Packaging apparatus for producing packaging units, and method for producing packaging units

Abstract

A packaging apparatus (1) and method for producing packaging units (40) is described. The packaging units (40) comprise at least two articles (20), on which at least one at least partially sheet-like packaging blank (3) is arranged. The packaging blank (3) has at least two through-openings (33) for the at least two articles (20). The through-openings (33) each have an edge region (34), which is in contact with the respective article (20). The packaging apparatus (1) comprises, among other components, an application head (10) for applying and fixing the packaging blank (30) to the article group (22), and a magazine (6) assigned to the packaging apparatus (1). The application head (10) or the magazine (6) comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings (33). An alternative embodiment comprises a removal head which has devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings (33).

1 . A packaging apparatus ( 1 ) for producing packaging units ( 40 ), comprising:
 at least one feed device ( 2 ) for a plurality of articles ( 20 ),   at least one dividing device for dividing up at least two articles ( 20 ) into an article group ( 22 ),   an application head ( 10 ) for applying and fixing a packaging blank ( 30 ) to the article group ( 22 ), wherein each packaging blank ( 3 ) has at least two through-openings ( 33 ) for the at least two articles ( 20 ) in a sheet-like region ( 32 ), wherein the through-openings ( 33 ) each have an edge region ( 34 ) which is in contact with a corresponding article ( 20 ) after application, and   a magazine ( 6 ) associated with the packaging apparatus ( 1 ), wherein the magazine ( 6 ) holds a plurality of packaging blanks ( 30 ),   wherein the application head ( 10 ) comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings ( 33 ), or   wherein the magazine ( 6 ) comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings ( 33 ), or   wherein a removal head is provided for removing a packaging blanks ( 30 ) from the magazine ( 6 ), wherein the removal head comprises devices for pretreating the edge region of the through-openings ( 33 ).   
     
     
         2 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the edge regions ( 34 ) are each provided with incisions ( 37 ) for forming folding tabs ( 36 ), and wherein the pretreatment devices are configured to partially fold over the folding tabs ( 36 ). 
     
     
         3 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 2 , wherein the application head ( 10 ) comprises an application plate ( 11 ) and a prebreaking plate ( 13 ), wherein the application plate ( 11 ) is equipped with retaining devices ( 12 ) for at least temporarily fixing the packaging blank ( 30 ), and wherein the prebreaking plate ( 13 ) is equipped with prebreaking devices ( 14 ). 
     
     
         4 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 3 , wherein the application plate ( 11 ) comprises a first number of openings, and wherein the prebreaking plate ( 13 ) comprises a first number of prebreaking devices ( 14 ) which extend in a downward direction from a bottom side of the prebreaking plate ( 13 ). 
     
     
         5 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 4 , wherein, in a first operating position (OP 1 ), a first distance (A 1 ) is formed between the application plate ( 11 ) and the prebreaking plate ( 13 ) such that the prebreaking plate ( 13 ) and the prebreaking devices ( 14 ) are arranged above the application plate ( 11 ), and wherein, in a second operating position (OP 2 ), a second distance (A 2 ) is formed between the application plate ( 11 ) and the prebreaking plate ( 13 ) such that the prebreaking plate ( 13 ) is arranged above the application plate ( 11 ), and wherein each of the prebreaking devices ( 14 ) are at least partially arranged within corresponding openings in the application plate ( 11 ). 
     
     
         6 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 5 , wherein the openings in the application plate ( 11 ) have a first diameter which at least corresponds to the diameter (d 33 ) of the through-openings ( 33 ) in the packaging blank ( 3 ) and wherein, in the first operating position (OP 1 ), the application head ( 10 ) is configured to receive the packaging blank ( 3 ) in such a way that a through-opening ( 33 ) in the packaging blank ( 30 ) and an opening in the application plate ( 11 ) are always aligned. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 6 , wherein the lower end region ( 15 ) of the prebreaking devices ( 14 ) is configured to at least partially fold the edge region ( 34 ) downward of a given through-opening ( 33 ) in the packaging blank ( 30 ) held on the application plate ( 11 ) when the application head ( 10 ) is transferred from the first operating position (OP 1 ) to the second operating position (OP 2 ). 
     
