Apparatus for packaging flat articles

Abstract

A packaging unit and a method for wrapping flat articles which are arranged in particular in an on-edge position is provided. The packaging unit comprises a feeding region, in particular a feeding table, and a dispensing unit for packet-type arrangements of flat articles, and furthermore comprises a stock of wrapping material present in tape form, such as, for example, bands. An articulated arm forms a processing plane in which the wrapping material is fixed, and the articulated arm guides the wrapping material around the item to be packaged, in particular flat articles.

1 . A packaging unit comprising:
 a feeding region;   a dispensing unit for packet-type arrangements of articles;   a stock configured to accommodate wrapping material provided in tape form;   an articulated arm forming a processing plane and configured to fix the wrapping material and guide the wrapping material around an item to be packaged.   
   
   
       2 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the packaging unit comprises a machine frame in which the stock, designed as a magazine with wrapping material, is integrated. 
   
   
       3 . The packaging unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the magazine is integrated in the machine frame in an inclined manner and has an open base. 
   
   
       4 . The packaging unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the side of the magazine facing the articulated arm has a plurality of holders that are configured to fix the wrapping material. 
   
   
       5 . The packaging unit according to  claim 2 , wherein the magazine is bounded by side cheeks and has holders that are adjustable in a vertical direction and are adjustable according to a format of the wrapping material. 
   
   
       6 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the articulated arm is of a multi-part design, and comprises a first articulated arm section, a second articulated arm section and a third articulated arm section that are each connected to one another in an articulated manner. 
   
   
       7 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the articulated arm forming the processing plane is provided, on its side facing the magazine, with a plurality of vacuum grippers. 
   
   
       8 . The packaging unit according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one vacuum gripper is accommodated on each of the articulated arm sections that are connected to one another in an articulated manner. 
   
   
       9 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a movable pressing surface is formed on that side of the multi-part articulated arm that faces away from the actuating cylinder. 
   
   
       10 . The packaging unit according to  claim 6 , wherein, upon actuation of at least one first working cylinder, the second articulated arm section is pivotable into a first in-contact position. 
   
   
       11 . The packaging unit according to  claim 10 , wherein, upon actuation of at least one second working cylinder, the multi-part articulated arm is settable into a second in-contact position. 
   
   
       12 . The packaging unit according to  claim 11 , wherein, in the second in-contact position of the multi-part articulated arm, the packet-type stack of flat articles arranged in an on-edge form are compressable by a movable pressing surface. 
   
   
       13 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said packaging unit has a glue-application device with glue nozzles that are movable transversely with respect to the processing plane and are arranged individually or in pairs. 
   
   
       14 . The packaging unit according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one glue track, extending in a transverse direction, is applied to one end of the wrapping material provided in tape form. 
   
   
       15 . The packaging unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the glue-application device is received by an actuating cylinder along a transverse support extending transversely with respect to the processing plane. 
   
   
       16 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an applicator is arranged above the stock configured to store the wrapping material in tape form, with which applicator the outwardly facing side of the wrapping material present in tape form can be labelled or printed or provided with a barcode. 
   
   
       17 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein contact pressure surfaces that are movable relative to each other are received in a processing plane formed by the multi-part articulated arm. 
   
   
       18 . The packaging unit according to  claim 17 , wherein the contact pressure surfaces are each formed by at least two stops which are spaced apart from each other in a transverse direction and define a clearance into which the multi-part articulated arm dips in an extended position. 
   
   
       19 . The packaging unit according to  claim 17 , wherein the contact pressure surfaces are received on carriages that are movable with respect to each other along a guide rail. 
   
   
       20 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein, after compression of the packet-type stack of flat articles arranged in an on-edge form by contact pressure surfaces, open ends, which are provided with at least one glue track, of the wrapping material present in tape form are pressed together by the movable pressing surface. 
   
   
       21 . The packaging unit according to  claim 8 , wherein the vacuum grippers are configured as bellow-type suckers, and, in an extended position of the articulated arm, the machining plane lies slightly below the feeding region or a feeding table. 
   
   
       22 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein open ends of the band ( 20 ) present in tape form are folded upwards and/or folded downwards through 90° by at least one pair of wings. 
   
   
       23 . The packaging unit according to  claim 1 , wherein said packaging unit is adaptable variably in terms of format to different formats and packet heights by adjustment of glue-application heads of the contact pressure surfaces and of stops and by interchanging at least one articulated arm section. 
   
   
       24 . A method for wrapping or banding articles, the method comprising:
 fixing wrapping material present in tape form on an articulated arm by application of a vacuum;   precompressing a packet-type stack of articles;   transferring the wrapping material present in tape form into a processing plane by an articulated arm;   compressing the packet-type stack of flat articles oriented in an on-edge position, which stack has wrapping material partially wrapped around it, by contact pressure surfaces;   applying at least one glue track to one end of the wrapping material which is present in tape form and is fixed in the processing plane;   deflecting the multi-part articulated arm at least two deflection points in such a manner that the wrapping material which is fixed on the articulated arm is guided around the article; and   adhesively bonding the open ends of the wrapping material present in tape form by a movable pressing surface.   
   
   
       25 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein, in the step of transferring the wrapping material, the multi-part articulated arm, upon pivoting down into the processing plane, pulls the wrapping material in tape form off a lower side of a magazine. 
   
   
       26 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the wrapping material present in tape form is fixable on a side of the multi-part articulated arm that faces the magazine by application of negative pressure. 
   
   
       27 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the wrapping material present in tape form, aligned at a zero line marking, is positioned on a deflecting point of the multi-part articulated arm. 
   
   
       28 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein at least one glue track is applied in a transverse direction with respect to the zero line to the wrapping material present in tape form by a glue-application apparatus. 
   
   
       29 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein the multi-part articulated arm is adjustable from its extended position forming the processing plane into a second in-contact position by being acted upon by at least two working cylinders. 
   
   
       30 . The method according to  claim 29 , wherein, in a second in-contact position of the multi-part articulated arm, the packet-type stack of articles partially surrounded by the wrapping material is compressed on an open side by a movable pressing surface. 
   
   
       31 . The method according to  claim 24 , wherein, prior to the step of bonding, the packet-type stack of articles is compressed by two contact pressure surfaces that are movable relative to each other.