Method and packaging device for producing packaging units, and application head for corresponding use

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a packaging device for producing packaging units and to an application head (60) for use in the method and / or in the packaging device. In the method, a planar packaging blank (14) is transferred by means of an application head (60) into a held-ready article grouping (20) in order to be applied there to an upper end face of the article grouping (20) so as to produce a mechanical connection between the packaging blank (14) and the article grouping (20). Foldable portions (24) of the packaging blank (14) projecting beyond an upper side of the article grouping (20) are then folded down and are applied to the article grouping (20) laterally. The packaging device is equipped with at least one such application head (60).

Description

[0001] Method and packaging device for producing packaging units as well as application head for respective use here

[0002] The present invention relates to a method and a packaging device for producing packaging units. Furthermore, the invention relates to a controllable application head that can be moved within a defined range of motion for applying packaging blanks to article groups for the purpose of producing packaging units and / or for applying the method for producing them.

[0003] Along with bottles and beverage cartons, beverage cans are one of the most important and widely produced and used commercial packaging for beverages, especially since they can also serve as drinking vessels. Beverage cans are primarily used for carbonated beverages such as canned beer and soft drinks such as colas, all types of lemonade, and energy drinks. Beverage cans are typically opened for consumption using pull tabs on the lid.

[0004] Currently used beverage cans mostly consist of one-piece, cylindrically shaped containers made of aluminum or tinplate, manufactured using suitable deep-drawing processes, and aluminum lids folded or flanged onto the upper can edges, each with an oval scored line and a riveted metal tab. This tab acts as a built-in can opener; when lifted, it leverages the scored oval into the interior of the can, thus forming a pouring or drinking opening. In an upper shell area directly below the lid, the cans normally have a tapered diameter. Thus, the lid also normally has an outer diameter at least slightly smaller than the cylindrical shell area of ​​the can.

[0005] There are basically several different types of packaging for the processing, compilation, grouping, and packaging of items such as beverage containers in the form of cans. One suitable type of packaging is, for example, combining the items or containers into portable, relatively handy bundles, which can generally also be regarded as packaging units. Here, too, various options are known for combining individual cans into larger bundles. For example, beverage containers are often combined and packaged using shrink film to form bundles of four, six, or more containers. The production of such bundles or packaging units is unavoidable in many cases, as they represent the most common variant of sales units or packaging units for beverage containers, particularly metal or plastic cans or PET bottles.Handling a large number of articles or beverage cans on the way from the production and filling of such so-called primary packaging to the retailer and finally to the end customer is hardly conceivable without the use of so-called secondary packaging and, if necessary, additional tertiary packaging. The containers, which are also considered secondary packaging, are sometimes combined again for transport and / or stacked in layers and palletized, which is sometimes also referred to as tertiary packaging.

[0006] When manufacturing common types of containers, specific production steps are required in order to process the shrink films typically used for the containers. These production steps require a relatively high energy input, not least because the film shrinks under the influence of heat. In addition, the film used incurs costs for production, provision, handling, and subsequent disposal, as it is no longer needed after the items or containers have been sold and unpacked. The machinery for providing the so-called film wrapping modules and other handling stations also entails high investment costs. Finally, the provision of the so-called shrink tunnel, in which the film wrapped around the containers is shrunk using hot air, also requires a relatively high capital investment.

[0007] One variant that fundamentally eliminates the need for shrink film is the so-called strapping pack. In this case, several items or containers are connected together using strapping bands and then combined into a pack. In continuously or intermittently operating strapping machines, containers, items, or bottles are grouped into formations and then strapped with one or more bands using strapping units. These bands ideally run horizontally around the containers or bottles and hold them together in the pack. Typical formations can be, for example, 1x2 arrangements (two containers in a row), 2x2 arrangements (four containers in a square or diamond formation), 3x2, 4x3, or basically also variable nx m arrangements.

[0008] Furthermore, the use of so-called grip carton packaging or upper grip carton packaging is known for grouping several articles, such as beverage containers, in particular bottles or cans, together via their neck regions. A packaging machine for applying such upper grip carton packaging is described in patent specification EP 1 075419 B1. There, the articles are arranged in a box, and the grip carton packaging is placed from above onto the at least one article arranged in the box. In particular, a plurality of articles are arranged in the box, and by placing a smaller number of upper grip carton packaging, subgroups are formed, each grouping a portion of the articles arranged in the box.

[0009] In addition, packaging units are known which combine different types of secondary packaging means and group the majority of the articles together with a first packaging means and a second packaging means, in particular with a first secondary packaging means in the form of an upper gripping carton packaging and with a second secondary packaging means in the form of a strapping and / or in the form of at least one adhesive connection between adjacent and touching articles.

[0010] The published patent application DE 10 2006 028 661 A1 shows a packaging unit with bottles and a bottle carrier, allowing the packaging units to be reliably stacked even in large numbers. The bottles are held together in the packaging units by a carrier body with a carrying handle and at least one banderol.

[0011] Another container arrangement is disclosed in US 57 75486 A. Rows of three or six bottles or cans are each secured with cardboard top attachments and combined into larger containers using strapping bands.

[0012] A wide variety of can sizes are now commonly used and available as primary packaging for liquid contents, especially for beverages. While cans were traditionally offered with a capacity of approximately one-third of a liter or half a liter, cans with other capacities are now also frequently available, for example, 0.15 liters, a quarter of a liter, 0.355 liters, or even volumes other than these.

[0013] In addition to these varying can volumes, different can shapes are known. While the lid of standard cans has a significantly smaller diameter than the adjacent can cylinder, the cylinder diameter and the lid diameter of so-called slim cans or sleek cans are essentially the same or almost the same, so there are no significant tapers in the lid and / or base area compared to the can body area.

[0014] For combining standard cans, upper grip carton packaging is known. These packagings have a number of openings for the standard cans, which simultaneously define the positions of the cans within the packaging unit. The grip carton packagings are pressed onto a collection of standard cans from above, so that the lid area of ​​each standard can can pass through an associated opening. The grip carton packaging is preferably anchored below the lid area of ​​the standard cans, particularly in the area with a reduced diameter. Within the packaging unit produced in this way, the cans are arranged closely adjacent to one another.

[0015] However, the use of such gripper carton packaging is usually not practical for so-called slim or sleek cans. Since the diameter of the lid and the cylinder are largely the same in these can shapes, there is a lack of material between the openings of the gripper carton, so the remaining narrow areas between the openings can easily tear, thus depriving the gripper carton of the necessary stability.

[0016] To counteract these disadvantages, WO 2021 043632 A1 proposes a combination of a gripper carton packaging acting as the primary packaging material with another packaging material. This additional packaging, referred to as the secondary packaging material, is subsequently attached to the packaging already equipped with the gripper carton packaging. Strapping, adhesive connections between the articles, or shrink film connections are proposed as secondary packaging materials. Equipping several articles, such as the aforementioned so-called slim cans, with primary and secondary packaging materials requires multi-phase manufacturing processes, as these fundamentally involve different packaging types and therefore different mechanical production and packaging steps.

[0017] In view of the known packaging types and packaging methods, it can be considered a primary aim of the invention to combine or integrate the necessary process steps for producing packaging units with several different packaging means in an improved manner. Furthermore, it can be considered a further aim of the invention to be able to advantageously produce packaging units in which a plurality of articles are combined with first and second packaging means, wherein these packaging means interact more closely than is the case with previously known packaging variants. Finally, a further aim is to provide an improved tool that enables faster and better processing of grouped articles for the purpose of producing packaging units.

[0018] These objects of the invention are achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Features of advantageous developments of the invention emerge from the respective dependent claims.

[0019] To achieve at least some of the aforementioned objectives, the invention proposes a controllable application head that is movable within a defined range of motion and serves to apply packaging blanks to groups of at least two articles each. This application head comprises a receiving device for receiving at least one packaging blank and for placing the packaging blank on the upper side of the respective article grouping.

[0020] Furthermore, the application head is equipped with a fixing device for establishing a mechanical connection between the packaging blank and the article grouping. The receiving device of the application head comprises at least one suction device that can be subjected to a controllable and / or variable vacuum. This suction device can be subjected to increased vacuum for receiving and holding a packaging blank and to reduced vacuum for releasing a packaging blank held in the application head. Optional additional handling tools of the application head are described in detail below. The application head according to the invention can be equipped with at least one application unit for treating one article grouping at a time and for equipping it with a packaging blank.In particular, however, the application head comprises two or more such application units for the essentially synchronous treatment of two or more separate article groups and for their respective equipping with packaging blanks.

[0021] The application head can preferably be moved within a movement space between a supply or staging area for several stacked packaging blanks and a respective location of the article groups to be treated.

[0022] In addition, the application head can be designed in such a way that each of its application units is equipped with a contact plate that can be moved vertically between two end positions for the flat contact of the packaging blank held therein, as well as with at least one controllable suction element for the vacuum-controlled holding or release of a packaging blank held therein with vacuum.

[0023] Furthermore, each application unit of the application head can be equipped with a forming element for deforming a defined folding area of ​​a packaging blank placed on a respective article grouping. In particular, the forming element can be used to form primary fixing means for establishing mechanical connections between the articles of the article grouping and the packaging blank, or it can support the formation of the primary fixing means.

[0024] Furthermore, each application unit can optionally be equipped with folding elements for folding over side surfaces of the packaging blank that protrude beyond a top side of the article grouping and for preparing secondary fixing means between the article grouping and the packaging blank.

