Packaging system and method for packaging a container group consisting of a plurality of containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging system (1) for packaging a container group (2) consisting of a plurality of containers (3). The packaging system (1) comprises at least one transport element (5), which circulates endlessly and continuously in a circulating path (UB), for transporting the container group (2) along a transport plane (E) in a transport direction (A) through the packaging system (1). The transport element (5) comprises a plurality of product pushers (5.1) which circulate along the circulation path (UB) and of which at least one product pusher (5.1) can be brought into engagement with the container group (2) to be transported. An application unit (7) is designed for attaching, in particular for attaching in a bundle, an individual material blank (8) to the container group (2). A feed unit (9), which is arranged in front of the application unit (7) when viewed in the transport direction (A), is designed to feed each material blank (8) to the corresponding container group (2) and has a blank pusher system (10) for precisely positioning each individual material blank (8) on the application unit (7). The feed unit further comprises at least one feed element (11) for continuously feeding the individual material blank (8) to the blank pusher system (10) along a feed path (ZB). The packaging system (1) is designed to continuously feed each individual material blank (8) to the blank pusher system (10) along the feed path (ZB) such that the material blank (8) crosses the circulation path (UB) of the product pushers (5.1) at an intersection point (S) without colliding.

Description

[0001] Packaging system and method for packaging a container group consisting of several containers

[0002] The invention relates to devices and systems in packaging technology, in particular a packaging system for packaging a container group consisting of several containers, for example a tray packer. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for packaging a container group consisting of several containers.

[0003] In packaging technology, it is generally necessary to secure containers to one another to create a stable package, particularly for transport and / or handling. This is typically achieved by subsequently enclosing a group of containers arranged in a package with a stable film wrap, for example, by wrapping the group of containers arranged in the package in a shrinkable plastic film, which is then applied to the packaged containers in a shrinking process. However, the use of plastic film has the disadvantage that it cannot be reused, thus representing single-use packaging, and is therefore increasingly viewed as problematic for ecological reasons.

[0004] An alternative solution known in the prior art is to attach material blanks to groups of containers in such a way that the material blanks fix the position of the containers relative to one another. In one possible embodiment in which the containers are designed as bottles, a carton blank having a plurality of holes can be arranged on a group of bottles in such a way that the bottle necks penetrate the holes in the carton blank. However, the provision of the material blanks presents a problem here; this is usually done using compressed air-powered grippers, which can only be done at a relatively low speed and repetition rate. Thus, the throughput of a packaging system is limited by the step of providing the material blanks.

[0005] 12077 WO The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a packaging system and a method for packaging a container group comprising a plurality of containers, which enables more efficient packaging of the container groups.

[0006] The invention solves this problem by providing a packaging system and a method having the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the packaging system according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0007] A packaging system according to the invention for packaging a container group comprising a plurality of containers has at least one transport element which circulates endlessly and continuously in a circulating path and is designed to transport the container group through the packaging system along a transport plane in a transport direction. The transport direction is defined as the direction in which packages are transported or conveyed through the packaging system when the invention is used as intended and can, for example, be horizontally oriented. During transport, the containers or the container groups formed from a plurality of containers can stand directly on the transport plane, i.e. a contact surface of the containers to be transported stands on the transport plane. Alternatively, the containers or the container groups can stand indirectly on the transport plane, i.e.are not in direct contact with the transport level, e.g. because the containers are arranged in a tray, which in turn is arranged on the transport level.

[0008] A container group within the meaning of the invention can, for example, consist of 4, 6, or 8 containers, whereby these are preferably grouped in a 2x2 arrangement, a 3x2 arrangement, or a 4x2 arrangement. Of course, a different number of containers or a different arrangement of the containers can also be selected without deviating from the inventive concept. In particular, the invention is also applicable to larger container groups, consisting, for example, of 16, 20, or 24 containers. Using a packaging system according to the invention, several container groups can also be packaged in parallel, which can pass through the packaging system, for example, in packaging lines parallel to one another and to the transport direction.

[0009] The containers can be grouped into a container group in any way, for example, by a grouping device upstream of the packaging system, after which the grouped containers are fed to the packaging system via a suitable conveyor element. The containers in the container group are preferably beverage containers or containers for liquid foodstuffs. The containers can be designed, for example, as cans, bottles, beverage cartons, cups, or the like.

[0010] The transport element can preferably be designed as a conveyor belt, conveyor chain, or belt conveyor. The transport element is preferably actively driven and can have at least two deflection devices that are spaced apart from one another in the transport direction. A rear section of the transport element, which, as explained further below, can be brought into engagement with the containers to be transported, extends in the transport direction essentially parallel to the transport plane. A return section of the transport element is not in operative engagement with the container groups.

[0011] The transport element has a plurality of product carriers, of which at least one product carrier can be brought into engagement with the container group to be transported. In the sense of the invention, engaging means that the product carriers interact with the container groups to be transported, in particular in order to move the container groups in the transport direction. The product carriers can be arranged on the transport element in such a way that after one complete revolution of the transport element, they have completely traversed the circulation path once. In one possible embodiment, the product carriers can, for example, push the container groups in front of them so that the container groups move at the same speed as the transport element. Preferably, one product carrier can be provided per container group to be transported in order to enable efficient transport.

[0012] The product carriers are preferably designed as transport rods. However, other configurations, such as a design as carrier fingers, are also conceivable. Once the transport rods are engaged with a container group, the transport rods enable reliable guidance of the container group along the entire length of the transport rods. This prevents even containers that are not fixed to one another from slipping out of the product carriers' engagement during transport by the transport element.

[0013] In a further preferred embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the transport rods can extend perpendicular to the transport direction and parallel to the transport plane, so that a particularly reliable guidance of the container groups is enabled.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, the transport element is arranged above the transport plane, with the rear end of the transport element being arranged closer to the transport plane than the return end of the transport element. Thus, container groups standing on the transport plane are conveyed in the transport direction by the product carriers arranged on the rear end. Along the return end, which extends above the rear end with respect to the transport plane, the product carriers are returned substantially opposite to the transport direction after they have been disengaged from the container groups. This creates an efficient and space-saving design of the transport element.

[0015] If the container groups are transported in the transport direction by means of the transport element, the transport plane can be formed, for example, by a transport plate without a drive, which provides a transport surface on which the container groups can slide. In particular, the transport surface is arranged in the plane spanned by the transport plane. In this way, a particularly simple, low-wear, and thus cost-effective variant of the packaging system is provided. Alternatively, however, the packaging system can have an actively driven element, for example a transport mat or a conveyor belt, which rotates at a speed substantially similar to that of the transport element having product carriers.This way, there is no relative movement between the transport mat / belt and the container groups being transported, meaning no frictional forces between the container groups and the transport mat / belt counteract the transport process. This allows even heavy container groups, which would otherwise generate high frictional forces on a transport sheet, to be transported reliably. Furthermore, this enables particularly reliable, safe, and gentle transport of the container groups, because their contact surface does not slide over the transport mat / belt and thus wear out.

[0016] The packaging system according to the invention further comprises an application unit for attaching, in particular for attaching to a bundle, an individual material blank to the container group.

