PACKAGING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A PACKAGING UNIT

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to International Application PCT/EP2022/087240 dated Dec. 21, 2022, which in turn claims priority to German Application DE 10 2022 109 262.3 filed Apr. 14, 2022, which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaging device and to a method for producing a packaging unit according to the features of the independent claims.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a packaging device for producing packaging units in which a packaging is arranged on groups of articles, wherein partial regions of the packaging are connected to one another via an adhesive connection.

Application heads for adhesives are known from the prior art in which several glue application modules are arranged next to one another. The minimum distance between the glue tracks of an application head is defined by the minimum width of a glue application module.

If such an application head is to be used to apply adhesive to packaging regions that have a small width, individual glue application modules may have to be deactivated because only a small number of adhesive applications can correspondingly be placed on the packaging regions. A smaller number of adhesive applications results in a correspondingly lower adhesive effect and thus a lower stability of the adhesive bond.

This could be counteracted by increasing the amount of adhesive applied. However, this is often not desired, as it increases the thickness of the adhesive application and thus also the time until the applied adhesive cures. In addition, adhesive applications with an increased amount of adhesive can cause problems when opening the packaging units.

The object of the invention is to provide a device and a method for producing packaging units in which the disadvantages of the prior art with regard to predetermined distances between adhesive application points are eliminated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above object is achieved by a packaging device and a method for producing a packaging unit which comprise the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the dependent claims.

In the method described here, at least two articles are assembled into article groups and then combined with at least one packaging, wherein at least some regions of the packaging are fixed to one another using an adhesive.

The adhesive is applied to the packaging via an applicator comprising at least two application elements for adhesive. In order to be able to adapt the distances between the adhesive applications on the packaging to the product in an advantageous manner, it is provided that the applicator with the at least two application elements can be put into different angular positions.

A packaging device with which such a method can be carried out comprises a dividing module, which dividing module is designed to form an group of at least two articles. The article groups or article assemblages formed in each instance contain in particular a defined number of articles, which articles are preferably arranged in a defined arrangement within the article group. The number and arrangement of the articles within the article group corresponds here to the number and arrangement of the articles within the packaging unit to be formed.

Furthermore, the packaging device comprises at least one packaging module with a transport for conveying the article groups in a transport direction. The packaging module is designed to arrange at least one packaging on the group of at least two articles and to fasten at least regions of the packaging to one another via an adhesive connection. For this purpose, the packaging module comprises at least one applicator comprising at least two application elements for adhesives, which can be brought into different operating positions, wherein the different operating positions are characterized by different angular positions.

The articles to be combined to form a packaging unit are preferably formed by containers filled with a fluid content, for example bottles or cans; the articles are particularly preferably formed by beverage containers. However, the bottles or cans or similar containers can also be filled, for example, with fluid or pasty contents such as cosmetics or shampoo or similar.

Preferably, identical articles are combined in each instance; however, the method and the packaging device can also be used for the production of mixed containers, particularly preferably packaging units in which several bottles, cans or other containers of the same type with different contents are combined to form a mixed pack.

According to one embodiment, the packaging module can be designed as an application module for fastening upper gripping carton packaging to the corresponding article groups. In particular, an upper gripping cardboard packaging is formed by arranging a packaging blank on the articles in such a way that it is arranged at least in some regions between the articles of the article group and also at least in some regions encompasses upper regions of the outward-facing outer casing surfaces of the articles.

To form the upper gripping carton packaging, in particular a packaging blank is utilized. This packaging blank can in each instance preferably consist of a paper or cardboard material, a plastics material, a cardboard/plastics composite material, or similar.

Each of the packaging blanks has passage openings for the articles to be combined by the packaging blank, wherein these passage openings correspond in particular to longitudinal central axes of the articles to be combined and receive them in some regions, optionally with the production of a positive-fit connection.

Within the application module, the packaging blank is applied to the article group by a downward movement so that upper parts of the articles pass through the corresponding openings. The packaging blank is arranged in regions between the articles of the article group.

