Device for packaging and layering packaging units

Abstract

The utility model relates to a device for packaging and layering packaging units. The device comprises a control device, a packaging module, a grouping module and a first pre-grouping module, wherein the grouping module is used for arranging and / or orienting a plurality of packaging units relative to one another according to the palletizable layers to be formed. At least one function part is formed between the grouping module and the first pre-grouping module, the function part is controlled by a control device, and the control device can set a first operation mode and a second operation mode of the function part. In the first operating mode, the at least one function is designed to continuously convey the packaging units arranged in a ready-to-layer manner to the first pre-grouping module. In a second operating mode, the at least one functional part is designed to push together at least a part of the packaging units, which have been arranged and / or oriented relative to each other in order to prepare for layering, in the functional part in the transport direction.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to a device for packaging and layering packaging units. BACKGROUND

[0002] When packaging articles, in particular beverage containers, bottles or similar articles into bundles, the articles need to be brought together in the desired manner and joined together with packaging material. For example, the article group is wrapped with shrink film. The shrink film is shrunk around the articles by supplying hot air in a shrink tunnel. The articles, together with the shrink film, enter the shrink tunnel through an inlet and leave the shrink tunnel through an outlet after the shrink process has ended. A conveyor or a horizontal conveyor can extend through the shrink tunnel in order to move the articles through the shrink tunnel during the shrink process.

[0003] Before the articles are fed into the shrink tunnel, a thermoplastic packaging material is applied to the article group in order to process the article group into a packaging unit in the shrink tunnel using the thermoplastic packaging material.

[0004] For example, a shrink device of this type is known from the German utility model DE 20 2007 018 402 U1.

[0005] In a device of this type according to the German utility model DE 20 2007 018 402 U1, a horizontal conveyor is provided downstream of the shrink tunnel, on which the articles are placed upright after leaving the shrink tunnel and, if necessary, can also be moved in the direction of further workstations. The articles are then cooled down on the horizontal conveyor or during transport by the horizontal conveyor and can then be operated by further workstations. Before being conveyed to the further workstations, the articles can need to be grouped or distributed in order for the packaging units to reach the workstations in a specific distribution or grouping. For this purpose, grouping or distribution devices can be provided upstream of the workstations.

[0006] If the shrink tunnel is stopped, all the article groups or packaging units wrapped with shrink film have to be removed from the shrink tunnel in order to prevent them from being damaged by the temperature level in the shrink tunnel. At this point, the horizontal conveyor provided downstream of the shrink tunnel serves as a buffer, which can accommodate all the bundles in the shrink tunnel when the shrink tunnel is stopped. When the shrink tunnel or the packaging line is started again, the packaging units placed upright on the horizontal conveyor or buffer can be moved on to the respective workstations.

[0007] Even when the article groups are to be secondarily packaged with different outer packaging material, for example, when the article groups are to be joined together with a strapping band, a carton outer packaging, a top grab carton packaging or similar, it is advantageous to empty the packaging module when the device is stopped, so that no article groups or sales units are present in the packaging module. In this case, too, a corresponding buffer is required downstream of the packaging module.

[0008] Such devices or buffer sections on the packaging line require a relatively large amount of space. Therefore, based on the prior art, it would be desirable to have a device which, compared to the known prior art, can buffer the groups of articles or sales units in the packaging module using less space. Content of the utility model

[0009] It is therefore an object of the utility model to provide a device for packaging and layering packaging units which requires less space. The device should also have a simple structure.

[0010] The above object is achieved by a device for packaging and layering packaging units as described below.

[0011] The device for packaging and layering packaging units comprises a control device which is designed to control at least one processing module of the device. As an alternative, the control device can be a machine control system which is designed to control all processing modules of a complete beverage processing and packaging plant and to coordinate their mode of operation, wherein the device of the utility model forms part of the complete beverage processing and packaging plant.

[0012] The device comprises a packaging module which is designed to combine at least two groups of articles into a packaging unit by means of an outer packaging material.

[0013] The articles are preferably fed through the article feed-in opening in the transport direction. For example, the articles are combined into groups of articles in a singling module and merged into packaging units in the packaging module.

[0014] To this end, the singling module comprises, for example, a separation bar which is arranged between the circulating traction members. After a certain number of articles, the separation bar is extended behind these articles and separates these articles from the following articles as a group of articles by at least temporarily increasing the conveying speed of the group of articles. However, the respective singling module can also comprise other suitable separation devices known to the person skilled in the art. It is particularly preferred for groups of articles consisting of 2x2 articles or 2x3 articles, etc. to be formed in the singling module.

[0015] The articles are preferably beverage containers, in particular bottles made of PET or other suitable plastics or glass. Preferably, the articles can also consist of cans made of plastics, glass, aluminium or other metals, etc.

