Magazine unit, packaging apparatus and method for combining article groupings

Abstract

The invention relates to a magazine unit (1) for consumable material (20), comprising at least two receiving units (2) for consumable material (20), at least one removal position (AP) and at least one filling position (BP), wherein the receiving units (2) are designed to be movable between the removal position (AP) and the filling position (BP). The invention also relates to a packaging apparatus (15) and to a method for combining article groupings (33) with a packaging means (21).

Description

[0001] Magazine unit, packaging device and method for assembling sets of articles

[0002] The present invention relates to a magazine unit for consumables, a packaging device for combining article combinations with packaging means and a method for combining article combinations.

[0003] The present invention is particularly concerned with a magazine unit for storing consumables, for example for storing a plurality of flat elements for use as packaging means in a packaging device.

[0004] Such magazines for storing consumables, in particular in the form of packaging materials, are known from the prior art.

[0005] German patent application DE 102006 038 656 A1 discloses a magazine device for adjacent, flat elements or blanks, which are arranged diagonally upright in a single row on a single magazine for removal. A retaining device is provided upstream of a removal device in the feed direction.

[0006] Furthermore, the German patent application DE 101 47 360 A1 discloses a packaging device with a magazine for flat elements, which magazine stores the flat elements lying on top of each other or standing at an angle in a single stack.

[0007] If consumables are stacked on top of each other, refilling the stack during ongoing production is difficult. Manual refilling of such a stack usually requires a machine shutdown for safety reasons, as manual intervention in ongoing production operations should be prevented. Mechanical or machine-assisted refilling also requires a certain amount of additional effort if ongoing production operations are to be avoided.

[0008] Typically, several stacks are arranged side by side in a magazine, and removal from the different stacks must be controlled accordingly. When refilling the magazine, care must also be taken to ensure that the refilling process and the normal removal process do not conflict.

[0009] The primary object of the invention is to provide a solution that allows simple and safe refilling of consumables into a magazine.

[0010] The above object is achieved by a magazine unit, a packaging device, and a method for combining article combinations, which comprise the features in the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the respective dependent claims.

[0011] The invention relates to a magazine unit for consumables, which magazine unit comprises at least two receiving units for consumables, as well as at least one removal position and at least two filling positions. The receiving units are designed to be movable between the removal position and one of the filling positions.

[0012] Each receiving unit can provide special devices for receiving the consumables. For example, the receiving unit can comprise a frame arrangement within which the consumables are arranged, for example, in stacks.

[0013] Centering elements, alignment elements or similar can be provided to enable or support precise positioning and / or alignment of the consumables within the receiving unit.

[0014] The consumables can, for example, be packaging materials such as those used in the beverage industry to combine several beverage containers into a single sales unit or packaging unit. For example, these can be so-called outer packaging made of cardboard or so-called upper grip carton packaging. This refers in particular to packaging materials that encompass several grouped articles or grouped containers at least on the top side and, if necessary, also on the shell side and / or bottom side. The articles or containers can additionally be held in place by means of suitable holding means and / or fixed in the upper grip carton packaging, e.g., by means of a respective locking mechanism.

[0015] Alternatively, the packaging can also be formed by outer packaging in the form of cardboard packaging, strapping, or similar, which can also be provided in such a magazine unit. However, the magazine unit can also be used in any other context in which consumables or molded parts must be provided. For example, such a magazine unit can be used to store and provide molded parts that are required during a product change in order to adapt the respective machine equipment to the new products. When consumables are referred to below, this can alternatively be replaced by format parts.

[0016] A particularly preferred embodiment of such a magazine unit comprises two receiving units for consumables, a removal position, and two filling positions, with the removal position being located between the two filling positions. The invention is described below with reference to such a magazine unit, although this can be applied analogously to magazine units with additional receiving units and removal positions as well as filling positions.

[0017] In particular, it is provided that the receiving units are each designed to be movable between the removal position and one of the two filling positions.

[0018] For example, the magazine unit can be in a first operating mode, in which first operating mode the first receiving unit is arranged in the first filling position and the second receiving unit is arranged in the removal position. Furthermore, the magazine unit can be in a second operating mode, in which second operating mode the first receiving unit is arranged in the removal position and the second receiving unit is arranged in the second filling position.

[0019] Preferably, the removal position and the two filling positions are aligned, with the removal position being located midway between the two filling positions. The two receiving units are designed to be movable in alignment.

[0020] The two receiving units can be designed to be jointly movable. In particular, the two receiving units can be coupled to each other and assigned to a common drive.

[0021] For example, the two receiving units can be arranged on a carriage, which carriage is arranged, in particular, on a carriage guide, which carriage guide extends over the removal position and both filling positions. The carriage can be arranged on the carriage guide via guide elements, in particular guide rollers or similar, and can be moved in a first direction of movement and, counter to the first direction of movement, in a second direction of movement.

[0022] The magazine unit can, for example, be transferred from the first working mode to the second working mode by moving the two receiving units in the first direction of movement and from the second working mode to the first working mode by moving the two receiving units in the second direction of movement.

[0023] An alternative embodiment can provide for each of the receiving units to be independently movable. In particular, each of the receiving units can be arranged on its own carriage and have its own drive means. The two carriages can use a common rail system, or each carriage can be assigned its own rail system. For example, the carriages can have different track widths, and in particular, one carriage can be arranged on an inner carriage guide and the other carriage on an outer carriage guide, or similar.

