Device, unit and method for the volume-optimized packaging of goods by means of a container

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, a unit and a method for volume-optimised packaging of goods by means of a container made of foldable material such as cardboard or paperboard, taking into account its individual product-dependent filling height h, wherein the container (7) has a container base (16) and four container walls (17) arranged opposite one another in pairs, and for partially or completely closing the container (7), at least one container wall (17) is foldable over part of its height in the direction of the opposite container wall (17).The device comprises a unit (8) for detecting the individual fill level h of the container (7) filled with goods, a unit (11) for generating horizontal grooves (20) and / or perforations in the container walls (17) depending on the individual fill level h to create folding lines (21), a unit (12) for generating vertical cuts (23) in the container walls (17) between the free edge (19) of the container walls (17) and the area of ​​the individual fill level h, a unit (13) for closing the container (7).In order to package goods in the most efficient and economical manner possible, taking into account the individual fill level of the container (7), the present invention proposes that the unit (12) for producing vertical separations (23) in the container walls (17) have a support surface (56) for receiving the container base (16) during the production of the separations (23), and at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") with a separating edge (46, 46', 46"), wherein the separating edge (46, 46', 46") runs in a plane orthogonal to the support surface (56) and is inclined by an angle α with respect to a perpendicular (55) to the support surface (56) and extends over the entire length of the vertical separation (23) to be produced.Furthermore, the unit (12) for producing vertical separations (23) in the container walls (17) has adjustment means with which the at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") can be translationally adjusted from a first inner functional position, in which the separating edge (46, 46', 46") lies inside the container (7) before the container wall (17) is separated, into a second outer functional position, in which the separating edge (46, 46', 46") lies outside the container (7) after the container wall (17) has been separated.

Description

Title of the invention

[0001] Device, unit and method for volume-optimized packaging of goods using a container field of technology

[0002] The invention relates to a device for volume-optimised packaging of goods by means of a container made of foldable material, taking into account the goods-dependent individual filling height of the container according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as to a corresponding unit according to the preamble of claim 14 and to a corresponding method according to the preamble of claim 15. State of the art

[0003] With the ability to buy and sell goods online anytime and anywhere, shipping and packaging for transport have become enormously important. Containers suitable for packaging are usually made of cardboard or corrugated board and, after filling, are closed by folding along creases or perforations and, if necessary, applying and gluing a lid (capping). The use of packaging machines allows for a high degree of automation and thus exceptional efficiency.

[0004] The containers used for machine packaging are generally kept in a few basic sizes with a uniform container height. Depending on the type, number, and size of the goods to be packaged, this means that the fill level of the individual containers is subject to significant fluctuations. This means that, particularly with small and / or few goods, a significant portion of the available container volume remains unused. To prevent goods wandering around in the free container volume from being damaged during transport, the container must be filled with filling material if necessary to secure the goods. However, containers that are only partially filled with goods take up an unnecessary amount of space during transport, with the result that the available loading space of a transport vehicle is only inadequately utilized. Partially filled containers therefore significantly reduce the profitability of mail order businesses.

[0005] To counteract these problems, DE 20 2018 103 599 U1 discloses a device for adapting the internal volume of a carton to the volume of the contents contained within the carton. The device has a measuring device with a measuring plate that can be lowered onto the contents to determine the measured individual fill level of a carton. Depending on the fill level, horizontal folding grooves are then cut into the carton material using cutting or creasing tools, and vertically movable corner cutting knives are used to cut the corners of the carton free up to the folding grooves. The pivoting flaps created in this way can be pivoted around the folding grooves to close the carton. If necessary, a lid can be placed over the folded pivoting flaps and glued to the container.

[0006] For cutting the corners of a carton, scissor-like cutting tools are also known. These are lowered onto the container wall with the scissor parts open. Closing the pivoting scissor parts creates a vertical cut in the container walls.

[0007] However, the use of vertically movable cutting knives or scissor-like separating tools proves problematic in several respects. For example, to cut the cardboard corners, they must be moved horizontally and vertically, or vertically and pivoted. The necessary guide and drive systems require complex machine designs, resulting in additional manufacturing costs. Operational experience shows that the corner knives or scissor-like separating tools are subject to significant wear and tear and must therefore be replaced with sharp knives at regular intervals. The resulting downtime of such packaging machines accounts for a significant portion of the operating and maintenance costs. Operators of these packaging machines therefore have a strong interest in minimizing these costs. Summary of the invention

[0008] Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a device, a unit and a method of the type described above which allow packaging of goods adapted to the individual filling level of a container in the most efficient and economical manner possible.

