PACKAGING APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING PACKAGING UNITS, AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PACKAGING UNITS

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to International Application PCT/EP2023/062213, filed May 9, 2023, which in turn claims priority to German Application 10 2022 121 899.6, filed Aug. 30, 2022, which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units and to a method for producing packaging units.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of packaging exist for processing, assembling, grouping and packaging articles such as beverage containers. A frequently used variant consists, for example, of combining several identical articles or containers into portable, relatively handy pack units or packaging units. Here, too, various options are known for combining individual articles or containers into larger packs. For example, beverage containers are often combined and packaged using shrink films or strapping to form packs of four, six or more containers. The production of packs is usually essential because they are the most common variant of packaging units for beverage containers or bottles made of PET plastics. In some cases, the containers are combined again for transport and/or assembled and palletized in layers.

Furthermore, the use of so-called upper gripping cardboard packages is known, for example, to combine multiple bottles via their neck regions or cans via their lid regions. A packaging machine for placing such upper gripping cardboard packages is described in patent specification EP 1075419 B1. In this document, the articles or containers are arranged in a crate, and the gripping cardboard package is placed on the at least one article arranged in the crate from above. In particular, a plurality of articles is arranged in the crate, and by placing a smaller number of upper gripping cardboard packages on top, subgroups are formed, each of which combines some of the articles arranged in the crate.

In a gripping cardboard package, the arrangement and number of through-openings corresponds to the arrangement and number of articles or containers to be combined. The diameter of the through-openings is usually slightly smaller than the maximum diameter of the articles in an upper region. The gripping cardboard package is placed on the articles and pressed thereon so that a defined upper region of the articles is pushed through the through-openings. In particular, an upper region with a maximum diameter is pushed through the through-openings, and the edge regions of the through-openings are brought into engagement with the articles below this maximum diameter so that the gripping cardboard package is securely and firmly fixed to the articles. In order to fix the gripping cardboard package to the articles in this way, in particular to push the articles through the through-openings, relatively high application forces are necessary. Accordingly, the articles must offer adequate resistance to this application force so that the articles are not damaged when the gripping cardboard package is attached.

Laid-open application DE10 2019 128 874 A1 describes a packaging apparatus and a method for producing packaging units that are configured to reduce the application force that is required to fix a gripping cardboard package on a group of articles. For example, this is done by so-called prebreaking by stretching dies which are suitable for stretching and/or widening the edge regions of the at least through-openings. The packaging blanks are taken from a magazine and placed into a stretching die. The prepared packaging blanks with widened edge regions of the through-openings are then grasped by an application head and accordingly applied to article assemblies by being pressed on.

The object of the invention is to provide cost-effective and space-saving preparation of such packaging blanks.

The above object is achieved by a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units and by a method for producing packaging units that include the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the dependent claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units and a method for producing packaging units in such a packaging apparatus. When referring to packaging units below, an assembly comprising at least two articles is meant thereby. A packaging blank which is sheet-like at least regionally is arranged on the assembly of articles, which packaging blank has at least two through-openings for the at least two articles in the sheet-like region, which through-openings each have an edge region which is in contact with the corresponding article.

The articles or containers are preferably beverage containers, in particular bottles made of PET or of another suitable plastics material. Preferably, the articles or containers can also be formed by cans made of plastics material and/or aluminum or another metal or the like. However, the packaging apparatus and the method are also suitable for arranging a corresponding packaging blank on other suitable articles or containers and fixing them thereto.

The packaging blank is in particular a so-called upper gripping cardboard package. The packaging blank preferably consists of a cardboard material, a plastics material, a cardboard-plastics composite material or the like.

Preferably, after the packaging blank has been fixed, a defined upper region of the articles is located above the packaging blank while a defined lower region of the articles is arranged below the packaging blank.

The packaging blank, which is sheet-like at least regionally, can also have carrying handle openings through which the user can put their fingers in order to be able to pick up and transport the entire packaging unit, or the like. Alternatively, the packaging blank can comprise a different carrying device, for example in the form of glued-on carrying handles or the like.

A packaging apparatus according to the invention comprises at least one feed device for the articles, at least one dividing device for dividing up at least two articles as an assembly of articles or article group, an application head for applying and fixing the packaging blank to the article group and a magazine in which magazine a plurality of packaging blanks is held for application to the article groups.