[0024] A further embodiment can provide for the receiving units to be individually movable perpendicularly (or approximately perpendicularly) to the first direction of movement or the second direction of movement. For example, the receiving units can additionally be guided on the respective or common carriage in rails, which rails are orthogonal to the carriage guide. This additional movement component can improve the accessibility of the receiving unit arranged in the filling position and thus further facilitate the filling process, which will be described in more detail below.

[0025] It can be provided that each of the receiving units is assigned a lifting device. This allows the consumables arranged within the receiving unit to be raised accordingly, so that the consumable unit to be removed is always located at the same removal position and, in particular, at the same removal height. This facilitates removal by means of appropriate removal devices, since no corresponding control is required to adapt the removal position of the removal device to the supply of consumables within the receiving unit, for example, by correcting the movement sequence accordingly.

[0026] In particular, it can be provided that the lifting device

[0027] The base plate of the receiving unit is raised, on which base plate the consumable is arranged, so that the topmost consumable to be removed is always at a defined height within the receiving unit. For this purpose, the controls of the removal device and the lifting unit are preferably connected in communication, with a corresponding signal being sent to the lifting device during or after each removal process, thus triggering a corresponding height adjustment.

[0028] Preferably, the lifting devices are also arranged on the carriage(s) or assigned to other movement devices of the receiving units and can thus be moved together with their respective receiving unit in the first movement direction or the second movement direction.

[0029] The magazine unit can also be equipped with protective mechanisms; for example, at least one protective element can be arranged between the receiving units. For example, a protective wall or similar device can be arranged between the receiving units to prevent access from one receiving unit to the other.

[0030] Furthermore, parallel to such an inner protective wall, further protective walls or similar can be provided that limit the receiving units to the outside.

[0031] The protective elements can also be arranged on the carriage(s) or assigned to other movement devices of the receiving units, so that they can be moved together with their respective receiving unit in the first movement direction or the second movement direction.

[0032] The protective elements prevent any lateral access to the removal position from the filling positions. In particular, the protective elements can be designed to significantly exceed the height of the device holding the consumables.

[0033] One embodiment of the magazine unit provides that the filling positions are freely accessible so that the respective receiving unit located in a filling position can be filled with consumables during ongoing production operations.

[0034] Furthermore, it can be provided that the removal position is equipped with a protective element on the outside, for example, that the removal position is closed by a suitable closure element such as a door or similar. The protective element serves, in particular, to prevent manual intervention in the receiving unit arranged in the removal position during ongoing production operations.

[0035] For example, the locking element can be equipped with appropriate safety devices that can effectively prevent any interference with the removal position during ongoing production. For example, the locking element can be equipped with a contact switch that can be triggered by physical contact or without contact. If the locking element is opened during ongoing production, the machine is preferably stopped immediately.

[0036] Further protective mechanisms can be provided; for example, a light curtain can be provided that is only activated when the magazine unit is transferred from one operating mode to another. In this case, the moving machine components pose a hazard. If a user were to intervene in one of the corresponding areas during this time, the light curtain would be interrupted. This interruption would trigger an immediate stop of the movement of the storage units within the magazine unit via a correspondingly linked control unit.

[0037] Furthermore, protective elements can be provided which are closed during the movement of the receiving units in order to prevent a user from interfering with moving components of the magazine unit during this movement period.

[0038] During ongoing production, consumables are only removed from the receiving unit currently in the removal position. Meanwhile, the other receiving unit, which is in one of the two refilling positions, can be refilled with consumables.

[0039] As soon as the consumables from the receiving unit located in the removal position have been used up, the other receiving unit can be moved into the removal position via the corresponding movement in the first direction of movement or in the second direction of movement, which other receiving unit has been refilled with consumables in the meantime.

[0040] This eliminates the need to stop the machine to refill consumables. Magazine changeover time is minimized because only a small displacement movement is required, the distance of which is determined primarily by the width of the holding units and, accordingly, by the width of the consumables. The filling of each holding unit, which is arranged in a filling position, can be done manually or automatically. For automated filling, a suitably trained robot can be used, for example.

[0041] Particularly preferably, the automated filling can be carried out by means of a driverless transport system equipped with a robot and including a receiving device for consumables. The robot removes the consumables from the receiving device of the driverless transport system and fills them into the receiving unit of the magazine unit, which is in a filling position. If the receiving device of the driverless transport system is empty, it independently fetches additional consumables from a storage facility, whereby the storage facility does not have to be located in the immediate vicinity of the magazine unit.

[0042] In principle, the control of driverless transport systems can be assumed to be known, so that a more detailed explanation in connection with the present invention can be dispensed with.

[0043] If, from the point of view of the person skilled in the art, they can be combined with one another in a reasonable manner, some or all of the above-mentioned variations or embodiments of the magazine unit for consumables according to the invention can optionally also be combined with one another in order to at least partially solve the problem formulated above and / or to achieve the effects sought by the invention.

[0044] The invention further relates to a packaging device comprising a packaging module for combining article combinations with a packaging means, which packaging means is provided as consumable material in a previously described magazine unit.

[0045] Such a packaging device is used in particular for producing packaging units. A packaging unit is formed by at least two articles, which are combined with at least one packaging material.

[0046] The articles to be combined are preferably containers filled with a liquid, such as bottles or cans, especially beverage containers. However, the bottles, cans, or similar containers can also be filled with liquid or pasty cosmetics such as shampoo or similar. However, the packaging device can also be used to combine several articles made of a solid material or similar into a single packaging unit using a packaging material.

[0047] One embodiment of a packaging device comprises a first transport device, via which the articles are fed to a dividing module in a random mass flow or in an ordered mass flow or in another suitable arrangement in the transport direction.

