Packaging machine and method for producing packages

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging machine (2) and to a method that can be carried out therewith for producing packages (18) which are each formed by at least two articles (12) combined by means of at least one packaging blank (10, 10v). The packaging blanks (10, 10v) are equipped with passage openings (14) for receiving at least one article (12), through each of which passage openings (14) an article (12) passes and is fixed there. The packaging machine (2) has a pre-treatment station (6) with at least one expanding die (22) for pre-treating the packaging blanks (10), in particular for weakening the packaging blanks (10) using the expanding die (22) in the region of at least some of their respective passage openings (14) for the purpose of reducing a joining force (36) when applying the packaging blanks (10, 10v) to the articles (12) passing through the passage openings (14). It can additionally be provided that the respectively pre-treated passage openings (14) of the packaging blanks (10, 10v) can be pre-treated in sub-segments (60) and not pre-treated in further sub-segments (58).

Description

[0001] Packaging machine and method for producing containers

[0002] The present invention relates to a packaging machine for producing containers, each consisting of at least two articles grouped together by means of at least one packaging blank. The invention also relates to a method for producing containers, each consisting of at least two articles grouped together by means of at least one packaging blank. Furthermore, the present invention relates to the containers produced in this manner.

[0003] Various packaging types are available for processing, assembling, grouping, and packaging items such as beverage containers. A common method involves combining several similar items or containers into portable, relatively manageable units or packaging units. Several methods exist for combining multiple containers into larger packages, such as shrink-wrapping four, six, or even significantly more beverage containers. Producing such packages is usually essential, as they represent the most common type of packaging unit for beverage containers or PET bottles. For transport, these packages are sometimes further grouped and / or stacked in layers and palletized.

[0004] The numerous manufacturing steps involved in using shrink film as packaging material require a relatively high energy input, not least because the shrinking process of the film only occurs under increased heat. Furthermore, the film itself incurs costs for production, supply, handling, and eventual disposal, as it is no longer needed after the sale and unpacking of the items or containers. The machinery required to provide the so-called film wrapping modules and other handling stations also results in high investment costs. Finally, the provision of the shrink tunnel, in which the film wrapped around the containers is shrunk using hot air, also requires a relatively high capital investment. One alternative that can be avoided altogether is strapping.In this process, containers are connected to each other using strapping bands and grouped together to form a package. In continuously or intermittently operating strapping machines, containers, articles, or bottles are grouped into formations and then strapped with one or more bands using strapping units. Typical formations can be, for example, 1x2 arrangements (two containers in a row), 2x2 arrangements (four containers in a square or diamond formation), 3x2, 4x3, or, in principle, variable nxm arrangements.

[0005] Furthermore, various methods of using packaging blanks to form containers are known, with these packaging blanks generally consisting of pre-cut cardboard material. For example, the use of so-called top-grip carton packaging is known, which makes it possible to group several bottles together by their necks by placing these carton packages on top of the previously grouped items.

[0006] Such a gripping carton or cardboard packaging insert typically has an arrangement and number of openings that correspond to the arrangement and number of items or containers to be grouped together. The diameter of the openings is usually slightly smaller than the maximum diameter of the items in the upper area where the respective opening is ultimately to be positioned. The gripping carton or packaging insert is placed onto the items and pressed down, so that a defined upper portion of the items is pushed through the openings.In particular, an upper area with a maximum diameter is pushed through the openings and the edge areas of the openings are brought into contact with the articles below this maximum diameter, so that the gripping carton packaging or the packaging blank is securely and firmly fixed to the articles.

[0007] The openings are preferably each equipped with fixing or retaining tabs pointing inwards towards the center of the opening, separated from each other by star-shaped cuts radiating towards the center of the opening. However, relatively high application forces may be necessary to secure the gripping carton or packaging blank to the items in this way, particularly to push the items through the openings, especially when dealing with larger groups of items that are to be bundled and packaged together. Accordingly, the items must be able to withstand this application force to avoid damage during the application of the gripping carton or packaging blank.

[0008] To facilitate these application processes and to prepare the packaging blank appropriately, WO 2021 / 043 362 A1 proposes a packaging device and a method for producing packaging units in which several articles are grouped together by a secondary package. The secondary package is formed by a flat packaging blank, which is applied to the prepared groupings of articles as described above. By means of a forming process, the packaging blank is transformed from a flat storage state into a three-dimensional sales state. This forming process can also include widening the edges of the openings, which can be achieved, in particular, with suitable forming equipment. Examples of such forming equipment include so-called...Breaking cones or expansion cones are proposed, the arrangement of which corresponds to the arrangement of the openings in the packaging blank.

[0009] A packaging device and a method for producing packaging units are also known from WO 2020 / 233 943 A1. This device also involves pretreating a packaging blank used as packaging material before it is pressed onto several articles to group them together. A pretreatment module is equipped with a stretching die designed to reduce the resistance forces in the edge regions of the openings of the packaging blank during the subsequent application of the packaging blank to the articles. This known stretching die also has several stretching or breaking cones arranged relative to each other in a manner that corresponds to the arrangement of the openings in the packaging blank.

[0010] All known expansion dies are format parts that, depending on the product or container configuration, or when used for differently sized products or containers, must be replaced with expansion dies adapted to the changed requirements. However, it has been found that with packaging units or containers produced in this way, high application forces are required to attach the packaging blanks to the products or containers, which is usually done by a snap-fit ​​process. This can mechanically overload sensitive products or containers and / or those with flexible housing sections. Furthermore, some of these packaging units or containers tend to exhibit shape instability, which may be related to the varying holding forces in different areas of the packaging blanks.

[0011] In order to respond to such different requirements regarding the joining of the packaging blanks to the articles or containers to be connected and / or regarding the holding forces in the packaging assembly, the primary objective of the present invention can be considered to be to reduce or completely eliminate these disadvantages and to offer an adapted packaging machine and an improved method for producing containers, so that these forces, which have a significant influence on the container quality, can be varied and / or adapted.

[0012] This objective of the invention is achieved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Features of advantageous embodiments of the invention are also found in the respective dependent claims.

[0013] To achieve at least part of the aforementioned goal, the present invention proposes a packaging machine for producing containers, each consisting of at least two articles grouped together by means of at least one packaging blank. The packaging blanks are each equipped with openings for receiving at least one article, through which an article passes and is fixed.

[0014] The packaging machine has a pretreatment station with at least one stretch die for pretreating the packaging blanks, in particular for weakening the packaging blanks in the area of ​​at least some of their respective openings in order to reduce the joining force when applying the packaging blanks to the article passing through the openings using the stretch die. Optionally, the stretch die can also be designed in such a way that the openings of the packaging blanks can be pretreated in some segments and left untreated in others.

[0015] The at least one expansion die is equipped with at least one expansion tool, which may be, for example, conical or frustoconical, with the cone tip or the cone side with the smaller cross-sectional area pointing upwards.

[0016] When this text refers to packaging blanks and packaging units or containers equipped with them, it should include both the variant with only one item and the variant with several items grouped together within the respective packaging unit or container.

[0017] In one embodiment of the packaging machine according to the invention, the at least one expansion die used as a tool is designed such that only a portion of the openings of the respective packaging blanks are pretreated, while other openings remain untreated. While the pretreated openings reduce both the joining forces required for applying the packaging blank and the subsequent holding forces in the finished package, the untreated openings require somewhat higher joining forces but, in return, hold the individual items or containers together in the package with higher holding forces.These effects can be utilized in the packaging machine according to the invention by using different pretreatments within the individual packaging blanks, which can even refer to the individual openings.

[0018] Thus, in one embodiment of the packaging machine according to the invention, the at least one expansion die can be designed in such a way that the respective pre-treated openings of the packaging blanks can be pre-treated in a graduated manner and to varying degrees across their circumference, thereby weakening them in particular. For example, it may be advantageous to pre-treat as many openings as possible, but not to the same extent across their entire circumference, rather in a graduated manner, so that partial segments react more rigidly and less compliantly when the packaging blank is applied to the articles or containers, while the more heavily pre-treated sections or partial segments of the openings are more compliant and more easily deformed.

[0019] The packaging machine is equipped with at least one stretch die, which is designed and configured for pretreatment, particularly for weakening the openings. However, the packaging machine can also be equipped with multiple stretch dies, which can be used for the simultaneous pretreatment of several packaging blanks. Furthermore, the packaging machine can optionally be equipped with several stretch dies, which can be configured differently, so that they can be used as active stretch dies as needed, while those not currently in use remain inactive and can be kept ready for later use.

[0020] For example, the expansion dies of an embodiment of the packaging machine according to the invention can be designed in such a way that every second opening in a row and / or a column can be pre-treated, with the openings in the respective packaging blank being arranged in rows and / or columns. An alternative embodiment would also be conceivable in which the pre-broken holes or the openings to be pre-treated are arranged in a zigzag pattern in the packaging blank.

[0021] Furthermore, variants are conceivable in which the at least one expansion die is designed in such a way that it can preferably be used to pretreat openings in a central area of ​​the packaging blank, in particular exclusively such openings located there.

[0022] In an alternative variant, the at least one expansion die can be designed in such a way that it can preferably be used to pretreat openings in the edge areas of the packaging blank, in particular only such openings located there.

[0023] The packaging machine according to the invention can advantageously be equipped with one or more handling robots. For example, the packaging machine can be equipped with at least one multi-axis robot, which is designed to perform movements for applying the packaging blanks to the stretch die and / or to the articles and can be controlled accordingly, wherein the at least one multi-axis robot receives its control commands for carrying out handling steps from a control unit, which control unit has stored programs for several different movement paths for controlling the manipulator or a control head of the multi-axis robot.

[0024] The handling robots mentioned here can be formed, in particular, by so-called multi-axis robots, so that in this context a (partially) synonymous use of the terms is justified. When a handling robot is mentioned, this can, in particular, be a multi-axis robot. When a multi-axis robot is mentioned, this refers to a specific type of handling robot. Furthermore, the term "manipulator" is used in this description and in the claims, without necessarily meaning anything other than the realization of such a manipulator by the movable sections of a handling robot or a multi-axis robot.

[0025] The programs, which can be stored and recalled for several different movement paths to control the manipulator or a control head of the handling or multi-axis robot, are dependent on, among other things, the article or container. In particular, the programs or movement paths depend on the diameter and height of the articles, but also on the number of articles in the final container.

[0026] The packaging machine equipped in this way can also preferably provide the movement paths specified by the control device by means of the programs stored there in program form, whereby the applying and thereby pretreating and / or weakening movement sequences when pressing the packaging blanks onto the stretch die and / or onto the articles can be included.

[0027] Furthermore, the packaging machine according to the invention can advantageously be configured to be equipped with at least two multi-axis robots or manipulators with coordinated motion controls, wherein a first handling robot or manipulator removes the packaging blanks from a magazine and feeds them to the stretch die, and wherein a second handling robot or manipulator picks up the pre-treated packaging blanks from the stretch die and applies them to the articles. If two handling robots or multi-axis robots are available, it can be advantageous to use only one of these robots for removing the packaging blanks from the magazine and the other robot, in particular, for applying the pre-treated packaging blanks to the articles or containers.

[0028] Alternatively, the packaging machine according to the invention can also be configured in such a way that it is equipped with at least two multi-axis robots or manipulators with coordinated motion controls, wherein a first handling robot or a first manipulator removes the packaging blanks from a magazine and feeds them to the stretching die without pretreating the packaging blanks there, while a second handling robot or a second manipulator pretreats the packaging blanks placed on the stretching die and then picks up the pretreated packaging blanks from the stretching die and applies them to the articles.If two handling robots or multi-axis robots are available, it can be advantageous to use only one of these robots for removing the packaging blanks from the magazine, and to use the other robot specifically for applying the pre-treated packaging blanks to the articles or containers.

[0029] Regarding the terms "manipulator" and "handling robot," which are used here in a general sense, as well as the slightly more specific term "handling robot," please refer to the explanations above. These terms are not intended to denote different machines but can generally be understood as synonyms. The same applies to the multi-axis robot, which can be a type of handling robot. Since the physical design of the manipulator or robot is irrelevant in this context, all these terms used here can be understood as synonymous.

[0030] The packaging machine can also be equipped with a device for optical monitoring of the finished packages, which is particularly intended for subjecting the finished packages to an optical condition check. The optical monitoring device specifically comprises at least one camera with downstream image processing. The image processing can, for example, detect whether all fixing or retaining tabs are engaged and / or whether the packaging blank, which can also be referred to as a top clip, is located on the correct plane. The packaging machine according to the invention is suitable for producing packages formed by different types of product combinations. The products can be, for example, containers, beverage containers, cans, etc.The packaging machine according to the invention is particularly suitable for processing articles which are formed by containers with low inherent stability and / or by containers with a shape that yields under the influence of force.

