.

In addition, no complicated guide devices are required for arranging the endless traction means 15 and 17 in the narrow space conditions of the first and second work modules 20 and 30. If the endless traction means 15 and 17 show signs of wear or have to be repaired or lubricated, the endless traction means 15 and 17 above the first working module 20 and the second working module 30 can be accessed for this purpose.

Fig. 2 also shows: the packaging unit 1 comprises a blank conveyor 7 arranged below the transport plane provided for the articles 2. Packaging blanks, which are not shown together in the figures, can be introduced into the transport path of the ready-manufactured bundles 4 via a blank conveyor 7, wherein the bundles 4 travel onto the respective blanks and are subsequently arranged thereon.

The blank or packaging blank can be designed, for example, as a so-called tray with a lateral and upwardly folded tab (Laschen).

In the embodiment according to fig. 1 and 2, the strapping 4 is first formed, after which the completed strapping 4 is subsequently advanced onto the respective blank. In practice, the following embodiments have proven to be reliable: wherein at least one group of articles is advanced onto a respective such blank until then no flat packaging blank 41 has been applied to the respective at least one group of articles.

Temporally thereafter, a respective flat packaging blank 41 can be applied to a respective group of articles via a respective manipulator 25 or 35, wherein the respective group of articles is located on such a blank or on a pallet. Since the respective blank has a lateral tab in the vertical direction, the respective group of articles is also kept stable via the blank or via its lateral tab during application of the planar packaging blank 41, so that the risk of unintentional tilting of the articles 2 can be further reduced.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a bundle 4, which bundle 4 can be manufactured by means of various embodiments of a packaging apparatus 1 according to the invention and by means of various embodiments of a method 100 that can be performed by the packaging apparatus.

The strapping 4 in the exemplary embodiment according to fig. 3 comprises eight articles 2, which articles 2 are each designed as a beverage can, and a packaging medium 40 or a planar packaging blank 41, by means of which the articles 2 are held adjacent to one another and in a defined position. The planar packaging blank 41 can be formed, for example, from plastic or carton and/or cardboard.

In an alternative embodiment, the article 2 can also be formed by a beverage bottle. The present number of eight articles 2 or eight beverage containers is to be understood as exemplary only, so that with the aid of the packaging device 1 according to the embodiment of fig. 1 and 2 it is also possible to produce a bundle 4 comprising a different number of articles 2 or beverage containers than it, for example exactly four or six articles 2 or exactly four or six beverage containers.

As can be seen from fig. 3: the packaging medium 40 or the planar packaging blank 41 forms for each article 2 a respective opening 42 through which the respective beverage container 2 is passed at the upper side. In order to apply the planar packaging blank 41 to the articles 2 of the respective group of articles, the packaging blank 41 is pressed onto the articles 2 with a defined force in the top-to-bottom direction, wherein the articles 2 pass with their upper portions through the openings 42. Application takes place via the manipulator 15 or 25, as has been described previously for fig. 1.

During application, the supporting and/or pushing beams are in a rear-side contact with the articles 2 of the bundle 4 to be formed, whereby a precise position for the respective article 2 is preset for applying the planar packaging blank 41 and also prevents an unintentional tilting of the article 2 during application.

Fig. 3 also shows that: the articles 2 must be aligned with each other so that the articles 2 can pass with their upper parts through the opening 42 when applying the packaging blank 41. For this purpose, support and/or push beams are provided, which align and push the articles 2 of the strapping 4 in the direction of movement BR.

Here, the articles 2 are aligned with one another such that the articles 2 are aligned along their respective longitudinal direction with their respectively associated opening 42 of the packaging blank 41. After the application of the packaging blank 41 to the articles 2 according to fig. 3, the articles 2 are held close to one another via the packaging blank 4 in a form-fitting and force-fitting manner.

It is conceivable that: the articles 2 of the bundle 4 are held close to each other via further connecting elements, which are not shown in fig. 3. In particular, an adhesive connection can be formed between the lateral surfaces of directly adjacent articles 2.

Furthermore, as already explained above, a plurality of article groups can be erected on a tray having a plurality of lateral edge regions folded in the upward direction before the application of the respective packaging medium 40 or before the application of the respective planar packaging blank 41. The trays can be introduced into the transport path of the articles 2 from below the transport plane provided for moving the articles 2, wherein subsequently the respective group of articles travels onto the respective tray.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of a packaging device 1 according to the invention, which is also suitable for carrying out the method according to the above. Here, the already manufactured pallet bundles 5 grouped in 4 × 6 are fed to the packaging device 1. In the embodiment variant according to fig. 4, the pallets 5 with the respective article groups grouped in 4 × 6 are transported through the subsequent modules 20 and 30 by means of respective supporting and/or pushing beams.