[0009] This object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1, a unit having the features of claim 14 and a method having the features of claim 15.

[0010] Advantageous further training results from the subclaims.

[0011] The invention is based on the idea of ​​creating a vertical cut in a container wall solely by a translational, in particular linear, advance movement of a cutting tool transverse to the container wall, the cutting edge of which defines a parting plane during the advance movement. This is achieved thanks to the invention through the use of a cutting tool whose cutting edge extends over the entire length of the cut to be created in the container wall and is arranged at an angle to the container wall. To create the cut, the cutting tool is adjusted solely translationally, in particular linearly, in the direction of the container wall, the cutting tool first piercing the container wall with that part of its cutting edge which is closest to the container wall in the adjustment direction.As the cutting tool continues to advance, the current cut location moves along the cutting edge until the desired cut is reached along its full length. The direction of movement of the cutting tool and the orientation of the cut are thus perpendicular to each other, not parallel.

[0012] A translational adjustment of the at least one cutting tool within the meaning of the invention encompasses all feed movements in which the at least one cutting tool undergoes a change in position without rotational movement and is thereby moved transversely to the container wall. This includes, in particular, linear feed movements with an inclination relative to the xy plane or the support surface for the container or the container wall, as well as linear feed movements in or parallel to the xy plane or the support surface or the container wall.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one separating tool has a separating edge which, in the base region, is closer to the guide gap or to the container wall fixed therein than in the head region. As the separating tool is adjusted, the separation of the container wall begins inside the container. The separation then continues upwards towards the free edge of the container. This has the advantage that the initial penetration point of a separating tool is surrounded on all sides by the container wall. The resulting stabilization in the area of ​​the penetration point particularly facilitates the start of the separating process. If the device has a unit for producing creasing or perforations, in this embodiment the container wall is additionally held and further stabilized by this unit in the area of ​​the penetration point.

[0014] Alternatively, it is possible to begin the cutting at the upper free edge of the container wall, i.e., from the top outside to the bottom inside. In this case, too, a cut is achieved solely by a translational movement of the at least one cutting tool transverse to the container walls. In this embodiment of the invention, the at least one cutting tool has a cutting edge that is at a greater distance from the guide gap or the container wall fixed therein in the base area than in the head area.

[0015] The angle α at which a cutting edge is inclined relative to a perpendicular to the contact surface is greater than zero and is advantageously at least 5°, preferably at least 7°, and most preferably at least 9°. This achieves a pulling cut through the container wall along the cutting edge during the adjustment of the cutting tools, with an increasing angle α associated with a reduction in the forces acting on the container wall during the cutting process.

[0016] Preferably, the cutting edge of a cutting tool has a linear profile, which leads to essentially constant cutting forces during the cutting through the container wall. Alternatively, it is possible to design the cutting edge concavely, with the angle α being greatest in the area of ​​the smallest distance to the container wall and then becoming smaller. This embodiment has the advantage that the cutting edge generates less resistance when initially piercing the container wall. With both linear and concave cutting edges, it is possible to provide a sawtooth-shaped cutting edge in order to achieve a sawing effect when cutting through the container wall.

[0017] According to a further alternative, the at least one cutting tool has a cutting edge with an upper section and a lower section, which connect to one another in an arrow-like manner with opposite inclinations. The transition from the upper section to the lower section thus forms a tip which is closest to the guide gap or the container wall fixed therein and forms the initial penetration point. During a translational movement of the at least one cutting tool transversely to the container wall, the cut is achieved simultaneously upwards towards the free edge of the container and downwards in the opposite direction. With such an embodiment, a comparatively short adjustment path is sufficient to produce the cut, thus enabling rapid production of the cut.

[0018] An advantageous development of the invention provides for the arrangement of several cutting tools, preferably two or four, whose cutting edges are arranged opposite each other in pairs, thus defining a common cutting plane. The common cutting plane of a pair of tools can extend parallel to a container wall or between the diagonally opposite edges of a container. The adjustment movement of two cutting tools forming a pair occurs in opposite directions in the cutting plane, so that the forces acting on the container during cutting through the container wall compensate for each other.