[0031] In particular, the product with which the items are filled is essentially pressureless, especially CO2-free.

[0032] In the packaging machine according to the invention, the control unit, which generates the control commands for controlling the at least one multi-axis robot, can access a central database, in particular, to adapt its control programs. This database contains at least information on material and / or deformation data of the packaging blanks used and / or other process-specific information. The central database can also include data on suitable angles of deformation of the fixing or retaining tabs and / or on force values ​​of the motors for pretreating and / or applying the packaging blanks. Furthermore, data on the container type, the top clip manufacturers, the top clip material thickness, etc., can be stored there, from which, for example, settings for threshold and target values ​​can also be derived for other systems.In this context, it may also be useful to employ and utilize principles of machine learning and / or AI to gradually refine the data obtained and adapt it to changing circumstances.

[0033] To achieve the above-mentioned goal, the invention further proposes a method for producing containers, each of which is formed by at least two articles grouped together by means of at least one packaging blank, wherein the packaging blanks are equipped with through-openings for receiving at least one article, through which through-openings an article passes and is fixed there.

[0034] In the method according to the invention, the packaging blanks are pretreated, at least at some of their respective openings, to reduce the joining force when applying the packaging blanks to the article passing through the openings, in particular weakened, or the openings, in particular all openings of a respective packaging blank, are pretreated over their respective circumference in a graduated manner and to varying degrees.

[0035] With this type of pretreatment, either only a portion of the openings and / or a portion of the fixing or retaining tabs can be pre-broken and / or weakened. The remaining portion is broken and deformed when applied to the items or containers. This allows for precise adjustment of the force with which the containers are held in their respective positions relative to the packaging layout. For example, if the items, containers, or cans slip out of their anchoring and / or off the fixing or retaining tabs when gripped near the handle, it can be advantageous to exclude the fixing or retaining tabs in this area from pre-breaking and to break them only once when applying them to the items, containers, or cans.This can ensure that the fixing or retaining tabs, which tend to be subjected to greater mechanical stress, are not pre-broken and therefore not pre-weakened, and can thus withstand higher mechanical loads.

[0036] The procedure can thus provide that only a portion of the penetration openings are pretreated, in particular weakened using at least one expansion die.

[0037] It is also possible to use a process variant in which the openings of a given packaging blank are only pretreated in partial segments, while other partial segments of the openings pretreated by means of the expansion die remain unprocessed, in particular unweakened.

[0038] In this context, it may be provided that the openings of a respective packaging blank are pretreated in sub-segments using at least one expansion die and are not pretreated in other sub-segments.

[0039] Furthermore, a variant of the inventive method can provide that the openings of the packaging blanks are pretreated and thereby weakened in a graduated manner and to varying degrees over their circumference.

[0040] In this process, the openings to be pretreated and / or weakened in sub-segments can be pretreated and processed, for example, using a single stretching tool, onto which the packaging blank is repeatedly pushed, whereby at least two openings are pretreated in succession.

[0041] The process can also provide that preferably at least 10% and at most 90% of the penetration openings are pretreated, with even more preferably at least 30% and at most 70% of the penetration openings being pretreated, while the remaining penetration openings remain untreated.

[0042] Furthermore, the method can provide that every second opening in a row and / or column is pretreated, with the openings in the respective packaging blank being arranged in rows and / or columns. Variants are also conceivable in which openings in a central area of ​​the packaging blank are preferably pretreated, in particular only those openings located there. Alternatively, openings in peripheral areas of the packaging blank can preferably be pretreated, in particular only those openings located there.

[0043] These process variants have in common that not all openings are pre-treated in the same way. In addition, there are process variants in which only some of the fixing or retaining tabs of a given opening are pre-broken, which can optionally be done in the same way for all openings or only for some of the openings of a packaging blank.

[0044] In all process variants, the passage openings are preferably each equipped with fixing or retaining tabs pointing inwards towards a passage opening center point, which are separated from each other by star-shaped cuts pointing towards the passage opening center point, wherein the fixing or retaining tabs of the respective passage openings of a packaging blank are pretreated to different degrees and / or weakened by pre-folding, i.e., pre-broken to different degrees.

[0045] In the method according to the invention, it can be provided that the movement sequences for applying the packaging blanks to the stretching die and / or to the articles are carried out by means of at least one multi-axis robot, which receives its control commands for carrying out handling steps from a control unit, which control unit has stored programs for several different movement paths for controlling the manipulator or a control head of the multi-axis robot.

[0046] In this context, the movement paths specified by the control device using the programs stored there can each include the applying and thereby pretreating and / or weakening movement sequences when pressing the packaging blanks onto the stretching die and / or onto the articles, thereby pretreating and / or weakening the packaging blank at at least some of its penetration openings.

[0047] In particular, it may also be provided that the items are transported while the packaging cut is applied to them.

[0048] Furthermore, the inventive method can provide that the multi-axis robot presses the grasped packaging blank onto the same stretching die or onto different stretching dies and / or stretching tools several times in succession to vary the pretreatment step. For example, a robot can press a packaging blank onto the same or different pre-breaking stations twice in succession.

[0049] Alternatively, at least two multi-axis robots can be used in the process with coordinated motion control, wherein a first handling robot removes the packaging blanks from a magazine and feeds them to the stretching die, and wherein a second handling robot picks up the pre-treated packaging blanks from the stretching die and applies them to the articles.

[0050] This method is particularly advantageous for articles where the articles are formed by containers with low inherent stability and / or containers with a flexible shape under force. This can apply, for example, to containers made of a cellulose-containing composite material, such as pulp bottles. Furthermore, the articles can be containers for uncarbonated beverages, which generally exhibit lower mechanical stability due to the lack of stabilizing internal pressure.

[0051] This method can be particularly advantageous when different holding forces are required for the containers to be held, depending on the number of openings in a given packaging blank. Furthermore, the method can include a visual inspection of the finished containers, particularly using at least one camera with subsequent image analysis.

[0052] Furthermore, in this method, one or the control device that generates the control commands for controlling the at least one multi-axis robot can preferably access a central database to adapt its control programs. This database should contain at least information on material and / or deformation data of the packaging blanks used and / or other process-specific information.

[0053] Finally, the present invention also comprises a container formed by at least two articles grouped together by means of at least one packaging blank, wherein the packaging blank is provided with openings for receiving at least one article, through which an article passes and is preferably fixed, wherein the container was manufactured by a method according to one of the previously described embodiments. In particular, the articles can each be formed by containers with low inherent stability and / or by containers with a shape that yields under the influence of force.

[0054] The packaging machine according to the invention can also preferably be coupled or equipped with a control device or control center that serves to control various system functions and is coupled with a data storage device that collects and stores sensor data acquired in the packaging device and can also provide stored sensor data and / or operating and system parameters of the packaging device for influencing system functions. The data storage device can, for example, comprise a database and / or access a database that, in turn, can be stored in a data cloud or partially stored there.

[0055] The database can store numerous parameters, such as those for inputting suitable angles for deforming the locking elements of the packaging blanks—in this context, these are primarily deformable fixing or retaining tabs—on the inside of the through-holes, and / or suitable force values ​​for the motors used to apply the packaging blanks to the product groups. The various container types, manufacturers, available material data of the packaging blanks, material thicknesses of the packaging blanks, etc., can also be taken into account. From this, suitable values ​​for setting the threshold and target values ​​of the packaging machine, as well as for other system components, such as a labeling, filling, sealing, or stretch blow molding machine upstream of the packaging machine, can be calculated.In principle, the principles of machine learning can be taken into account in all these database accesses and calculations. All of these aspects also apply to the method according to the invention.

[0056] The database can also store article data, in particular size and diameter. Furthermore, this data can be assigned to specific container types to be produced by the packaging machine and / or to different modules of the packaging machine, especially those modules involved in container formation.

[0057] The terms "control center" and "control device" used above are to be understood as synonymous in this patent application. The control center or control device can comprise one or more PLCs. A central control unit, in particular a PLC, may be provided that, in addition to the packaging machine or robot, controls other parts of a complete system, which may include other machines such as a filler or a palletizer.

[0058] It should be expressly mentioned here that all aspects and embodiments explained in connection with the packaging machine according to the invention equally relate to, or can constitute, partial aspects of the inventive method for producing containers. Therefore, whenever certain aspects, relationships, and / or effects are mentioned in the description or in the claim definitions of the packaging machine according to the invention, this applies equally to the method according to the invention. Conversely, the same applies, so that all aspects and embodiments explained in connection with the inventive method for producing containers equally relate to, or can constitute, partial aspects of the packaging machine according to the invention.Therefore, whenever certain aspects, relationships, and / or effects are mentioned in the description or the definitions of claims for the inventive method, this applies equally to the packaging machine according to the invention. The following explanations summarize some aspects of the invention previously described in various embodiments and highlight further connections. Some aspects are specified in more detail; however, these should not be seen as contradicting the explanations already given, but rather as more specific embodiments and / or modifications when considered together and / or in cases of doubt.As mentioned several times above, the process steps carried out by means of the method, a pretreatment module for pretreating the packaging blanks in the manner described above and / or the packaging machine for pretreating already manufactured packaging units and / or for producing containers using pretreated packaging blanks are specifically designed to reduce and / or influence and / or vary the application force necessary to fix a gripping carton packaging to a group of articles.The packaging units or containers produced in this application step comprise at least one article, but preferably at least two articles or containers, on which at least one packaging blank, at least partially formed with a flat surface, is arranged, wherein the packaging blank has at least one opening for the at least two grouped articles in the flat surface area.

[0059] The items in question can be containers, such as beverage containers, in particular bottles made of glass, PET or another suitable plastic, cans made of plastic and / or aluminum or another metal, etc. However, the packaging device is also suitable for attaching and securing a corresponding packaging insert to other suitable items or containers.

[0060] The flat packaging blank can be made primarily from recyclable cellulose-based materials. Specifically, it can be made entirely of cardboard and / or paperboard, which can be easily recycled after use. Alternatively, the flat packaging blank can be made of plastic, particularly single-material thermoplastics, which are also readily recyclable. Furthermore, the flat packaging blank may feature one or more cutouts, which may together form a carrying handle.

[0061] In particular, the entire packaging cut may be essentially flat. Tabs from openings or handles may "stick out".

[0062] Alternatively, the flat packaging cut can be composed of several cellulose-containing layers or of a combination of different materials, as well as different recycled materials.

[0063] A packaging machine for producing packaging units or containers comprises at least one feeding device for the items to be packaged or for assemblies of several items, a pretreatment module for preparing the packaging blank for application to the at least one item, and at least one packaging module for applying and securing the packaging blank to the groupings of items. The pretreatment module is designed to include at least one device configured to reduce resistance in an edge region of the at least one opening of the packaging blank during the subsequent application of the packaging blank to the at least one item. This device may be the stretching die with its stretching tools, which has already been mentioned several times above and whose functions have been explained.

[0064] The smallest variant of such manufactured packaging units or containers consists of an article equipped with at least one primary secondary packaging element in the form of a flat packaging blank. All characteristics described here relating to such packaging units may therefore, in principle, be interpreted as applying to packaging units comprising only one article and one packaging blank attached to it. However, all characteristics described here relating to such packaging units also apply analogously or in a suitably adapted manner to packaging units comprising two or more articles and one packaging blank attached to them. In this case, the packaging blank may be designed as a carrying handle, which is not described in detail here.Furthermore, it is possible for the items in the packaging units or containers to be additionally bundled together by a second secondary packaging material or by a tertiary packaging material. Such a second secondary or tertiary packaging material can, for example, consist of at least one band- or strip-like, closed strapping that is stretched horizontally around one side of the items or containers and optionally fixed at a point of contact with at least one of the items.

[0065] It should be noted here as a precaution that the terms packaging units and containers are used synonymously.

[0066] Typically, after the packaging layout has been determined, a defined upper area of ​​the items is located above the packaging layout, while a defined lower area of ​​the items is located below the packaging layout.

[0067] As explained in the context of this description using various design options, the openings of the packaging blank feature suitable fixing devices, which can be formed, for example, by fixing tabs or by retaining tabs referred to here as such. When fixing tabs are mentioned, this refers to retaining tabs, and vice versa. Furthermore, when tabs are mentioned in general, this refers to the fixing tabs or retaining tabs located at the openings.

[0068] For example, the fixing or retaining tabs are formed by cuts or similar features extending radially from the openings. After the packaging blank is positioned and attached to the items, it engages with them in such a way that it is essentially fixed in place. The items can no longer make any significant relative movements or changes in position relative to each other or to the packaging blank in the plane of the packaging blank, although rotation around its own axis is usually still possible, at least with round items. Therefore, the packaging blank can only be removed from the items in the group with considerable force and an upward force component, and this usually results in at least partial damage to the packaging blank.

