ES2845611T3 - Procedure for packing small items and packing machine with modular structure to carry out the procedure - Google Patents

Abstract

Procedure for packing small-sized articles (13), in particular chocolates or candies covered with chocolate, in continuous operation by means of a packing machine (100) with modular structure, the packing machine (100) being able to be retrofitted between operation with two heads that carry articles (31, 41) and with three or more heads that carry articles (21, 31, 41), the articles (13) being fed depending on a type of article and / or an orientation of the article and / or a type of packaging, in particular a type of wrapping of the packaging, by means of a predetermined feeding device (10) that can be chosen from predetermined transport systems, individually to a predetermined packaging process and being led to an article-grabbing station (30) rotatable around at least one axis of rotation defined as central axis 1, stationary, which forms a withdrawal station (20) in the packaging machine (100) with two heads those that carry articles (31, 41) or in front of which a take-off wheel (21) is mounted on the packaging machine (100) with three or more heads that carry articles (21, 31, 41), also performing a feeding of packaging material (5) for packaging the article (13) to this article gripping station (30), the packaging material (5) with the article (13) then being fed to a packaging station (40) rotatable around at least one stationary axis of rotation (44), the packaging station (40) containing a wrapping head (41), to which wrapping devices (42, 43) are assigned predetermined depending on the type of wrapping, which It is possible to choose between different devices, in particular turning and / or folding stations and the packed articles (13) being subsequently evacuated, and the removal wheel (21) and / or the article gripping station (30) being housed and / or the packing station (40) with the packing head (41) and l The wrapping devices (42, 43) corresponding interchangeably on a machine frame (2) of the packaging machine (100) and flexibly combined with respect to the central axis 1, stationary to take into account different types of articles, article orientations, as well as types of packaging, in particular types of wrapping.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Procedure for packing small items and packing machine with modular structure to carry out the procedure

The present invention relates to a method for continuously packaging small-sized articles, in particular chocolates or sweets covered with chocolate, and by means of a packaging machine with a modular structure, as well as a packaging machine with which the above procedure can be carried out. indicated.

The packaging of small-sized confectionery products, such as hard or soft candies, chocolates or other small-sized confectionery articles, in particular covered with chocolate, has long been carried out in the field of relatively high labor yields in accordance with the so-called continuous work principle, that is, with packaging machines that are provided with a plurality of rotating heads (workstations) for the collection of the products, the delivery and the packaging of the products, so that the articles are packed in a continuous process and with high performances depending on the type of the product and the type of wrapping (type of packaging), as well as other limit conditions with up to 1200 cycles per minute.

However, in many cases such high packaging yields can only be achieved when packaging relatively simple products, such as those configured in the shape of parallelepipeds, and in many cases require a specially adapted construction and configuration of the different packaging heads. work of the machine that carry the articles and intervene in the packaging process, so that there is not enough variability or possibility of simple retrofitting for different types of packaging (types of wrapping) or small series of machines of this type, specifically not only by the manufacturer, but also by the user.

To date, in packaging machines or packaging systems of this type, as a rule, only the product feed and the product separation can be variably retrofitted, for example in combination with a plate feed, a belt feed or by chain or a processing from the dough bar, while the feeding and orientation of the product is carried out by the packaging machine itself in a substantially constant way and by the predetermined mounting of the rotating heads.

Examples of applicant's product packaging lines with belt feed, dough bar work or plate feed are shown in Figures 16-22.

In addition to changes in the feeding and separation of the articles, it is also known to assign different packaging components to the packaging head within the packaging stations depending on the type of wrapping chosen. However, also in this case, the basic structure of the corresponding packaging machine is kept constant, in particular the orientation of the product during the passage of the article through the machine, that is, due to the configuration of the heads, the delivery rate of the articles inside the machine remains unchanged.

It is true that in DE 10309082 A1 it is pointed out that, when changing the format, the different working heads of a device for wrapping candies are respectively removed from the free shaft end and new working heads are slid in. However, the positioning and the number of the working heads are predetermined by the construction of this known device and are not included in the concept of modularity.

Therefore, the invention is based on the objective of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks and creating a process and a packaging machine, in particular for carrying out the process, that allow a variety hitherto not achieved with respect to the formats and sizes of the packs. products that can be processed, as well as regarding the types of wrapping (types of folding), also in combination with each other and in combination with different feeding and separation systems, with a high variability of the orientation of the articles during the process of packaging, so that a process of this type and a packaging machine of this type is more useful for the user while maintaining a sufficient productive capacity than is the case in the systems used up to now by the rigid implementation and the concatenation of the packing devices that carry the articles inside the packing machine.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method according to claim 1 and a packaging machine according to claim 14.

