DEVICE AND METHOD FOR WRAPPING CONTAINER GROUPS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method and a device for producing a container wrapped with a web material as outer packaging according to the preambles of claims 1 and 9.

[0002] The production of bundles from containers with outer packaging that fixes the containers in a fixed position relative to one another is well known. This involves wrapping a group of containers, for example on at least four sides, with a web of material such as a paper web or shrink film. In the case of shrink film, the film is then shrinked so that the containers are held firmly together by the web material. During the shrinking process, any excess film on the sides also adheres to the end faces of the bundle, creating a shrink eye. This can lead to creases in the area of ​​the end faces, which the end customer interprets as a quality defect. The shrinking process also often gives rise to the problem that the film cuts on the front and back of the bundle, i.e. on the main surfaces, also become distorted or creased.Especially when using printed foils, the printed motifs often become illegible.

[0003] From US Pat. No. 3,629,991 A, an apparatus for wrapping a sheet around an article moving in a conveying direction is known. The apparatus comprises a frame, a conveyor on the frame for moving articles in the conveying direction, a first pair of links pivoted to the frame, and a second pair of links pivoted to the first pair of links. The apparatus further comprises a first sheet smoothing and winding roller extending between and supported by the second pair of links for smoothing and wrapping a wrapping sheet over an article.

[0004] Similarly, wrapping and folding a textile and / or paper web requires taut and tensioning the web material. This often leads to the problem that the web material on the front and back of the package, i.e., on the main surfaces, also becomes distorted, creases develop, or desired image or pattern additions from adjacent areas are lost. Especially when using printed web materials, this often results in the printed motifs becoming distorted or illegible.

[0005] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method and a device which enable an improvement of the packaging appearance, in particular in the case of a maximally closed shrink eye or a folding packaging, a distortion-free motif on a container and a minimization of the formation of wrinkles in the area of ​​the end faces of the container.

[0006] The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 9. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] According to the invention, the device for producing a bundle wrapped with a web material comprises at least one bundle transport device which transports the bundle through a folding and / or wrapping device, wherein the folding and / or wrapping device comprises a wrapping element guided above and below the at least one bundle transport device for receiving the web blank and for wrapping the bundle with the web blank, and for transporting the web material and the web blank, a material transport device is provided with a first transport path which extends from a dispenser for the web material to a designated contact area of ​​the folding and / or wrapping element with a material blank and is provided with a subsequent second transport path which adjoins the first transport path and extends to the end of the bundle transport device,and a cutting station designed to cut a web material to form the web blank, with a transport device arranged upstream of the cutting station for transporting and feeding web blanks to the transport plane formed on and above the container transport device. An adhesive application device is arranged in the region of the transport path, which is designed to apply adhesive to the inside of the web blank and in the region of the longitudinal side edges of the film blank. Alternatively, particularly in the case of web blanks made of paper and / or cardboard, the web blanks can also be stacked and pre-cut on a feed unit, from where they are individually guided to the transport device via a detection and transfer unit.

[0008] The core of the device is an adhesive application device that can be easily integrated into an existing folding and / or wrapping device. Surprisingly, this is achieved by an adhesive application device that applies the adhesive to the web material or the web blank, rather than to the container. This allows for an arrangement of the adhesive application device that makes particularly effective use of the installation space of the folding and / or wrapping device.

[0009] The adhesive is applied by the adhesive device in such a way that the web cut-out is glued to the end faces of the package to be wrapped with the containers of the package, in particular the corner containers. This fixes the web cut-out before the shrinking process, which at least largely prevents distortion of the web cut-out and thus, for example, also distortion of a motif printed on the web cut-out. Because the glued web cut-out is pulled significantly less towards the front and back of the package during the shrinking process, a particularly small shrink hole is created with little film consumption and there is significantly less wrinkling in the web cut-out. The film of the web cut-out is designed as a shrink film.After wrapping, the bundle is guided from the bundle transport device to a discharge transport device and transported to a device for shrinking the web blank.

