U.S. patent application number 17/628357 was filed with the patent office on 2022-09-08 for device and method for forming bundles of individual packages.
The applicant listed for this patent is KHS GmbH. Invention is credited to Bernd Cox, Wilfried Ehmer, Michael Jorissen, Karl-Heinz Klumpe, Stefan Wagner.
Application Number | 20220281624 17/628357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000006405421 |
Filed Date | 2022-09-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220281624 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wagner; Stefan ; et
al. |
September 8, 2022 |
Device and Method for Forming Bundles of Individual Packages
Abstract
A bundling machine comprises a transporter that conveys the
bundle along a transport direction, a wrapper that receives the
bundle from the transport direction and that is configured to
surround the bundle with a paper cutout as the bundle proceeds
along the transport direction through the wrapper such that a front
end and a rear end of the paper cutout overlap, and a tensioner
that is configured to be brought into engagement with the paper
cutout to temporarily apply a tension to the rear end against the
transport direction so as to cause the rear end to be held taut
against the front end.
Inventors: |
Wagner; Stefan; (Kleve,
DE) ; Klumpe; Karl-Heinz; (Kleve, DE) ; Cox;
Bernd; (Weeze, DE) ; Jorissen; Michael;
(Bedburg-Hau, DE) ; Ehmer; Wilfried; (Dortmund,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KHS GmbH |
Dortmund |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000006405421 |
Appl. No.: |
17/628357 |
Filed: |
July 13, 2020 |
PCT Filed: |
July 13, 2020 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2020/069698 |
371 Date: |
January 19, 2022 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 11/10 20130101;
B65B 13/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65B 11/10 20060101
B65B011/10; B65B 13/22 20060101 B65B013/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 31, 2019 |
DE |
10 2019 120 679.0 |
Claims
1-23. (canceled)
24. An apparatus for forming bundles of individual liquid-filled
containers by wrapping groups of said containers with a paper
cutout, said apparatus comprising a bundling machine that comprises
a transporter that conveys said bundle along a transport direction,
a wrapper that receives said bundle from said transport direction
and that is configured to surround said bundle with said paper
cutout as said bundle proceeds along said transport direction
through said wrapper such that a front end and a rear end of said
paper cutout overlap, and a tensioner that is configured to be
brought into engagement with said paper cutout to temporarily apply
a tension to said rear end against said transport direction so as
to cause said rear end to be held taut against said front end.
25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said tensioner is adjacent
to a side of said transporter that faces away from said bundle.
26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said wrapper comprises a
guide rod that brings said rear end into engagement with said
tensioner.
27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said wrapper comprises a
compressed-air source and a guide rod that comprises compressed-air
openings connected to said compressed-air source for displacing
said paper cutout in a direction towards said tensioner.
28. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a positioning
unit that is configured to be brought into engagement with said
rear end to thereby displace said rear end into said tensioner.
29. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a compressed-air
source and a compressed-air opening connected to said compressed
air source.
30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said tensioner comprises a
device that secures said rear end of said paper cutout, said device
being selected from the group consisting of a suction unit and a
clamp.
31. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a
negative-pressure source and a contact surface that contacts said
paper cutout, said contact surface being connected to said
negative-pressure source.
32. The apparatus of claim 24, further comprising a transport band
and a contact surface that contacts said paper cutout, said
transport band being disposed along a contact region at which said
paper cutout contacts said contact surface.
33. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said tensioner comprises a
clamp that comprises first and second clamp elements having
respective first and second contact surfaces that are brought into
contact on opposite sides of said paper cutout.
34. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said tensioner comprises a
clamp that comprises first and second clamp elements having
respective first and second contact surfaces that are separated by
an adjustable gap.
35. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said tensioner comprises
brushes that are separated by an adjustable distance, said brushes
being disposed to contact said paper cutout on opposite sides
thereof.
36. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said tensioner comprises
rotating bodies that rotate about axes that are transverse to said
transport direction and wherein said rotating bodies are separated
by an adjustable gap that can be reduced so that said rotating
bodies engage said paper cutout on opposite sides thereof with an
adjustable tension.
37. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said wrapper comprises a
guide rod and wherein said tensioner comprises first and second
clamp elements, said first clamp element comprising an opening for
temporarily receiving said guide rod.
38. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said tensioner is configured
to sense a tension exerted on said paper cutout.
39. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said bundling machine is
configured to secure said rear end to said front end.
40. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein said bundling machine is
configured to apply adhesive to secure said front and rear ends
together.
41. A method comprising forming a bundle of liquid-filled
containers wherein forming said bundle comprises wrapping said
bundle in a paper cutout having a front end and a rear end, wherein
wrapping said bundle comprises transporting said bundle into a
wrapper along a transport direction with said bundle resting on
said front end, within said wrapper, temporarily applying tension
to said rear end, said tension being in a direction opposite said
transport direction, and forming an overlap between said rear end
and said front end.
42. The method of claim 41, further comprising, prior to
transporting said bundle into said wrapper, grouping said
liquid-filled containers on a cardboard tray.
43. The method of claim 41, further comprising using a guide rod to
bring said rear end of said paper cutout into engagement with a
tensioner.
44. The method of claim 41, further comprising using a positioning
unit to displace said rear end into a tensioner.
45. The method of claim 41, further comprising locking said read
end into a tensioner by a force selected from the group consisting
of a clamping force and a suction force.
46. The method of claim 41, further comprising fixing said rear end
to said front end with adhesive when said rear end and said front
end overlap.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This is the national stage of international application
PCT/EP2020/069698, filed on Jul. 13, 2020, which claims the benefit
of the Jul. 31, 2019 priority date of German application DE
102019120679.0, the contents of which are herein incorporated by
reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates wrapping a bundle of containers with a
cutout.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is known to wrap containers with plastic film and to then
heat the film to shrink it, thus forming a stable bundle of
containers. However, the use of plastic for packaging is
increasingly frowned upon for environmental reasons.
[0004] A difficulty that arises when using more
environmentally-friendly substitutes is the inability to shrink
wrap. This results in containers that are not secured well enough
to promote stability of the bundle.
[0005] The foregoing difficulty can be overcome by use of a
material that has inherent stability, such as cardboard. However,
such materials are expensive and bulky.
SUMMARY
[0006] An object of the invention is that of wrapping a bundle of
containers with a non-shrinkable and environmentally-friendly
material.
[0007] In one aspect, the invention features an apparatus for
wrapping a bundle of containers. The apparatus includes a tensioner
that can be brought into engagement with the cutout formed from
paper and that temporarily applies a tension to the cutout's rear
end in a direction against the bundle's transport direction.
[0008] By means of the wrapper of the device according to the
invention, the bundle of grouped individual packages is wrapped
into the cutout formed from or consisting of a paper material,
wherein, in the transport direction of the bundle specified by the
transporter, the rear end of the cutout is guided around the bundle
and brought in contact with the front end of the cutout. In order
to produce a bundle formed as a stable packaging unit, with which
the individual packages are secured in their relative positions to
one another by the packaging, the device according to the invention
a tensioner, which at least temporarily pretensions the rear end of
the cutout, folded over, against the transport direction specified
by the transporter, and into the direction onto the front end of
the cutout. A defined degree of pretension ensures that the cutout
is in taut contact with the bundle in the circumferential direction
specified by the transport direction, which is a precondition for
producing a stable bundle. The pretensioning prevents free spaces
which influence the stability from forming in the region between
the individual packages and the cutout. The pretension produced by
the tensioner can in this situation be put into effect both by an
active displacement of the folded rear end against the transport
direction into the direction onto the front end, as well as by an
only temporary local fixing of the folded rear end, wherein the
pretension then results from the displacement of the bundle caused
by the transporter along a transport plane.
[0009] The device according to the invention therefore allows for
the production of stable bundles without the use of plastic films.
By means of the tensioner a defined pretension of the cutout can be
applied which is sufficient to secure the individual packages in
their positions relative to one another with a paper cutout
pretensioned in this manner.
[0010] The individual packages are preferably each filled at least
partially with the object(s) to be taken up by the individual
packages, such as a liquid. In other words, the individual packages
are preferably at least partially filled packages.
[0011] Liquid containers in this case should be understood to mean
the known primary packages for beverages and liquid foodstuffs,
such as, in particular, bottles, cans, beakers, and pouches, or
cubic packaging with or without spouts. These liquid containers can
consist of one of more known materials, such as glass, plastic,
metal, or cardboard.
[0012] Advantageously, during the transport through the wrapper,
the bundle stands with its underside at least partially on the
front end of the paper cutout, such that, during the transport of
the bundle through the wrapper, the front end of the paper cutout
is arranged between the underside of the bundle and the transport
plane.