After the packaging blank has been arranged on and fastened to the articles, the packaging blank is in engagement with the articles in such a way that it is substantially immovably fixed to the articles, and the articles can no longer make any significant relative movements or changes in position relative to one another and relative to the packaging blank. As a result, the packaging blank can be removed from the articles in the article group again only under increased force with a force component directed upward, wherein the packaging blank is generally at least partially destroyed.

It is provided in this case that the application head comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings, or that the magazine comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings.

The devices for pretreating the edge region are configured in particular to reduce a resistive force in the given edge region of the through-openings in the packaging blank during the subsequent application of the packaging blank to the article group.

In particular, pretreatment can at least slightly increase the average diameter of the at least through-openings. As a result, an upper region of the articles having a maximum diameter, which maximum diameter is preferably at least slightly larger than an average diameter of the through-openings, can be more easily passed through the given through-opening.

The term “application force” refers in particular to the force with which the packaging blank is pressed onto the articles so that the articles at least partially pass through the through-openings in the packaging blank. The application force is therefore the force that is required to fasten the packaging blank to the article group in such a way that the upper region of the articles with a maximum diameter is arranged above the packaging blank, and the lower region of the articles is arranged below the packaging blank.

To apply a packaging blank with pretreated edge regions, the required application force is significantly reduced compared to an application force that would be necessary to fix a packaging blank to the articles without pretreatment. This also reduces the risk of the items being damaged when applying the packaging blank compared to conventional packaging apparatuses and methods. In this case, even articles that have a smaller wall thickness can be used without being damaged when applying the packaging blank.

A preferred embodiment can provide that the through-openings in the packaging blank have suitable fixing devices which can be formed, for example, by folding tabs. For example, the edge regions of the through-openings in the packaging blanks are each provided with incisions for forming folding tabs. Suitable pretreatment devices are configured to partially fold the folding tabs, thereby increasing the diameter of the through-openings.

An embodiment of an application head with integrated pretreatment devices can provide that the application head comprises an application plate and a prebreaking plate. The application plate is preferably equipped with retaining devices for at least temporarily fixing the packaging blank. For example, the application head comprises suction devices or gripping devices which are configured to at least temporarily hold the packaging blank and fix it to the application head.

The prebreaking plate is preferably equipped with prebreaking devices. These may in particular be mechanical devices which can ensure preparation of the openings and ensure easier application of the packaging blank to the articles to be fixed thereto.

In particular, the application plate comprises a first number of openings.

Furthermore, the prebreaking plate comprises a first number of prebreaking devices which extend in a downward direction from a bottom side of the prebreaking plate. The first number of openings in the application plate and the first number of prebreaking devices of the prebreaking plate are the same and correspond in particular to the number of articles that are combined with the packaging blank to form a packaging unit.

In a first operating position, a first distance is formed between the application plate and the prebreaking plate, wherein the first distance is selected such that the prebreaking plate and the prebreaking devices are arranged above the application plate. In a second operating position, a second distance is formed between the application plate and the prebreaking plate, wherein the second distance is selected such that the prebreaking plate is arranged above the application plate at a smaller distance. The prebreaking devices are at least partially arranged within corresponding openings in the application plate.

The openings in the application plate have a first diameter which at least corresponds to the diameter of the through-openings in the packaging blank. In particular, the openings in the application plate have a first diameter which at least corresponds to the diameter of the widened through-openings.

In the first operating position, the application head is configured to receive the packaging blank in such a way that a through-opening in the packaging blank and an opening in the application plate are always aligned.

The lower end region of the prebreaking devices is configured to at least partially fold downward the edge region of a given through-opening in the packaging blank held on the application plate when the application head is transferred from the first operating position to the second operating position. Furthermore, the lower end region of the prebreaking devices is configured to at least partially fold upward the folded-down edge region of a given through-opening in the packaging blank held on the application plate when the application head is returned from the second operating position to the first operating position.

The packaging blank accordingly prepared on the application head with folding tabs projecting upward from the sheet-like region is then applied to the article group to form the desired packaging unit. In particular, the prepared packaging blank is fixed to the articles of the article group by being pressed onto the article group from above. The upwardly projecting folding tabs engage below a region of the articles with a wider diameter, for example below the flanged ring of a can lid or below the neck ring of a bottle.