[0025] Furthermore, the application head according to the invention can be provided with the movable support plate, the suction elements subjected to negative pressure, the folding elements, and the forming element of each application unit, in conjunction with the application head that can be lowered onto or lifted from the article grouping, each capable of carrying out coordinated handling steps for forming the primary fixing means and at least preparing the secondary fixing means. The subsequent completion of the secondary fixing means, which are formed in particular by strapping sections, can take place in subsequent handling or process steps, unless appropriate tools are provided in the application head that are capable of completing the strapping sections, for example by gluing overlapping strip sections of the packaging blank.

[0026] To achieve at least some of the aforementioned objectives, the invention further proposes a method for producing packaging units, each comprising at least two articles, wherein the at least two articles are held together by at least one packaging blank. The at least two articles of the packaging units produced by the method according to the invention are, in particular, similar or identical articles.

[0027] The method according to the present invention comprises at least the steps listed and explained below. First, a flat packaging blank is picked up from a supply, feeder, or other supply location using an application head. After being picked up or picked up, the packaging blank is held in the application head and kept ready, in particular, for subsequent process steps.

[0028] Together with the held or ready-made packaging blank, the application head is moved to a previously prepared article grouping, consisting of the at least two grouped articles mentioned, which is kept ready for the handling steps described here. There it can be lowered directly onto the article grouping or initially positioned at a vertical distance above the article grouping. Such a positioning of the application head at a vertical distance above the ready-made article grouping can be useful, for example, if the article grouping is not stationary but is being moved along a conveyor line, because in this case a concurrent and pulling movement of the application head with the article grouping moving in one conveying direction on the conveyor line is useful, which is commonly referred to as synchronization or synchronization.

[0029] Once it has been ensured that the packaging blank is in the desired position relative to the article grouping by precisely positioning the application head, the application head can be lowered onto the article grouping, which simultaneously entails and enables the application of the packaging blank to an upper end face of the article grouping. This application of the packaging blank to the upper end face of the article grouping, which generally refers to the upper lid sides of the grouped articles, implies the creation of a mechanical connection between the packaging blank and the article grouping.

[0030] This mechanical connection between the upper end face of the article grouping or the upper lid sides or lid areas of the grouped articles is referred to in this context and below as a primary connection, primary fixation, or the manufacture, attachment, or formation of primary fixation means. This generally refers to snap-in connections between punched circular openings in the packaging blank and the upper edge sections of the articles, particularly those formed by tin beverage cans, which will be explained in more detail below.

[0031] In order to prepare additional secondary fixing means, which in the packaging units to be produced here are formed by strapping sections made from parts of the packaging blank, after the mechanical connection between the packaging blank and the article grouping has been established, at least one foldable section of the packaging blank projecting beyond an upper side of the article grouping is folded over and placed on a side surface of the article grouping.

[0032] Typically, two foldable sections located opposite each other on the long sides of the main surface of the packaging blank covering the top of the article grouping are folded or folded over and each applied to the opposite side surfaces of the article grouping, corresponding to a folding process with a folding angle of approximately 90 degrees. These folded, foldable sections of the packaging blank are subsequently used to form the strapping sections, which will be described in more detail below. In this context, these strapping sections are also considered and referred to as secondary fastening means for the packaging units. These primary fastening means initially determine the positions of the articles relative to one another.

[0033] Subsequently, at least one side surface adjacent to a longitudinal side of the main surface of the packaging blank is folded over, forming secondary fixing means that interact with the outer surfaces of the articles. The secondary fixing means are formed by strapping sections that enclose defined areas of the outer surfaces of the articles and secure the articles in a substantially parallel alignment. The strapping sections of the secondary fixing means are formed in particular by strip sections of the packaging blank, which extend the side surfaces in directions along the longitudinal extension directions of the side surfaces.

[0034] Only after the aforementioned lateral foldable sections of the packaging blank have been folded over or folded down is the application head lifted from the article grouping equipped with the packaging blank and mechanically held together by it and can then be removed from the article grouping in order to pick up another packaging blank from a staging area or a stock and to repeat the described process steps on another article grouping.

[0035] The application head is thus movable within its movement range between a supply or staging area for the flat and normally still unfolded packaging blanks, but with the necessary cutouts and openings, and a staging area or conveyor section containing the article grouping located there. The application head is designed to be lowered as a whole, including the packaging blank held within it, onto the article grouping.

[0036] The picking up of at least one packaging blank from the storage stack or from a suitable and equipped staging area can be carried out in particular with the aid of negative pressure, i.e. for example by means of suitable suction elements located in the application head which can be subjected to negative pressure to pick up a flat packaging blank. This negative pressure can preferably be deactivated to release the packaging blanks. Thus, if a packaging blank is to be placed on an article grouping after synchronisation and lowering of the application head and is to be pressed onto and locked there with the formation of the primary fixing means, it is expedient to deactivate the negative pressure applied to the suction elements, which can release the packaging blank and cancel its previously temporarily maintained fixation in the application head.The release of the packaging blank and its locking onto the top of the intended article can be supported by additional components in the application head. For example, the formation of the primary fixation means can be supported by lowering a flat contact plate of the application head, while simultaneously deactivating the negative pressure of the suction elements or suction pads that hold the packaging blank. These processes can be usefully combined, particularly by lowering the contact plate relative to the suction elements or suction pads that are fixed in the application head and extend through the contact plate equipped with corresponding recesses.

[0037] In this way, the packaging blank temporarily held in the application head can be distanced from the suction elements or suction pads and detached. The aforementioned support plate can be designed to be movable relative to the application head, in particular by means of linear guides. In this way, it can be lowered relative to the application head while the application head is held in position, and can thus press the packaging blank downwards onto the article grouping in a timely and / or process-related manner immediately before the primary fixing means are created.

[0038] As the production of the packaging units continues and the contact plate continues to move downwards, the packaging blank is connected or locked to the articles of the article grouping, forming the primary fixing means, e.g. by forming locking connections between the openings or perforations in the packaging blank and the neck sections of the articles.

[0039] In addition, the method according to the invention for producing the packaging units can provide that the main surface of the packaging blank placed on the upper side of the article grouping and in particular latched or otherwise fixed there is reshaped, folded or notched in an area between adjacent articles or between adjacent rows of articles, wherein adjacent primary fixing means together with the articles held therein are brought closer to one another, in particular until the adjacent articles come into contact.

[0040] Thus, the method can provide that during the production of the primary fixing means, but in particular only subsequently, the packaging blank is handled and deformed in such a way that it is pressed at least a short distance between adjacent articles of the article grouping or between adjacent rows of articles of the article grouping, which can be particularly useful for articles within the article grouping which, due to their shape, provide only little material between adjacent articles because the upper edge of the article is not or only insignificantly reduced in diameter compared to the diameter of the adjoining cylindrical shell area.

[0041] If the article grouping intended for the packaging units to be produced is formed, for example, by the above-mentioned slim cans or sleek cans, due to the special shape of these beverage cans, which are almost continuously cylindrical from the lower base area to the upper lid area and have a constant diameter, almost no residual material of the flat packaging cut is available between the immediately adjacent articles or cans of the grouping when producing the primary fixing means.In order to compensate for this, the method provides for a sufficient distance between adjacent articles or adjacent rows of articles, at least for the production of the primary fixing means, which are formed by placing and locking the articles or beverage cans in the openings provided for this purpose in the flat packaging blank, which distance is eliminated in subsequent process phases by pushing the articles or rows of articles together.

[0042] When, in this context, reference is made to adjacent rows of articles that are initially spaced apart from one another, this can particularly refer to two, three, or four articles or cans arranged in a row, standing side by side in pairs, thus forming a grouping of four, six, or eight articles. However, the articles in these rows, initially spaced apart from one another in pairs, are preferably in contact, which can be accepted given the available flat material of the packaging blank, since the mechanical cohesion of the packaging units produced in this way can be ensured not only by means of the primary fixing means, but also by means of the secondary fixing means, which will be explained in more detail below.After lowering the support plate together with the packaging blank resting on the underside onto the top of the article grouping and after locking the articles with the packaging blank, which was defined above as producing the primary fixing means, the articles or rows of articles of the respective grouping, which are at least slightly spaced from one another in this process phase, can be subjected to a further handling step which, among other things, provides for the approach of the articles or rows of articles of the grouping until they touch each other, so that the usual rectangular arrangement of the grouping is produced, which also corresponds to the arrangement within the packaging units to be completed later.

[0043] Thus, the method according to the invention can provide, in a further method step, that an area of ​​the main surface of the packaging blank located between the spaced-apart articles or rows of articles resting on the top sides of the articles is notched in a V-shape and pressed into the space between the articles or rows of articles. This can optionally be supported by folding or crease edges previously introduced into the packaging blank. In a rectangular packaging blank, a central strip, which is to be notched in a V-shape in this way, divides the main surface into two equal halves, which are connected by this central strip.

[0044] Each of these two halves of the main surface of the packaging blank covers one item if the article grouping to be processed only comprises two items. For article groups with, for example, four or six items, each of the two halves of the main surface of the packaging blank covers a row of two or three items.

[0045] The thus V-shaped formed section of the packaging blank and the pressing of the formed area between the articles or rows of articles can be carried out in particular by means of a knife-like or sword-shaped forming element arranged stationary in the application head, which, when the contact plate is lowered, lies above the level of the contact plate and is thus covered by it, so that it cannot become effective when the packaging blank is pressed onto the upper side of the article grouping and during the simultaneous formation of the first fixing means.By lifting the contact plate after the primary fixing means have been produced and with the suction elements or suction stamps preferably deactivated, the knife-like or sword-shaped forming element extends through a corresponding recess in the contact plate and thus projects downwards out of the contact plate, whereby, with the contact plate raised and the application head simultaneously lowered further, it can press the packaging blank downwards in a V-shape between the articles or rows of articles, whereby the V-shaped area of ​​the packaging blank is pressed between the adjacent articles or adjacent rows of articles.