[0019] The cutting tools are preferably adjusted using a linear guide whose fixed guide rail during adjustment has a guide carriage that can be moved along the guide rail in the cutting plane. A cutting tool according to the invention is mounted on the guide carriage, so that the cutting tool with the cutting edge is safely and precisely adjusted in the cutting plane with a feed movement of the guide carriage.

[0020] In a further development of this embodiment, the feed force for a cutting tool is achieved via a push rod, the upper end of which is linked to a vertically adjustable bearing plate and the lower end to the guide carriage. In the first functional position, the upper end of the push rod is offset laterally inwards compared to the lower end, resulting in an inclined position. By lowering the bearing plate with the aid of an actuator, the vertical movement of the upper end of the push rod is redirected into a transverse movement of the lower end of the push rod, which causes the cutting tool to be adjusted to the second functional position and vice versa. This type of drive enables a simple force coupling with several cutting tools by providing a push rod between the bearing plate and the cutting tool or guide carriage.With just one vertical movement of the bearing plate, all cutting tools are adjusted simultaneously, thus ensuring synchronous adjustment of all cutting tools.

[0021] Without being limited thereto, the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing, wherein further features and advantages of the invention become apparent. Short description of the drawings

[0022] It shows Fig. 1 is an oblique view of an apparatus according to the invention in an overview, Fig. 2 is an oblique view of a container for packaging goods by means of the device shown in Fig. 1 shown device, Fig. 3 a perspective view of a unit for producing horizontal grooves and vertical cuts in the container walls of the Fig. 2 shown container, Fig. 4 a perspective top view of the Fig. 3shown unit along the line IV - IV, Fig. 5 a section through the Fig. 3 and 4 unit shown along the Fig. 4 shown line V - V, Fig. 6 a partial section through the Fig. 5 shown unit in the area marked VI, Fig. 7 a partial section analogous Fig. 5 through a unit according to the invention with cutting tools in a first alternative, and Fig. 8 a partial section analogous Fig. 5 by a unit according to the invention with separating tools in a second alternative. Description of the embodiments

[0023] The terms used below, such as "vertical," "horizontal," "top," and "bottom," refer to the orthogonal coordinate system depicted in the figures. The term "vertical" corresponds to the z-axis, and the term "horizontal" to the x-axis and / or y-axis. The terms "top" and "bottom" refer to a position relative to the z-axis, and the terms "front" and "back" refer to a position relative to the x-axis. The term "inner" refers to a position within the guide gap that accommodates the container walls, and "outer" refers to a position outside the guide gap.

[0024] Fig. 1 gives an overview of a device 1 according to the invention in an oblique view. It shows a machine frame 2 with supports 3, which are connected to each other via longitudinal beams 4 and cross beams 5. For better visibility, Fig. 1 some of the columns and beams as well as cladding were omitted.

[0025] The machine frame 2 carries a conveyor device 6 inside the device 1, which extends linearly along the x-axis from a feed opening on the front side of the device 1 to a removal opening on the opposite rear side of the device 1. In the present exemplary embodiment, the conveyor device 6 comprises a conveyor track with circulating conveyor belts in combination with transport carriages. Containers 7 filled with goods are fed via the feed opening with the opening of the conveyor device 6 facing upwards, on which they pass through various processing stations in the direction of the x-axis. In the area of ​​each processing station, the conveyor device 6 forms a spatially defined support surface 56, which is arranged in or parallel to the xy plane and on which a container 7 is fixed for the respective processing.The containers 7 are successively prepared for shipping depending on their individual filling level h and then dispensed at the rear of the device 1 for transport.

[0026] The first processing station in the direction of the x-axis essentially consists of a unit 8 for detecting the individual fill level h of the container 7. For this purpose, the unit 8 has a measuring plate 9 which, in the starting position for the measuring process, is arranged vertically above the opening of the container 7 and can be lowered into the interior of the container 7 by means of a linear drive 10, here in the form of a cylinder-piston unit, until the measuring plate 9 comes into contact with the goods. From the travel of the linear drive 10 in conjunction with the known height level of the measuring plate 9 in the starting position and of the container 7 on the contact surface 56 of the conveyor device 6, the respective fill level h of a container 7 can be individually determined.