[0013] The arrangement of the tensioner on the device can be
optional, as long as it can be ensured that the rear end is in
contact with front end under tension of the paper cutout. According
to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention,
provision is made in this situation for the tensioner to be
arranged adjacent to the side of the transporter facing away from
the bundle.
[0014] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the
tensioner is arranged opposite the transporter, which transports
the bundle, for example on a transport band, standing partially or
fully upright, through the wrapper, beneath the transport plane
established by the transport band of the transporter.
[0015] Subject to the reservation of a divergence in the
description, in this situation a transport band is understood to be
any conveying means, or a plurality of conveying means, arranged
transversely to the direction of transport, suitable for conveying
the group of individual packages, with or without a carrying
element beneath them, such as a tray, a cardboard cutout, or the
like, in the transport direction.
[0016] In this situation, the front and rear ends of the paper
cutout, related to the position of use, are in contact with
underside of the grouped individual packages, which are
particularly preferably arranged on a underlay, such as a tray made
of cardboard. An adequate locationally fixed positioning of the
front end results, if possible, from the own weight of the
individual packages, which secure the front end in a clamping
effect in the region between the transport band and the bundle.
This is supplemented by the possibility of fixing the front end to
the underside of the bundle by adhesive means. By means of the
tensioner, which is in engagement with the rear end of the cutout
wrapping the bundle, it is then possible in a convenient manner for
a taut contact with adequate tension to be applied onto the paper
cutout, such that this is then in close contact in a
circumferential direction corresponding to the transport direction.
The rear end of the paper cutout can then be secured, while
maintaining an adequate pretension, to the underside of the grouped
individual packages, preferably to the underside of a paper
cutout.
[0017] The guiding of a region of the rear end of the paper cutout
into the tensioner in such a way that it applies tension to the
paper cutout can in principle be in any desired manner. According
to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention,
however, provision is made for the wrapper to comprise a guide rod
which wraps the bundle into the paper cutout, and which is formed
in such a way that it brings the paper cutout, in the region of its
rear end, into contact with the tensioner. The use of the guide rod
to transfer the region of the rear folded end of the paper cutout
into the tensioner makes it possible for additional components on
wrapper to be avoided. The movement path of the guide rod guiding
the paper cutout around the bundle is advantageously synchronised
with the tensioner in such a way that it brings the paper cutout
into engagement with the tensioner in the region of its rear end,
where it is then taken up by the tensioner and can be pretensioned
in such a way that a taut contact of the paper cutout is
established on the bundle.
[0018] In this way the movement path of the guide rod and/or of the
tensioner can be aligned in relation to the movement path of the
guide rod in such a way that the paper cutout is transferred into
the tensioner by a stroking movement of the guide rod. As a result,
a reliable interaction can be ensured of the tensioner with the
paper cutout, and therefore a reliable taut arrangement of the
paper cutout on the bundle.
[0019] According to a further embodiment of the invention,
provision is made for the guide rod to comprise compressed air
holes, in connection with a compressed air source, for displacing
the paper cutout in the direction onto the tensioner. According to
this embodiment of the invention, the guide rod has one or more
compressed air openings, which are connected to a compressed air
source. This embodiment of the invention allows the guide rod to be
subjected to compressed air when it is arranged with the paper
cutout in contact in the region of the tensioner. The imposition of
compressed air on the guide rod leads to the paper cutout in
contact with the guide rod being displaced by the compressed air
emerging from the compressed air openings in the direction onto the
tensioner, where it is then gripped by the tensioner and can be
pretensioned against the transport direction of the grouped
individual packages. The use of compressed air openings in
accordance with this further embodiment of the invention ensures in
a particularly reliable manner an interaction of the tensioner with
the paper cutout, and therefore a taut arrangement of the paper
cutout on the grouped individual packages.
[0020] As an addition or alternative to the displacement of the
guide rod into the tensioner, provision is made according to a
further embodiment of the invention for a separate positioning unit
at the device, which can be brought with the paper cutout in the
region of its rear end into an effect connection, such that a
displacement of the rear end of the paper cutout into the tensioner
takes place. The use of a preferably stationary separate
positioning unit, independent of the wrapper and the transporter
allows for an adjustment of the wrapper for the positioning of the
paper cutout in the tensioner to be avoided. The positioning unit
can in this case be arranged independently of the wrapper, in an
optimum position on the device for the transport of the paper
cutout into the tensioner, and therefore ensures, in a particularly
reliable manner, the interaction of the paper cutout with the
tensioner.
