Application Device, Application Apparatus and Method for Applying Additional Elements to Packages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020130881-A1
Application number	US-201816607401-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2018
Priority date	Apr 27, 2017
Publication date	Apr 30, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described and depicted is an application apparatus for applying additional elements, in particular straws, to packages, preferably cardboard composite packages. So that the application can also be carried out reliably at high speeds and with moderate equipment complexity, it is provided that at least two applicators are provided which are adjustable along a common, circumferential transport track from a pick-up position for picking up the additional elements to an application position for applying the additional elements to the packages and back and which comprise respectively at least one application finger for pressing the additional elements onto the packages.

First claim

1 . An application apparatus for applying additional elements, in particular straws, to packages, preferably cardboard composite packages, wherein
at least two applicators are provided which are adjustable along a common, circumferential transport track from a pick-up position for picking up the additional elements to an application position for applying the additional elements to the packages and back and which comprise respectively at least one application finger for pressing the additional elements onto the packages, wherein the applicators respectively comprise a base and wherein the at least one application finger of the applicators is provided so as to be pivotable about a pivoting axis relative to the base such that the at least one application finger is pivotable in the application position of the associated applicator in the direction of the packages, characterised in that an additional element guide is provided for guiding the additional elements and for contacting the additional elements with the additional element guide respectively at least partially between the pick-up position and the application position.

2 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 ,
characterised in that the at least two applicators are distributed uniformly over the circumferential transport track.

3 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 ,
characterised in that the circumferential transport track is a circular track and in that, preferably, the applicators are secured to an application wheel and/or application carousel rotating about a positioning axis of rotation.

4 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 ,
characterised in that the application finger is designed for at least partially receiving and/or holding the additional elements.

5 . (canceled)

6 . The application on apparatus according to claim 1 ,
characterised in that the application fingers of the applicators are provided for pressing the additional elements onto the additional element guide.

7 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 ,
characterised in that the application fingers are spring-loaded and/or preloaded for holding the additional elements, for pressing the additional elements onto the additional element guide and/or for pressing the additional elements onto the packages.

8 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 ,
characterised in that the applicators adjacent to the application finger comprise a guide finger for guiding in an interlocking manner the additional element at least partially held by the application finger in the transport device of the additional element.

9 . The application apparatus according to claim 1 ,
characterised in that the applicators are respectively pivotable about an orientation pivoting axis from a pick-up orientation to an application orientation and back, and in that, preferably, the orientation pivoting axes of the applicators are oriented inclined, in particular at least substantially perpendicular, to the positioning axis of rotation of the application wheel and/or application carousel.

10 . The application device for applying additional elements, in particular straws, to packages, preferably cardboard composite packages, having at least one transport apparatus for transporting the packages, along a package transport track,
characterised in that an application apparatus according to claim 1 is provided for applying the additional elements to the packages transported along the package transport track.

11 . A method for applying additional elements, in particular straws, to packages, in particular cardboard composite packages, with the application apparatus according to claim 1 ,
in which the at least two applicators, preferably at least substantially uniformly distributed, are adjusted along a common, circumferential transport track from a pick-up position for picking up the additional elements an application position for applying the additional elements to the packages and back, and in which the additional elements are pressed onto the packages in the application position respectively by at least one application finger of the applicators.

12 . The method at according to claim 11 ,
in which the applicators, preferably arranged on a rotating application wheel and/or application carousel, rotate about a circular track.

13 . The method according to claim 11 ,
in which when picking up the additional elements from the applicators, an application finger is adjusted, in particular pivoted, against a restoring force, and/or in which the additional elements are at least in sections held between the pick-up position and the application position in particular in a recess, by a spring-loaded and/or preloaded application finger, and/or in which the additional elements are at least in sections pressed between the pick-up position and the application against an additional element guide for guiding the additional elements by a spring-loaded and/or preloaded application finger, and/or in which the additional elements pressed against the packages by a spring-loaded and/or preloaded application finger in the application position.

14 . The method according to claim 11 ,
in which the additional elements are guided and/or held in an interlocking manner at least in sections between the pick-up position and the application position adjacent to the application finger by a guide finger.

15 . The method according to claim 11 ,
in which the applicators between the pick-up position and the application position are respectively pivoted about an orientation pivoting axis from a pick-up orientation to an application orientation, and in which, preferably, the applicators are pivoted about the orientation pivoting axis at least substantially perpendicular to the positioning axis of rotation of the applicator wheel and/or application carousel.

Assignees

• Sig Technology Ag

Inventors

• Männle Andreas

Classifications

• B65B35/16

  by grippers · CPC title

• B65B35/26

  by rotary conveyors · CPC title

• B65B35/24

  by endless belts or chains {(B65B35/205 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B65B61/205 Primary

  for adding drinking straws to a container · CPC title

• B65B61/202

  for attaching articles to the outside of a container (B65B61/205 takes precedence) · CPC title