Packaging device for articles and method for packaging articles

Abstract

A packaging device (1) for articles, such as beverage containers and the like, is disclosed. The packaging device (1) comprises at least one transport device (3) for articles and at least one manipulator. By the at least one transport device, articles can be moved into a working area of the at least one manipulator. The at least one manipulator can apply a respective outer packaging from above to articles moving into its working area within the context of a first packaging process and/or can place articles from above onto a respective outer packaging within the context of the first packaging process. In addition, a second packaging process is provided for the packaging device (1), which second packaging process comprises a lateral insertion of articles into a respective outer packaging not provided for in the first packaging process.

1 . A packaging device ( 1 ) for articles comprising
 at least one transport device ( 3 ) for articles and   at least one manipulator, wherein   
       the at least one transport device ( 3 ) moves articles into a working area of the at least one manipulator, and wherein the at least one manipulator is operable in a first packaging process to apply a respective outer packaging ( 9 ) to articles from above and/or places articles on a respective outer packaging ( 9 ) from above, and 
       wherein the at least one manipulator is operable in a second packaging process to laterally insert articles into a respective outer packaging ( 9 ). 
     
     
         2 . The packaging device of  claim 1  wherein the at least one manipulator is adapted to change between the first packaging process and the second packaging process. 
     
     
         3 . The packaging device of  claim 2  wherein the at least one manipulator comprises at least one first working tool ( 18 ) and at least one second working tool ( 31 ), wherein the at least one first working tool:
 a) can apply a respective outer packaging from above to articles, and/or 
 b) can temporarily receive articles and place them on a respective outer packaging ( 9 ) from above, and 
 wherein the at least one second working tool ( 31 ) can insert articles laterally into a respective outer packaging ( 9 ), wherein the at least one second working tool ( 31 ) can be detachably fixed to the at least one manipulator. 
 
     
     
         4 . The packaging device of  2  wherein the at least one transport device ( 3 ) remains as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device ( 1 ) during a change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process. 
     
     
         5 . The packaging device of  claim 4  wherein the at least one transport device ( 3 ) can move articles into the working area of the at least one manipulator both within the context of the first packaging process and within the context of the second packaging process. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging device  claim 5  wherein the at least on transport device ( 3 ) comprises at least one horizontal conveyor device ( 5 ), wherein a track width oriented perpendicularly to its conveying direction (FR) can be flexibly adapted to the size of the outer packaging ( 9 ). 
     
     
         7 . The packaging device according to  claim 6  wherein the at least one horizontal conveyor device ( 5 ) comprises a plurality of holding devices ( 36 ) provided in the second packaging process to hold flaps and/or sides of outer packagings ( 9 ) in an upright position. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging device of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a first magazine ( 11 ), which is designed to receive a plurality of outer packagings, which are matched to the first packaging process, and a second magazine which is adapted to receive a plurality of further outer packagings which are matched to the second packaging process, and 
 at least one handling device which remains in the packaging device as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device ( 1 ) during a respective change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process, 
 
       wherein the at least one handling device expands the plurality of outer packagings adapted to the first packaging process and expands the plurality of outer packagings adapted to the second packaging process. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging device of  claim 8  comprising a driverless transport system which can automatically provide the first magazine or the second magazine with the plurality of outer packagings ( 9 ). 
     
     
         10 . A method ( 10 ) for packaging articles comprising:
 carrying out a first packaging process in a packaging device ( 1 ) by applying an outer packaging from above to articles and/or placing articles from above on an outer packaging, and   carrying out a second packaging process in the packaging device ( 1 ), temporally subsequent to the first packaging process, by laterally inserting articles into outer packagings ( 9 ).   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising instructing the packaging device ( 1 ) to change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising converting the packaging device ( 1 ) from the first packaging process to the second packaging process through the use of a handling device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein at least one transport device ( 3 ) remains in the packaging device ( 1 ) during the conversion step and wherein the at least one transport device ( 3 ) supplies articles for packaging both in the first packaging process and in the second packaging process. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein, in the first packaging process, an outer packaging ( 9 ) is applied from above to articles via at least one manipulator and/or articles are placed from above on a respective outer packaging ( 9 ) via at least one manipulator, and wherein, in the second packaging process, the same at least one manipulator inserts articles laterally into outer packagings ( 9 ). 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein, in the first packaging process, outer packaging ( 9 ) is applied from above to articles via at least one first working tool ( 18 ) of the at least one manipulator and/or articles are applied from above to a respective outer packaging ( 9 ) via at least one first working tool ( 18 ) and wherein at least one second working tool ( 31 ) is arranged on the at least one manipulator or provided by the at least one manipulator temporally after the first packaging process, wherein the at least one second working tool ( 31 ) inserts articles laterally into outer packaging. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein, in both the first and second packaging processes, outer packaging ( 9 ) is moved via the same at least one horizontal conveyor device ( 5 ), and wherein a track width of the at least one horizontal conveyor device, in the first packaging process, is adapted to outer packaging ( 9 ) to be moved in the second packaging process. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  in which a plurality of holding devices are arranged on the at least one horizontal conveyor device ( 5 ) wherein the holding devices hold front and rear sides and/or front and rear flaps of outer packaging ( 9 ) in an upright orientation during a movement of the outer packaging ( 9 ) in the second packaging process. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a driver transport system provides outer packagings ( 9 ) to the first packaging process and to the second packaging process. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein, during the first packaging process, instructing the packaging device ( 1 ) change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process and wherein the packaging device ( 1 ) changes from the first packaging process to the second packaging process during a continuous packaging operation.