[0010] The discharge transport device, the container transport device and also a transport device feeding a container onto the container transport device are designed, for example, as conventional conveyor belts from the beverage industry, whereas the film transport device can comprise, for example, vacuum tables.

[0011] Containers within the meaning of the invention are, for example, bottles, cans, tubes, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, in particular PET bottles, but also other packaging materials, in particular those suitable for filling liquid or viscous products. In particular, beverage containers can be understood as containers. A package is formed by a group of combined containers. The containers of the package are arranged in a nesting or non-nesting position. In the context of the invention, the term package can be understood not only to mean a container group in which the containers are already connected to one another, but also a container group whose containers are put together but not yet connected to one another and which are only to be connected to one another by film wrapping.

[0012] In the case of film wrapping, the folding and / or wrapping device comprises a wrapping element that receives the film blank coming from the first transport section, slides along the outer side of the film blank, and overtakes the container during transport on the container transport device, whereby the film blank is applied with its inner side to the container. Before the film blank is picked up by the wrapping element, the film blank coming from the transport device can be placed with a leading edge on the container transport device, and the container can be placed on the inner side of the film blank in the area of ​​the leading edge.

[0013] To wrap the film blank around the container, the wrapping element emerges from below the container transport device after the container group has been positioned on the front edge, rests against the outside of the film blank, guides the film blank around the container, and then re-enters the container transport device at the end of the container transport device. Once wrapping is complete, the container can be placed on the rear edge of the film blank opposite the front edge of the film blank. After wrapping, it is transported to a shrinking device, e.g., a shrink tunnel.

[0014] The container is transported with its front side forward on the container transport device, while the wrapping takes place around the container starting from the back. The wrapping element can be designed, for example, as a circumferential rod element.

[0015] Cutting stations are also known. On these, for example, shrink film, which is available as a roll, is unrolled and cut into film blanks. The film blanks are transported on the transport device, which—as already mentioned—may include a vacuum table, for example, to the transport level of the container transport device. There, a leading edge of the film blank is picked up by the wrapping element.

[0016] The leading edge is the edge positioned at the front in the conveying direction on the film conveying device, while the trailing edge is the edge of the film blank opposite the leading edge. The leading and trailing edges are aligned transversely in the conveying direction. The longitudinal side edges are the lateral longitudinal edges aligned in the conveying direction, i.e. the side edges extending from the leading edge to the trailing edge. In the context of the invention, the longitudinal side edges are understood to mean in particular an area of ​​the film blank that extends from the actual outer edge of the film (of the film blank) by, for example, several cm inwards to the opposite side edge and, when wrapped, rests against the front of the container. The front of the container is understood to be the lateral surface of the container on which the shrink hole is created.The film blank is bonded to the containers of the pack at the end of the pack, i.e., at the open long edges of the folded film blank. Bonding takes place particularly at the corner containers of the pack. Folded long edges of the film blank should preferably neither touch nor overlap, so that the packs are at least partially free of film at the end, and the shrink hole is formed.

[0017] In the event that the web material is a paper or cardboard blank, the above applies analogously, but in particular no shrink tunnel is required.

[0018] Furthermore, it may not be necessary to wrap the container by transporting it front-first on the container transport device, while the container is wrapped around the container from the back using a circumferential rod element. In this case, other folding tools and folding processes known in the prior art for paper and / or cardboard blanks are used.

[0019] However, it may be advantageous for the folding and wrapping device to comprise suitable pulling and / or tensioning elements in order to tighten or tension a paper or cardboard blank placed over a container group, around a container group or on a container group, once or several times in at least one spatial direction, ideally in two spatial directions.

[0020] Adhesives or adhesives within the meaning of the invention can be any materials or compounds with which an adhesive bond can be established between the film and the containers of the pack or between two sections of the film. In particular, the adhesives or adhesives are formed from the group of hot-melt or melt adhesives.

[0021] The conveying direction is the transport direction of the web material or the web cut, starting from the dispenser unit to the container completely wrapped in a web cut.