[0016] The packaging module can be, for example, a folding module for carton outer packaging, an application module for top grab carton packaging, a strapping module or a similar module.

[0017] The packaging module is preferably a shrink module which comprises a film wrapping module and a shrink tunnel.

[0018] The device also comprises a grouping module which is designed to bring the plurality of packaging units into a relative arrangement and / or orientation relative to one another which matches the stackable layer to be formed from the plurality of packaging units.

[0019] To achieve this, the grouping module is preferably equipped with at least one suitable handling device. This handling device can be formed, for example, by a tripod with suitable grippers, a robot, a suitable gantry system or the like.

[0020] Downstream of the grouping module, i.e. after the grouping module in the transport direction, a first pre-grouping module is provided which comprises first stop elements which can be arranged orthogonally to the transport direction and which is designed to push the packaging units arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner in the transport direction to the first stop elements.

[0021] To this end, the pre-grouping module comprises, for example, a transport device in the form of an endless conveyor belt or the like which moves the packaging units arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner in the transport direction and guides them to the first stop elements.

[0022] It is proposed for the device that at least one functional section is formed between the grouping module and the first pre-grouping module. This at least one functional section is controlled by a control device of the device, wherein the control device can set different operating modes for the functional section, in particular a first operating mode and a second operating mode. The first operating mode in particular means a normal production mode of the device, while the second operating mode represents a so-called fault mode in which the device can only work in a restricted manner.

[0023] In the first operating mode, the functional section in particular acts as a pure transport module and continuously conveys the packaging units arranged in a ready-to-layer manner to the first pre-grouping module.

[0024] In the second operating mode, the at least one functional section is designed to assume an accumulation and buffer function and to accumulate at least a portion of the packaging units which have been brought into a relative arrangement and / or orientation for the purpose of layering in the transport direction in the functional section.

[0025] In particular, the functional section in the second operating mode assumes the function of the first pre-grouping. It is therefore preferably provided that, in the second operating mode, the packaging units are accumulated in the at least one functional section as packaging units arranged and / or oriented in such a way that they are pushed together in the transport direction.

[0026] Furthermore, the device usually also comprises a second pre-grouping module arranged downstream of the first pre-grouping module in the conveying direction, in which the packaging units that have been pushed together in the conveying direction and arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner are pushed together by lateral centering devices transversely to the conveying direction to form finished layers that can be palletized.

[0027] In order to transfer the packaging units that have been pushed together in the conveying direction and arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner from the first pre-grouping module to the second pre-grouping module, the first stop elements of the first pre-grouping module arranged transversely to the conveying direction have to be removed from the conveying path of the packaging units that have been pushed together in the conveying direction and arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner.

[0028] For example, the first stop elements can be tilted downwardly, so that they are removed from the conveying section. As an alternative, the first stop elements can be tilted upwardly or turned aside to the sides, etc.

[0029] The finished layers that can be palletized in the second pre-grouping module can now be conveyed, for example, to a palletizing module, in which a plurality of finished layers that can be palletized are stacked on a pallet for subsequent conveying and / or storage.

[0030] For example, an operational fault can occur within the device, if the packaging units cannot be further processed and thus captured, for example, due to a fault in the processing module downstream of the packaging module. For example, if the palletizing module is faulty, the palletizing module no longer captures the finished layer in the second pre-grouping module, so that the second pre-grouping module is blocked by the layer.

[0031] Correspondingly, the packaging units that are arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner and pushed together in the conveying direction within the first pre-grouping module cannot be transferred into the second pre-grouping module, since the second pre-grouping module is still occupied by the finished layer.

[0032] In order to remove the packaging units from the packaging module, in particular in order to remove the packaging units located within the shrink tunnel of the shrink module from the shrink tunnel, the control device switches the at least one functional section into a second operating mode, in which the at least one functional section assumes the function of the first pre-grouping, i.e. at least a portion of the packaging units that are arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner are now pushed together in the conveying direction within the functional section in the second operating mode.

[0033] In order to enable the functional section to perform the pre-grouping function in the fault mode, according to one embodiment, the functional section comprises a conveying device and second stop elements that can be arranged transversely to the conveying direction.

[0034] In the first operating mode, the second stop element of the functional part is located outside the transport section of the packaging units, so that in the first operating mode the packaging units can be moved continuously in the transport direction by the at least one functional part to the first pre-grouping module.

[0035] When the functional part is in the second operating mode, the second stop element assigned to the functional part is arranged within the transport section of the packaging units transversely to the transport direction, so that the packaging units come to rest against the second stop element of the functional part and accumulate there.

