METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TRANSFERRING COMPOTENS TO OUTER PACKAGINGS INTENDED FOR ARTICLES

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and a device for transferring compartments to outer packaging intended for articles, having the features of independent claims 1 to 11.

[0002] Handling items often requires the packaging of individual or multiple items. In the case of individual items, this is done to improve their protection and / or sales presentation. In the case of multiple items, the packaging also creates a package containing multiple items.

[0003] Containers are an effective way to enable the simultaneous handling of multiple items, for example, to facilitate the transport of several items at once. Containers consisting of several items held together are therefore the most common type of sales unit for many items, such as beverage containers.

[0004] The articles can be, for example, objects such as packaged or unpackaged items, containers such as drinks bottles or cans, or even packages made up of several objects, wherein the objects of a package can be held together, for example, by means of an enclosure surrounding a group of objects at their periphery, such as a strapping, an outer packaging such as a wrapping, a shrink tube or a cardboard box or a carrying frame such as a drinks crate, to name just a few conceivable designs.

[0005] Folding boxes are used, among other things, as outer packaging for one or more items. These boxes offer a high level of protection, possibly additional protection, for the items contained within them. They are stackable with the items contained within them. Furthermore, they allow the items contained within them to be identified through information printed or affixed to their exterior. Furthermore, they can serve as advertising media with appropriate information on their exterior.

[0006] Folding boxes are industrially prefabricated, usually cuboid-shaped containers that are folded or collapsed into a particularly small space or packing size. They are transported and stored in a space-saving folded state until needed. When needed, they can be unfolded with simple manual or mechanical means for repackaging, as is the case with folding boxes used for postal parcels, for example. When folded, they require little space during transport and storage.

[0007] Outer packaging formed by containers, for example, folding boxes, can be designed with or without compartments arranged or capable of being arranged therein, which separate and / or keep individual articles apart from one another, also known as so-called baskets.

[0008] A compartment is a so-called interior fitting to be arranged or arranged in an outer packaging, which can consist, for example, of webs that are inserted into one another and / or connected to one another, for example by folded edges and / or adhesive joints.

[0009] The dividers can be made of cardboard and / or paperboard or plastic, for example. To protect delicate items, corrugated cardboard can be used for the dividers. The dividers are connected to each other by folded edges and / or adhesive joints and / or slits in the dividers to create compartments for one or more items, for example, with a rectangular, triangular, or polygonal base, in which the items are secured to prevent slipping.

[0010] In summary, compartments assign fixed places to the articles within the outer packaging and thereby protect them during further transport and / or storage of the outer packaging containing them, for example, from bumping into and rubbing against each other until the articles are removed and used, which could otherwise result in a negative impression of quality, for example due to traces of wear, for example of information applied to the articles in the form of labels, and / or damage to the articles among each other.

[0011] So-called blind compartments or blind shelves can be implemented on the outer edge of a compartment, which may, for example, be designed to be too small to accommodate the articles. Blind compartments or blind shelves on the periphery of a compartment inserted into or arranged within an outer packaging provide additional protection for the articles contained in the outer packaging, for example, in the event of mechanical stress and / or deformation of the outer packaging containing the articles.

[0012] An outer packaging with compartments is known, for example, from DE 20 2016 102 814 U1. This known outer packaging is designed as a container carrier and consists of a cardboard box or a cardboard blank. Furthermore, the container carrier has a polygonal base surface and, on it, several container receptacles formed by compartments, a holding section, two parallel longitudinal walls, and two parallel end walls extending away from the base surface.

[0013] EP3012201 relates to a device for pulling and erecting folded or collapsed cardboard boxes into upright compartments and / or outer packaging according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0014] Analogous to the provision of folding boxes as outer packaging, compartments to be used in outer packaging are preferably prefabricated and folded or collapsed to a particularly small space or packing size, so that they can be transported and stored in a space-saving folded state until they are used, and can be unfolded when needed with simple manual movements or by machine.

[0015] Compartments and / or outer packaging are preferably made from single- or multi-part cardboard boxes made of stabilized paper types, such as cardboard and / or paperboard. Cardboard boxes of various thicknesses and sizes are available for each type of compartment and / or outer packaging. For delicate items, corrugated cardboard, for example, can be used to protect them.

[0016] Cardboard boxes that can be unfolded or pulled open, folded, or collapsed into compartments and / or outer packaging have cardboard walls that are interconnected by folded edges and / or adhesive joints and / or plug-in connections, which can be cut and / or punched out of sheet material, for example. When folded, at least two interconnected cardboard walls form an upper and a lower flat side of a flat, folded cardboard box.