[0048] In the component module, article combinations or article groups are formed from at least two articles. The respective article groups contain a defined number of articles, which are arranged in a defined order within the article group. The number and arrangement of the articles within the article group corresponds in particular to the number and arrangement of the articles within the packaging unit to be created.

[0049] The article groups are fed to a packaging module via a second transport device. The packaging module is designed to arrange at least one packaging material on each article group. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the packaging module is designed to attach an upper gripper carton packaging to the article group and thus combine the articles into a packaging unit.

[0050] At least one magazine unit is assigned to the packaging module, as has already been described in detail, in which magazine unit upper grip carton packaging is provided as consumable material.

[0051] The packaging module comprises a transport device, via which the article groups are transported through the packaging module in the transport direction. Preferably, the removal position of the magazine unit and the two filling positions are arranged in a line parallel to the transport direction, with the receiving units of the magazine unit being designed to be movable together in the line.

[0052] The packaging module further comprises at least one applicator for the packaging material. In particular, this can be an applicator designed to remove at least one upper grip carton package from a magazine unit assigned to the packaging module and to attach it to the articles of the article group by pressing it from above, forming a packaging unit. This can occur, in particular, while the article groups are continuously moved through the packaging module. In particular, the applicator removes the respective at least one upper grip carton package from the middle removal position of the magazine unit.

[0053] Particularly preferably, only the packaging materials in the middle removal position are accessible to the applicator. Preferably, the two filling positions are enclosed or protected from the machine room of the packaging module by a housing or similar device. The fact that there is no open connection between the filling positions and moving components of the packaging module represents an important safety aspect when filling the magazine unit with consumables.

[0054] Here again, the above-mentioned applies: if they can be combined with one another in a reasonable manner from the point of view of the person skilled in the art, some or all of the above-mentioned variations or embodiments of the packaging device according to the invention can optionally also be combined with one another in order to at least partially solve the problem formulated above and / or to achieve the desired effect of the invention.

[0055] The invention also relates to a method for loading a magazine unit described above with consumables or to a method for using a magazine unit loaded with consumables. The method provides that the respective consumable is removed from the receiving unit arranged in the removal position, while for filling or refilling the magazine unit, consumables are filled into the receiving unit, which receiving unit is in a filling position.

[0056] In particular, it is provided that the magazine unit can be moved in an oscillating manner between a first operating mode and a second operating mode in order to alternately arrange the receiving units in a removal position and one of the two filling positions. In the first operating mode, the first receiving unit is arranged in the first filling position and is filled with packaging material, while in the second operating mode, the second receiving unit is arranged in the second filling position and is filled with packaging material. Furthermore, a method for combining article combinations with a packaging material is described, which packaging material is provided as consumable material in a magazine unit.

[0057] The packaging material for assembling the article set is removed from the receiving unit of the magazine unit located in the removal position. To fill or refill the magazine unit, the packaging material is placed into the receiving unit, whichever is in a filling position.

[0058] By using the magazine unit according to the invention, the consumables are always provided at a defined position. Removal can therefore be carried out, for example, by a two-axis robot.

[0059] The lifting mechanism for each receiving unit, particularly the lifting devices described above, allows the base plate's return time in the Z direction to be optimized. In particular, the base plate returns to a lower starting position, preferably without any loss of time, and immediately after the respective receiving unit is placed in a filling position. If complete filling of the receiving unit is not possible, for example, due to a lack of consumables, operator error, or similar, the base plate of the receiving unit placed in the filling position can be adjusted in height in the Z direction.

[0060] In this way, when the receiving unit is transferred to the removal position, the consumable material arranged on top is already in the removal position or removal height for subsequent handling, for example for removal by an applicator or similar. This means that after the correspondingly only partially filled receiving unit has been transferred to the removal position, the applicator or removal robot or similar can continue working without any loss of time.

[0061] Furthermore, the reduced depth of the magazine unit significantly improves accessibility to the transport device of a handling module equipped with a magazine unit from the operator side, particularly the accessibility of the transport device of a packaging module described above. Despite this, or in addition, there is still sufficient space for storing additional machine components within the machine equipped with a magazine unit, for example, for storing safety elements, changing tables for tools, format part storage, etc. The space between the respective transport device and the magazine unit can be used for this purpose.

[0062] The space requirement of such a magazine unit only slightly increases the necessary space or footprint of a packaging device or other device transverse to the running direction of the articles to be processed.

[0063] The time loss when transferring the magazine unit between the first working mode and the second working mode in order to exchange an empty receiving unit for a filled receiving unit in the removal area is very small.

[0064] Finally, it should also be pointed out at this point that some or all of the above-mentioned variations or embodiments of the method according to the invention may optionally be combined with one another in order to at least partially achieve the above-mentioned aim and / or to achieve the desired effect of the invention, provided that this appears reasonable from the point of view of the person skilled in the art.

[0065] It should be expressly mentioned at this point that all aspects and embodiments explained in connection with the magazine unit and the packaging device according to the invention equally relate to, or can be, partial aspects of the method according to the invention. Therefore, if at any point in the description or in the claim definitions for the device according to the invention, certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned, this equally applies to the method according to the invention. The same applies conversely, so that all aspects and embodiments explained in connection with the method according to the invention equally relate to, or can be partial aspects of the magazine unit and the packaging device according to the invention.Therefore, if at one point in the description or in the claim definitions of the method according to the invention certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned, this applies equally to the magazine unit and packaging device according to the invention.