The method according to the invention and the modular packaging machine according to the invention differ substantially from the systems and devices known up to now in that not only the feeding or evacuation systems can be adapted in a modular way to different packaging tasks or stations. corresponding to the wrapping can be modified inside the packaging station and with respect to the packaging head, as well as the packaging members that cooperate with it, but rather the removal wheel and / or the article gripping station and / or the packing station with the packing head and the corresponding wrapping devices are interchangeably housed in a machine frame of the packing machine and can be flexibly combined with respect to the central axis, stationary to take into account different types of articles, article orientations, as well as types of packaging, in particular types of wrapping (claim 14).

In combination with the definition of a central axis in the machine frame, around which an n-piece work station works, here a take-out station or article-gripping station, and to which the packaging material is fed to be applied to the articles, therefore at least one of the packaging devices that carry the articles themselves is housed, in the present case preferably a take-off wheel or an article gripping head rotatable around the central axis or a rear packaging head ( in addition to the additional devices that can be assigned to it in a modular way as is known) interchangeably on a machine frame. These are implemented as independent modules depending on the desired orientation of the products in the packaging processes or the implementation of the packaging machine as a two- or three-head machine or also with different packaging heads and packaging members assigned to them. , as a turning station or bending station. This wrapping machine can therefore be quickly modularly adapted to different packaging tasks, product types, wrapping types and user wishes.

In this way, packaging procedures with product feeding and separation can be realized, as well as more diverse variable product orientation inside the packaging machine and a largely free choice of the type of packaging (type of wrap) according to the requirements. wishes of the user with such a continuously operating modular packaging machine. The necessary feeding / separating and packing devices are combined in an article-oriented manner and the packing devices carrying the articles are assigned to the central axis and the corresponding article-grabbing station. In this way, for the first time, relatively complicated types of wrapping and packaging, in particular combined wrapping, such as folding and twist wrapping on an article (sachet folding), can be produced very productively in a continuously operating machine with high performance, preferably working in the middle class realm.

Preferable configurations of the method according to the invention, as well as of the modular packaging machine according to the invention are represented in the respectively relevant dependent claims.

For example, thanks to the method according to the invention and to the packaging machine according to the invention it is possible to carry out not only format changes but to a greater extent also changes in the type of folding. Other types of high-quality wrapping can be made in continuous operation, such as "top-twist" (twist wrapping on a top side of the product, folding wrapping on a bottom side). In addition to the change of feeding and separation units and the change of turning or folding stations in the area of the packaging station, according to the invention work stations such as take-out heads and gripper heads can also be changed, i.e. for example a take-out wheel and the article-gripping head (which rotates around the central axis), and therefore product orientations can also be variably realized when picking up or passing the article through the packaging machine.

With the packaging method according to the invention and the packaging machine according to the invention preferably provided for carrying out this, thanks to the modular nature of the packaging devices that carry the articles themselves and that are interchangeable (by devices of this In the context of the present application, type is understood above all a withdrawal wheel (if any) that collects the articles from a feeding and / or separating device, an article gripping head rotatable around a central main axis of the wrapping machine (which may also act as a take-off wheel) and the wrapping head), so that in addition to changing the feeding and separating units (for example changing from a machine with a plate to a machine with a belt and vice versa) and changing turning or folding stations at the packing station, workstations such as take-out heads and head can also be changed Gripping them, to change product orientations during the packaging process during the passage of the articles through the packaging machine.

In this way, it is possible to produce high-quality wrapping types, such as "top-twist" on packaging machines that work in continuous operation.

The invention is envisaged, in particular, for the packaging of sensitive chocolate-covered confectionery products, for example double twisting, top-twisting, sachet folding, tin foil wrapping and special folding can be carried out, specifically with high packaging performances, preferably in the middle class area of up to 800 working cycles per minute. However, the invention is not limited to chocolate products of this type.

In addition, relatively large articles, of a diameter of for example 30 mm to 40 mm, can be processed.

According to an advantageous embodiment, an evacuation device is proposed in combination with a separator plate feeding system for the provision of articles that are in receiving bags of a separator plate, preferably a loading ring of this, in a path of a gripping device with clamping jaws of a removal station, which can be for example a gripping wheel in a three-head packaging machine or an article gripping head of a gripping station in a two head wrapping machine. Preferably, this evacuation device contains a device for punches with at least one bottom punch wheel and a plurality (preferably three) bottom punches that can move vertically and rotatably in combination with a special bottom punch gear, which successively lifts the articles from the separating wheel housing bags , if necessary, the article being held at the same time by an upper punch that can be moved by means of a gear of upper punches, so that the corresponding article can be picked up by separating from the separator plate by means of pairs of clamping jaws of a device arranged below for the withdrawal or collection of the articles in the packaging machine.