[0017] By means of the application unit of the packaging system, a material cut-out can be connected to the containers on or in the area of ​​the top sides of the containers, in particular on a section of the container group opposite the support surface, so that the material cut-out then fulfils a stabilising function for the container group.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the material blank is attached while a tool plate of the application unit is being moved from the disengaged position with the containers of a container group to the engaged position with the containers of a container group. In the engaged position, the material blank is placed on or on the containers of a container group depending on the configuration of the engaged position, i.e. the maximum displacement in the direction of the containers. By attaching the material blank, a positive connection of the material blank to the individual containers of the container group can be achieved, so that a particularly stable, in particular bundle-forming, connection is created between the containers via the material blank.The containers formed in this way are particularly easy to handle in the following work steps and can, for example, simply be placed on a tray.

[0019] The packaging system according to the invention further comprises a feed unit arranged upstream of the application unit, as seen in the transport direction, for feeding the respective material blank to the corresponding container group. The feed unit comprises a blank carrier system designed to positionally accurately each individual material blank at the application unit. Accordingly, the blank carrier system always provides a material blank at the application unit at exactly the right time, even when a container group is being provided at the application unit. This positionally accurate, coordinated provision of a material blank at the application unit at the right time allows the material blank to be attached to the respective container group reliably and with a high degree of process reliability.

[0020] Preferably, the transport speeds of container groups and material blanks are synchronized with each other even before the material blanks are made available at the application unit. Accordingly, the material blanks and container groups are not only present at the application unit in precise positions or with coordinated positions, but are already transported along a section located upstream of the application unit in the transport direction in such a way that the relative position of the material blanks with respect to the container groups does not change. This allows positioning errors to be detected early, for example by a control device, and corrected if necessary, even before the material blanks and container groups are made available at the application unit. This reduces the susceptibility to errors when applying the material blanks.

[0021] In one embodiment, the return of the transport element takes place above the container groups as viewed from the transport plane. Consequently, at least a predominant part of the return run of the transport element extends above the container groups and the container groups to be transported are located between the transport plane and the return run of the transport element during the transport process, i.e. when they are in engagement with the product carriers of the return run. Due to this geometric constellation, the reliable provision of the material blanks with a short cycle time represents a particular challenge which is only inadequately solved in the prior art, for example. According to a known solution, the material blanks are arranged on the container groups from the side, i.e. perpendicular to the transport direction, intermittently, for example by a robot arm, before the container groups reach the application unit.Such intermittent feeding of the material blanks can be achieved, for example, using a pick-and-place solution. However, such a solution leads to the problems already described above: a lack of process reliability and a limitation of the achievable throughput.

[0022] According to the invention, however, the material blanks are fed continuously, i.e., without interruption. The material blanks are preferably provided in a never-ending stream. For this purpose, the feed unit further comprises at least one feed element for continuously feeding individual material blanks to the blank carrier system along a feed path. Thus, the speed at which the material blanks are provided, which represents a variable that limits the cycle speed of the packaging system, can be increased almost infinitely. The feed element according to the invention used to feed the material blanks can be designed in particular as a conveyor belt, conveyor chain, or belt conveyor, whereby the feed element can also comprise several of the aforementioned elements. The conveyor element can rotate endlessly and continuously.It may have suitable carriers for transporting the material blanks, which are designed to interact with the material blanks.

[0023] In the context of the present invention, the feed path refers to the path that the material blanks travel during transport through the feed element. The feed path can, for example, be straight, for example, if the feed element is to bridge the shortest possible distance. Due to the short distance to be bridged, the feed system designed is particularly error-resistant and cost-effective. However, the inventive concept also encompasses the feed path having a path other than a straight path. For example, the feed path can have a curved path if the material blanks cannot be fed along a straight path due to geometric restrictions.

[0024] The packaging system according to the invention is further configured to continuously feed the respective isolated material blank along the feed path to the blank carrier system in such a way that the material blank crosses the orbit of the product carriers at an intersection point without collision.

[0025] In other words, according to the invention, a coordinated dispensing of the material blanks takes place between the product carriers, so that the material blanks are transferred to the blank carrier system in order to be made available by it at the application unit. In the majority of embodiments, however, the return run of the transport element runs - with respect to the transport plane - above the container groups or around the container groups, so that a simple, continuous feeding of the material blanks does not appear possible at first glance. However, according to the invention, it is provided that the material blanks moving on their feed path cross the orbit of the transport element or the product carriers and thus the path that the product carriers travel during one revolution of the transport element at an intersection point.According to the invention, this crossing occurs in such a way that the fed material blanks do not collide with the rotating product carriers. This is achieved by ensuring that at the intersection point of the feed path of the material blanks and the orbit of the product carriers, a material blank and a product carrier are never present at the same time. In a preferred embodiment, the material blanks and the product carriers pass the intersection point in alternating sequence. Advantageously, in particular, a pitch distance between adjacent material blanks, a feed speed of the material blanks, a spacing between adjacent product carriers, and a transport speed of the product carriers can be dimensioned such that the product carriers and the material blanks pass each other without collision at the intersection point of the feed path and the orbit.However, a specialist also has other parameters at his or her disposal that can be used to coordinate the movement of the material blanks with the movement of the product carriers. For example, in addition to or as an alternative to those already mentioned, one or more of the following parameters can be adjusted:

[0026] An intersection angle between the feed path of the material blanks and the orbit of the product carriers; a dispensing angle that the feed path of the material blanks encloses with the transport plane; an immersion angle that a part of the return run encloses with the transport plane; a height of the intersection point with respect to the transport plane; a position of the intersection point in the transport direction, for example with respect to a first point of contact of the product carriers with the container groups; a path length of the transport element, measured between the intersection point and the first point of contact; a conveying speed of the container groups.

[0027] Some of the parameters mentioned here will be further explained in the course of this description, particularly in connection with the figures.

[0028] The packaging system thus enables a particularly simple and cost-effective production of a stably packaged container group to form a bundle, whereby the packaging process can be carried out particularly efficiently and at a high rate due to the continuous and collision-free feeding of the material blanks according to the invention.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the packaging system comprises a storage unit for storing the material blanks. The storage unit serves to stockpile material blanks so that sufficient material blanks are available at all times during operation of the packaging system. Further preferably, the packaging system comprises a separating unit for separating the material blanks stored in the storage unit and for feeding the separated material blanks into the feed unit. The separating unit can be designed, for example, as a flat take-off unit or as a rotating suction unit. By means of the separating unit, individual material blanks are removed from the storage unit so that they are present in individualized form, and these separated material blanks are provided to the feed unit, in particular to the feed element.

[0030] The storage and separation unit for storing and preparing the material blanks at the feed unit ensures continuous operation of the packaging system. This allows the container group to be reliably arranged in a packaging that stabilizes the container group and is formed on top by the material blank.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the storage unit—and also the separating unit—is arranged above the transport plane and upstream of the transport element in the transport direction. As already explained above, the material blanks are provided in separated form by the separating unit to the feed element.