[0066] The following explanations summarize some aspects of the invention, which has already been explained in various embodiments, and specify some aspects. However, they should not be viewed as contradicting the explanations already made, but rather as a summary, and in cases of doubt, possibly as more specific embodiments and / or modifications. Thus, as already mentioned several times above, the magazine unit according to the invention can form an important component of the packaging device described above. This magazine unit can be operated in different operating modes. The magazine unit normally comprises at least two receiving units for consumables.

[0067] Furthermore, the individual magazine unit can have at least one removal position and at least two filling positions. Preferably, the removal position can be arranged between the two filling positions, provided that exactly two filling positions are present. Furthermore, the receiving units can be designed to be movable between the removal position and the two filling positions.

[0068] The receiving units can, in particular, be arranged side by side on a carriage or the like, which can be attached to a carriage guide via suitable guide elements. The carriage can thus be moved in a first direction of movement and, counter to the first direction of movement, in a second direction of movement. The guide elements can be designed, for example, as guide rollers or similar elements that can run on adapted rails. The carriage guide extends at least over the removal position and both filling positions.

[0069] In this case, the removal position and the two filling positions can in particular be arranged in alignment, wherein the receiving units can be designed to be movable together in the alignment.

[0070] In a first working mode, the first receiving unit can be in the first filling position, while the second receiving unit can be arranged in the removal position.

[0071] By moving the carriage along the carriage guide in the first direction of movement, the magazine unit is transferred into a second working mode, in which second working mode the first receiving unit is arranged in the removal position and the second receiving unit is arranged in the second filling position.

[0072] By moving the carriage along the carriage guide in the second direction, the magazine unit can then be returned to the first operating mode. During ongoing production, it is preferable that consumables are only removed from the receiving unit that is in the removal position at any given time. Meanwhile, the other receiving unit, which is in one of the two refilling positions, can be refilled with consumables.

[0073] As soon as the consumables from the receiving unit located in the removal position have been used up, the other receiving unit, which has been filled in the meantime, can be moved back to the removal position by moving the carriage in the corresponding direction.

[0074] In this way, no machine stop is necessary to refill consumables. The time required to change the holding units within the magazine unit is minimized, as only a small displacement movement is required, the distance of which is defined primarily by the width of the holding units, which in turn is determined by the width of the consumables.

[0075] Each receiving unit can provide or have special receiving devices for receiving the consumables. For example, the receiving unit can comprise a frame arrangement within which the consumables are arranged, for example, in stacks. Centering elements, alignment elements, or similar elements can be provided that enable or support precise positioning and / or alignment of the consumables within the receiving unit.

[0076] At least one protective element, for example in the form of a protective wall, can preferably be arranged between the receiving units. In addition to this so-called inner protective element, each receiving unit can comprise a further, outer protective element parallel to it, which can also be designed as a protective wall or similar protective device. The protective elements are also expediently arranged on the carriage and thus designed to be movable together with the receiving units.

[0077] Furthermore, each of the receiving units can be assigned a lifting device, via which the consumables arranged within the receiving units can be raised accordingly, so that the consumable unit to be removed is always located at the same removal position. In particular, a base plate on which the consumables are arranged is raised via each lifting device. The lifting devices are preferably also arranged on the carriage and are thus moved along with the receiving units in the first direction of movement or the second direction of movement, respectively.

[0078] A further embodiment can provide for the receiving units to be individually movable perpendicular to the first direction of movement. Thus, the receiving units can each be guided on the carriage in additional rails, which can be orthogonal to the carriage guide. This additional movement component can improve the accessibility of the receiving unit arranged in the filling position and thus further facilitate filling.

[0079] The consumables can, for example, be packaging materials such as those used in the beverage industry to combine multiple beverage containers into a single sales unit or packaging unit. These can be top-loading carton packaging, for example. Alternatively, the packaging materials can also be secondary packaging in the form of cardboard outer packaging, strapping, or similar.

[0080] The filling of the receiving units, each arranged in a filling position, can be done manually or automatically. In the case of automated filling, an appropriately trained robot can be provided, for example. Particularly preferably, the automated filling can be carried out by means of an automated guided vehicle system or similar that is equipped with a robot and which includes a receiving device for consumables. The robot removes the consumables from a receiving device of the automated guided vehicle system and fills it into the receiving unit of the magazine unit, which receiving unit is in a filling position. If the receiving device of the automated guided vehicle system is empty, the system independently fetches further consumables from a storage area, which does not have to be located in the immediate vicinity of the magazine unit.

[0081] The control of driverless transport systems is known, so that a more detailed explanation in connection with the present invention is omitted.

[0082] In the magazine unit described here, both receiving units can be arranged on a common carriage. Alternatively, in an alternative embodiment, the receiving units can be designed to be individually movable. In this case, the receiving units can be arranged on separate carriages that use a common rail system, or each carriage can be assigned its own rail system.

[0083] The packaging units formed here are each formed, in particular, by at least two articles combined with at least one packaging material. The articles to be combined are preferably containers filled with a fluid content, for example, bottles or cans, in particular beverage containers. However, the bottles or cans or similar containers can also be filled with fluid or pasty cosmetics such as shampoo or similar.

[0084] The packaging materials can, for example, be top-loading carton packaging. Alternatively, the packaging materials can also be formed by outer packaging in the form of cardboard wrapping, strapping, or similar, within which the items are arranged accordingly.