[0022] The transport level can be understood as the level formed by the container transport device, in which the containers are transported by the container transport device. During transport, the containers can rest on the container transport device, e.g., a container transport table, a conveyor belt, or similar.

[0023] The contact area is the area along the conveyor path in which the folding and / or wrapping element comes into contact with the web blank.

[0024] According to a further development of the invention, the first transport path comprises a partial section which extends in the conveying direction from the cutting station to the end of the transport path, wherein the adhesive application device is arranged in the region of the partial section, in particular below the transport level of the containers.

[0025] The first section thus also comprises in particular the first transport device for feeding the film blanks to the transport level formed on and above the transport level by the container transport device.

[0026] The adhesive application device is particularly preferably arranged in the region of the first transport device. This can in particular form part of the first section and thus be arranged vertically below the transport plane of the containers. This makes it particularly easy to apply the adhesive to the inside and the long side edges of the web blank. It should be noted that, depending on the length of the transport path of the first section, the adhesive can also be applied to the inside of the (not yet cut) web material (film, paper, cardboard, etc.), for example if the web material has already been unrolled from a dispenser roll with a first section, but the separating cut for producing the web blank has not yet been made. In this respect, the application of the adhesive to the web section can also be referred to below as...an application to the web material that has not yet been cut but will be cut shortly afterwards.

[0027] The adhesive is applied to the web blank in the area of ​​the material transport device. According to a further development of the invention, the device for applying the adhesive is designed in the end area of ​​the first transport device and before the web blank is fed to the container transport device. The end area of ​​the first transport device includes, in particular, the last third of the first

[0028] This refers to a transport device, e.g., a vacuum table, or the transition area between the end of the first transport device and the container transport device. This ensures that the adhesive is only applied to the web material or the web blank shortly before the container is wrapped, thus preventing, for example, incorrect bonding.

[0029] Ideally, the adhesive application device is suitable for the application of adhesives belonging to the hot-melt or melt adhesive group. Application is carried out contactlessly using application nozzles or spray heads. Typically, one application nozzle or spray head is provided for each application location, so that they do not need to be moved or swiveled during operation of the system. An application nozzle or spray head can apply an adhesive to the conveyed web material or a web blank, either in a row, in a point pattern, or in a line.

[0030] The application nozzles or spray heads are connected to and fed by known, associated storage containers, heating devices, pumps, etc.

[0031] According to a further development of the invention, at least one adhesive head of the adhesive application device is movable transversely to the conveying direction of the web blank. The adhesive head is thus movable between the longitudinal side edges of the web blank, so that adhesive can be applied to both longitudinal side edge areas using one adhesive head. Adhesive can also be applied to areas of the web blank between the longitudinal side edges using the movable adhesive head, so that, for example, additional bonding of the web blanks to one another or of the web blanks to the containers of the pack can be achieved.

[0032] For example, to increase the throughput speeds of the device, the adhesive application device particularly preferably has at least two adhesive heads arranged on opposite sides of the first transport device. This allows the adhesive to be applied to both longitudinal edges of the web blank without the need for time-consuming movement of the adhesive head. The time required to move the adhesive heads back and forth is eliminated.

[0033] Additionally, both adhesive heads can also be mounted so they can move transversely to the transport direction, allowing adhesive to be applied particularly quickly even to areas of the web blank that lie outside the long side edges. Of course, additional adhesive heads, such as a third or fourth adhesive head, can also be installed.

[0034] To make optimal use of the device's installation space, the cutting station can be arranged vertically below the transport plane of the container (container transport device, feed transport device), so that the web blank for wrapping the container is guided from below onto the container transport device. To make optimal use of the device's installation space and, in particular, to avoid obstructing the transport path of the containers on the respective transport device, the adhesive application device can be arranged vertically below the container transport device, as already explained.

[0035] Just like the cutting station, the adhesive application device can also be arranged offset in the horizontal direction to the container transport device and, for example, directly below a feed transport device that transfers the container to the container transport device.

