Packaging machine for packaging products or groups of products and method of operating such a packaging machine

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging machine (1) for packaging products (5) or product groups (5') in particular with paper material or thin paperboard material, wherein the packaging machine (1) has a singulating device (4) for individually separating the fed paper or paperboard blanks (3) and for transferring the separated paper or paperboard blanks (3) to the products (5) to be packaged or to the product groups (5') to be packaged. The singulating device (4) has at least one gripper head (6), and preferably exactly two gripper heads (6), wherein the at least one gripper head (6) is driven in a non-uniform path movement in such a way that the at least one gripper head (6) moves slower in the region of the packaging feed (2) and in the transfer region (7) than when the at least one gripper head (6) is transferred from the packaging feed (2) to the transfer region (7).

Description

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a packaging machine for packaging products or groups of products using an overpack or secondary package. The present invention further relates to a corresponding packaging method.

[0002] In particular, the present invention preferably, but not exclusively, relates to so-called secondary packaging machines which are configured for producing packages, in particular large packages (containers), that is to say products, in particular packaged products assembled in containers, are enclosed by an overpack material.

[0003] Many overpacks are known in the packaging technology sector. An overpack is a package whose underlying content is another package. Thus, the package is also referred to as a first package or primary package, while the overpack is referred to as a second package or secondary package. For example, a packaging sleeve can also be considered a first package. The packaging sleeve serves as a "semi-finished product" for manufacturing food or beverage packages. The packaging sleeve is typically made from a flat blank and can be produced by, for example, folding the blank and welding or gluing the seams.

[0004] The purpose of the overpack or secondary package is thus in particular to combine a plurality of primary packages or packaging sleeves into a unit in order to be able to stack them more easily on a pallet or the like and to transport them in a compact manner. Another role of the overpack is to protect the products contained within the overpack and their primary packages and / or packaging sleeves contained within the overpack from external influences such as impacts, damage and dirt. The packaging sleeves or product units taken out of the overpack are, for example, immediately fed to a filling machine at their destination.

[0005] The term "packaging machine" used herein also includes the term "grouping device" per se and is to be understood as part of a larger system. For example, the packaging machine is part of a filling line which is usually arranged within a production hall.

[0006] Individually packaged products such as beverages filled in cartons or flour packaged in bags are subsequently brought together into larger containers for better transport. For this purpose, the products are conveyed together in the packaging machine and brought together in groups of the desired size by corresponding control of the conveyor belts. Such containers can then be realized, for example, by filling a plurality of products into a paperboard package or by wrapping with a film, which is subsequently tightened so that the container becomes stable.

[0007] For example, a method for enclosing products with a heat-shrink wrap and a device for this purpose are known from publication US 2002 / 0189204 Al.

[0008] There are various types of packages for the processing, assembly, grouping and packaging of products such as beverages filled in cartons or flour packaged in bags.

[0009] With regard to improved logistics manageability, it is necessary to equip products, in particular for products which are not completely dimensionally stable, with a set arrangement of paperboard packaging pieces, for example PET beverage containers. Alternatively, these container arrangements can then be wrapped with film and shrunk by means of a heating process in order to obtain a stable container composite which can be easily transported and stacked.

[0010] Another container variant is referred to as "hot shrink only", since the assembled products are wrapped in film without further paperboard overwrapping and the film is heat shrunk tight. The dimensional stability of this container variant is guaranteed only by the heat shrink wrapping.

[0011] According to another type of packaging, the assembled products are equipped only with paperboard packaging, wherein the encapsulation of the formed containers in film is dispensed with.

[0012] In this type of packaging, paperboard or corrugated paper is generally used as the material for the overwrapping. This type of overwrapping is also outlined herein under the term "outer carton".

[0013] In addition to the question of whether paperboard, corrugated paper and / or film is used as overwrapping material, the substances used for the overwrapping material are relatively expensive. A further disadvantage of these overwrappings is that the overwrapping material has to be opened at the destination, such as a filling machine, removed from the filling machine and subsequently disposed of.

[0014] Thus, after use, the overwrapping requires a great deal of effort to dispose of the overwrapping at the destination of the products stored therein. The disposal of the overwrapping is also designed in a problematic manner, since the overwrapping is generally paperboard or corrugated paper material, i.e. a relatively stable packaging. Thus, the waste produced by the overwrapping made of paperboard or corrugated paper has a high volume and a high weight.

[0015] Although overwrappings made of plastic, such as film, are considered to be advantageous compared to overwrappings made of paperboard or corrugated paper from the perspective of weight and volume, these plastic overwrapping materials still have considerable environmental disadvantages. In particular, the dismantling, recycling and recycling of the currently used plastic overwrapping materials is expected to cause significant disposal problems in the future.

[0016] Thus, in the packaging industry, there is an increasing demand for overwrappings with significantly improved environmental effectiveness or environmental efficiency compared to conventional overwrapping materials, such as paperboard, corrugated paper or plastic film.

