Packaging machine and method for packaging a container group consisting of multiple containers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12091200-B2
Application number	US-202118026252-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 4, 2021
Priority date	Oct 13, 2020
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A tray packer includes a positioning-and-folding unit, an application unit, and a storage-and-feed unit. The positioning-and-folding unit arranges a container group on a packaging blank's bottom and places its sides against the group. The application unit places a material blank on the group opposite the bottom portion such as to form a bundle. The storage-and-feed unit stores and provides the material blanks to the application unit. The application unit comprises a pressing element that comprises a tool plate that moves continuously on a circular path in such a way that the tool plate adjusts between engagement positions with the containers. The circular path spans a plane oriented parallel to a transport plane along which the groups travel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising a packaging machine, said packaging machine comprising a tray packer for packing a container group that includes containers in a packaging blank, said packaging blank including a bottom portion and side portions, wherein said tray packer comprises a positioning-and-folding unit, a transport unit, an application unit, and a storage-and-feed unit, wherein said positioning-and-folding unit is configured for arranging said container group on said bottom portion and for laterally placing said side portions against said container group, wherein said transport unit comprises a transport belt that is configured for conveying said container group along a transport plane in a transport direction through said packaging machine, wherein said application unit is configured for placing a material blank on said container group opposite said bottom portion such as to form a bundle, wherein said storage-and-feed unit is configured for storing and providing said material blanks to said application unit, wherein said application unit comprises a pressing element that comprises a tool plate that moves continuously on a circular path in such a way that said tool plate transitions between an outer engagement position and an inner engagement position with said containers, and wherein said circular path lies in a plane that is oriented perpendicular to said transport plane, wherein said application unit comprises a drive unit that is configured such as to move said pressing element in such a way that said tool plate transitions between an outer engagement position and an inner engagement position with said containers, wherein said drive unit comprises a first drive disk and a second drive disk, said first and second drive disks being parallel and separated from each other by a distance, wherein said first and second drive disks are rotatable about respective first and second rotation axes that are oriented perpendicular to said transport direction, parallel to said transport plane, separated from said transport plane by an interval, and offset from each other along said transport direction, wherein said pressing element comprises first and second jointed axles, wherein said pressing element is connected by said first jointed axle in a jointed manner to said first drive disk, and wherein said pressing element is connected by said second jointed axle in a jointed manner to said second drive disk in such a way that, at a rotation of said two drive disks about said respective rotation axes, said tool plate is oriented parallel to said transport plane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a formatting unit for forming said container group, wherein said application unit follows said formatting unit in said transport direction and wherein said positioning-and-folding unit follows said application unit in said transport direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a formatting unit for forming said container group, wherein said positioning-and-folding unit follows said formatting unit in said transport direction and wherein said application unit follows said positioning-and-folding unit in said transport direction.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tray packer is further configured for covering said container group with a shrink film and for shrinking said shrink film.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said application unit is configured for separating said material blanks and wherein said tool plate comprises cutting elements for separating connecting webs that connect container group portions of said material blanks.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said pressing element is configured such that said tool plate is detachable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said first and said second drive disks comprise receiving openings for detachable arrangement of said jointed axles.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said drive disks comprises several receiving openings distributed along a corresponding circumference of said drive disk such that several pressing elements are securable to said drive disks, and wherein said receiving openings are separated by any one of a plurality of selectable distances, said selectable distances being product divisions of 160 millimeters, 240 millimeters, and 320 millimeters.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of said drive disks comprises at least eight receiving openings arranged around a circular path having a circumference of 960 millimeters, wherein at least three receiving openings are arranged equidistant from one another in a first group, at least three receiving openings are arranged equidistant from one another in a second group and opposite said receiving openings of said first group, and wherein two individual receiving openings are arranged between said first and second groups, which are all arranged along said circular path.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said application unit is a first application unit and said tray packer further comprises second and third application units, wherein said second and third application units are arranged next to one another transversely to said transport direction, and wherein said application units are of identical structural design.

11. A method comprising packing a container group of several containers in a packaging blank that has a bottom portion and side portions, wherein packing said container group comprises using a packaging machine to carry out steps of arranging said container group on said bottom portion, laterally placing said side portions against said container group, conveying said container group on a transport belt along a transport plane in a transport direction through said packaging machine, providing a material blank to an application unit, and applying said material blank to a region of said container group, which is opposite said bottom portion, using said application unit, thereby forming a bundle, wherein said application unit comprises a drive unit and a pressing element that comprises a tool plate that moves continuously on a circular path in such a way that said tool plate transitions between an outer engagement position and an inner engagement position with said containers and wherein said circular path lies in a plane that is oriented perpendicular to said transport plane, and wherein said drive unit moves said pressing element, wherein said drive unit comprises a first drive disk and a second drive disk, said first and second drive disks being parallel and separated from each other by a distance, wherein said first and second drive disks are rotatable about respective first and second rotation axes that are oriented perpendicular to said transport direction, parallel to said transport plane, separated from said transport plane by an interval, and offset from each other along said transport direction, wherein said pressing element comprises first and second jointed axles, wherein said pressing element is connected by said first jointed axle in a jointed manner to said first drive disk, and wherein said pressing element is connected by said second jointed axle in a jointed manner to said second drive disk in such a way that, at a rotation of said two drive disks about said respective rotation axes, said tool plate is oriented parallel to said transport plane.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising forming said container group from several containers, applying a material blank, which has been provided at said application unit, to a region of said container group that is opposite said bottom portion, positioning said container group on said bottom portion of said packaging blank, and placing one or more

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Look Johannes
• Hermsen Alexander

Classifications

• B65B65/02

  Driving gear · CPC title

• B65B65/003

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

• B65B61/08

  using rotary cutters · CPC title

• B65B5/026

  for making trays · CPC title

• B65B43/16

  by grippers · CPC title