The lower punches, always vertically oriented, hingedly mounted in the gear of the lower punches, can in this case, preferably adjustably, be eccentrically housed, so that an adjustably variable stroke change is possible, in In particular, an increase in stroke compared to a coaxial housing of the lower punches in the assigned moving gear element.

Preferable configurations of this evacuation device are described in the corresponding dependent claims.

According to another preferred embodiment, a folding method and a folding station realized for this purpose with a corresponding folding head is provided, the folding process being characterized in that for a folding casing, specifically in particular for a first folding, following an open U-shaped wrapping of the article to carry out an application on the front side of the packaging material to the article, a pre-bending is carried out that releases the tension of the material, loosening the material (or a sinking) in this section of the packaging material, before a complete application, preferably with a very fine folding member, from the fold to the article is carried out by means of a finishing bending machine.

Preferably, this pre-bending to reduce the stress of the material with subsequent finishing bending, that is, a double embodiment of the same bending step, is performed at least once, but preferably twice during a complete bending process. The other claims describe preferable configurations of a corresponding folding method as well as a folding head preferably provided for carrying out such a wrapping method, for which protection is claimed not only in combination with the other components of the present application, but also independently.

In particular, for a relatively stable packaging means, the bending forces can therefore be minimized and an always secure holding of the packaging material can be ensured, so that an opening of the fold by elastic recovery is also avoided.

According to another preferred embodiment, a turning station is provided for making twist wraps, in particular for handling products of a relatively large format and for example for a "top-twist" wrapper, the gripper being able to make rotating when the fringes rotate an axial oscillation movement to compensate for the axial shortening of the packaging material, this movement being derived in a cam-controlled manner.

At the same time, an adjusting device is provided for the effective stroke of the turning process, which is possible, in particular, by the possibility of adjusting a beginning of the oscillating movement of the rotary gripper relative to an opening or closing moment. rotary clamp jaws of the rotary clamp. A second independent cam is preferably provided for the opening and closing movement, and an adjustment gear induces an adjustment of the stroke for the axial movement of the rotary clamp, so that a relative positioning of the cam (preferably drum cam ) for the oscillating movement, the rotary clamp induces the positioning of the closing and opening cam to control the opening and closing movement of the rotary clamp jaws. Such a turning station or rotary head can be used and used both in combination with the modular structure of the packaging machine and also in other packaging machines that do not have a modular structure, which work according to the continuous working principle.

The packaging machine according to the invention, which works in continuous operation, allows the combination of the turning and folding station in the packaging station to produce, for example, top-twist packaging.

The packaging machine according to the invention is preferably provided with a central gear with corresponding cams for the derivation of rotational movements and with the gripping jaws of the article gripping station that rotates on the central axis of rotation, deriving from this central gear preferably also the drive movements for the packaging station (wrapping head and corresponding folding and / or turning stations).

The feeding and separating station, which is mounted in front of the packaging devices carrying the articles in the sense of the present application, is preferably mechanically connected to the "base machine", although it is individually operated separately.

However, the modular structure of the packaging machine otherwise also allows the passage to largely separate, independent control concepts for the individual packaging devices by means of independent servo motors. Also inside packing devices they can be used for control of bending processes or for mechanical-electrical hybrid drives (bypassing the cam movements and use of micromotors) for a greater individualization of the drive concept for the individual workstations and within them for the derivation of movements for the orientation of the product or control (eg for the control of rotary grippers at a turning station inside the packing station). Preferably, a common control device (CPU) is provided for controlling the different individual drives and the servomotors.

Thanks to the packaging method according to the invention and the packaging machine according to the invention, complicated packaging tasks, such as the packaging of lollipops, can also be solved with great efficiency with great efficiency. In contrast to the preferred embodiments, which will be explained below, the article gripping station can have, for example, a structure such as that known from the applicant's document EP 1712 472 A1. This also applies to the other components, such as the separating plate or the wrapping head or the wrapping station.