[0032] In the described embodiment, the feed element and the blank carrier system bridge the distance between the storage unit and the application unit or the container groups, which are loaded with the material blanks at the application unit at the latest. This results in the feed path of an isolated material blank extending obliquely in the transport direction relative to the transport plane, thus forming an acute dispensing angle with the transport plane. An at least partially oblique feed of the material blanks enables early synchronization of the movement of the material blanks with the movement of the container groups. As already indicated above, in an advantageous embodiment, the packaging system can have a conveyor element arranged upstream of the transport element in the transport direction.The conveying element can be designed to convey the respective container group individually along the transport plane in the transport direction through the packaging system. The conveying element can convey the container groups in the transport direction at least until the respective container group engages with and is transported by the at least one product carrier of the transport element following the conveying element in the transport direction. In other words, a container group can be transported by the conveying element in the transport direction until the container group reaches the first point of contact between a product carrier and the container group. This enables reliable feeding of the container groups to the transport element.

[0033] The conveying speed of the conveyor element can be different from the transport speed of the transport element. This allows the pitch between the transported container groups to be adjusted during the transition from the conveyor element to the transport element, increasing the versatility of the packaging system.

[0034] Of course, in an alternative embodiment of the packaging system, the conveyor element can be designed to transport containers that are not yet bundled into container groups. In this case, a grouping device can be arranged in the transport direction between the conveyor element and the transport element, which groups the containers transported by the conveyor element into container groups.

[0035] In an advantageous embodiment, a section of the transport element extending between the intersection with the feed path of the material blanks and a first point of contact of the respective product carrier with the respective container group can enclose an acute angle of engagement with the transport plane. The transport element can be designed such that, during operation of the packaging system, the product carriers engage between the container groups conveyed individually by the conveyor element in the transport direction. This has the advantage that the engagement of the product carriers with the container groups is particularly space-saving.At the same time, in a section located in the transport direction before the first point of contact between the product carriers and the container groups, it is ensured that individual containers separated from the associated container group are picked up by the product carriers following the container groups, thus reducing the susceptibility to errors in a packaging system.

[0036] Advantageously, the transport element can have several deflection points between the intersection point and a first point of contact of the respective product carrier with the respective container group. This can result in a meandering course of the transport element between the intersection point and the first point of contact. The specific design of this section of the transport element can be selected such that the position of the product carriers is synchronized with the position and movement of the material blanks from the first point of contact onwards, thereby enabling a space-saving adaptation of the movement of the material blanks and product carriers to one another.

[0037] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the blank carrier system can form a closed loop, circulate endlessly, and have a plurality of blank carriers. Similar to the transport element, the blank carrier system can have at least two deflection devices spaced apart from one another in the transport direction. A rear run of the blank carrier system can extend substantially in the transport direction and be designed such that the blank carriers move along the rear run synchronously with the product carriers. Consequently, the material blanks moved along the blank carrier system are transported to the application unit, taking into account the movement of the container groups transported by the transport element, in such a way that the material blanks are provided at the application unit at the correct time and in the correct position.For this purpose, it may be necessary for the movement of the cutting carrier system to deviate from the movement of the transport element, for example because the cutting carrier system and the transport element rotate at different speeds or the rear end of the cutting carrier system is not aligned entirely parallel to the rear end of the transport element.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment, the blank carrier system comprises a plurality of blank carriers fixed to the transport element. In particular, the blank carriers can be integrated into the product carriers. The blank carriers can, for example, be fixed to the transport element as additional carrier elements, whereby—viewed in the transport direction—the position of the product carriers can correspond to the position of the blank carriers. Consequently, the blank carriers move synchronously with the product carriers, and the material blanks are delivered to the application unit at the right time and in the right position using simple means.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment of the packaging unit, the application unit can have at least one pressing element comprising a tool plate and movable in a circular path. The circular path spans a plane oriented perpendicular to the transport plane. The application unit can further have a drive unit designed to move the pressing element such that the tool plate can be adjusted between a disengaged position and an engaged position with the containers or container groups. The rotation speed of the pressing elements on the circular path of the application unit can be easily adapted to the transport speed of the transport unit.

[0040] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the application unit has a drive unit which is designed to move the pressing element in such a way that the tool plate can be adjusted between a disengaged position and an engaged position with the containers, wherein - the drive unit has a first drive disk rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a second drive disk arranged parallel and spaced from the first drive disk rotatable about a second axis of rotation, wherein the first and second axes of rotation are aligned perpendicular to the transport direction and are arranged at the same distance as well as parallel to the transport plane and offset from one another in the transport direction, and

[0041] - the pressing element comprises a first and a second articulated axis, wherein the pressing element is articulated to the first drive disk via its first articulated axis and to the second drive disk via its second articulated axis in such a way that the tool plate is aligned parallel to the transport plane when the two drive disks rotate about the respective axis of rotation.

[0042] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the drive unit of the application unit can be servo-motor-driven. This allows the drive unit to be controlled by a servo cam, which allows the pressing elements to be immersed synchronously into the engaging position with the containers or container groups, even at great immersion depths.

[0043] The connection of the joint axes of the pressure element to the first and second drive disks is designed such that, when the drive disks rotate, the tool plate arranged on the pressure element is always aligned parallel to the transport plane on which the container groups are moved past the application unit in the transport direction. The resulting reliable parallel alignment of the tool plate to the transport plane ensures that it guides or holds the material blank to be placed on or attached to the containers horizontally, so that when the tool plate is displaced due to the rotational movement of the drive disks, the material blank is reliably attached to the containers.The material blank is attached while the tool plate is being moved from the disengaged position with the containers to the engaged position with the containers. In the engaged position, the material blank is placed on or against the containers depending on the configuration of the engaged position, i.e., the maximum displacement toward the containers. When the material blank is attached, a positive connection of the material blank with the containers of the container group is created, so that a bundle-forming connection is preferably created via the material blank.

[0044] A packaging system according to this development of the invention is characterized by the fact that it is particularly simple and cost-effective to manufacture and enables reliable horizontal alignment of the tool plates of the pressure elements through a corresponding arrangement of the two joint axes of the pressure elements on the drive disks. Deviations of the tool plate from the parallel alignment to the transport plane required for smooth operation are particularly effectively prevented by this design. The application unit can be easily adapted to the transport speed of the containers by adjusting the rotation speed of the drive disks about their rotational axes. The containers are then provided with a material cut in a continuous process by means of the application unit.

[0045] The design of the connection between the pressing element and the tool plate is fundamentally freely selectable. However, according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the pressing element is designed for detachable arrangement of the tool plate. This design variant enables the application unit of the packaging system to be adapted particularly easily to changing production conditions, such as the size of the container groups, the size of the containers, or the like. In the event of a format change, it is only necessary to arrange the tool plate required for processing on the pressing element, which can then be easily replaced again in the event of a further format change. Downtimes resulting from converting the application unit to changing formats can thus be significantly reduced.

[0046] The arrangement of the pressure element on the first and second drive pulleys can, in principle, be configured in any way. For example, it is possible to permanently attach the pressure element to the drive pulleys, which allows adaptation to changing production conditions, in particular changing container transport speeds, by simply changing the rotational speed of the pressure elements, which results from the rotational speed of the drive pulley.

[0047] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, however, the first and second drive pulleys have receiving openings for the detachable arrangement of the joint axes of the pressure element. The detachable arrangement of the joint axes allows the pressure elements to be easily replaced if necessary, thereby also facilitating inspection and maintenance work.