[0085] The packaging device comprises a first transport device, via which articles are fed to a dividing module in a random mass flow or in an ordered mass flow or in another suitable arrangement in a defined transport direction. In the dividing module, article combinations or article groups consisting of at least two articles are formed. The respective article groups contain a defined number of articles, which articles are arranged in a defined arrangement and orientation within the article group. The number and arrangement of the articles within the article group corresponds in particular to the number and arrangement of the articles within the packaging unit to be formed.

[0086] The article groups can be fed to a packaging module, for example, via a second transport device. The packaging module is preferably designed to arrange at least one packaging material on the respective article groups. In particular, the packaging module is designed and equipped to attach an upper gripper carton packaging to the article group and thus combine the articles into a packaging unit.

[0087] At least one magazine unit, as already described above, is assigned to the packaging module, in which magazine unit upper grip carton packages are provided as consumables, in particular packaging materials. A packaging module, as described here, generally comprises a transport device via which the article groups are transported through the packaging module in a defined transport direction. As already mentioned above, it can be provided that the removal position of the magazine unit and the two filling positions are arranged in a line parallel to the transport device, wherein the receiving units of the magazine unit are designed to be movable together in alignment.

[0088] Furthermore, the packaging module can be equipped with at least one applicator designed to remove at least one upper grip carton package from a magazine unit assigned to the packaging module and to attach it to the articles of the article group by pressing it from above, forming a packaging unit. This can be done, in particular, while the article groups are continuously moved through the packaging module.

[0089] In particular, the applicator removes at least one upper grip carton package from the middle removal position of the magazine unit.

[0090] Particularly preferably, it can also be provided that only the packaging materials in the middle removal position are accessible to the applicator. In contrast, the two filling positions can be enclosed or protected from the machine room of the packaging module by a housing or similar device. The fact that there is no open connection between the filling positions and moving components of the packaging module represents an important safety aspect when filling the magazine unit with consumables.

[0091] However, it is sensible or necessary that the filling positions are freely accessible from the outside so that the respective receiving unit located in a filling position can be filled with consumables during ongoing production of the packaging module.

[0092] In contrast, the removal position is closed to the outside by a door or other suitable closure element. The door allows access to the removal position, for example, for maintenance purposes. Such a door forms, in particular, a protective device designed to prevent manual intervention in the receiving unit arranged in the removal position during ongoing production. For example, the door can be equipped with appropriate safety devices that can prevent intervention in the removal position during ongoing production. For example, the door can be equipped with a contact switch. If the door is opened during ongoing production, the machine is stopped immediately.

[0093] Further protective mechanisms can be provided, for example in the form of a light curtain, which is only activated when the magazine unit is transferred from one operating mode to the other. In this case, the moving machine components in the outwardly open filling areas pose a hazard. If a user were to intervene in one of the filling areas during this time, the light curtain would be interrupted. This interruption would trigger an immediate stop of the movement of the receiving units within the magazine unit via a correspondingly coupled control unit of the packaging device, the packaging module, or the magazine unit.

[0094] The protective elements described above prevent any lateral access to the removal position from the filling positions. In particular, the protective elements can be designed to significantly exceed the height of the receiving device holding the consumables.

[0095] Further protective elements may be provided which can be closed during movement of the receiving units in order to prevent a user from interfering with moving components of the magazine unit during this period.

[0096] 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.

[0097] Figures 1 and 2 each show a magazine unit in different working modes in a side view.

[0098] Figures 3 to 6 show further representations of the magazine unit according to Fig. 1.

[0099] Fig. 7 shows schematically the structure of a packaging device.

[0100] Fig. 8 shows a packaging module from above.

[0101] Fig. 9 shows a rear view of the packaging module according to Fig. 8. Figures 10 and 11 each show a front view of the packaging module according to Fig. 8.

[0102] Identical reference numerals are used for identical or equivalently functioning elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numerals necessary for the description of the respective figure are shown in the individual figures. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the magazine unit or packaging device according to the invention or the method according to the invention can be configured and do not represent a definitive limitation.

[0103] Figures 1 and 2 each show a magazine unit 1 in different operating modes AM1, AM2 in a side view. Figures 3 to 6 show further views of the magazine unit 1 according to Figure 1. In particular, Figures 3 and 4 show perspective views, Figure 5 shows a top view, and Figure 6 shows a front view.

[0104] The magazine unit 1 comprises at least two receiving units 2 for consumables 20, in particular the magazine unit 1 comprises two receiving units 2-1 and 2-2.

[0105] Furthermore, the magazine unit 1 comprises at least one removal position AP and at least two filling positions BP. Preferably, the removal position AP is located between the two filling positions BP1 and BP2.

[0106] Furthermore, it is provided that the receiving units 2-1 and 2-2 are designed to be movable between the removal position AP and the two filling positions BP1, BP2.

[0107] The receiving units 2-1, 2-2 are arranged, in particular, side by side on a carriage 3, which is arranged on a carriage guide 5 via guide elements 4. The carriage 3 can thus be moved in a first direction of movement BR1 and, counter to the first direction of movement BR1, in a second direction of movement BR2. The guide elements 4 can be designed, for example, as guide rollers or similar.

[0108] The carriage guide 5 extends over the removal position AP and both filling positions BP1, BP2. In particular, the removal position AP and the two filling positions BP1, BP2 are aligned, and the receiving units 2-1, 2-2 are designed to be movable together in the alignment.

[0109] In a first working mode AM1 shown in Fig. 1, the first receiving unit 2-1 is arranged in the first filling position BP1 and the second receiving unit 2-2 is arranged in the removal position AP.