[0046] Since the previously spaced-apart items or rows of items are pulled together, suitable guides are useful to ensure this convergence occurs in a controlled manner. In principle, simply creating the V-shaped area and lowering it between the items or rows of items is sufficient to bring them closer together and ensure that they are pulled or pushed toward each other.

[0047] The lowering movement of the application head, with the knife-like or sword-shaped shaping element being pressed onto the top main surface of the packaging blank, can also be used to fold the side surfaces of the packaging blank located at the edge of the main surface downward by approximately 90 degrees and to place them against the side surfaces of the article grouping. These folding movements can be performed, for example, using lateral folding elements arranged stationary in the application head when the application head is lowered further toward the top of the article grouping.

[0048] The folding elements arranged on the application head on both sides of the contact plate and spaced from it can be formed by either rigid or movable tools, which are preferably located in a position in the application head where they can strike the areas of the flat packaging blank defined by crease or fold edges and thus delimited from the main surface, in order to apply them to the opposite side surfaces of the article grouping. In the simplest embodiment, the folding elements are formed by vertically downward-projecting, for example strip-shaped sections, which are anchored to a carrier plate or a carrier element of the application head, so that their unchangeable relative positions are fixed with respect to the suction elements and with respect to the contact plate, which can be raised and lowered in the application head.

[0049] A ramp-like bevel on the folding elements can, for example, support the pushing together of previously spaced articles or rows of articles when the knife-like or sword-shaped forming element is activated.

[0050] In a later process step, possibly after further handling and / or treatment steps that can be used to complete the packaging units, the entire application head is lifted upwards from the article grouping to allow it to undergo the next processing, handling, and / or application steps. Such steps can include, in particular, the further processing of the secondary fastening means by folding the strapping sections, gluing overlapping and superimposed sections, etc.

[0051] Thus, an advantageous method variant provides that the previously folded side surfaces and the extended strip sections formed thereby are folded over by means of suitable handling devices and formed into strapping sections, wherein overlapping end regions of these strip sections are fixed to one another and / or to the outer surfaces of the articles.

[0052] However, it should be emphasized at this point that fixing and / or gluing the strip sections to the outer surfaces of the articles is merely an option that can be implemented optionally in practice. Due to the fixing of the packaging blank to the articles, forming the primary fixing means, the cohesion of the package structure may already be sufficient, so that adhesive fixing of the strip sections to the underlying outer surfaces of the articles is not necessary.

[0053] However, if the articles are not only to be enclosed in sections by the strapping sections, but are also to be fixed in their relative positions to one another, it may be useful to additionally fix the strip sections to the outer surfaces of the articles in connection with the fixation of their superimposed and thus overlapping sections to one another.

[0054] With regard to all previously described process variants for producing or preparing packaging units by forming and equipping grouped articles with packaging blanks, preferably using an application head that carries out at least some of the above-mentioned process steps, it can be provided in a minimal configuration that the application head acts on exactly one article grouping in the manner described and equips it with the packaging blank and forms and / or prepares it for producing the primary fixing means and at least for preparing the secondary fixing means.

[0055] Preferably, however, the application head has two, three, or more similarly equipped handling areas for the simultaneous and largely synchronous treatment of two or more article groups provided for this purpose. Thus, at least two, optionally even three such modular application units can be arranged side by side within an application head, so that two or three similar article groups can be processed or handled in parallel in the manner described.

[0056] Optionally, four such modularly constructed application units can be located in a grouped rectangular arrangement within an application head, so that four similar article groupings can be processed and / or handled in the manner described in parallel, whereby these article groupings are to be positioned and aligned in such a way that the application head lowered onto them with the four application units or application modules positioned in a rectangular arrangement can apply the four simultaneously recorded packaging blanks to the article groupings ready for this purpose and can also carry out all other process steps described.

[0057] Thus, when reference is made in this context to an application head for handling and processing at least one article grouping or a plurality of article groupings, this refers either to an application head with the aforementioned minimal configuration, capable of handling or processing only a single article grouping. However, the application head can also allow parallel and synchronous handling and processing of multiple article groupings and be equipped with a corresponding number of application units or application modules.In this case, the corresponding suction elements, movable contact plates and other tool elements of the application head can also be controlled synchronously, whereby the contact plates, which can be raised and lowered in parallel movements, are typically equipped with separate motor drive units, while a central vacuum supply for the joint supply of the controllable suction elements represents a sensible option, because the suction elements can each be easily coupled to a common supply line via hose lines.

[0058] If, from the point of view of the person skilled in the art, they can be combined sensibly, some or all of the above-mentioned variations or embodiments of the method according to the invention and / or of the application head according to the invention can optionally also be combined with one another in order to at least partially achieve the above-formulated objective(s) and / or to achieve the desired effect of the invention.

[0059] It should be expressly noted at this point that all aspects and embodiments explained in connection with the application head according to the invention equally relate to or can form sub-aspects of the method according to the invention. Therefore, if specific aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned at any point in the description or in the claim definitions for the application head according to the invention, this applies equally to the method according to the invention.

[0060] The same applies in reverse, so that all aspects and design variants explained in connection with the method according to the invention equally relate to or can be partial aspects of the possible uses and / or the equipment of the application head according to the invention. Therefore, if certain aspects and / or relationships and / or effects are mentioned at a point in the description or in the claim definitions for the method according to the invention, this applies equally to the application head according to the invention. This can be equipped in such a way that all variants of the method explained above can be implemented.

[0061] Furthermore, the present invention comprises a packaging device for producing packaging units, each of which is formed by at least two articles, wherein these at least two articles of the packaging units are held together by at least one packaging blank. The packaging device according to the invention comprises at least one conveyor device, a transport section, and / or a staging position for conveying grouped articles and / or for staging the grouped articles, as well as an application device for equipping the article groups with at least one packaging blank each, wherein the application device comprises at least one controllable application head movable within a defined movement space.

[0062] In the packaging device according to the invention, the application head can equip at least one article grouping located and / or moving within the movement space with a packaging blank and apply this blank to the article grouping. Furthermore, the application head of the application device is equipped with controllable devices for receiving, holding, and releasing the packaging blanks. Furthermore, the application head is equipped with controllable tools for establishing a mechanical connection between the respective article grouping and the packaging blank applied to it.

[0063] The packaging device according to the invention can in particular be equipped with an application head as described above in various embodiments.

[0064] Furthermore, the packaging device according to the invention can be prepared and equipped in such a way that it is suitable for carrying out a method according to one of the method variants described above, in particular using at least one application head according to the above description.

[0065] 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.

[0066] Figures 1A to 1F show schematic views of various interacting individual components that can be processed and formed into packaging units.

[0067] Figures 2A to 2D show different views of an embodiment of an application head according to the invention, which is equipped with four application units for equipping a total of four article groups with packaging blanks.

[0068] Fig. 2E shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of the application head according to the invention, which is equipped with three application units for equipping a total of three article groups with packaging blanks.

[0069] Fig. 3 shows a schematic block diagram to illustrate the process steps in the formation of packaging units.

[0070] Fig. 4 shows a configuration for controlling folding devices that can be used in the formation of the packaging units.

[0071] Fig. 5 shows a schematic plan view of a transport section in which packaging units can be formed and produced.

[0072] For identical or similarly functioning elements of the invention, Figures 1A to 5 generally use identical reference numerals. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, reference numerals are only shown in the individual figures when they are necessary or useful for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the application head according to the invention, the packaging device according to the invention, or the method according to the invention for producing packaging units can be configured and do not represent a definitive limitation.

[0073] Based on the perspective and schematic views of Figures 1A and 1C to 1F as well as the schematic side view of Figure 1B, some important principles and principles in the production of packaging units 10 by joining several articles 12 and by mechanical combination by means of a packaging blank 14 will first be clarified.

[0074] It should be expressly emphasized that Figures 1A to 1F show the individual components of such a packaging unit 10 to be assembled and treated in the manner described below, as they can be produced in particular with the aid of the method according to the invention and with the preferred use of an application head 60 according to the invention and / or with the intended use of a packaging machine according to the invention. In this respect, Figures 1A to 1F initially illustrate only a single packaging unit and its components, without going into detail about the design of the application head 60 (see Figures 2A to 2D) or the packaging machine (see Figure 5).

[0075] While in the following context and throughout the entire description, reference is mostly made to packaging units 10, the equally common term "container" can also be used instead. The term "packaging unit 10" used here refers to the completed unit, which can be handled as a complete unit, possibly also stacked, and / or purchased and used by the end customer in retail stores, consisting of at least two articles 12 and the packaging materials that mechanically combine them.

[0076] In the exemplary embodiment shown, the packaging units 10 assembled and manufactured by means of the manufacturing process described below comprise a total of six identical articles 12, which are held together in a rectangular arrangement by a flat packaging blank 14.

[0077] In the method for producing the packaging units 10, the packaging blank 14, which has been prepared for this purpose and brought into the shown shape, e.g., by means of a punching process (see Fig. 1A), is first placed and / or applied to the article grouping 20 with a main surface 18 covering the first or upper end faces 16 or lid sides of the articles 12 grouped in a 3x2 rectangular arrangement (see Figures 1B and 1C). The term "main surface 18" used here refers to the rectangular section of the flat packaging blank 14 which covers the upper end faces 16 of the articles 12 arranged as an article grouping 20 in the 3x2 rectangular arrangement.

