Granted Patent B2

US 12,722,822 · App. 18/859,333 · Granted Sep 1, 2026

Inventors: Stephan Wittmann (Siegsdorf, DE); Herbert Spindler (Niedermoosen, DE); Marcus Kreis (Kolbermoor, DE)

Assignee: Krones Aktiengesellschaft

B65B17/025B65B43/10

Abstract

Claims (34)

1 . A packaging apparatus ( 80 ) for applying packaging ( 20 ) to an article combination ( 30 ) having at least two articles ( 31 ), comprising:

at least one preparation die ( 40 ) comprising at least one folding device ( 10 ) configured to fold at least two opposing edge regions ( 23 ) of a packaging blank ( 21 ) to approximately 90 degrees, and

at least one application die ( 41 ) configured to receive the folded packaging blank ( 21 ) and to apply it to the article combination ( 30 ) by a downward movement, so that the folded packaging blank ( 21 ) applied to the articles ( 31 ) is disposed, at least, in part, between the articles ( 31 ) and at least partially surrounds outer lateral surfaces ( 36 ) of the article combination ( 30 ).

2 . The packaging apparatus ( 80 ) of claim 1 , wherein the application die ( 41 ) comprises: at least two receptacles disposed next to one another, and

at least one vertically formed or vertically aligned separating device ( 60 ) between the at least two receptacles,

wherein a folded edge region ( 23 ) of each packaging blank ( 21 ) rests against the separating device ( 60 ), and wherein the separating device ( 60 ) projects downward beyond the folded edge regions ( 23 ) of the packaging blanks ( 21 ),

wherein the application die ( 41 ) is configured to dispose the separating device ( 60 ) between the articles ( 31 ) supplied in an ordered mass flow (MS) and to apply the at least two packaging blanks ( 21 ) to form at least two adjacent packaging units ( 70 ) simultaneously or approximately simultaneously for a defined number and composition of articles ( 31 ) of the ordered mass flow (MS).

3 . The packaging apparatus ( 80 ) of claim 2 , wherein the preparation die ( 40 ) further comprises devices for preparing passage openings ( 22 ) of the packaging blank ( 21 ).

4 . The packaging apparatus ( 80 ) of claim 3 , wherein the preparation die ( 40 ) comprises:

an upper die ( 2 ) having at least one receiving device ( 4 ) or holding device for the packaging blank ( 21 ), and

a lower die ( 3 ) having a plurality of expansion tools ( 6 ).

5 . The packaging apparatus ( 80 ) of claim 4 , wherein the preparation die ( 40 ) comprises an exchangeable format part that is configurable to correspond to a number and arrangement of the passage openings ( 22 ) of the packaging blank ( 21 ) to be processed.

6 . The packaging apparatus ( 80 ) of claim 5 , wherein the application die ( 41 ) has lateral boundary surfaces ( 18 ), against which lateral boundary surfaces ( 18 ), the folded edge regions ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 21 ) are held in their folded arrangement or folded position during application to the articles ( 31 ).

7 . The packaging apparatus ( 80 ) of claim 6 , wherein the separating device ( 60 ) comprises a vertical guide surface or at least one vertical guide finger or guide cone.

8 . The packaging apparatus ( 80 ) of claim 1 wherein the folded edge regions ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 21 ) at least partially surround outer lateral surfaces ( 36 ) of the article combination ( 30 ).

9 . A method for applying packaging ( 20 ) to an article combination ( 30 ) comprising at least two articles ( 31 ), the method comprising:

folding over to approximately 90 degrees at least two opposing edge regions ( 23 ) of at least two packaging blanks ( 21 ),

feeding the articles ( 31 ) directly adjacent to one another in an ordered mass flow (MS),

disposing the at least two folded packaging blanks ( 21 ) next to one another in receptacles of at least one application die ( 41 ), wherein the application die ( 41 ) comprises at least one vertically formed or vertically aligned separating device ( 60 ) between the receptacles, wherein the folded edge region ( 23 ) of the packaging blanks ( 21 ) rests against the separating device ( 60 ), and wherein the separating device ( 60 ) projects downward beyond the folded edge regions ( 23 ) of the packaging blanks ( 21 ),

lowering the application die ( 41 ), with the at least two folded packaging blanks ( 21 ), over the articles ( 31 ) being fed in the ordered mass flow (MS),

inserting the separating device ( 60 ) between articles ( 31 ) of the ordered mass flow (MS) and whereupon the at least two packaging blanks ( 21 ) are applied to a defined number and composition of articles ( 31 ) of the ordered mass flow (MS) to simultaneously or approximately simultaneously form at least two adjacent packaging units ( 70 ), wherein the applied packaging blanks ( 21 ) are disposed, at least in part, between the articles ( 31 ) and at least partially surrounds outer lateral surfaces ( 36 ) of the article combination ( 30 ).

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the inserting step creates a distance (A), by the separating device ( 60 ), at least in an upper region, between adjacent articles ( 31 ), in the mass flow (MS), in order to dispose the folded edge regions ( 23 ) of the packaging blanks ( 21 ) between adjacent articles ( 31 ) and to apply the packaging blanks ( 21 ) to the articles ( 31 ) to form the article combination ( 30 ).

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the application die ( 41 ) further comprises lateral boundary surfaces ( 18 ) as contact surfaces for folded edge regions ( 23 ), wherein the lateral boundary surfaces ( 18 ) are capable of acting as an additional separating device for separating articles ( 31 ) of the mass flow (MS).

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the lateral boundary surfaces ( 18 ) create, a distance (A), at least in an upper region, between adjacent articles ( 31 ) in the mass flow (MS).

13 . The method claim 9 , wherein all four lateral edge regions ( 23 ) of a substantially rectangular packaging blank ( 21 ) are folded over to approximately 90 degrees.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising preparing passage openings ( 22 ) of the packaging blanks ( 21 ) between the folding over step and the applying step.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the preparing step comprises at least slightly expanding of the passage openings ( 22 ) or folding of fixing devices ( 25 ) associated with the passage openings ( 22 ).

16 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the folded edge regions ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 21 ) at least partially surround outer lateral surfaces ( 36 ) of the article combination ( 30 ).

17 . A method for applying packaging ( 20 ) to an article combination ( 30 ) comprising at least two articles ( 31 ), the method comprising:

folding a packaging blank ( 21 ) at one or more folding edges ( 24 ),

thereafter, applying the folded packaging blank ( 21 ) to an article combination ( 30 ) by a downward movement,

wherein the packaging blank ( 21 ) applied to the articles ( 31 ) is disposed, at least in part, between the articles ( 31 ) and at least partially surrounds outer lateral surfaces ( 36 ) of the article combination ( 30 ).

18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising folding over at least two opposing edge regions ( 23 ) of the packaging blank ( 21 ), wherein the folding edges ( 24 ) facilitate folding of the edge regions ( 23 ).

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the folding over of the at least two opposing edge regions ( 23 ) comprises folding over to approximately 90 degrees.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (12)