Method, application device, and packaging device for producing packaging units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12358668-B2
Application number	US-202218699372-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2022
Priority date	Oct 12, 2021
Publication date	Jul 15, 2025
Grant date	Jul 15, 2025

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and devices for producing packaging units. Each of the packaging units has at least two articles which are held together by at least one strapping band and by at least one packaging blank. The method includes: providing the articles in a handling area of an application head; inserting a closed strapping band and a prepared packaging blank into the application head; feeding the application head to the articles, with the grouped articles being at least slightly compressed; positioning the strapping band; securing the packaging blank to the articles; opening the application head while simultaneously releasing and separating the at least one strapping band from the fixed position of the strapping band within the application head; releasing and separating the at least one packaging blank; and removing the application head from the strapped article grouping combined by a packaging blank.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for producing packaging units ( 13 ), each of which is made of at least two grouped articles ( 10 ) that are held together by at least one strapping band ( 15 ) and by at least one packaging blank ( 60 ), the method comprising:
providing the at least two grouped articles ( 10 ), which are positioned in a movement and/or handling area of an application head ( 1 ),
inserting at least one pre-assembled closed strapping band ( 15 ) into the application head ( 1 ), in which the strapping band ( 15 ) is fixed in a defined position, which application head ( 1 ) has a variable opening width (W) of a cage ( 50 ) that can surround the grouped articles ( 10 ) on a lateral side,
inserting a prepared packaging blank ( 60 ) into the application head ( 1 ) in which the packaging blank ( 60 ) is held in a fixed position,
feeding the application head ( 1 ) equipped with the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) and at least one packaging blank ( 60 ) to the articles ( 10 ) in a feeding movement approximately parallel to a longitudinal central axes (L) of the grouped articles ( 10 ), wherein the cage ( 50 ) of the application head ( 1 ) contacts the grouped articles ( 10 ) on their lateral sides and at least slightly compresses them,
positioning the strapping band ( 15 ) at an intended position of the grouped articles ( 10 ) on the grouped articles ( 10 ),
securing the packaging blank ( 60 ) to the grouped articles ( 10 ),
increasing the opening width (W) of the cage ( 50 ) of the application head ( 1 ) while simultaneously releasing and separating the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) from its fixed position within the application head ( 1 ),
releasing and separating the at least one packaging blank ( 60 ),
removing the application head ( 1 ) from the strapped article grouping ( 12 ) combined by a packaging blank ( 60 ).

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising releasing the compression of the cage ( 50 ) once the strapping band ( 15 ) has been stripped and is attached to the article grouping ( 12 ) at its intended target position and is positioned there with the intended pre-tension.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising releasing the packaging blank ( 60 ) once the packaging blank ( 60 ) is secured to the articles ( 10 ) in a defined position.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising simultaneously positioning the strapping band ( 15 ) at an intended position on the grouped articles ( 10 ) and securing the packaging blank ( 60 ) to the articles ( 10 ).

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising asynchronously positioning the strapping band ( 15 ) at an intended position on the grouped articles ( 10 ) and securing the packaging blank ( 60 ) to the articles ( 10 ).

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising producing the strapping band ( 15 ) from a strapping material ( 16 ) in strip form and positioning it immediately thereafter in the application head ( 1 ).

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising applying an individual print to the strapping material ( 16 ) or to the strapping band ( 15 ) before positioning in the application head ( 1 ).

