Apparatus and method for handling articles

Abstract

The invention includes an apparatus ( 01 ) and a method for handling articles ( 02 ). The apparatus ( 01 ) includes a first conveyor ( 03 ) for the supply of articles ( 02 ), a second conveyor ( 04 ) for the supply of outer packagings ( 05 ), and a third conveyor ( 06 ) for the discharge of outer packagings items ( 07 ). The apparatus also includes a placing surface ( 08 ) formed by a section ( 62, 60 ) of the third conveyor ( 06 ) and arranged between the first conveyor ( 03 ) and the second conveyor ( 04 ). A transfer device ( 09 ) for the transferring of supplied outer packagings ( 05 ) from the second conveyor ( 04 ) to the placing surface ( 08 ), and a transplacing device ( 10 ) for transferring articles ( 02 ) from the first conveyor ( 03 ) into outer packagings ( 05 ) having been transferred onto the placing surface ( 08 ) are also included. The method includes placing articles ( 02 ) into outer packagings ( 05 ) staged on a placing surface ( 08 ), where the articles ( 02 ) are supplied from one or more article flows of articles ( 02 ). The outer packagings ( 05 ) are supplied independently of the articles ( 02 ) in a transport direction ( 41 ) and are transferred onto the placing surface ( 08 ) individually or groupwise transversely to the transport direction ( 41 ). The outer packaging items ( 07 ) are discharged independently of the supply of articles ( 02 ) and outer packagings ( 05 ) in parallel to the transport direction ( 41 ) and in the direction of the transport direction ( 41 ) or opposite to it.

1 . An apparatus ( 01 ) for handling articles ( 02 ) comprising:
 a first conveyor ( 03 ) for the supply of articles ( 02 ),   a second conveyor ( 04 ) for the supply of outer packagings ( 05 ),   a third conveyor ( 06 ) for the discharge of outer items ( 07 ), and   a placing surface ( 08 ) formed by a section ( 62 ,  60 ) of the third conveyor ( 06 ) and arranged between the first conveyor ( 03 ) and the second conveyor ( 04 ),   a transfer device ( 09 ) for the transfer of supplied outer packagings ( 05 ) from the second conveyor ( 04 ) to the placing surface ( 08 ), and   a transplacing device ( 10 ) for transferring articles ( 02 ) from the first conveyor ( 03 ) into outer packagings ( 05 ) having been transferred onto the placing surface ( 08 ).   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the third conveyor ( 06 ) and the second conveyor ( 04 ) are arranged in parallel to each other at least in an area ( 82 ) of the section ( 62 ,  60 ) of the third conveyor ( 06 ), which section ( 62 ,  60 ) forms the placing surface ( 08 ), and of a portion ( 42 ) of the second conveyor ( 04 ), which portion ( 42 ) abuts on the placing surface ( 08 ). 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2  wherein portion ( 42 ) is arranged in parallel to the section ( 60 ,  62 ), and overlap each other by a length ( 83 ) of at least two outer packagings. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2  wherein the first conveyor ( 03 ) runs in parallel to the second conveyor ( 04 ) and to the third conveyor ( 06 ). 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2  wherein the section ( 62 ,  60 ) of the third conveyor ( 06 ), portions ( 32 ,  42 ) of the first conveyor ( 03 ) and of the second conveyor ( 04 ), which portions ( 32 ,  42 ) are arranged in parallel to each other as well as in parallel to the section ( 60 ,  62 ), overlap each other by the length ( 83 ) of at least two outer packagings. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the direction of the transfer of outer packagings ( 05 ) being carried out by the transfer device ( 09 ) from the second conveyor ( 04 ) to the placing surface ( 08 ), runs, in a horizontal direction, orthogonal to the transport direction ( 41 ) of the second conveyor ( 04 ). 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the transfer device ( 09 ) comprises at least one slider. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the second conveyor ( 04 ) and the placing surface ( 08 ) formed by a section ( 62 ,  60 ) of the third conveyor ( 06 ) are located on a common, first level, and the first conveyor ( 03 ) is located on a higher, second level. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 8  wherein the second level is located above the first level by at least the height of an outer packaging ( 05 ,  07 ), which is initially open and to be closed after placing the articles ( 02 ) therein. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the closing of the outer packaging items ( 07 ) is carried out while still on the placing surface ( 08 ) or in a separate treatment step. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein compartments ( 13 ) are inserted into the outer packagings ( 05 ) prior to or after placing the articles ( 02 ) into outer packagings ( 05 ) having been transferred onto the placing surface ( 08 ). 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 11  further comprising a separate introduction surface between the second conveyor ( 04 ) and the placing surface ( 08 ) in the instance of introducing compartments ( 13 ) prior to placing the articles ( 02 ). 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 12  further comprising an additional device for transferring outer packagings ( 05 ) provided with compartments ( 13 ) from the introduction surface to the placing surface ( 08 ). 
     
     
         14 . A method for handling articles ( 02 ), comprising:
 supplying articles ( 02 ) from one or more article flows of articles ( 02 ) lined up one after the other uninterruptedly and/or with gaps between them and/or grouped,   supplying outer packagings ( 05 ) independently of the articles ( 02 ) in a transport direction ( 41 ) and transferring the outer packagings ( 05 ) onto a placing surface ( 08 ) individually or groupwise transversely to the transport direction ( 41 ),   placing articles ( 02 ) into outer packagings ( 05 ) staged on the placing surface ( 08 ),   discharging the outer packaging items ( 07 ), independently of the supply of articles ( 02 ) and independently of the supply of outer packagings ( 05 ), now provided with articles ( 02 ) placed therein, in parallel to the transport direction ( 41 ) and in the direction of the transport direction ( 41 ) or opposite to it.