[0017] In view of the foregoing, the problem of the present invention is to design and further develop a packaging machine of the type previously described and previously more fully explained in such a way as to avoid the drawbacks that arise in the prior art.

[0018] In particular, a packaging machine will be provided, which operates even more cost-effectively with outer packaging material. Further, a reduction of waste produced by the outer packaging will be achieved.

[0019] To solve this problem, according to the application, a packaging machine is proposed according to independent claim 1, wherein advantageous further developments of the packaging machine are given in the dependent claims.

[0020] The potential problems of the application are further solved by the packaging method according to parallel claim 15.

[0021] The packaging machine according to the application and the packaging method according to the application are particularly characterized in that products or product groups can be packaged in a particularly efficient and interruption-free manner with particularly thin packaging material made of paper or paperboard. For this purpose, the packaging machine according to the application comprises a special singulating device with which a paper or paperboard blank made of thin material (compared to the outer packaging blanks conventionally used) can be safely separated individually from the packaging feed and appropriately transferred to the products or product groups to be packaged.

[0022] In particular, the packaging machine according to the application for packaging products or product groups, in particular with paper material or thin paperboard material, has a packaging feed for feeding in flat paper or flat paperboard blanks.

[0023] Furthermore, the packaging machine according to the application has the aforementioned singulating device, which is configured to separate the fed paper or paperboard blanks individually and to transfer the separated paper or paperboard blanks to the products or product groups to be packaged.

[0024] According to the application, in particular, the singulating device has at least one gripper head, and preferably exactly two opposite gripper heads, and a mechanism associated with the at least one gripper head for continuously moving the at least one gripper head, preferably on a track between the packaging feed and the transfer area, in which the individual paper or paperboard blanks are transferred from the at least one gripper head to the products or product groups to be packaged.

[0025] Of course, thin outer packaging material, in particular outer packaging made of paper material or thin paperboard material, is significantly more pliable than the relatively thick paperboard or corrugated material conventionally used. In order to be able to safely place such pliable outer packaging material, for example made of paper or thin paperboard material, on the product or product group to be packaged even with a high number of cycles according to a predetermined or determinable sequence of events, when separating the fed paper or paperboard blanks and when transferring the separated paper or paperboard blanks, particular precautions have to be observed because of the pliable nature of these outer packaging blanks, otherwise it cannot be ensured that the outer packaging blanks are placed in a separate, separated and suitable manner, i.e. in particular without kinks and without folds and properly aligned with respect to the product or product group to be packaged.

[0026] For this purpose, according to the application it is in particular provided that the mechanism associated with the gripper head is configured to drive the at least one gripper head in a non-uniform orbital motion, so that the at least one gripper head moves slower in the region of the packaging feed and in the transfer region than when the at least one gripper head is transferred from the packaging feed to the transfer region.

[0027] In other words, the mechanism associated with the at least one gripper head is on the one hand configured to move the at least one gripper head in a continuous motion on the orbit between the packaging feed and the transfer region. In this way, a continuous operation is ensured when separating the fed paper or paperboard blanks using the packaging feed and when transferring the separated paper or paperboard blanks to the product or product group to be packaged.

[0028] On the other hand, in the case of particularly pliable outer packaging material, the susceptibility to errors or malfunctions is increased due to the pliable nature of the outer packaging material, so that it is essential to separate the fed paper or paperboard blanks and to transfer the separated paper or paperboard blanks to the product or product group to be packaged.

[0029] By delaying the actual process of separating and the actual process of transferring the separated paper or paperboard blanks to the product or product group to be packaged, this susceptibility to errors / malfunctions can be significantly minimized.

[0030] According to the application, this delay in the process of separating and transferring the paper or paperboard blanks ensures that the mechanism associated with the at least one gripper head, i.e. the mechanism configured to drive the at least one gripper head in a non-uniform orbital motion, so that the at least one gripper head moves slower in the region of the packaging feed and in the transfer region than during the transfer of the at least one gripper head from the packaging feed to the transfer region.

[0031] The packaging machine according to the application, and in particular the singulating device of the packaging machine according to the application, is thus suitable for reliably transferring the paper or paperboard blanks to the products or product groups to be packaged in a highly efficient manner even at high cycle numbers.

[0032] In order to drive the at least one gripper head in a non-uniform orbital motion, various implementations are possible for the mechanism.

[0033] In this context, according to an embodiment which is particularly easy to implement, the at least one gripper head is rotatably supported about a rotation axis, and the mechanism associated with the at least one gripper head is configured to drive the at least one gripper head in a trochoidal or trochoid-like orbital motion. The trochoidal or trochoid-like orbital motion is selected such that the at least one gripper head (about its rotation axis) cycles through a total of three repeated and adjacent trochoidal or trochoid-like orbital paths per 360°.