One embodiment of a magazine with integrated pretreatment devices can provide that the magazine, in which packaging blanks for producing packaging units are provided and held, comprises first pretreatment devices, which first pretreatment devices are configured to at least partially fold the edge regions of the through-openings in a packaging blank arranged at the very top of the magazine upward and/or downward.

A further embodiment of a magazine with integrated pretreatment devices can provide that the magazine comprises second pretreatment devices, which second pretreatment devices are configured to at least partially fold the edge regions of the through-openings in all the packaging blanks arranged in the magazine upward or downward so that all the packaging blanks arranged in the magazine are each already equipped with folding tabs that have been at least partially folded over.

In this case, it can be provided, for example, that the second pretreatment devices are configured as centering mandrels which have an upper end region in the form of a cone or truncated cone with a tip pointing upward. In particular, the centering mandrels are arranged on a lower base plate of the magazine and have a cylindrical body with a longitudinal axis oriented orthogonally to the base plate and a defined diameter. The defined diameter preferably corresponds to the diameter of the widened through-openings. The diameter of the base of the cone or truncated cone forming the upper end region preferably corresponds to the defined diameter of the cylindrical body of the centering mandrels.

The arrangement and number of centering mandrels within the magazine correspond to the arrangement and number of articles within the packaging units. A plurality of centering units can also be arranged within the magazine, wherein each centering unit is configured to receive a stack of packaging blanks, and wherein each centering unit comprises a corresponding number and arrangement of centering mandrels.

The invention further relates to a method for producing packaging units in a packaging apparatus as described above.

If the edge region of the through-openings in the packaging blank is pretreated by the application head, it is then in particular provided that this takes place between the application head grasping a packaging blank and the application of the packaging blank to the article group.

One embodiment can provide that the application head comprises an application plate and a prebreaking plate which have different distances from one another in different operating positions, and wherein reducing the distance between the application plate and the prebreaking plate causes the edge regions of the through-openings in the packaging blank held on the application plate to be folded downward, and wherein a subsequent increase the distance between the application plate and the prebreaking plate causes the edge regions of the through-openings in the packaging blank held on the application plate to be folded upward.

If the edge region of the through-openings is pretreated, a possible embodiment can then provide that, before removing the uppermost packaging blank from the magazine, the edge regions of the through-openings in the uppermost packaging blank in each instance are at least partially folded upward or downward within the magazine by suitable first pretreatment devices. An alternative embodiment may provide that when a stack of packaging blanks is introduced into the magazine, the edge regions of the through-openings in all the packaging blanks of the stack are at least partially folded upward or downward within the magazine by suitable second pretreatment devices.

A further embodiment can provide that the packaging apparatus comprises an additional removal head with which at least one packaging blank can be removed from the magazine and transferred to a ready position, from which ready position the packaging blank can be picked up by an application head and applied to a group of articles.

In this embodiment, it is provided that the removal head comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings, in particular devices which are configured to partially fold over the folding tabs in the edge regions of the through-openings in the packaging blanks, thereby increasing the diameter of the through-openings.

The removal head comprises, for example, suction devices or gripping devices which are configured to at least temporarily hold the packaging blank and to fix it to the removal head.

Furthermore, the removal head comprises, for example, a prebreaking plate which is preferably equipped with prebreaking devices. In particular, the prebreaking plate comprises a number of prebreaking devices which extend in a downward direction from a bottom side of the prebreaking plate. The number of prebreaking devices of the prebreaking plate corresponds in particular to the number of articles which are combined with the packaging blank to form a packaging unit.

The prebreaking plate can in particular be configured as described in connection with the application head, which application head comprises an application plate and a prebreaking plate.

In the removal head, the suction devices or gripping devices are movable relative to the prebreaking plate. When at least one packaging blank is picked up by the suction devices or gripping devices, the packaging blank is usually not yet in contact with the prebreaking devices of the prebreaking plate.

By reducing the distance from the prebreaking plate, the lower end regions of the prebreaking devices are guided through the through-openings, which causes the folding tabs to be at least partially folded downward.

Before or during the placement of the packaging blank in the ready position, the distance between the prebreaking plate and the packaging blank is increased again. In this case, the lower end region of the prebreaking devices is again passed through the through-openings, whereby the folding tabs of the edge region of each through-opening, which have been at least partially folded downward, are now folded upward, at least in part.