[0069] The packaging machine comprises at least one feeding device through which at least one, but typically at least two, items are fed. Preferably, the items are pre-assembled into groups in a suitable number and arrangement, and these groups are fed to a packaging module via the at least one feeding device. In the packaging module, a packaging blank is applied to and secured to the group of items. For this purpose, a packaging blank is taken from a magazine and prepared in a pre-treatment module for application to the at least two items of the group. The pre-treatment module includes at least one device designed to reduce resistance in an edge region of the openings of the packaging blank during the subsequent application of the packaging blank to the at least two items.

[0070] For this purpose and according to the present invention, the pretreatment module comprises at least one expansion die, optionally a plurality of expansion dies, which is / are suitable for expanding and / or widening the edge regions of the at least one passage opening in the manner described. In this case, the pretreatment at least slightly increases the mean diameter of the passage openings. This allows an upper region of the articles with a maximum diameter, which is preferably at least slightly larger than the mean diameter of the passage openings, to be more easily passed through the respective passage opening.

[0071] In particular, the application force with which the respective packaging blank is pressed onto the articles, so that the lower part of the articles with a maximum diameter is positioned below the packaging blank and the upper part of the articles is positioned above the packaging blank, is significantly reduced compared to an application force that would be necessary to fix a packaging blank to the articles without pretreatment.

[0072] This also reduces the risk of damaging the items when applying the packaging blank compared to conventional packaging devices and methods. In this case, even items with a thinner wall can be used without being damaged during the application of the packaging blank.

[0073] Specifically, the packaging blank is designed to be slipped over a circumferential rim on the respective item, with tabs at the lower edge of the rim wedging in place if an attempt is made to remove the blank from the item in the opposite direction of application. The rim can be a carrying ring in the case of bottles and a crimped edge in the case of cans.

[0074] As explained above, in the inventive method and the inventive packaging machine, the openings of a packaging blank are pretreated unevenly and / or only partially, or not all openings are pretreated equally.

[0075] During pretreatment, the packaging blank is pressed against the expansion dies, so that the expansion tools of the dies engage with the openings in certain areas, particularly with the edges of the openings. This causes an expansion or other modification of the edges of the openings, and in particular weakens the material in these areas. Preferably, the expansion dies increase the average diameter of the openings.

[0076] The stretching tools of the stretching die can be, for example, conical or frustoconical, with the cone apex or the side with the smaller cross-sectional area facing upwards. In this case, the stretching dies can be suitable for different article sizes. Depending on the average diameter of the openings, the packaging blank can be pressed down accordingly to widen the openings as desired.

[0077] As will be explained further below, the expansion tools can also be formed by halved expansion cones that pretreat only half an inner circle of a passage opening in the manner described, while the remaining area remains untouched.

[0078] The arrangement, number, and positioning of the stretching tools on the respective stretching dies correspond to the arrangement, number, and positioning of the openings in the packaging blank, unless individual openings are to be excluded from pretreatment. Thus, interchangeable stretching dies allow for the provision of the appropriate stretching tools, enabling quick and easy adaptation to a planned product change without the need for complex retooling. During the pretreatment of the packaging blanks, it may be specifically intended that the average diameter of the openings is increased.It is also possible that fixing or retaining tabs formed in the respective edge area of ​​the openings are at least partially folded over, so that the fixing or retaining tabs subsequently protrude from a plane in which the openings are arranged.

[0079] Alternatively, the invention could be presented as follows:

[0080] This is a method and a device for producing containers, each formed by at least two articles grouped together by means of at least one packaging blank, wherein the packaging blanks are equipped with openings for receiving at least one article, through which openings an article passes at least partially and is fixed there, wherein the openings are each equipped with fixing or retaining tabs pointing inwards towards a center of the opening, which are separated from each other by star-shaped cuts and / or scorings pointing towards the center of the opening, and wherein only a part of the fixing or retaining tabs of a packaging blank are pretreated, in particular pre-bent, wherein the packaging blank is then applied to the at least two articles.

[0081] In particular, the openings for receiving exactly one item each can be provided and / or equipped, whereby exactly one item can be locked into the opening.

[0082] In particular, pretreatment can take place at least 20 cm away from the application point. This means that pretreatment can take place in a position that is in the immediate vicinity of the application point, specifically at a distance of 20 cm or slightly more than 20 cm.

[0083] In particular, pretreatment can take place at least 0.5 seconds before application.

[0084] In particular, the pre-bending can comprise bending at least one fixing or retaining tab, preferably all fixing or retaining tabs to be pre-bent, by at least 1°, preferably at least 5°, and even more preferably at least 10°. In particular, the pre-bending can comprise bending at least one fixing or retaining tab, preferably all fixing or retaining tabs to be pre-bent, by a maximum of 90°, preferably a maximum of 80°, and even more preferably a maximum of 70°.

[0085] In particular, at least one, preferably all, non-pre-bent fixing or retaining tabs are then bent for the first time by an article.

[0086] Instead of "applying", one could also say "picking up articles" or "passing articles through the openings".

[0087] Preferably, the bending edges, in particular all of them, are located in a main plane of the packaging blank. Preferably, the bending edges, in particular all of them, are located in the same plane as the through-holes.

[0088] In particular, part of the fixing or retaining tabs may protrude from this plane or main plane after pre-bending and before initial contact with the articles.

[0089] The following exemplary embodiments of the invention and its advantages will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The relative sizes of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the actual relative sizes, as some shapes are simplified and others are enlarged for better illustration.

[0090] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging machine according to the invention, which serves to package articles using packaging blanks.

[0091] Figures 2A to 2D show, in various schematic views, successive process steps that take place one after the other when applying packaging blanks to grouped articles.

[0092] Figures 3A to 3E show further schematic views of several process steps related to the pretreatment of packaging blanks, which are subsequently applied to groupings of articles.

[0093] Fig. 4A shows a schematic top view of a packaging blank provided with six openings for receiving articles. Fig. 4B shows the packaging blank according to Fig. 4A, in which two of the six openings have been pretreated, while four other openings have not been pretreated.

[0094] Fig. 4C shows the packaging blank according to Fig. 4A, in which all six passage openings were pretreated, but in a graduated and different way over their respective circumference.

[0095] Figures 5A and 5B show different views of a first variant of a stretching die for pretreating packaging blanks.

[0096] Figures 6A to 6E show further variants of expansion matrices for the pretreatment of packaging blanks in different views.

[0097] Fig. 7A shows a schematic top view of a combined expansion die which includes several different fields for use and interaction with packaging blanks that require different pretreatment.

[0098] Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of a packaging machine according to the invention as well as some of its interacting components.

[0099] Fig. 9 shows a schematic top view of another embodiment of a packaging machine according to the invention with some of its interacting components.

[0100] Figures 10A to 10C show schematic detail views of an application process for applying packaging blanks to article assemblies, as well as different design variants of expansion matrices for pretreating the packaging blanks.

[0101] Fig. 11 shows a schematic detail view of another embodiment of a part of the packaging machine.

[0102] Fig. 12 shows a schematic view of an alternative design variant of a packaging machine in which the packaging blanks are separated by cutting them from an endless web of material before they are applied to assemblies of articles.

[0103] For identical or similarly acting elements of the invention, the following description of the figures generally uses the same reference numerals. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, in many cases only those reference numerals are used in the individual figures that are necessary for describing the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the packaging machine or the method for producing containers according to the invention can be designed and do not constitute an exhaustive limitation. Moreover, the features described below are not to be understood as closely related to other features of the respective embodiment, but can each be provided for or used in a general context.

[0104] The schematic representation in Fig. 1 illustrates the basic components and the process steps involved in the production of packaging units or containers. For this purpose, a packaging machine 2 is used, which can produce packaging units or containers 18 consisting of at least two articles 12 and an associated packaging blank 10 (see also Fig. 2D). The at least two articles 12, when connected to the packaging blank 10, pass at least partially through openings 14 in a planar area of ​​the packaging blank 10 (see Fig. 2A).

[0105] The packaging machine 2 comprises at least one feeding device 4 for the at least two articles 12, wherein these two or more articles 12 can be fed to the packaging machine 2 in particular in grouped form, i.e. as article grouping 20.

[0106] Furthermore, the packaging machine 2 includes a pretreatment module 6 for pretreating the packaging blanks 10 in order to prepare them for application to at least two articles 12 or to the article grouping 20. To clarify that the packaging blanks 10 are thus prepared for application to the articles 12, they are designated with the reference number 10v in the following description and in the drawing.

[0107] This pretreatment module 6 of the packaging machine 2 is equipped with at least one stretch die 22, but can preferably also be equipped with different stretch dies 22a and 22b (see Figures 5A to 7), which are provided for the targeted and variably configurable widening of the at least one opening 14 of the packaging blank 10. Each of the stretch dies 22, 22a, 22b, which will be described in more detail below, is equipped with at least two stretching tools 24 (see also Figures 5A to 7), which serve to pretreat the openings 14 of each packaging blank 10, 10v pretreated by means of the stretch dies 22, 22a, 22b.

[0108] As illustrated in Figure 5A, the at least two stretching tools 24 of each stretching die 22 or of the different stretching dies 22a and 22b for adapting to differently pre-treated openings 14 within the same packaging blank 10 or of different models on packaging blanks 10 are either dimensioned differently and / or equipped with different relative positions to each other or with different distances from each other, so that different packaging blanks 10 can be pre-treated by using differently designed stretching dies 22, 22a or 22b, as will be explained in more detail below. In particular, however, the different openings 14 of the same packaging blank 10, 10v can be pre-treated in different ways using the stretching dies 22, 22a, 22b, which will be explained below.

[0109] What is merely indicated in Fig. 1 is either the use of a defined stretching die 22 or the option to select from at least two available stretching dies 22a or 22b as active stretching dies 22, each of which can be used for pretreating the packaging blanks 10, while the other stretching die 22b or 22a remains inactive and can be kept ready for later use as an active stretching die 22. In the described case, for example, the first stretching die 22a can be considered the active stretching die 22, while the second stretching die 22b is inactive and is therefore shown with a broken line.

[0110] Various options for such a selection and the devices or manipulators used for this purpose are illustrated in more detail with reference to Figures 5A to 7 and their applicability will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 8 to 12.

[0111] Furthermore, the packaging machine 2, shown schematically, includes a packaging module 8 for applying and securing the pre-treated packaging blanks 10v to the at least two articles 12 of the respective article grouping 20, thereby combining them into packaging units or containers 18. These packaging units or containers 18, which are normally produced in large numbers and in a continuous, uninterrupted production sequence by the packaging machine 2, and in which the packaging blank 10v is to be considered a secondary packaging material and the containers 18 are to be considered secondary packaging, can subsequently be subjected to further processing, e.g., repackaging with tertiary packaging materials and / or assembly into palletizable layer arrangements for stacking and palletizing.

[0112] Based on the schematic views of Figures 2A to 2D, the essential principles of grouping articles 20 by means of attaching a packaging blank 10, i.e. in particular a pre-treated packaging blank 10v, will first be explained, before the characteristics of the present invention, namely the uneven pre-treatment of one or more passage openings 14 and / or the different pre-treatment of several passage openings 14 of the same packaging blank 10, are to be illustrated in the further figures, i.e. in Figures 5A to 11.

[0113] The schematic top view of Fig. 2A illustrates a first embodiment of a packaging blank 10, which can be used to group articles 12 (see Fig. 2B) by passing these articles 12 with their outer surfaces through appropriately provided passage openings 14 and being locked into place with the edge areas 16 of the passage openings 14.

[0114] Furthermore, the schematic top view in Fig. 2B shows an article 12 from above, which can be combined with several other similar or identical articles 12 by the packaging blank 10 according to Fig. 2A to form a packaging unit or a container 18 (see Fig. 2D). The schematic side views in Figures 2C and 2D schematically show the process of applying such a packaging blank 10, i.e., a pre-treated packaging blank 10v, to an assembly of articles 12 according to Fig. 2B. Such an assembly of varying sizes, which is adapted to the packaging blank 10 with which the articles 12 are fitted with regard to the number and arrangement of the articles 12 contained therein, shall in this context also be referred to as an article grouping 20.Preferably, the articles 12 can be beverage containers in the form of bottles or beverage cans 26 made of plastic and / or aluminum or of another suitable metal or material. However, the packaging machine 2 and the method for producing packaging units or containers 18, which are explained in more detail below, are also suitable for arranging and securing a corresponding packaging blank 10 to other suitable articles 12. These can include, in addition to the beverage cans 26 shown, for example, mineral glass bottles, PET beverage containers, or the like.

