Device and method for packaging flat articles conveyed in a conveying stream

Abstract

The invention is related to a device and to a method for packaging flat articles (10) conveyed in a conveying stream, in particular printed products, with a packaging material. The device includes a conveying device (24) for conveying the flat articles in a conveying direction (F), as well as a processing means (16) for producing an at least partially closed envelope (20) out of packaging material. Apart from this, an onward conveying device (26) for conveying onwards articles (10) enveloped with envelopes (20) out of packaging material is present. Because as a result of errors in feeding-in, in particular gaps in the incoming conveying stream, it is possible that empty envelopes are produced, in accordance with the invention a transfer device (28) is arranged downstream of the processing means (16). This is capable of removing from the conveying stream empty envelopes (22) produced without the inclusion of an article (10).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The invention is related to the field of materials-handling and packaging technology and concerns a device and a method for packaging flat articles conveyed in a conveying stream in accordance with the generic term (preamble) of the claims. The device according to the invention serves for the packaging of flat articles, for example, of individual printed products, of stack-shaped groups of printed products or of stack-shaped groups of printed products and other flat articles, such as, for example, CDs, flat sample articles or flat sample bags.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]From EP-A 0 712 782 or WO 2005 / 118402, for example, it is known how to pack flat articles of the type mentioned above with the help of a so-to-say endless packaging material web, e.g., a plastic foil or paper web fed-in from a roll. In doing so, at least one packing material web is placed around articles being conveyed in a row one after the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0017]As an alternative to, or in addition to the sucking up, empty envelopes in preference are deflected from the conveying stream with compressed air. By using compressed air, individual envelopes are able to be specifically influenced, wherein nonetheless one is able to do without movable mechanical components, which have to be accelerated. The removed envelopes thereupon in preference, but not imperatively, are able to be sucked up by a suction device as already described. In this, by the deflection it is achieved, that the suction device with the same suction power is able to be located at a greater distance from the conveying plane. As a result, the susceptibility for errors and the passage height of the device (distance from conveying plane to suction element) and with this its flexibility for packaging articles of different thickness is increased.

[0018]It is possible that the compressed air is continuous and calculated in such a way, that only empty envelopes are removed, but on the basis of their greater weight no enveloped articles are removed. In a preferred variant, the compressed air is supplied under control, when an empty envelope comes into the zone of influence of the outward transfer device, wherein the supply otherwise is interrupted. Herein it is possible that higher pressures, resp., outflow speeds are used and the empty envelope therefore is very easily deflected, resp., even blown away from the conveying stream.

[0019]As a variant to the pure compressed air supply, for the ejecting, for example, a pneumatically driven pusher is conceivable, which also makes a short reaction time possible.

[0021]Overall a system for the outward transfer of empty envelopes is proposed, which is mechanically simple, is capable of operating with little control technology effort and which has a low susceptibility for errors as well as a high flexibility with respect to the articles to be packaged.

Problems solved by technology

A problem in case of such devices with articles continuously conveyed in a conveying stream without any intermediate storage are the envelopes of packaging material, which because of a deficient supply remain empty, for example, when in a regular row of continuously supplied products one or several products are missing (gap).

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