As can be seen from the schematic top view of fig. 4: a plurality of trays 5 are carried past the packaging device 1 with each other in a direction of movement BR (from right to left) and are provided with packaging media 40 by means of the first and second work modules 20 and 30. Here, for high machine throughput considerations, a reasonable work order may be set to: in the first work module 20, first, a packaging medium 40 is associated with two 2 × 3 groups, the packaging medium 40 being in the form of a planar packaging blank 41 which is placed from above on the six articles 2. This is a 2 x 3 grouping closer to the supporting beams and/or push beams 6 being pushed.

In the second work module 30, the remaining two 2 × 3 packs of packing media 40 are then arranged in the tray 5, and the packing media 40 are in the form of flat packing blanks 41 that are placed on the six articles 2 from above. This is a 2 x 3 grouping away from the supporting beam and/or push beam 6 being pushed, i.e. two strapping bodies or 2 x 3 groupings on the front side in the direction of movement BR.

Fig. 5 is a schematic top view showing another embodiment of a packaging apparatus 1 according to the present invention, which is also suitable for carrying out another variant of the method according to the foregoing. The packaging installation 1 shown in fig. 5 comprises four work modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement BR, in which packaging media 40 are associated with the trays 5 transported by the installation 1.

In the embodiment variant shown in fig. 5, the already manufactured pallet bundles 5 are fed to the packaging device 1 in a 4 × 6 grouping. The pallets 5 or pallet bundles 5 are transported with the respective groups of articles in groups of 4 x 6 through the subsequent modules 20 and 30 and 60 and 70 by means of the respective support beams and/or push beams 6.

As can be seen from the schematic top view of fig. 5: a plurality of trays 5 are transported past the packaging machine 1 following one another in the direction of movement BR (from right to left) and are provided with packaging media 40 in succession by means of a first, a second, a third and a fourth work module 20, 30, 60 and 70, respectively. Here, for high machine throughput considerations, a reasonable work order may be set to: in the first work module 20, the packaging medium 40 is initially provided only for a total of four 2 × 3 groups, the packaging medium 40 being in the form of a planar packaging blank 41 which is slipped onto six articles 2 located next to one another in a rectangular arrangement (2 × 3 groups) in the tray 5 from the top. This is a 2 x 3 grouping closer to the right side of the pushing support beam and/or push beam 6.

Then, in a second work module 30, which is arranged downstream of the first work module 20 in the direction of movement BR, a packaging medium 40 is assigned to the other group of a total of four 2 × 3 groups, which packaging medium 40 is in the form of a planar packaging blank 41 that is slipped onto six articles 2, which are arranged next to one another in a rectangular manner (2 × 3 groups) and are located in the pallet 5, from the top side. In the second work module 30, this is a 2 x 3 grouping closer to the left side of the pushing support beam and/or push beam 6.

Thus, after traversing the second work module 30, the two 2 x 3 groups within the tray 5 have been provided with packaging blanks 41.

In a third work module 60, which is arranged downstream of the second work module 30 in the direction of movement BR, a further 2 × 3 group of packaging media 40 is then arranged in the tray 5, which packaging media 40 are in the form of planar packaging blanks 41 which are placed from above on the six articles 2. This is the left-hand one of the two 2 x 3 consists of the support beams and/or push beams 6 which are pushed away, i.e. the left-hand binder or the left-hand 2 x 3 consist in the direction of movement BR.

Finally, in a fourth work module 70, which is arranged downstream of the third work module 60 in the direction of movement BR, a further 2 × 3 group in the tray 5 is assigned a packaging medium 40, which packaging medium 40 is in the form of a planar packaging blank 41 that is placed from above on six articles 2. This is the right one of the two 2 × 3 groupings remote from the pushing support beam and/or push beam 6, i.e. the right front side binder or the right front side 2 × 3 grouping in the moving direction BR.

Fig. 5 therefore shows an embodiment variant in which, in the four work modules 20, 30, 60 and 70, in each case only one packaging blank 41 is applied by a respective manipulator (not shown in detail here) to the 2 × 3 rectangular arrangement of articles 2 in the larger pallet bundle 2, which, with the work modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 acting together, allows a correspondingly high throughput of the pallet bundle 5.