Furthermore, it is provided that edge regions of the packaging blank that extend laterally beyond the articles are folded downwards within the application module. In particular, the edge regions are folded over in such a way that they touch the outer casing surfaces of the articles. For this purpose, the edge regions are in particular folded by approximately 90 degrees. It can be provided that the packaging or the packaging blank provides corresponding folding edges which facilitate the process of folding the lateral edge regions.

Furthermore, it is provided that by the applicator comprising at least two application elements, adhesive is applied to the lateral edge regions of the packaging blank. In particular, at least two adhesive dots or adhesive strips arranged one over the other are produced. The term adhesive dots or adhesive strips arranged one over the other is to be understood in particular as an arrangement in which different vertical distances are formed between the adhesive dots or adhesive strips in relation to a transport or support plane of the packaging device on the packaging.

After the lateral edge regions have been folded downward, protruding free end regions of the folded-over lateral edge regions are folded over transversely to the transport direction, so that the free end regions now partially enclose outer casing surfaces of the articles which are assigned to a leading or trailing lateral surface of the article group in the transport direction.

Particularly preferably, an overlapping arrangement of two free end regions is formed here in each instance. In particular, adhesive is applied to a surface of one of the two free end regions before folding the free end regions so that after formation of the overlapping arrangement, an adhesive bond is produced between the overlapping end regions.

Through the above-described arrangement and fastening of the packaging blank on the articles, a packaging unit is formed in which the packaging blank is preferably in engagement with the articles in such a way that the packaging blank is secured to the articles in a substantially stationary manner 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 of the packaging unit again only by applying increased force with a force component directed upward, wherein the packaging blank is generally at least partially destroyed. In addition, in this context a tearing open of the folded edge regions is usually provided.

In the upper gripping cardboard packaging described here, the packaging blank is attached to the articles in such a way that the articles partially pass through the passage openings of the packaging blank and are thus held together by the packaging blank. In particular, the packaging blank is interlocked with the articles in this way.

For this purpose, the passage openings of the packaging blank can each have suitable fixing apparatuses that can be formed, for example, by fixing tabs. For example, fixing tabs are formed by notches or similar extending radially from the passage openings.

Particularly preferably, the packaging blank is in each instance secured to articles in such a way that the articles are each held in a clamping manner within a passage opening of the packaging blank in the region of an upper taper. In particular, bottles are held in a clamping manner below a so-called neck ring and cans are held in a clamping manner below a flanged edge forming the can edge, whereby an effective interlocking between the packaging blank and the articles is given in each instance.

Furthermore, in the upper gripping carton packaging described here, it is provided that the folded edge regions of the packaging blank at least partially enclose lateral outer casing surfaces of the article group. The folded edge regions of the packaging blank form for example a collar around an upper region of the outer casing surfaces of the articles.

According to a further embodiment, the packaging module can also be designed as a folding module, which folding module is designed to form an outer packaging around the group of articles, in particular a cardboard packaging or similar. Here a packaging blank is provided on which the article group is arranged and which is folded around the article group to form a cardboard outer packaging, and wherein, as part of the formation of the cardboard outer packaging, adhesive is applied to the packaging blank in some regions in order to fix regions of the packaging blank to one another during the formation of the cardboard outer packaging.

The outer packaging can be made of, for example, a paper material, a cardboard material, a plastics material, a composite material, or similar.

According to a further embodiment not shown, the packaging module can also be designed as a strapping module which is designed to place a strip-shaped strapping band around outer casing surfaces of the article group and to fasten the free ends of the strapping band to one another by an adhesive connection. In particular, it is provided here that the strapping band is tightly stretched around the articles of the article group in order to hold them together.

The strip-shaped strapping band can be made, for example, from a paper material, a cardboard material of suitable thickness, a plastics material, a composite material, or similar, wherein the strength and stability of the material used depends on the requirements, i.e. on the desired degree of stability of the packaging unit formed thereby.

In the method described here, it is particularly provided that by setting or adjusting the angular position of the applicator, a distance between the at least two adhesive applications that can be applied to the packaging by the application elements of the applicator can be set or adjusted.

The application elements are arranged one over the other within the applicator. In this way, by the arrangement at least two adhesive dots or adhesive strips arranged one over the other can be produced on the packaging. The term application elements arranged one over the other is to be understood in particular as an applicator in which the application elements are arranged at different vertical distances in relation to a transport or support plane of the packaging device.