The appropriately prepared packaging blank is placed in a ready position, from which ready position it can be picked up by a suitably configured application head in order to be fixed on the article group. An application head suitable in this context can accordingly have a simpler construction than the application head described above, which comprises an application plate and a prebreaking plate.

By integrating the preparation of the packaging blank using suitable pretreatment devices or prebreaking devices in the removal head, the magazine or the application head, cycle times can be shortened when producing the packaging units. Furthermore, the packaging apparatus can be significantly smaller since an additional pretreatment module is no longer required.

It should be expressly mentioned at this point that all aspects and embodiment variants which have been explained in connection with the device according to the invention can also relate to, or be, partial aspects of the method according to the invention. Therefore, if the description or the claim definitions pertaining to the device according to the invention make mention of certain aspects and/or correlations and/or effects, this applies equally to the method according to the invention. The same applies vice versa so that all aspects and embodiment variants which have been explained in connection with the method according to the invention can also relate to, or be, partial aspects of the device according to the invention.

Therefore, if the description or the claim definitions pertaining to the method according to the invention make mention of certain aspects and/or correlations and/or effects, this applies equally to the device according to the invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention and their advantages are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. The proportions of the individual elements relative to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual proportions, since some forms are simplified, while other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units from above.

FIG. 2 shows a packaging blank used in the packaging apparatus according to the known prior art.

FIGS. 3 and 4 each show an application head with integrated pretreatment.

FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of a magazine with integrated pretreatment.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show a second embodiment of a magazine with integrated pretreatment.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of a magazine with integrated pretreatment.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units from above.

Identical reference signs are used for identical elements of the invention or those having the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference signs are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the invention can be configured, and are non-limiting.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and the figures, including their various views or respective individual features, may be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with an embodiment are applicable for all embodiments provided the features are not incompatible.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The schematic plan view in FIG. 1 shows a packaging apparatus 1 for producing packaging units from above. The schematic plan view in FIG. 2 shows a packaging blank 30 used in the packaging apparatus 1, as is already known in particular from the prior art.

The articles 20 are fed via a feeding transport device 2. In the present exemplary embodiment, the articles 20 are fed in individual rows into lanes 3 separated from one another by lane plates 4. The articles 20 are transferred as article groups 22 from the lanes 3 onto a conveyor belt 5 of the packaging apparatus 1. They are divided into article groups 22, for example, by a dividing rod (not shown) between the transport device 2 and the conveyor belt 5. However, other ways of creating article groups 22 can also be used, for example a grouping module or the like.

The articles 20 are preferably beverage containers, in particular bottles made of PET or of other suitable plastics. Preferably, the articles can also be formed by cans 21 made of plastics and/or aluminum or another metal or the like. However, the packaging apparatus 1 and the method are also suitable for arranging a packaging blank 30 as described below on other suitable articles 20 and forming corresponding packaging units 40.

A packaging blank 30, which is sheet-like at least regionally, is then applied to the article group 22.

The packaging blank 30 is in particular a so-called upper gripping cardboard package 31. The packaging blank 30 comprises at least two through-openings 33 in the sheet-like region 32 for the at least two articles 20 to be combined. The through-openings 33 each have an edge region 34 (FIG. 2) which is in contact with the given article 20 in the finished packaging unit 40.

The packaging blank 30 preferably consists of a cardboard material, a plastics material, a cardboard-plastics composite material or the like.

Preferably, after the packaging blank 30 has been fixed, a defined upper region of the articles 20 is located above the packaging blank 30, while a defined lower region of the articles 20 is arranged below the packaging blank 30.

The packaging apparatus 1 comprises at least one magazine 6 in which packaging blanks 30 are held. An application head 10 removes at least one packaging blank 30 from the magazine 6 and applies the grasped packaging blank 30 to the article group 22.

It can also be provided that the application head 10 is configured to simultaneously grasp a plurality of packaging blanks 30, which plurality of packaging blanks 30 that are grasped are subsequently applied to a plurality of article groups 22 either simultaneously or immediately one after the other.