[0017] For example, by applying pressure to the sides of a folded cardboard box, it can be unfolded into a compartment and / or outer packaging. It is also possible to hold the folded cardboard box at the surfaces of each cardboard wall, its upper and lower flat sides, for example using suction cups, and to expand it by increasing the distance between the surfaces of the cardboard walls, which is initially limited to the thickness of the folded cardboard box.

[0018] By unfolding or pulling open, an interior space is created in the case of an outer packaging designed as a folding box and, in the case of a compartment that can be folded and unfolded or an outer packaging designed as a folding box with compartments already arranged in it, an interior space is created for each compartment of the compartment, which is accessible through one or more access openings spanning a plane running normal to the cardboard walls, through which access opening articles can be introduced into the corresponding interior space.

[0019] A significant cost factor when handling items, for example in the food and / or beverage and / or packaging technology and / or in the food and / or beverage and / or packaging industry, is the cycle rate, which allows the maximum number of items to be handled in the shortest possible time. The higher the cycle rate, the higher the item turnover and the higher and thus better the utilization of the machines, systems, and equipment provided for this purpose. Cycle rate can therefore be described as the quotient of the number of items and the time within which this number of items is handled.

[0020] In order to achieve high cycle times, fully automatic devices, also known as unfolding or erecting machines or simply unfolders or erectors, are used in packaging technology and the packaging industry to unfold and / or pull cardboard boxes into compartments and / or outer packaging. These devices, in conjunction with the provision of folded or collapsed cardboard boxes, remove a folded or collapsed cardboard box from a cardboard box supply within fractions of a second and pull and / or unfold it into a compartment and / or outer packaging.

[0021] In order to be able to insert a large number of compartments into a large number of outer packages with the highest possible throughput and short cycle times, devices are already known from the prior art that have multiple transport lines along which the respective outer packages are moved. In these prior art devices, several compartments are removed from a large number of stocks within a cycle and moved toward several outer packages, where they are then inserted into these outer packages. Such devices have a complex design and require a lot of space.

[0022] For this reason, one object of the present invention can be seen in providing a method and a device for transferring compartments to outer packaging intended for articles, which require less space than devices or methods known from the prior art and enable the insertion of compartments into the respective outer packaging in a simplified manner. Furthermore, the device and the method should enable the insertion or transfer of compartments into the respective outer packaging with high throughput and high cycle times.

[0023] The above objects are achieved by a device and a method comprising the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0024] The invention relates to a method for transferring compartments to outer packaging intended for articles. Within the scope of one step of the method according to the invention, compartments are removed from at least one supply of compartments. The supply of compartments can have a plurality of stacked compartments or be formed by a plurality of stacked compartments. The compartments can be folded together in the supply and, if necessary, unfolded during or during a movement described below in the direction of a transport path described below.

[0025] Furthermore, a plurality of outer packages are transported or moved along at least one, and in preferred embodiments, along at least two, preferably parallel transport paths. The at least one transport path can be formed by at least one horizontal conveyor or by at least one circulating conveyor belt, on which the plurality of outer packages stand and are moved along the at least one transport path. The outer packages can optionally be folded and unfolded during their transport along the at least one transport path.

[0026] In a further step of the method according to the invention, the plurality of compartments taken from the at least one supply are placed into an outer packaging of the at least one transport route that is assigned to a respective compartment. In particular, it can be provided that a plurality of compartments are placed simultaneously or at least approximately simultaneously into immediately successive or immediately adjacent outer packaging of the at least one transport route. The plurality of compartments taken from the at least one supply can be placed into their respective outer packaging in a direction coming from above. The plurality of compartments taken from the at least one supply can also be moved at a speed synchronized with their respective outer packaging during the placement into their respective outer packaging.

[0027] It is also provided that a plurality of compartments are removed from at least one specific supply, and the plurality of compartments removed from a respective one of the at least one specific supply are moved in a temporally superimposed manner in the direction of the at least one transport route and introduced into the respective outer packaging. The plurality of compartments can thus be removed from the at least one specific supply, wherein after the removal of all of the plurality of compartments, these plurality of compartments removed from the respective one of the at least one specific supply are moved together in the direction of the at least one transport route and, after moving together in the direction of the at least one transport route, are introduced into their respective outer packaging.

[0028] By removing multiple compartments from one or at least one specific supply, it is possible to transfer multiple compartments from the specific supply to multiple outer packaging units within a single cycle. Thus, using only one specific supply, multiple outer packaging units can be loaded with compartments within the respective cycle. The implementation of the method according to the invention thus requires little space and is possible with high throughput.