Due to the given structural conditions of the application elements, when the application elements are arranged directly adjacent to one another, one over the other, there is a first defined distance in a vertical direction between the nozzles or similar that dispense the adhesive. This first distance, in particular this first vertical distance, brings about a corresponding first defined distance between the adhesive dots or adhesive strips formed one over the other on the packaging.

Due to the structural conditions, it is not possible to reduce the distance between the nozzles that dispense the adhesive. In order to produce a lower adhesive application, one of the outer adhesive-dispensing nozzles would have to be deactivated so that fewer adhesive dots or adhesive strips are formed one over the other. Since this creates a less stable adhesive bond, in many cases this is not a reasonable option.

In order to reduce the vertical distance between the adhesive dots or adhesive strips applied to the packaging and arranged one over the other, it is therefore provided that the applicator can assume different operating positions, where the different operating positions are each defined by different angular positions.

A first operating position is defined in particular by the fact that the application elements are arranged one over the other, so that the nozzles of the application elements which dispense the adhesive are arranged one over the other, in particular in a vertical direction.

A second operating position is characterized by the fact that the angular position of the applicator is modified so that the nozzles of the application elements that dispense the adhesive are no longer in a vertical arrangement, but form an arrangement in which they have an offset from one another at an angle to the vertical. In particular, an angular position is changed with respect to a vertical plane. The angular position can be changed in particular within a second vertical plane that is parallel to the transport direction.

A vertical plane is understood to mean in particular a plane that is oriented perpendicular to a horizontal plane within which the transport direction is located.

The angular position of the applicator is adjusted in particular by pivoting the applicator within the vertical plane.

By an applicator brought into a changed position in this way, adhesive dots or adhesive strips arranged one over the other can be produced on the packaging, between which a second vertical distance is formed which is smaller than the first vertical distance described above. In particular, the vertical distance refers to the vertical distance component of the adhesive-dispensing nozzles of the application elements from each other, which results in a direction perpendicular—and here vertical—to the transport direction.

According to a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the applicator can be brought into operating positions at angular positions between 0 degrees and 65 degrees with respect to a plane formed vertically to the transport direction, in particular at angular positions of 30 degrees or at angular positions of 45 degrees with respect to a plane formed vertically to the transport direction.

In this context, it is useful to define the pivot direction by which the applicator is brought into the angular position in the second operating position. In particular, the pivoting of the applicator takes place relative to a first vertical plane, namely a vertical plane which is perpendicular to the transport direction. This refers to the case of articles transported in the horizontal transport direction. In particular, the pivoting thus takes place within a second vertical plane, which is formed in particular by the drawing plane and is parallel to the transport direction and perpendicular to the first vertical plane.

If the second vertical plane defined in this way is perpendicular to the horizontal transport plane on which the articles to be glued by the applicator are transported, and if the second vertical plane is also parallel to the horizontal transport direction or contains this transport direction, the pivoting from the first operating position to the second operating position also takes place by the pivoting angle within this second vertical plane defined in this way.

The angular position can be adjusted manually or by a motor, using a suitable actuator. In the case of motorized adjustment, a suitable drive is assigned to the actuator, for example an electric drive or similar.

In order to be able to adapt the packaging device to different products in a simple manner, it can also be provided that the applicator can be arranged at different heights relative to the conveying level for the article groups. The height adjustment can be manual or motorized.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the packaging device comprises at least one control unit, which control unit is designed to control the setting of the angular position and/or which control unit is designed to control the at least two application elements of the applicator.

Preferably, individual controlling of the application elements via control valves or similar is provided. In particular, the amount and/or timing of adhesive dispensed by each application element can be controlled accordingly. In particular, the time and duration of the dispensing of adhesive by the application element can be controlled. This ensures, particularly in the case of an oblique angular position of the applicator, that the adhesive dots or adhesive strips applied to the packaging are arranged directly one over the other and do not have an offset arrangement on the packaging. In this way, an offset of the adhesive application in the transport direction, which would result from the angular positioning of the applicator, can be compensated for by corresponding controlling of the individual application elements in the software.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that a width of the packaging is detected by sensors. The detected data are used in particular to calculate and set an optimal angular position of the applicator depending on the detected width.