Other advantages, characteristics and aspects of the present invention will be more clearly understood from an explanation set forth below of some preferable embodiments thereof. In the figures they show:

Figure 1a a schematic representation of a 'base type' of a modular packaging machine in preparation for the implementation as a two or three head packaging machine in a schematic side view and in an embodiment of a packaging station with two turning stations to perform double twist wrap packaging, and

Figure 1b is a schematic representation in front view for the configuration of the base model of the packaging machine according to Figure 1a as a three-head packaging machine, showing different feeding / separation devices for articles to be packed that according to Figures 1b and 1b can be coupled with the packaging machine in oblique view or schematic side view as

figure 1c separator plate (machine with plate),

Figure 1d linear feed device (belt or chain feed device, - belt machine), and

figure 1e dough bar feeding device;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a pick-up / delivery of articles for a two-head packaging machine with collection of the articles from a separator plate in schematic representation;

Figure 3 a partial perspective view of the delivery of articles from a separator plate to an article gripper head with an evacuation device in perspective view according to Figure 2, albeit in a view rotated substantially approximately 180 ° in comparison with the representation in figure 2, that is, seen from a machine frame of the packaging machine in schematic representation;

FIG. 4 shows a lower punch wheel of the evacuation device according to FIG. 3 in a schematic perspective representation;

FIG. 5 a lower punch gear of the lower punch wheel according to FIG. 4 in a schematic perspective representation;

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional representation of the evacuation device with the upper punch and the lower punch gear of the lower punch wheel according to FIGS. 4 and 5;

7 shows a packaging machine in schematic representation according to another embodiment of the present invention in the form of a two-head packaging machine with a belt feeding device;

FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a packaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention for a three-head packaging machine according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of a packaging method according to another embodiment of the present invention for a three-head packaging machine with a take-out wheel according to a second embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a packaging method according to another embodiment of the present invention for a three-head packaging machine with a withdrawal wheel according to a third embodiment;

Figures 11a, b schematic partial representations in perspective of a configuration of article clamping devices (pairs of clamping jaws with rotating clamping jaws) on the withdrawal wheel according to figure 9, the view of the figure having been rotated 11 b approximately 180 ° compared to the representation of figure 11 a;

FIG. 12a a packaging station with a folding station and a turning station according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a schematic perspective representation;

FIG. 12b a packaging station according to FIG. 12a in partial cut-out and an enlarged representation compared to FIG. 12a;

figure 13 a bending station according to figure 12 in a partial schematic perspective view;

FIG. 14 is a schematic representation in stages of a bending process, preferably after a bending head according to FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary embodiment of a turning station in a schematic perspective representation;

FIG. 16 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and an article passage through a belt-fed packaging machine according to the state of the art;

FIG. 17 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and an article passage through a belt-fed packaging machine (II) according to the state of the art;

FIG. 18 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and an article passage through a bar-fed packaging machine (I) according to the state of the art;

FIG. 19 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and an article passing through a bar-feed packaging machine (II) according to the state of the art;

FIG. 20 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and an article passage through a bar-fed packaging machine (III) according to the state of the art;

FIG. 21 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and an article passage through a plate-fed packaging machine (I) according to the state of the art;

FIG. 22 is a schematic representation of a packaging process and an article passage through a plate-fed packaging machine (II) according to the state of the art;

The examples of embodiment of the invention that will be explained below can be applied both to packaging machines that work in continuous operation with two packaging devices that carry the articles, in which the article gripping station directly picks up the articles that arrive separated from a feeding or separating system and delivering them in the same orientation or a changed orientation to a packing station from which the packed items are evacuated or for packing machines with three or more packing devices carrying items, in which a wheel is provided pick-up device for picking up items from a feeding or separating device and delivering the items in the same or a changed orientation to an item-gripping station with an item-gripping head to which an item-gripping material is fed. packaging, to be delivered by this second head in the same orientation or in one or Orientation changed the item together with the piece of packing material to the packing station. If necessary, also in the sense of a packaging machine with four packaging devices carrying articles, a discharge wheel can be arranged downstream of the packaging station for orderly unloading of the packed articles on an evacuation belt (rib belt). ).

Figure 1a shows in a schematic side view a base type of the packaging machine 100 according to a first embodiment example, in this case only one packaging station 40 with a packaging head 41 and opposite turning stations 42, 43 being represented , as used to make double twist wrap packaging (with two fringes). The absence of a withdrawal station (see withdrawal station 20 in figure 1b) or an article gripping station 30 (see figure 1b) should indicate in figure 1a that these packaging devices carrying the articles are made variably and are optionally added to the wrapping machine 100 to complete the same (three-head wrapping machine) or also that only one article gripping station 30 rotatable around a stationary central axis of rotation 1 is additionally used, when the wrapping machine 100 is designed as a two-head wrapping machine.

Therefore, Figure 1a shows the modular base concept of the packaging machine 100.