[0029] In practice, embodiments have also proven successful in which the plurality of compartments are presented in an upright orientation over the at least one specific supply. In particular, the plurality of compartments can be provided over the at least one specific supply with a rotationally compliant orientation, so that the plurality of compartments are received from the at least one specific supply and are not rotated until they are placed in their respective outer packaging. In this case, the compartments can be received in an upright orientation from the at least one specific supply, unfolded after receipt, and then placed in their respective outer packaging. The compartments can each provide a plurality of receptacles for articles, wherein the receptacles of the compartment are open upwards as a result of the unfolding of the respective compartment.In particular, it may be that the multiple compartments are not rotated at least after removal or receipt of at least one specific supply and after unfolding or pulling up.

[0030] Furthermore, at least one first compartment may be removed from the at least one specific supply and transferred to a respective specific waiting position, whereupon the at least one first compartment transferred to its specific waiting position and at least one second compartment of the at least one specific supply are moved in a temporally superimposed manner towards a respective outer packaging and then introduced into their respective outer packaging. In particular, the at least one first compartment may remain motionless in the specific waiting position for a specific period of time, and in the process the at least one second compartment may be received from the respective one of the at least one specific supply. Following this, at least one first compartment may leave its waiting position and, together with the at least one second compartment, be moved towards a respective outer packaging and introduced into the respective outer packaging.

[0031] It is conceivable that the at least one first compartment is transferred from the at least one specific supply into its specific waiting position by means of a pivoting movement about a preferably vertically oriented axis. If several first compartments are removed from a respective one of the at least one specific supply and moved in a temporally overlapping manner toward a respective outer packaging or the at least one transport route, it may be that the several first compartments are transferred to waiting positions located at a distance from one another, wherein the waiting positions located at a distance from one another for the several first compartments are adjacent to the respective at least one specific supply on opposite sides.

[0032] It is also possible for the at least one second compartment to be presented via the at least one specific supply at a time when the respective specific waiting position of the at least one first compartment is reached. The at least one second compartment can be configured as a compartment located at the front of the at least one specific supply or can be presented as a compartment located at the front of the at least one specific supply.

[0033] Embodiments in which the at least one first compartment, in its respective waiting position, has a parallel or at least approximately parallel orientation relative to the at least one second compartment presented via the at least one specific supply have also proven successful. Such embodiments have proven successful in enabling the at least one first compartment and the at least one second compartment to be subsequently received and easily moved toward their respective outer packaging.

[0034] In addition, it may be that two first compartments are removed from the at least one specific supply and transferred to a respective waiting position, whereupon the two first compartments and at least one second compartment of the respective at least one specific supply are moved in a temporally superimposed manner towards a respective outer packaging and are then introduced into their respective outer packaging.

[0035] In preferred embodiments, a first suction and / or gripping instrument can remove a first compartment from the respective one of the at least one specific supply and then move away from this respective at least one specific supply. Furthermore, a second suction and / or gripping instrument can subsequently remove a second compartment from this respective one of the at least one specific supply, wherein the first suction and / or gripping instrument with its removed first compartment and the second suction and / or gripping instrument with its removed second compartment are subsequently moved together in the direction of the at least one transport route and insert their respective removed first and second compartments into the respective outer packaging. The first suction and / or gripping instrument can unfold or pull open the first compartment during its movement in the direction of the at least one transport route.Furthermore, the second suction and / or gripping instrument can unfold or pull open the second compartment during its movement in the direction of the at least one transport path.

[0036] Furthermore, it may be that a third suction and / or gripping instrument removes a third compartment from a further supply, wherein the first suction and / or gripping instrument and the second suction and / or gripping instrument and the third suction and / or gripping instrument are subsequently moved in the direction of the at least one transport path in a temporally superimposed manner and insert their respective removed first, second and third compartments into the respective outer packaging.

[0037] In practice, embodiments have proven successful in which removal of the second compartment via the second suction and / or gripping instrument and removal of the third compartment via the third suction and / or gripping instrument take place simultaneously or at least approximately simultaneously.

[0038] The invention further relates to a device for transferring compartments to outer packaging intended for articles. Features that have already been described previously for various embodiments of the method can also be provided in the device described below and are therefore not mentioned redundantly. Furthermore, features described below relating to the device can be used for the method already described.

[0039] The device for transferring compartments to outer packaging intended for articles comprises at least one provision for a respective supply of compartments. Furthermore, the device comprises at least one and in particular at least two preferably parallel transport lines for outer packaging, as well as a work system designed to remove compartments from a respective supply of the at least one provision and which can insert compartments removed from a respective supply into a respective associated outer packaging.