[0048] The specific design of the material blanks is generally freely selectable. The respective material blank expediently has several holes through which the containers, particularly their upper section, such as a bottle neck, can be passed. Tooth-like fixing elements designed to be tiltable relative to a base surface of the material blank can be provided on the periphery of the holes for a positive connection to the containers. The material blanks are particularly preferably made of cardboard, in particular corrugated cardboard, or carton.

[0049] The material blanks can be designed for arrangement on several container groups arranged side by side. Advantageously, a material blank designed in this way has container group sections corresponding to the individual container groups, which can then be separated from one another to separate the container groups. The container group sections of the material blank can be connected to one another, for example, via perforations or individual webs, which enable easy separation after or during the attachment of the material blanks to the container groups. The use of material blanks that have several container group sections and can therefore also be referred to as clip blanks reduces the workload required by a machine operator when handling the material blanks. Furthermore, the ergonomics of the work process are improved.

[0050] The use of material blanks with at least two container group sections thus allows several container groups, corresponding to the number of container group sections in the material blank, to be connected to the material blank simultaneously using an application unit. Afterwards, or during the attachment process, the individual container groups can be separated from each other by breaking the connection between the container group sections.

[0051] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the application unit is designed to separate the material blanks. In particular, the tool plate can have separating elements, in particular cutting elements or wedges, for separating connecting webs that connect the container group sections of the material blanks.

[0052] According to this embodiment of the invention, in addition to attaching the material blanks to the container groups, the application unit also serves to separate the container group sections from one another when using material blanks comprising multiple container group sections. The cutting elements or wedges provided for this purpose, for example, are designed such that the application unit enables reliable separation of the material blanks between the container group sections. For example, when using individual webs to connect the container group sections, these can be individual separating elements, in particular cutting blades, which are arranged at corresponding locations on the tool plate.The use of cutting elements allows a particularly clean and reliable separation of the container group sections from one another and is thus suitable for improving process reliability when applying the material cuts to the container groups and when separating the container group sections.

[0053] The inventive concept also encompasses the separation of the container group sections from one another, for example by tearing. For this purpose, wedges can be arranged on the tool plate, for example. At the same time, the connection between several container group sections of a material blank can be pre-weakened at predefined points, for example by perforations or tapering of the material, in particular in the form of punched-out portions formed between the container group sections. Increased pressure can be exerted on these pre-weakened points by the wedges when the tool plate is brought into engagement with the container groups, so that the material blank tears at the pre-weakened point and is divided into individual container group sections.By providing wedges, any necessary resharpening of cutting tools, such as knives in particular, can be eliminated, thereby reducing the maintenance effort required when operating a packaging system.

[0054] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the packaging system can have a separating device for separating the material blanks, arranged downstream of the application unit in the transport direction. In particular, this separating device can be provided for separating connecting webs that connect container group sections of the material blanks. Naturally, the statements made above regarding separating container group sections using the application unit, in particular the description of the various separation options, are applicable to the separating device arranged downstream of the application unit in the transport direction.

[0055] In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a product carrier circulating along the orbital path surrounds a surface perpendicular to the transport plane and parallel to the transport direction during one complete revolution along the orbital path. The circumference of the surrounded surface is thus formed by the orbit of a product carrier. If the packaging system is viewed from a top view of this surface, the feed track in this preferred embodiment extends along a first section of the feed track outside the surrounded surface. From the intersection point, which marks the intersection point of the feed track with the orbital path, the feed track extends along a second section of the feed track within the surrounded surface.This arrangement of the feed path for the material blanks in relation to the circulation path of the product carriers creates a particularly space-saving arrangement and thus reduces the overall space requirement of a packaging system.

[0056] The inventive concept further encompasses the fact that the container groups are packed into a tray before or after the material blanks have been applied in the application unit and any separation of the container group sections in the application unit or in a separating device to produce a stable packaging for the container group. For this purpose, for example, a packaging blank can be provided onto which the container groups are placed. This packaging blank can have side surfaces, end surfaces and a base section, which can be folded and / or glued in such a way that, in particular in combination with the material blanks attached to the container groups, a stable packaging for the container groups is formed. The packaging blanks are preferably made of cardboard, for example corrugated cardboard, or of paperboard.Particularly preferably, the respective packaging blank (in the folded state of its side sections) forms a so-called tray.

[0057] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a film wrapping unit for wrapping a container group, in particular the aforementioned container group or another container group, with a shrink film and a film shrinking unit for shrinking the shrink film are provided. This embodiment of the invention, according to which the packaging system is additionally provided with a film wrapping unit and a film shrinking unit, enables a particularly versatile use of the packaging system. For example, this embodiment of the invention can be used to shrink film around a container group alone (i.e., without a packaging blank) or to apply such a process to a container group arranged in a packaging blank.In principle, it is also possible to use the film to additionally stabilize a group of containers arranged in a packaging blank and provided with a material blank. Overall, the use of a film wrapping and film shrink unit thus offers a particularly wide range of possible applications for this appropriately developed packaging system.

[0058] The invention further comprises a method for packaging a container group comprising a plurality of containers using a packaging system. Features disclosed in connection with the packaging system according to the invention shall also be deemed to be disclosed in connection with the packaging method according to the invention, and vice versa.

[0059] The method according to the invention comprises at least the following steps, the order of which may differ from that shown here.

[0060] Transporting the container group along a transport plane in a transport direction through the packaging system by means of at least one transport element, wherein the transport element rotates endlessly and continuously in a circulating path and has a plurality of product carriers, by bringing at least one product carrier into engagement with the container group to be transported;

[0061] Continuous feeding of individual material blanks by means of a feeding element to a blank carrier system along a feeding path;

[0062] Precise positioning of the respective individual material blank by means of the blank carrier system to an application unit; Attaching, in particular attaching to form a bundle, the individual material blank to the respective container group by means of the application unit; In this process, the individual material blank is continuously fed to the blank carrier system along the feed path in such a way that the material blank crosses the orbit of the product carriers at an intersection point without collision.

[0063] Further developments, advantages, and possible applications of the invention will also become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All described and / or illustrated features, individually or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their reference back to them.

[0064] The invention will be explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawings. They show:

[0065] Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a packaging system;

[0066] Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a packaging system;

[0067] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a section of a side view of a third embodiment of a packaging system;

[0068] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an application unit of a packaging system;

[0069] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a tool plate;

[0070] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a material blank; and

[0071] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an interaction of the material blank of Fig. 6 in interaction with the tool plate according to Fig. 5.

[0072] In the embodiments shown, identical elements are provided with identical reference numerals to facilitate traceability. Figures 1 and 2 show, in a schematic representation, a side view of a first and a second embodiment of a packaging system 1 according to the invention, which largely agree, which is why the similarities between the first and the second embodiment will be explained first below. The packaging system 1 has a transport plane E, which in a first section is formed by a conveyor element 14. In a following section in the transport direction A, the transport surface E can be formed by another element, for example a transport plate 5.5. In the embodiment shown, the transport plate is not actively driven, but provides a sliding surface for containers 3 to be transported.A plurality of containers 3 are transported upright on the transport surface E in a transport direction A. In the illustrated embodiment, the containers 3 are designed as bottles, although the inventive concept is not limited thereto. The transport plane E extends, for example, essentially horizontally, so that the potential energy of the containers 3 remains essentially constant during transport.