[0036] In order to ensure particularly precise positioning of the long side edges of the web blank provided with the adhesive on the end faces of the container, a further development of the invention provides for a pressing element (swiping element) to be arranged which moves a material projection with the long side edges to the end faces of the container after wrapping. The pressing element exerts pressure against the material projections present in the end face area and thus also against the long side edges of the web blank provided with the adhesive, whereby the material projections are moved around the corner containers of the container and the projecting material projections of the web blank are pressed against the end face of the container. Because the adhesive on the long side edges comes into contact with the containers of the container, in particular the corner containers, the web blank, e.g. the film blank, sticks to the containers.The pressing element can also be designed as a rubbing element. Rollers or brushes, for example, are provided as pressing or rubbing elements, over which the container is guided. In addition to passive guiding, guiding can also mean actively guiding the container toward the pressing element or the pressing element toward the container. Of course, multiple pressing elements can also be arranged, or pressing elements can be arranged on both sides of the container.

[0037] Furthermore, the object is achieved by a method for producing a container wrapped with a web blank, comprising the steps of: transporting the web blank on a first transport device of a film transport device from a cutting station to a transport level formed on and above the container transport device, wrapping a container transported on the container transport device, wherein the web blank is gripped by a wrapping element and moved around the container during transport, wherein during the transport of the web blank in the region of the first transport device an adhesive is applied to the web blank in the region of the inner surface and in the region of the long side edges of the web blank, and the long side edges of the web blank are glued to the end faces of the container after wrapping.

[0038] Applying the adhesive to the web blank instead of to the container enables a particularly space-saving arrangement of an adhesive application device. The adhesive application device can be integrated into the existing installation space of the folding and / or wrapping device. The bonding also fixes the open ends of the web blank to the end faces of the container before the shrinking process, thus preventing distortion of the web blank on the front and back due to shrinkage. This can prevent distortion of the motif, especially with the particularly preferred web blanks printed with a motif. In addition, the bonding creates a largely closed shrink eye with the smallest possible amount of film, thus largely preventing the formation of wrinkles.

[0039] In order to apply and adhere the film overhang of the wrapped container particularly precisely to the end faces of the container, a further development of the invention provides for a pressing element to move the film overhang of the wrapped container with its long side edges to the end faces of the container. This causes the film overhang around the corner containers of the container to be applied to the end faces of the container, and the adhesive applied to the long side edges is bonded to the containers, in particular to the corner containers of the container.

[0040] As already mentioned, the web blank used is preferably printed, for example, with a manufacturer's motif. Due to the improved shrinkage pattern achieved by bonding the web blank before shrinking, the containers can be produced as banderol-free containers, particularly advantageously. This means that a banderol with a corresponding motif is no longer required under the film, as this is printed on the web blank.

[0041] To minimize the effort required for applying the adhesive and to avoid incorrect bonding due to excessively large bonding sections, a further development of the invention provides for the adhesive to be applied as dots. This means that the web blank is bonded to the containers only in specific spots and not in the form of, for example, adhesive strips or large-area bonding. This allows for particularly good control of the shrinkage behavior of the web blank during the shrinking process.

[0042] Particularly preferred is at least one single dot of adhesive on each long side edge of the blank sheet, per front and back of the container. Especially with transparent blank sheets, which may be unprinted or have only a small motif imprint, one dot of adhesive on each long side edge, per front and back, is sufficient to prevent significant, disruptive distortion of the blank sheet in the area of ​​the front and back of the container.

[0043] However, according to a further development of the invention, at least two adhesive spots are applied to each longitudinal side edge of the blank, spaced apart from each other, on the front and back sides. This means that the adhesive spots are applied spaced apart from each other in the direction of the longitudinal side edges. The distance between two adhesive spots on a longitudinal side edge can, for example, correspond to at least the height (in the vertical direction) of the motif print, thereby achieving particularly good pre-fixing of the printed surface section of the blank.