[0036] According to one embodiment of the application, the device comprises at least two functional parts, wherein the control device is designed to switch the functional parts successively from the first operating mode to the second operating mode. The functional parts are preferably arranged one after the other between the grouping module and the first pre-grouping module.

[0037] It is provided in particular that the control device is designed to switch a so-called first functional part into the second operating mode first, which is arranged at the front in the transport direction and thus closest to the first pre-grouping module, in particular directly upstream of the first pre-grouping module in the transport direction.

[0038] As soon as the first functional part in the second operating mode receives a complete group of packaging units arranged and / or oriented in a pushed-together manner, which can form a stackable layer, the control device controls the second functional part downstream and switches it into the second operating mode, so that the second functional part now also functions as a first pre-grouping.

[0039] In particular, the stop element assigned to the second functional part is introduced into the transport path of the packaging units, so that the packaging units come to rest against the stop element of the second functional part and accumulate in a pushed-together arrangement and / or orientation. In particular, the stop element assigned to the second functional part is introduced into the transport path of the packaging units, so that the packaging units come to rest against the stop element of the second functional part and accumulate in a pushed-together arrangement and / or orientation.

[0040] If there are more than two functional parts, the above-described method is continued until no more packaging units are present in the packaging module. The system can then be shut down, during which the entire plant is at least partially shut down until the fault has been rectified.

[0041] In this case, it can be provided that all packaging units removed from the packaging module are still processed in the grouping module and transferred to the at least one functional part. Alternatively, it can be provided that a part of the packaging units are still in the grouping module at the time of the shutdown of the plant.

[0042] It is noted in this connection that the number of functional sections used depends on the capacity of the packaging module, in particular on how many packaging units have to be removed from the packaging module accordingly at the time of the malfunction. Depending on the specific case, a single functional section can be sufficient to empty the packaging module, but usually two or more functional sections can be required or used.

[0043] According to one embodiment, the grouping module is arranged directly adjacent to the packaging module.

[0044] According to an alternative embodiment, further functional modules can be provided between the packaging module and the grouping module.

[0045] For example, if the packaging module is formed by a shrink module, it can be useful to form a cooling section between the shrink module and the grouping module, in which the packaging units formed in the shrink module are at least partially cooled before being processed by the handling device of the grouping module in preparation for the layering. Such a cooling section for example comprises a plurality of air blowers for blowing cold air, in particular cooled air, onto the packaging units coming from the shrink module.

[0046] The device described herein differs from the prior art in that no buffer section is formed for the packaging units produced in the packaging module between the packaging module and the grouping module. Rather, the buffer function is accomplished by at least one functional section arranged behind the grouping module in the transport direction.

[0047] The device described above can preferably be part of a beverage packaging plant. Such a beverage packaging plant for example comprises a wet section with can and / or bottle pushers, a filling module, a closing module assigned to the filling module, and optionally a labelling module. Between the filling module and the labelling module or other subsequent processing modules a pasteurizer can be arranged.

[0048] It is also conceivable that the beverage packaging plant for example comprises a blow molding module for manufacturing PET bottles, which are subsequently filled, closed and labeled.

[0049] Subsequently, the beverages filled into cans or bottles are combined into packaging units in a packaging device or so-called production module, or produced as bulk goods in the form of bales.

[0050] For example, several articles are assembled into article groups, which are combined with packaging material.

[0051] The packaging units are subsequently assembled into layers that can be stacked on pallets in a handling module designed as a grouping module or layering module, which are stacked on pallets in a pallet stacking device.

[0052] Within the beverage packaging plant, the articles and packaging units or pieces are transported from one processing module to the next processing module via a transport system which is suitably equipped with a suitable buffer system, if appropriate.

[0053] The components of the beverage packaging plant are merely by way of example. Other configurations comprising the apparatus described within the framework of the present application are also included in the present application.

[0054] The present utility model also relates to a method for packaging and layering packaging units, in which method at least two articles are combined into one packaging unit using an outer packaging material. In preparation for layering, a plurality of packaging units are arranged in a relative arrangement and / or orientation which matches the layerable layer to be formed from the plurality of packaging units.

[0055] In the method, the packaging units arranged in this way in preparation for layering are continuously transported in a first operating mode by means of the at least one functional section to a first pre-grouping module, in which the packaging units arranged in preparation for layering are pushed together in the transport direction. Furthermore, in a second operating mode, at least a portion of the packaging units arranged in a relative arrangement and / or orientation in preparation for layering are accumulated in the transport direction within the functional section.

[0056] When the apparatus or the entire plant is restarted, the buffer zone formed by the at least one functional section is first emptied. In particular, the packaging units buffered within the at least one functional section are first transported to the subsequent processing module. Therein, it is preferably possible for the first pre-grouping module to be used as a through module (Durchlaufmodul) for the packaging units arranged and / or oriented in the functional section in such a way that they are pushed together in the transport direction, these packaging units being directly transferred to a second pre-grouping module and being pushed together there to form a layerable layer, which is subsequently palletized in a palletizing module.