[0021] The configuration of the positioning unit for the
displacement of the paper cutout into the tensioner can in
principle be of any desired type. There is the possibility, for
example, of displaceable pressure elements to be provided at the
positioning unit, which move the paper cutout in the direction onto
the tensioner. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment
of the invention, however, provision is made for the positioning
unit for displacing the rear end of the paper cutout into the
tensioner to comprise a compressed air opening which is in
connection with a compressed air source, preferably a row of
nozzles.
[0022] According to this embodiment of the invention, the
positioning unit comprises at least one compressed air opening,
directed in the direction onto the tensioner, preferably a row of
nozzles, such that, in the situation of an arrangement of the paper
cutout in the paper cutout in the region between the positioning
unit and the tensioner, by the imposing of compressed air via the
compressed air opening the paper cutout can be moved in the
direction onto the tensioner. This embodiment of the positioning
unit is characterized in that it is possible to do away entirely
with any moving parts at the positioning unit, as a result of which
faults can be avoided in a particularly advantageous manner, and
maintenance measures can be minimized.
[0023] The configuration of the working connection of the paper
cutout in the region of its front end with the tensioner in such a
way that it can exert a pretension into the paper cutout is in
principle freely selectable. According to one advantageous further
embodiment of the invention, however, provision is made for the
tensioner to comprise a clamp and/or a suction device for securing
the paper cutout in the region of its rear end. According to this
further embodiment of the invention, the tensioner causes an at
least temporary local securing of the paper cutout relative to the
bundle wrapped with the paper cutout and moving along the transport
plane in the transport direction. Even a temporary securing of the
rear end already has the effect that a tension is exerted on the
paper cutout, due to the simultaneous continuous movement of the
bundle. The duration of the securing of the paper cutout by the
tensioner depends in this case on the material properties of the
paper cutout being used, since this must not exceed a tension which
could lead to damage to the paper cutout. Due to this, the securing
of the paper cutout in the tensioner is imposed for only a limited
period of time, and/or the securing of the paper cutout in the
tensioner takes place in such a way that it is guided out of the
tensioner with the pretension being maintained in relation to the
transporter, in order to exert an adequate tension on the paper
cutout for an extended period. The securing of the paper cutout in
the tensioner can be applied in this case by means of a clamp, with
which the paper cutout is secured at the tensioner by clamping. In
addition, or according to an alternative embodiment of the
invention, the tensioner comprises a suction device, by means of
which the paper cutout is held in the region of its inner end by a
suitable suction device in the tensioner.
[0024] The configuration of the suction device is in principle
freely selectable in this situation. According to one advantageous
embodiment of the invention, however, provision is made for the
suction device to comprise, in the contact region with the paper
cutout, a contact surface comprising several suction openings which
are in connection with a source of negative pressure. According to
this embodiment of the invention, the paper cutout is held suction
to the contact surface in the region of its rear end by way of the
suction openings arranged in the contact surface, wherein,
depending on the degree of negative pressure and the number of
suction openings, the holding force of the tensioner in relation to
the paper cutout can be determined. In addition to this, a
configuration of the paper cutout also provides the possibility for
the friction coefficient of the paper cutout to be determined in
relation to the contact surface, in order to exert a suitable
pretension onto the paper cutout.
[0025] In addition to the arrangement of a stationary contact
surface with suction openings in accordance with the foregoing
further embodiment of the invention, provision is made according to
a further embodiment of the invention that the contact surface is
formed on a transport band circulating in the contact region with
the paper cutout against the transport direction of the bundle.
According to this embodiment of the invention, it is not only the
suction device which exerts a holding function on the paper cutout.
In addition to this, the circulating transport band, which due to
the suction device is in flat surface contact with its contact
surface on the paper cutout, exerts an additional tension onto the
paper contact, which results from the movement of the transport
band against the transport direction of the bundle in the contact
region with the paper cutout. By means of the selection of the
surface of the transport band, its speed of movement, and the
negative pressure imposed by means of the negative pressure source,
it is possible in this situation for the holding force exerted on
the paper cutout to be determined in a particularly exact manner.
This can therefore be adjusted in such a way that an adequate
pretension is attained, but at the same time any damage to the
paper cutout due to excessive tension is avoided.