For this purpose, the packaging device preferably comprises at least one detector, for example a sensor, which detector or sensor is designed to detect a width of the packaging. In particular, a width is detected of a region of the packaging in which the adhesive is to be applied in order to adhesively connect this region to another region of the packaging.

The setting of the angular position of the applicator is preferably calculated and controlled by the control unit. This makes it possible to advantageously apply several adhesive dots or adhesive strips arranged one over the other to the packaging, even in the case of small widths.

Furthermore, depending on the detected width and the calculated angular position, the activation time and the activation duration of the control valves assigned to the application elements can be calculated and controlled.

The detection device or sensor can be for example an image recognition sensor or similar. Other physical designs are also conceivable for the sensors used, such as ultrasonic sensors or simpler optical sensors, which do not necessarily have to be followed by image processing, but rather which may only have to provide a light-dark distinction.

The principle described above is particularly advantageous if the adhesive connection is created by pressing regions of the packaging together, wherein a counterpressure is generated by the articles of the article group. Particularly in the case of articles with a cylindrical article body, there are only a few regions of the outer surfaces of the articles that are suitable for generating such a counterpressure, which means that the areas for the adhesive application are correspondingly limited.

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.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

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.

FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a variant embodiment of a packaging device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a packaging module.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an applicator comprising application elements for adhesives in different operating positions.

FIGS. 5 to 10 show further embodiments of packaging modules in different views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Identical reference numerals 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 device according to the invention or the method according to the invention can be configured, and they are non-limiting.

The side view of FIG. 1 schematically shows the structure of a packaging system or packaging device 1 for producing packaging units 20. A packaging unit 20 is formed in particular by at least two articles 30 which are combined with at least one packaging 35.

The articles 30 to be combined are preferably containers filled with a liquid content, for example bottles or cans 31, in particular beverage containers. However, the bottles or cans 31 or similar containers can also be filled for example with fluid or pasty cosmetics such as shampoo or similar.

The idea here is that regions of the packaging are fixed to one another using an adhesive.

The packaging 35 can be for example upper gripping carton packagings 36.

Alternatively, the packaging 35 can also be formed by outer packaging in the form of cardboard packaging, strapping, or similar, within which the articles 30 are arranged accordingly.

The packaging device 1 comprises a first transport 2, via which articles 30 are fed to a dividing module 3 in an unordered mass flow or in an ordered mass flow or in another suitable arrangement in the transport direction TR. In the component module 3, article assemblages or article groups 32 of at least two articles 30 are formed. The article groups 32 each contain a defined number of articles 30, which articles 30 are arranged in a defined arrangement within the article group 32. The number and arrangement of articles 30 within article group 32 corresponds in particular to the number and arrangement of articles 30 within the packaging unit 20 to be formed.

The article groups 32 are supplied to a packaging module 5 via a second transport 4. The packaging module 5 is designed to arrange at least one packaging 35 on each article group 32.

In this context, the regions of the packaging 35 are also fixed to one another via an adhesive 40.

For this purpose, the packaging module 5 comprises at least one applicator 6 with several application elements 7 for adhesive 40, via which application elements 7 the adhesive 40 can be applied to the packaging 35.

It is provided that the applicator 6 can be brought into different operating positions, which different operating positions are characterized by different angular positions. This will be explained in more detail in connection with the following figures.

The perspective view of FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a packaging module 5. The packaging module 5 described here is designed, for example, to attach and/or form packaging 35, in the form of upper gripping cardboard packagings 35, to the article groups 32. In particular, this is an application module 50.

The article groups 32 are formed for example by four cans 31, which are moved through the packaging module 5 via a third transport 8.

The first transport 2, the second transport 4, and the third transport 8 can each be formed by an endless conveyor belt or another suitable transport. The first transport 2, the second transport 4, and the third transport 8 can alternatively be formed by partial regions of a continuous endless conveyor belt.

To form an upper gripping cardboard packaging 36, in particular a packaging blank 37 is provided as the packaging 35. This packaging blank can in each instance preferably consist of a paper or cardboard material, a plastics material, a cardboard/plastics composite material, or similar.