[0044] In addition, additional sections of the web blank can be provided with an adhesive to bond the web blank to the end faces of the container. Thus, according to a further development of the invention, an adhesive is applied in the area of ​​the front edge of the web blank and / or the rear edge of the web blank in order to bond the web blank to the container bottoms of the containers belonging to the container or to bond the front and rear edges of the web blank to each other. Here, too, the adhesive is preferably applied as a point of adhesive.

[0045] It should also be noted that in addition to particularly good control of the shrinking process, the application of the adhesive as an adhesive center point also ensures that the consumer can easily open the film packaging.

[0046] According to a further development of the method, a sprayable and / or flowable adhesive is used, in particular an adhesive from the group of hot-melt or melt adhesives. In addition to bonding the web blank, this further simplifies the opening of the container, i.e., the removal of the web blank from the containers by the consumer.

[0047] In order to carry out the inventive method particularly simply and easily, a device as described above is particularly preferably used.

[0048] Although some aspects have been described in connection with a device, it is understood that these aspects also represent a description of the corresponding method, so that a component of the device can also be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Similarly, aspects described in connection with or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding component or feature of a corresponding device.

[0049] The invention will be described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments. They show: Fig. 1 schematically shows a device for wrapping a package of containers with a film blank; Fig. 2a schematically shows a package wrapped with a shrink film according to the prior art in a front view; Fig. 2b schematically shows the package of Figure 2ain a front view; Fig. 3a schematically shows a first embodiment of the container produced according to the method and on the device, with a glued shrink film in a front view; Fig. 3b schematically shows the container from Fig. 3a ; Fig. 3c schematically shows a front view of a second embodiment of the container produced according to the method and on the device; Fig. 4 schematically shows a view of an unwound film blank of a shrink film for wrapping a container with marked areas for possible adhesive points, motifs and the container.

[0050] Figure 1 shows schematically a device 1 for wrapping a package 2 made of containers 3 (see Figure 2 ) with a foil cut 15, here a shrink film, on which motifs 28 are printed.

[0051] The device comprises a folding and / or wrapping device 5 with a container transport device 6 and a wrapping element 7 designed as a rod element, which moves on a track 8 around the container transport device 6 and the containers 2 transported thereon. Furthermore, the term container 2 also refers to a group of containers that are to be combined into a container 2 only with the film blank 15.

[0052] The device 1 further comprises a feed transport device 9 for feeding a bundle 2 onto the bundle transport device 6 and a discharge transport device 11 for receiving the bundle 2 wrapped in the film blank 15 and for further transport in a shrink device (not shown here). The travel direction LR of the bundle 2 is indicated by an arrow. The bundle 2 is transported with the front side 22 leading.

[0053] Also part of the device 1 is a film transport device with a first transport path T1, which extends from a film dispenser unit (not shown here) to a transport plane TE formed by the container transport device 6. A second transport path T2 adjoins the first transport path T1 and extends to the end of the container transport device 6.

[0054] Arranged vertically below the transport plane TE are a cutting station 12, into which the film 4 arriving from the dispenser unit enters and in which it is cut into film blanks 15, and a first section T1.1 of the first transport path TE. The first section T1.1 extends from the film cutting device 12 in the conveying direction LRF of the film blank 15 toward the transport plane TE. Part of the section T1.1 is a first transport device 13, which accordingly adjoins the cutting station 12 upstream, i.e., in the conveying direction of the film blank, and leads to the transport plane TE.

[0055] The cutting station 12 with the first transport device 13 and the adhesive application device 14 is arranged offset in the horizontal direction H (shown by an arrow) to the container transport device 6, directly below the feed transport device 9.

[0056] The application of the adhesive 17 to the long side edges 29 (see Figure 4 ) of the film blank 15 is carried out by means of the adhesive application device 14. For this purpose, this has two adhesive heads (not shown here), each of which is arranged such that it applies adhesive points 19 spaced apart from one another to the inner side 18 of the film blank 15 and here to the long side edges 29. The adhesive points 19 are applied in the end region 20 of the first transport device 13. Alternatively, for example, only one adhesive head (not shown here) can be arranged, which can be moved, for example, transversely to the conveying direction LRF. Of course, the two arranged adhesive heads can also be arranged so as to be movable transversely to the conveying direction.