[0026] As an alternative or in addition to the suction device, the
tensioner comprises a clamp, by means of which the paper cutout can
be secured in the tensioning device by clamping in the region of
its rear end. According to an advantageous further embodiment of
the invention, in this situation the clamp comprises a first
clamping element with a first contact surface and a second clamping
element with a second contact surface, which can be brought into
contact with the paper cutout on opposing sides. According to this
embodiment of the invention, the clamping force applied to the
paper cutout by the clamping elements exerts a tension on the paper
cutout due to the bundle moving continuously in the transport
direction. By way of the degree of the clamping force, which can be
determined, for example, by the spacing interval between the
clamping elements, their surface characteristics, and by the
contact length between the paper cutout and the clamping elements,
it is therefore possible for the tension applied to the paper
cutout to be determined in a particularly exact manner. In this
situation, the clamp is configured in such a way that it ensures a
continuous flow of the paper cutout held under tension out of the
clamp in the direction onto the bundle, in order to avoid any
material damage to the paper cutout.
[0027] In order to adjust the holding force of the clamp, provision
is made according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention
that the spacing interval between the contact surfaces is
adjustable. For this purpose, at least one clamping element can be
adjusted in its spacing interval to the other clamping element, as
a result of which the clamping force and holding force exerted by
the clamp onto the paper cutout can be adjusted in a convenient
manner.
[0028] The configuration of the clamping elements is in principle
freely selectable, wherein, in particular, a reliable tension is
exerted on the paper cutout by way of its surface characteristics
and the resultant adhesion friction coefficient between the paper
cutout and the holding element while the paper cutout is in
engagement with the clamping elements and is flowing continuously
out of the clamp in the direction onto the bundle. According to a
particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, provision is
made for the contact surface of the first and/or second clamping
elements to be formed by a brush body. The use of a brush body is
characterized in particular in that, with the simultaneous
application of a suitable holding force for producing a pretension
onto the paper cutout, it is ensured that the paper cutout is held
under tension continuously, after being taken up in the clamp and
during the further transport of the bundle, until it is guided out
of the clamp. According to this further embodiment of the
invention, in this situation only one clamping element or both
clamping elements can be configured as brush bodies. By means of
the spacing interval of a brush body from, for example, a flat
contact surface, or of both brush bodies, it is possible in this
situation for the holding force to be reliably determined.
[0029] According to a further embodiment of the invention,
provision is made for the first and/or second clamping element to
be formed as rotation bodies, and in this way to be rotatable about
a longitudinal axis running transverse to the transport direction,
and that the first and/or second contact surfaces are adjusted in a
direction opposed to the transport directions. According to this
embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the contact
surface of the contact element which is formed by the
circumferential surface of the rotation body exerts a movement in
the region of the paper cutout which is directed against the
transport direction of the bundle, as a result of which a suitable
pretension can be exerted onto the paper cutout.
[0030] Particularly advantageously, in this situation provision can
be made for the first and/or second clamping element to comprise a
cutout opening for the temporary reception of the guide rod.
According to this further embodiment of the invention, the guide
rod, within the framework of its movement path during the wrapping
of the grouped individual packages, passes together with the paper
cutout into a cutout opening provided for this purpose at the first
or second clamping element, such that the paper cutout is brought
particularly reliably into engagement with the first or second
clamping element. In the case of the configuration as a rotation
body, in this situation the rotation movement of the clamping
element is matched to the movement sequence of the guide rod in
such a way that it passes into the cutout opening for the transfer
to the tensioner, and in the further sequence is moved together
with the cutout opening in such a way that, after the transfer, the
guide rod is moved out of the cutout opening. The configuration of
one or both clamping elements with a cutout opening ensures a
particularly reliable transfer of the paper cutout to the
tensioner.
[0031] According to a further embodiment of the invention,
provision is further made that the tensioner comprises a sensor
unit for detecting a tension being applied onto the paper cutout.
By means of the sensor unit it is therefore possible to determine
the tension being applied. Excessive degrees of tension, which
could lead to damage of the paper cutout, can therefore be
identified in good time, so that suitable measures can be taken to
reduce the holding force being applied by the tensioner.
[0032] According to a further embodiment of the invention,
provision is made for the device to comprise a closure unit for
securing the rear end of the paper cutout to the front end of the
paper cutout. By means of the closure unit, the paper cutout which
is under tension can be fixed in the region of its rear end to the
front end, such that it is ensured that, after leaving the wrapper
in the transport direction, the paper cutout is in contact taut on
the bundle, such that a bundle formed as a stable packing unit is
produced.