[0027] The second processing station following in the direction of the x-axis comprises a unit 11 for producing horizontal grooves and / or perforations in the walls of the container 7 and a unit 12 for producing vertical cuts in the walls of the container 7 extending to the opening edge of the container 7, which is particularly advantageous under the Fig. 3 to Fig. 6 is explained in more detail.

[0028] The container 7 then moves to a third processing station with a unit 13 for closing the container 7, which includes folding the container 7, gluing, and, if necessary, capping. The necessary processing steps are carried out by means of a carriage 14 that is horizontally adjustable on the machine frame 2 and on which a suitable, vertically adjustable tool head 15 is mounted.

[0029] Fig. 2shows a container 7 in the state after leaving the second processing station. The container 7 is made of a foldable material such as cardboard or corrugated board and has a cuboid shape. The container base 16 of the container 7 thus has a rectangular outline, from which four container walls 17 extend upwards at right angles, thus enclosing the container interior 18, in which the goods to be packaged (not shown) are received. Two adjacent container walls 17 each form a container edge 22 running perpendicular to the container base 18.

[0030] Below the free edge 19 of the container walls 17, horizontal grooves 21 run parallel to the container bottom 16, forming fold lines 20. The distance of the grooves 21 or the fold lines 20 from the container bottom 16 corresponds to the individual fill level h of the container 7, which generally varies for different containers 7 depending on the type, quantity, and nature of the goods contained.

[0031] In the region of the edges 22 of two adjacent container walls 17, the container walls 17 have vertical cuts 23 extending from their free edge 19 to the fold line 20 or creasing 21 or filling level 22. In this way, the container walls 17 form pivotable surface sections in the edge region, which can be folded inward around the fold lines 20 to close the container 7.

[0032] The more precise structure of the unit 11 for producing horizontal creasing 21 and / or perforations and the unit 12 for producing vertical separations 23 results from a summary of the Fig. 3 to Fig. 6 . The unit 11 for producing horizontal grooves 21 and / or perforations and the unit 12 for producing vertical cuts 23 are combined in the present embodiment to form an assembly 24 which is fastened to a vertical support profile 25 which can be adjusted up and down along a vertical axis 27 by means of a lifting and lowering device 26 fixedly arranged on the machine frame 2 of the device 1 ( Fig. 1 ).

[0033] Adjoining the lower end of the support profile 25 is a support frame 28, on which the components of the unit 11 for generating horizontal grooves 21 and / or perforations and of the unit 12 for generating vertical cuts 23 are arranged. The support frame 28 has a horizontal head plate 29, the main axes of which coincide with the x-axis and y-axis of the device 1. The longitudinal edges of the head plate 29 thus run parallel to the x-axis, and the transverse edges parallel to the y-axis.

[0034] From the underside of the head plate 29, vertical outer holding arms 30 extend centrally in the area of ​​the longitudinal edges and transverse edges, each of which is formed by two profile posts 31 running axially parallel to one another at a clear distance, and whose lower ends together hold a horizontally running, perforated guide frame 32 ( Fig. 4). The guide frame 32 encloses a rectangular frame opening whose main axes correspond to the x-axis and y-axis of the device 1 and to which the guide frame 32 and frame opening are symmetrical. The guide frame 32 and frame opening thus lie in a perpendicular plane to the axis 27.

[0035] Furthermore, the support frame 28 comprises two vertical inner support arms 33 ( Fig. 3 and Fig. 5 ), which are arranged symmetrically to the axis 27 at a clear distance from each other and are connected with their upper ends to the underside of the head plate 29 and with their lower ends together hold a horizontal guide plate 34. Approximately halfway between the head plate 29 and the guide plate 34, the two inner holding arms 33 are connected to each other via a horizontal receiving plate 36.

[0036] The guide plate 34 is aligned plane-parallel to the guide frame 32 and also has a rectangular outline, whose main axes coincide with the x-axis and x-axis. The guide frame 32 and the guide plate 34 are thus arranged plane-parallel to each other and concentrically to the axis 27 in the device 1.

[0037] Compared to the frame opening, the guide plate 34 has smaller dimensions in the longitudinal and transverse directions, so that a circumferential guide gap 35 is created between the guide frame 32 and the guide plate 34, in which the container walls 17 are guided when the assembly 24 is lowered into the interior 18 of a container 7 and are fixed during the cutting process.