[0115] Articles 12, cans or beverage cans 26, typically have an annular widening in their upper region, against which the packaging blank 10 can be secured, in particular by a snap-fit ​​mechanism. Specifically, the cans or beverage cans 26 have an annular lid rim 28. Below this annular or circular lid rim 28, the cans 26 have at least a slight narrowing 30 or constriction 30 of a smaller diameter than the lid rim 28. As can be seen in the schematic side view of Fig. 2C, the constriction 30 located below the lid rim 28 has a slightly smaller diameter than the outer surface 32 of the respective can 26 located below the constriction 30, and also a smaller diameter than the lid rim 28 located above the constriction 30.

[0116] The cans 26 may in particular be beverage cans 26 known from the prior art, which are therefore also and generally designated by the reference number 26 in the present context.

[0117] Preferably, the packaging blank 10 or 10v is provided that, after being applied to the assembly or grouping 20 of at least two such cans 26 or beverage cans 26, it is fixed below the lid rim 28, as designated here, in the area of ​​the taper 30 or constriction 30 on the cans 26. Thus, after the packaging blank 10, 10v is applied to the articles 12 formed by the cans 26, a portion of these articles 12 or cans 26 is located above the packaging blank 10, namely, in particular, the can lid with the can closure 34 illustrated in Fig. 2B, while the remaining portion of the articles 12 or cans 26, including their respective outer surface 32, is located below the packaging blank 10, 10v. In particular, it is provided that the packaging blank 10 or 10v is fixed below the can lid rim 28 in the area of ​​the taper 30 or constriction 30.10v in this position is fixed by the articles 12 or cans 26 and conversely, the articles 12 or cans 26 are fixed by the packaging blank 10.

[0118] That in this context the shape of the containers 18 formed in this way and the position of the articles 12 or cans 26 within the assembly or grouping of articles 20 play a role for the degree and extent of fixation, and that this extent of fixation can be influenced by the specific type of pretreatment of the packaging blanks 10, will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 5A to 7.

[0119] If, for example, the articles 12 are bottles made of PET or another suitable plastic material with a screw cap, the bottle has a widening area below the screw cap in the form of the so-called neck ring (not shown here). Below the neck ring, the diameter of the bottle is again reduced in some areas and widens downwards into the body area. Specifically, it is intended that the packaging blank 10, after being applied to an assembly of bottles, is positioned below the neck ring of the bottle's closure area. Thus, after the packaging blank 10 is applied to the bottles, the closure area and the neck ring of the bottles are located above the packaging blank 10, while the remaining part of the bottles is located below the packaging blank 10.

[0120] Here too, the above applies, namely that the bottles, which are fixed to different degrees and may tend to drift apart in different ways during manual handling, can be fixed more evenly by a special type of pretreatment of the packaging blanks according to Figures 5A ff., which can contribute to improved mechanical cohesion of the bottles in the container 18.

[0121] The packaging blank 10 is preferably substantially planar and has the circular openings 14 for the articles 12 or cans 26 shown in Figures 2A, 2C and 2D. The packaging blank 10 is designed such that it can be placed or pressed onto the articles 12 or cans 26 from above, with the articles 12 or cans 26 passing at least partially through the openings 14, so that after the packaging blank 10, 10v, which is preferably pre-treated, is attached to an article grouping 20, the articles 12 or cans 26 are located partly above and partly below the packaging blank 10, 10v.

[0122] After the packaging blank 10 or 10v has been defined, a defined upper area of ​​the articles 12 or cans 26 is located above the packaging blank 10 or 10v, while a defined lower area of ​​the articles 12 or cans 26 is arranged below the packaging blank 10, 10v. In particular, an edge area 16, which limits the openings 14, abuts the outer surface 32 of the articles 12 or cans 26, as illustrated in Fig. 2D by the example of such a packaging unit or container 18 formed in this way.

[0123] Preferably, the openings 14 of the packaging blank 10 can have suitable fixing devices, which can be formed, for example, by fixing or retaining tabs so designated herein. Such fixing or retaining tabs can be formed by incisions extending radially inwards from the openings 14, which, however, are not shown in Fig. 2A. Figures 3A to 3E, however, clearly show these fixing or retaining tabs.

[0124] These fixing tabs or retaining tabs also form the objects of the pretreatment described in more detail below, since they can be selectively pretreated by folding or pre-folding them to weaken the fold points. Such folding or pre-folding generally leads to reduced stiffness and increased flexibility of the pretreated sections of the edge regions 16 of the passage openings 14, which can be used in the present invention to selectively adjust the holding forces of the individual articles 12 or cans 26 within the respective passage openings 14.

[0125] After the packaging blank 10 has been arranged and attached to the articles 12 formed by the cans 26, it engages with the cans 26 in such a way that the packaging blank 10 or 10v is essentially fixed in position on the cans 26 and the cans 26 can no longer make any significant relative movements or changes in position relative to each other or to the packaging blank 10 or 10v.

[0126] Thus, the packaging blank 10 or 10v can only be removed from the articles 12 or cans 26 of the article grouping 20 with increased force and a force component directed away from the articles 12, i.e., in particular upwards, whereby the packaging blank 10 is usually at least partially destroyed. This type of disassembly of the container 18 by separating individual articles 12 or cans 26 while simultaneously destroying or partially destroying the packaging blank 10 is an intentional measure that can be carried out by the end customer when removing individual articles 12 or cans 26 for the purpose of consuming the liquid contents of the articles 12 or cans 26.

[0127] Such packaging blanks 10, as shown here, are often also referred to as gripper carton packaging or top gripper carton packaging. Regardless of their other designation, the packaging blanks 10 can also be considered, in principle, as secondary packaging for combining several primary packages, namely the articles 12, cans 26 or beverage cans 26.

[0128] The packaging blank 10 preferably consists of a suitable cardboard material, a plastic material, a cardboard-plastic composite material or similar, which is normally formed into the shape shown in Figures 2A or 3A or into the shape shown in Figures 4A to 4G by a die-cutting process.

[0129] To produce a packaging unit or container 18 (see Fig. 2D), a packaging blank 10 is pretreated in a suitable manner to reduce the resistance of the packaging blank 10 in the edge areas 16 that define the openings 14 when the packaging blank 10 is applied to the at least two articles 12 or cans 26. As clarified above, the pretreated packaging blank 10 will subsequently be designated by the more precise reference numeral 10v to indicate that the packaging blank 10 has undergone the pretreatment steps described below.

[0130] The pre-treated packaging blank 10v is placed onto a corresponding assembly or grouping of at least two items 12 or cans 26 and, as shown in Fig. 2C, is pressed at least partially onto the items 12 of the grouping 20 by an application force 36 directed at least partially downwards or parallel to the longitudinal axes of the upright items 12 or cans 26, in particular by means of a downward pressure force 36 applied as uniformly as possible to the top surface of the pre-treated packaging blank 10v, and thereby fixed to the items 12 or cans 26. Due to the pre-treatment already mentioned and explained in more detail below, and the resulting reduction in resistance, the application force 36 can be significantly reduced compared to the pressure force 36 required for an untreated packaging blank 10.This makes it generally possible to attach packaging inserts 10v even to items 12 that, for example, have a thinner wall and are therefore less stable under pressure and at risk of buckling. In this way, material consumption for items 12 can be reduced, as even thinner-walled and mechanically less stable items 12 can be grouped together using such a packaging insert 10 or 10v.

[0131] Furthermore, the advantageous reduction of the resistance force and thus the application force 36 makes it possible to apply several packaging blanks 10v simultaneously or almost simultaneously to larger groupings 20 of upright articles 12 or beverage cans 26 and thus increase the machine performance of a packaging machine involved in this.

[0132] Finally, by means of the advantageous non-uniform pretreatment of the individual fixing devices of the passage openings 14 and / or by means of different pretreatment of several passage openings 14 within a packaging blank 10, it is also possible to design the resistance forces at the edge areas 16 non-uniformly, in order not only to influence the application forces 36, but also to positively influence the cohesion of the articles 12 or cans 26 within the container 18, which will be considered in more detail below.

[0133] While Fig. 2A shows an example of a small-area packaging blank 10 with only four through-holes 14 punched in a rectangular arrangement for grouping an article grouping 20 with only four articles 12 or cans 26, the specific pretreatment steps for improving the mechanical cohesion of the articles 12 or cans 26 within the respective container 18 will be explained below, in particular with reference to packaging blanks 10 in which six articles 12 or cans 26 are grouped in a rectangular arrangement (see Figures 4A to 4G).

[0134] However, it should be noted at this point that such packaging blanks 10 can also be significantly larger and may, for example, be suitable for grouping together article groups 20 of eight, twelve, twenty, twenty-four or more articles 12 or cans 26 in the manner described.

[0135] In this context, reference should also be made to Figures 3A to 3E, which in turn show a layout of a corresponding packaging blank 10 (Fig. 3A) and its application on a grouping of articles 20 (Fig. 3C) formed from four identical cans 26, without this being to be understood as a limitation, since the special features of the invention are further clarified below with reference to such packaging blanks 10 in which a total of six articles 12 or cans 26 are grouped together in the manner described (cf. Figures 4A to 4C).

[0136] The cans 26 or beverage cans 26, which constitute the articles 12 to be grouped together as a packaging unit or container 18 (see Fig. 2D), can preferably be the same as those shown by way of example in top view in Fig. 2B. The packaging blanks 10 shown in Figures 3A to 3C can also optionally be larger and have more than four openings 14. In particular, they can have six openings 14, as will be explained below with reference to Figures 4A to 4C.

[0137] Figure 3A shows an untreated packaging blank 10, which may have been cut from a cardboard sheet, for example, by a die-cutting process. In contrast, the top view in Figure 3B illustrates such a packaging blank 10 according to Figure 3A, which has undergone pretreatment and is therefore designated by the reference numeral 10v. Figure 3C shows a packaging unit or container 18 formed by four articles 12 in the form of cans 26, which are grouped and mechanically held together by means of a pretreated packaging blank 10v applied to the articles 12 or cans 26.

[0138] The sectional views of Figures 3D and 3E also show a partial area of ​​such a packaging blank 10 or 10v, in particular a partial area showing the passage opening 14 according to Figures 3A and 3B in a cross-sectional view.

[0139] As can be seen in Figures 3A and 3B, the packaging blank 10 has four through-openings 14 with an average or mean diameter d14. In the edge regions 16 that define each of the through-openings 14, so-called fixing or retaining tabs 38 are formed. The fixing or retaining tabs 38 are formed, in particular, by radial incisions 40 extending from the through-openings 14. The radial incisions 40 extend from the inner edge region 16 of each through-opening 14 outwards, i.e., towards a diameter larger than the actual dimension d14 of the respective through-openings 14. The radial incisions 40 can be distributed regularly and in greater numbers around the round through-openings 14, as schematically indicated in Figure 3A.

[0140] When the packaging blank 10 is pressed onto suitable stretching tools 24, as described below in connection with Figures 5A to 7, or by other suitable forming devices, these fixing or retaining tabs 38 are at least partially pressed and / or bent in the same direction as required by the subsequent application process. Since the fixing or retaining tabs 38 deflect upwards and thus in the opposite direction to the application direction during an application process of the packaging blank 10 according to Fig. 2C, they are therefore sensibly also bent and pre-formed in the same direction by means of the stretching tools 24. After such a pre-formed and pre-stretched step, the fixing or retaining tabs 38 now project upwards beyond the plane of the packaging blank 10 or 10v in which the through-openings 14 are located, as shown in the sectional view of Fig.3E is illustrated schematically.

[0141] By pressing upwards and / or bending the fixing or retaining tabs 38 upwards, the mean diameter of such a pre-treated passage opening 14 increases, which is characterized by the reference numeral d14v. In particular, the mean diameter d14 of a passage opening 14 of a packaging blank 10 before pre-treatment is smaller than the mean diameter d14v of a passage opening 14v of a packaging blank 10v after pre-treatment. Thus, in this context, such a pre-treated or widened passage opening 14 is designated by the reference numeral 14v (see Fig. 3E).

[0142] However, the increased mean diameter d14v of such a pre-treated passage opening 14v after pre-treatment is preferably still at least slightly less than a maximum mean diameter of the articles 12 in their upper region, in particular in an upper region which is located in the finished container 18 above the packaging blank 10v fixed to the articles 12.

[0143] Since the fixing or retaining tabs 38 of a single passage opening 14 can also be pretreated in different ways over its circumference, the terms used here, namely the mean diameter d14 of a passage opening 14 or the mean diameter d14v of a passage opening 14v of a packaging blank 10v after pretreatment, are primarily intended to clarify the basic process and effects of such pretreatment, since according to the present invention the individual fixing or retaining tabs 38 of a passage opening 14 can be pretreated or prefolded to different extents, and since, furthermore, according to a variant of the present invention, the fixing or retaining tabs 38 of adjacent passage openings 14 of a packaging blank can be pretreated or prefolded to different extents (see in particular Figures 4A to 40).

