Method for packaging articles and packaging system for articles such as beverage containers or the like

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12077328-B2
Application number	US-201917277835-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 21, 2019
Priority date	Sep 20, 2018
Publication date	Sep 3, 2024
Grant date	Sep 3, 2024

Abstract

Disclosed is a method for packaging articles (2). Outer packages (3) are moved by a first conveying device (10) and then by a second conveying device (20), which second conveying device (20) is located next to the first conveying device (10). Furthermore, articles (2) are inserted into an outer package (3), while the outer package (3) is located on the first conveyor (10) and/or the second conveyor (20). The outer packages (3) are received on the first conveyor (10) by format parts (5) and, together with their respective format part (5), are transferred to the second conveyor (20). The outer packages (3), which will be continuously arranged on the format parts until then, will be removed from the format parts (5) together with the inserted articles (2). The format parts (5) will then be returned to the first conveyor (10) for renewed seizure of outer packages (3).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for packaging articles ( 2 ), comprising:
moving a plurality of outer packages ( 3 ) over a first conveying device ( 10 ) and then moving the outer packages ( 3 ) over a second conveying device ( 20 ), wherein the second conveying device ( 20 ) is located next to the first conveying device ( 10 ),
inserting articles ( 2 ) into an outer package ( 3 ) while the outer package ( 3 ) is located on the first conveying device ( 10 ) or while the respective outer package ( 3 ) is located on the second conveying device ( 20 ),
receiving each outer package ( 3 ) on the first conveying device ( 10 ) on a format part ( 5 ) and, together with their format part ( 5 ), transferring each outer package ( 3 ) to the second conveying device ( 20 ),
removing each of the outer packages ( 3 ), which continue to be arranged on the format parts ( 5 ) until then, from the format parts ( 5 ), together with the inserted articles ( 2 ), to an outfeed conveyor ( 70 ), and then returning the format parts ( 5 ) to the first conveying device ( 10 ) for subsequent receipt of outer packages ( 3 ),
wherein:
a) the first conveying device ( 10 ) comprises a plurality of circulatingly guided retaining devices ( 12 ), wherein at least one format part ( 5 ) is fixed in a clamping manner to the first conveying device ( 10 ) via two respective directly successive circulatingly guided retaining devices ( 12 ) of the first conveying device ( 10 ), or wherein:
b) the second conveying device ( 20 ) has a plurality of circulatingly guided retaining devices ( 14 ), wherein at least one format part ( 5 ) transferred from the first conveying device ( 10 ) to the second conveying device ( 20 ) is fixed in a clamping manner to the second conveying device ( 20 ) via two respective directly successive circulatingly guided retaining devices ( 14 ), and
wherein the receiving step further comprises receiving outer packages ( 3 ) on a plurality of different format parts ( 5 ), wherein the different format parts ( 5 ) are adapted to different dimensions of different outer packages ( 3 ) and which different format parts ( 5 ) can be selectively arranged on the first conveying device ( 10 ) depending on the respective dimensions of the outer packages.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the format parts ( 5 ) together with their received outer package ( 3 ) are transposed from the first conveying device ( 10 ) to the second conveying device ( 20 ), or wherein the format parts ( 5 ) together with their received outer package ( 3 ) are pushed from the first conveying device ( 10 ) to the second conveying device ( 20 ).

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the format parts ( 5 ) hold the outer package ( 3 ) in a form-fitting manner until the outer package ( 3 ) is removed from the format part ( 5 ).

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein, depending on the dimensions of the outer packages ( 3 ) to be received by the format parts ( 5 ), selecting a specific format parts ( 5 ) from a plurality of different format parts ( 5 ) so that the selected specific format parts ( 5 ) corresponds to the outer packages ( 3 ) to be received.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein format parts ( 5 ) are moved along a first transport direction (TR 1 ) via the first conveying device ( 10 ) and wherein format parts ( 5 ) transferred onto the second conveying device ( 20 ) are moved along a second transport direction (TR 2 ), wherein the first transport direction (TR 1 ) and the second transport direction (TR 2 ) are parallel and opposite to one another.