[0110] By moving the carriage 3 along the carriage guide 5 in the first direction of movement BR1, the magazine unit 1 is transferred into a second working mode AM2 according to Fig. 2, in which second working mode AM2 the first receiving unit 2-1 is arranged in the removal position AP and the second receiving unit 2-2 is arranged in the second filling position BP2.

[0111] By moving the carriage 3 along the carriage guide 5 in the second direction of movement BR2, the magazine unit 1 can then be returned to the first working mode AM 1 according to Fig. 1.

[0112] In an ongoing production operation, it is intended that the removal of consumable material 20 always takes place only from the receiving unit 2, which receiving unit 2 is in the removal position AP.

[0113] Meanwhile, the other receiving unit 2, which is located in one of the two filling positions BP1 or BP2, can be refilled with consumables 20.

[0114] As soon as the consumable material 20 from the receiving unit 2 located in the removal position AP has been used up, the other receiving unit 2, which has been filled in the meantime, can be brought back into the removal position AP by moving the carriage 3 in the corresponding direction of movement BR1 or BR2.

[0115] Thus, no machine stop is necessary to refill consumables 20. The time required to change the receiving units 2 within the magazine unit 1 is minimized, since only a small displacement movement is necessary, the path of which is defined in particular by the width of the receiving units 2, the width of which in turn is determined by a width of the consumables.

[0116] In the illustration of Fig. 1, a drive 6 for the carriage is also shown as an example

[0117] 3. Each receiving unit 2 can provide special receiving devices 11 for receiving the consumable material 20. For example, the receiving unit 2 can comprise a frame arrangement 12, within which the consumable material 20 is arranged, for example, in stacks. Centering elements, alignment elements, or the like can be provided to enable or support precise positioning and / or alignment of the consumable material 20 within the receiving unit 2.

[0118] Furthermore, it is shown that at least one protective element 7, for example a protective wall 8, is arranged between the receiving units 2. In addition to this so-called inner protective element 7, each receiving unit 2 can comprise, in parallel, another outer protective element 9, which is also designed as a protective wall 10.

[0119] The protective elements 7, 9 are also arranged on the carriage 3 and are thus designed to be movable together with the receiving units 2.

[0120] Furthermore, a lifting device 13, 13-1, 13-2 can be assigned to each of the receiving units 2, via which lifting device 13 the consumable 20 arranged within the receiving units 2-1, 2-2 can be raised accordingly, so that the respective consumable unit to be removed is always located at the same removal position E. In particular, a base plate 14 on which the consumable 20 is arranged is raised via each lifting device 13.

[0121] The lifting devices 13 are also arranged on the carriage 3 and are thus moved accordingly in the first movement direction BR1 or the second movement direction BR2 with the receiving units 2.

[0122] A further embodiment (not shown) can provide for the receiving units 2 to be individually movable perpendicular to the first movement direction BR1. For example, the receiving units 2 can each be guided on the carriage 3 in additional rails, which rails are orthogonal to the carriage guide 5. This additional movement component can improve the accessibility of the receiving unit 2 arranged in the filling position BP and thus further facilitate filling.

[0123] The consumable material 20 can, for example, be packaging materials 21 such as those used in the beverage industry to combine multiple beverage containers into a sales unit or packaging unit. For example, these can be upper grip carton packaging 22 (see Fig. 3). Alternatively, the packaging materials 21 can also be formed by outer packaging in the form of cardboard outer packaging, strapping, or the like.

[0124] The filling of the receiving units 2, each arranged in a filling position BP, can be done manually or automatically. In the case of automated filling, an appropriately designed robot can be provided, for example. Particularly preferably, the automated filling can be carried out by means of an automated guided vehicle system or similar that is equipped with a robot and which includes a receiving device for consumables. The robot removes the consumables from a receiving device of the automated guided vehicle system and fills it into the receiving unit of the magazine unit, which receiving unit is in a filling position. If the receiving device of the automated guided vehicle system is empty, the system independently fetches further consumables from a storage area, which does not have to be located in the immediate vicinity of the magazine unit.The control of driverless transport systems is known, so that a more detailed explanation in connection with the present invention is omitted.

[0125] In the magazine unit 1 shown in Figures 1 to 6, both receiving units 2 are arranged on a common carriage 3. Alternatively, in an embodiment not shown, the receiving units 2 can be designed to be individually movable. In this case, the receiving units 2 can be arranged on separate carriages that use a common rail system, or each carriage can be assigned its own rail system.

[0126] Fig. 7 shows schematically the structure or packaging device 15 for producing packaging units 30. A packaging unit 30 is formed in particular by at least two articles 31, which are combined with at least one packaging means 21.

[0127] The articles 31 to be combined are preferably containers filled with a fluid content, for example, bottles or cans 32, in particular beverage containers. The bottles or cans 32 or similar containers can also be filled, for example, with fluid or pasty cosmetics such as shampoo or the like. The packaging means 21 can, for example, be upper gripping cardboard packaging 22. Alternatively, the packaging means 21 can also be formed by outer packaging in the form of cardboard outer packaging, strapping, or the like, within which the articles 31 are arranged accordingly.

[0128] The packaging device 15 comprises a first transport device 16, via which articles 31 are fed to a dividing module 17 in a random mass flow or in an ordered mass flow or in another suitable arrangement in the transport direction TR. In the dividing module 17, article combinations or article groups 33 are formed from at least two articles 31. The respective article groups 33 contain a defined number of articles 31, which articles 31 are arranged in particular in a defined arrangement within the article group 33. The number and arrangement of the articles 31 within the article group 33 corresponds in particular to the number and arrangement of the articles 31 within the packaging unit 30 to be formed.