[0078] In connection with the placement and application of the packaging blank 14 onto the upper side of the article grouping 20, i.e., onto the upper end faces 16 of the grouped articles 12, connections are formed between the articles 12 and the primary fixing means 22 of the packaging blank 14, referred to herein. The primary fixing means 22 hold the packaging blank 14 to the articles 12; moreover, the primary fixing means 22, which will be explained in more detail below, determine the positions of the articles 12 relative to one another, since the dimensions of the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14 and the positions of the primary fixing means 22 are coordinated with the dimensions and diameters of the articles 12 and of the article grouping 20 consisting of several articles 12.

[0079] After placing the packaging blank 14 with its main surface 18 on the upper side of the article grouping 20 (Fig. 1C) and in connection with the formation of the primary fixing means 22, side surfaces 24 of the packaging blank 14, which are located on both long sides of the article grouping 20, are folded over and placed on the outer surfaces 26 of the articles 12, but without following the curved contours of the outer surfaces 26, as shown in Fig. 1D.

[0080] The side surfaces 24 arranged in strips on the two long sides of the main surface 18 form a continuation of the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14. Together with strip sections 28 which continue towards both narrow sides of the side surfaces 24, the two side surfaces 24 adjacent to the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14 form secondary fixing means 30 which interact with the outer surfaces 26 of the articles 12 when placed against them.

[0081] As Figures 1A and 1C clearly show, the side surfaces 24 are each significantly longer than the main surface 18 due to the strip sections 28 extending them on both sides. The total length of the side surfaces 24 including these strip sections 28 extending them on both narrow sides can be approximately twice the length of the long side of the main surface 18 or slightly less.

[0082] By securing overlapping end regions of the strip sections 28 to one another and / or by securing them to the lateral surfaces 26 of the articles 12, the secondary securing means 30 are formed by strapping sections 32, as can be seen in the schematic perspective view of Fig. 1E and in the perspective detailed view of Fig. 1F. There, the strapping sections 32 each encompass defined regions of the lateral surfaces 26 of the articles 12, specifically on both opposite narrow sides of the article grouping 20.

[0083] In the thus completed state of the packaging unit 10 (Fig. 1E), the articles 12 secured and held in position by means of the strapping sections 32 can only be pivoted or displaced minimally, so that the secondary securing means 30 secure the articles 12 within the packaging unit 10 in a substantially parallel alignment of their longitudinal center axes to one another. As Figures 1A, 1C, and 1D also show, the strapping sections 32 of the secondary securing means 30 (cf. Figures 1E and 1F) are formed by the strip sections 28 of the packaging blank 14, which extend the side surfaces 24 to their two narrow sides in directions along the longitudinal extension directions of the side surfaces 24.

[0084] The folding of the side surfaces 24 and the application of the strip sections 28 by means of suitable handling devices and the forming into the strapping sections 32, in which overlapping end regions are fixed to one another and / or to the outer surfaces 26 of the articles 12, will be explained and illustrated by way of example below with reference to Figures 2A et seq.

[0085] As already clear from examining Figures 1A to 1E, the articles 12 can, in particular, be beverage cans 34, which is why the articles 12 so designated here are also consistently designated with the reference number 34 in the present context. The beverage cans 34 used here are, in particular, so-called slim cans or sleek cans made of a suitable metal sheet, in particular of a suitable aluminum alloy. Alternatively, the cans or beverage cans 34 can also be made of plastic or a composite material, in particular of a multi-layer composite material.

[0086] The beverage cans 34, illustrated in their typical contours in the schematic side view of Fig. 1B, are hollow-cylindrical in shape and closed on all sides. They also each have a flat or slightly concave circular base region 36 on their lower end faces 38 and a generally flat, circular upper lid region 40 on the opposite end face. This upper lid region 40 forms the aforementioned upper end face 16 of the articles 12 formed by the beverage cans 34.

[0087] The flat or slightly concave bottom region 36 on the lower end face can typically be connected in one piece to the cylindrical shell surface 26, which in the case of tin cans can usually be achieved by a deep-drawing process.

[0088] What is also referred to in the present context as the upper end face 16 of article 12 is, in the example of the beverage cans 34, their respective upper lid region 40. The lid itself can be connected, for example, by flanging to the upper edge of the cylindrical shell of the beverage cans 34, so that a can 34 that is closed on all sides is formed. Within the lid surface, a smaller tear-open lid or tear-open closure with a tear-open tab or the like can be incorporated, whereby score lines can be present as predetermined breaking points in the metal or aluminum sheet, which enable the tear-open closure to be opened to remove the liquid contained in the beverage can 34. This optional tear-open lid and the tear-open tab that may be attached to it are not shown here, however, since these parts are not closely related to the design of the packaging units 10.

[0089] As Fig. 1 B further clearly shows, the cylinder diameter in the region of the cylindrical outer surface 26 and the outer circular diameters of the base region 36 and the lid region 40 of the beverage cans 34 shown are substantially the same or approximately the same, wherein the base region 36 and / or the lid region 40 can be slightly indented or tapered compared to the cylindrical outer surface 26.

[0090] Such a can shape with an almost uniformly cylindrical outer contour of a largely constant cylinder diameter from the base 36 to the lid 40 is a characteristic of such so-called slim cans or sleek cans, while conventional (standard) cans normally have significantly smaller diameters in the base and lid areas than in their cylindrical shell areas.

[0091] Therefore, when reference is made in the present context to cans 34 or beverage cans 34, this can generally and in all the cases mentioned refer to such slim cans or sleek cans.

[0092] So-called top-loading carton packaging, which is used to combine standard cans and has a number of openings for the standard cans, simultaneously defines the positions of the cans within the packaging units formed in this way. The top-loading carton packaging is usually pressed onto a collection of standard cans from above, so that the lid area of ​​each standard can passes through a corresponding opening.

[0093] Often, the grip carton packaging is anchored below the lid area of ​​the standard cans, particularly in a reduced diameter or constricted area just below the flanged edge, which attaches the lid to the upper edge of the cylindrical shell. Within a packaging unit produced in this way, the cans are arranged closely adjacent, usually with their shell surfaces in contact.

[0094] However, the use of such grip-carton packaging for so-called slim cans or sleek cans, as can be realized here with the beverage cans 34, is hardly practical. Since the diameters in the lid area 40 and the diameters in the cylindrical shell area 26 of these cans 34 differ little or not at all from each other, there is a lack of material between the openings of the grip-carton, so that the areas between the openings of adjacent cans 34 can easily tear out, thereby depriving the grip-carton of the necessary stability.

[0095] For this reason, the articles 12 or beverage cans 34 of the article grouping 20 are spaced apart from one another, at least temporarily and for the purpose of attaching the packaging blank 14 and forming the primary fixing means 22, along one of the horizontal main axes of the article grouping 20. Fig. 1B illustrates this defined horizontal distance A between the adjacent articles 12 or beverage cans 34 (here: slim or sleek cans) in a direction parallel to the second main axis 44 of the article grouping 20 (cf. Fig. 1C). The two adjacent rows of three articles 12, which together form the article grouping 20, are thus spaced apart from one another by this horizontal distance A.

[0096] The two horizontally aligned main axes 42 and 44 of the article grouping 20 are illustrated in Fig. 1C and are each illustrated by dot-dash lines. Thus, in the embodiment of the 3x2 rectangular arrangement of the grouped articles 12 or beverage cans 34 shown there, a first main axis 42 runs parallel to the two rows, each with three articles 12 or beverage cans 34 aligned one behind the other or standing one behind the other, while the orthogonally aligned second main axis 44 runs transversely to these rows of three.

[0097] Both main axes 42 and 44 are normally aligned horizontally, since the article grouping 20 is usually transported upright with the respective base regions 36 of the beverage cans 34 on suitable transport devices, such as suitable horizontal conveyors, in a defined transport direction TR, where it is also equipped with the packaging blank 14. The first main axis 42 therefore runs parallel to or in the direction of the transport direction TR (in Fig. 1C diagonally from top left to bottom right), so that the second main axis 44 is oriented transversely to the transport direction TR.

[0098] Thus, the horizontal distance A is also plotted parallel to the second main axis 44, as illustrated in Fig. 1B. In order to be able to ensure the desired reliable fixation of the articles 12 or beverage cans 34 within the prepared and in particular pre-punched packaging blank 14 using the primary fixation means 22, even though there is no sufficient space between the upper lid regions 40 of the adjacent beverage cans 34 in the slim or sleek cans shown here, which form the beverage cans 34, it is necessary in the initial phase of equipping the article grouping 20 to create the defined distance A between the two rows of three beverage cans 34 parallel to the first main axis 42.

[0099] In the schematic side view of Fig. 1B, this horizontal distance A is shown as an example between two adjacent beverage cans 34, which represent each of the pairings of articles 12 or beverage cans 34 shown in Figs. 1C and 1D transverse to the first main axis 42.

[0100] This arrangement with rows of beverage cans 34 spaced apart by the horizontal distance A makes it possible to press a folding area 46 of the packaging blank 14 between the upper lid areas 40 of the pairs of beverage cans 34 initially spaced apart by the distance A, whereby at the same time these beverage cans 34 or these rows of three beverage cans 34 conveyed one behind the other in the transport direction TR are brought closer together in pairs until their respective lateral surfaces 26 make linear contact.