[0073] The containers 3 are combined into container groups 2, the size of which can be adapted depending on the use and area of ​​application of the packaging system 1. For example, the containers 3 can be combined into container groups 2 in such a way that they are arranged in a basic shape forming a rectangle, for example in the form of 2x3 containers 3, 4x5 containers 3 or 4x6 containers 3. In particular, the shape of the container groups 2 can be adapted to a packaging blank, which can initially serve as a support for the container groups 2 on the transport plane E and is later folded around the container group 2 in such a way that a container group 2 is stabilized along its circumference and the risk of the containers 3 of a container group 2 sliding apart or falling over is minimized.

[0074] In the illustrated embodiment, the container groups 2 are transported along the first section by the conveyor element 14 until they are grasped at a contact point B by product carriers 5.1 of a transport element 5. Preferably, the container groups 2 are already transported with a separation, i.e., spaced apart from one another. However, the inventive concept also encompasses the fact that containers 3 are delivered to the packaging system 1 in a mass transport, and the packaging system 1 comprises a unit for grouping the containers 3 in order to create a separation between the containers 3.

[0075] The transport element 5, to which the product carriers 5.1 are fixed, rotates endlessly along a circular path UB and is designed, for example, in a loop-like manner. Thus, the product carriers 5.1 completely cover the circular path UB once during one complete revolution of the transport element 5. The transport element 5 has at least two deflection points that are spaced apart from one another in the transport direction A. A rear run 5.2 of the transport element 5 thus runs essentially parallel to the transport plane E in the transport direction A. The product carriers 5.1 are in contact with the containers 3 or the container groups 2 formed from them along a predominant part of the rear run 5.2 of the transport element 5 and thus transport the container groups 2 from the contact point B in the transport direction A at a predefined transport speed v2 and a machine pitch T (see also Fig. 3).

[0076] In the illustrated embodiment, the transport element 5 extends above the transport plane E. The rear run 5.2 of the transport element 5, whose product carriers 5.1 convey the container groups 3 in the transport direction A, is arranged closer to the transport plane E than the return run 5.3. Consequently, the transport element 5 rotates counterclockwise in the view shown in Figures 1 and 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the container groups 2 are conveyed by the product carriers 5.1 of the transport element 5 in the transport direction A to an application unit 7.

[0077] The application unit 7 is used to apply material blanks 8 to the container groups 2. For this purpose, individual material blanks 8 are arranged on the container groups 2 and applied to the container groups 2 by means of a tool plate 7.2, which is fastened to pressing elements 7.1. By applying the material blanks 8 to the container groups 2, the position of the containers 3 of a container group 2 is fixed relative to one another, thus improving the stability of the container groups 2 and enabling easier handling of the container groups 2 in subsequent processing steps. The application unit 7 of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 has separating elements 7.4 on the tool plates 7.2, so that several container group sections 8.2 of a material blank 8 are separated from one another directly during application.Details on the structure of the application unit 7 and the application process are explained in more detail in the description of Figure 4.

[0078] Alternatively or additionally, a packaging system 1, as shown in Figure 2, can have a separating device 6, which is arranged downstream of the application unit 7 in the transport direction A and is designed to separate container group sections 8.2 of a material blank 8. In a further embodiment, a separating device 6 can be arranged upstream of the application unit 7. By means of the separating device 6, material blanks 8 are separated into several container group sections 8.2. Depending on the arrangement of the separating device 6 upstream or downstream of the application unit 7, the material blanks 8 can be subsequently applied to the containers 3 or can already be applied to the container groups 2. The explanations regarding the functionality of the separation are transferable between the variants shown in Figures 1 and 2 and are explained in more detail in connection with Figures 4-7.

[0079] The material blanks 8 are fed to the application unit 7 by a feed unit 9. The feed unit 9 is designed such that the material blanks 8 are provided at the application unit 7 in a precisely positioned and timely manner, ie a material blank 8 is always provided at the application unit 7 when a container group 2 is present at the application unit 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the feed unit 9 is arranged in front of the application unit 7 in the transport direction A, so that the material blanks 8 are fed to the application unit 7 essentially in the transport direction A and thus in the same direction as the transport of the container groups 2.Due to the synchronized movement of the material blanks 8 and the container groups 2, the position of the material blanks 8 with respect to the container groups 2 and the timing with which the material blanks 8 and the container groups 2 are provided to the application unit can be coordinated at an early stage, so that the process reliability during operation of a packaging system 1 is improved.

[0080] The feed system 9 comprises, in the transport direction A, a feed element 11 and a blank carrier system 10. In the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2, the blank carrier system 10 is designed as a separate assembly. In the illustrated figure, the blank carrier system 10 comprises two loop-like elements arranged on either side of the transport direction, which extend between two deflection devices spaced apart from one another in the transport direction A and circulate endlessly. The loop-like elements comprise a plurality of blank carriers 10.1, which are designed to convey individual material blanks 8.Preferably, the blank carrier system 10 is designed to transport the material blanks 8 in a direction parallel to the transport direction A and extends substantially parallel to the transport plane E, whereby a particularly efficient and reliable provision of the material blanks 8 to the application unit 7 takes place.

[0081] However, as already mentioned above, the inventive concept also encompasses combining the functionality of the blank carrier system 10 with the transport element 5. In this case, for example, in addition to the product carriers 5.1, blank carriers 10.1 can be arranged on the transport element 5, which are designed such that they can be brought into contact with isolated material blanks in order to move them in the transport direction A. Alternatively, the product carriers 5.1 can be designed such that they simultaneously function as blank carriers 10.1.

[0082] The packaging system 1 further comprises a storage unit 12 for storing or

[0083] Storage of material blanks 8 and a separation unit 13 (shown only schematically in Fig. 2). The separation unit 13 separates the material blanks 8 stored in the storage unit 12, so that separated material blanks 8 are present. For this purpose, for example, a rotating suction device or a flat extraction system can be used. In an alternative embodiment, the material blanks 8 can be fed to the packaging system 1 already separated, for example, if they are already in separated form after passing through an upstream station of the packaging process. For the implementation of the invention, it is not important how the material blanks 8 are stored in the storage unit 12.Preferably, storage is carried out in such a way that reliable separation can be achieved while simultaneously allowing easy refilling of the storage unit 12 with additional material blanks 8, for example, by a machine operator. In an advantageous embodiment, the material blanks 8 can have multiple container group sections 8.2, thus reducing the number of individual material blanks required, thereby reducing the labor required for loading the storage device 12.

[0084] The feeding of separated material blanks 8 from the storage unit 12 or the separation unit 13 to the blank carrier system 10 takes place by means of the feed element 11 already briefly mentioned above. The feed element 11 extends along a feed path ZB, along which the separated material blanks 8 are transported during feeding. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the feed path ZB is linear, whereby the path along which the material blanks 8 are transported from the storage unit 12 to the blank carrier system 10 can be particularly short and a direct feed of the material blanks 8 takes place. Of course, in other embodiments, the feed path ZB can have a non-linear course, for example a curved course.