[0129] The article groups 33 are fed to a packaging module 19 via a second transport device 18. The packaging module 19 is designed to arrange at least one packaging means 21 on each article group 33. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, the packaging module 19 is designed to attach an upper gripping carton packaging 22 to the article group 33 and thus combine the articles 31 into a packaging unit 30.

[0130] The packaging module 19 is assigned at least one magazine unit 1, as has already been described in connection with Figures 1 to 6, in which magazine unit 1 upper grip carton packages 22 are provided as consumables 20, in particular packaging means 21.

[0131] Fig. 8 shows a packaging module 19 with magazine unit 1 from above.

[0132] The packaging module 19 comprises a transport device 40, via which the article groups (not shown) are transported in the transport direction TR through the packaging module 19.

[0133] Preferably, the removal position AP of the magazine unit 1 and the two filling positions BP1, BP2 are arranged in alignment parallel to the transport device 40, wherein the receiving units 2 of the magazine unit 1 are designed to be movable together in alignment. Furthermore, the packaging module 19 comprises at least one applicator 41, which is designed to remove at least one upper grip carton packaging 22 from a magazine unit 1 assigned to the packaging module 19 and to attach it to the articles 31 of the article group 33 by pressing from above, thereby forming a packaging unit (not shown, see Fig. 7). This can take place in particular while the article groups 33 are continuously moved through the packaging module 19.

[0134] In particular, the applicator 41 removes the respective at least one upper grip carton package 22 from the middle removal position AP of the magazine unit 1.

[0135] Particularly preferably, only the packaging materials 21 in the central removal position AP are accessible to the applicator 41. According to the illustrated embodiment, the two filling positions BP1, BP2 are enclosed or protected from the machine room of the packaging module 19 by a housing 35 or similar. The fact that there is no open connection between the filling positions BP1, BP2 and moving components of the packaging module 19 represents an important safety aspect when filling the magazine unit 1 with consumables 20.

[0136] Fig. 9 shows a representation of the packaging module 19 from the rear, Figures 10 and 11 each show a representation of the packaging module 19 from the front, wherein the magazine unit 1 according to Fig. 10 is in the first working mode AM1 and the magazine unit 1 according to Fig. 11 is in the second working mode AM2.

[0137] In Figures 9 to 11, only the magazine unit 1 within the packaging module 19 is shown; the illustration of other machine components, such as the applicator, has been omitted for reasons of clarity.

[0138] In Fig. 9, the view is taken through the packaging module 19 onto the magazine unit 1, while in Figs. 10 and 11, the view is taken from the front onto the packaging module 19 and the magazine unit 1. In particular, Fig. 10 shows the packaging module 19 with the magazine unit 1 in the first operating mode AM1, and Fig. 11 shows the packaging module 19 with the magazine unit 1 in the second operating mode AM2.

[0139] The transfer of the magazine unit 1 from the first working mode AM1 to the second working mode AM2 has been described in detail in connection with Figures 1 and 2, so that a repeated description can be omitted. When comparing Figure 9 with Figures 10 and 11, it can be seen that the filling positions BP1, BP2 are each separated by a housing 35 from the interior of the packaging module 19, in which the transport device 40 and the applicator 41 are arranged (see Figure 8), while the receiving unit 2 equipped with consumable material 20, which is located in the removal position AP, is accessible to the machine components of the packaging module 19, in particular the applicator.

[0140] On the other hand, it is provided that the filling positions BP1, BP2 are freely accessible from the outside (see Figures 10 and 11), so that the respective receiving unit 2 located in a filling position BP1 or BP2 can be filled with consumables 20 during ongoing production operation of the packaging module 19.

[0141] In contrast, the removal position AP is closed to the outside by a door 36 or another suitable closure element. The door 36 allows access to the removal position AP, for example, for maintenance purposes.

[0142] The door 36 forms in particular a protective device which is designed to prevent manual intervention in the receiving unit 2 arranged in the removal position AP during ongoing production operation.

[0143] For example, door 36 is equipped with appropriate safety devices that prevent intervention in the removal position AP during ongoing production. For example, door 36 can be equipped with a contact switch. If door 36 is opened during ongoing production, the machine is immediately stopped.

[0144] Further protective mechanisms can be provided, for example a light grid 37 shown in Fig. 11 by dashed lines can be provided, which is only activated when the magazine unit 1 is transferred from one working mode AM1 or AM2 to the other working mode AM2 or AM1. In this case, the moving machine components in the outwardly open filling areas BP pose a hazard. If a user were to intervene in one of the filling areas BP during this time, the light grid 37 would be interrupted. This interruption would trigger an immediate stop of the movement of the receiving units 2 within the magazine unit 1 via a correspondingly coupled control unit (not shown) of the packaging device 15, the packaging module 19 or the magazine unit 1.The protective elements 7 and 9 described in connection with Figures 1 to 6 prevent any lateral access to the removal position AP from the filling positions BP. In particular, it can be provided that the protective elements 7, 9 significantly protrude in height above the receiving device 11 holding the consumable 20.

[0145] Furthermore, protective elements (not shown) can be provided which are closed during the movement of the receiving units 2 in order to prevent a user from interfering with moving components of the magazine unit 1 during this period.

[0146] The embodiments, examples, and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and figures, including their various views or respective individual features, may be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, unless the features are incompatible.