[0057] More than two adhesive heads, which are also arranged to be movable or immovable, can also be provided.

[0058] To wrap the container 2, a film blank 15 is produced by the cutting station 12 and picked up by the first transport device 13, which is designed here as a vacuum table, and transported to the container transport device 6, i.e., here to the transport plane TE formed by the container transport device. During transport, the film blank 15 is guided past the adhesive application device 14. The adhesive heads in the end region 20 of the first transport device 13 apply adhesive, here as adhesive dots 19, to the long side edges 29 of the film blank 15. A sprayable and / or flowable material can be used as the adhesive, in particular a heating or hot-melt adhesive.

[0059] A bundle 2 fed in by the feed transport device 9 is arranged on a front edge 16 of the film blank 15. To wrap the bundle 2, the wrapping element 7, designed as a rod element, emerges from below (in the vertical direction) of the bundle transport device 6 between the bundle transport device 6 and the feed transport device 9 and takes the film blank 15 with it. In doing so, it rests against an outer side 21. The wrapping element 7 has a significantly higher speed than the bundle transport device 6, so that it glides along the outer side 21 of the film blank 15 and wraps it around the bundle 2. At the end of the bundle transport device 6, the wrapping element 7 dives downwards again in the vertical direction between the bundle transport device 6 and the discharge transport device 11, i.e. also below the transport plane TE. The bundle 2 then moves onto the rear edge 30 of the film blank 15.The front side 22, the back side 23, and the top and bottom sides 24, 25 of the container 2 are thus covered by the film blank 15. The container 2 is thus wrapped on four sides and has a lateral film overhang (not shown here) over the end faces 26, on which the adhesive points 19 are arranged.

[0060] The film overhang is then pressed against the end faces 26 of the container 2 by a pressing element (not shown here) or a coating element (not shown here), so that the adhesive points 19 are adhered to the end faces 26 of the container 2, i.e., to the corner containers 3a of the container 2. The film 4 is then shrunk in a shrinking device.

[0061] Figure 2a and Figure 2bshow a package 2 with individual containers 3, which is wrapped or wrapped with a film blank 15 according to the prior art. The film blank 15 has already shrunk, creating a shrink hole 27 on the front side 26. A motif 28 applied to the front side 22 is distorted due to the shrinking process of the film material.

[0062] Figure 3aschematically shows a first embodiment of a container 2 produced according to the method and on the device, with a glued film blank 15 made of shrink film, in an end view. Clearly visible are the adhesive points 19 that glue the long side edges 29 to the containers 3 (here, corner containers 3a of the container 2) at the end faces 26 of the container 2. The adhesive points 19 were applied spaced apart from one another, so that two spaced-apart adhesive points 19 are arranged on each of the long side edges 29 facing the front and the back, and fix the film blank 15 to the end face 26.

[0063] Figure 3b shows a front view of the container 2 from Figure 3aFor a better understanding of the effect of the adhesive center points 19, the adhesive center points 19 are also shown. However, these are located on the end face 26 of the container 2. The motif 28 no longer exhibits any distortion due to the foil cutout 15 glued to the end faces 26.

[0064] Figure 3c also schematically shows, in a front view, an alternative embodiment of the container 2, in which the film blank 15 is bonded to each longitudinal side edge 29, both on the front side 22 and on the back side 23, with only one adhesive center point 19 on the end face 26. Here, too, the adhesive center points 19 are shown in the present front view only for better understanding, but they are present on the end face 26.

[0065] Figure 4shows a schematic view of an unwound film blank 15 of a shrink film for wrapping a container 2 with marked areas for the adhesive points 19, motifs 28 and the subsequent position of the containers 3 in the film blank 15.

[0066] The film blank 15 has two motifs 28, which, when wrapped, are positioned on the front 22 and the back 23 of the container 2. Adhesive center points 19 are applied to the two long side edges 29. Two adhesive center points 19 are provided for each motif 28 on each long side edge 29.