[0040] For the device according to the invention, it is provided that the work system is designed for removing a plurality of compartments from at least one specific supply, for the temporally superimposed movement of the plurality of compartments removed from a respective one of the at least one specific supply in the direction of the at least one transport path, and for inserting the plurality of compartments removed from a respective one of the at least one specific supply into a respective outer packaging of the at least one transport path. If a plurality of transport paths are provided, the plurality of transport paths can run parallel to one another and, if appropriate, can each be formed by a horizontal conveyor device.

[0041] In preferred embodiments, the at least one specific provision can be configured to present compartments of a respective stored supply in an upright orientation. Thus, the work system can be configured to receive compartments from the at least one specific provision in an upright orientation.

[0042] Furthermore, the work system can comprise at least one work arm configured to receive and move at least one first compartment of the at least one specific supply to a respective specific waiting position. The work system can be configured for the temporally superimposed movement of the at least one first compartment and at least one second compartment of the at least one specific supply toward a respective outer packaging, as well as for inserting the at least one first compartment and the at least one second compartment into their respective outer packaging.

[0043] It is also conceivable for the at least one working arm to be pivotable about a preferably vertically oriented axis for receiving and moving the at least one first compartment of the at least one specific supply into a specific waiting position. The at least one working arm can be connected to a servo motor, via which the at least one working arm can be pivoted if necessary. It is also conceivable for the at least one working arm to receive a respective first compartment pneumatically or via negative pressure. In further embodiments, it can be provided that the at least one working arm is designed for clamping or mechanically gripping a respective first compartment.

[0044] It is also possible for the work system to comprise a first suction and / or gripping instrument and a second suction and / or gripping instrument. The first suction and / or gripping instrument can be designed to remove a first compartment from the respective supply of the at least one provision. Furthermore, the second suction and / or gripping instrument can be designed to remove a second compartment from this respective supply of the at least one specific provision. The first suction and / or gripping instrument and the second suction and / or gripping instrument, together with the first and second compartments they have received, can be designed for a temporally superimposed movement in the direction of their respective outer packaging and for introducing the first and second compartments into the respective outer packaging. Embodiments have proven particularly useful in which the first suction and / or gripping instrument and the second suction and / or gripping instrument are designed to unfold orare designed to raise their respective first and second compartments.

[0045] The first suction and / or gripping instrument can be configured such that, after receiving the first compartment, it can move to a waiting position and remain in the waiting position until the second compartment is received or removed via the second suction and / or gripping instrument. The first suction and / or gripping instrument and the second suction and / or gripping instrument can be connected to a control unit that specifies the removal or receipt of the first compartment and the second compartment via the first suction and / or gripping instrument and the second suction and / or gripping instrument and, if necessary, controls the first suction and / or gripping instrument to move to the waiting position.

[0046] In practice, embodiments have also proven successful in which the working system comprises a third suction and / or gripping instrument, wherein the third suction and / or gripping instrument is prepared to receive a third compartment from a supply for further provision and wherein the third suction and / or gripping instrument, the second suction and / or gripping instrument and the first suction and / or gripping instrument, together with the received first, second and third compartments, are designed for temporally superimposed movement in the direction of their respective outer packaging and for introducing the first, second and third compartments into the respective outer packaging. The first suction and / or gripping instrument, the second suction and / or gripping instrument and the third suction and / or gripping instrument can, if necessary,be connected to a control unit which specifies the temporally superimposed movement of the first suction and / or gripping instrument, the second suction and / or gripping instrument and the third suction and / or gripping instrument.

[0047] Embodiments in which the second suction and / or gripping instrument and the third suction and / or gripping instrument are designed for a time-synchronous or at least approximately time-synchronous removal of the second and third compartments have proven successful.

[0048] In the following, exemplary embodiments will explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The relative sizes of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the actual sizes, as some shapes are simplified and others are enlarged relative to other elements for better illustration. Fig. 1shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention; Figures 2 to 4 each show a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of a device from Fig. 1 and illustrate individual steps as they may be provided in a conceivable embodiment of the method according to the invention; Fig. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the embodiment of a device from the Figures 1 to 4 ; Fig. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention; Fig. 7 shows a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of a device according to the invention; Fig. 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a device according to the invention.

[0049] Identical reference numerals are used for identical or equivalently functioning elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only those reference numerals are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the invention can be configured and do not constitute an exhaustive limitation.