[0101] The folding area 46 is located in the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14 and divides it into two rectangular halves (see Figures 1A and 1B), which are located on either side of a vertical dividing plane (not separately marked here) which lies between the pairs of beverage cans 34 spaced apart by the horizontal distance A. The first main axis 42 lies within this vertical dividing plane, while the second main axis 44 intersects the vertical dividing plane vertically.

[0102] The folding area 46 which divides the main surface 18 centrally in a direction parallel to the first main axis 42 serves to form the primary fixing means 22 with which the articles 12 or beverage cans 34 are held in the assembly of the packaging unit 10 as soon as the packaging blank 14 has been formed in the manner described here, pressed in the folding area 46 and folded in sections and the secondary fixing means 30 have been brought into position and connected to one another as intended.

[0103] After placing the packaging blank 14 (see Fig. 1A) with its main surface 18 onto the upper end faces 16 of the articles 12 or beverage cans 34 (see Fig. 1C) arranged in a rectangular arrangement in the article grouping 20, which are still spaced apart from each other in pairs by the distance A as shown in Fig. 1B, the side surfaces 24 of the packaging blank 24 projecting laterally beyond the opposite long sides of the article grouping 20 are folded down laterally so that they rest against the respective lateral surfaces 26 of the beverage cans 34 (see Fig. 1D). The side surfaces 24 of the packaging blank 14 are folded by approximately 90°.

[0104] The extensions of the two side surfaces 24, which project significantly beyond the length of the main surface 18 in the direction of the two narrow sides of the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14, are also referred to in the present context as strip sections 28 or as extended strip sections 28, since they have to fulfil a specific function in connection with the production and formation of the secondary fixing elements 30, as is illustrated in Figures 1 E and 1 F.

[0105] The strip sections 28 are not normally separated from the side surfaces 24 and subsequently attached there, but are an integral part of the side surfaces 24, wherein the strip sections 28 as well as all other components and functional elements of the packaging blank 14 can expediently be produced in a single, if necessary also in a multi-stage punching process from a cardboard sheet or similar flat packaging material, which has manufacturing and production advantages and provides an easy-to-process aid with which loose articles 12 can be connected and combined to form a packaging unit 10 in the manner described here.

[0106] After folding over the side surfaces 24 according to Fig. 1 D, wherein pre-folded and / or perforated or otherwise predetermined folding edges on the longitudinal edges of the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14 can be used, a two- or multi-phase further processing of the packaging blank can be carried out in order to achieve the final state of the packaging unit 10 according to Fig. 1 E (and according to the detailed view of Fig. 1 F).

[0107] This two- or multi-phase further processing comprises, after the packaging blank 14 has been placed on the upper side of the article grouping 20, the pressing in of the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14 over the entire length of the folding area 46 running centrally through the main surface 18, which on the one hand brings about the moving together of the two spaced rows of three articles 12 or beverage cans 34 and the reduction of the distance A to approximately zero, but on the other hand also brings about the immersion and / or the locking of segments of the upper edges of the beverage cans 34 on their upper lid areas 40 into prepared slot-like recesses 48 within the main surface 18 (cf. Fig. 1 F).

[0108] In principle, the primary fixing means 22 can also be manufactured and designed in other ways, for example by openings in the main surface 18 of the packaging blank, which correspond to the diameters of the beverage cans 34 in their upper lid area 40, so that the beverage cans 34 can be pressed in and locked there when placed on the packaging.

[0109] For this purpose, the folding area 46 can be pressed, for example, in the form shown, in a V-shape within the parting plane between the rows of containers and with a folding edge parallel to the first main axis 42 downwards between the beverage cans 34, wherein at the transition edges to the main surface 18, which adjoin each of the slot-like recesses 48 on both sides, prepared folding edges, perforations or the like can ensure a defined bend.

[0110] The flanks of the V-shaped folding region 46, which are pressed downward between the container rows and point toward the halves of the main surface 18, which is divided centrally by the folding region 46, can enclose an opening angle α between them, which can be reasonably between approximately 80 and approximately 180 degrees. In the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 1E and 1F, this opening angle α is approximately 120°.

[0111] However, this value should not be understood as limiting, since the opening angle of the V-shaped folding area 46 can be based on the deformability of the flat material used for the packaging blank 14, the upper edge contour of the articles 12 or beverage cans 34, the can shape, or other boundary conditions, as appropriate. However, other contours of the deformed folding area 46 are also conceivable. These contours do not necessarily have to be V-shaped, but can, for example, also have a concave base with a defined curvature radius or a rectangular cross-sectional contour.

[0112] It is also conceivable to sharply bend the folding area 46 by approximately 180 degrees, resulting in the material sections being placed against each other, which in this case can be pressed somewhat deeper between the adjacent rows of three articles 12 or beverage cans 34. Such penetration of the material sections placed against each other in the folding area 45 by up to a few centimeters can be a useful option in the production of the packaging units 10.

[0113] The recesses 48 can each encompass circular segments of the edges on the upper end faces 16 of the beverage cans 34 on opposite sides, with segment angles of approximately 40° to 60° (optionally slightly more or less). As can be seen in Figures 1E and 1F, the respective transitions from the main surface 18 to the side surfaces 24 can also be optionally bent twice by 45° each, resulting in the aforementioned bend angle of 90°. This creates roof-shaped transitions 50 in each case, in which the recesses 48 are located, with which the beverage cans 34 can be locked.

[0114] Once the primary fixing means 22 have been activated in this way and the respective spacings A between the beverage cans 34 have been eliminated, so that the respective contact lines between the previously spaced beverage cans 34 in the two longitudinal rows are located exactly on the aforementioned parting plane, the secondary fixing means 30 can be activated. The primary fixing means 22 are already implemented by the beverage cans 34 being held relatively firmly in the packaging blank 14, whereby the relative positions of the beverage cans 34 to one another are largely fixed. Since the beverage cans 34 are fixed by their respective exact positioning within the recesses 48, at least at their upper edge sections on their lid regions 40, relative to the packaging blank 14 and relative to the other beverage cans 34 or articles 12 of the article grouping 20, they can hardly move there.

[0115] However, since the packaging blanks 14 made of thin cardboard material normally used for the described purpose generally do not have high flexural rigidity, initially only the positions of the beverage cans 34 relative to one another are defined. However, this does not necessarily apply to their orientations relative to the respective longitudinal center axes of the articles 12 or beverage cans 34, since these can be tilted relative to one another due to the flexibility of the packaging blank 14, whereby the lower regions, i.e., the base regions 36 of the beverage cans 34, can diverge.

[0116] In order to reliably prevent this undefined tilting of the beverage cans 34 within the assembly of the article grouping 20 equipped with the packaging blank 14, the invention provides secondary fixing means 30 which, like the primary fixing means 22, can be formed equally by the shape and supplementary functional elements of the packaging blank 14 as its integral components.

[0117] The side surfaces 24 of the packaging blank 14, which are laterally applied to the outer surfaces 26 of the beverage cans 34 on both outer longitudinal sides of the arrangement or article grouping 20, form collar sections 52, as it were, which are held there during the intended use of the secondary fixing means 30 and may also be slightly pre-tensioned. The secondary fixing means 30 are activated by folding the strip sections 28 around the outer surfaces 26 of the articles 12 or beverage cans 34 located on the opposite narrow sides of the article grouping 20 and by fixing the at least slightly overlapping strip sections 28 to one another, for example by means of an adhesive bond 54.

[0118] The bond 54, which is only schematically indicated in Figures 1 E and 1 F by a broken line in the overlapping area of ​​the strip sections 28, can be created, for example, by prepared adhesive surfaces on the strip sections 28. Optionally, a sufficient amount of cold glue or hot glue can be applied to one of the strip sections 28 or to both overlapping areas of the superimposed strip sections 28, which can ensure a firm mechanical connection of the strip sections 28 to one another.

[0119] However, the overlapping strip sections 28 can also be connected to one another in other ways, for example by clamping, by a punched connection or the like.

[0120] In this way, the strapping sections 32 are formed from the strip sections 28 which are adhesively connected to one another, which hold the container or packaging unit 10 together and determine the positions as well as the orientations of the beverage cans 34 relative to one another in the container assembly.

[0121] The typical width of these strapping sections 32 formed from the strip sections 28 depends on the requirements, particularly with regard to the desired stability of the bundle or packaging unit 10. A very thin and flexible packaging blank 14 made of strong paper or thin cardboard will tend to require a further drawn-down collar section 52 and somewhat wider strapping sections 32 in order to ensure the desired mechanical stability of the packaging unit 10.

[0122] A sufficiently stable and mechanically resistant cardboard box as the packaging blank 14, on the other hand, will allow the width of the strapping sections 32 to be set at a value of approximately one-quarter or less of the height of the cylindrical outer surfaces 26 of the beverage cans 34 held together in this way, as shown in the variant illustrated by way of example in Figures 1A to 1F. There, the width of the strapping sections 32 is even less than one-fifth of the respective height of the cylindrical outer surfaces 26 of the beverage cans 34.

[0123] The strip sections 28 of the variant of the packaging blank 14 according to Fig. 1A and Fig. 1C are each of the same length, so that the packaging blank 14 is also designed mirror-symmetrically to both the first main axis 42 and the second main axis 44. In principle, in alternative embodiments, the strip sections 28 can be designed in different lengths.

[0124] The schematic perspective views of Figures 2A to 2D illustrate an embodiment variant of an application head 60 according to the invention with a total of four integrated application units 62 for the simultaneous and in particular synchronous handling of four article groupings 20, wherein each of the application units 62 is provided to equip one of the article groupings 20 shown by way of example in Figures 1A to 1F with a flat packaging blank 14.

