Method, application device, and packaging device for producing strapped packages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12503261-B2
Application number	US-202218699423-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 13, 2022
Priority date	Oct 12, 2021
Publication date	Dec 23, 2025
Grant date	Dec 23, 2025

Abstract

The invention relates a method using an application head for grouping articles that are held together by a strapping band. The method includes: providing the at least two grouped articles; inserting a prefabricated closed strapping band into the application head, wherein the strapping band is fixed in a defined position. The application head has a variable opening width of a cage which surrounds the grouped articles. It is then lowered over the articles by a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes of the articles, wherein the cage contacts the grouped articles and slightly compresses the grouped articles. The strapping band is then positioned by lowering the application head. The opening width of the cage is then increased while the strapping band is simultaneously released. Then the application head is raised over the strapped article grouping and is removed therefrom.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A method for producing strapped packages ( 13 ), each of which is made of at least two grouped articles ( 10 ) that are held together by at least one strapping band ( 15 ), comprising:
a) providing the at least two grouped articles ( 10 ), which are positioned in a movement or handling area of an application head ( 1 ), b) inserting at least one prefabricated closed strapping band ( 15 ) into the application head, wherein the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) is fixed in a defined position, and the application head ( 1 ) has a cage ( 50 ), with a variable opening width (W), that can surround the at least two grouped articles ( 10 ), c) feeding the application head ( 1 ) equipped with the at least one strapping band to the grouped articles by a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes of the grouped articles or wherein the grouped articles ( 10 ) can be fed to the application head ( 1 ) by a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes (L) of the grouped articles ( 10 ), wherein the cage of the application head contacts the grouped articles on the outer surface thereof and at least slightly compresses the grouped articles, d) positioning the strapping band ( 15 ) on the grouped articles ( 10 ) by lowering the application head ( 1 ), which is simultaneously compressing the articles ( 10 ), e) increasing the opening width (W) of the cage ( 50 ) of the application head ( 1 ) while the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) is simultaneously released and removed from its fixed position within the application head ( 1 ), f) removing the application head ( 1 ) from the strapped article grouping ( 12 ).

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the cage ( 50 ) comprises a contoured guide ( 51 ) on its inner circumference, which is formed at the corner radii, or wherein the inner contour of the cage ( 50 ) is beveled in the lowering direction onto the grouped articles ( 10 ).

3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising eliminating the compression by the cage ( 50 ) once the strapping band ( 15 ) is positioned at its target position on the grouped articles ( 10 ).

4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising opening the cage ( 50 ) by opening movements of individual segments of the cage ( 50 ) directed perpendicularly away from the outer surface of the grouped articles ( 10 ).

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising arranging the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) in an undercut ( 21 ) of the cage ( 50 ) when inserted into the cage ( 50 ) of the application head ( 1 ).

6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising producing the closed strapping band ( 15 ) from a strapping material ( 16 ) provided in strip form and is arranged and temporarily fixed immediately thereafter in the application head ( 1 ).

7 . An application device ( 40 ) for producing strapped packages ( 13 ), each of which is made of at least two grouped articles ( 10 ) that are held together by at least one strapping band ( 15 ), comprising:
an application head ( 1 ) comprising a cage ( 50 ) having a variable opening width (W) and a region for inserting at least one prefabricated closed strapping band ( 15 ), wherein the cage ( 50 ) can surround the grouped articles ( 10 ), wherein the application head ( 1 ), together with the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) fixed therein, can be fed over the grouped articles ( 10 ) located in a movement or handling area of the application head ( 1 ) by a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes (L) of the grouped articles ( 10 ), or wherein the grouped articles ( 10 ) can be fed to the application head ( 1 ) a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes (L) of the grouped articles ( 10 ), wherein the cage ( 50 ) contacts the grouped articles ( 10 ) on the outer surface thereof and at least slightly compresses the grouped articles, and wherein the cage ( 50 ) can be opened while the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) is simultaneously released and removed from its fixed position within the application head ( 1 ).

8 . The application device ( 40 ) of claim 7 , wherein the cage ( 50 ) comprises fixing apparatuses ( 3 , 5 ) for the strapping band ( 15 ).

9 . The application device ( 40 ) of claim 8 , wherein the fixing apparatuses ( 3 , 5 ) comprise vacuum grippers or adhesion grippers.

10 . The application device ( 40 ) claim 7 , wherein the cage ( 50 ) has a contoured guide ( 51 ) on its inner circumference, which is formed at the corner radii, or wherein the inner contour of the cage ( 50 ) is beveled in the feed direction onto the grouped articles group ( 10 ).

11 . The application device ( 40 ) of claim 10 , wherein the cage ( 50 ) comprises at least one undercut ( 21 ) in which the strapping band ( 15 ) is arranged after insertion into the cage ( 50 ).

12 . The application device ( 40 ) of claim 7 , 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 ).

13 . A packaging device for producing strapped packages ( 13 ), each of which is made of at least two grouped articles ( 10 ) that are held together by at least one strapping band ( 15 ), wherein the packaging device comprises an application device ( 40 ) having:
an application head ( 1 ) comprising a cage ( 50 ) having a variable opening width (W) and a region for inserting at least one prefabricated closed strapping band ( 15 ), wherein the cage ( 50 ) can surround the grouped articles ( 10 ), wherein the application head ( 1 ), together with the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) fixed therein, can be fed over the grouped articles ( 10 ) located in a movement or handling area of the application head ( 1 ) by a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes (L) of the grouped articles ( 10 ), or wherein the grouped articles ( 10 ) can be fed to the application head ( 1 ) by a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes (L) of the grouped articles ( 10 ), wherein the cage ( 50 ) contacts the grouped articles ( 10 ) on the outer surface thereof and at least slightly compresses the grouped articles,
and wherein the cage ( 50 ) can be opened while the at least one strapping band ( 15 ) is simultaneously released and removed from its fixed position within the application head ( 1 ).

14 . The packaging device of claim 13 , further comprising a preparation module ( 30 ) for producing closed strapping bands ( 15 ) comprising:
a magazine in which a supply of strapping material ( 16 ) in strip form is provided, a connecting device ( 33 ) for connecting free ends of the strapping material ( 16 ) in strip form to form a closed strapping band ( 15 ).

Assignees

• Krones Ag

Inventors

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

Classifications

• 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

• B65B27/04 Primary

  Bundling groups of cans or bottles · CPC title