     
         8 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 7 , wherein the lower end region ( 15 ) of the prebreaking devices ( 14 ) is configured to at least partially fold upward the folded-down edge region ( 34 ) of a given through-opening ( 33 ) in the packaging blank ( 30 ) held on the application plate ( 11 ) when the application head ( 10 ) is returned from the second operating position (OP 2 ) to the first operating position (OP 1 ). 
     
     
         9 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 2 , wherein the magazine ( 6 ) comprises first pretreatment devices ( 60 ), which first pretreatment devices ( 60 ) are configured to fold the edge regions ( 34 ) of the through-openings ( 33 ) in a packaging blank ( 30 ) arranged at the very top in the magazine ( 6 ) at least partially upward or downward. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 2 , wherein the magazine ( 6 ) comprises second pretreatment devices ( 63 ), and the second pretreatment devices ( 63 ) are configured to fold the edge regions ( 34 ) of the through-openings ( 33 ) in all the packaging blanks ( 30 ) arranged in the magazine ( 6 ) at least partially upward or downward. 
     
     
         11 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 10 , wherein the second pretreatment devices ( 63 ) are configured as centering mandrels ( 64 ) which have an upper end region ( 65 ) in the form of a cone ( 66 ) or truncated cone with a tip ( 67 ) pointing upward. 
     
     
         12 . A method for producing packaging units ( 40 ), comprising
 feeding a plurality of articles ( 20 );   holding a plurality of packaging blanks ( 3 ) in a magazine, wherein the packaging blanks ( 3 ) comprise through-openings ( 33 ) with edge-regions ( 34 );   dividing the plurality of articles ( 20 ) into article groups ( 22 ) of at least two articles ( 20 );   pretreating the edge regions ( 34 ) of through-openings ( 33 ) in the packaging blank ( 3 );   applying the pretreated packaging blanks ( 3 ) to article groups ( 22 ) with an application head ( 10 );   wherein the pretreatment step is carried out by the application head ( 10 ) or a component thereof, by the magazine ( 6 ) or a component thereof, or by a removal head for removing packaging blanks ( 3 ) from the magazine or a component of the removal head.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the edge region of the through-openings ( 33 ) in the packaging blank ( 30 ) is pretreated by the application head ( 10 ), wherein pretreatment takes place between a packaging blank ( 30 ) being grasped by the application head ( 10 ) and applying the packaging blank ( 30 ) to the article group ( 22 ). 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the application head ( 10 ) comprises an application plate ( 11 ) and a prebreaking plate ( 13 ) which have different distances (A 1 , A 2 ) from one another in different operating positions (OP 1 , OP 2 ), and wherein reducing the distance between the application plate ( 11 ) and the prebreaking plate ( 13 ) causes the edge regions ( 34 ) of the through-openings ( 33 ) in the packaging blank ( 30 ) held on the application plate ( 11 ) to be folded downward, and wherein subsequently increasing the distance between the application plate ( 11 ) and the prebreaking plate ( 13 ) causes the edge regions ( 34 ) of the through-openings ( 33 ) in the packaging blank ( 30 ) held on the application plate ( 11 ) to be folded upward. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, before removal of the uppermost packaging blank ( 30 ) from the magazine ( 6 ), the edge regions ( 34 ) of the through-openings ( 33 ) in the uppermost packaging blank ( 30 ) are at least partially folded upward or downward within the magazine ( 6 ) by suitable first pretreatment devices ( 60 ), or wherein, when a stack of packaging blanks ( 30 ) is introduced into the magazine ( 6 ), the edge regions ( 34 ) of the through-openings ( 33 ) in all the packaging blanks ( 30 ) of the stack are at least partially folded upward or downward within the magazine ( 6 ) by suitable second pretreatment devices ( 63 ). 
     
     
         16 . The packaging apparatus ( 1 ) of  claim 4 , wherein the first number of openings in the application plate ( 11 ) corresponds to the number of articles ( 20 ) of the article group ( 22 ).