[0085] In certain embodiments, such as that shown in Figures 1 and 2, the blank carrier system 10 is arranged directly at or, as seen in the transport direction A, directly in front of the application unit 7. The storage unit 12, on the other hand, is both spaced apart from the blank carrier system 10 in the transport direction A and also arranged at a different height with respect to the transport plane E than the blank carrier system 10. The distance between the storage unit 12 and the blank carrier system 10 is bridged by the feed element 11. Viewed from the side view shown in Figures 1 and 2, the orbit UB of the product carriers 5.1 of the transport element 5 runs around the blank carrier system 10 and around the application unit 7. Thus, the rear run 5.2 of the transport element 5 moves between the blank carrier system 10 / the application unit 7 and the transport plane E. In contrast, the return run 5 moves.3 of the transport element 5 in the transport direction A before and after or with respect to the transport plane E above the cutting carrier system 10 / the application unit 7.

[0086] The storage unit 12 is - in contrast to the internal application unit 7 and the blank carrier system 10 - arranged outside the circulation path UB of the product carriers 5.1. It is therefore provided that the feed path ZB, along which the material blanks 8 are fed, and the circulation path UB of the product carriers 5.1 intersect at an intersection point S. The feed path ZB accordingly has a first section AB1, which, in the view according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, runs outside the circulation path UB of the product carriers. A second section AB2 of the feed path ZB extends within the circulation path UB of the product carriers. The sections AB1 and AB2 merge into one another at the intersection point S. The packaging system 1 is designed such that no collisions occur between the material blanks 8 and the product carriers 5.1.The geometric boundary conditions required for this and preferred embodiments are described in connection with Figure 3. In a particularly advantageous manner, the material blanks 8 can thus be fed continuously to the application unit 7, whereby high cycle rates are possible during operation of the packaging system 1 and a particularly fail-safe feed of the material blanks 8 can be achieved. According to the invention, a more cost-effective and structurally simpler packaging system is therefore provided - especially in comparison to the known prior art - in which material blanks 8 are fed to an application unit 7. Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of a section of a side view of a third embodiment of a packaging system 1.The third embodiment differs from the first two embodiments, shown in Figures 1 and 2, particularly in the arrangement of the material blanks 8 in the storage unit 12, which, however, as already mentioned, is not essential to the invention. The section shown in Figure 3 serves particularly to visualize geometric dimensions and critical parameters that are relevant for the collision-free passage of the material blanks 8 by the product carriers 5.1 at the intersection point S.

[0087] The material blanks 8 are fed along the feed path ZB with a pitch Z which corresponds to the distance between a front edge of a material blank 8 and the front edge of an adjacent material blank 8.

[0088] The container groups 2 are conveyed by a conveyor element 14 at a conveying speed v1 in the transport direction A. From the contact point B, at which the product carriers 5.1 come into contact with the container groups 2, the container groups 2 are transported by the product carriers 5.1 at a machine pitch T in the transport direction A, wherein the machine pitch T corresponds to the distance between two adjacent product carriers 5.1. The product carriers 5.1 rotate along the orbital path UB at a transport speed v2, so that the container groups 2 move along the rear run 5.2 of the transport element 5 at precisely this transport speed v2.

[0089] The intersection point S of the feed path ZB with the orbit UB has a horizontal distance Sh from the contact point and further has a vertical distance Sv from the transport plane E.

[0090] The transport element 5 encloses, at least along a section of the conveying element 14, an immersion angle α with the transport plane E. Furthermore, the feed path ZB encloses a dispensing angle β with the transport plane E. At the intersection point S, the feed path ZB and the orbital path UB intersect at an intersection angle γ, wherein the section of the orbital path UB extending between the intersection point S and the first contact point B has a path length P.

[0091] In a preferred embodiment, the parameters mentioned are related as follows, whereby all combinations of the embodiments numbered 1 to 7 below are encompassed by the inventive concept:

[0092] 1 . The product of cos a and machine pitch T is less than or equal to the horizontal distance between the material blanks 8, which is calculated as the product of pitch Z of the material blanks 8 and cos ß. This provides a particularly space-saving and thus versatile design of the packaging system 1.

[0093] 2. The horizontal distance between the material blanks 8 is less than or equal to the machine pitch T. This allows the material blanks 8 to be fed particularly efficiently to the application unit 7, while at the same time the material blanks 8 can be provided at the application unit 7 in a positionally accurate manner.

[0094] 3. The cutting angle y is between 60° and 90°. This angle range has proven particularly advantageous for creating a space-saving packaging system 1 and simultaneously enables error-resistant feeding of the material blanks 8 between the product carriers 5.1 at the intersection point S.

[0095] 4. The path length s corresponds to the product of the machine pitch T and a factor x, where x is preferably between 2.5 and 5. By providing a certain path length s between the intersection point S and the first contact point B, it is made possible, on the one hand, for the product carriers 8 to penetrate between the container groups 2 conveyed in the transport direction A before they come into contact with the container groups 2 at the first contact point B. On the other hand, it can be ensured that obstacles located between the intersection point S and the contact point B are avoided by the product carriers 5.1. In addition, by selecting an appropriate path length s, the movement of the material blanks 8 can be synchronized with the product carriers 5.1, which is why a packaging system 1 can be designed to be shorter in the transport direction A.

[0096] 5. The vertical distance Sv of the intersection point S from the transport plane E is greater than the height of the containers 3. In particular, the vertical distance Sv of the intersection point S from the transport plane can be between 400 mm and 1000 mm. This advantageously prevents collisions between the containers 3 and the material blanks 8.

[0097] 6. The horizontal distance between the intersection points can correspond to the product of machine pitch T and the factor y, where y is preferably between -1.5 and 1.5, thereby creating a particularly space-saving packaging system 1.

[0098] 7. The pitch Z of the material blanks 8 essentially corresponds to the product of cos ß and the machine pitch T, so that a material blank 8 is provided in a precisely positioned position at the application unit 7 when a container group 2 reaches the application unit 7.

[0099] All of the listed embodiments, both individually and in combination, result in a particularly advantageous design of the packaging system 1 which takes geometric boundary conditions into account and is at the same time particularly space-saving.

[0100] Collision-free feeding of the material blanks 8 between the product carriers 5.1 is primarily made possible by coordinating the above-mentioned parameters. In particular, the transport speed v2, the machine pitch T, the feed speed at which the material blanks 8 are fed along the feed path ZB, the pitch Z of the material blanks 8, and the cutting angle y represent relevant variables. The parameters are advantageously dimensioned such that either a material blank 8 or a product carrier 5.1 is located at the intersection point S. However, a material blank 8 and a product carrier 5.1 are never located at the intersection point S at the same time, which would lead to a collision and thus to a malfunction of the packaging system 1.

[0101] By appropriately designing the packaging system 1, after the material blanks 8 or the product carriers 5.1 have passed the intersection point S, the movement of the material blanks 8 is synchronized with the product carriers 5.1 or the container groups 2 transported by them, so that the container groups 2 and the material blanks 8 reach the application unit 7 simultaneously. For example, the path length s traveled by the product carriers 5.1 between the intersection point S and the first contact point B can be dimensioned such that the product carriers 5.11 and the material blanks 8, after they have passed the intersection point S in alternating order, move at the same speed in the transport direction A from the point of contact B and are arranged one above the other with precise positioning with respect to the transport plane E, so that the position of the material blanks 8 relative to the container groups 2 in the transport direction A no longer changes. Additionally or alternatively, however, the transport speed v2 can also be coordinated with the feed speed at which the material blanks 8 move in such a way that the position of the material blanks 8 approaches the position of the container groups 2 as the transport progresses in the transport direction A, until the material blanks 8 are provided at the application unit 7 with precise positioning.

