WORKPIECE CARRIER, HANDLING DEVICE, AND PACKAGING MACHINE

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to European Patent Application No. 24 201 296.1, filed Sep. 19, 2024, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a workpiece carrier for moving at least one tray-shaped product packaging and the covering element thereof, a handling device comprising multiple such workpiece carriers, and a packaging machine comprising such a handling device.

BACKGROUND

In many industries, workpiece carriers are used to move workpieces between processing stations. Marketable solutions for workpiece carriers in the field of tray-shaped product packaging include, for example, sealing pallets, bucket chains, or workpiece carriers on more flexible system concepts in which individual slides can be moved independently of one another. In the known prior art, we have found that these all have the disadvantage that a separate workpiece carrier must be used for each format. However, format-dependent workpiece carriers are very expensive to produce.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a workpiece carrier that can be adapted to different formats of tray-shaped packaging concepts with little effort. In addition, a handling device and a packaging machine with such workpiece carriers are to be designed in a cost-effective manner.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the workpiece carrier for moving at least one tray-shaped product packaging and the covering element thereof comprises a base carrier which has a passage opening in a central region for the at least one tray-shaped product packaging. An insert element, which has at least one recess for receiving the at least one tray-shaped product packaging in a suspended manner, is detachably applied onto the base carrier. The recess of the applied insert element is arranged above the passage opening of the base carrier.

In this manner, for many types of format changes, the base carrier can remain unchanged and only the inlay part needs to be designed in a format-dependent manner.

Because the tray of the product packaging is also intended to protrude into or through the passage opening of the base carrier, the passage opening in the base carrier is generally at least as large or preferably larger than the recess in the insert element when viewed in cross-section. When projecting the outer contour of the recess and the outer contour of the passage opening onto the same plane, the outer contour of the recess is therefore preferably arranged completely within the outer contour of the passage opening.

The recess preferably has substantially the same size as the outer dimensions of the tray of the product packaging at its upper edge, thus, in the region of its opening. At least the upper portion of the tray is thus secured against lateral slipping in the recess.

The recess can have almost any shape and arrangement in the insert element; however, a circumferential web of the insert element must remain in any case.

Multiple recesses can also be provided in an insert element.

The term “central region” is not limited to a geometric center region, but can also refer to regions offset from the center but still located within the outline of the base carrier, as long as a web of the base carrier remains around the passage opening in each case.

In a preferred configuration, the insert element is a plate-shaped insert element, preferably with a thickness of 0.5 mm to 15 mm, particularly preferably of 1 mm to 15 mm, most preferably of 2 mm to 10 mm. The format part is thus very simple and inexpensive to produce.

Preferably, a circumferential web of the base carrier protrudes around the applied insert element. The outline of the base carrier is therefore preferably larger than the outline of the insert element.

In a preferred configuration, the base carrier has fixing elements on the circumferential web for circumferentially fixing the covering element. In particular, these can be fixing pins that prevent the applied covering element from slipping sideways.

To prevent the insert element from slipping on the base carrier, the applied insert element is preferably inserted into a recess in the base carrier.

Alternatively or additionally, the applied insert element can be held magnetically on the base carrier. A positive mechanical quick-release fastener or a screw connection would also be conceivable here.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a handling device for moving tray-shaped product packagings and the covering elements thereof comprises a guide rail and multiple slides that can be moved along the guide rail. A base carrier of a workpiece carrier as described above is connected to each slide.

The guide rail can be a linear guide rail or an endless guide rail which, for example, has two parallel longitudinal portions and two curved portions connecting these longitudinal portions.

Preferably, the base carrier is detachably connected to the slide, particularly preferably plugged onto the slide. This results in further flexibility with regard to format adjustments since the base carrier of the workpiece carrier can also be easily exchanged.

In a preferred configuration, the slides are magnetically driven. This means that all slides can be controlled and moved independently of each other.

Preferably, the handling device further comprises a lifting device that is designed to lift the insert element from the base carrier, and its upper edge region passes through the passage opening in the base carrier for this purpose.