After the packaging blank 30 has been arranged on and fastened to the article groups 22, the packaging blank 30 engages with the articles 20 in such a way that it is substantially immovably fixed on the articles 20, and the articles 20 can no longer make any significant relative movements or changes in position relative to one another and relative to the packaging blank 30. As a result, the packaging blank 30 can be removed from the articles 20 of the packaging unit 22 again only by applying increased force with a force component directed upward, wherein the packaging blank 30 is generally at least partially destroyed.

In the packaging apparatus 1, it is further provided that the application head 10 comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings 33 or that the magazine 6 comprises devices for pretreating the edge region 34 of the through-openings 33.

The devices for pretreating the edge region 34 are configured in particular to reduce a resistive force in the given edge region 34 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 during the subsequent application of the packaging blank 30 to the article group 22.

In particular, the pretreatment can at least slightly increase the average diameter d33 of the at least through-openings 33. As a result, an upper region of the articles 20 having a maximum diameter, which maximum diameter is preferably at least slightly larger than the average diameter of the through-openings 33, can be passed through the given through-opening 33 more easily.

In particular, by pretreating the packaging blank 30, the application force with which the packaging blank 30 is pressed onto the articles 20 so that the upper region of the articles 20 with a maximum diameter is arranged above the packaging blank 30 and the lower region of the articles 20 is arranged below the packaging blank 30, is significantly reduced compared to an application force that would be necessary to fix a packaging blank 30 to the articles 20 without pretreatment. Thus, the risk of damaging the articles 20 when applying the packaging blank 30 is reduced compared to conventional packaging apparatuses and methods. In this case, even articles 20 with a smaller wall thickness can be used without being damaged when the packaging blank 30 is applied.

A preferred embodiment can provide that the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 have suitable fixing devices 35 which can be formed, for example, by folding tabs 36. For example, the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blanks 30 are each provided with incisions to form folding tabs. Suitable pretreatment devices are configured, for example, to partially fold the folding tabs 36 over, thereby increasing the diameter of the through-openings 33.

The schematic side views in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 each show an application head 10 having integrated pretreatment. In particular, it is provided that the packaging blank 30 is pretreated between the application head 10 grasping the packaging blank 30 and the application of the packaging blank 30 to the article group 22 by the application head 10.

The application head 10 comprises an application plate 11 and a prebreaking plate 13, wherein the application plate 11 is equipped with retaining devices 12 for at least temporarily fixing the packaging blank 30. For example, the application head 11 comprises suction devices or gripping devices as retaining devices 12 which are configured to hold the packaging blank 30 at least temporarily and to fix it to the application head 11.

The prebreaking plate 13 is equipped with prebreaking devices 14.

In particular, the application plate 11 comprises a first number of openings. Furthermore, the prebreaking plate 13 comprises a first number of prebreaking devices 14 which extend in a downward direction from a bottom side of the prebreaking plate 13. The first number of openings in the application plate 11 and the first number of prebreaking devices 14 of the prebreaking plate 13 are the same here and correspond in particular to the number of articles 20 which are combined with the packaging blank 30 to form a packaging unit 40 (cf. FIG. 1).

The openings in the application plate 11 have a first diameter which at least corresponds to the average diameter d33 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 (cf. FIG. 2). In particular, the openings in the application plate 11 have a first diameter which at least corresponds to the diameter of the through-openings 33 widened by the pretreatment process.

In a first operating position OP1 (cf. FIG. 3), a first distance A1 is formed between the application plate 11 and the prebreaking plate 13, wherein the first distance A1 is selected such that the prebreaking plate 13 and the prebreaking devices 14 are arranged above the application plate 11.

In a second operating position OP2 (cf. FIG. 4), a second distance A2 is formed between the application plate 11 and the prebreaking plate 13, wherein the second distance A2 is selected such that the prebreaking plate 13 is arranged above the application plate 11 at a smaller distance. The prebreaking devices 14 are arranged at least partially within corresponding openings in the application plate 11 in this case.

The second distance A2 can be reduced to zero, if necessary, in which case the top of the application plate 11 and the bottom of the prebreaking plate 13 touch.

In the first operating position OP1, the application head 11 is configured to pick up the packaging blank 30 in such a way that a through-opening 33 in the packaging blank 30 and an opening in the application plate 11 are always aligned.