Each packaging blank 37 has passage openings (not visible) for the cans 31 to be combined by the packaging blank 37, wherein these passage openings correspond to longitudinal center axes L of the cans 31 to be combined and accommodate the cans 31 in certain regions, optionally with production of a positive-fit connection.

Within the packaging module 5, the packaging blank 37 is applied to the article group 32 by a downward movement, wherein upper portions of the cans 31 pass through the corresponding passage openings. In particular, here the packaging blank 37 is arranged, at least in regions, between the cans 31 of the article group 32.

Furthermore, it is provided that edge regions 38 of the packaging blank 37 projecting laterally beyond the cans 31 are folded downwards within the packaging module 5. In particular, the edge regions 38 are folded over in such a way that they touch outer casing surfaces 33 of the cans 31. For this purpose, the edge regions 38 are folded over by approximately 90 degrees. It can be provided that the packaging 35 or the packaging blank 37 provides corresponding folding edges 39 which facilitate the process of folding the lateral edge regions 38.

Furthermore, it is provided that by an applicator 6 comprising at least two application elements 7, adhesive is applied to the lateral edge regions 38 of the packaging blank 37.

After the lateral edge regions 38 have been folded downwards, protruding free end regions 45 of the folded-over lateral edge regions 38 are further folded over transversely to the transport direction, so that the free end regions 45 now partially enclose outer casing surfaces 33 of the cans 31, which are assigned to a leading or trailing lateral surface of the article group 32 in the transport direction TR.

Particularly preferably, here an overlapping arrangement of two free end regions 45 is formed in each instance. In particular, adhesive is applied to a surface of one of the two free end regions 45 before folding the free end regions 45, so that after formation of the overlapping arrangement, an adhesive connection is established between the overlapping end regions 45.

By the above-described arrangement and fastening of the packaging blank 37 to the articles 30, in particular cans 31, a packaging unit 20 is formed (see also FIG. 1). In the packaging unit 20, the packaging blank 37 is preferably in engagement with the articles 30 in such a way that the packaging blank 37 is secured to the articles 30 in a substantially stationary manner and the articles 30 can no longer make any significant relative movements or changes in position relative to one another and relative to the packaging blank 37. As a result, the packaging blank 37 can be removed from the articles 31 of the packaging unit 20 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 upper gripping carton packaging 36 described here, the packaging blank 37 is attached to the articles 30 in such a way that the articles partially pass through the passage openings of the packaging blank 37 and are thus held together by the packaging blank 37. In particular, the packaging blank 37 is interlocked with the articles 30 in this way.

For this purpose, the passage openings of the packaging blank 37 can each have suitable fixing devices that can be formed, for example, by fixing tabs. For example, fixing tabs are formed by notches or similar extending radially from the passage openings.

Particularly preferably, the packaging blank 37 is in each instance secured to articles 30 in such a way that the articles 30 are each held in a clamping manner within a passage opening of the packaging blank 37 in the region of an upper taper. In particular, bottles are held in a clamping manner below a so-called neck ring and cans 31 are held in a clamping manner below a flanged edge forming the can edge, whereby an effective interlocking between the packaging blank 37 and the articles 30 is given in each instance.

Furthermore, in the upper gripping carton packaging 36 described here, it is provided that the folded edge regions 38, 45 of the packaging blank 37 at least partially enclose lateral outer casing surfaces 33 of the article group 32. The folded edge regions 38, 45 of the packaging blank 37 form, for example, a collar around an upper region of the outer casing surfaces 33 of the articles 30.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show schematic views of a portion of a packaging module 5 with an applicator 6 comprising three application elements 7 for adhesives in different operating positions AP1, AP2. The three application elements 7 each comprise a glue nozzle 9-1, 9-2, and 9-3. An adhesive reservoir 10 is assigned to the application elements 7. In addition, individual control of the glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, and 9-3 can be provided via control valves 11.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the application elements 7 are arranged one over the other in a conventionally known manner in order to produce adhesive spots or adhesive strips arranged one over the other on the packaging (not shown in FIGS. 3 and 4). The reference to application elements 7 arranged one over the other here means that they are arranged at different vertical distances from a transport or support plane (not shown here).