In this case, it is preferred that the lifting device has an opening or recess for the tray of the tray-shaped product packaging to pass through, which is surrounded by a circumferential web which, when projected into a cutting plane of the recess in the insert element, surrounds the outer contour of the recess. In this manner, for example, during forming or sealing processes, the edge of the contour to be formed or the sealing seam can be supported without the base carrier itself having to absorb any forces. For such a configuration, the passage opening in the base carrier must of course be at least as large in cross-section as the outer contour of the circumferential web of the lifting device.

The lifting device can also engage at other points on the insert element. The base carrier must then have corresponding openings at these points.

It is also preferred when the lifting device is used together with a sealing device for sealing the covering element on the tray-shaped product packaging in a packaging machine.

The sealing device then preferably cooperates with the lifting device in a press connection in order to effect sealing of the covering element to the tray-shaped product packaging along the circumferential web in the lifted state of the insert element.

In addition, further processing stations can be present in the packaging machine, for example a transfer device for carton blanks, at least one feeding device for products and/or inlays, as well as a transfer unit for covering elements.

The packaging machine can also have a forming device for forming the tray-shaped product packaging from the flat blanks. Under certain circumstances, this forming device can perform the forming of the tray-shaped product packaging in the inlay part as a die.

Generally, within the context of the present disclosure, the workpiece carriers can also be moved by means of any other transport device, for example a bucket chain.

The insert element is generally preferably deposited on the base carrier in such a manner that its surface facing away from the base carrier is oriented horizontally.

The insert element can generally comprise one or more recesses.

It is also conceivable that multiple insert elements per base carrier are deposited on different portions of the base carrier.

The tray-shaped product packaging is preferably made of cardboard. It can also be made of plastics.

The covering element is usually a back card. The back card is preferably made of cellulose, wood pulp or waste paper. Alternatively, a covering film portion, for example made of aluminum, can also be used as the covering element.

In principle, all combinations of plastics and cartons are conceivable.

The products to be packaged can be any products that can be packaged in tray-shaped packaging. Examples include batteries, toothbrushes, air fresheners, toilet fresheners, cleaning agents, DIY products, spiral drills, pens (office supplies), cosmetics, electronics (USB sticks, memory cards, etc.), razors, printer cartridges, and many more. The products can also be medical products or hygiene articles.

The tray of the tray-shaped product packaging usually has a length of 5 mm to 400 mm, preferably 10 mm to 300 mm.

The tray of the tray-shaped product packaging usually has a width of 5 mm to 400 mm, preferably 10 mm to 300 mm.

The tray of the tray-shaped product packaging usually has a depth of 2 mm to 100 mm, preferably 4 mm to 80 mm.

In particular embodiments, the insert element has holes which, when depositing it on the base carrier, are guided over pins on the base carrier for centering and holding the insert element.

The distance traveled by the insert element during the lifting process by means of the lifting device is preferably 0.1 to 10 mm, preferably 1 mm to 10 mm, and particularly preferably 2 mm to 10 mm. In particular, the distance traveled should be less than the height of the fixing elements.

A typical sequence of process steps for producing a tray-shaped product packaging with a covering element comprises the following steps in the order indicated:

• • inserting a cardboard blank into the workpiece carrier;
    • forming the tray-shaped product packaging from the blank in the workpiece carrier using a forming device;
  • feeding an inlay into the tray of the tray-shaped product packaging;
  • feeding one or more products into the inlay in the tray of the tray-shaped product packaging;
  • depositing a covering element on the filled product packaging in the workpiece carrier;
  • sealing the covering element to the filled product packaging at least in the region of a circumferential web around the recess in the insert element;
  • removing the sealed product packaging from the workpiece carrier.

There are various possibilities for deviating from this method.

For example, the insertion of a blank and the forming can be completely omitted if a different type of tray made of a non-foldable material is used.

Even if the forming step takes place, the tray-shaped product packaging can also be formed outside the workpiece carrier and only inserted therein after it has been formed. It is also conceivable that the forming takes place exclusively in the separate insert element and the insert element is then inserted into the base carrier together with the formed tray-shaped packaging.