[0057] Only when the at least one functional section has been emptied, the control device releases the packaging module to resume production.

[0058] The at least one functional section can advantageously be used not only when a subsequent processing module fails. The buffer function of the functional section can also be advantageously utilized when the handling device of the grouping module malfunctions, for example when an axis error or the like occurs. In this case, one transport device / multiple transport devices of the grouping module are switched to a through mode, so that the packaging units can pass through the grouping module without having to be positioned and / or oriented in accordance with the layer schema to be created.

[0059] By switching at least one functional unit to the second operating mode, at least a portion of the packaging units can be temporarily stored in the functional unit, and the remaining packaging units can be left in the grouping system as appropriate and manually taken out of the grouping system by an operator as appropriate.

[0060] According to the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention, it is particularly provided that: at least one functional portion is designed to accommodate a complete group of packaging units that are relatively arranged and / or oriented in order to form a stackable layer.

[0061] According to an alternative embodiment, the functional part can be designed to be longer in the transport direction and be designed to accommodate multiple groups of complete packaging units that are relatively arranged and / or oriented to form stackable layers, which are arranged one after another in the functional part.

[0062] When the system is started, a plurality of groups of packaging units arranged and / or oriented relative to each other according to the palletizable layer to be formed are separated and transferred to the second pre-grouping module. In particular, the first pre-grouping module can be used as a clock module, wherein after transferring a group of packaging units arranged and / or oriented relative to each other according to the palletizable layer to be formed, the conveying speed of the transport device of the first pre-grouping module is increased at least briefly in order to separate this group of arranged and / or oriented packaging units from the subsequent packaging units and transfer them to the second pre-grouping module.

[0063] In the device and method described herein, in the event of an operational malfunction, all packaging units are removed from the packaging module and temporarily stored. While in the known prior art, packaging units are accumulated and buffered in series in the event of a malfunction, in the device and method described herein, the packaging units are initially arranged and / or oriented relative to each other in the grouping module, with this relative arrangement and / or orientation matching the palletizable layer to be formed from the plurality of packaging units. Accumulation and buffering are achieved by forming a group of packaging units in at least one functional unit downstream of the grouping module, arranged and / or oriented so as to be pushed together in the transport direction.

[0064] Because the packaging units are at least partially arranged adjacent to each other, the buffer zone formed by the at least one functional unit can be significantly shortened compared to the buffer zone between the packaging module and the grouping module in the prior art. Because the packaging units in this embodiment are also at least partially arranged side by side, the buffer zone formed by the at least one functional unit can be significantly shortened compared to the buffer zone between the packaging module and the grouping module in the prior art.

[0065] At this point, it should be expressly mentioned that all aspects and implementation variants relating to the device according to the utility model equally relate to or can be part of the described method. Thus, if certain aspects and / or interrelationships and / or effects are mentioned at a certain point in the description relating to the device according to the utility model, this applies equally to the described method. In reverse, the same applies, thus all aspects and implementation variants explained in connection with the method equally relate to or can be part of the device according to the utility model. Thus, if certain aspects and / or interrelationships and / or effects are mentioned at any point in the description relating to the method, this applies equally to the device according to the utility model. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0066] In the following, embodiments of the utility model and their advantages will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The size proportions of individual elements to one another in the drawings do not always correspond to the actual size proportions, since some shape simplifications are represented and other shapes are represented enlarged in comparison to other elements for better illustration.

[0067] Figure 1 A schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device for packaging and layering packaging units is shown.

[0068] Figures 2 to 14 A method of packaging and layering packaging units in a first operating mode of the device shown. Figure 1

[0069] Figures 15 to 20 A method of packaging and layering packaging units in a second operating mode of the device shown. Figure 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] The same reference signs are used for identical or identically acting elements of the utility model. In addition, for the sake of clarity, only the reference signs necessary for explaining the respective figure are shown in the individual figures. The embodiments shown are merely examples of the design concept of the utility model and do not represent a conclusive restriction.

[0071] The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, including their various views or corresponding individual features, can be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with an embodiment apply to all embodiments, unless the features are contradictory.

[0072] Figure 1 A schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a device 1 for packaging and layering packaging units 20 is shown.

[0073] Here, the articles are fed in along a transport direction 50 through an article feed 2. ​​

[0074] The articles are combined into article groups in the single-piece module 3 and are merged into packaging units 20 in the packaging module 4.

[0075] The packaging module 4 can be, for example, a folding module for carton overwraps, an application module for top grab carton packaging, a strapping module or the like.