[0050] The Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. The device is intended for transferring compartments 3 to outer packaging intended for articles, wherein the outer packaging is not shown in the figures of this patent application for reasons of clarity. The outer packaging is transported on two parallel transport paths 5, which transport paths 5 in Figures 1 to 4 not shown, but in Fig. 5are shown. For example, the outer packaging can be designed as a cardboard box or beverage crate, into which a respective compartment 3 can be introduced by means of the device 1 to form compartments intended for beverage containers.

[0051] The device 1 comprises a supply 9, which presents a plurality of compartments 3 in an upright and stacked orientation. Furthermore, two working arms 11 can be seen, which can be pivoted about a vertical axis relative to the supply 9 and which each have a broad side surface 13 in order to receive compartments 3 from the supply 8 of the supply 9 and to be able to transfer them to a waiting position described below. It is conceivable, for example, that the compartments 3 can be secured by applying negative pressure or by mechanical gripping on the respective broad side surface 13 of a respective working arm 11. The working arms 11 can, in the embodiment of Fig. 1 can be swiveled by a respective servo motor.

[0052] The Figures 2 to 4 each show a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of a device 1 from Fig. 1and illustrate individual steps as they may be provided in a conceivable embodiment of the method according to the invention. Thus, a summary of the Figures 1 and 2 recognize that the left-hand working arm 11 has been pivoted around a vertical axis in the direction of the provision 9 or the supply 8 of compartments 3 by an angle of 180°. Fig. 1 The still visible broad side surface 13 of the working arm 11 shown on the left is in Fig. 2 in contact with a frontmost compartment 3 of the supply 8. In addition, the working arm 11 has secured the frontmost compartment 3 to its broad side surface 13. It is conceivable, for example, that a negative pressure is created between the working arm 11 and the frontmost compartment 3 to secure the frontmost compartment 3 of the supply 9 or the supply 8 to the working arm 11.

[0053] It is also possible that the compartment 3 of the provision 9 or the supply 8 arranged at the front is gripped or temporarily received, for example in a clamping or mechanical manner, by means of the working arm 11.

[0054] The working arm 11 shown on the right has Fig. 2 A swivel movement has already been initiated or has been moved from the position according to Fig. 1 already rotating in the direction of the supply 9 or the supply 8, but has not yet reached the supply 9 or the supply 8. A coordinated pivoting movement of both working arms 11 can, if necessary, be specified by a control unit.

[0055] In Fig. 3 It can now be seen that the working arm 11 shown on the left is starting from the position Fig. 2 together with its received compartment 3 or a received first compartment 3a has performed a pivoting movement of 180° in the opposite direction and is in Fig. 3 in a waiting position. The position or waiting position of the working arm 11 shown on the left side Fig. 3 therefore corresponds to its position or orientation according to Fig. 1 .

[0056] Furthermore, the working arm 11 shown on the right has its already in Fig. 2 The swivel movement initiated is continued and now stands with its broad side surface 13 (cf. Figures 1 and 2 ) with a frontmost compartment 3 of the supply 8 in the appendix. The frontmost compartment 3 is positioned in the position of the working arm 11 shown on the right according to Fig. 3 pneumatically or mechanically fixed to the working arm 11 shown on the right. To adjust the position Fig. 3 starting from the position Fig. 1 To achieve this, the working arm 11 shown on the right was pivoted through an angle of 180°.

[0057] In Fig. 4It is shown that the working arm 11 shown on the right-hand side, after receiving the compartment 3 or another first compartment 3a, is moved into the position according to Fig. 1 was swung back by a rotation angle of 180°. During the swing back, the working arm 11 shown on the left remains motionless together with the received first compartment 3a in its already in Fig. 3 The working arm 11 shown on the right has Fig. 4 reaches an end position, wherein the first compartments 3a and a further compartment 3b, which is still formed as part of the supply 8 or arranged in the supply 8, are oriented parallel to each other. By the device 1 according to Figures 1 to 4 or by following the steps described in Figures 1 to 4It is possible to present three compartments 3 with a specific orientation at the same time by means of a provision 9 or a supply 8. The compartments 3 or the first two compartments 3a and the second compartment 3b can be positioned from the position Fig. 4 by means of a respective working tool (not shown), moved synchronously towards a respective outer packaging and placed in the respective outer packaging. In particular, the three Fig. 4 presented compartments 3 by means of the working tools not shown in the drawing into immediately consecutive outer packagings of a transport route 5 (cf. Fig. 5 ) are introduced. As a summary of the Figures 1 to 4 As can also be seen overall, the pivot axes for the two working arms 11 or for the working arm 11 shown on the right and the left are oriented vertically and parallel to each other.

[0058] The Fig. 5 shows a schematic plan view of the embodiment of a device 1 from the Figures 1 to 4 . In Fig. 5 For the first time, the transport lines 5 can be seen, which move outer packaging in parallel directions and are formed by horizontal conveyor devices arranged parallel to one another.