[0038] In order to provide the container walls 17 located in the guide gap 35 between the guide frame 32 and the guide plate 34 with grooves 21 and / or perforations, the assembly 24 further comprises the unit 11 for producing such grooves 21 and / or perforations. Their exact structure is particularly evident from Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 Between the two profile posts 31 of each outer support arm 30, a linear guide 37 can be seen, the stationary part 38 of which is connected to the guide plate 34 and the movable part 39 of which is adjustable in the x-axis or y-axis direction by an actuator 40. At the end of the movable part 39 facing the guide gap 35, there is a narrow, plate-shaped die 41 that extends parallel to the guide gap 35 and has a horizontally extending stamping groove 42 on its upright side facing the guide gap 35.

[0039] The unit 11 also includes a strip-shaped male die 43, which is attached to the underside of the guide plate 34 along its longitudinal and transverse edges. The male die 43 is equipped with a stamping strip 44 on its side facing the guide gap 35, which projects into the guide gap 35 at the level of the stamping groove 42 and parallel to it. When the unit 11 is activated, the female die 41 is moved by the actuator 40 toward the opposite male die 43, whereby the stamping strip 44 engages in the stamping groove 42 while clamping a container wall 17, thereby creating a horizontal groove 21 in the container wall 17. At the same time, the container wall 17 is fixed between the male die 43 and the female die 41 for the subsequent processing step of creating vertical cuts 23 in the container walls 17 by means of the unit 12.The unit 11 for producing horizontal grooves 20 and / or perforations in the container walls 17 thus simultaneously represents a holding device for fixing the container walls 17 for further processing.

[0040] The production of vertical separations 23 in the container walls 17, which extend between the free edge 19 of the container walls 17 and the individual filling height h, i.e. up to the grooves 21 or folding lines 20, is carried out with the aid of the unit 12 according to the invention, as is particularly known from Fig. 3 to Fig. 6 The cuts 23 to be made extend along the container edges 22 in the present embodiment, but are not limited thereto. For example, the cuts can also run laterally of the container edges 22 in the container walls 17.

[0041] Essential components of the unit 12 are separating tools 45, which have at least one edge designed as a separating edge 46. To produce the separations 23, the separating tools 45 are adjustably mounted and driven on the device 1 such that they separate or cut through the container walls 17 with their separating edges 26 over the entire length of the separations 23. According to the invention, this is achieved solely by translatory adjustment, in particular linear adjustment, of the separating tools 45 transversely to the container walls 17. The separating edge 26 of a separating tool 45, during its translatory, in particular linear adjustment, defines a separating plane in which a separation 23 is produced in the container wall 17, which is described in detail below.

[0042] In the unit 12 according to the invention, a linear guide 47 is arranged on the upper side of the guide plate 34 in each of its corner regions, the alignment of said linear guides corresponding to the connecting line between two diagonally opposite corner regions of the guide plate 34. The linear guides 47 each have a guide rail 48 which is firmly screwed to the guide plate 34, and a guide carriage 49 which can be moved horizontally on the guide rail 48. The guide carriage 49 serves to rigidly connect a console-like tool carrier 50 which projects vertically from the plane of the guide plate 34 and can be adjusted back and forth in the direction predetermined by the linear guide 47. The projecting part of the tool carrier 50 forms an angular holder for the cutting tool 45, with a guide rail 48 which runs parallel to the adjustment direction of the guide carriage 49 ora receiving surface running parallel to the parting plane for the releasable fastening of the parting tool 45 and a stop surface running at right angles thereto and perpendicular to the guide plate 34.

[0043] Each cutting tool 45 is flat with an approximately trapezoidal outline, the longer narrow side of which forms the tool base and the shorter narrow side of which forms the tool head. At least one of the long sides of a cutting tool 45 is designed as a cutting edge 46. For example, the cutting edge 46 can be designed as a blunt blade or as a sharp cutting edge similar to a knife.

[0044] The separating edge 46 is extended in the foot area of ​​the separating tool 45 beyond the longer narrow side, forming a narrow shoulder 51.