[0033] The configuration of the closure unit, by means of which the
rear end of the paper cutout is secured to the front end, is in
principle in this case freely selectable. According to a
particularly advantageous embodiment, the closure unit comprises an
adhesive unit and/or a strapping unit. The adhesive unit can in
this situation be a device, for example, by means of which the
adhesive is applied in the region between the front and rear ends
of the paper cutout, such that they are secured to one another. As
an alternative, the adhesive unit can also be configured so as to
apply an adhesive strip, by means of which the front end of the
paper cutout is fixed to the rear end of the paper cutout. An
advantageously provided strapping unit allows for the fixing of the
front end of the paper cutout to the rear end of the paper cutout
by suitable strapping means, such as closure straps, which are
tensioned around the individual packages wrapped into the paper
cutout in such a way that a reliable securing of the front end of
the paper cutout to the rear end of the paper cutout is
ensured.
[0034] With one advantageous further embodiment of the invention, a
storage unit is provided in which the paper material is stored. The
paper material can be stored in the form of ready cut paper
cutouts, preferably stacked above one another. As an alternative,
the paper material can be stored in the storage unit in the form of
a continuous material web, in particular in the form of a roll. In
the latter case, provision is advantageously made also for a
cutting unit for cutting the continuous material web into
individual paper cutouts.
[0035] With the method according to the invention for forming
bundles from individual packages, in particular liquid containers,
by wrapping a bundle of grouped individual packages into a cutout
of packaging material, provision is made for the following method
steps. The bundle of grouped individual packages, i.e., positioned
and aligned in relation to one another, is first transported by
means of a transporter into the wrapper. Here the bundle is next
wrapped, in a transport direction of the transporter, by the cutout
formed from a paper material, hereinafter also referred to as the
paper cutout. Next, the rear end of the paper cutout wrapped around
the bundle is arranged overlapping onto the front end of the paper
cutout.
[0036] The method according to the invention is characterized in
that the rear end of the paper cutout is at least temporarily
pretensioned by means of a tensioner, against the transport
direction of the bundle, in the direction onto the front end of the
paper cutout.
[0037] The application of a pretension onto the paper cutout by
means of the tensioner can already result from a configuration of
the tensioner in which the paper cutout is secured in the region of
its rear end to the tensioner in such a way that it is conveyed
held under tension in the transport direction of the grouped
individual packages. By means of the tensioning device, a tension
is therefore applied to the paper cutout, which ensures that the
paper cutout, in the transport direction of the grouped individual
packages is in contact as far as possible free of play, and
therefore taut, on the grouped individual packages. As a result of
this, a bundle can be produced which is formed as a stable
packaging unit, with which the individual packages are reliably
secured in their position relative to one another. In order to
maintain the tension in this situation, at the end of the wrapping
process the rear end of the paper cutout is fixed overlapping to
the front end of the paper cutout. According to an advantageous
further embodiment of the method, this can be done by means of a
closure unit, which comprises an adhesive unit for the adhesive
bonding of the front and rear ends of the paper cutout, and/or a
strapping unit for fixing the front and rear ends of the paper
cutout by a strapping means.
[0038] According to a further embodiment of the method, provision
is made for the grouped individual packages to be grouped on an
underlay, in particular a cardboard tray, before the transport into
the wrapper. According to this embodiment of the invention,
provision is made for the grouped individual packages to stand
upright on a common underlay. The use of such an underlay makes it
possible first for the front end of the paper cutout to be fixed to
the grouped individual packages, namely the flat underlay.
Following this, it is then possible, by means of the tensioner, for
a tension to be reliably applied to the rear end of the paper
cutout, such that a taut contact of the paper cutout to the grouped
individual packages is achieved. The use of an underlay, in
particular of a cardboard tray, therefore, allows for the
possibility of producing a stable packaging unit, wherein, in
particular, a cardboard tray supplementing the paper cutout forms
an ecological packing, and allows for a reliable flat surface
connection of the rear end to the front end.
[0039] According to a further embodiment of the invention,
provision is made for the wrapper to comprise a guide rod, which
brings the paper cutout, in the region of its front end, into
engagement with the tensioner. According to this embodiment of the
invention, the guide rod used to wrap the grouped individual
packages into the paper cutout is further used to bring the paper
cutout, in the region of its rear end, into engagement with the
tensioner. This embodiment of the invention ensures in a reliable
manner that the paper cutout is pretensioned by the tensioner, and
therefore that a bundle formed as a stable packaging unit can be
produced.