[0034] In particular, in this implementation the mechanism associated with the at least one gripper head is configured such that when the at least one gripper head is located at a first transfer point between a first trochoidal or trochoid-like orbital path and a second trochoidal or trochoid-like orbital path, the at least one gripper head is arranged above the region of the packaging feed or inside the region of the packaging feed, and subsequently, when the at least one gripper head is located at a second transfer point between a third trochoidal or trochoid-like orbital path and the first trochoidal or trochoid-like orbital path, the at least one gripper head is arranged at or near the transfer region.

[0035] This embodiment is based on the finding that a non-uniform orbital motion of the at least one gripper head in the form of a trochoidal orbital motion consisting of three trochoidal orbital paths offers the advantage that the motion of the at least one gripper head is delayed when the at least one gripper head is located at the respective transfer point between adjacent trochoidal orbital paths.

[0036] In order to implement this trochoidal path of the at least one gripper head, according to an embodiment of the application the mechanism associated with the at least one gripper head has a gear drive which can be driven with a drive shaft, in particular a gear train, to which the at least one gripper head is operatively connected such that the at least one gripper head is rotated about its rotation axis on the one hand and the at least one gripper head is rotated about the axis of the drive shaft on the other hand. Preferably, the rotation axis of the at least one gripper head extends parallel to the axis of the drive shaft and is located outside the axis. In particular, the axis extends perpendicular to the conveying direction in which the products or product groups to be packaged move through the transfer region.

[0037] This is an easily implemented mechanical implementation in order to be able to implement the trochoidal path of the at least one gripper head. Of course, other embodiments can also be considered here.

[0038] Preferably, the shaft should extend perpendicular to the conveying direction, through which the products or product groups to be packaged move at least through the transfer region.

[0039] In a further improved manner of the latter embodiment, in order to implement the trochoidal movement of the at least one gripper head, a gear transmission is used, which can be driven with a drive shaft, in particular a gear train, the gear transmission, in particular the gear train, being configured to drive the at least one gripper head to rotate uniformly about the shaft in a first rotational direction, and the gear transmission, in particular the gear train, being further configured to drive the at least one gripper head to rotate uniformly about the rotational axis of the at least one gripper head in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

[0040] The first rotational direction and the second rotational direction can be chosen such that the at least one gripper head moves via a single trochoid or trochoidal path when being transferred from the packaging feed to the transfer region, and such that the at least one gripper head moves at least in the direction in which the products or product groups (5’) to be packaged move through the transfer region (7).

[0041] Preferably, the rotational frequency with which the at least one gripper head is driven to rotate about the shaft and the rotational frequency with which the at least one gripper head is driven to rotate about the rotational axis are preferably chosen such that the at least one gripper head moves in the transfer region at least approximately at the same speed as the products or product groups move through the transfer region (7).

[0042] The rotational frequency with which the at least one gripper head is driven to rotate about the shaft and / or the rotational frequency with which the at least one gripper head is driven to rotate about the rotational axis is preferably adjustable in order to be able to adjust the cycle frequency of the singulation device to the cycle frequency of other components of the packaging machine.

[0043] In order to synchronize the rotational frequency with which the at least one gripper head is driven to rotate about the shaft and the rotational frequency with which the at least one gripper head is driven to rotate about the rotational axis accordingly, it is proposed to use a gear train with a single drive for this purpose in a particularly easy-to-implement but effective manner.

[0044] However, it is of course also conceivable to provide two separate drives, which are synchronized with one another via a corresponding control device.

[0045] The singulation device of the packaging machine according to the application provides in particular two embodiments, namely a first embodiment, in which the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are chosen such that the at least one gripper head moves at least in the plurality of regions in the direction in which the product or product group to be packaged moves through the transfer region when being transferred from the packaging feed to the transfer region.

[0046] Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction can be chosen such that the at least one gripper head moves at least in the plurality of regions in the opposite direction in which the product or product group to be packaged moves through the transfer region when being transferred from the packaging feed to the transfer region.

[0047] Both of the two aforementioned embodiments have certain advantages and disadvantages depending on the material used for the outer packaging. The first embodiment, in which the first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are chosen such that the at least one gripper head moves at least in the plurality of regions in the direction in which the product or product group to be packaged moves through the transfer region when being transferred from the packaging feed to the transfer region, has the advantage that the packaging material blank moves in the same direction as the product or product group to be packaged when the separated packaging material blank is transferred to the product or product group to be packaged. Thus, in this embodiment, only a relatively small (flow-technical) disruption occurs in the transfer region due to the Bernoulli effect, since the packaging material blank to be transferred in the transfer region moves ideally in the same direction at approximately the same speed as the product or product group to be packaged, the packaging material blank will be placed above the product or product group to be packaged.

[0048] In other words, the first embodiment, in which the at least one gripper head moves at least in the plurality of regions in the direction of transport of the product or product group to be packaged during the transfer from the packaging feed to the transfer region, is suitable for outer packaging materials that are particularly pliable, such as paper materials.