6. A packaging system ( 1 ) for articles ( 2 ), comprising:
a first conveying device ( 10 ) and a second conveying device ( 20 ), each for moving outer packages ( 3 ) and which are arranged next to each other, and
at least one handling device ( 15 ) for inserting articles ( 2 ) into outer packages ( 3 ), wherein a working area of the at least one handling device ( 15 ) extends over the first conveying device ( 10 ) or the second conveying device ( 20 ),
a plurality of format parts ( 5 ), which format parts ( 5 ) can receive outer packages ( 3 ) and are detachable from the first conveying device ( 10 ) and the second conveying device ( 20 ),
at least one manipulation device, which can transfer format parts ( 5 ), together with received outer packages ( 3 ), from the first conveying device ( 10 ) to the second conveying device ( 20 ), wherein the second conveying device ( 20 ) returns format parts ( 5 ) from the second conveying device ( 20 ) to the first conveying device ( 10 ), and
an outfeed conveyor ( 70 ), which can receive outer packages ( 3 ), together with the inserted articles ( 2 ),
wherein:
a) the first conveying device ( 10 ) has a plurality of circulatingly guided retaining devices ( 12 ), wherein at least one format part ( 5 ) can be fixed in a clamping manner to the first conveying device ( 10 ) via two respective directly successive circulatingly guided retaining devices ( 12 ) of the first conveying device ( 10 ), or wherein:
b) the second conveying device ( 20 ) has a plurality of circulatingly guided retaining devices ( 14 ), wherein at least one format part ( 5 ) transferred from the first conveying device ( 10 ) to the second conveying device ( 20 ) can be fixed in a clamping manner to the second conveying device ( 20 ) via two respective directly successive circulatingly guided retaining devices ( 14 ), and
wherein the plurality of format parts ( 5 ) comprise a plurality of different format parts ( 5 ), wherein the different format parts ( 5 ) have different dimensions corresponding to different outer packages ( 3 ).

7. The packaging system according to claim 6 , wherein:
a) the at least one manipulation device can transpose format parts ( 5 ), together with the received outer packages ( 3 ), from the first conveying device ( 10 ) onto the second conveying device ( 20 ), or wherein:
b) the at least one manipulation device can push format parts ( 5 ), together with the received outer packages ( 3 ), from the first conveying device ( 10 ) onto the second conveying device ( 20 ).

8. The packaging system of claim 6 , wherein the format parts ( 5 ) are designed to hold the received outer packages ( 3 ) in a form-fitting manner.

9. The packaging system of claim 8 , wherein the format parts ( 5 ) each comprise a circumferential edge region ( 16 ) forming a lateral boundary for a respectively received outer package ( 3 ).

10. The packaging system of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of different format parts ( 5 ), which each have different dimensions and which can be selectively arranged on the first conveying device ( 10 ), depending on dimensions of the outer packages ( 3 ) to be received.

11. The packaging system of claim 10 , wherein the format parts ( 5 ) are made of a light metal or of a composite made of metal and plastic.

12. The packaging system of claim 6 , wherein the first conveying device ( 10 ) transports format parts ( 5 ) in a first transport direction (TR 1 ), and the second conveying device ( 20 ) transports format parts ( 5 ) in a second transport direction (TR 2 ), wherein the first transport direction (TR 1 ) and the second transport direction (TR 2 ) are parallel and opposite to one another.

13. A method for packaging articles ( 2 ), comprising:
moving a plurality of outer packages ( 3 ) over a first conveying device ( 10 ) and then moving the outer packages ( 3 ) over a second conveying device ( 20 ), wherein the second conveying device ( 20 ) is located next to the first conveying device ( 10 ),
inserting articles ( 2 ) into an outer package ( 3 ) while the outer package ( 3 ) is located on the first

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Losert Jens

Classifications

• B65G2201/0261

  Puck as article support · CPC title

• B65G2201/025

  Boxes · CPC title

• B65G47/82

  Rotary or reciprocating members for direct action on articles or materials, e.g. pushers, rakes, shovels {(means for pushing glass articles onto a conveyor C03B9/453)} · CPC title

• B65G47/52

  Devices for transferring articles or materials between conveyors i.e. discharging or feeding devices (loading or unloading by means not incorporated in, or not operatively associated with, conveyors B65G65/00; transfer of workpieces during metal rolling B21B41/00) · CPC title

• B65B65/003

  Packaging lines, e.g. general layout · CPC title