[0059] Furthermore, Fig. 5 which is already in Figures 1 to 4 each illustrated provision 9 as well as the working arms 11 with their broad side surfaces 13. In the area of ​​the device 1 there is also an operator 50 who can manually eliminate malfunctions of the device 1 if necessary and specifies the operation of the device 1 via a control unit not shown.

[0060] The Fig. 5 also makes it clear that the compartments 3 (cf. Figures 1 to 4) must be moved obliquely and, in particular, perpendicular to the flow direction of the outer packaging after receipt for insertion into their respective outer packaging moved by means of the transport lines 5. By orienting the transport lines 5 in this way, the space requirement for the device 1 can be kept to a minimum.

[0061] The Fig. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a second embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. According to the embodiment of Fig. 5 The device 1 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 two parallel transport lines 5 for outer packaging.

[0062] In addition, the embodiment from Fig. 6 two provisions 9 for each stock 8 (cf. Figures 1 to 4) on compartments 3. The provisioning devices 9 are arranged adjacent to each other, whereby only the lower of the provisioning devices 9 has a working arm 11 with a broad side surface 13, which receives compartments 3 from the supply 8 of the lower provisioning device 9 and, as described, Figures 1 to 4 by means of a pivoting movement into a waiting position. Due to the two provision positions 9 and the receipt and transfer of a compartment 3 by means of the working arm 11 into a waiting position, three compartments 3 can be presented and placed in three outer packagings for one cycle using only two provision positions 9 or two supplies 8.

[0063] The Fig. 7 shows a schematic plan view of a third embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. According to the embodiment of a device 1 from Fig. 6 has the embodiment of a device 1 from Fig. 7two transport routes 5 oriented parallel to each other. Furthermore, two provision points 9 or two specific provision points 9 can be seen, via each of which a supply 8 of compartments 3 (cf. Figures 1 to 4 ) can be presented. Each of the provisioning devices 9 is assigned a working arm 11 with a respective broad side surface 13, which respective working arm 11 receives compartments 3 of the respective provisioning device 9 and places them in a waiting position according to the previous description to the Figures 1 to 4 can transfer.

[0064] Since the compartment 3 in the previous embodiment consists of Fig. 6 for a respective cycle from the lower provision 9 compared to the upper provision 9 with double the number, in the embodiment from Fig. 6 For the lower provision 9, the supply 8 must be frequently replaced in order to be able to provide a sufficient number of compartments 3 at all times.

[0065] Advantageously, in the embodiment of Fig. 7 alternately for successive cycles via the working arm 11 of the upper provision 9 and the working arm 11 of the lower provision a respective compartment 3 into a respective waiting position according to the previous description to the Figures 1 to 4 transferred. If new stocks 8 of compartments 3 introduced into the provision 9 have an identical number of compartments 3, these are used up simultaneously and then replaced. An alternating pivoting of the working arms 11 can be specified by a control unit (not shown in the figures of this patent application), which for this purpose controls respective servo motors connected to the working arms 11. A working tool which is in Fig. 7 not shown, can be controlled via the control unit for alternately receiving a respective compartment 3 via the two working arms 11.

[0066] The Fig. 8 shows a schematic perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a device 1 according to the invention. The embodiment of Fig. 8 comprises two provisions 9, each of which has a supply 8 of compartments 3 (cf. Figures 1 to 4 ).

[0067] Furthermore, the device 1 from the embodiment of Fig. 8 a first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, a second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b and a third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c. The first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c are carried by a common suspension 30 or are attached to a common suspension 30 and can be moved via the suspension 30 between the provisions 9 and in Fig. 8 cannot be moved back and forth using the transport routes 5 shown.

[0068] In the embodiment from Fig. 8the suspension 30 is moved together with the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c in the direction of the provision 9 until the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b comes into contact with a compartment 3 arranged at the front of the supply 8 of the lower provision 9 and pneumatically grasps the compartment 3 arranged at the front of the lower provision 9. The second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b can be moved relative to the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a and relative to the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c.a contact of the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b with the foremost compartment 3 of the lower provision 9, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b has an orientation in which the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b is at least partially aligned with the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a.

[0069] After removal of a frontmost compartment 3 or second compartment 3b of the lower provision 9 by the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b, the entire suspension 30 is moved away from the provisions 9 together with the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c.

[0070] In addition, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b is moved along the suspension 30 relative to the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a and relative to the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c until the second suction and / or gripping instrument is in accordance with Fig. 8 at least approximately centrally between the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c.