[0076] The packaging module 4 is preferably a shrink module 5 comprising a film wrapping module and a shrink tunnel.

[0077] Furthermore, the device 1 comprises a control device 6 for controlling and coordinating the different processing modules of the device 1.

[0078] The packaging units 20 generated in the packaging module 4 are brought into a relative arrangement and / or orientation in the grouping module 7 which matches the stackable layer 21 (see Fig. 2) to be formed from a plurality of packaging units 20. To this end, the grouping module 7 is equipped with at least one suitable handling device 8. In the present case, two handling devices 8 are arranged in succession in the transport direction 50, which cooperate with one another in the arrangement and / or orientation of the packaging units 20 to form or prepare the formation of the stackable layer 21 to be formed. Figure 6

[0079] The handling devices 8 can be formed by tripods, robots, suitable gantry systems or the like, in particular equipped with suitable gripping systems or the like.

[0080] Downstream of the grouping module 7 in the transport direction 50, a first pre-grouping module 9 is arranged which comprises stop elements 10 which can be arranged orthogonally to the transport direction 50, the first pre-grouping module 9 being designed for pushing the packaging units 20 arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner along the transport direction 50 to the stop elements 10 of the pre-grouping module 9.

[0081] To this end, the pre-grouping module 9 comprises a transport device 11 in the form of an endless conveyor belt or the like, on which the packaging units 20 arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner are moved along the transport direction 50, during which they are guided to the stop elements 10 of the pre-grouping module 9.

[0082] Furthermore, a second pre-grouping module 12 can also be arranged downstream of the first pre-grouping module 9 in the transport direction 50, in which the packaging units 20 which have been pushed together along the transport direction 50 in a ready-to-arrange 22 and / or orient manner are pushed together orthogonally to the transport direction 50 by lateral centering devices 13 to form a completed stackable layer (see also Fig. 2). Figures 4 to 6

[0083] ​​In order to transfer the packaging units 20, which are arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner and pushed together in the transport direction 50, from the first pre-grouping module 9 to the second pre-grouping module 12, the stop elements 10 of the first pre-grouping module 9, which are arranged orthogonally to the transport direction 50, must be removed from the transport path of the packaging units 20. For example, the stop elements 10 of the first pre-grouping module 9 can be tilted downwardly, so that they are removed from the transport section. As an alternative, the stop elements 10 of the first pre-grouping module 9 can also be tilted upwardly or turned aside to the left or right, etc.

[0084] The completed, palletizable layers 21 completed in the second pre-grouping module 12 can now be transported, for example, to a palletizing module 14, in which a plurality of completed, palletizable layers 21 are stacked on a pallet for transport and / or storage.

[0085] In the device 1 according to the application, at least one functional section 15 is formed between the grouping module 7 and the first pre-grouping module 9. In the illustrated embodiment, three identically designed functional sections 15 are arranged between the grouping module 7 and the first pre-grouping module 8, which are designated by the reference numerals 15-1, 15-2 and 15-3 for better differentiation.

[0086] The at least one functional section 15 or the three functional sections 15-1, 15-2, 15-3 can be controlled by the control device 6, wherein in particular the functional section 15 / the functional sections 15-1, 15-2, 15-3 or the first operating mode 51 or normal production mode (see Figures 2 to 14 ) and the second operating mode 52 or fault mode (see Figures 14 to 20 ) of the device 1 can be set.

[0087] In the first operating mode 51 as shown in Figure 1 , the three functional sections 15 are used as transport modules 16. That is, the packaging units 20, which are arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner in the grouping module 7, are each continuously transported from the grouping module 7 to the first pre-grouping module 9 by the functional sections 15, in which the packaging units 20, which are arranged and / or oriented in a ready-to-layer manner, are pushed together in the transport direction 50.

[0088] If an operating fault occurs, for example due to a fault in a processing module downstream of the packaging module 4, the control device 6 brings the at least one functional section 15 into the so-called second operating mode.

[0089] For example, a malfunction occurs if, due to an error of the palletizing module 14, the palletizing module 14 no longer picks up the layers 21 completed in the second pre-grouping module 12. Accordingly, the packaging units 20 arranged and / or oriented in the first pre-grouping module 9 in the manner ready for layering, which are pushed together in the transport direction 50, cannot be transferred into the second pre-grouping module 12.

[0090] In order to empty the packaging module 4, in particular in order to remove the packaging units located in the shrink tunnel of the shrink module 5 from the shrink module, the control device 6 switches the at least one functional section 15 into a second operating mode 52 (see Figures 14 to 20 ), in which the at least one functional section 15 assumes the function of the first pre-grouping 17, wherein at least some of the packaging units 20 arranged and / or oriented in the manner ready for layering are pushed together in the transport direction 50 in the functional section 15.