[0144] Preferably, in the finished container 18, the fixing or retaining tabs 38 are engaged with the underside of the respective lid edge 28 of the individual cans 26 in such a way that the packaging blank 10 or 10v is firmly fixed to the cans 26 and thus can no longer slip upwards (see also Fig. 2D).

[0145] The schematic top view in Fig. 4A also shows an untreated, flat packaging blank 10, formed, for example, from a thin and sufficiently stiff cardboard material, which has a rectangular main surface 42 with punched-out openings 14 distributed throughout it. The six identically sized punched-out openings 14, each serving to receive articles 12 or cans 26 (see Figures 2A to 3E) that can be snapped into them, are distributed in a 2x3 rectangular arrangement over the main surface 42 of the packaging blank 10.

[0146] In addition, two access openings 44 are provided between the two rows of three through-holes arranged parallel to the longitudinal sides. These through-holes allow for manual access when carrying a container 18 formed by the packaging blank 10 and six articles 12 or cans 26 held together by it. The access openings 44 are each significantly smaller in diameter than the through-holes 14 for the cans 26. They are located in the center of each of the two groups of four through-holes 14, which overlap in the central pair of openings.

[0147] As previously explained with reference to Figures 3A to 3E, each of the through-openings 14 is designed such that, starting from an inner or central diameter d14 (see Fig. 3D), a total of sixteen identical fixing or retaining tabs 38 of the same width are formed, each of which has a material connection or material bridge 46 to the main surface 42 only on its rear side facing away from the inner diameter, while its side flanks 48 bordering adjacent fixing or retaining tabs 38 are separated from each other by the radial incisions 40 mentioned above (see Figures 3A and 3B), so that each individual fixing or retaining tab 38 is connected to the main surface 42 of the packaging blank 10 only by its rear material bridges 46, while its other three sides are unconnected.

[0148] Thus, the sixteen fixing or retaining tabs 38 at the edge regions 16 of each passage opening 14 each have a trapezoidal shape, in which the material bridge 46 to the main surface 42 is slightly wider than the front free end face 50 pointing towards the center of the respective passage opening 14. When a can 26 is inserted into the passage opening 14 and is locked in place, this front free end face 50 rests against the outer surface of the can 26 immediately below the lid edge 28, particularly in the area of ​​the taper or constriction 30 above the outer surface 32 of the respective can 26 (see Figures 2C and 2D). In addition to the trapezoidal shape of the edge regions or the respective fixing or retaining tabs 38, other shapes are also conceivable, for example, jagged.

[0149] Although the embodiments of the packaging blanks 10 and 10v shown in Figures 4A, 4B, and 4C each have through-openings 14 with a total of sixteen identical fixing or retaining tabs 38, this subdivision of the edge regions 16 with the corresponding number of radial incisions 40 for separating the fixing or retaining tabs 38 from one another is merely exemplary. Alternatively, significantly more or significantly fewer fixing or retaining tabs 38 distributed around the circumference of the edge regions 16 can be provided. The appropriate subdivision can be selected depending on the desired length of the fixing or retaining tabs 38, their preferred stiffness or elasticity, and the desired joining forces 36 when the packaging blank 10 or 10v is snapped into place with the respective grouping of articles 20.The fact that the front end face 50 has a shorter length than the approximately parallel material bridge 46 to the main surface 42 of the packaging blank 10 necessarily results from the differing diameters on which the front end faces 50 and the material bridges 46 lie. The undeformed fixing or retaining tabs 38, whose surfaces lie parallel to the main surface 42 (see Fig. 3D), define the smallest possible inner diameter or mean diameter d14 of the through-openings 14.

[0150] As can be seen in Fig. 4A, the radial incisions 40 can be slightly widened towards the front end faces 50. This can be achieved during the punching process by removing a narrow separation area between two adjacent fixing or retaining tabs 38. This results in the more pronounced trapezoidal shape of the fixing or retaining tabs 38, as illustrated in the drawing, since the side flanks 48 converge more distinctly towards the front free end face 50 than would be the case with incisions 40 where the side flanks 48 are in contact, i.e., without material removal between them.

[0151] The schematic top view in Fig. 4B illustrates, using a pre-treated packaging blank 10v, a first variant of such pretreatment, in which only two of the six passage openings 14 were pre-treated in the manner described above by bending all individual fixing or retaining tabs 38 of the affected passage openings 14 upwards to the same extent from the surface plane of the main surface 42 of the packaging blank 10. This pretreatment, in which the fixing or retaining tabs 38 of the two affected passage openings 14 are each bent and folded at an angle of approximately 30° to 60° at their respective material bridges 46 to the main surface 42, applies to the two central passage openings 14 of the three adjacent rows of passage openings 14 located in the main surface 42.

[0152] The fixing or retaining tabs 38 of the two affected passage openings 14 can, in particular, each be angled at approximately 45° at their respective material bridges to the main surface 42 and folded upwards, as can be seen in Fig. 4B from the fact that their respective lengths, i.e., the distance between the material bridge 46 and the front face 50, are approximately halved. However, the appropriate folding angle to be selected in practice depends on the circumstances and requirements, i.e.,according to the desired or still tolerable joining forces 36, which result from the play between the resulting diameter d14v of the pretreated passage openings 14v and the circumference of the cans 26 to be encircled at their respective constrictions 30, the elastic and plastic further deformability of the already pretreated fixing or retaining tabs 38 as well as the stiffness of the selected material of the packaging blanks 10.

[0153] As a result, the pretreatment shown in Fig. 4B leads to a weakening of the fixing elements, i.e., the fixing or retaining tabs 38 which are deformed when the packaging blank 10v is pressed onto and snapped into place on the upper sides of the articles 12 or cans 26 to be grouped together in the container 18 and thereby snap into place with the lid edges 28. This significantly reduces the joining and application forces 36 on the two middle cans 26 of the article grouping 20, which consists of a total of six cans 26 arranged in a rectangular configuration. Furthermore, the described type of pretreatment, which weakens the fixing or retaining tabs 38, results in at least a slightly reduced holding force and therefore reduced inertial forces when a single can 26 is to be removed from the opening 14v pretreated in this way.

[0154] In contrast, the remaining four passage openings 14 in the packaging blank 10 shown in Fig. 4B were not pretreated, so that all their associated fixing or retaining tabs 38 are neither pretreated nor folded over, so that they continue to lie in the same surface plane as the main surface 42. Overall, and according to the definition above, the packaging blank 10 shown in Fig. 4B is to be considered a pretreated packaging blank 10v, even though less than half of its passage openings 14 were actually subjected to a pretreatment step.

[0155] The schematic top view of Fig. 4C illustrates, using a further pre-treated packaging blank 10v, an alternative second variant of such pre-treatment, in which all six passage openings 14 were pre-treated, but in a different way than previously described and also in a partially different way, so that not all six passage openings are pre-treated in the same way.

[0156] The pretreatment of the fixing or retaining tabs 38 only affects approximately half of each passage opening 14, and not in a way where adjacent fixing or retaining tabs 38 alternately remain unchanged and, for example, every second fixing or retaining tab 38 is folded and thus weakened. The pretreatment in the variant of the pretreated packaging blank 10v shown in Fig. 4C is designed such that the fixing or retaining tabs 38 on the facing sections of the passage openings 14 are not folded or are only slightly folded and thus weakened and pretreated, while the fixing or retaining tabs 38 on the outwardly facing sections of the passage openings 14 are folded more strongly and thus weakened and pretreated.

[0157] To better illustrate the areas affected by the pretreatment, a longitudinal center axis 52 is shown in Fig. 4C, running through the main surface 42 and connecting its narrow sides 54, intersecting each at its midpoint and perpendicularly. The longitudinal center axis 52 thus runs parallel to the two longitudinal sides 56 of the main surface 42, dividing it into two equal halves, each containing a row of three passage openings 14. The segments of the edge regions 16 facing the longitudinal center axis 52 are not pretreated or only to a small extent, while the segments of the edge regions 16 of the passage openings 14 facing away from the longitudinal center axis 52 are pretreated, i.e., provided with more heavily pre-folded and thus weakened fixing or retaining tabs 38.

[0158] In the present context and in the top view of Fig. 4C, these untreated or only slightly pretreated sub-segments of the edge regions 16 of the passage openings 14 are each designated by the reference numeral 58. These untreated sub-segments 58, which each face the longitudinal center axis 52 of the main surface 42 of the packaging blank 10, can, for example, describe a circular segment angle of slightly less than 180°, but optionally also an angle of more than 180°.

[0159] The clearly pre-treated sub-segments located in the outer sections of the main surface 42, i.e., those facing the longitudinal sides 56 and / or the narrow sides 54, are designated in this context by the reference numeral 60. These pre-treated sub-segments 60 of the edge regions 16 of the passage openings 14 can, in particular, describe a circular segment angle of slightly more than 180°, but optionally also an angle of slightly less than 180°.

[0160] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4C, the packaging blank 10v, which is pretreated to varying degrees in different sub-segments 58 and 60 of the through-openings 14, has a further special feature. The fixing or retaining tabs 38 in the pretreated sub-segments 60 are also pretreated to varying degrees, i.e., folded more or less deeply.Thus, the fixing or retaining tabs 38 in the edge areas of the pretreated sub-segment 60, which border on both sides of the untreated sub-segments 58 of each of the passage openings 14, are only slightly folded and thus weakened, while this degree of weakening and pretreatment increases from fixing or retaining tab to fixing or retaining tab 38 and is most clearly and strongly folded and thus pre-weakened in the area of ​​the pretreated sub-segment 60, which is furthest away from the untreated sub-segment 58, i.e. opposite it.

[0161] As can be seen in Fig. 4C, the fixing or retaining tabs 38 facing the longitudinal sides 56 of the packaging blank 10 are folded most severely and thus weakened. The distance shown in the drawing between the material bridge 46 and the front end face 50 of the affected fixing or retaining tabs 38 is less than one-third of the distance of the untreated fixing or retaining tabs 38, so that the most severely folded fixing or retaining tabs 38 are folded upwards at an angle of more than 60°. The angle of the fixing or retaining tabs 38 adjoining them on both sides in the pretreated segment 60 then gradually decreases until, for example, it may be less than 30° at the edges adjacent to the untreated segment 58.

[0162] In the variant of the pre-treated packaging blank 10v shown in Fig. 4C, the appropriate bending angles to be selected in the pre-treated sub-segments 60, as well as the size of the pre-treated sub-segments, are again determined in practice by the circumstances and requirements, i.e., by the desired or still tolerable joining forces 36, which result from the play between the resulting diameter d14v of the pre-treated passage openings 14v and the circumference of the cans 26 to be enclosed at their respective constrictions 30, the elastic and plastic further deformability of the already pre-treated fixing or retaining tabs 38, and the stiffness of the selected material of the packaging blanks 10.

[0163] As a result, the pretreatment shown in Fig. 4G leads to a weakening of the affected fixing or retaining tabs 38, i.e., the fixing or retaining tabs 38 which are deformed when the packaging blank 10v is pressed onto and snapped into place on the upper sides of the articles 12 or cans 26 to be grouped together in the container 18 and thereby snap into place with the lid edges 28, so that the joining and application forces 36 in the areas of the respective pretreated sub-segments 60 can be significantly reduced. In addition, the described type of pretreatment, which leads to a weakening of the affected fixing or retaining tabs 38, results in at least a slightly reduced holding force and therefore reduced inertial forces when a single can 26 is to be removed from the opening 14v pretreated in this way.

[0164] Furthermore, the described measure allows for precise adjustment of the resulting joining and holding forces; that is, the holding force with which the articles 12 or cans 26 are held in their respective positions relative to the packaging blank 10 can be influenced. For example, if the cans 26 slip out of their anchoring when gripped near the handle or the access openings 44, it can be advantageous to exempt the fixing or retaining tabs 38 in this area from pre-breaking and to break them only once when applying them to the cans 26. These unpre-broken areas are the described untreated sub-segments 58. This measure can ensure that the fixing or retaining tabs 38, which tend to be subjected to higher mechanical stress, are not pre-broken and therefore not pre-weakened, and can thus withstand higher mechanical loads.

[0165] Furthermore, Figures 5A to 70 and Fig. 8 illustrate different variants of expansion matrices 22, in which some of the expansion tools 24 are designed in such a way that the described sub-segments 58 and 60 with pre-treated or unpre-treated fixing or retaining tabs 38 can be of different sizes, and that the extent of folding in the pre-treated sub-segments 60 can also vary.