[0045] For its attachment to the tool carrier 50, the cutting tool 45 is attached with its flat side to the receiving surface of the tool carrier 50, with its edge opposite the cutting edge 46 to its stop surface and with its longer narrow side to the guide carriage 49 and screwed to the tool carrier 50. The extension 51 extends in the direction of the guide plate 34 up to the height level of the die 41 or the patrix 43 of the unit 11. This results in a correct position of the cutting tool 45 within the device 1, in which the cutting edge 46 of the cutting tool 45 lies in the cutting plane and is inclined inwards to the axis 27 by an angle α relative to a vertical 55 through the base area of ​​the cutting tool 45 ( Fig. 6 ).

[0046] The adjustment means for advancing the cutting tools 45 further comprise an actuator 52, for example in the form of a cylinder-piston unit, a spindle drive, or the like, which is rigidly attached to the head plate 29 and the receiving plate 36, coaxial with the axis 27. The movable part of the actuator 52 is guided coaxially with the axis 27 through an opening in the receiving plate 36 and, at its end between the receiving plate 36 and the guide plate 34, carries a bearing plate 53 that is plane-parallel to the guide plate 34. Compared to the guide plate 34, the bearing plate 53 is significantly smaller in both the longitudinal and transverse directions, with the main axes of the bearing plate 53 being congruent with the main axes of the guide plate 34 in a vertical projection, and the diagonals of the bearing plate 52 being congruent with the diagonals of the guide plate 34.

[0047] At each corner of the bearing plate 34, a push rod 54 is articulated at its inner end, the opposite outer end of which is articulated to the guide carriage 49 of the linear guide 47. By adjusting the actuator 52, the bearing plate 53 can be lowered coaxially to the axis 27. Due to the inclination of the push rods 54, this leads to a spreading of the outer ends of the push rods 54, during which the guide carriages 49 and thus the cutting tools 45 are adjusted outwards along the linear guides 47 from a first inner functional position into a second outer functional position. Raising the bearing plate 53, on the other hand, causes a kinematic reversal, which returns the cutting tools 45 to the first inner functional position. In this way, the cutting edges 46 are adjusted linearly in the cutting plane, while their inclination α remains unchanged.

[0048] Fig. 7 and Fig. 8concern modifications of the cutting tools 45', 45" and corresponding ones otherwise under Fig. 1 to Fig. 6 described device 1. In this respect, identical reference numerals are used for identical or functionally equivalent features of the device 1 and, to avoid repetition, reference is made to the explanations therein.

[0049] The device 1 according to Fig. 7 differs by separating tools 45', the shorter narrow side of which is located in the area of ​​the tool base and the longer narrow side of which forms the tool head. This results in the course of the separating edges 46', in which the lower end of the separating edge 46' is offset inwards in the direction of the axis 27 compared to the upper end of the separating edge 46', which results in a Fig. 5opposite inclination of the separating edges 46'. In the course of adjusting the separating tools 45' transversely to the container walls 17, the separation 23 is consequently produced in the container walls 17, starting from the upper free edge 19 downwards to the level of the fold lines 20.

[0050] At the Fig. 8 In the device 1 shown, the separating edges 46" of the separating tools 45" are each subdivided into an upper section and a lower section, which adjoin one another with opposing inclinations relative to a vertical. This results in an arrow-like course of the separating edges 46", with the arrowheads pointing outwards and, as the separating tools 45" are adjusted from the first functional position to the second functional position, initially pierce the container walls 17. Starting from the piercing point, the separations 23 are subsequently produced simultaneously upwards and downwards along the separating edges 46".

[0051] For packaging a product in a container 7 according to the invention, the filled and upwardly open container 7 is placed on the conveyor device 6, which transports it on a conveyor belt, transport carriage or the like to the unit 8 for detecting the fill level h. There, the container 7 is fixed in a defined position, in particular, the container 7 stands with its container base 16 on a support surface 56 whose height is known. Subsequently, the measuring plate 9 of the unit 8 is lowered into the container interior 18 until it comes into contact with the goods. The individual fill level h of the container 7 currently to be closed can be determined from the travel path of the measuring plate 9 in conjunction with the known height of the support surface 56 and the measuring plate 9 in the starting position.