[0067] The four adhesive center points 19 around a motif 28 are arranged at a uniform distance from the motif 28, which prevents even slight distortions of the motif 28.

[0068] For bonding the front edge 16 of the film blank 15 to the bottom of the container 2 or the bottoms of the containers 3, two adhesive points 19 are provided in the area of ​​the front edge 16. Alternatively, for example, adhesive points 19 can also be provided on the rear edge 30 opposite the front edge 16 in order to bond the rear edge 30 to the front edge 16.

[0069] The figures and the above explanations primarily show and describe the device and method for bonding web blanks made of film (plastic, shrink film). However, it is immediately understood that foldable paper and / or cardboard materials can also be provided as an alternative, in which case a device for applying the adhesive that is largely identical in location and construction to the adhesive application device 14 can be provided. The folding and / or wrapping device 5 and the downstream elements are to be provided in an analogous manner, but must be adapted by a person skilled in the art in a known manner for wrapping containers 4 with the foldable paper and / or cardboard blanks.

[0070] As already mentioned, the adhesive application device 14 is ideally suited for the application of adhesives belonging to the group of hot-melt or melt adhesives. In an embodiment not shown in detail, at least two adhesive heads are provided, which are arranged on opposite sides of the first transport device 13. Associated devices for applying a hot-melt or melt adhesive, such as storage containers, heating devices, pumps, etc., are not shown here. List of reference symbols

[0071] 1 Device 2 Container 3 Container 3a Corner container Container 4 Film 5 Folding and / or wrapping device 6 Container transport device 7 Wrapping element 8 Track 9 Feed transport device 10 Material transport device 11 Discharge transport device 12 Cutting station 13 First transport device 14 Adhesive application device 15 Film cut 16 Leading edge 17 Adhesive 18 Inside 19 Adhesive center point 20 End area 21 Outside 22 Front 23 Back 24 Top 25 Bottom 26 Front 27 Shrink eye 28 Motif 29 Long side edge 30 Trailing edge 31 Contact area LR Direction of travel of container LRFF Conveying direction of film cut H Horizontal direction TE Transport level T1 First transport section T2 Second transport section T1.1 Section

Claims

1. Device for producing packaging (2) wrapped with a web blank (15), comprising - a folding and / or wrapping device (5) with a folding and / or wrapping element (7) which is configured to wrap the packaging (2) in such a way that the packaging (2) is covered by the web blank (15) on its front side (22), rear side (23) and top and bottom sides (24, 25) with lateral excess material of the web blank (15) over the end faces (26), - a dispensing device for the web material (4) or a stacking and storage unit for ready-made web blanks (15), - at least one packaging transport device (6), which transports the packaging (2) through the folding and / or wrapping device (5), - a material transport device (10) for transporting a web material (4) and / or the web blank (15) with - a first transport section (T1) which extends from the dispensing device for the web material (4) or the stacking and storage unit for ready-made web blanks (15) to a designated contact area (31) of the folding and / or wrapping element (7) with the web blank (15), and - a subsequent second transport section (T2) which adjoins the first transport section (T1) and extends to the end of the packaging transport device (6), - and, if a dispensing device for web material (4) is present, a cutting station (12) designed to cut the web material (4) to form the web blank (15), with a first transport device (13) arranged downstream thereof and forming part of the first transport section (T1) for transporting and feeding web blanks (15) onto and above a transport plane (TE) formed by the packaging transport device (6), - wherein the web blank (15) is a film, in particular a shrink film, or alternatively a foldable paper or carton material, - an adhesive application device (14) being arranged in the region of the first transport section (T1) which is designed to apply adhesive (17) to the inner side (18) of the web blank (15) intended to be laid on the containers (3) of the packaging (2) and here in the region of longitudinal lateral edges (29) of the web blank (15) aligned in the conveying direction, and - the device being configured such that the longitudinal lateral edges (29) of the web blank (15) are glued to the end faces (26) of the packaging (2) after wrapping.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first transport section (T1) comprises a partial section (T1.1) with the first transport device (13), which extends in the conveying direction of the web blank (15) from the cutting station (12) to the end of the transport section (T1), the adhesive application device (14) being arranged in the region of the partial section (T1.1), in particular below the transport plane (TE) of the packaging (2).

3. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the adhesive application device (14) is arranged in the region of the first transport device (13) for transporting and feeding web blanks (15).

4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the adhesive application device (14) is designed to apply the adhesive (17), in particular with at least one adhesive head and an associated device for applying a hot glue or hot-melt adhesive, in the end region (20) of the transport device (13) and before the web blank (15) is fed onto the transport plane (TE).

5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one adhesive head of the adhesive application device (14) is movable transversely to the material transport direction (LRF).

6. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the adhesive application device (14) has at least two adhesive heads which are arranged on opposite sides of the first transport device (13).

7. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a pressing element is provided which, after the material is wrapped, moves excess material on the longitudinal lateral edges (29) to the end faces (26) of the packaging (2).

8. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that, for handling web blanks (15), the folding and / or wrapping device (5) comprises a wrapping element (7) guided above and below the at least one packaging transport device (6) for receiving the web blank (15) and for wrapping the packaging (2) with the web blank (15).

9. Method for producing packaging (2) wrapped with a web blank (15), wherein the web blank (15) is a film, in particular a shrink film, or alternatively a foldable paper or carton material, comprising the following steps: - Transporting a packaging (2) on a packaging transport device (6) through a folding and / or wrapping device (5) comprising a folding and / or wrapping element (7) by means of which the packaging (2) is wrapped in such a way that the packaging (2) is covered by the web blank (15) on its front side (22), rear side (23) and top and bottom sides (24, 25) with lateral excess material of the web blank (15) over the end faces (26), - transporting the web blank (15) of a web material (4) on a material transport device (10) with a first transport section (T1), which extends from a dispensing device for the web material (4) or a stacking and storage unit for ready-made web blanks (15) to a designated contact area (31) of the folding and / or wrapping element (7) with the web blank (15), and a subsequent second transport section (T2), which adjoins the first transport section (T1) and extends to the end of the packaging transport device (6), - and, if a dispensing device for web material (4) is present, cutting the web material (4) into web blanks (15) with a cutting station (12) designed to form the web blank (15) and transporting the web blanks (15) with a first transport device (13) arranged downstream thereof and forming part of the first transport section (T1), the web blank (15) being transported on the first transport device (13) from the cutting station (12) on a transport plane (TE) formed above the packaging transport device (6), - wrapping the packaging (2) transported on the packaging transport device (6) with the web blank (15), - during transport of the web blank (15) in the region of the first transport section (T1), an adhesive (17) being applied to the web blank (15) in the region of the inner side (18) intended to be laid on the containers (3) of the packaging (2) and here to the longitudinal lateral edges (29) of the web blank (15) aligned in the conveying direction, and - the longitudinal lateral edges (29) of the web blank (15) being glued to the end faces (26) of the packaging (2) after wrapping.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterised in that a pressing element moves excess material on the wrapped packaging (2) to the end faces (26).

11. Method according to at least one of claims 9 or 10, characterised in that the adhesive (17) is applied as an adhesive dot (19).

12. Method according to at least one of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that at least one individual adhesive dot (19) is applied to each longitudinal lateral edge (29) of the web blank (15) on each front side (22) and rear side (23) of the packaging (2).

13. Method according to at least one of claims 9 to 12, characterised in that at least two adhesive dots (19) spaced apart from one another are applied to each longitudinal lateral edge (29) of the web blank (15) on each front side (22) and rear side (23) of the packaging (2).

14. Method according to at least one of claims 9 to 13, characterised in that adhesive is applied in the region of the leading edge (16) of the web blank (15) and / or the trailing edge (30) of the web blank (15).

15. Method according to at least one of claims 9 to 14, characterised in that the adhesive is a hot glue or hot-melt adhesive.

16. Method according to at least one of claims 9 to 15, characterised in that a device according to any of claims 1 to 8 is provided.