Due to the structural design, there is a first defined distance A1 between the glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 of the three application elements 7 when they are arranged directly adjacent to one another. This distance A1 results in a corresponding first defined distance A1 between the adhesive dots or adhesive strips produced on the packaging.

It can now be provided that the region of the packaging to which adhesive is to be applied has a width which is equal to or less than twice the first defined distance A1. Thus, with the three glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 in a first operating position according to FIG. 3, it is not possible to produce three adhesive spots or adhesive strips one over the other.

A reduction in the distance between the glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 is not possible due to the structural conditions because, due to the finite volume of each of the three glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, and 9-3 mounted next to each other or one over the other, their distance from each other can at best assume a value of zero, so that the housings of the adjacent glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2 and 9-3 lie against each other. If the distances are to be reduced even further, one of the outer glue nozzles 9-1 or 9-3 would have to be deactivated so that only two adhesive dots or adhesive strips are applied to the packaging. Since this creates a less stable adhesive bond, in many cases this is not a reasonable option.

In order to further reduce a vertical distance between the adhesive points or adhesive strips applied to the packaging arranged one over the other, it is therefore provided according to a variant embodiment of the present invention that the applicator 6 can be brought into at least one second operating position AP2 (FIG. 4), in which second operating position α second effective (vertical) distance A2 is created between the adhesive points or adhesive strips applied to the packaging and arranged one over the other.

Here the second vertical distance A2 is smaller than the first defined vertical distance A1. As previously explained, the vertical distance A2 refers to the vertical distance component of the glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, and 9-3 from each other, which results in a direction that is perpendicular—and here vertical—to the transport direction TR.

In order to transfer the applicator 6 from the first operating position AP1 to the second operating position AP2, an angular position α of the applicator 6 is changed, in particular an angular position α to a vertical or to a vertical plane VE which is oriented perpendicular to a horizontal plane within which the transport direction TR is located.

In addition, it is expedient to define the pivoting direction by which the applicator 6 is brought into the angular position α in the second operating position AP2. In particular, the pivoting of the applicator 6 takes place relative to a first vertical plane VE, as can be seen in FIG. 4, namely a vertical plane VE formed perpendicular to the transport direction TR. This relates to the case of articles transported in the horizontal transport direction TR. In particular, the pivoting thus takes place within a second vertical plane, which is formed in particular by the drawing plane and is parallel to the transport direction TR and perpendicular to the first vertical plane VE.

If the second vertical plane defined in this way is perpendicular to the horizontal transport plane on which the articles to be glued by the applicator 6 are transported, and if the second vertical plane is also parallel to the horizontal transport direction TR or contains this transport direction TR, the pivoting from the first operating position AP1 to the second operating position AP2 also takes place by the pivoting angle α within this second vertical plane defined in this way, as is shown in FIG. 4.

Preferably, it is provided that the applicator 6 can be brought into operating positions AP1, AP2 in angular positions a between 0 degrees (FIG. 3) and 65 degrees in relation to a plane VE formed vertically to the transport direction TR, in particular in angular positions a of 30 degrees or in angular positions a of 45 degrees in relation to a plane VE formed vertically to the transport direction.

The angular position α can be adjusted manually or by motor via an actuator 12. In the case of a motorized adjustment, a suitable drive (not shown) is assigned to the actuator 12, for example an electric drive.

By setting different angular positions a, a distance between at least two adhesive applications on the packaging can be set and, in particular, varied.

In order to be able to adapt the packaging device 1 to different products in a simple manner, it can also be provided that the applicator 6 can be arranged at different heights H relative to the conveying plane formed by the third transport 8. The height adjustment can be manual or motorized.

In FIG. 4, as an example a control unit 13 of the packaging module 5 is shown, which, in the case of a motorized adjustment, is designed to control the actuator 12 and thus the setting of the angular position α and/or the setting of a height H of the applicator 6.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the control unit 13 is designed to control the three application elements 7 of the applicator 6, in particular that the control unit 13 is designed to control the glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 via the control valves 11. In particular, the amount of adhesive dispensed through each of the glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 can be controlled.