[0091] Thus, in the second operating mode 52, the packaging units 20 are accumulated in the at least one functional section 15 in the form of an arrangement 22 and / or orientation of packaging units 20 pushed together in the transport direction 50 (see Figures 14 to 20 ).

[0092] The embodiment shown in the figures shows that the grouping module 7 is arranged directly adjacent to the packaging module 4. Other embodiments can provide further functional modules between the packaging module 4 and the grouping module 7. For example, if the packaging module 4 is formed by a shrink module 5, it can be useful to provide a cooling section between the shrink module 5 and the grouping module 7, in which the packaging units 20 formed in the shrink module 5 are at least partially cooled before being processed by the handling device 8 of the grouping module 7. Such a cooling section, for example, comprises a plurality of air blowers for blowing cold air onto the packaging units 20 coming from the shrink module 5.

[0093] Figures 2 to 14 a method for packaging and layering packaging units 20 in the first operating mode 51 is shown, Figures 14 to 20 a method for packaging and layering packaging units 20 in the second operating mode 52 is shown. Here, the illustration of the device 1 is simplified to the processing modules necessary for carrying out the method.

[0094] As shown in Figures 2 to 14 , the handling device 8 causes the packaging units 20 to form a relative arrangement and / or orientation in the grouping module 7, which is ready for layering, which matches the stackable layers 21 (see Figure 7 ) to be formed from a plurality of packaging units 20.

[0095] The packing units 20 arranged and / or oriented in this way are moved in the first operating mode 51 by the functional section 15 in the transport direction 50 to the first pre-grouping module 9. Within the first pre-grouping module 9, the packing units 20 are accumulated by the stop elements 10 of the pre-grouping module 9 extending orthogonally to the transport direction 50 to form a packing unit 20 arrangement 22 and / or orientation in the manner of being pushed together in the transport direction 50 Figure 7

[0096] The stop elements 10 of the pre-grouping module 9 are briefly removed from the transport path in order to be able to transfer the pushed-together arrangement 22 into the second pre-grouping module 12 Figure 8 Subsequently, the stop elements 10 of the pre-grouping module 9 are again arranged orthogonally to the transport direction 50 in order to accumulate the next group of packing units 20 arranged 22 and / or oriented in the manner of being pushed together in the transport direction 50 in the first pre-grouping module 9. Figure 9

[0097] When the next group of packing units 20 arranged 22 and / or oriented in the manner of being pushed together in the transport direction 50 has been formed in the first pre-grouping module 9, the packing units 20 arranged 22 and / or oriented in the manner of being pushed together in the transport direction 50 transferred into the second pre-grouping module 12 are pushed together by the lateral centering device 13 of the second pre-grouping module 12 to form a stackable layer 21 Figure 10

[0098] The stackable layer 21 can now be removed from the second pre-grouping module 12 and fed to subsequent processing, for example the removal of the stackable layer 21 in the transport direction 50 to a subsequent processing module Figure 11

[0099] Figures 12 to 14 It is shown how further packing units 20 arranged 22 and / or oriented in the manner of being pushed together in the transport direction 50 are formed within the first pre-grouping module 9 and how they are transferred into the second pre-grouping module 12.

[0100] When the processing module downstream of the second pre-grouping 12 fails, the steps of preparing the layering and transferring the packing units 20 arranged 22 and / or oriented in the manner of being pushed together in the transport direction 50 within the first pre-grouping module 9 into the second pre-grouping module 12 are carried out in a similar manner to the steps shown in Figures 2 to 10 However, it can not be possible to remove the finished layer 21 from the second pre-grouping module 12, for example due to a failure of the downstream stacking module 14 or similar device (see Figure 1

[0101] ​​​​​However, in order to be able to remove the packaging units 20 arranged in the packaging module 4 in the event of a malfunction from the packaging module 4, it is necessary to continue to feed these packaging units into the grouping module 7 and to arrange and / or orient them in the grouping module by means of the handling device 8.

[0102] The packaging units 20 arranged and / or oriented in this way are moved by the functional section 15 in the transport direction 50 to the first pre-grouping module 9 and are accumulated in the first pre-grouping module 9 in the transport direction 50 to form a pushed-together arrangement 22 and / or orientation of the packaging units 20 Figure 15 ) in the first pre-grouping module 9.

[0103] As soon as such an arrangement 22 has been completed in the first pre-grouping module 9, so that no more packaging units 20 can be accommodated in the first pre-grouping module 9, the control device 6 controls the first functional section 15-1 adjacent to the first pre-grouping module 9 to switch into the second operating mode 52.

[0104] In the second operating mode 52, the first functional section 15-1 in particular assumes the function of a further first pre-grouping 17.