[0071] Subsequently, the suspension 30, together with the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c, moves again in the direction of the provision 9, wherein the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a comes into contact with a frontmost compartment 3 of the lower provision 9 and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c comes into contact with a frontmost compartment 3 of the upper provision 9. The topmost compartments 3 andthe first compartment 3a and the third compartment 3c are then pneumatically grasped by means of the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c, whereupon the suspension 30 together with the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c is moved away from the provisions 9 and in the direction of the positions shown in the . Figures 5 to 7 shown transport routes 5, which transport routes 5 transport a large number of outer packaging.

[0072] The first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b, and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c unfold the removed first compartment 3a, the removed second compartment 3b, and the removed third compartment 3c during their movement in the direction of the transport routes 5. Subsequently, the first compartment 3a, the second compartment 3b, and the third compartment 3c are inserted into respective assigned outer packagings moved along the transport routes 5 by means of the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b, and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c. For this purpose, the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b, and the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c can be lowered vertically relative to the suspension 30.

[0073] Since 9 of the lower provision or 8 of the stock (cf. Figures 1 to 4) two compartments 3 arranged at the front were removed from the lower provision 9 for one cycle, whereas only one compartment 3 arranged at the front was removed from the upper provision 9 or the upper supply 8 for this respective cycle, the supply 8 of compartments 3 in the lower provision 9 would be exhausted at an earlier point in time in continuous cycles. To avoid this problem, it is therefore provided that the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b alternately removes compartments 3 from the supply 8 of the lower provision 9 and from the supply 8 of the upper provision 9 in successive cycles.

[0074] For the sake of completeness, it should also be mentioned that the compartments 3 are presented in an upright or standing orientation via the upper provision 9 and the lower provision 9. The compartments 3 can therefore be removed by the first suction and / or gripping instrument 20a, the second suction and / or gripping instrument 20b or the third suction and / or gripping instrument 20c and then inserted directly into the respective outer packaging, whereby rotating or aligning the removed compartments 3 is not necessary until they are completely inserted into their respective outer packaging. Furthermore, practice has shown that compartments 3 can bend when arranged horizontally in the respective provision 9, which may cause problems when removing compartments 3. Such problems can be counteracted by means of the upright or standing orientation according to the described embodiment.

[0075] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or variations of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims. List of reference symbols

[0076] 1Device 3Compartments 3aFirst compartment 3bSecond compartment 5Transport route 7Working arm 8Supply 9Provision 11Working arm 13Broad side surface 20aFirst suction and / or grasping instrument 20bSecond suction and / or grasping instrument 20cThird suction and / or grasping instrument 30Suspension 50Operator

Claims

1. A method used to transfer partitions (3) to outer packagings intended for articles, wherein the method comprises at least the following steps: - transporting a multitude of outer packagings along at least one transport path (5), - withdrawing partitions (3) from at least one supply (8) of partitions (3), placing the multiple partitions (3) withdrawn from the at least one supply (8) into an outer packaging assigned to a particular partition (3) in the area of the at least one transport path (5), characterised in that a plurality of partitions (3) are withdrawn from at least one specific supply (8), wherein, temporally after withdrawal of all of the multiple partitions, these multiple partitions, having been withdrawn from the particular at least one specific supply, are moved together toward the at least one transport path, and, after having been moved together toward the at least one transport path (5), are placed simultaneously or at least approximately simultaneously into immediately successive or immediately adjacent outer packagings.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which the multiple partitions (3) are staged via the at least one specific supply (8) in an upright orientation.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, in which at least one first partition (3a) is withdrawn from the at least one specific supply (8) and is transferred to a particular specific waiting position, whereupon the at least one first partition (3a), which has been transferred to its specific waiting position, and at least one second partition (3b) of the at least one specific supply (8) are moved in temporal overlap toward a particular outer packaging and hereupon placed into their particular outer packaging.

4. The method according to claim 3, in which the at least one first partition (3a) is transferred from the at least one specific supply (8) to its particular specific waiting position by means of a swivel movement about a preferably vertically oriented axis.

5. The method according to claim 3 or 4, in which the at least one second partition (3b) is staged via the at least one specific supply (8) temporally with the second partition (3b) reaching the particular specific waiting position of the at least one first partition (3a).

6. The method according to claim 5, in which the at least one first partition (3a), when in its particular waiting position, has a parallel or at least approximately parallel orientation relative to the at least one second partition (3b) staged via the at least one specific supply (8).

