Method and packaging system for packaging articles
The invention relates to a method and a system for packaging articles ( 2 ). Outer packages ( 3 ) are set down on a horizontal conveying device ( 10, 20 ) and are transported along a packaging line. During the transport, articles are introduced via a manipulator into the outer packages ( 3 ), and the outer packages ( 3 ) with the introduced articles ( 2 ) are subsequently removed from the horizontal conveying device ( 10, 20 ) as a packaging unit ( 8 ). A predetermined packaging process (VP 1 ) is carried out, in which the outer packages ( 3 ) are received by the horizontal conveying device ( 10, 20 ) via a plurality of shuttles ( 5 ), the outer packages ( 3 ) standing on said plurality of shuttles ( 5 ), until the outer packages ( 3 ) together with the introduced articles ( 2 ) are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10, 20 ) as a packaging unit ( 8 ).
1 . A method for packaging articles ( 2 ), comprising:
bringing up folded outer packages ( 3 );
setting down the brought up outer packages ( 3 ) on at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ), wherein the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ) transports the brought up outer packages ( 3 ) along a packaging line, wherein the brought up outer packages ( 3 ) are each received in a shuttle ( 5 ), wherein the shuttles ( 5 ) each temporarily fix a received outer package ( 3 ) via negative pressure provided by a connecting piece ( 95 ), which can transmit negative pressure to a common line system ( 92 ), which then supplies the individual shuttles ( 5 ) with negative pressure,
during the transport along the packaging line, introducing articles ( 2 ), via at least one manipulator ( 15 ) into the outer packages ( 3 ) already set down on the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ),
removing the outer packages ( 3 ), together with the introduced articles ( 2 ), from the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ) as a packaging unit ( 8 ), and
carrying out a first packaging process (VP 1 ) in which the outer packages ( 3 ) are received by the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ) via shuttles ( 5 ), wherein the outer packages ( 3 ) stand on the shuttles ( 5 ) until the outer packages ( 3 ), together with the introduced articles ( 2 ), are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ) as a packaging unit ( 8 ), and
comprising switching from the first packaging process (VP 1 ) to a second packaging process (VP 2 ) by removing the shuttles from the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 30 ) and arranging at least one transfer plate ( 79 ) along two parallel conveyor portions ( 16 , 18 ) of the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ), wherein during the second packaging process (VP 2 ), the outer packages ( 3 ) make surface contact with at least one transfer plate ( 79 ) in the absence of shuttles.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each of the shuttles ( 5 ) has a plurality of suction elements ( 82 ) via which each of the shuttles ( 5 ) temporarily fixes the received outer package ( 3 ) via negative pressure and wherein the plurality of suction elements ( 82 ) are assigned to the common line system ( 92 ) of the respective shuttle ( 5 ).
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the brought up outer packages ( 3 ) are received by a first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) via the shuttles ( 5 ) and, together with the respective shuttle ( 5 ) thereof, switch to a second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ), on which second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) the articles ( 2 ) are introduced by the at least one manipulator ( 15 ) into the outer packages ( 3 ), wherein:
the shuttles ( 5 ) for switching from the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) to the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) are moved by a transfer unit ( 78 ) from the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) to the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ), which transfer unit ( 78 ) is located at least partially or completely below a transport level formed for the shuttles ( 5 ), or wherein:
the shuttles ( 5 ) for returning from the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) to the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) are moved by a transfer unit ( 78 ) from the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) to the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ), which transfer unit ( 8 ) is located at least partially or completely below a transport level formed for the shuttles ( 5 ).
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein each of the shuttles ( 5 ) have a gearing ( 56 ) to move the shuttles ( 5 ) from the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) to the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) or, to move the shuttles ( 5 ) from the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) to the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ).
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one gear wheel ( 50 ) circumferentially drives at least one chain ( 52 ), wherein the at least one chain ( 52 ) is brought into engagement with gearing ( 56 ) of a respective shuttle ( 5 ) the result being that:
the shuttles ( 5 ) are moved from the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) to the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ), or
the shuttles ( 5 ) are moved from the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) to the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ).
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the gearing ( 56 ) is formed via a gear rack ( 58 ).
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bringing up step further comprising simultaneously bringing up a plurality of outer packages ( 3 ).
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising arranging at least one transfer plate ( 79 ) along two parallel conveyor sections ( 16 , 18 ) of the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 30 ).
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the outer packages ( 3 ) are received in a first conveyor section ( 16 ) and then are pushed onto a second conveyor section ( 18 ), on which second conveyor section ( 18 ) the articles ( 2 ) are introduced by the at least one manipulator ( 15 ) into the outer packages ( 3 ), whereupon the outer packages ( 3 ), together with the introduced articles ( 2 ), are then removed as a packaging unit ( 8 ) from the second conveyor section ( 18 ).