[0105] In order to implement the function of the first pre-grouping 17, the functional sections 15 are each equipped with a distributable stop element 18, which in the first operating mode 51 is located outside the transport section of the packaging units 20, and which in the second operating mode 52 is arranged above the transport plane of the packaging units 20 transversely to the transport direction 50, so that the packaging units 20 that come to rest against the stop element 18-1 assigned to the first functional section 15-1 are likewise accumulated to form a pushed-together arrangement 22 and / or orientation of the packaging units 20 Figure 16 ) that can form a stackable layer 21.

[0106] If the first functional section 15-1 comprises a complete set of packaging units 20 arranged and / or oriented in a pushed-together arrangement 22 and / or orientation that can form a stackable layer 21, the control device 6 now controls the intermediate second functional section 15-2 and causes it to switch into the second operating mode 52, so that the intermediate second functional section 15-2 now also functions as a first pre-grouping 17 Figure 17 ).

[0107] In particular, the stop element 18-2 assigned to the intermediate second functional section 15-2 is introduced into the transport path of the packaging units 20, so that the packaging units come to rest against the stop element 18-2 of the second functional section 15-2 and accumulate in a pushed-together arrangement 22 and / or orientation Figure 17 and Figure 18 ).

[0108] Likewise, when the middle second functional portion 15-2 comprises a complete set of packaging units 20 arranged 22 and / or oriented in a pushed-together manner to form a palletizable layer 21 ( Figure 19 and Figure 20 ), the control device 6 causes the third functional unit 15 - 3 located directly downstream of the grouping module 7 to enter the second operating mode 52.

[0109] Figure 20 It is also shown that due to the packaging module 4 (see Figure 1 ) has been completely emptied, so that no more packaging units 20 are fed to the grouping module 7.

[0110] The grouping module 7 and the first pre-grouping module 9 are as follows Figures 1 to 20 The three functional units 15 shown are merely examples. The number of functional units 15 used depends on the capacity of the packaging module 4, in particular on how many packaging units 20 within the packaging module 4 need to be removed from the packaging module in the event of a malfunction. Depending on the specific situation, a single functional unit 15 may be sufficient to empty the packaging module 4.

[0111] Multiple functional parts 15 each perform a transport function in a first operating mode 51, and can be switched to a second operating mode 52 as needed when an operational failure occurs, and perform accumulation and buffering functions in the second operating mode 52. These functional parts are preferably arranged continuously and aligned with each other between the grouping module 7 and the first pre-grouping module 9.

[0112] It can also be provided that not all packaging units 20 to be removed from the packaging module 4 have to be stored in the functional part 15. According to one embodiment, it can be provided that some packaging units 4 are already arranged and / or oriented in the grouping module 7 but can still be located in the grouping module 7 during a subsequent shutdown of the entire machine.

[0113] Combination pair Figures 16 to 20 As can be seen from the description, each functional unit 15 includes a transport device 19 and a stop element 18 that can be arranged orthogonally to the transport direction 50. If necessary, in particular in the second operating mode 52, the stop element is arranged orthogonally to the transport direction 50 in the transport path of the packaging unit 20 or above the transport surface. In the first operating mode 51, the stop element 18 of the functional unit 15 is located outside the transport path of the packaging unit 20.

[0114] If combined Figures 15 to 20Further, the control device 6 is designed to switch the plurality of successive functional sections 15 one after the other from the first operating mode 51 into the second operating mode 52. In particular, the first functional section 15-1, which is located closest to the first pre-grouping module 9 in the transport direction 50, in particular directly upstream of the first pre-grouping module 9 in the transport direction 50, is first switched into the second operating mode 52.

[0115] The first functional section 15-1 performs the function of the first pre-grouping 17 in the second operating mode 52, before the other functional sections 15 perform the function of the transport module 16 until the complete group of packaging units 20 arranged 22 and / or oriented in such a way that they are pushed together in the transport direction 50 is included. Now, the second functional section 15-2, which is adjacent to the first functional section 15-1 arranged first in the transport direction 50, is switched into the second operating mode 52, and so on.

[0116] The device 1 described herein differs from the known prior art in that no buffer section is provided between the packaging module 4 and the grouping module 7. The buffer function is performed by at least one functional section 15 arranged behind the grouping module 7 in the transport direction 50.

[0117] In the device 1 and the method described herein, packaging units 4 are also removed from the packaging module 4 and temporarily stored in the event of an operating fault. Before the packaging units are temporarily stored, these packaging units or at least a part thereof are formed in a relative arrangement and / or orientation which matches the stackable layers to be formed from the plurality of packaging units.