The continuous passage through the supporting and/or pushing beams 6 of the packaging device 1 enables very precise machine control and positioning of the respective manipulator without costly interface procedures between the work modules 20, 30, 60 and 70 being necessary for this purpose

Wherein the supporting beams and/or the push beams are also guided around according to fig. 1 and 2 at synchronized distances from one another and are guided back to the starting point for transporting further pallets 5.

Finally, fig. 6 shows a flow chart of the individual steps that may be provided in various embodiments of the method 100 that may be performed by the packaging device 1. The method 100 according to the embodiment of fig. 6 may be carried out or carried out by means of the packaging apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of fig. 1 and 2. The method 100 according to the embodiment of fig. 6 may also be carried out or carried out by means of the packaging apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of fig. 4 and 5.

With the aid of the method 100, a plurality of articles 2 are combined into a bundle 4 via a packaging medium 40. In a first step, which is denoted by the numeral 110, article groups are formed from a plurality of articles 2, for which purpose the articles 2 provided for the respective article group are separated or accelerated in a short time relative to the other articles 2.

In method step 120, the supporting and/or pushing beams are then brought into contact with the respective article group on the rear side with respect to the direction of movement BR of the respective article group and subsequently push the respective article group through at least one working area AP1 or AP2 of at least one manipulator 25 or 35.

In method step 130, at least one manipulator 25 or 35 then applies at least one packaging medium 40 to the respective group of articles pushed into its working area AP1 or AP2. In addition, the respective supporting and/or pushing beam is in contact with the respective article group in relation to the direction of movement BR of the respective article group.

Fig. 7 shows various examples of groups of articles or bundles with different blanks. The blank 41 is of different size and different numbers of articles 2 can be combined in the bundle.

Fig. a) shows three identical bundles with eight articles 2 each on a pallet.

Fig. b) shows six bundles with four articles 2 each on a pallet.

Fig. c) shows four bundles with four articles 2 each on the pallet, and one bundle with eight articles on the pallet.

Fig. d) shows two bundles with four articles each on the pallet and one bundle with two, six and eight articles 2 each on the pallet.

Fig. e) shows five bundles on the pallet, namely three bundles with four articles 2 and two bundles with six articles 2.

The respective blanks can be applied by two or three or more manipulators. Thus, the eight article blanks in c) may be applied by the first manipulator and the other blanks applied by the second manipulator.

Finally, the following should be noted: even though reference is generally made to "schematic" drawings and views in connection with the drawings, such references do not indicate that the image views and their description in relation to the disclosure of the invention should have secondary significance. Those skilled in the art are fully capable of deducing from the schematically and generically represented views sufficient information to make it easier to understand the invention without in any way impairing its comprehension from the dimensional relationships shown and which may not be exactly to scale. These drawings make it possible for the skilled person, who is the reader, to deduce a better understanding of the inventive concepts expressed more generally and/or more generally in the summary part of the description, from the working of the packaging apparatus of the invention and the detailed explanation of the method that can be performed by the packaging apparatus.

List of reference numerals

1. Packaging equipment

2. Article with a cover

4. Bundling body

5. Tray, and tray bundling body

6. Support and/or push beam

7. Blank conveyor

10. Grouping device

15. Annular traction mechanism

17. Annular traction mechanism

20. First working module

22. Load bearing and/or support structure

25. First manipulator

30. Second working module

32. Load bearing and/or support structure

35. Second manipulator

40. Packaging medium

41. Flat packaging blank

42. Opening of the container

50. Transport and handling device

60. Third working module

70. Fourth work module

AP1 work area (first manipulator 25)

AP2 work area (second manipulator 35)

Direction of movement of BR

S control and/or regulating device

Claims (10)

1. A packaging apparatus (1) for producing bundles (4) each having a plurality of articles (2), the packaging apparatus (1) comprising

At least one horizontal conveying device, and

at least one manipulator (25, 35),

it is characterized in that

-the article groups are movable into the working area (AP 1, AP 2) of at least one of the manipulators (25, 35) via at least one of the horizontal transport devices, and wherein, for combining the respective articles (2) of the article groups respectively moved into the working area (AP 1, AP 2) of at least one of the manipulators via at least one horizontal transport device, at least one of the manipulators (25, 35) is capable of applying at least one packaging medium (40) onto the respective article group, and

-at least one supporting and/or pushing beam (6) arranged for abutment against the respective group of articles on the rear side, at least one supporting and/or pushing beam (6) arranged for abutment against the respective group of articles on the rear side being guided along a preferably circumferential movement path which extends through a working area (AP 1, AP 2) of at least one of the manipulators (25, 35).