[0049] On the other hand, the second embodiment, in which the at least one gripper head moves in the opposite direction to the direction of transport of the product or product group to be packaged during the transfer from the packaging feed to the transfer region, has an advantage when there is adhesion between the packaging feed of yet separate individual packaging blanks. In this case, depending on the circumstances, it can be sensible for the packaging material blanks to be removed from the packaging feed with an upward movement.

[0050] In order to increase the number of cycles that can be achieved with the singulation device, according to an embodiment the at least one gripper head is connected to the rotation axis via an arm region, wherein the arm region extends on both sides of the rotation axis and has two opposite end regions, on each of which at least one gripper head is arranged.

[0051] In this embodiment, the arm region rotationally connected to the rotation axis can thus successively separate two paper or paperboard blanks per rotation.

[0052] For the at least one gripper head of the singulation device various embodiments are possible.

[0053] According to one implementation, the at least one gripper head is preferably configured as a vacuum gripper. This is a suction gripper which can have a flexible suction pad which delimits a suction space which can be connected to a vacuum source and which has a front end region which defines a suction opening and an opposite rear end region. The suction opening of the suction pad is typically formed with a sealing lip which abuts or can be attached to the surface of the outer packaging material blank to be processed and subsequently closes the suction space between the suction pad and the surface of the outer packaging material blank which can be correspondingly evacuated. The suction pad then tightly rests against the surface of the outer packaging material blank and holds it in place by the action of the air.

[0054] However, of course other embodiments of the at least one gripper head are possible, for example mechanically operated gripping fingers etc.

[0055] In principle, regardless of the implementation of the at least one gripper head, it is advantageous when the gripping region of the at least one gripper head is preferably continuously directed radially outwards with respect to the track on which the at least one gripper head moves between the packaging feed and the transfer region.

[0056] In this way, it is ensured that the gripper head, and in particular the gripping region of the gripper head, is always properly aligned on the one hand with respect to the paper or paperboard blank to be separated and on the other hand with respect to the product or product group to be filled in the already separated paper or paperboard blank.

[0057] According to an implementation of the packaging machine according to the invention, the packaging machine has at least one conveyor or conveyor belt for conveying the products or product groups to be packaged at least through the transfer region of the singulation device, wherein a folding device is arranged downstream of the transfer region for folding the paper or paperboard blank placed on the products or product groups when viewed in the conveying direction of the products or product groups to be packaged, such that preferably a product or product group completely wrapped in the paper or paperboard blank is formed.

[0058] For the folding device various embodiments are considered.

[0059] According to an embodiment of the packaging machine according to the application, the folding device is associated with at least one conveyor belt or conveyor belt for conveying the products or product groups to be packaged by the folding device, wherein the folding device has a plurality of folding stations arranged in a row when viewed in the conveying direction of the products or product groups to be packaged, wherein the paper or paperboard blanks are folded in succession around the products or product groups as the folding device conveys the products or product groups to be packaged.

[0060] Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the folding device has folding arms, in particular folding arms guided on a circulating chain, which folding arms are placed from above on the products or product groups in an upstream end region of the folding device when viewed in the conveying direction of the products or product groups and are moved with the products or product groups to at least partially fold the paper or paperboard blanks placed on the products or product groups.

[0061] Of course, other embodiments for folding the paper or paperboard blanks placed above the products or product groups are also conceivable.

[0062] In order to also be able to fold the outer packaging material in a particularly efficient manner on the bottom of the products or product groups, according to an embodiment of the application at least two opposite conveyor belts are provided, which are arranged in at least a downstream end region of the folding device respectively laterally engage the products or product groups when viewed in the conveying direction of the products or product groups to be packaged, said conveyor belts being inclined towards the horizontal direction by preferably at least two degrees and more preferably at least five degrees when viewed in the conveying direction of the products or product groups.

[0063] With regard to the packaging machine, it is further conceivable that the packaging machine has a grouping device upstream of the singulating device for the on-demand and in particular automatic grouping of a plurality of products, i.e. for forming product groups, when viewed in the conveying direction of the products or product groups to be packaged.

[0064] The application further relates to a method for packaging products or product groups, in particular with paper material or thin cardboard material.

[0065] In the method according to the application, flat paper or paperboard blanks are fed. Subsequently, the fed paper or paperboard blanks are individually separated and the separated paper or paperboard blanks are then transferred to the products or product groups to be packaged.

[0066] In order to separate the fed paper or paperboard blanks and to transfer the separated paper or paperboard blanks to the products or product groups to be packaged, at least one gripper head moves continuously on a track between a packaging feed and a transfer area, in which the individual paper or paperboard blanks are transferred from the at least one gripper head to the products or product groups to be packaged. For this purpose, the at least one gripper head is driven in a non-uniform track movement, so that the at least one gripper head moves slower in the area of the packaging feed and in the transfer area than when the at least one gripper head is transferred from the packaging feed to the transfer area.