[0125] As Fig. 2A particularly illustrates with its perspective view of the application head 60 from obliquely above, the four application units 62 are anchored to a support frame 64, which is rotatably suspended from a movable arm section 66. This arm section 66, of which only a vertical part is indicated in Fig. 2A by broken lines, can in particular enable mobility of the application head 60 within a defined range of motion, not shown in detail here. Thus, the vertical part of the arm section 66 indicated in Fig. 2A can be part of a cantilever arm that is movable within the range of motion and optionally has joints that enable the arm section 66, together with the application head 60 suspended therefrom, to be raised and lowered.

[0126] The application head 60 equipped with the four application units 62 can be moved with the aid of the movable cantilever arm or, if necessary, by means of a portal suspension not shown here or a different type of suspension within its movement space between a supply (not shown here) or a preparation location for the flat and normally still unfolded packaging blanks 14, which are provided with the necessary cutouts and openings, and a preparation location or a conveyor section with the article groupings 20 held there.

[0127] The four application units 62 anchored in defined positions and defined distances from one another in a rectangular arrangement on the support frame 64 of the application head 60 require a corresponding arrangement of the four article groupings 20 provided with the same defined distances from one another and in the same defined orientations, so that the four application units 62 can each be positioned exactly above the appropriately aligned article groupings 20.

[0128] On the arm section 66 which can be raised and lowered, the application head 60 with its four application units 62 as well as the packaging blanks 14 received and held therein can be lowered after it has been positioned above the article groups 20 or in a flowing movement after approaching the article groups 20 which are held ready in suitable positions and orientations.

[0129] As is particularly illustrated by the perspective detailed view of Fig. 2D, which shows one of the application units 62 obliquely from below without the packaging blank 14 held there, the picking up of the packaging blanks 14 from the supply stack or from a suitable and equipped preparation location and their temporary holding in the respective application unit 62 can be carried out with the aid of suitable suction elements 68, several of which are located in the application head 60 and which can each be subjected to negative pressure in order to pick up the flat packaging blanks 14.

[0130] Figures 2A to 2D each show two such suction elements 68 formed by suction plungers 70 in each of the four application units 62, so that a total of eight such suction elements 68 or suction plungers 70 are located in the application head 60. The suction elements 68 or suction plungers 70 each have vacuum lines 72 for the supply of negative pressure, in particular in a controllable and / or switchable manner, which can be delivered to the vacuum lines 72 via a central supply line in the arm section 66 (not shown in detail here).

[0131] The suction elements 68 or suction pads 70, each equipped with separate vacuum lines 72, can be controlled jointly or individually. For picking up and holding the packaging blanks 14 in the application head 60, the vacuum on the suction elements 68 or suction pads 70 can preferably be activated and deactivated for releasing the packaging blanks 14.

[0132] If the packaging blanks 14 are to be placed on the article groupings 20 after being positioned over the article groupings 20 and / or after being synchronized with the article groupings 20 conveyed or further conveyed, for example, on a horizontal conveyor and after the application head 60 has been lowered, and are to be pressed and locked there with the formation of the primary fixing means 22 (cf. Figures 1A to 1F), it is sensible and necessary to deactivate the negative pressure applied to the suction elements 68 or suction stamps 70, whereby the packaging blanks 14 held by two suction elements 68 or suction stamps 70 can be released and their previously temporarily maintained fixation in the application head 60 can be canceled.

[0133] As can be seen in particular in Figures 2C and 2D with their oblique views from below of the application units 62, the two suction elements 68 or suction stamps 70 of each application unit 62 are diagonally offset from one another and at reasonable distances from one another in order to be able to pick up a flat packaging blank 14 from a stack and reliably hold it with just two such suction elements 68 or suction stamps 70 until it is placed on the article grouping 20 provided for this purpose. The release of the packaging blanks 14 and their respective locking on the upper sides of the article groupings 20 provided for this purpose is supported by additional components in the application head 60 or in its application units 62.Thus, in the embodiment variant of the application head 60 shown, the formation of the primary fixing means 22 is supported by flat contact plates 74 which are movably arranged in the application units 62 and which can each be lowered perpendicular to the surface of the packaging blanks 14 lying thereon and thus generally in the vertical direction relative to the application units 62, while at the same time the depression of the suction elements 68 or suction stamps 70 which hold the packaging blank 14 in the respective application unit 62 is deactivated.

[0134] As can be seen from Figures 2A to 2D, the contact plates 74 are dimensioned approximately according to the size and extent of the main surfaces 18 of the packaging blanks 14.

[0135] Since the contact plates 74 each have matching circular recesses 76 at the positions of the suction elements 68 or suction stamps 70 anchored in a fixed position in the respective application unit 62 (cf. Figures 2C and 2D), each of the contact plates 72 together with the packaging blank 14 resting thereon (cf. Fig. 2B) can be lowered onto the upper side of the respective article grouping 20 and preferably pressed there (cf. the perspective side view of Fig. 2B), while the suction elements 68 or suction stamps 70 extending through the corresponding recesses 76 of the contact plate 74 are without negative pressure, so that the packaging blank 14 can be detached from there largely without resistance.

[0136] The support plates 74, which are movable within a defined linear path, can be moved between their end positions, i.e., raised or lowered, relative to the respective application unit 62 of the application head 60, in particular by means of suitable linear guides and / or linear motors 78. As illustrated in Figures 2A to 2D, each of the support plates 74, which can be raised and lowered, can be suspended from two pneumatically actuated linear motors 78, wherein the linear motors 78 are located on the opposite narrow sides of each support plate 74. The linear motors 78 can optionally also be formed by electric motors.

[0137] The schematic perspective view of Fig. 2B shows the process phase of placing the still unfolded packaging blanks 14 on top of the article grouping 20. The vacuum on the suction elements 68 or suction stamps 70 is deactivated, and the support plate 74 is completely lowered relative to the lower frame section 80 by means of the linear motors 78 anchored to a lower frame section 80. This lower frame section 80 forms a supporting element that accommodates the components of the total of four application units 62 and is firmly anchored to this upper support frame 64 in a position spaced from the upper support frame 64.

[0138] As already explained above with reference to Figures 1A to 1F, during the further course of production of the packaging units 10 and by moving the support plate 74 to its lower stop, the packaging blank 14 is connected or latched to the articles 12 of the article grouping 20, forming the primary fixing means 22. In this context, the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14, which is placed on the upper side of the article grouping 20 and in particular latched or otherwise fixed there, is deformed in its folding region 46 and pressed between the adjacent rows of articles, whereby adjacent primary fixing means 22, together with the articles 12 held therein, are brought closer to one another, in particular until the adjacent articles 12 come into contact.

[0139] Fig. 2B does not show the horizontal distance A previously explained with reference to Fig. 1B, even though this distance A is preferably present between the adjacent rows of articles or cans shown, since such a distance is helpful for the forming of the folding area 46 by means of the forming device arranged in the application unit 62 and for the shaping of the packaging blank 14 in the desired and intended manner. This issue is particularly relevant for the slim or sleek cans shown here, which are to be processed into packaging units 10.

[0140] After the preferably simultaneous lowering of the total of four support plates 74 together with the packaging blanks 14 resting thereon on the underside onto the upper sides of the respective article groupings 20 and after the locking of the articles 12 or cans 34 with the packaging blank 14, which was defined above as producing the primary fixing means 22, the articles 12 or article rows of the respective grouping 20, which in this process phase are preferably at least slightly spaced from one another (distance A, see Fig.1B) are subjected to the further handling step described below, which provides for the V-shaped forming of the folding area 46 in the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14 as already explained above and the approach of the rows of articles of the grouping 20 until they touch each other, so that the usual rectangular arrangement of the grouping 20 is produced, which also corresponds to the arrangement within the packaging units 10 to be completed later.

[0141] The V-shaped, formed section of the packaging blank explained above and its pressing between the previously spaced-apart rows of articles is achieved by means of knife-like or sword-shaped forming elements 82 arranged stationary in the respective application units 62 of the application head, which shall also be referred to here as folding blades 84 according to their function. When the support plate 74 is lowered, these folding blades 84 are each located above the level of the support plate 74 and are thus concealed by it, so that each of the folding blades 84 cannot become effective when the packaging blank 14 is pressed onto the upper side of the article grouping 20 and during the simultaneous formation of the first fixing means 22.

[0142] Fig. 2B shows this process phase with the forming elements 82 or folding blades 84 anchored in the lower frame section 80 and projecting vertically downwards, which are clearly spaced from the support plates 74 when they are lowered.

[0143] The process phase immediately following the placement of the packaging blank 14 onto the article grouping 20 provides for a lifting of the support plates 74 after the production of the primary fixing means 22 and with the suction elements 68 or suction stamps 70 expediently still deactivated, which, however, is not illustrated in this form in Figures 2A to 2D with the application units 62 acting on the article groupings 20.

[0144] As can be seen from the perspective view of Fig. 2C and from the perspective detailed view of Fig. 2D, the knife-like or sword-shaped shaping element 82 formed by the folding sword 84 extends through corresponding slot-like recesses 86 of the contact plate 74 when the contact plate 74 is raised against the lower frame section 80, so that it projects downwards out of the contact plate 74 when the contact plate 74 is raised and can become effective in the desired manner. With the support plates 74 raised to the lower frame section 80, the application head 60 can thus be lowered further until the folding blades 84 reach the packaging blanks 14 and press them downwards in the respective folding areas 46 in a V-shape between the rows of articles in the manner described, wherein the V-shaped folding area 46 of the respective packaging blanks 14 is pressed between the adjacent rows of articles.