If the forming step takes place in the tool carrier, it is preferable that the lifting device supports the insert element during the forming process or even lifts it slightly. However, other support elements are also conceivable during forming.

The feeding of an inlay can also be omitted for certain product packaging or product shapes. In this case, the product or products would be inserted directly into the tray of the product packaging.

It is also conceivable that the inlay is filled with the products during the process and subsequently inserted as a filled inlay into the tray of the product packaging.

In the context of this application, the term “handling device” refers either to the transport device with the workpiece carriers or, alternatively, to the transport device with the workpiece carriers in combination with the lifting device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of a packaging machine with circulating workpiece carriers;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a section of the packaging machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a workpiece carrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with the insert element being shown shortly before insertion into the base carrier;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the workpiece carrier of FIG. 3 with the insert element attached thereon;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the workpiece carrier of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the workpiece carrier of FIG. 4 with the product packaging inserted;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the workpiece carrier of FIG. 6, with the product packaging shown lifted out of the recesses;

FIG. 8 is a schematic side view of a sealing process with a workpiece carrier according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The packaging machine 2 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a guide rail 4 along which workpiece carriers 5 circulate, in this case counterclockwise. The workpiece carriers 5 are provided for receiving tray-shaped product packagings 6 (FIGS. 6 and 7) and the covering elements 7 thereof (FIG. 6) and pass successively through various processing stations, a transfer device 10 for blanks of the tray-shaped product packagings, a forming device 11 for forming the tray-shaped product packagings 6 from the blanks, a feeding device 12 for inlays, a feeding device 14 for products, a transfer unit 16 for covering elements, and a sealing device 18. The finished product packaging 6 is then removed from the workpiece carrier 5.

FIG. 2 shows a section of the guide rail 4 with a slide 20 attached thereto and with a workpiece carrier 5 connected to the slide 20. The workpiece carrier 5 comprises a base carrier 22 which is plugged onto the slide 20. On the base carrier 22 in turn, an insert element 24 in the form of a thin plate is applied. A circumferential web 23 of the base carrier 22 projects around the insert element 24. The two recesses 28 in the insert element 24 are arranged above two slightly larger passage openings 26 in the base carrier 22. The recesses 28 serve to receive the tray-shaped product packaging 6, see FIGS. 6 and 7. Preferably, the slides 20 can be controlled individually.

FIG. 3 shows the workpiece carrier 5 with the insert element 24 lifted, for example shortly before equipping the base carrier 22 with the insert element 24.

In FIG. 4, on the other hand, the insert element 24 is already deposited on the base carrier 22. In addition, two central pins of the base carrier 22 have been passed through corresponding holes in the insert element 24. They serve to improve guidance during depositing and stabilization in the deposited state.

For a better positional fixing of the insert element 24, a recess 32 in the shape of the insert element 24 can be provided in the base carrier 22, as shown in FIG. 3. Alternatively or additionally, magnets 34 can be provided in the base carrier 22 which hold the insert element 24 magnetically, see FIGS. 3 and 5.

Fixing elements 30 in the form of fixing pins serve for laterally supporting the applied covering element 7 before and during the sealing process.

FIG. 6 shows a finished product packaging 6 with the covering element 7 sealed thereon. FIG. 7 shows the same illustration with the packaging 6 (here without covering element) removed from the workpiece carrier 5.

FIGS. 8a to 8c show an exemplary sealing process for completing the product packaging 6 with the covering element 7 sealed thereto. A lifting device 36 serves as a counter element to the sealing device 18 during the sealing process. For this purpose, the lifting device 36 is moved upwards and slightly lifts the insert element 24, on which the folded edge of the product packaging 6 and the covering element 7 rests, from the base carrier 22. The sealing device 18 is lowered and seals the covering element 7 to the web of the product packaging 6, while the lifting device 36 counteracts. Raising the lifting device 36 and lowering the sealing device 18 can also take place simultaneously.