The lower end region 15 of the prebreaking devices 14 is configured to at least partially fold downward the edge region 34 of a given through-opening 33 (cf. FIG. 2) in the packaging blank 30 held on the application plate 11 when the application head 10 is transferred from the first operating position OP1 to the second operating position OP2. In addition, the lower end region 15 of the prebreaking devices 14 is configured to at least partially fold upward the folded-down edge region 34 of a given through-opening 33 in the packaging blank 30 held on the application plate 11 when the application head 10 is returned from the second operating position OP2 to the first operating position OP1.

The packaging blank 30v correspondingly prepared on the application head 10 accordingly comprises folding tabs 36 that are partially folded upward and is now applied to the article group 22 to form the desired packaging unit 40. In particular, the prepared packaging blank 30v is fixed on the articles 20 of the article group 22 by pressing it onto the article group 22 from above. The upwardly bent folding tabs 36 advantageously engage, for example, under the flanged edge in the lid region of cans or under the neck ring of bottles.

The further schematic side view in FIG. 5 shows a first embodiment of a magazine 6 with integrated pretreatment, while FIGS. 6A and 6B show a second embodiment of a magazine 6 with integrated pretreatment, again in schematic side views in each instance.

An embodiment of a magazine 6 with integrated pretreatment devices can provide that the magazine 6, in which packaging blanks 30 are provided and held for the production of packaging units 40 (cf. FIG. 1), comprises first pretreatment devices 60.

In the embodiment of a magazine 6 shown in FIG. 5, the first pretreatment devices 60 have a conical shape 61 having a conical tip 62 pointing downward. The packaging blank 30 arranged at the very top in the magazine 6 is pretreated by the pretreatment device 60 before being removed. For this purpose, the uppermost packaging blank 30 within the magazine 6 is lifted and guided toward the first pretreatment devices 60 so that they pass from above through the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 and at least partially fold downward the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the uppermost packaging blank 30.

The correspondingly prepared packaging blank 30v is subsequently applied on an article group 22 by being pressed on from above. In this case, the folding tabs 36 which have been prebroken downward are bent upward, for which less force is required due to the pretreatment process in the magazine 6.

In the embodiment of a magazine 6 shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, the packaging blank 30 arranged at the very top in the magazine 6 is also pretreated by pretreatment devices 60 formed in the magazine 6 before being removed. For this purpose, the uppermost packaging blank 30 within the magazine 6 is lifted and guided toward the first pretreatment devices 60 so that they pass through the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 from above and at least partially fold the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the uppermost packaging blank 30 downward.

In addition, the pretreatment devices 60 according to FIG. 6A are configured such that the folding tabs 36 of the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blank 30 are at least partially folded upward during subsequent lowering.

The correspondingly prepared packaging blank 30v is subsequently applied to an article group 22 by pressing it thereon from above. As a result of the folding tabs 36 being prebroken upward in advance, less force is required for this.

The schematic side view in FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of a magazine 6 with integrated pretreatment. In this case, second pretreatment devices 63 are provided which are configured to fold the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in all the packaging blanks 30 arranged in the magazine 6 at least partially upward so that all the packaging blanks 30 arranged in the magazine 6 are already equipped with folding tabs 36 that have been at least partially folded upward.

In this case, it can be provided, for example, that the second pretreatment devices 63 are configured as centering mandrels 64 which have an upper end region 65 in the form of a cone 66 or truncated cone with a tip 67 that points upward. In particular, the centering mandrels 64 are arranged on a lower base plate 70 of the magazine 6 and have a cylindrical body with a longitudinal axis L oriented orthogonally to the base plate 70 and a defined diameter. The defined diameter preferably corresponds to the diameter of the widened through-openings 33.

The diameter of the base of the cone 66 or truncated cone forming the upper end region preferably corresponds to the defined diameter of the cylinder body of the centering mandrels 64. The arrangement and number of centering mandrels 64 within the magazine 6 correspond to the arrangement and number of articles 20 within the packaging units 40 (cf. FIG. 1).

A plurality of centering units can also be arranged within the magazine 6, wherein each centering unit is configured to receive a stack of packaging blanks 30, and wherein each centering unit comprises a corresponding number and arrangement of centering mandrels 64.

By integrating the preparation of the packaging blank 30 by suitable pretreatment devices or prebreaking devices 14, 60, 63 in the application head 10 or in the magazine 6, cycle times can be shortened when producing the packaging units 40. Furthermore, the packaging apparatus 1 can be significantly smaller since an additional pretreatment module is no longer required.