[0102] In a preferred embodiment, the intersection point S is always alternately passed by a product carrier 5.1 and a material blank 8. This ensures a particularly efficient feeding of the material blanks 8 and the conveying and transport capacities of the packaging system 1 are utilized to the best possible extent.

[0103] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of an application unit 7 in its position relative to a plurality of container groups 2 to be processed, composed of containers 3, in a packaging system 1 (not shown). The application unit 7 has a drive unit 7.3 with a first drive disk and a second drive disk for driving four pressing elements 7.1. The drive disks are arranged parallel and spaced from one another transversely to the transport direction A of the containers 3. The first drive disk rotates about its first axis of rotation, the second drive disk rotates about its second axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation being arranged one behind the other at a distance from one another as viewed in the transport direction A. The height of the first and second axes of rotation, ie their distance from the transport plane E of the containers 3, is the same.

[0104] Said drive unit 7.3 serves to adjust the pressure elements 7.1, each provided with a tool plate 7.2, which are arranged in the area between the first drive disk and the second drive disk. The pressure elements 7.1 are connected to the first drive disk via a first joint axis and to the second drive disk via a second joint axis.

[0105] The arrangement of the pressure elements 7.1 on the first and second drive disks is such that the first joint axis and second joint axis of each pressure element 7.1 always have the same distance from the transport plane E, so that the pressure elements 7.1 and the tool plates 7.2 arranged on the pressure elements 7.1 are always arranged parallel to the transport plane E during the rotation of the drive disks.

[0106] The pressing elements 7.1 are preferably arranged on the first drive pulley and second drive pulley so as to be evenly distributed over the circumference. By driving the application unit 7, the first and second drive pulleys are set in rotation about their first and second axes of rotation, as a result of which the pressing elements 7.1 with their tool plates 7.2 rotate about the first and second axes of rotation. The tool plates 7.2 thereby engage with the containers 3 assembled to form container groups 2 and in doing so displace the material blanks 8 arranged on the container groups 2 in the direction of the containers 3. In cooperation with the tool plates 7.2, the material blanks 8 are guided along the application unit 7 along the transport direction A from a position placed on the container groups 4 to form bundles into the position shown in Fig.4, in which the material blanks 8 with holes 8.3 are slipped over the top of the containers 3, so that the holes 8.3 are arranged coaxially with the containers 3 in the region of the tops of the containers 3. During the interaction with the container groups 2, the tool plates 7.2 guide the material blanks 8, hold them parallel to the tops of the containers 3, and move them from a disengaged position to an engaged position with the container groups 2.

[0107] In Figures 5, 6 and 7, in contrast to the packaging system 1 shown in Figure 4, an application unit 7 is shown which has tool plates 7.2 with separating elements 7.4. In other words, the drive unit 7.3 of the application unit 7 has tool plates 7.2 arranged on pressing elements 7.1, which are designed to separate the plurality of container group sections 8.2 of a material blank 8 from one another. In the illustrated embodiment, the material blanks 8 have a total of four container group sections 8.2, which are connected to one another via connecting webs 8.1 in a 2x2 orientation. The tool plate 7.2 has cutting elements 7.4, by means of which the container group sections 8.2 are separated from one another during the attachment of the material blank 8 to the container groups 2.Subsequently, the resulting containers can be arranged, for example, in / on a packaging blank to provide additional stability to the container groups 2. Subsequently, the containers provided with the material blanks 8 can be transported out of the packaging system 1, for example.

[0108] The tool plate 7.2 shown in Figure 5 is used for processing material blanks 8 according to Figure 6, which comprise four container group sections 8.2. The tool plate 7.2 has a plurality of cutting elements 7.4 extending in the transport direction A and transversely to the transport direction A, which are designed to sever the connecting webs 8.1 of the material blank 8 that connect the four container group sections 8.2 (see Figure 6). The interaction of the tool plate 7.2 with the material blank 8 is indicated in a perspective view in Figure 7.

[0109] Using the modified tool plate 7.2 shown, the material blanks 8 can be applied to the container groups 2 while simultaneously separating the container group sections 8.2 from each other. The resulting containers can be further processed in the subsequent machine modules, for example, by placing them on a tray.

[0110] Alternatively, the tool plates 7.2 can also have other separating elements, in particular wedge elements, instead of or in combination with the cutting elements 7.4. While the cutting elements 7.4 enable particularly precise separation of the provided connecting webs 8.1, wedges or wedge elements can exert a greater force on the material blanks 8. The wedges can, for example, interact with perforations in the material blanks 8. By providing perforations, predetermined breaking points are created in the driver blanks 8, which can be separated when local stress peaks occur, such as those caused by the wedges, in order to divide a material blank 8 into several container group sections 8.2.

[0111] The inventive concept also encompasses the provision of other separating elements 7.4, such as separating elements with a serrated surface or separating elements with a circular cross-section, or combinations of different separating elements 7.4 on a tool plate 7.2. By providing combinations of different separating elements 7.4, for example, by a combination of cutting elements and wedges, the advantages of the various embodiments are combined and an extremely flexible separating device 6 or an extremely flexible tool plate 7.2 with separating functionality is provided. In particular, it is thus possible to process different connecting webs 8.1 of a material blank 8 with different separating elements 7.4. For example, some of the connecting webs 8.1 can be severed by cutting elements, while other connecting webs 8.1 can be severed by wedge elements, for example, to minimize shear forces acting on the cutting elements, which could lead to their destruction. It can also be provided to separate only a portion of the connecting webs 8.1 using separating elements 7.4, while the remaining connecting webs 8.1 of a material blank 8 remain intact or are merely pre-weakened so that they can be separated manually, for example, by an end user.

[0112] Additionally or alternatively, other cutting methods, some of which are known from manufacturing technology, can be used to separate the material blanks 8 into container group sections 8.2, for example, shear cutting, splitting, tearing, breaking, fracture separation, wedge cutting, or water jet cutting. Depending on the cutting method used, the packaging system 1 has suitable devices and elements suitable for implementing the cutting method. Advantageously, by selecting a suitable cutting method, the material blanks 8 can be divided into container group sections 8.2 in a particularly efficient and cost-effective manner.

[0113] Thermal separation of the container group sections 8.2 is also possible. For this purpose, the separating element 7.4 or the separating elements 7.4 can have heating elements designed to thermally interact with the material blanks 8, for example, in the form of a laser or resistance heating.

[0114] In conjunction with the continuous feed of the material blanks 8, the combination of application and separation processes enables high cycle rates during operation of a packaging machine 1, while the packaging machine 1 simultaneously features a space-saving design. By providing material blanks 8 that have multiple container group sections 8.2, the workload for a machine operator is reduced. At the same time, ergonomics during machine operation are improved. Due to the combination of application unit and separation elements, the number of necessary processing stations is reduced and the space required for a packaging system 1 is further reduced.