[0067] With the packaging method according to the application, the advantages previously achieved in connection with the packaging machine according to the application can also be achieved.

[0068] In a non-uniform movement, the body travels over paths of different sizes at the same time intervals compared to a uniform movement in which the body moves at a constant speed and without changing direction. In other words, in a non-uniform movement, the speed of the body changes.

[0069] Exemplary embodiments of the packaging machine according to the application are described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0070] The accompanying drawings show:

[0071] Figure 1 schematically and in isometric view an exemplary embodiment of a packaging machine according to the application;

[0072] Figure 2 schematically and in isometric view a grouping device for use with a packaging machine according to the application; Figure 1

[0073] Figure 3 schematically and in isometric view a singulation device for use with a packaging machine according to the application; Figure 1

[0074] Figure 4 schematically and in isometric view a region of a folding device for use with a packaging machine according to the application; Figure 1

[0075] Figure 5 schematically and in isometric view a region of a folding device for use with a packaging machine according to the application; Figure 1

[0076] Figure 6 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of a singulation device for separating fed paper or paperboard blanks individually and transferring the separated paper or paperboard blanks to products or product groups to be packaged, wherein in the Figure 6 ​​​​at least one gripper head of the singulating device is shown in the position in which it is used to separate the fed paper or paperboard blanks, and in the position in which it is used to transfer the separated paper or paperboard blanks to the products or product groups to be packaged; and

[0077] Figures 7A to 7C show the sequence of actions of at least one gripper head of the singulating device according to the application when transferring the at least one gripper head from the packaging feed to the transfer area. Figure 6

[0078] Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of a packaging machine 1 according to the application is shown schematically and in isometric view. The packaging machine 1 of the shown embodiment is used to enclose first packaging items, i.e. packaged products 5, in outer packaging material.

[0079] The individual products 5 are first fed into the packaging machine 1 and, if necessary, temporarily stored in a storage table 21 or material magazine.

[0080] As can be seen in the isometric view in Figure 2 As can be seen in the isometric view in

[0081] At the downstream end region of the storage table 21 or material magazine, a predetermined or determinable number of products 5 is removed per unit of time from the individual lines of the storage table 21 and grouped using a downstream grouping device 20. The grouping device 20 is thereby used to assemble product groups, which are subsequently wrapped with outer packaging material in order to thereby form corresponding containers.

[0082] The product groups formed in the grouping device 20 are subsequently fed to the outer packaging device of the packaging machine 1 by means of a conveyor belt. As can be seen in the isometric view in Figure 3

[0083] Preferably, the blanks 3 are made of paper or thin cardboard. If necessary, the blanks 3 can be laminated. Typically, the blanks 3 have a plurality of folding lines, which are designed to facilitate folding of the blanks 3 and to divide the blanks 3 into a plurality of surfaces.

[0084] Furthermore, the isometric view in Figure 3

[0085] ​​​On the one hand, the singulating device 4 serves to individually separate the flat paper or paperboard blanks 3 that have been fed by means of the packaging feed 2. On the other hand, the singulating device 4 also serves to transfer the separated paper or paperboard blanks 3 to the products or product groups 5' to be packaged.

[0086] As can be further seen in the illustration in Figure 3 The singulating device 4 has at least one gripper head 6, which can in particular be configured as a vacuum gripper.

[0087] The at least one gripper head 6 is associated with a mechanism, which preferably serves for continuous movement of the at least one gripper head 6 on a track between the packaging feed 2 and a transfer area 7, in which the individual paper or paperboard blanks 3 are transferred from the at least one gripper head 6 to the products or product groups 5' to be packaged.

[0088] In the sequence shown in Figure 6 and in Figures 7A to 7C the functioning of the singulating device 4 and the mechanism associated with the at least one gripper head 6 can be seen.

[0089] Briefly, in the exemplary embodiment shown in the drawings, the mechanism associated with the at least one gripper head 6 comprises a gear transmission, which can be driven with a drive shaft 8, in particular a gear train group 9, to which the at least one gripper head 6 is operatively connected, so that the at least one gripper head 6 is rotated on the one hand about its rotation axis 10 and on the other hand about the axis 11 of the drive shaft 8, wherein the rotation axis 10 of the at least one gripper head 6 extends parallel to the axis 11 of the drive shaft 8 and lies outside the axis 11.

[0090] From the isometric view in Figure 3 It can be seen that the axis 11 preferably extends perpendicular to the conveying direction 12 in which the products 5 or product groups 5' to be packaged move through the transfer area 7.

[0091] From the movement sequence of the at least one gripper head 6 shown in Figures 7A to 7C it can be seen that the gear transmission, in particular the gear train group 9, is configured to drive the at least one gripper head 6 to rotate uniformly about the axis 11 in a first rotation direction, wherein the gear transmission, in particular the gear train group 9, is further configured to drive the at least one gripper head 6 to rotate uniformly about the rotation axis 10 of the at least one gripper head 6 in a second rotation direction opposite the first rotation direction.

