Device and method for producing bundles of individual packages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12145754-B2
Application number	US-202017630332-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 15, 2020
Priority date	Aug 1, 2019
Publication date	Nov 19, 2024
Grant date	Nov 19, 2024

Abstract

An apparatus includes a folding unit and a transport unit that transports a package assembly on a transport plane towards the folding unit, the package assembly comprising containers that have been wrapped in a paper blank that comprises tabs that project past the containers. The tabs comprise a lower tab that is coplanar with the transport plane. The folding unit comprises a folding-device that folds lower tabs with plates arranged on both sides of the transport unit. The plates move with three degrees-of-freedom: along the transport unit, towards the package assembly, and perpendicular to the transport plane.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus for forming a package assembly that comprises containers that have been wrapped in a paper blank that comprises tabs that project past said containers, wherein said tabs comprise a lower tab that is coplanar with a transport plane along which said package assembly is moved, said apparatus comprising a folding unit and a transport unit that transports said package assembly on said transport plane towards said folding unit, wherein said folding unit comprises a first folding-device for folding said lower tab, said first folding-device comprising plates for folding said lower tab, said plates being arranged on both sides of said transport unit, wherein said plates are movable along said transport unit, wherein said plates are adjustable so as to be brought into engagement with said lower tab by movement towards said package assembly, and wherein said plates are displaceable in a direction that is perpendicular to said transport plane, said apparatus further comprising a scissors drive that allows for vertical displacement of the plates and enables said plates to be pivotable about a longitudinal axis aligned parallel to said transport direction.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tabs further comprise front and rear tabs that are perpendicular to said transport plane and wherein said folding unit comprises a second folding-device that brings said front and rear tabs into contact with said lower tab.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tabs comprise front and rear tabs that are perpendicular to said transport plane and an upper tab that is parallel to and above said transport plane and wherein said folding unit comprises a second folding-device that brings said front and rear tabs into contact with said lower tab and a third folding device that brings said upper tab into contact with said lower tab, with said front and rear tabs, and with said package assembly after said lower tab has been folded.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tabs further comprise front and rear tabs that are perpendicular to said transport plane and wherein said apparatus further comprises a first adhesive unit that is configured to apply adhesive onto regions of said front and rear tabs that are to be in contact said lower tab.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said tabs comprise front and rear tabs that are perpendicular to said transport plane and an upper tab that is parallel to and above said transport plane, wherein said apparatus further comprises a first adhesive unit that is configured to apply adhesive onto regions of said front and rear tabs that are to contact said lower tab and a second adhesive unit that is configured to apply adhesive onto said lower tab as well as onto said front and rear tabs at those regions that are to contact said upper tab.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a dispensing and application unit for a closure band for providing additional closure and/or wrapping of said package assembly with a closure band when completely introduced into said blank.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plates comprise adhesive coatings in contact regions with said lower tab.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plates are displaceable along said direction.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plates move independently of said transport unit.

10. An apparatus for forming a package assembly that comprises containers that have been wrapped in a paper blank that comprises tabs that project past said containers, wherein said tabs comprise a lower tab that is coplanar with a transport plane along which said package assembly is moved, said apparatus comprising a folding unit and a transport unit that transports said package assembly on said transport plane towards said folding unit, wherein said folding unit comprises a first folding-device for folding said lower tab, said first folding-device comprising plates for folding said lower tab, said plates being arranged on both sides of said transport unit, wherein said plates are movable along said transport unit, wherein said plates are adjustable so as to be brought into engagement with said lower tab by movement towards said package assembly, wherein said plates are displaceable in a direction that is perpendicular to said transport plane, said apparatus further comprising a carriage that moves in said transport direction, wherein said plates for folding are adjustably mounted on said carriage, wherein said carriage has a connection with said plates, wherein said connection comprises means for enabling said plates to move relative to said carriage in a direction that is parallel to sides of said package assembly and perpendicular to said transport plane.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said tabs further comprise front and rear tabs that are perpendicular to said transport plane and wherein said folding unit comprises a second folding-device that brings said front and rear tabs into contact with said lower tab.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said tabs comprise front and rear tabs that are perpendicular to said transport plane and an upper tab that is parallel to and above said transport plane and wherein said folding unit comprises a second folding-device that brings said front and rear tabs into contact with said lower tab and a third folding device that brings said upper tab into contact with said lower tab, with said front and rear tabs, and with said package assembly after said lower tab has been folded.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said tabs further comprise front and rear tabs that are perpendicular to said transport plane and wherein said apparatus further comprises a first adhesive unit that is configured to apply adhesive onto regions of said front and rear tabs that are to be in contact said lower tab.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said tabs comprise front and rear tabs that are perpendicular to said transport plane and an upper tab that is parallel to and above said transport plane, wherein said apparatus further comprises a first adhesive unit that is configured to apply adhesive onto regions of said front and rear tabs that are to contact said lower tab and a second adhesive unit that is configured to apply adhesive onto said lower tab as well as onto said front and rear tabs at those regions that are to contact said upper tab.

15. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising a dispensing and application unit for a closure band for providing additional closure and/or wrapping of said package assembly with a closure band when completely introduced into said blank.

16. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said plates comprise adhesive coatings in contact regions with said lower tab.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said plates are displaceable along said direction.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said plates move independently of said transport unit.

19. A method comprising producing a bundle of individual liquid containers by introducing a package assembly in which a group of liquid containers is wrapped in a paper blank, wherein producing said bundle comprises using a transport unit to transport said package assembly in a transport direction along a transport plane through a wrapping unit and a folding unit, using a carriage that moves in said transport direction to carry out the steps of wrapping said package assembly with said blank, thereby forming tabs that project over said package assembly in a direction transverse to said transport direction, and attaching said tabs

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Lelie Thomas
• Cox Bernd
• Jörissen Michael

Classifications

• B65B21/245

  in flexible wrappers, e.g. foils (B65B21/26 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B49/10

  Folders movable in closed non-circular paths · CPC title

• B65B49/14

  Folders forming part of, or attached to, conveyors for partially-wrapped articles · CPC title

• B65B49/08

  Reciprocating or oscillating folders · CPC title

• B65B51/02

  Applying adhesives or sealing liquids · CPC title