[0052] In the next step, the container 7 is conveyed to unit 11 and unit 12, both of which are integrated into an assembly 24. There, the container 7 is again fixed in a defined position on the support surface 56 for further processing and the assembly 24 is lowered onto the container 7 with the aid of the lifting and lowering device 26, with the container walls 17 immersed in the guide gap 35 between the outer guide frame 32 and the inner guide plate 32. Based on the previously determined fill level h, the extent of the lowering required is determined at which the die 41 and male die 43 reach the level of the fill level h on the container 7. Once this position has been assumed, the dies 41 are moved on all sides against the male dies 43 with the aid of the actuators 40, clamping the container walls 17 and holding them in the clamped position.

[0053] This creates horizontal grooves 21 in the container walls 17 in the area of ​​the die 41 and die 43, along which parts of the container walls 17 are later folded to close the container 7. At the same time, the side walls 17 of the container 7 are stabilized by the clamping for the subsequent processing step, in which vertical cuts 23 are created in the container walls 17 by means of the unit 12, starting from the grooves 21 and extending to the free edge 19 of the container 7.

[0054] For this purpose, the cutting tools 45, which are initially in a first functional position in which they lie with their cutting edges 46 inside the container 18, are adjusted to a second functional position in which the cutting edges 46 of the cutting tools 45 lie outside the container 7 in the area of ​​the intended cuts 23, i.e., have cut through the container walls 17. For this purpose, the bearing plate 53 is lowered by means of the actuator 52. The push rods 54 hinged to the bearing plate 53 convert the vertical compressive force required for lowering into a thrust force acting transversely to the container walls 17, which causes the cutting tools 45 to be adjusted outwards along the linear guides 47 until the second functional position is reached.During the movement of the separating tools 45 from the first functional position to the second functional position, the separating tools 45 first pierce the container walls 17 with the part of the separating edges 46 closest to the guide gap 35. By continuing the feed movement, the cuts 23 are then created along the inclined separating edges 46 in the container walls 17.

[0055] The separating tools 45 are then moved back to their first inner functional position by raising the bearing plate 53, the clamping of the container walls 17 is released by retracting the die 41 by means of the actuator 40, and the assembly 24 is raised sufficiently for the container 7 to be transported to the next processing station by means of the transport device 6. There, the opening of the container 7 is closed by means of the tool head 15 of the unit 13, which folds the freely pivoting surface sections of the container walls 17 inward around the fold lines 20 and glues them together. If required, a lid can be placed over the inwardly folded surface sections and glued to the container 7.

Claims

1. A device for volume-optimized packaging of goods by means of a container (7) made of foldable material such as cardboard or paperboard, taking into account its individual product-dependent fill height h, wherein the container (7) has a container base (16) and four container walls (17) arranged opposite one another in pairs, and for partially or completely closing the container (7), at least one container wall (17) is foldable over part of its height in the direction of the opposite container wall (17), comprising - a unit (8) for detecting the individual fill height h of the container (7) filled with goods, - a unit (11) for generating horizontal grooves (20) and / or perforations in the container walls (17) depending on the individual fill height h to create fold lines (21),- a unit (12) for producing vertical cuts (23) in the container walls (17) between the free edge (19) of the container walls (17) and the area of ​​the individual filling height h, - a unit (13) for closing the container (7), , characterized in thatthe unit (12) for producing vertical separations (23) in the container walls (17) - has a support surface (56) for receiving the container base (16) during the production of the separations (23), and - at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") with a separating edge (46, 46', 46"), wherein -- the separating edge (46, 46', 46") runs in a plane orthogonal to the support surface (56) and -- is inclined by an angle α with respect to a perpendicular (55) to the support surface (56) and -- extends over the entire length of the vertical separation (23) to be produced, and that -- the unit (12) for producing vertical separations (23) in the container walls (17) has adjustment means with which the at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") can be moved from a first inner Functional position in which the separating edge (46, 46', 46") lies within the container (7) before the container wall (17) is severed,is translationally adjustable into a second outer functional position in which the separating edge (46, 46', 46") lies outside the container (7) after the container wall (17) has been severed., 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the translational adjustment of the at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") is a linear adjustment, in particular an adjustment parallel to the contact surface (56).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the first functional position, as a result of the inclination α of the separating edge (46, 46', 46"), the lower end of the separating edge (46, 46', 46") assigned to the contact surface (56) has a smaller or a greater distance from the container wall (17) to be severed than the opposite upper end of the separating edge (46, 46', 46").