[0166] Figures 5A to 8 illustrate various versions of stretch dies 22 that can be used within the pretreatment module 6 according to Fig. 1. Each of these stretch dies 22, as designated here, is equipped with a number of stretching tools 24 corresponding to the number of openings 14 to be pretreated in the respective packaging blank 10. The arrangement of the stretching tools 24 within the stretch die 22 must also correspond to the arrangement of the openings 14 in the packaging blank 10. Thus, the stretching tools 24 of each of the different stretch dies 22 are arranged in a relative configuration that corresponds to the arrangement of the articles 12 or cans 26 in the finished packaging unit or container 18.

[0167] The expansion tools 24 are each formed by expansion cones 62, which are hereby designated as such, wherein the expansion cones 62 can have different shapes and orientations, so that they can pretreat partial segments 60 of the edge areas 16 of the passage openings 14, while the partial segments 58 not to be pretreated (see Fig. 40) can remain completely untreated by the expansion cones 62.

[0168] Each individual packaging blank 10, which can be pressed onto the expansion cones 62 from above or slipped over the expansion cones 62 by means of a suitable gripper head (not shown here, but see Fig. 9), is expanded in the inner edge regions 16 of its passage openings 14 by the expansion cone 62, which widens in diameter downwards, since when the packaging blanks are pushed onto the respective expansion tool 22, an expansion cone 62 protrudes through each passage opening 14 of the packaging blank 10 and causes the fixing or retaining tabs 38 located there to deflect in a controlled manner as they are gradually pushed onto the expansion cones 62, thus bending and weakening them.

[0169] The packaging blank 10 is pressed downwards on the expansion cones 62 at least to such an extent that the edge regions 16 of the passage openings 14 are stretched by the downwardly widening cross-section of the expansion cones 62, thereby increasing the diameter of the passage openings 14 at least slightly. The packaging blank 10v, thus pre-treated, is then conveyed by the gripper head, which still holds the packaging blank 10v, to the downstream packaging module 8 (see Fig. 1) and applied to a waiting group of articles 20.

[0170] Due to the inclined or conical shape of the expansion cones 62, with their upward-pointing tips, the packaging blank 10 is centered and precisely positioned or aligned. The pre-treated packaging blank 10v can then be precisely picked up by the gripper head and placed onto a corresponding assembly of articles 12 or cans 26, i.e., onto an article grouping 20, and secured by pressing down on them. However, the expansion cones 62 shown in Figures 5A to 7C are partially halved or reduced along their respective longitudinal center axis, so that the edge regions 16 of the through-openings can be pre-treated differently in partial segments. Thus, the schematic side view of Figure 5A and the schematic top view of Figure 5B show a variant embodiment of an expansion die 22 with which a packaging blank 10 can essentially be pre-treated in a manner as can be seen from Figures 5A to 7C.Figure 4C illustrates this. The expansion cones 62 are each bisected along their longitudinal central axes, with the remaining halves pointing towards the longitudinal sides 56, while the mutually facing areas of the expansion cones 62 are missing.

[0171] Fig. 6A illustrates a schematic side view of another embodiment of a stretching die 22, showing a side view of a longitudinal side of the stretching die 22. The stretching cones 62, each halved in cross-section, have their active sides facing outwards in pairs, which allows for pretreatment and pre-breaking of the outer fixing or retaining tabs 38 of the through-holes 14 slid over them.

[0172] The expansion die 22 shown in the schematic top view of Fig. 6B comprises six halved expansion cones 62, the semicircular active sides of which point outwards, so that the four outer halved expansion cones 62 point towards the corners of the packaging blank slid over them, while the two halved expansion cones 62 located in the middle on the long sides point towards the long sides.

[0173] The expansion die 22 shown in the schematic top view of Fig. 6C comprises only four halved expansion cones 62, whose semicircular active sides each point outwards, so that the four outer halved expansion cones 62 each point towards the corners of the packaging blank slid over them. Except for the missing two expansion cones 62, which are located centrally on the longitudinal sides in the variant according to Fig. 6B but are missing in the variant according to Fig. 6C, the expansion dies 22 shown in Figures 6B and 6C are identical. Due to the missing two halved expansion cones 62 in the area of ​​the two longitudinal sides, the corresponding through-openings 14 in the packaging blank 10 pretreated with this die remain untreated. In contrast, the expansion die shown in the schematic top view in Fig.The further expansion die 22 shown in Figure 6D has complete expansion cones 62 in the center, while the four outer halved expansion cones 62 each have the same shape and orientation as in the variants according to Figures 6B and 60. Except for the two completely conical expansion cones 62, which are located centrally on the longitudinal sides in the variant according to Figure 6D but are missing in the variant according to Figure 6C, the expansion dies 22 shown in Figures 6B and 6D are similar. Due to the two completely conical expansion cones 62 in the area of ​​the two longitudinal sides, the fixing or retaining tabs 38 of the through-openings 14 pressed therein are all deformed and pretreated.

[0174] The expansion die 22 shown in the schematic top view of Fig. 6E comprises in turn six halved expansion cones 62, the semicircular active sides of which each point outwards, so that the four outer halved expansion cones 62 each point towards the corners of the packaging blank slid over them, while the two halved expansion cones 62 located in the middle on the long sides each point towards the long sides. This expansion die 22 resembles the variant shown in Fig. 6B, but differs in that the four corner expansion cones 62 have a larger cross-section than the halved expansion cones 62 according to Fig. 6B, resulting in pretreated sub-segments 60 of these passage openings 14 being larger than the untreated sub-segments 58. Thus, more than half of the fixing or retaining tabs 38 of the pretreated passage openings 14 are bent over and thereby weakened by means of these expansion cones 62.

[0175] The multifunctional expansion die 22 shown in a schematic top view in Fig. 7 has several adjacent fields for the variable reception of packaging blanks to be pre-treated. The left field corresponds to the expansion die 22 according to Fig. 5B, while the field to its right corresponds to the expansion die 22 according to Fig. 60. The field to the right of the first has only two centrally located, halved expansion cones 62 on the two longitudinal sides, thus representing the difference between the variants according to Fig. 6B and Fig. 60.

[0176] The rightmost section of the multifunctional stretch die 22 according to Fig. 7 has six complete stretch cones 62, thus ensuring uniform pretreatment of six through-holes 14 across their entire circumference. The schematic representation in Fig. 8 shows a possible embodiment of a packaging machine 2 according to the invention, which, particularly in the area of ​​its respective pretreatment module 6, can be equipped with different configurations of handling robots in order to use different available stretch dies 22, which may be necessary for pretreating different packaging blanks 10, as required. The stretch dies 22 can, for example, be such as those shown by way of example in Figures 5A to 7.

[0177] The schematic representation in Fig. 8 shows a practically applicable embodiment of the packaging device 2, which is equipped with a feeder 4 for conveying groups of articles 20 in a defined conveying direction on a horizontal conveyor 64 or similar conveying device provided for this purpose. The groups of articles 20 conveyed on the horizontal conveyor 64 of the feeder 4 each comprise a defined number of articles 12 or cans 26, whereby this number and the arrangement of the articles 12 or cans 26 relative to each other can differ within the respective grouping 20, so that differently designed packaging blanks 10 may be required to combine the groupings 20 into packaging units or containers 18.

[0178] Since the transport direction or conveying direction of the horizontal conveying device 64 points perpendicularly into the plane of the drawing or points perpendicularly out of it, it is not shown separately in Fig. 8.

[0179] The pretreatment module 6 of the packaging machine 2 according to Fig. 8 comprises at least one pre-breaking station 66, which is arranged on the left side of the feeding device 4. In the immediate vicinity of the pre-breaking station 66 is a magazine 68 for the respective required variant of packaging blanks 10, which are not yet pretreated, and whose openings 14 can be punched there in an arrangement and configuration suitable for the articles 12 or cans 26 with regard to their spacing and / or dimensions.

[0180] In order to remove the respective packaging blanks 10 from the magazine 68 and feed them to the nearby pre-breaking station 66, a first handling robot 70 can be provided in the embodiment of the packaging machine 2 shown in Fig. 8, the preferably multi-axis movable swivel arm 72 of which is equipped with a gripper head 74 that is able to remove the packaging blanks 10 from the magazine 68 and feed them to the waiting pre-breaking station 66.

[0181] The pre-crushing station 66 shown in Fig. 8 can, as illustrated there by way of example, have only a single stretching tool 24 or a pair of aligned stretching tools 24 on its stretching die 22, wherein this stretching tool 24 or this pair of stretching tools 24 is formed by a stretching cone 62. This stretching cone 62 or these pairs of stretching cones of the stretching die 22 can, for example, have the shape and / or arrangement described in Figures 5A to 7.

[0182] After pretreatment at the pre-crushing station 66, the pretreated packaging blanks 10v can be placed by a second handling robot 76 onto the article grouping 20 which is ready on the horizontal conveyor 64 of the feeding device 4 in order to form the packaging units or containers 18 as has already been described in detail above.

[0183] Preferably, the second handling robot 76 also has a multi-axis movable swivel arm 72 with a gripper head 74, which is able to take the pre-treated packaging blanks 10v from the expansion die 22 of the pre-breaking station 66 and feed them to the article grouping 20 on the horizontal conveyor 64 of the feeding device 4 in order to press and apply the pre-treated packaging blank 10v to the top side, as has already been explained above.

[0184] As shown schematically in the illustration of Fig. 8, the gripper heads 74 of the two handling robots 70 and 76, i.e., of the first and second handling robots 70 and 76, can interlock in a coordinated manner or simultaneously access the packaging blank 10 or 10v. If, for example, the gripper head 74 of the first handling robot 70, with which the packaging blanks 10 to be pre-treated are taken from the magazine 68 and fed to the expansion die 22 of the pre-breaking station 66, is designed like a rake, then suction cups or similar gripping elements of the gripper head 74 of the second handling robot 76 can engage there or reach between the rake elements of the first gripper head 74 in order to take over the pre-treated packaging blank 10v and feed it to the waiting article grouping 20 and apply it there. In the illustration of Fig.At position 8, the gripper head 74, guided on the swivel arm 72 of the first handling robot 70, is located at the pre-breaking station 66 with the packaging blank 10 held therein and presses the packaging blank 10 onto the upwardly tapered stretching tool 24 of the stretching die 22 of the pre-breaking station 66. This stretches the openings of the packaging blank 10 as desired by means of the stretching tools 24 of the stretching die 22 formed by the stretching cones 62 described above, so that the pre-treated packaging blank 10v can be placed onto the article grouping 20 by means of the second handling robot 76.

[0185] However, it should be noted at this point that the described handling steps, i.e., the removal of the packaging blanks 10 from the magazine 68, their placement on the expansion die 22, and the removal of the pre-treated packaging blanks 10v from the expansion die 22 in order to apply them to the articles 12, can also be carried out by a single handling robot 70 or 76, if it has a corresponding reach of its gripper head 74 moved on the swivel arm 72 and a corresponding program control.

[0186] Additionally, it should be noted that there is also the possibility that the first handling robot 70 takes the packaging blanks 10 from the magazine 68 and places them on the stretching die, whereas the second handling robot 76 presses the packaging blank 10 onto the stretching die in order to pretreat it and then applies the pretreated packaging blank 10v to the article grouping 20.

[0187] The schematic representation of Fig. 8 further reveals a control center 78, which controls at least the first handling robot 70 and its movements when removing the packaging blanks 10 from the magazine 68 and feeding them to the pre-breaking station 66, as well as the second handling robot 76 in its movements in connection with removing the pre-treated packaging blanks 10v from the pre-breaking station 66 and also when pressing the pre-treated packaging blanks 10v onto the articles 12 or cans 26 of the respective available article groupings 20.

[0188] The control center 78 supplies corresponding control signals 80 to the two handling robots 70 and 76. The fact that the data connection between the control center 78 and the handling robots 70 and 76 consists of double arrows each designated with the reference numeral 80 is intended to express that the handling robots 70 and 76 can preferably also each supply sensor signals of different types to the control center 78 in order to facilitate the precise motion control of the swivel arms 72 and the gripper heads 74.

[0189] Furthermore, Fig. 8 shows an optional optical sensor device 82, which may in particular be a camera 84 with downstream image evaluation. This optional optical sensor device 82 or camera 84 with its downstream image evaluation can be spatially and functionally assigned to the horizontal conveying device 64. Its task may in particular be to monitor the finished packaging units or containers 18 equipped with the pre-treated packaging blanks 10v, whereby the image evaluation may in particular be aimed at checking whether all fixing or retaining tabs 38 are correctly engaged at the through-openings 14 of the packaging blanks 10 and / or whether the packaging blank 10 is properly locked to the articles 12 or cans 26 and is located in the intended horizontal plane.