[0145] Since the previously spaced-apart articles or rows of articles are thereby pulled toward each other, suitable guides are useful to ensure this convergence takes place in a controlled manner. In principle, simply pressing in the V-shaped folding area 46 of the packaging blank 14 and lowering it between the articles or rows of articles is sufficient to bring them closer together and ensure that they are pulled or pushed toward each other.

[0146] The lowering movement of the entire application head 60 and the resulting synchronous feed movement of the four application units 62, each with the support plates 74 raised to its upper stop against the lower frame section 80, enables the knife-like or sword-shaped forming elements 82 or folding swords 84 thus exposed to be pressed into the upper main surfaces 18 of the packaging blanks 14 along the respective folding areas 46 located there.

[0147] This lowering movement of the application head 60 is also used to fold the side surfaces 24, which are offset by creases on both long sides of the main surface 18 of the packaging blank 14, downward at folding angles of approximately 90° each and to apply them to the respective lateral surfaces 26 of the article grouping 20. In the embodiment shown, these folding movements are carried out by means of lateral folding elements 88 that are fixedly or rigidly anchored in the application head 60, which become effective and can engage with the packaging blank 14 as soon as the application head 60 is lowered towards the top of the article groupings 20.

[0148] The folding elements 88 arranged on the lower frame section 80 of the respective application units 62 of the application head 60 on both long sides of each height-adjustable contact plate 74 and at short distances therefrom are formed in the embodiment shown by rigid tools which are located in positions of the respective application units 62 where they can strike the side surfaces 24 of the flat packaging blank 14 defined by folding or folding edges and thus delimited from the main surface 18 in order to be able to place them against the opposite lateral surfaces 26 of the article grouping 20.Thus, the folding elements 88 are formed by strip-shaped folding tools 90 which are anchored to the lower frame section 80 and project vertically downwards from its underside and which, due to their anchoring in the respective application unit 62, are fixed in their unchangeable relative positions with respect to the suction elements 68 and with respect to the support plates 74 which can be raised and lowered in the application units 62.

[0149] A ramp-like bevel 92 on the folding tools 90 can assist in pushing the previously spaced-apart articles 12 or article rows together when the knife-like or sword-shaped forming element 82 is activated. This occurs when the application head 60 is lowered, so that initially the lower end faces of the folding tools 90 rest on the side surfaces 24 of the packaging blank 14. As the folding process progresses by further lowering the application head 60, the side surfaces 24 of the packaging blank 18, which have been bent downward by the folding tools 90, slide along the ramp-like bevels 92 on the inner sides of the folding tools 90 facing the side surfaces 24, until they are completely folded downward and placed against the outer surfaces 26 of the respective article grouping 20.

[0150] In contrast, the vertical surfaces of the lateral folding elements 88 adjoining the ramp-like bevels 92 upwards have a reasonable distance which corresponds approximately to the width of the two rows of articles of the article grouping 20 pushed together, whereby the previously existing distance A between the rows of articles (cf. Fig. 1 B) is eliminated.

[0151] In a later method step, after the application head 60 has been lifted from the article groups 20 equipped with the packaging blanks 14, these can preferably be subjected to further handling and / or treatment steps with which further measures can be taken to complete the packaging units 10. Such steps can, in particular, be the further processing of the secondary fixing means 30 by folding the strapping sections 32 and the gluing of overlapping and superimposed strip sections 28 (see Figures 1E and 1F). The perspective view of Figure 2E shows a further embodiment of the application head 60 according to the invention, which here is equipped with three application units 62 arranged next to one another and spaced apart from one another for equipping a total of three article groups 20 with packaging blanks 14.

[0152] The support frame 64, which is rotatably mounted on a vertical arm section 66 (see Fig. 2A), as well as the frame section 80 anchored to the underside of the support frame 64 for accommodating the three application units 62, are modified compared to the previously shown variant (Figures 2A to 2D), so that the three application units 62 are arranged in a row next to one another. The remaining structure and functionality of the application units 62 preferably do not differ from the previously explained variant with the four application units 62 grouped in a rectangular arrangement in the application head 60.

[0153] Such an application head 60, as shown by way of example in Fig. 2E, is suitable for processing three article groups 20 conveyed side by side or for simultaneously processing three article groups 20 conveyed one behind the other.

[0154] The schematic flow chart in Fig. 3 is intended to illustrate, by way of example, successive method steps in the production of packaging units 10, which are formed from a plurality of articles 12, such as, in particular, beverage cans 34. These are first transferred from a mass flow into a multi-row transport flow in a dividing module 100, as shown in detail in Fig. 5. The further transport of the articles or beverage cans 34 can, in particular, be lane-guided, which is generally indicated here by a lane guide 102. Grouping preferably also takes place in this lane guide 102, so that a grouping module 104 can also be assigned to the lane guide 102.

[0155] Within the grouping module 104, in particular, the formation of the 3x2 rectangular arrangement of the article groupings 20 according to the previously shown embodiment (see Figures 1A to 1F) as well as the spacing and arrangement of four such article groupings 20 corresponding to the dimensions and positioning of the application units 62 in the application head 60 (see Figures 2A to 2D) can be ensured. In a subsequent application module 106, the application of the packaging blanks 14 takes place in the manner described above, in particular by means of the application head 60 shown as an example in Figures 2A to 2D, which means the production of the primary fixing means 22 by placing the packaging blanks 14 and locking or otherwise connecting them to the articles 12 or beverage cans 34.

[0156] In a separate further step, the band sections or strip sections 28 can be connected to one another and formed into strapping sections 32, which involves producing the secondary fixing means 30 by folding, pre-tensioning, and fixing the overlapping strip sections 28 and forming them into the strapping sections 32 (see Fig. 1E and Fig. 1F). This forming can be carried out in particular in a so-called strapping module 108, which can be equipped, for example, with a folding element 88 or folding tool 90 (see Figs. 2A to 2D) or with another tool or handling combination.

[0157] Since the folding devices for producing the strapping sections 30 are no longer part of the application module 106 with the application head 60, Fig. 4 schematically shows a configuration for controlling folding devices that can be used in the formation of the packaging units 10 subsequent to the application module 106. This control configuration is thus assigned to the strapping module 108 (see Fig. 3).

[0158] Thus, the schematic perspective view of Fig. 4 shows a conceivable embodiment variant of a folding tool 114 together with its control elements for controlling the movement of several folding fingers 116, which can be used, for example, for folding and applying the strapping sections 28 to the front and rear end faces of the article groups 20.

[0159] A crossbeam 118 which extends in a plane above the strip sections 28 to be folded, which, in the final state glued or fixed to one another, form the strapping sections 32 and thus the secondary fixing means 30, is guided laterally in a circumferentially guided endless traction means 120, such as a circumferential chain or belt. The endless traction means 120 is guided over two mutually spaced guide wheels 122, at least one of which is motor-driven. A total of three pairs of folding fingers 116 are held and mounted on the crossbeam 118 for a three-lane processing of article groupings 20 conveyed side by side, as shown here as an example. These pairs of folding fingers 116 extend downwards into a plane of movement of the article groupings 20 orof the packaging units 10 to be completed and can contact the article groupings 20 or packaging units 10 when they are moved by means of the crossbeam 118 along or against the transport direction TR of the article groupings 20 or packaging units 10.

[0160] Furthermore, the folding fingers 116 can be moved toward each other or apart in pairs, i.e., they can be moved transversely to the crossbar 118 over defined adjustment paths, while the crossbar is moved by the endless traction means 120 in its defined plane of movement along or against the transport direction TR of the packaging units 10. This transverse mobility of the folding fingers 116 is controlled by guide slots 124, each of which comprises straight and parallel sections in which the folding fingers 116 are spaced closer together, and other straight and parallel sections in which the folding fingers 116 are spaced further apart.

[0161] These paired, parallel sections of the guide slots 124 are each connected by inclined sections in which the guide slots 124 move symmetrically away from each other or symmetrically closer together. The rotation of the crossbar 118 and the folding fingers 116 guided thereby in the correspondingly contoured guide slots 124 can generate the folding movements required for folding the strip sections 28 of the packaging blanks 14.

[0162] Fig. 4, on the other hand, does not show any devices for producing the adhesive bonds 54 (cf. Figs. 1 E and 1 F), which can lead to the adhesive connection of the superimposed or overlapping areas of the strip sections 28.

[0163] Finally, the schematic plan view of Fig. 5 shows a possible embodiment variant of a transport section 128, which can have the modules schematically indicated in Fig. 3 in a combined and successive form.

[0164] Fig. 5 illustrates a first section, which can be formed by the dividing module 100 (see also Fig. 3). There, articles 12 or beverage cans 34 are conveyed in the transport direction TR by means of a horizontal conveyor (not further described here) in a total of four parallel aisles, which is why the dividing module 100 is also combined with the aisle guide 102. The aisle guide 102 is arranged in pairs, with two aisles running directly next to each other and leading to two spaced-apart, but parallel, transport tracks 130.

[0165] Adjacent to the dividing module 100 and the lane guide 102, which is duplicated by the two parallel transport tracks 130, is the grouping module 104 in the transport direction TR (from left to right in Fig. 5). Suitable dividing devices, which here may be formed by push rods or other sliders 132, group and divide the articles 12 or beverage cans 34, previously transported in an uninterrupted sequence, into two parallel rows of three. As a result, the article arrangements or article groupings 20, consisting of a total of six articles 12 or beverage cans 34 grouped in a rectangular arrangement, are already formed in the grouping module 104, as explained many times above.