[0040] According to a further embodiment of the invention,
provision is made for the rear end of the paper cutout to be moved
by means of a separate positioning unit, which can be brought into
an effect connection with the paper cutout in the region of the
rear end, into the tensioner. The use of a separate positioning
unit allows, independently of the wrapper, for a reliable movement
of the paper cutout to be ensured, in the region of its rear end,
into the tensioner. According to this embodiment of the invention,
no adjustments are required to the wrapper, in particular to the
guide rod.
[0041] The locking or securing of the rear end of the paper cutout
in the tensioner in such a way that this results in a tension being
applied onto the paper cutout can in principle be effected in any
desired manner. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment
of the invention, however, provision is made that the rear end of
the paper cutout be locked in the tensioner by clamping or by means
of suction force.
[0042] Locking is understood in this situation to be an arrangement
of the paper cutout in the region of its rear end in the tensioner,
in which, by temporary securing, a displacement of the paper cutout
against the transport direction of the grouped individual packages
is incurred, and/or by a reduction of the displacement speed of the
rear end of the paper cutout in relation to the transport speed by
the transporter tension is applied to the paper cutout, as a result
of which it passes to the grouped individual packages in taut
contact. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the
invention, provision is made for the front end of the paper cutout
to be locked in the tensioner by clamping or by means of suction
force, as a result of which a particularly reliable securing of the
paper cutout and monitoring of the tension being applied to the
paper cutout can be achieved.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0043] These and other features of the invention will be apparent
from the following detailed description and the accompanying
figures in which:
[0044] FIG. 1a shows a first embodiment of a bundling machine for
wrapping a bundle in a paper cutout;
[0045] FIG. 1B shows the bundling machine of FIG. 1A with the
cutout's rear end clamped.
[0046] FIG. 2A shows a second embodiment of a bundling machine for
wrapping a bundle in a paper cutout;
[0047] FIG. 2B shows the bundling machine of FIG. 2A with the
cutout's rear end being released.
[0048] FIG. 3A shows a third embodiment of a bundling machine for
wrapping a bundle in a paper cutout;
[0049] FIG. 3B shows the bundling machine of FIG. 3A as the front
end of the cutout approaches the opening between the transport
bands;
[0050] FIG. 4A shows a fourth embodiment of the bundling
machine;
[0051] and
[0052] FIG. 4B shows the fourth embodiment of FIG. 4A at another
instant of the bundling process.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0053] FIG. 1a shows a bundling machine 1a for forming a bundle 2
of liquid-filled containers. The bundling machine 1a includes a
transporter 10, a wrapper 6, and a tensioner 8a. The transporter 10
moves the bundle 2 through the wrapper 6 along the transport
direction 7. While the bundle 2 is within it, the wrapper wraps the
bundle 2 with a paper cutout 3. The transporter 10 comprises first
and second transport bands 12a, 12b separated by an inter-band
opening 27.
[0054] The containers in the bundle 2 stand upright as the bundle 2
travels through the wrapper 6. A section of the bundle's underside
is on the paper cutout's front end 5. As a result, the paper
cutout's front end 5 is arranged between the bundle's underside and
the first transport band 12a during transport into the wrapper
6.
[0055] Within the wrapper 6, a guide rod 9 engages the paper
cutout's rear end 4 and guides it through the inter-band opening
27. For ease of exposition, the guide rod 9 is shown at two
positions in FIG. 1a, one above and one below the plane defined by
the first and second transport bands 12a, 12b.
[0056] The tensioner 8a lies below the transporter 10 on the side
opposite that which carries the bundle 2. The tensioner 8a
temporarily fixes the paper cutout's read end 4 to thereby cause
tension that holds the paper cutout 3 taut on the bundle 2.
[0057] The tensioner 8a includes a clamp 13a having a pivoting
clamp element 19a and a fixed clamp element 19b. The guide rod's
movement path is such that it brings the paper cutout's rear end 4
into contact with a first contact surface 21a of the pivoting clamp
element 19a. As a result, the paper cutout's rear end 4 comes into
engagement with the clamp 13a.