[0190] The optional optical sensor device 82 or camera 84 also sensibly delivers its image signals 86 to the control center 78, in which the suitable image evaluation can be located in order to obtain the desired or required information on the condition of the finished packaging units or containers 18 from the image signals 86.

[0191] Furthermore, the control center 78 can optionally be connected to an external data storage device 88, which may, for example, be a data cloud 90. The data 92 exchanged between the external data storage device 88 or the data cloud 90 and the control center 78 are also indicated by a double arrow, which is intended to characterize the bidirectional nature of the data exchange.

[0192] Furthermore, the control center 78 can be usefully coupled with the feeding device 4 and with the pretreatment module 6, which is not illustrated in the representation of Fig. 8.

[0193] The schematic top view in Fig. 9 also illustrates another

[0194] A variant embodiment of the packaging machine 2 according to the invention, which differs in some details - M - from the variants of the packaging machine 2 shown in Fig. 8, but in many respects corresponds to this variant embodiment, which will be considered in detail below.

[0195] In the illustrated embodiment of the packaging machine 2, the feeding device 4 for conveying the article groups 20 in a defined conveying direction 94 is visible on the horizontal conveying device 64 provided for this purpose. The conveying direction 94 of the horizontal conveying device 64 points from bottom to top in the illustration of Fig. 9.

[0196] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, the article groupings 20 conveyed on the horizontal conveying device 64 of the feeding device 4 each comprise twenty articles 12 or cans 26, which are grouped and assembled in a rectangular arrangement, so that the appropriately configured packaging blanks 10 are kept ready and pretreated for each of these article groupings 20 in order to be able to combine the groupings 20 into packaging units or containers 18 in the manner described above.

[0197] The pretreatment module 6 of the packaging machine 2 according to Fig. 9 can comprise a first pre-breaking station 66, which is arranged to the left of the feeding device 4. A second pre-breaking station 96 can also be provided, which is likewise located to the left of the feeding device 4 and – with respect to the conveying direction 94 – below the first pre-breaking station 66. In the immediate vicinity of the first pre-breaking station 66 is the first magazine 68 for a first variant of packaging blanks 10, which are not yet pre-treated and whose openings can be punched in a first arrangement (not shown here).

[0198] In the immediate vicinity of the second pre-breaking station 96 is a second magazine 98 for a second variant of packaging blanks 10, which are not yet pre-treated, and whose openings can each be punched in a second arrangement (also not shown here), wherein the spacing and / or size of the openings of the packaging blanks 10 of the first magazine 68 differ from the spacing and / or size of the openings of the packaging blanks 10 of the second magazine 98, so that the untreated packaging blanks 10 of the first magazine 68 are not suitable for pre-treatment with a stretch die 22 which is matched to the spacing and / or size of the packaging blanks 10 of the second magazine 98, and vice versa.

[0199] To remove the packaging blanks 10 from the first magazine 68 of the first pre-breaking station 66 and feed them to the first expansion die 22a located in their vicinity, a handling robot (not shown here) can be provided, whose preferably multi-axis movable swivel arm has a suitably equipped gripper head that is able to remove the packaging blanks 10 from the first magazine 68 and feed them to the first expansion die 22a that is suitable for them.

[0200] This first expansion die 22a of the first pre-crushing station 66 can, for example, according to the schematic representation of Fig. 9, only be equipped with outer expansion cones 62, so that outer passage openings of the packaging blanks placed there are widened and pre-treated, but not passage openings located further inside.

[0201] After pretreatment in the first pre-breaking station 66, the pretreated packaging blanks 10v can be placed on the respective grouping of articles 20 on the horizontal conveyor 64 of the feeding device 4 by means of the handling robot (not shown here), which is preferably located near the horizontal conveyor 64 and in this case accesses the first pre-breaking station 66, in order to form the packaging units or containers 18, as has already been described in detail above.

[0202] If the grouping of articles 20 transported on the horizontal conveyor 64 in the conveying direction 94 has a different configuration, it may be necessary to access the differently configured packaging blanks 10 from the second magazine 98 and thus to use the second pre-crushing station 96 in total.

[0203] To remove the suitable packaging blanks 10 from the second magazine 98 of the second pre-breaking station 96 and feed them to the second stretching die 22b located nearby, the embodiment of the packaging machine 2 shown in Fig. 9 can optionally be equipped with an additional handling robot (not shown here), whose preferably multi-axis movable swivel arm has a suitably equipped gripper head capable of removing the packaging blanks 10 from the second magazine 98 and feeding them to the corresponding second stretching die 22b in the area of ​​the second pre-breaking station 96. Alternatively, a single handling robot with a sufficient range of motion for its swivel arm and gripper head can be used to handle the packaging blanks from both the first magazine 68 and the second magazine 98.

[0204] For example, in the second die 22b of the second pre-breaking station 96, every second expansion cone 62 may be omitted, so that only every second through-opening of the pre-treated packaging blanks 10 is widened. After pre-treatment in the second pre-breaking station 96, the appropriately pre-treated packaging blanks 10v can be placed by the handling robot accessing the second pre-breaking station 96 onto the respective grouping of articles 20 on the horizontal conveyor 64 of the feeding device 4, in order to form the corresponding packaging units or containers 18.

[0205] Furthermore, the pretreatment module 6 of the packaging machine 2 according to Fig. 9 can have an optional third pre-breaking station 100, which can be arranged, for example, to the right of the feeding device 4 or above the feeding device 4. In the immediate vicinity of this optional third pre-breaking station 100, a third magazine 102 for a third variant of packaging blanks 10, which are not yet pretreated, can be arranged, and whose openings can be punched there in a third arrangement (not shown here).

[0206] In this context, for example, the required pretreatment steps or the extent of the pretreatment for the penetration openings may differ from the previously mentioned pretreatments, as is evident in a third variant of the expansion die 22c, in which only expansion cones 62 are provided in an inner area, while no expansion cones 62 are present for the pretreatment of penetration openings located on the edge of the packaging blank.

[0207] To remove the packaging blanks 10 from the third magazine 102 of the third pre-breaking station 100 and feed them to the third expansion die 22c located nearby, an additional handling robot (not shown here) is optionally provided in the embodiment of the packaging machine 2 shown in Fig. 9. This robot's preferably multi-axis movable swivel arm has a suitably equipped gripper head capable of removing the packaging blanks 10 from the third magazine 102 and feeding them to the appropriate third expansion die 22c. After pre-treatment in the third pre-breaking station 100, the pre-treated packaging blanks 10v can again be conveyed by means of the conveyor located near the horizontal conveying device 64, which in this case may be equipped with a 64-type conveyor.The handling robot (not shown here) also accesses the third pre-crushing station 100 and places the article grouping 20 available on the horizontal conveyor 64 of the feeder 4 in order to form the packaging units or containers 18, as has already been described in detail above.

[0208] It should be noted that each of the first, second, and / or third pre-crushing stations 66, 96, and / or 100 shown in Fig. 9 can be considered optional or as an additional pre-crushing station. The arrangement and positioning of each pre-crushing station 66, 96, and / or 100 can also depend on the space available at the packaging machine 2 and, more generally, on the prevailing space constraints of the packaging machine 2. At least one of the three pre-crushing stations 66, 96, and / or 100 shown can optionally be omitted if it is possible to operate with two pre-crushing stations 66, 96, and / or 100 and / or if the expansion dies 22a, 22b, and / or 22c are, for example, designed to be interchangeable or convertible.

[0209] As already mentioned, it can also be provided that the handling robot presses the grasped packaging blank onto the same stretching die or onto different stretching dies and / or stretching tools several times in succession. For example, a robot can press a packaging blank onto the same or different pre-breaking stations twice in succession. It should be noted here that the optional equipment of the packaging machine 2 according to Fig. 8, which can include an optical sensor device 82, which can in particular be formed by a camera 84 with downstream image processing, can also be present in the embodiment of the packaging machine 2 according to Fig. 9. This optional optical sensor device 82 or camera 84 with its downstream image processing can be assigned to the horizontal conveying device 64.

[0210] Their task may in particular involve monitoring the completed packaging units or containers 18 equipped with the pre-treated packaging blanks 10v, whereby the image evaluation may be aimed in particular at checking whether all fixing or retaining tabs on the passage openings of the packaging blanks 10 are correctly engaged and / or whether the respective packaging blank is locked to the articles 12 or cans 26 in the intended manner and is located in the intended horizontal plane.

[0211] As explained above, the optional optical sensor device 82 or camera 84 delivers its image signals 86 in particular to the control center 78, in which the suitable image evaluation can be located in order to obtain the desired or required information on the condition of the finished packaging units or containers 18 from the image signals 86 (see Fig. 8).

[0212] Furthermore, the control unit 78 (not shown in Fig. 9) can optionally be connected to an external data storage device 88, which may, for example, be a data cloud 90. The above also applies here, so that the control unit 78 and the data-related device 88 or 90 connected to it can also be part of the packaging machine 2 according to Fig. 9, as already explained above with reference to Fig. 8.

[0213] The schematic side views in Figures 10A to 10C further illustrate various versions of stretch dies 22, which can be equipped with a larger or smaller number of previously described stretching tools 24. Each figure shows a portion of the configuration of a pre-breaking station 66, which is already schematically illustrated in Figure 8 and forms part of the pre-treatment module 6 of the packaging machine 2. Also shown is the associated magazine 68, located in close proximity to the stretch die 22 of the pre-breaking station 66, containing the stacked packaging blanks 10, as well as a portion of the gripper head 74, which can be guided, in particular, on the movable swivel arm 72 of the handling robot 70 shown in Figure 8.

[0214] In the illustration of Fig. 10A, a single packaging blank 10, which was taken from the magazine 68, hangs on the gripper head 74 in order to be fed to the expansion die 22 with its expansion tools 24, formed by several expansion cones 62, and placed there.

[0215] Furthermore, Fig. 10A illustrates another phase of the handling of a pre-treated packaging blank 10v, which may, for example, be guided by the gripper head 74 of a second handling robot (see Fig. 8), not shown in detail here. This pre-treated packaging blank 10v, which was previously pre-treated, in particular by means of the first handling robot (see Fig. 8), on the first expansion die 22a, is already located directly above a grouping of articles 20, which consists of several articles 12 or cans 26, which are conveyed standing upright on the horizontal conveyor 64 of the feeding device 4 in the conveying direction 94 (from left to right).

[0216] The schematic side views of Figures 10B and 10C also illustrate successive process steps in applying the pre-treated packaging blank 10v by means of the gripper head 74 of the handling robot used for applying the packaging blank 10v to the top of the article grouping 20, which is guided in a rolling motion. Its swivel arm is preferably controlled in such a way that its gripper head 74 applies the pre-treated packaging blank 10v to the articles 12 or cans 26 in a rolling or unrolling motion as shown, by first placing the packaging blank 10v at an angle and applying it to the upper side of the articles 12 or cans 26 located at the rear in the conveying direction 94 (see Fig. 10B), and then pivoting in the further application movement and also placing it on the articles 12 or cans 26 located at the front in the conveying direction 94 and finally applying it (see Fig. 10C).

[0217] Figures 10A, 10B and 10C further illustrate several alternative designs of expansion dies 22. For example, the first expansion die 22a (Fig. 10A) can be equipped with only two expansion cones 62 or with two rows of expansion cones 62 aligned transversely to the conveying direction 94, so that the openings of the packaging blank 10 are not pretreated in a central area.

[0218] Optionally, a second expansion die 22b (Fig. 10B) can be equipped, for example, with only one expansion cone 62 or with a row of expansion cones 62 aligned transversely to the conveying direction 94, so that the passage openings of the packaging blank 10 are pretreated in a central area, but not in the edge areas.

[0219] Alternatively, a third expansion die 22c (Fig. 10C) can be equipped, for example, with expansion cones for all the openings 14 in the packaging blank 10, so that all openings of the packaging blank 10 can be pretreated.

[0220] The different variants of the expansion die 22 shown, i.e. the first, second and third expansion dies 22a, 22b and 22c, are to be understood as independent of the application process shown, in which the packaging blanks 10v, each pretreated in a suitable manner, are applied to the articles 12 or cans 26 by rolling or rolling motion in the manner shown.

[0221] The schematic side view in Fig. 11 illustrates a part of the pretreatment module 6 with the pre-breaking station 66, which differs from the previously shown variants essentially only by the optional second gripper head 74 for removing the packaging blanks 10 from the magazine 68 and transferring them to the stretch die of the pre-breaking station 66. The gripper head 74 for taking the pretreated packaging blanks 10 from the stretch die 22 and applying them to the respective ready grouping of articles 20 can optionally be guided by a different handling robot than the gripper head 74 that removes the packaging blanks 10 from the magazine 68.

[0222] Alternatively, the configuration can correspond to the one already shown schematically in Fig. 8.