[0092] In the singulating device 4 used in the exemplary embodiment of the packaging machine 1 according to the application, the at least one gripper head 6 is arranged connected to the rotary shaft 10 via an arm region 14, wherein the arm region 14 extends on both sides of the rotary shaft 10 and has two opposite end regions, on each of which at least one gripper head 6 is arranged.

[0093] Furthermore, in the implementation of the packaging machine 1 according to the application as shown in the drawing, the gripping region of the at least one gripper head 6, which is preferably configured as a vacuum gripper, is preferably continuously directed radially outwards with respect to the track when the at least one gripper head 6 moves between the packaging feed 2 and the transfer region 7.

[0094] The mechanism described above, which is associated with the at least one gripper head 6 of the singulating device 4 and serves to continuously move the at least one gripper head 6, preferably on the track between the packaging feed 2 and the transfer region 7, in particular serves to drive the at least one gripper head 6 forward in a trochoidal track movement, in which the individual paper or paperboard blanks 3 are transferred from the at least one gripper head 6 to the products or product groups 5’ to be packaged in the transfer region 7.

[0095] In particular, the gripper head 6 is driven in a trochoidal or trochoid-like track movement, wherein the trochoidal or trochoid-like track movement is selected such that the gripper head 6 passes through a total of three repeated and adjacent trochoidal or trochoid-like track paths per 360° cycle.

[0096] The mechanism associated with the gripper head 6 is configured such that, when the gripper head 6 is located at a first transfer point between the first and the second trochoidal or trochoid-like track path, the gripper head 6 is arranged above or within the region of the packaging feed 2 and subsequently, when the gripper head 6 is located at a second transfer point between the third and the first trochoidal or trochoid-like track path, the gripper head 6 is arranged at or near the transfer region 7.

[0097] In Figure 6 the position of the at least one gripper head 6 in the two transfer points between the trochoidal or trochoid-like track paths is shown.

[0098] In general, the mechanism associated with the at least one gripper head 6 thus serves to drive the at least one gripper head 6 in a non-uniform track movement such that the at least one gripper head 6 moves more slowly in the region of the packaging feed 2 and in the transfer region 7 than when the at least one gripper head 6 is transferred from the packaging feed 2 to the transfer region 7.

[0099] According to an advantageous embodiment of the singulating device 4, the gear transmission, in particular the gear train group 9, is configured to drive the gripper head 6 to rotate uniformly about the axis 11 in a first rotational direction, wherein the gear transmission, in particular the gear train group 9, is further configured to drive the gripper head 6 to rotate uniformly about the rotational axis 10 of the gripper head 6 in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction.

[0100] The first rotational direction and the second rotational direction can be chosen such that the gripper head 6 moves via only a single cycloid or cycloidal track path during the transfer of the packaging feed 2 into the transfer area 7 and such that the gripper head 6 moves in at least a plurality of regions in the direction in which the product 5 or product group 5’ to be packaged moves through the transfer area 7, wherein the rotational frequency with which the at least one gripper head 6 is driven to rotate about the axis 11 and the rotational frequency with which the at least one gripper head 6 is driven to rotate about the rotational axis 10 is preferably chosen such that the at least one gripper head 6 moves in the transfer area 7 at least approximately at the same speed as the product or product group 5’ to be packaged moves through the transfer area 7.

[0101] However, alternatively, it is also generally conceivable that the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction can be chosen such that the gripper head 6 moves on a total of two cycloid or cycloidal track paths during the transfer of the packaging feed 2 into the transfer area 7 and such that the gripper head 6 moves in at least a plurality of regions in a direction opposite the direction in which the product 5 or product group 5’ to be packaged moves through the transfer area 7.

[0102] Although not explicitly shown in the figures, the exemplary embodiment of the packaging machine 1 according to the application has at least one conveyor belt for conveying the product 5 or product group 5’ to be packaged at least through the transfer area 7 of the singulating device 4.

[0103] As can be seen from the overview according to Figure 1 and the detailed view according to Figure 4 and Figure 5 a folding device 15 is provided downstream of the transfer area in order to fold the paper or paperboard blank 3 placed on the product 5 or product group 5’ such that preferably a product 5 or product group 5’ completely wrapped in the paper or paperboard blank 3 is formed, when viewed in the conveying direction 12 of the product 5 or product group 5’ to be packaged.

[0104] To this end, at least one conveyor belt 16 can be associated with the folding device 15 in order to convey the product 5 or product group 5’ to be packaged through the folding device 15. Preferably, the folding device 15 has a plurality of folding stations arranged in a row when viewed in the conveying direction 12 of the product 5 or product group 5’ to be packaged, wherein the paper or paperboard blank is folded successively around the product 5 or product group 5’ during the conveying of the product 5 or product group 5’ through the folding device 15.