2. A packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a transfer plate is positioned in a working area (AP 1, AP 2) of at least one of the manipulators (25, 35), at least one of the support and/or push beams (6) being slidable along the transfer plate with abutment at the rear side to move the respective group of articles through the working area (AP 1, AP 2) of at least one of the manipulators (25, 35).

3. A packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one supporting and/or pushing beam (6) which is provided for abutment against the respective group of articles on the rear side is connected to at least one endless traction means (15, 17), preferably designed as a chain and/or a belt, via which at least one supporting and/or pushing beam (6) which is provided for abutment against the respective group of articles on the rear side is guided along a preferably circumferential movement track which extends through the working area (AP 1, AP 2) of at least one manipulator (25, 35).

4. A packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the manipulators (25, 35) is formed as an integral part of at least one work module (20, 30) of the packaging apparatus (1), at least one of the work modules (20, 30) having at least one load-bearing and/or support structure which determines a circumference of at least one of the work modules (20, 30), and in the packaging apparatus (1), the preferably encircling movement track extends in sections beyond the circumference determined by at least one of the load-bearing and/or support structures (22, 32).

5. The packaging device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the manipulators (25, 35) is formed as an integral part of at least one work module (20, 30) of the packaging device (1), at least one of the work modules (20, 30) having at least one carrying and/or supporting structure (22, 32) which determines a circumference of at least one of the work modules (20, 30), and in the packaging device (1), the preferably encircling movement track extends in sections beyond and in sections over the circumference determined by at least one of the carrying and/or supporting structures (22, 32) or in the vertical direction above the circumference.

6. Packaging apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a section of the preferably circulating movement track extending outside at least one of the carrying and/or supporting structures (22, 32) extends through a housing forming part of the packaging apparatus (1) or through a channel forming part of the packaging apparatus (1).

7. Packaging apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a section of the preferably circulating movement track extending outside at least one of the carrying and/or supporting structures (22, 32) extends through a housing forming part of the packaging apparatus (1) or through a channel forming part of the packaging apparatus (1).

8. Packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least one first manipulator (25) and at least one second manipulator (35) in connection with a control and/or regulation device (S), wherein

-at least one said first manipulator (25) and at least one said second manipulator (35) are manipulable and/or controllable to apply a plurality of different packaging mediums (40) onto respective groups of articles via said control and/or adjustment means (S), and/or for said packaging apparatus

-different groups of items can be associated with at least one said first manipulator (25) and at least one said second manipulator (35) via said control and/or adjustment means (S), wherein it is provided that: at least one said first manipulator (25) and at least one said second manipulator (35) being manipulable to apply, by means of said control and/or regulation device (S), said packaging medium (40) to different said groups of articles associated via said control and/or regulation device (S), and it is proposed that:

at least one support and/or push bar (6) which is provided for bearing against the respective group of articles on the rear side is guided along a preferably circumferential movement path which extends through a working area (AP 1) of at least one first manipulator (25) and through a working area (AP 2) of at least one second manipulator (35).

9. Packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, which is configured for producing a bundle (4) having a plurality of articles (2) respectively, in which bundle (4) the articles (2) are formed by beverage containers, wherein

-at least one of the manipulators is capable of applying a force to apply a packaging medium (40) configured as a planar packaging blank (41) to a group of articles moved into a working area (AP 1, AP 2) of the manipulator, the planar packaging blank (41) having an associated opening (42) for each of the articles (2) of the respective group of articles moved into the working area (AP 1, AP 2) of the manipulator via at least one of the horizontal conveyors.

10. A packaging apparatus (1) for applying a packaging medium (40) to at least one group of articles, the packaging apparatus comprising

At least one supporting and/or pushing beam (6) arranged for bearing against the respective group of articles on the rear side,

-at least two work modules (20, 30) each comprising a manipulator (25, 35) for applying the constituted packaging medium (40) to a group of articles moved into a respective work area (AP 1, AP 2) of the manipulator,

-wherein guiding means for the supporting and/or pushing beam (6) are provided, which extend along at least two working areas (AP 1, AP 2) in the two working modules (20, 30) as seen in the moving direction (BR).

Images