[0223] The remaining components shown in Fig. 11 can correspond to the components shown in Figures 10A to 10C. In particular, the expansion die 22 shown in Fig. 11 can correspond to the third expansion die 22c shown in Fig. 10C, in which expansion cones 62 are provided for each of the openings 14 in the packaging blank 10, in order to widen each of these openings in the manner described above and to pre-break the fixing or retaining tabs located thereon.

[0224] Finally, a completely differently configured packaging machine 2 is illustrated by Fig. 12. There, too, groupings of articles 20 are conveyed upright on a horizontal conveyor 64 of the feeding device 4 in the conveying direction 94 (from left to right), whereby the articles 12 of the grouping 20 can again optionally consist of cans 26 or beverage cans 26. However, in this variant of the packaging machine 2, the packaging blanks 10 are provided by a fourth magazine 104, either in the folded arrangement shown or, for example, from a roll, so that a continuous feed of the packaging blanks 10, which are connected in a material web 106, is possible. The connected material web 106 already has the openings, but is not yet divided into the individual packaging blanks 10.

[0225] The material web 106 conveyed from the fourth magazine 104 is fed to a pre-crushing wheel 108, which forms the expansion die 22 and can be rotated, for example, with the conveying progress of the material web 106 in order to engage in the openings. Depending on the arrangement of the expansion tools 24 or expansion cones 62 located on the pre-crushing wheel 108 and depending on the coordination of the rotational movements of the pre-crushing wheel 108 with the conveying speed of the material web 106 guided along it, either all openings or only individual ones, or, for example, every second opening, can be pre-treated in the manner described above, i.e., pre-expanded or pre-crushed.

[0226] After passing the pre-crush wheel 108, the material web 106 with its pre-treated openings can be guided over further guide rollers 110 and fed to the article grouping unit 20, where it is divided, for example, by a rotating knife roller 112 into individual packaging blanks 10v, the size of which corresponds to the dimensions specified for the article groupings 20. The knife roller 112 can be conveniently located directly above the horizontal conveyor 64 with the articles 12 or cans 26 conveyed thereon, so that no further guide elements are required for handling the pre-treated packaging blanks 10v separated from the material web 106.

[0227] The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable to a person skilled in the art that modifications or alterations of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

[0228] List of reference signs

[0229] 2 packing machines

[0230] 4 Feeding device

[0231] 6 Pretreatment module, device for pretreating packaging blanks

[0232] 8 Packaging module

[0233] 10 Packaging cutouts

[0234] 10v pre-treated packaging blank

[0235] 12 items

[0236] 14 Passage opening

[0237] 14v pretreated passage opening d14 mean diameter of a passage opening d14v mean diameter of a pretreated passage opening

[0238] 16 Edge area (of the passage opening)

[0239] 16v pretreated edge area

[0240] 18 containers, packaging unit

[0241] 20 Article grouping, article compilation

[0242] 22 Expansion die

[0243] 22a first expansion die

[0244] 22b second expansion die

[0245] 22c third expansion die

[0246] 24 Stretching tool

[0247] 26 cans, beverage cans

[0248] 28 Lid edge

[0249] 30. Tapering, constriction

[0250] 32 Surface area

[0251] 34 Closure, can closure

[0252] 36 Application force, joining force, pressure force

[0253] 38 retaining tabs, fixing tabs, tabs

[0254] 40 radial incisions, radial incisions

[0255] 42 main area

[0256] 44 Through-hole

[0257] 46 Material bridge

[0258] 48 side flank

[0259] 50 front face, front free face longitudinal center axis

[0260] narrow side

[0261] Longitudinal side, untreated sub-segment, pre-treated sub-segment, expansion cone

[0262] Horizontal conveyor

[0263] Pre-crushing station

[0264] Magazine's first handling robot

[0265] Swivel arm, movable swivel arm gripper head second handling robot

[0266] Control center

[0267] Control signals optical sensor device

[0268] camera

[0269] Image signals external data storage device

[0270] Data cloud exchanged data

[0271] Conveyor direction second pre-crushing station second magazine third pre-crushing station third magazine fourth magazine

[0272] Material track

[0273] Breakaway wheel

[0274] Leadership roles

[0275] knife roller

Claims

- 57 - Claims 1. Packaging machine (2) for producing packages (18) which are each formed by at least two articles (12) grouped together by means of at least one packaging blank (10, 10v), wherein the packaging blanks (10, 10v) are equipped with through-openings (14) for receiving at least one article (12), through which through-openings (14) an article (12) passes and is fixed there, - wherein the packaging machine (2) is connected via a pretreatment station (6) with at least one stretch die (22) for pretreating the packaging blanks (10) ±in particular for weakening the packaging blanks (10) using the expansion die (22) in the area of ​​at least some of their respective passage openings (14) for the purpose of reducing a joining force (36) when applying the packaging blanks (10, 10v) to the articles (12) passing through the passage openings (14), - wherein the expansion die (22) is designed in such a way that the passage openings (14) of the packaging blanks (10) can be pretreated in sub-segments (60) and other sub-segments (58) cannot be pretreated and / or - wherein the expansion die (22) is designed in such a way that only a part of the passage openings (14) of the respective packaging blanks (10) can be pretreated.

2. Packaging machine (2) according to claim 1, in which the expansion die (22) is designed and equipped in such a way that the openings (14) of the packaging blanks (10) can be pretreated over their circumference in a graduated manner and to varying degrees and thereby, in particular, weakened.

3. Packaging machine (2) according to claim 1 or 2, which is equipped with at least one multi-axis robot (70, 76) which is provided for carrying out movement sequences for applying the packaging blanks (10) onto the stretch die (22) and / or onto the articles (12) and can be controlled accordingly, wherein the at least one multi-axis robot (70, 76) receives its control commands for carrying out handling steps from a - 58 - The control unit (78) receives which control unit (78) has stored programs for several different motion paths for controlling the manipulator or a control or gripper head (74) of the multi-axis robot (70, 76) in a retrievable manner.

4. Packaging machine (2) according to claim 3, in which the movement paths specified by the control device (78) by means of the programs stored therein each comprise the movement sequences applying to the stretching die (22) and / or the articles (12) and thereby pretreating and / or weakening the packaging blank (10) at at least some of its passage openings (14) when pressing the packaging blanks (10) onto the stretching die (22) and / or onto the articles (12).

5. Packaging machine (2) according to claim 3 or 4, which is equipped with at least two multi-axis robots (70, 76) with coordinated motion controls, wherein a first handling robot (70) removes the packaging blanks (10) from a magazine (68) and feeds them to the stretch die (22) and wherein a second handling robot (76) picks up the pre-treated packaging blanks (10v) from the stretch die (22) and applies them to the articles (12).

6. Packaging machine (2) according to claim 3 or 4, which is equipped with at least two multi-axis robots (70, 76) with coordinated motion controls, wherein a first handling robot (70) removes the packaging blanks (10) from a magazine (68) and feeds them to the stretch die (22) and wherein a second handling robot (76) pretreats the packaging blanks (10) placed on the stretch die (22) and picks up the pretreated packaging blanks (10v) from the stretch die (22) and applies them to the articles (12).

7. Packaging machine (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, which is equipped with a device (82) for optical monitoring of the finished containers (18), which is designed to subject the finished containers (18) to an optical condition check, wherein the device (82) for optical monitoring in particular comprises at least one camera (84) with downstream image evaluation.

8. Packaging machine (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control device (78), which sends the control commands for controlling the - 59 - at least one multi-axis robot (70, 76) is produced, accesses a central database to adapt its control programs, which contains at least information on material and / or deformation data of the packaging blanks used (10) and / or other process-specific information.

9. Method for producing packages (18) each consisting of at least two articles (12) grouped together by means of at least one packaging blank (10, 10v), wherein the packaging blanks (10, 10v) are provided with through-openings (14) for receiving at least one article (12), through which through-openings (14) an article (12) passes and is fixed there, - wherein the packaging blanks (10) are pretreated, in particular weakened, at least at some of their respective openings (14) for the purpose of their pretreatment in order to reduce a joining force (36) when applying the packaging blanks (10, 10v) to the article (12) passing through the openings (14), - wherein the penetration openings (14), in particular all penetration openings (14) of a respective packaging blank (10, 10v) are pretreated over their respective circumference in a graduated manner and to varying degrees and / or wherein only a part of the penetration openings (14) is pretreated, in particular weakened using at least one expansion die (22).

10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the openings (14) of a respective packaging blank (10) are pretreated in sub-segments (60), while other sub-segments (58) of the openings (14) pretreated by means of the expansion die (22) remain unprocessed, in particular unweakened.

11. Method according to one of claims 9 or 10, in which the passage openings (14) to be pretreated and / or weakened in partial segments (58) are pretreated and processed by means of a single stretching tool (22) onto which stretching tool (22) the packaging blank (10) is pressed several times, wherein at least two passage openings (14) are pretreated in succession.

12. Method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the passage openings (14) to be pretreated and / or weakened in partial segments (58) are pretreated and processed by means of at least two different stretching tools (22), - 60 - wherein the packaging blank (10) is first pressed onto a first stretching tool (22) and then pressed onto a second stretching tool (22), whereby at least two passage openings (14) are pretreated in succession.

13. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein preferably at least 10% and at most 90% of the passage openings (14) are pretreated, wherein more preferably at least 30% and at most 70% of the passage openings (14) are pretreated, while the remaining passage openings (14) remain untreated.

14. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein every second passage opening (14) of a row and / or a column is pretreated, wherein the passage openings (14) are arranged in rows and / or columns in the respective packaging blank (14).

15. Method according to one of claims 9 to 14, wherein preferably through-holes (14) in a central area of ​​the packaging blank (10) are pretreated, in particular exclusively such through-holes (14) located there.

16. Method according to one of claims 9 to 15, wherein preferably through-openings (14) in edge areas of the packaging blank (10) are pretreated, in particular exclusively such through-openings (14) located there.

17. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 16, wherein the passage openings (14) are each equipped with fixing or retaining tabs (38) pointing inwards towards a passage opening center point, which are separated from each other by star-shaped incisions (40) pointing towards the passage opening center point, and wherein the fixing or retaining tabs (38) of the respective passage openings (14) of a packaging blank (10) are pretreated to different degrees and / or weakened by pre-folding.

18. Method according to one of claims 9 to 17, wherein the movement sequences for applying the packaging blanks (10) to the stretch die (22) and / or to the articles (12) are carried out by means of at least one multi-axis robot (70, 76) which receives its control commands for carrying out handling steps from a control device (78), which control device (78) - 61 - The program has stored and can be retrieved for several different movement paths for controlling the manipulator or a control or gripper head (54) of the multi-axis robot (70, 76).

19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the movement paths specified by the control device (78) by means of the programs stored therein each comprise the applying and thereby pretreating and / or weakening movement sequences of the packaging blank (10) at at least some of its through-holes (14) when pressing the packaging blanks (10) onto the stretching die (22) and / or onto the articles (12).

20. Method according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the multi-axis robot (70, 76) presses the grasped packaging blank (10) onto the same stretching die (22) or onto different stretching dies (22) and / or stretching tools (24) several times in succession to vary the pretreatment step.

21. Method according to one of claims 18 to 20, in which at least two multi-axis robots (70, 76) are used in coordinated motion control, wherein a first handling robot (70) removes the packaging blanks (10) from a magazine (68) and feeds them to the stretching die (22) and wherein a second handling robot (76) picks up the pre-treated packaging blanks (10v) from the stretching die (22) and applies them to the articles (12).

22. Method according to one of claims 18 to 20, wherein at least two multi-axis robots (70, 76) are used in coordinated motion control, wherein a first handling robot (70) removes the packaging blanks (10) from a magazine (68) and feeds them to the stretching die (22), and wherein a second handling robot (76) pretreats the packaging blanks (10) and then picks them up from the stretching die (22) and applies them to the articles (12).

23. Method according to one of claims 9 to 22, wherein the finished containers (18) are subjected to an optical condition check, in particular using at least one camera (84) with downstream image evaluation.

24. Method according to any one of claims 9 to 23, wherein the control device (78), which sends the control commands for controlling the at least one multi-axis robot (70, 76) generates, accesses a central database to adapt its control programs, which contains at least information on material and / or deformation data of the packaging blanks (10) used and / or other process-specific information.

25. Container (18), which is formed by at least two by means of at least one Packaging blank (10, 10v) is formed by combining articles (12), wherein the packaging blank (10, 10v) is equipped with through-openings (14) for receiving at least one article (12), through which through-openings (14) each article (12) passes and is fixed there, - wherein the container (18) is formed by a method according to one of claims 9 to 24 were produced, and - wherein the articles (12) are in particular formed by containers with low intrinsic stability and / or by containers with a shape that yields under the influence of force.

Images