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in thatthe inclination α of the separating edge (46, 46', 46") relative to a perpendicular to the contact surface (56) is at least 5°, preferably at least 7°, most preferably at least 9°.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the separating edge (46, 46', 46") has a linear or concave profile or is sawtooth-shaped.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the device has a plurality of separating tools (45, 45', 45"), the separating edges (46, 46', 46") of which are opposite one another in pairs and define a common separating plane.

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the common parting plane runs plane-parallel to a container wall (17) or corresponds to a diagonal plane formed by the edges (22) of the container walls (17).

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in thatthe means for adjusting the at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") comprise a linear guide (47) arranged in the separating plane and running parallel or inclined to the support surface (56) with a guide rail (48) and guide carriage (49), and the at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") is arranged on the guide carriage (49).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the means for adjusting the at least one cutting tool (45, 45', 45") comprise a drive with a bearing plate (53) that can be adjusted perpendicularly to the support surface (56) by means of an actuator (52) and with at least one push rod (54), wherein the at least one push rod (54) is articulated at one end to the bearing plate (53) and at its other end to the guide carriage (49).

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized bya holding device for fixing the container walls (17) during the creation of the separations (23) with a horizontally adjustable holding element and a stationary counter-holding element for clamping the container walls (17).

11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the holding device is part of the unit (11) for producing horizontal grooves (20) and / or perforations in the container walls (17), wherein the holding element and / or counter-holding element are designed as a male part (43) or female part (41) of the grooving tool or perforating tool.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the device has a lifting and lowering device (26) by means of which the unit (11) for producing horizontal grooves (20) and / or perforations and / or the unit (12)) for producing vertical cuts (23) in the container walls (17) can be adjusted orthogonally to the support surface (56).

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the lifting and lowering device (26) has at its lower end a guide plate (34) arranged plane-parallel to the support surface, which can be lowered during the adjustment until a defined pressure force on the goods in the container (7) is reached and the individual filling height h can be determined from the measured lowering path.

14. A unit (12) for producing vertical separations (23) in the container walls (17) of a container (7) made of foldable material such as cardboard or paperboard, taking into account its individual product-dependent filling height h, wherein the container (7) has a container base (16) and four container walls (17) arranged opposite one another in pairs, and for partially or completely closing the container (7), at least one container wall (17) is foldable over part of its height in the direction of the opposite container wall (17), with - a support surface (56) for receiving the container base (16) during the production of the separations (23), and - at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") with a separating edge (46, 46', 46"), wherein - the separating edge (46, 46', 46") extends in a plane orthogonal to the support surface (56),-- is inclined by an angle α relative to a perpendicular (55) to the support surface (56) and -- extends over the entire length of the vertical separation (23) to be produced, and with - adjusting means with which the at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") can be translationally adjusted from a first inner functional position, in which the separating edge (46, 46', 46") lies inside the container (7) before the container wall (17) is severed, into a second outer functional position, in which the separating edge (46, 46', 46") lies outside the container (7) after the container wall (17) has been severed.

15. A method for volume-optimized packaging of goods using a container (7) made of foldable material such as cardboard or paperboard, taking into account its individual product-dependent fill height h, wherein the container (7) has a container base (16) and four container walls (17) arranged opposite one another in pairs, and for partially or completely closing the container (7), at least one container wall (17) is foldable over part of its height in the direction of the opposite container wall (17), comprising the method steps of - measuring the individual fill height h of the container (7), - creating horizontal grooves (21) or perforations in the container walls (17) to create fold lines (20), - creating vertical cuts (23) in the container walls from the free edge (19) of the container walls (17) up to the area of ​​the individual fill height h, - closing the container (7), characterized bythe following method steps: - providing at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") with a separating edge (46, 46', 46"), wherein -- the separating edge (46, 46', 46") extends over the entire length of the separation (23) to be produced and -- is inclined relative to the plane of the container wall (17) to be severed, - generating an exclusively translational feed movement of the at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") transversely to the container wall (17) to be severed, wherein the separating edge (46, 46', 46") with the part that is closest to the container wall (17) in the feed direction first pierces the container wall (17) and the location of the separation during the continued feed movement of the at least one separating tool (45, 45', 45") along the separating edge (46, 46', 46") moves until the transection to be made (23) is reached in its full length.

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