The plan view of FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a packaging apparatus 1 for producing packaging units 40 from above. Only the differences with respect to the embodiment in FIG. 1 will be discussed here.

For the description of the other reference signs, reference can therefore be made to the above passages of the description relating to FIG. 1.

The packaging apparatus 1 comprises a removal head 50 with which at least one packaging blank 30 can be removed from the magazine 6 and transferred to a ready position 52, from which ready position 52 the packaging blank 30 can be picked up by an application head 54 and applied to an article group 22.

In this embodiment, it is provided that the removal head 50 comprises devices for pretreating the edge region 34 of the through-openings 33, in particular devices which are configured to partially fold over the folding tabs 36 in the edge regions 34 of the through-openings 33 in the packaging blanks 30, thus increasing the diameter of the through-openings 33.

The removal head 50 comprises, for example, suction devices or gripping devices which are configured to at least temporarily hold the packaging blank 30 and to fix it to the removal head 50.

Furthermore, the removal head 50 comprises, for example, a prebreaking plate which is preferably equipped with prebreaking devices. In particular, the prebreaking plate comprises a number of prebreaking devices which extend in a downward direction from a bottom side of the prebreaking plate. The number of prebreaking devices of the prebreaking plate corresponds in particular to the number of articles 20 which are combined with the packaging blank 30 to form a packaging unit 40.

The prebreaking plate of the removal head 50 can in particular be configured as has been described in relation to the application head 10 in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.

In the removal head 50, the suction devices or gripping devices are preferably configured or arranged to be movable relative to the prebreaking plate. When at least one packaging blank 30 is picked up by the suction devices or gripping devices, the packaging blank 30 is generally still not in contact with the prebreaking devices of the prebreaking plate.

By reducing the distance from the prebreaking plate, the lower end regions of the prebreaking devices are guided through the through-openings 33, whereby the folding tabs 36 are at least partially folded downward.

Before or when placing the packaging blank 30 in the ready position 52, the distance between the prebreaking plate and the packaging blank 30 is increased again. In this case, the lower end region of the prebreaking devices is again passed through the through-openings 33, whereby the folding tabs 36 of the edge region 34 of the given through-opening 33, which have been folded at least partially downward, are now at least partially folded upward.

The correspondingly prepared packaging blank 30v is placed in the ready position 52, from which ready position 52 it can be picked up by a suitably configured application head 54 in order to be fixed on the article group 22. A suitable application head 52 in this context can accordingly have a simpler construction than the application head 10 described in connection with FIGS. 3 and 4.

It should finally be noted at this point with respect to the descriptions of embodiments of the invention that these passages of the description each refer to the attached drawings. If reference is generally made to “schematic” representations and views in connection with the drawings and the description thereof, this in no way means that the representations in the figures and the description thereof are any less important with regard to the disclosure of the invention. A person skilled in the art is certainly able to derive sufficient information from the schematically and abstractly drawn representations that will make it easier for him to understand the invention without being confused in any way by the drawn and possibly not exactly true-to-scale proportions.

The figures enable the person skilled in the art as reader to get a better understanding of the inventive idea, which has been formulated more generally and/or more abstractly in the claims and in the general part of the description, on the basis of the more specifically explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more specifically explained mode of operation of the device according to the invention.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1 Packaging apparatus

2 Transport device

3 Lanes

4 Lane plate

5 Conveyor belt

6 Magazine

7 First pretreatment devices

10 Application head

11 Application plate

12 Retaining devices

13 Prebreaking plate

14 Prebreaking device

15 Lower end region

20 Article

21 Cans

22 Article group

30 Packaging blank

30v Prepared packaging blank

31 Upper gripping cardboard packaging

32 Sheet-like region

33 Through-opening

34 Edge region

35 Fixing device

36 Folding tab

37 Incision

40 Packaging unit

50 Removal head

52 Ready position

54 Application head

60 First pretreatment devices

61 Conical shape

62 Cone tip

63 Second pretreatment device

64 Centering mandrels

65 Upper end region

66 Cone

67 Cone tip

70 Base plate

A1 First distance

A2 Second distance

OP1 First operating position

OP2 Second operating position

d33 Average diameter