[0118] In the known prior art, the packaging units 20 are accumulated and buffered in the event of a fault, whereas in the device described herein and the method described herein, the packaging units 20 are first also formed in a relative arrangement and / or orientation in the grouping module 7. Accumulation and buffering is achieved by forming a group of packaging units 20 arranged 22 and / or oriented in such a way that they are pushed together in the transport direction 50 in at least one functional section behind the grouping module 7.

[0119] Since the packaging units 20 in the present case are also arranged at least partially side by side, the buffer zone formed by the functional sections is significantly shorter compared to the known buffer section arranged between the packaging module 4 and the grouping module 7.

[0120] At this point, the last indications are given regarding the description of the embodiments of the present utility model, in which these description paragraphs refer to the attached drawings respectively. When generally referring to "schematic" figures and views in the context of the figures and their description, this by no means implies that the figures and their description are considered subordinate in the disclosure of the present utility model. The person skilled in the art is fully capable of obtaining sufficient information from the figures, which are drawn schematically and abstractly, to simplify his understanding of the present utility model, without being affected in understanding, for example, because of the drawn and possibly not completely to scale dimensional relationships. Therefore, these drawings enable the person skilled in the art, as a reader, to better understand the idea of the present utility model, which is set forth in a more general and / or more abstract manner in the claims and in the general part of the description, with the aid of the functional principles of the specific explanations of the device according to the present method and according to the present utility model.

[0121] Reference Signs

[0122] 1 device

[0123] 2 item feed

[0124] 3 single-piece module

[0125] 4 packaging module

[0126] 5 shrink module

[0127] 6 control device

[0128] 7 grouping module

[0129] 8 handling device

[0130] 9 first pre-grouping module

[0131] 10 stop element

[0132] 11 transport device

[0133] 12 second pre-grouping module

[0134] 13 lateral centering device

[0135] 14 palletizing module

[0136] 15 functional section

[0137] 15-1 first functional section

[0138] 15-2 second (intermediate) functional section

[0139] 15-3 third functional section

[0140] 16 transport module

[0141] 17 first pre-group

[0142] 18 stop element

[0143] 18-1 stop element assigned to the first function section

[0144] 18-2 stop element assigned to the second function section

[0145] 18-3 stop element assigned to the third function section

[0146] 19 transport device

[0147] 20 packaging unit

[0148] 21 stackable layer

[0149] 22 packaging units arranged and / or oriented in such a way that they are pushed together in the transport direction

[0150] 50 transport direction

[0151] 51 first operating mode

[0152] 52 second operating mode

Claims

1. A device (1) for packaging and layering packaging units (20), characterized in that The device (1) comprises: ● a control device (6), a packaging module (4) designed to combine at least two articles into a packaging unit (20) by means of an outer packaging material, a grouping module (7) designed to bring a plurality of packaging units (20) into a relative arrangement and / or orientation relative to one another, said relative arrangement and / or orientation being adapted to a palletizable layer (21) to be formed from said plurality of packaging units (20), a first pre-grouping module (9) arranged downstream of the grouping module (7), the first pre-grouping module (9) comprising a first stop element (10) which can be arranged orthogonally to the transport direction (50), and the first pre-grouping module (9) being designed to push the packaging units (20) arranged and / or oriented in a layered manner in the transport direction (50) to the first stop element (10), ● wherein at least one functional portion (15) is formed between the grouping module (7) and the first pre-grouping module (9), ● wherein a first operating mode and a second operating mode of the at least one functional unit (15) can be set by the control device, wherein the at least one functional unit (15) is designed in the first operating mode (51) to continuously convey the packaging units (20) arranged in a ready-to-layer manner to the first pre-grouping module (9), and ●Wherein, the at least one functional part (15) is designed in the second operating mode (52) to accumulate at least a portion of the packaging units (20) that have been relatively arranged and / or oriented in preparation for layering in the functional part along the transport direction (50).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one functional part (15) comprises a transport device (19) and a second stop element (18) which can be arranged orthogonally to the transport direction (50).

3. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the device (1) comprises at least two functional parts (15), wherein the control device (6) is designed to switch the functional parts (15) from the first operating mode (51) to the second operating mode (52) in sequence.

4. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the device (1) comprises at least two functional parts (15), wherein the control device (6) is designed to switch the functional parts (15) from the first operating mode (51) to the second operating mode (52) in sequence.

5. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the control device (6) is designed to first switch the first functional part (15-1) to the second operating mode (52), and the first functional part (15-1) is closest to the first pre-grouping module (9) in the transport direction (50).

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the first functional part (15-1) is arranged directly upstream of the first pre-grouping module (9) in the transport direction (50).

7. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the grouping module (7) is arranged directly adjacent to the packaging module (4).

8. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a cooling section is formed between the packaging module (4) and the grouping module (7).

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