7. The method according to one of the claims 3 to 6, in which two first partitions (3a) are withdrawn from the at least one specific supply (8) and are transferred to a particular waiting position, whereupon the two first partitions (3a) and at least one second partition (3b) of the at least one specific supply (8) are moved in temporal overlap toward a particular outer packaging and hereupon placed into their particular outer packaging.

8. The method according to one of the claims 1 to 7, in which a first suction instrument and / or gripping instrument and / or gripping tool (20a) withdraws a first partition (3a) from the particular at least one specific supply (8) and hereupon moves away from this particular at least one specific supply (8), and in which a second suction instrument and / or gripping instrument and / or gripping tool (20b) temporally subsequently withdraws a second partition (3b) from the particular at least one specific supply (8), wherein the first suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20) with its withdrawn first partition (3a) together with the second suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20b) with its withdrawn second partition (3b) are subsequently hereafter moved in temporal overlap toward the at least one transport path (5) and place their particular withdrawn first and second partitions (3a, 3b) into the particular outer packaging.

9. The method according to claim 8, in which a third suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20c) withdraws a third partition (3c) from a further supply (8), wherein the first suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20a) and the second suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20b) and the third suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20c) are subsequently hereafter moved in temporal overlap toward the at least one transport path (5) and place their particular withdrawn first, second, and third partitions (3a, 3b, 3c) into the particular outer packaging.

10. The method according to claim 8 and 9, in which a withdrawal of the second partition (3b) via the second suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20b) and a withdrawal of the third partition (3c) via the third suction instrument and / or gripping instrument are carried out simultaneously or at least approximately simultaneously.

11. A device (1) used to transfer partitions (3) to outer packagings intended for articles, the device (1) comprising: - at least one supply unit (9) for a particular supply (8) of partitions (3), - at least one transport path (5) for outer packagings, and a work system, which is designed for the withdrawal of partitions (3) from a particular supply (8) of the at least one supply unit (9), and which can place partitions (3) withdrawn from a particular supply (8) into a particularly assigned outer packaging, characterised in that the work system is designed for the withdrawal of a plurality of partitions (3) from at least one specific supply (8), and designed for the movement, together in temporal overlap, of the plurality of partitions (3) withdrawn from the particular at least one specific supply (8) toward the at least one transport path (5), and designed for the placing, simultaneously or at least approximately simultaneously, of the plurality of partitions (3) withdrawn from the particular at least one specific supply (8) into immediately successive or immediately adjacent outer packagings of the at least one transport path (5).

12. The device according to claim 11, in which the at least one specific supply unit (9) is designed to stage partitions (3) of a particular contained supply (8) in an upright orientation.

13. The device according to claim 11 or 12, in which the work system - comprises at least one working arm (11), which is designed to receive at least one first partition (3a) of the at least one specific supply (8) and to move the at least one first partition (3a) to a particular specific waiting position, and in which - the work system is designed to move the at least one first partition (3a), which has been brought to its particular specific waiting position, and at least one second partition (3b) of the at least one specific supply unit (9) in temporal overlap toward a particular outer packaging, and to place the at least one first partition (3a) and the at least one second partition (3b) each into its particular outer packaging.

14. The device according to claim 13, in which the at least one working arm (11) is swivelable about a preferably vertically oriented axis in order to receive the at least one first partition (3a) of the at least one specific supply (8) and to move the at least one first partition (3a) to a particular specific waiting position.

15. The device according to one of the claims 11 to 14, in which the work system comprises a first suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20a) and a second suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20b), wherein - the first suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20a) is designed to withdraw a first partition (3a) from the particular supply (8) of the at least one specific supply unit (9), and wherein - the second suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20b) is designed to withdraw a second partition from this particular supply (8) of this particular at least one specific supply unit (9), and wherein the first suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20a) and the second suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20b), together with their received first and second partitions (3a, 3b), are designed to move the first and the second partitions (3a, 3b) in temporal overlap each toward their particular outer packaging and to place the first and the second partitions each into the particular outer packaging.

16. The device according to claim 15, in which the work system comprises a third suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20c), wherein the third suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20c) is prepared for the withdrawal of a third partition (3c) from a supply (8) of a further supply unit (9), and wherein the third suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20c), the second suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20b), and the first suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20a), together with their received first, second, and third partitions (3a, 3b, 3c), are designed to move the first, second, and third partitions (3a, 3b, 3c) in temporal overlap each toward their particular outer packaging and to place the first, second, and third partitions (3a, 3b, 3c) each into the particular outer packaging.

17. The device according to claim 15 and 16, in which the second suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20b) and the third suction instrument and / or gripping instrument (20c) are designed for a time-synchronous or at least approximately time-synchronous withdrawal of the second and third partition (3b, 3c).