[0058] Referring now to FIG. 1b, the pivoting clamp element 19a
then pivots such that the paper cutout's rear end 4 is now clamped
between the first contact surface 21a and a second contact surface
22a, which is that of the fixed clamp element 20a. As the bundle 2
continues to move with the rear end 4 clamped, a tension is applied
to the rear end 4, thus holding the paper cutout 3 taut contact
around the bundle 2.
[0059] As the bundle 2 continues to move in the transport
direction, the rear end 4 will eventually overlap the front end 5.
At this point, an adhesive is applied to the bundle's underside
through the inter-band opening 27. The paper cutout's rear end 4
also comes undone from the clamp 13a. The tension exerted by the
clamp 13a is selected to be insufficient to destroy the paper
cutout 3 but sufficient to keep the paper cutout 3 taut against the
bundle 2.
[0060] FIGS. 2a and 2b show an alternative embodiment of a bundling
machine 1b having a different tensioner 8b and a different
configuration for transferring the paper cutout's rear end 4 into
the tensioner 8b. In particular, the tensioner 8b omits the clamp
13a.
[0061] The illustrated tensioner 8b features a transport band 18
having a contact surface 17. Suction openings on the contact
surface 17 connect to a negative-pressure source 15 via a line 16.
In this embodiment, suction draws the paper cutout's rear end 4
onto the contact surface 17. The maximum tension is thus controlled
by the extent of the negative pressure.
[0062] The tensioner 8b also features a band drive 28 that moves
the contact surface 17 against the transport direction 7. As a
result, the rear end 4 also sustains a holding force caused by the
contact surface's movement. This holds the paper cutout 3 taut
against the contact surface 17 at a predefined tension. As the
bundle 2 continues to move, the rear end 4 slides out of the
tensioner 8b, as shown in FIG. 2b, until it overlaps the front end
5 on the bundle's underside.
[0063] The embodiment shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b also includes a
compressed-air source 26 that connects to the guide rod 9 via a
compressed-air line 16. Openings along the guide rod 9 release
compressed air delivered from the compressed-air source 26. This
ensures that the rear end 4 engages the contact surface 17. The
compressed air from the guide rod 9 also displacing the paper
cutout 3 in the direction of the contact surface 17.
[0064] As was the case with the first embodiment of the bundling
machine 1a shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, the front end 5 and rear end 4
overlap on the bundle's underside. When this occurs, an adhesive
unit applies adhesive to fix them together.
[0065] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a third embodiment of a bundling
machine 1c having a clamp 13b that comprises first and second
clamping elements 19b, 20b spaced apart from each other. Each
clamping element 19b, 20b comprises corresponding brush bodies 23a,
23b having bristles directed towards one another. In this
embodiment, as the guide rod 9 passes the rear end 4 between the
clamping elements 19b, 20b, the brush bodies 23a, 23b load both
sides of the rear end 4, thus applying a tension.
[0066] An actuator 29 connected to the second clamping element 20b
adjusts the space between the first and second clamping elements
19b, 20b. As a result, the load on the paper cutout 3 is
adjustable.
[0067] As was the case in earlier embodiments, the paper cutout 3
is held under tension as the bundle 2 moves in the transport
direction 7. After the rear end 4 overlaps the front end 3, the
rear end 4 is fixed to the front end 5.
[0068] FIGS. 4a and 4b show an embodiment in which the first fixed
clamping element 19c comprises a first contact surface 21c. The
second clamping element 20c comprises a rotating brush 23c that has
bristles contacting the first contact surface 21c. A gap between
the brush 23c and the contact surface 21c determines a holding
force on the paper cutout's rear end 4. An actuator 29 adjusts this
gap and thus adjusts the holding force.
[0069] The rotating brush 23c includes a cutout opening 24 that
extends along the brush's axis of rotation and has a
circumferential extent. The rotation of the second clamping element
20c is synchronized with the guide rod's movement in such a way
that the rod 9 fits into the cutout opening 24 and, while there,
transfers the paper cutout's rear end 4 to the clamp 13c, as shown
in FIG. 4a. The holding force that arises on the paper cutout 3
between the first and second clamping elements 19c, 20c holds the
paper cutout 3 under tension, thus causing taut contact between the
paper cutout 3 and the bundle 2.
[0070] As the bundle 2 continues to move along the transport
direction 7, the paper cutout's rear end 4, which continues to be
under tension, is guided out of the claim 13c. This continues until
the rear end 4 overlaps the front end 5 on the bundle's
underside.
[0071] Having described the invention and a preferred embodiment
thereof, what is new and secured by letters patent is:
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