[0166] These article groupings 20 are each suitably equipped in the subsequent application module 106 with the packaging blanks 14 removed from a magazine 134 or otherwise supplied or provided, wherein the primary fixing means 22 are normally produced and formed in the application module 106. The application of the packaging blanks 14 to the article groupings 20 conveyed in the transport tracks 130 can be carried out, for example, by means of the application head 60 shown in Figures 2A to 2D.

[0167] In the subsequent strapping module 108, the secondary fixing means 30 are produced, in particular by producing the strapping sections 32 mentioned many times above. The packaging units 10 thus equipped with primary and secondary fixing means 22, 30 and thus completed can then be conveyed further in the transport direction TR, which is not shown in detail here, but is merely indicated by directional arrows on the packaging units 10 shown on the far right.

[0168] The following is provided as a supplementary note to the above statements. Although "schematic" representations and views are often or generally referred to in connection with the embodiments shown in the figures and their descriptions above, this in no way means 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 and possibly not exactly true-to-scale proportions of parts of the devices, their details, or other drawn elements.Rather, the figures 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, at least with regard to some aspects, on the basis of the more concretely explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more concretely explained structure of the device according to the invention.

[0169] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or variations of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

[0170] List of reference symbols

[0171] 10 packaging units, containers

[0172] 12 articles

[0173] 14 Packaging cutting

[0174] 16 upper front side (article)

[0175] 18 Main area (packaging cut)

[0176] 20 Article grouping, arrangement, article arrangement

[0177] 22 primary fixation devices, primary connecting devices

[0178] 24 Side surface (packaging cut)

[0179] 26 Shell surface (article, article grouping)

[0180] 28 strip section

[0181] 30 secondary fixation devices, secondary connecting devices

[0182] 32 strapping section

[0183] 34 beverage can, can

[0184] 36 bottom area, lower bottom area, can bottom

[0185] 38 lower front side

[0186] 40 lid area, upper lid area, can lid

[0187] 42 first main axis, first horizontal main axis (article grouping)

[0188] 44 second main axis, second horizontal main axis (article grouping)

[0189] 46 Folding area (packaging blank, main area)

[0190] 48 recess, slot-like recess

[0191] 50 roof-shaped transition

[0192] 52 Collar section (packaging blank)

[0193] 54 Bonding (strip section)

[0194] 60 application head

[0195] 62 application unit

[0196] 64 support frames (application head)

[0197] 66 arm section

[0198] 68 intake element

[0199] 70 suction stamps

[0200] 72 vacuum line

[0201] 74 contact plate

[0202] 76 recess, circular recess

[0203] 78 Linear motor, linear drive 80 lower frame section

[0204] 82 Shaping element, knife-like Shaping element, sword-shaped

[0205] Forming element

[0206] 84 Folding Sword

[0207] 86 recess, slot-like recess

[0208] 88 side folding element

[0209] 90 folding tool

[0210] 92 ramp-like bevel 00 dividing module 02 lane guide 04 grouping module 06 application module 08 strapping module 14 folding tool 16 folding finger 18 crossbar 20 endless traction device 22 guide wheel 24 guide slot 28 transport section 30 transport track 32 slider 34 magazine a opening angle (of the formed folding area)

[0211] A distance, horizontal distance

[0212] TR transport direction

Claims

Claims Controllable application head (60) movable within a defined movement space for attaching packaging blanks (14) to groupings (20) of at least two articles (12), with a receiving device for receiving at least one packaging blank (14) and for placing the packaging blank (14) on a top side of the article grouping (20), - wherein the application head (60) is equipped with a fixing device for creating a mechanical connection of the packaging blank (14) to the article grouping (20), - and wherein the receiving device of the application head (60) comprises at least one suction device that can be acted upon with controllable negative pressure, which can be acted upon with increased negative pressure for receiving and holding a packaging blank (14) and with reduced negative pressure for releasing a packaging blank (14) held in the application head (60). Application head (60) according to claim 1, which is equipped with at least one application unit (62) for treating each group of articles (20) and for equipping them with a packaging blank (14), wherein the application head (60) in particular comprises two application units (62) for the substantially synchronous treatment of two separate groupings of articles (20) and for equipping them each with packaging blanks (14).An application head according to claim 1 or 2, which can be moved within a movement space between a supply or staging area for several packaging blanks (14) and a respective location of the article groupings (20) to be treated. An application head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each application unit (62) is equipped with a vertically movable contact plate (74) between two end positions for the planar contact of the respective packaging blank (14) and with at least one controllable suction element (68) for vacuum-controlled holding or release of a packaging blank (14) held therein by vacuum.

5. Application head according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each application unit (62) is equipped with a forming element (82) for deforming a defined folding area (46) of a packaging blank (14) placed on a respective grouping of articles (20), in particular for forming primary fixing means (22) for producing mechanical connections between the articles (12) of the grouping of articles (20) and the packaging blank (14).

6. Application head according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each application unit (62) is equipped with folding elements (88) for folding over side surfaces (24) of the packaging blank (14) that extend beyond a top surface of the article grouping (20) and for preparing secondary fixing means (30) between the article grouping (20) and the packaging blank (14).

7. Application head according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the movable mounting plate (74), the suction elements (68) that can be subjected to negative pressure, the folding elements (88) and the forming element (82) of each application unit (62) in conjunction with the application head (60) that can be lowered onto or lifted off the article grouping (20) can each perform coordinated handling steps for forming the primary fixing means (22) and at least preparing the secondary fixing means (30).

8. A method for producing packaging units (10) comprising at least two articles (12) held together by at least one packaging blank (14), comprising at least the following steps: - Taking a flat packaging blank (14) from a supply by means of an application head (60) and holding the packaging blank (60) in the application head (60), - Transferring the packaging blank (14) held in the application head (60) to a ready article grouping (20), - Applying the packaging blank (14) to an upper end face of the article grouping (20) by creating a mechanical connection between the packaging blank (14) and the article grouping (20), - Folding over at least one foldable section (24) of the packaging blank (14) that extends beyond a top surface of the article grouping (20) and placing it against a side surface (26) of the article grouping (20), - Lifting the application head (60) from the packaging blank (14) equipped and mechanically held together by this Article grouping (20) and - Removing the application head (60) from the article grouping (14).

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the application head (60) together with the packaging blank (14) held therein is positioned at a vertical distance above the stationary or conveying grouping of articles (20).

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the application head (60) is moved within a movement space between a storage or staging area for the planar packaging blanks (14) and a staging area or a conveyor section with the article grouping (20) located there.

11. Method according to one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the application head (60) as a whole, including the packaging blank (14) held therein, is lowered onto the top of the article grouping (20), the packaging blank (14) being applied there.

12. Method according to one of claims 8 to 11, wherein at least two modular application units (62) are arranged side by side within an application head (60), whereby two similar groupings of articles (20) can be processed or handled in parallel and equipped with packaging blanks (14).

13. Method according to claim 12, in which, for the purpose of applying a packaging blank (14) to a grouping of articles (20), a planar application plate (74) is lowered in the respective application unit (62), while simultaneously a vacuum holding the packaging blank (14) in the respective application unit (62) is deactivated on suction elements (68) and / or the application plate (74) is lowered relative to the suction elements (68) which are fixed in the respective application unit (62) of the application head (60), whereby the packaging blank (14) is distanced from and detached from the suction elements (68).

14. Method according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the packaging blank (14) in connection with its application to the respective grouping of articles (20) is at least partially separated between adjacent articles (12) of the - M - Article grouping (20) or between adjacent article rows of the article grouping (20), wherein this deformation of a defined folding area (46) of the packaging blank (14) is carried out by means of a forming element (82) arranged in a fixed position in the respective application unit (62) of the application head (60), which is covered by the application plate (74) when the application plate (74) is lowered and which protrudes from an underside of the application plate (74) when the application plate (74) is raised and preferably deactivated by suction elements (68) and, when the application head (60) is lowered, presses the folding area (46) of the packaging blank (14) downwards between the articles (12) or article rows.The method according to claim 14, wherein, in connection with or simultaneously with the lowering of the forming element (82), lateral folding elements (88) arranged stationary in the respective application unit (62) of the application head (60) act on the packaging blank (14) and fold side surfaces (24) of the packaging blank (14) that project laterally beyond a top surface of the article grouping (20), and in particular fold downwards by a folding angle of approximately 90 degrees and apply them to the side surfaces (26) of the article grouping (20). A packaging device for producing packaging units (10), comprising at least two articles (12), of which at least two articles (12) are held together by at least one packaging blank (14), and which packaging device at least comprises: - a conveying device, a transport section (128) and / or a staging position for the transport of grouped articles (12) and / or for the staging of the grouped articles (12), - an application device for equipping the article groupings (20) with at least one packaging blank (14) each, wherein the application device comprises at least one controllable application head (60) movable within a defined movement space, - wherein the application head (60) can equip at least one grouping of articles (20) located within and / or moving within the movement space with a packaging blank (14) and apply it to the grouping of articles (20), - wherein the application head (60) of the application device is equipped with controllable devices for receiving, holding and releasing the is equipped with packaging blanks (14), - and wherein the application head (60) is equipped with controllable tools for producing a mechanical connection between the respective article grouping (20) and the packaging blank (14) applied thereto.

17. Packaging device according to claim 16, which is equipped with an application head (60) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

18. Packaging device according to claim 16 or 17, which is prepared and equipped for carrying out a method according to one of claims 8 to 15, in particular using at least one application head (60) which is designed according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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