8. An application device ( 40 ) for producing packaging units ( 13 ), each of which is made of at least two grouped articles ( 10 ) that are held together by at least one strapping band ( 15 ) and by at least one packaging blank ( 60 ),
the application device ( 40 ) comprises a movement or handling area for an application head ( 1 ) for cooperation with at least two grouped articles ( 10 ) within the movement or handling area,
wherein the application head ( 1 ) comprises a cage ( 50 ) having a variable opening width and a region for inserting at least one pre-assembled closed strapping band ( 15 ), wherein the cage ( 50 ) can surround the grouped articles ( 10 ) on the lateral side,
wherein the application head ( 1 ) comprises at least one holding means ( 72 ) for a packaging blank ( 60 ),
wherein the application head ( 1 ), together with the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) fixed therein and the at least one held packaging blank ( 60 ), can be fed to the grouped articles ( 10 ) located in the movement area by a feeding movement running approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes (L) of the articles ( 10 ), wherein the cage ( 50 ) of the application head ( 1 ) contacts the grouped articles ( 10 ) on their lateral sides and at least slightly compresses them,
and wherein the cage ( 50 ) of the application head ( 1 ) can be opened while simultaneously releasing and separating the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) from its fixed position within the application head ( 1 ).

9. The application device ( 40 ) of claim 8 , wherein the cage ( 50 ) comprises one or more fixing apparatus for the strapping band ( 15 ).

10. The application device ( 40 ) of claim 9 , wherein the one or more fixing apparatus comprises clamping elements ( 3 ), suction elements ( 4 ), vacuum grippers, or adhesion grippers.

11. The application device ( 40 ) of claim 8 , wherein the cage ( 50 ) comprises a contoured guide ( 51 ) on its inner circumference, wherein the contoured guide ( 51 ) is formed at the corner radii, or wherein the contoured guide is beveled in the lowering direction onto the grouped articles ( 10 ).

12. The application device ( 40 ) of claim 11 , wherein the cage ( 50 ) comprises at least one undercut ( 21 ) in which the strapping band ( 15 ) is arranged after insertion into the cage ( 50 ).

13. The application device ( 40 ) of claim 8 , wherein the cage ( 50 ) can be opened by opening movements of individual segments of the cage ( 50 ) directed perpendicularly away from the lateral surface of the grouped articles ( 10 ).

14. A packaging device for producing packaging units ( 13 ), each of which is made of at least two grouped articles ( 10 ) that are held together by at least one strapping band ( 15 ) and at least one packaging blank ( 60 ), comprising an application device ( 40 ),
wherein the application device ( 40 ) comprises a movement or handling area for an application head ( 1 ) for cooperation with at least two grouped articles ( 10 ) within the movement or handling area,
wherein the application head ( 1 ) comprises a cage ( 50 ) having a variable opening width and a region for inserting at least one pre-assembled closed strapping band ( 15 ), wherein the cage ( 50 ) can surround the grouped articles ( 10 ) on the lateral side,
wherein the application head ( 1 ) comprises at least one holding means ( 72 ) for a packaging blank ( 60 ),
wherein the application head ( 1 ), together with the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) fixed therein and the at least one held packaging blank ( 60 ), can be fed to the grouped articles ( 10 ) located in the movement area by a feeding movement running approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes (L) of the articles ( 10 ), wherein the cage ( 50 ) of the application head ( 1 ) contacts the grouped articles ( 10 ) on their lateral sides and at least slightly compresses them,
and wherein the cage ( 50 ) of the application head ( 1 ) can be opened while simultaneously releasing and separating the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) from its fixed position within the application head ( 1 ).

15. The packaging device of claim 14 , further comprising a preparation module ( 30 ) that produces closed strapping bands ( 15 ), the preparation module ( 30 ) comprising:
a magazine with a supply of strapping material in strip form, and
a connecting device ( 33 ) for connecting free ends of the strapping material in strip form to form a closed strapping band ( 15 ).

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

• Haidacher Peter
• Spindler Herbert
• Kreis Marcus
• Saumweber Florian

Classifications

• B65B27/04

  Bundling groups of cans or bottles · CPC title

• B65B17/025 Primary

  the articles being joined by a top carrier element · CPC title

• B65B13/20

  Means for compressing or compacting bundles prior to bundling · CPC title

• B65B13/022 Primary

  Applying preformed bands of continuous-ring form, e.g. elastic · CPC title