Packaging apparatus and method for producing packaging units

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging apparatus ( 1 ) and a method used to produce packaging units ( 35 ). The packaging units ( 35 ) comprise at least one article ( 30 ), such as a beverage can ( 31 ), held in a packaging blank ( 20 ) having at least in some portions or areas that are flat. The packaging blank ( 20 ) has at least one passage opening ( 23 ) in the flat portion or area for article(s) ( 30 ). The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) comprises a feeder device ( 2 ); a pre-treatment module ( 9 ) to prepare the packaging blank ( 20 ) for the application to the article(s) ( 30 ); and a first packaging module ( 7 ) to apply and locate the packaging blank ( 20 ) to the article(s) ( 30 ). The pre-treatment module ( 9 ) comprises a device to reduce a resistance force in an edge area ( 24 ) of the passage openings ( 23 ) during the application of the packaging blank ( 20 ) to the article(s) ( 30 ).

1 . A method of producing packaging units ( 35 ), comprising:
 gripping at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) wherein the packaging blank ( 20 ) comprises at least some portion that is flat and at least one passage opening ( 23 ) in the flat portion;   pre-treating the at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) by cutting or perforating the packaging blank ( 20 ); and   applying the pre-treated packaging blank ( 20 ) to at least one article ( 30 ) or an assembly ( 40 ) of at least one article ( 30 ),   
       wherein the gripping, pre-treating, and applying steps are carried out by at least one robot capable of handling at least two packaging blanks ( 20 ). 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the packaging blank ( 20 ) is cut or perforated by pressing the packaging blank ( 20 ) onto at least one stretching die ( 18 ). 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the packaging blanks are carton packaging blanks. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the gripping, pre-treating, and applying steps are carried out by at least two robots. 
     
     
         5 . A method of producing packaging units ( 35 ), comprising:
 gripping at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) wherein the packaging blank ( 20 ) comprises at least some portion that is flat and at least one passage opening ( 23 ) in the flat portion;   pre-treating the at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) by reducing a resistance force in an edge area ( 24 ) of the at least one passage opening ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 20 ); and   applying the reduced packaging blank ( 20 ) to at least one article ( 30 ) or an assembly ( 40 ) of at least one article ( 30 ).   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the gripping step comprises gripping the at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) from at least one magazine ( 8 ) holding a stack of packaging blanks ( 20 ). 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the gripping and pre-treating steps are carried out by a first robot and wherein the applying step is carried out by a second robot. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the pre-treating step comprises enlarging an average diameter (d 23 ) of the at least one passage opening ( 23 ). 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the pre-treating step further comprises pressing the packaging blank ( 20 ) onto at least one stretching die ( 18 ). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the number and arrangement of the at least one stretching die ( 18 ) correspond to the number and arrangement of the passage openings ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 20 ), and wherein the pre-treating step comprises pressing the packaging blank ( 20 ) onto the at least one stretching die ( 18 ) such that each stretching die ( 18 ) passes through a passage opening ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 20 ). 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing packaging units ( 35 ), comprising:
 gripping at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) wherein the packaging blank ( 20 ) comprises at least some portion that is flat and at least one passage opening ( 23 ) in the flat portion;   pre-treating the at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) by reducing a resistance force in an edge area ( 24 ) of the at least one passage opening ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 20 ) with at least one stretching die ( 18 ) for each passage opening ( 23 ) in the packaging blank ( 20 ), wherein the at least one stretching die ( 18 ) has a conical or truncated cone form; and   applying the pre-treated packaging blank ( 20 ) to at least one article ( 30 ) or an assembly ( 40 ) of at least one article ( 30 ),   wherein the gripping, pre-treating, and applying steps are carried out by at least one robot.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the gripping step comprises gripping the at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) from at least one magazine ( 8 ) holding a stack of packaging blanks ( 20 ). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the packaging blank ( 23 ) is a carton packaging blank. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pre-treating step comprises at least partially pushing upward or bending upward a plurality of securing tabs ( 25 ) located in the edge area ( 24 ) of each of the at least one passage opening ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 20 ). 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing packaging units ( 35 ), comprising:
 gripping at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) wherein the packaging blank ( 20 ) comprises at least some portion that is flat and at least one passage opening ( 23 ) in the flat portion;   pre-treating the at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) by reducing a resistance force in an edge area ( 24 ) of the at least one passage opening ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 20 );   applying the pre-treated packaging blank ( 20 ) to at least one article ( 30 ) or an assembly ( 40 ) of at least one article ( 30 ) to form a pack ( 36 ); and   changing a format of the pack ( 36 ) to be formed by varying the number, size, or arrangement of the at least one article ( 30 ) or the assembly ( 40 ) of the at least one article ( 30 ) that make up the pack ( 36 ).   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the changing step comprises exchanging a first format part ( 84 ) with a second format part ( 84 ), each format part comprising a plurality of dies ( 74 ), wherein such dies ( 74 ) are used to reduce the resistance force in an edge area ( 24 ) of the at least one passage opening ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 20 ). 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the exchanging step comprises exchanging the first and second format parts ( 84 ) with a driverless transport system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the gripping step comprises gripping the at least one packaging blank ( 20 ) from at least one magazine ( 8 ) holding a stack of packaging blanks ( 20 ). 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one stretching die ( 18 ) used to reduce the resistance force in an edge area ( 24 ) of the at least one passage opening ( 23 ) has a conical or truncated cone form. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the packaging blank ( 23 ) is a carton packaging blank.