[0115] List of reference symbols

[0116] 1 packaging system

[0117] 2 container group

[0118] 3 containers

[0119] 5 Transport element

[0120] 5.1 Product carrier

[0121] 5.2 Behind the transport element

[0122] 5.3 Return run of the transport element

[0123] 5.5 Transport plate

[0124] 6 Separator device

[0125] 7 Application unit

[0126] 7.1 Pressure element

[0127] 7.2 Tool plate

[0128] 7.3 Drive unit

[0129] 7.4 Separation element

[0130] 8 Material cutting

[0131] 8.1 Connecting bridges

[0132] 8.2 Container group sections

[0133] 8.3 Holes of the material cuts

[0134] 9 Feed unit

[0135] 10 Cutting carrier system

[0136] 10.1 Cutting driver

[0137] 10.2 Rear of the cutting carrier system

[0138] 11 Feed element

[0139] 12 Storage unit 13 Separation unit

[0140] 14 Conveyor element

[0141] A Transport direction

[0142] B first point of contact

[0143] E Transport level

[0144] P Path length

[0145] S intersection point

[0146] Sh horizontal distance of the intersection point from the point of contact

[0147] Sv vertical distance of the intersection point from the transport plane

[0148] T Machine division

[0149] Z Pitch of the material blanks v1 Conveyor speed v2 Transport speed

[0150] AB1 first section

[0151] AB2 second section

[0152] UB orbit

[0153] ZB Feed path a Immersion angle ß Dispensing angle

[0154] Y cutting angle

Claims

Patent claims 1 . Packaging system (1) for packaging a container group (2) comprising several containers (3), comprising - at least one transport element (5) circulating endlessly and continuously in a circulating path (UB) for transporting the container group (2) along a transport plane (E) in a transport direction (A) through the packaging system (1), wherein the transport element (5) has a plurality of product carriers (5.1), in particular transport rods, circulating along the circulating path (UB), of which at least one product carrier (5.1) can be brought into engagement with the container group (2) to be transported; - an application unit (7) for attaching, in particular for forming a bundle, an individual material blank (8) to the container group (2); - a feed unit (9) arranged in front of the application unit (7) as seen in the transport direction (A) for feeding the respective material blank (8) to the corresponding container group (2), comprising - a blank carrier system (10) for the precise positioning of the respective isolated material blank (8) on the application unit (7); - at least one feed element (11) for continuously feeding the separated material blank (8) to the blank carrier system (10) along a feed path (ZB), wherein the packaging system (1) is designed to continuously feed the respective separated material blank (8) to the blank carrier system (10) along the feed path (ZB) in such a way that the material blank (8) crosses the orbital path (UB) of the product carriers (5.1) at an intersection point (S) without collision.

2. Packaging system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the packaging system (1) has a storage unit (12) for storing the material blanks (8) and a separating unit (13) for separating the material blanks (8) stored in the storage unit (12) and for feeding the separated material blanks (8) into the feed unit (9).

3. Packaging system (1) according to claim 2, wherein the storage unit (12) is arranged above the transport plane (E) and in the transport direction (A) in front of the transport element (5), so that the feed path (ZB) of a separated material blank (8) encloses an acute dispensing angle (ß) with the transport plane (E).

4. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging system (1) has a conveyor element (14) which is arranged in front of the transport element (5) in the transport direction (A) and is designed to convey the container group (2) individually along the transport plane (E) in the transport direction (A) through the packaging system (1), at least until the container group (2) is in engagement with the at least one product carrier of the transport element (5) following in the transport direction (A) and is transported by the latter.

5. Packaging system (1) according to claim 4, wherein a section of the transport element between the intersection point (S) and a first point of contact (B) of the respective product carrier (5.1) with the respective container group (2) encloses an acute immersion angle (a) with the transport plane (E), and is designed such that the product carriers (5.1) immerse themselves between the container groups (2) conveyed individually by the conveying element (14) in the transport direction (A) during operation of the packaging system (1).

6. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transport element (5) has a plurality of deflection points between the intersection point (S) and a first contact point (B) of the respective product carrier (5.1) with the respective container group (2).

7. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blank carrier system (10) forms a closed loop, circulates endlessly and has a plurality of blank carriers (10.1), wherein a rear end (10.2) of the blank carrier system (10) extends substantially in the transport direction (A) and is designed such that the blank carriers (10.1 ) along the rear run (10.2) synchronously with the product carriers (5.1 ).

8. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the blank carrier system (10) extends in the transport direction (A) from the feed element (11) to the application unit (7), and wherein the blank carrier system (10) is spaced from the transport plane (E) such that a rear run (5.2) of the transport element (5) extends below the blank carrier system (10) and a return run (5.3) of the transport element (5) extends above the blank carrier system (10).

9. Packaging system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the blank carrier system (10) has a plurality of blank carriers (10.1) which are fixed to the transport element (5), in particular in the product carriers (5.1 ) are integrated.

10. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the application unit (7) has at least one pressing element (7.1) having a tool plate (7.2) and movable on a circular path, wherein the circular path spans a plane oriented perpendicular to the transport plane (E), and wherein the application unit (7) has a drive unit (7.3) which is arranged to is designed to move the pressing element (7.1) such that the tool plate (7.2) can be adjusted between a disengaged position and an engaged position with the containers (3).

11. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the drive unit (7.3) of the application unit (7) has a servo-motor control.

12. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the application unit (7) is designed to separate the material blanks (8), in particular the tool plate (7.2) has separating elements (7.4) for separating connecting webs (8.1) which connect container group sections (8.2) of the material blanks (8).

13. Packaging system (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the packaging system (1) has a separating device (6) arranged downstream of the application unit (7) in the transport direction (A) for separating the material blanks (8), in particular for separating connecting webs (8.1) which connect container group sections (8.2) of the material blanks (8).

14. Packaging system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a product carrier (5.1) rotating along the circulating track (UB) during a complete rotation along the circulating track (UB) borders a surface which is perpendicular to the transport plane (E) and parallel to the transport direction (A), the circumference of which surface is formed by the circulating track (UB), and wherein, viewed from a plan view of this surface, the feed track (ZB) extends along a first section (AB1) of the feed track (ZB) outside the bordered area and the feed track (ZB) extends from the intersection point (S) along a second section (AB2) of the feed track (ZB) within the bordered area.

15. Method for packaging a container group (2) comprising several containers (3) by means of a packaging system (1), comprising the steps: Transporting the container group (2) along a transport plane (E) in a transport direction (A) through the packaging system (1) by means of at least one transport element (5), wherein the transport element rotates endlessly and continuously in a circulating path (UB) and has a plurality of product carriers (5.1), by bringing at least one product carrier (5.1) into engagement with the container group (2) to be transported; Continuous feeding of individual material blanks (8) by means of a feeding element (11) to a blank carrier system (10) along a feeding path (ZB); Precise positioning of the respective isolated material blank (8) by means of the blank carrier system (10) on an application unit (7); Attaching, in particular attaching to form a bundle, the individualized material blank (8) to the respective container group (2) by means of the application unit (7), wherein the individualized material blank (8) is continuously fed to the blank carrier system (10) along the feed path (ZB) in such a way that the material blank (8) crosses the orbital path (UB) of the product carriers (5.1) at an intersection point (S) without collision.

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