[0147] Although the figures generally refer to "schematic" representations and views, this by no means implies that the figures and their descriptions are of secondary importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. A person skilled in the art will be perfectly capable of deriving sufficient information from the schematic and abstractly drawn representations to facilitate their understanding of the invention, without their understanding being in any way impaired by the drawn, possibly not exactly scaled, proportions of the articles and / or parts of the magazine unit, the packaging device, etc., or other drawn elements.The figures thus enable the skilled reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive concept formulated in a more general and / or abstract manner in the claims and in the general part of the description on the basis of the more concretely explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more concretely explained functioning of the device according to the invention.

[0148] 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 changes to the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims. List of reference symbols

[0149] 1 magazine unit

[0150] 2, 2-1 , 2-2 recording unit

[0151] 3 sleds

[0152] 4 guide elements

[0153] 5 Slide guide

[0154] 6 Drive

[0155] 7 inner protective element

[0156] 8 protective wall

[0157] 9 outer protective element

[0158] 10 protective wall

[0159] 11 Recording device

[0160] 12 Frame arrangement

[0161] 13, 13-1 , 13-2 lifting device

[0162] 14 Base plate

[0163] 15 Packaging device

[0164] 16 first transport facility

[0165] 17 One-piece module

[0166] 18 second transport device

[0167] 19 Packaging module

[0168] 20 consumables

[0169] 21 Packaging materials

[0170] 22 top grab carton packaging

[0171] 30 packaging units

[0172] 31 articles

[0173] 32 cans

[0174] 33 article group

[0175] 35 housings

[0176] 36 Door

[0177] 37 light grids

[0178] 40 T ransport facility

[0179] 41 Applicator

[0180] AP acceptance position

[0181] AM1 first working mode

[0182] AM2 second working mode BP, BP1, BP2 filling position

[0183] BR1 first direction of movement

[0184] BR2 second direction of movement

[0185] E Removal position TR Transport direction

Claims

Claims: Magazine unit (1) for consumables (20) comprising at least two receiving units (2) for consumables (20), at least one dispensing position (AP) and at least two filling positions (BP), wherein the receiving units (2) are movably configured between the dispensing position (AP) and each of the filling positions (BP). Magazine unit (1) according to claim 1, comprising two receiving units (2) for consumables (20), one dispensing position (AP) and two filling positions (BP), wherein the dispensing position (AP) is arranged between the two filling positions (BP).Magazine unit (1) according to claim 2, wherein in a first operating mode (AM1) the first receiving unit (2) is arranged in the first filling position (BP) and the second receiving unit (2) is arranged in the dispensing position (AP), and wherein in a second operating mode (AM2) the first receiving unit (2) is arranged in the dispensing position (AP) and the second receiving unit (2) is arranged in the second filling position (BP). Magazine unit (1) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the dispensing position (AP) and the two filling positions (BP) are arranged in a line, wherein the receiving units (2) are jointly movable in this line. Magazine unit (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the two receiving units (2) are arranged on a slide (3) which is associated with a slide guide (5), the slide guide (5) extending over the dispensing position (AP) and both filling positions (BP).Magazine unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each receiving unit (2) is assigned a lifting device (13). Magazine unit (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one protective element (7) is arranged between the receiving units (2). Packaging device (15) comprising a packaging module (19) for combining article sets (33) with a packaging means (21), which packaging means (21) as a consumable (20). a magazine unit (1) is provided, which magazine unit (1) comprises at least two receiving units (2) for consumables (20), at least one dispensing position (PV), and at least two filling positions (PV), wherein the receiving units (2) are movably configured between the dispensing position (PV) and each of the filling positions (PV), in particular wherein the magazine unit (1) is configured according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Packaging device (15) according to claim 8, wherein the packaging module (19) comprises a transport device (40), which transport device (40) is configured to move the article assemblies (33) in a transport direction (TR), wherein the at least one dispensing position (PV) and the at least two filling positions (PV) are arranged in an alignment parallel to the transport device (40), wherein the receiving units (2) are movably configured in this alignment.Packaging device (15) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the packaging module (19) comprises a transport device (40) configured to move the article assemblies (33) in a transport direction (TR), wherein the at least one unloading position (AP) and the at least two filling positions (BP) are arranged in alignment parallel to the transport device (40), and wherein the receiving units (2) are jointly movable in alignment. Packaging device (15) according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein at least one protective device (36) is assigned to the unloading position (AP), which protective device (36) is configured to prevent manual intervention in the receiving unit (2) arranged in the unloading position (AP) during ongoing production.Method for combining article sets (33) with a packaging means (21), which packaging means (21) is provided as consumable material (20) in a magazine unit (1), which magazine unit (1) comprises at least two receiving units (2) for consumable material (20), at least one removal position (AP) and at least two filling positions (BP), wherein the receiving units (2) are movable between the removal position (AP) and each of the filling positions (BP). wherein the packaging material (21) for assembling the article assortment (33) is taken from the receiving unit (2) arranged in the removal position (AP). Method according to claim 12, wherein, for filling or refilling the magazine unit (1), packaging material (21) is filled into the receiving unit (2), which The receiving unit (2) is in a filling position (BP). A method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the magazine unit (1) comprises two receiving units (2) for consumables (20), one removal position (AP), and two filling positions (BP), wherein the removal position (AP) is arranged between the two filling positions (BP), and wherein the magazine unit (1) can be moved oscillatingly between a first operating mode (AM1) and a second operating mode (AM2). A method according to claim 14, wherein in the first operating mode (AM1), the first receiving unit (2) is arranged in the first filling position (BP) and is filled with consumables (20), and wherein in the second operating mode (AM2), the second receiving unit (2) is arranged in the second filling position (BP) and is filled with consumables (20).

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