In addition, the time and duration of the dispensing of adhesive through each of the glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 can be controlled, thus ensuring, in particular even in the case of an oblique angular position α as shown by example in FIG. 4, that the adhesive spots or adhesive strips applied to the packaging are arranged directly one over the other and do not have an arrangement offset to one another on the packaging.

In FIG. 4, a detection device 14 is also provided, in particular a suitable sensor 15, which detects a width of a region of the packaging in which region adhesive is to be applied. Depending on the detected width, an angular position α of the applicator 6 is calculated so that, even in the case of small widths, three adhesive spots or adhesive strips arranged one over the other can advantageously be applied to the packaging. The control unit 13 then controls the actuator 12 to set the calculated angular position α.

Furthermore, depending on the detected width and the calculated angular position α, the activation time and the activation duration of the control valves 11 assigned to the glue nozzles 9-1, 9-2, 9-3 can also be calculated and controlled.

The sensor 15 can for example be what is known as an image recognition sensor, or similar.

FIGS. 5 to 10 show further embodiments of packaging modules 5 in different views. These each have a plurality of applicators 6 for the parallel handling of a plurality of article groups 32 (FIGS. 6, 8 to 10).

For a description of already-known reference signs which are named in the figures but are not explicitly described in connection with FIGS. 5 to 10, reference is made to the description of FIGS. 1 to 4.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the applicators are arranged on a frame element 16 extending transversely to the transport direction TR, which can be adjusted together in their angular position by a manual adjustment of an actuator 12 designed as a handle 17.

In FIG. 6, the supply lines 18 can also be seen via which the adhesive is supplied to the application elements 7 of the applicator 6.

FIGS. 2 and 5 to 10 show in particular a packaging module 5 which is designed as an application module 50. In the application module 5, in particular a corresponding upper gripping cardboard packaging 36 is attached to each article group 32 in order to group the articles of the article group 32 together. In particular, the upper gripping cardboard packaging 36 is formed by arranging a packaging blank on the articles in such a way that it is arranged at least in regions between the articles of the article group 32 and also at least partially encloses upper regions of the outwardly directed outer casing surfaces of the articles (see also description of FIG. 2).

According to an embodiment not shown, the packaging module can also be designed as a folding module, which folding module is designed to form an outer packaging around the group of articles, in particular a cardboard packaging or similar. Here a packaging blank is provided on which the article group is arranged and which is folded around the article group to form a cardboard outer packaging, and wherein, as part of the formation of the cardboard outer packaging, adhesive is applied to the packaging blank in some regions in order to fix regions of the packaging blank to one another during the formation of the cardboard outer packaging.

According to a further embodiment not shown, the packaging module can also be designed as a strapping module which is designed to place a strip-shaped strapping band around outer casing surfaces of the article group and to fasten the free ends of the strapping band to one another by an adhesive connection. In particular, it is provided here that the strapping band is tightly stretched around the articles of the article group in order to hold them together.

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.

Even if in the context of the above description of the figures reference is also generally made to “schematic” representations and views, this in no way means that the figure representations and their description are to be of subordinate importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. The 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 the person skilled in the art to understand the invention without being confused in any way by the drawn and possibly not exactly true-to-scale proportions of the articles 30, groups 32 of articles, and/or parts of the packaging device 1 or other drawn elements. 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 device
  • 2 First transport
  • 3 Dividing module
  • 4 Second transport
  • 5 Packaging module
  • 6 Applicator
  • 7 Application element
  • 8 Third transport
  • 9-1,9-2,9-3 Glue nozzles
  • 10 Adhesive reservoir
  • 11 Control valve
  • 12 Actuator
  • 13 Control unit
  • 14 Detector
  • 15 Sensor
  • 16 Frame element
  • 17 Handle
  • 18 Feed line
  • 20 Package unit
  • 30 Article
  • 31 Can
  • 32 Article group
  • 33 Outer casing surface
  • 35 Packaging
  • 36 Upper gripping carton packaging
  • 37 Packaging blank
  • 38 Edge region
  • 39 Fold edge
  • 40 Adhesive
  • 45 Free end region
  • 50 Application module
  • α Angular position
  • A1 First defined distance
  • AP1, AP2 Operating position
  • H height
  • L Longitudinal center axis
  • TR transport direction
  • VE Vertical, vertical plane