[0105] The folding device 15 further has folding arms 18 guided on the circulation chain 19, which, when viewed in the conveying direction 12 of the product 5 or product group 5', are placed above the product 5 or product group 5' in the upstream region of the folding device 15 and move together with the product 5 or product group 5' to at least partially fold the paper or paperboard blank 3 placed on the product 5 or product group 5'.

[0106] In particular, from Figure 5 As can be seen from the illustration, two opposing conveyor belts 16 are provided in at least the downstream region of the folding device 15. These two conveyor belts are laterally engaged with the product 5 or product group 5' respectively. When viewed in the conveying direction 12 of the product 5 or product group 5' to be packaged, the conveyor belts are inclined in the horizontal direction. When viewed in the conveying direction 12 of the product 5 or product group 5', they are preferably inclined at least two degrees, and more preferably at least five degrees.

[0107] The present invention is not limited to the exemplary packaging machine 1 shown in the accompanying drawings, but is the result when all the features disclosed herein are considered together.

[0108] List of reference numerals

[0109] 1 Packaging machine

[0110] 2 Packaging feeder

[0111] 3. Paper or paperboard blanks

[0112] 4. Single-unit device

[0113] 5 products

[0114] 5' Product Group

[0115] 6. Clamping head

[0116] 7. Transfer Area

[0117] 8 drive shafts

[0118] 9. Gear transmission device

[0119] 10. Rotation axis of the gripper head

[0120] 11. Drive shaft shaft

[0121] 12 Conveying direction

[0122] 14-arm region

[0123] 15 Folding device

[0124] 16 Conveyor Belts

[0125] 18 Folding Arm

[0126] 19 Circular Chain

[0127] 20 Grouping Device

[0128] 21 Storage Platform / Materials Warehouse

Claims

1. A packaging machine (1) for packaging products (5) or product groups (5') using paper or thin cardboard materials, wherein the packaging machine (1) has the following features: - A packaging feeder (2) for feeding a flat paper or paperboard blank (3); and - A single-size device (4) for individually separating the fed paper or paperboard blanks (3) and for transferring the separated paper or paperboard blanks (3) to the product to be packaged (5) or the group of products to be packaged (5'). in, The unification device (4) has at least one gripper head (6) and a mechanism assigned to the at least one gripper head (6) for continuously moving the at least one gripper head (6) on a track between the packaging feed (2) and a transfer area (7), in which the at least one gripper head (6) transfers individual paper or paperboard blanks (3) to the product to be packaged (5) or the group of products to be packaged (5'), wherein the mechanism assigned to the at least one gripper head (6) is configured to drive the at least one gripper head (6) to move along a non-uniform path such that the at least one gripper head (6) moves more slowly in the area of ​​the packaging feed (2) and in the transfer area (7) than when the at least one gripper head (6) is transferred from the packaging feed (2) to the transfer area (7); The at least one gripper head (6) is mounted to be rotatable about a rotation axis (10), and the mechanism assigned to the at least one gripper head (6) is configured to drive the at least one gripper head (6) to move in a cycloidal or cycloidal path, wherein the cycloidal or cycloidal path movement is selected such that the at least one gripper head (6) completes a total of three mutually repeating and continuous cycloidal or cycloidal path patterns every 360°.

2. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 1. in, The mechanism assigned to the at least one gripper head (6) is configured such that: when the at least one gripper head (6) is located at a first transition point between a first cycloidal or cycloidal path pattern and a second cycloidal or cycloidal path pattern, the at least one gripper head (6) is located in or within the region of the packaging feeder (2); and when the at least one gripper head (6) is located at a second transition point between a third cycloidal or cycloidal path pattern and the first cycloidal or cycloidal path pattern, the at least one gripper head (6) is located in or within the transfer region (7).

3. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 1. in, The mechanism assigned to the at least one gripper head (6) has a gear transmission (9) that is driven by a drive shaft (8) and operably connected to the at least one gripper head (6) in such a way that the at least one gripper head (6) rotates on one hand about the rotation axis (10) of the at least one gripper head (6) and on the other hand about the axis (11) of the drive shaft (8), wherein the rotation axis (10) of the at least one gripper head (6) extends parallel to the axis (11) of the drive shaft (8) and is located outside the axis (11), and wherein the axis (11) extends perpendicular to the conveying direction (12) through the transfer area (7) in the conveying direction (12).

4. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 3. in, The gear transmission device (9) is configured to drive the at least one gripper head (6) to rotate uniformly about the axis (11) in a first rotational direction, and wherein the gear transmission device (9) is configured to drive the at least one gripper head (6) to rotate uniformly about the rotation axis (10) of the at least one gripper head (6) in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction.

5. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 4. in, The first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are selected such that the at least one gripper head (6) moves only through a single cycloidal or cycloidal path pattern at the transition from the packaging feeder (2) to the transfer area (7), and such that the at least one gripper head (6) moves in at least a plurality of areas in the direction in which the product to be packaged (5) or the group of products to be packaged (5') moves through the transfer area (7), wherein the rotational frequency at which the at least one gripper head (6) is driven to rotate about the axis (11) and the rotational frequency at which the at least one gripper head (6) is driven to rotate about the rotation axis (10) are selected such that the speed at which the at least one gripper head (6) moves in the transfer area (7) is approximately the speed at which the product to be packaged (5) or the group of products to be packaged (5') moves through the transfer area (7).

6. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 4. in, The first rotation direction and the second rotation direction are selected in such a way that the at least one gripper head (6) moves through a total of two cycloidal or cycloidal path patterns at the transition from the packaging feeder (2) to the transfer area (7), and that the at least one gripper head (6) moves in at least a plurality of areas in a direction opposite to the movement of the product to be packaged (5) or the group of products to be packaged (5') through the transfer area (7).

7. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 3. in, The rotational frequency at which the at least one gripper head (6) is driven to rotate about the axis (11) is adjustable and is consistent with the rotational frequency at which the at least one gripper head (6) is driven to rotate about the rotation axis (10).

8. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 3. in, The at least one gripper head (6) is connected to the rotating shaft (10) via an arm region (14), wherein the arm region (14) extends over both sides of the rotating shaft (10) and has two opposing end regions, wherein the at least one gripper head (6) is disposed on the end regions in each case.

9. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 1. in, The at least one gripper head (6) is configured as a vacuum gripper, and wherein, during the movement of the at least one gripper head (6) on a track between the packaging feeder (2) and the transfer area (7), the gripping area of ​​the at least one gripper head (6) points radially outward relative to the track in a continuous manner.

10. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 1. in, The packaging machine (1) for conveying the product (5) or the group of products (5') to be packaged at least through the transfer area (7) of the unification device (4) has at least one conveyor belt, wherein, when viewed in the conveying direction (12) of the product (5) or the group of products (5') to be packaged, a folding device (15) for folding the paper or paperboard blank (3) placed on the product (5) or the group of products (5') is provided downstream of the transfer area (7) in such a way that the product (5) or the group of products (5') is formed completely wrapped by the paper or paperboard blank (3).

11. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 10. in, The folding device (15) for conveying the product (5) or the group of products (5') to be packaged through the folding device (15) is configured to have at least one conveyor belt (16), and wherein the folding device (15) has a plurality of folding stations arranged sequentially when viewed in the conveying direction (12) of the product (5) or the group of products (5') to be packaged, and the paper or paperboard blank (3) surrounds the product (5) or the group of products (5') when the product (5) or the group of products (5') to be packaged is conveyed through the folding device (15). The folding device (15) is folded sequentially; wherein the folding device (15) has a folding arm (18) which is guided on a circulation chain (19) and, when viewed in the conveying direction (12) of the product (5) or product group (5'), the folding arm (18) is placed from above on the product (5) or product group (5') in the upstream proximal region of the folding device (15) and moves together with the product (5) or product group (5') to fold the paper or paperboard blank (3) placed on the product (5) or product group (5') in at least a plurality of regions.

12. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 11. in, When viewed in the conveying direction (12) of the product (5) or product group (5') to be packaged, two opposing conveyor belts (16) laterally joined to the product (5) or product group (5') are provided in the downstream region of the folding device (15), and when viewed in the conveying direction (12) of the product (5) or product group (5'), the conveyor belts (16) are inclined at least 2 degrees or at least 5 degrees in the horizontal direction.

13. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 1. in, When viewed in the conveying direction (12) of the product (5) or product group (5') to be packaged, the packaging machine (1) has a grouping device (20) upstream of the unification device (4), the grouping device (20) being used to automatically group multiple products (5).

14. The packaging machine (1) as described in claim 1. in, The at least one gripper head (6) has exactly two gripper heads (6) that are opposite to each other.

15. A method for packaging a product (5) or a group of products (5') using paper or cardboard material, wherein the method comprises the following steps: - Provide a packaging machine according to any one of claims 1-14; - Feed flat paper or paperboard blanks (3); - Separately feed the paper or paperboard blanks (3); and - The separated paper or paperboard blanks (3) are transferred to the product (5) or the product group (5') to be packaged, wherein, In order to separate the fed paper or paperboard blanks (3) and to transfer the separated paper or paperboard blanks (3) to the product (5) or product group (5') to be packaged, at least one gripper head (6) moves continuously on a track path between the packaging feeder (2) and the transfer area (7), in which the individual paper or paperboard blanks (3) are transferred from the at least one gripper head (6) to the product (5) or product group (5') to be packaged, wherein the at least one gripper head (6) is driven for this purpose to move in a cycloidal or cycloidal track, such that the at least one gripper head (6) cycles through a total of three repeating and continuous cycloidal or cycloidal path sections every 360° and such that the at least one gripper head (6) moves more slowly in the area of ​​the packaging feeder (2) and in the transfer area (7) than when the at least one gripper head (6) is transferred from the packaging feeder (2) to the transfer area (7).

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