10 . A packaging system ( 1 ) for packaging articles ( 2 ), the system comprising:
at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ),
a plurality of shuttles ( 5 ), each having at least one shell ( 85 ), releasably arranged on the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ) so that outer packages ( 3 ) can be set down in the at least one shell ( 85 ) on the several shuttles ( 5 ), and articles ( 2 ) can be inserted into the outer packages ( 3 ) so as to carry out a first packaging process (VP 1 ),
wherein each of the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) can temporarily fix the outer packages, and
wherein, for a second packaging process (VP 2 ), the several shuttles ( 5 ) are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ), and at least one transfer plate ( 79 ) is arranged along two conveyor sections ( 16 , 18 ), which two conveyor sections ( 16 , 18 ) form the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 20 ), wherein, during the second packaging process (VP 2 ), the outer packages ( 3 ) make surface contact with at least one transfer plate ( 79 ) in the absence of shuttles.
11 . The packaging system of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) has a plurality of suction elements ( 82 ), via which the plurality of suction elements ( 82 ) can fix the outer packages ( 3 ) temporarily via negative pressure, and wherein the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) each comprise a common line system ( 92 ) for the respective the plurality of suction elements ( 82 ), via which common line system ( 92 ) each of the plurality of suction elements ( 82 ) of a respective shuttle ( 5 ) are fluidically connected one to another.
12 . The packaging system according claim 10 , wherein the at least one horizonal conveying device comprises a first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) and a second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ), wherein the outer packages ( 3 ) can be set down on the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) releasably arranged on the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ), and wherein the articles ( 3 ) can be introduced into the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) arranged releasably on the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ), and wherein at least one transfer unit ( 78 ) moves the plurality of shuttles from the first horizontal conveying device to the second horizontal conveying device, or wherein the at least one transfer unit ( 78 ) returns the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) from the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) to the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ), and wherein the at least one transfer unit ( 78 ) be at least partially or completely below a transport level designed for the shuttles ( 5 ).
13 . The packaging system claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) have a gearing ( 56 ), and the at least one transfer unit ( 78 ), while engaged with a respective gearing ( 56 ) of a respective shuttle ( 5 ), can move the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) from the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) to the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) or move the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) from the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) to the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ).
14 . The packaging system of claim 13 , wherein the gearing ( 56 ) comprises a lantern pinion gearing, and wherein the at least one transfer unit ( 78 ) comprises at least one gear wheel ( 50 ) and at least one chain ( 52 ) circumferentially driven via the at least one gear wheel ( 50 ), with which at least one chain ( 52 ) circumferentially driven by the at least one gear wheel ( 50 ), the respective shuttle ( 5 ) can be temporarily brought into engagement via the gearing ( 54 ) for a movement from the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) to the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) or for the movement from the second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ) to the first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ).
15 . The packaging system ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) comprises two shells ( 85 ).
16 . The packaging system ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein the connecting piece ( 95 ) is adapted to selectively supply negative pressure to individual shuttles ( 5 ) when the outer package ( 3 ) are left set down on the shuttle ( 5 ).
17 . The packaging system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one transfer plate ( 79 ) is arranged along two parallel conveyor sections ( 16 , 18 ) of the at least one horizontal conveying device ( 10 , 30 ).
18 . A packaging system ( 1 ) for packaging articles ( 2 ), the system comprising:
at least one first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ),
at least one second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ),
at least one transfer unit ( 78 ) having at least one gear wheel ( 50 ) adapted to circumferentially drive at least one chain ( 52 ),
a plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) releasably arranged on the at least one first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) so that outer packages ( 3 ) can be set down on the several shuttles ( 5 ), and articles ( 2 ) can be inserted into the outer packages ( 3 ) set down on the several shuttles ( 5 ) so as to carry out a first packaging process (VP 1 ),
wherein each of the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) can temporarily fix the outer packages ( 3 ) via negative pressure provided by a connecting piece ( 95 ), which can transmit negative pressure to a common line system ( 92 ), which then supplies the individual shuttles ( 5 ) with negative pressure, and
wherein each of the plurality of shuttles ( 5 ) comprise gearing ( 56 ) that engages with the at least one chain ( 52 ) driven by the at least one gear wheel ( 50 ) of the at least one transfer unit ( 78 ) to move the shuttles ( 5 ) from the at least one first horizontal conveying device ( 10 ) to the at least one second horizontal conveying device ( 20 ), and vice versa.