However, this does not mean that the packaging station 40 or the packaging head 41 could not also be interchangeable, as could the additional wrapping means (turning stations 42 and 43). However, as regards the wrapping head 41, this is used less times, while the expert knows very well the interchangeability of the additional stations that determine the type of wrapping inside the wrapping station 40, in this case the turning stations 42 and 43. Therefore, the representation of the packaging station 40 assembled in FIG. 1a is not to be understood as limitation or prejudice.

Therefore, as shown in figure 1, in particular for a removal station 20 and an article gripping station 30, these heads in different configurations can be interchanged as desired, in particular in view of an orientation of the articles during its passage through the packaging machine 100 and preferably the removal station 20 can be connected with the article-gripping station 30 (two-head packaging machine). However, an interchangeability of the packing head 41 is also provided inside the packing station 40.

Figure 1b shows schematically and in front view such a configuration of the "prototype" according to figure 1a as a three-head packaging machine with three packaging devices carrying articles (that is, the removal station 20, the removal station item grab 30 and packing station 40). At these workstations, a removal head 21, an article gripping head 31 and a wrapping head 41 are provided correspondingly and represented here only schematically. The direction of rotation of these is indicated by arrows in FIG. 1b.

Therefore, in the context of the present application, on the one hand, in a two-head packaging machine, an article gripping station 30 with a gripping head of articles 31 as well as, for the case that the withdrawal station 20 is part of a three-head packaging machine, as shown in figure 1b, a withdrawal wheel 21, which picks up articles from a feeding device and / or separation 10.

In Figures 1c to 1e, examples of feed and separation devices 10 are schematically represented as plate feed with separator plate 7 in Figure 1c, belt or chain feed with a linear feed device 8 in Figure 1d or a bar feeding device 9 in figure 1e.

Depending on the type of product and the feeding system, feeding and separating devices of this type are mechanically coupled to the packaging machine 100 and actuated by at least one separate, decentralized drive, as usual.

The packaging machine 100 is characterized in its modular structure in that a central axis 1 is fixed to a machine frame 2 of the packaging machine 100, around which a work station of n pieces is rotatable, that is, the gripping station of articles 30 with the article gripping head 31, and to which a packaging material not shown here is also fed from a packaging material feeding device also not shown here, to be applied to a corresponding article and to be delivered with it to the packing station 40. It has already been pointed out above that the packing station 40 with the packing head 41, in this case provided with opposite turning stations 42 and 43, is naturally not limited to such an embodiment, but also other bending stations or bending heads opposite the wrapping head 41, or also combinations of bending stations and turning stations, may be provided, eg for a toptwist bending, as will be explained later, inside the wrapping machine 40 in combination with the wrapping head 41. It is again noted that also the wrapping head is interchangeably modularly provided in the machine frame 2 in different configurations, eg depending on the size of the items to be packed.

In the present exemplary embodiment, the axes are arranged between the packing station 40 and the article-gripping station 30 at an angle α of approximately 20 ° with respect to each other and the packing station 40 is laterally offset above the article grabbing station 30.

However, this angular displacement can be changed within the framework of the overall implementation of the packaging machine 100, in particular it can be chosen in a range from about 10 ° to about 60 °.

In FIG. 1b, other folding stations 11 or folding members are schematically represented, possibly assigned to the packaging head 41 as possible components of the packaging machine 100, which allow other types of wrapping to be made, such as tin foil wrapping. .

In addition, additional functions can also be performed in this area, such as providing quick-opening elements on packaged articles, label dispensers or closing elements for packaging (gluing point).

According to the principle of continuous work, both the removal station 20, in this case formed by a removal wheel 21, has a plurality of pairs of clamping jaws respectively housed rotatably on the removal wheel 21, to collect articles from one of the feeding or separating devices and delivering them to the article gripping station 30, whose article gripping head 31 also has pairs of corresponding gripping jaws, designated within the framework of the present application in most of the cases pairs of gripping jaws. Correspondingly, the packing head 41 of the packing station 40 has pairs of clamping jaws for fixing the articles, without this being shown in detail here. In the following, particularities of the present embodiments will be discussed in more detail. What is essential within the framework of this exemplary embodiment is the interchangeable, that is, changeable housing of at least one of the three packaging devices that carry the articles, in this case the removal station 20, the article-gripping station 30 and / or the packing station 40, that is to say, of a take-off wheel 21 and / or of an article gripping head 31 and / or of a packing head 41, in adaptation to the type of article or an orientation of the article or a type of packaging chosen (type of wrapping), as will be explained in more detail below.

Although this is not explained or shown in this case in more detail, the wrapping head can also have other configurations and can be provided, for example, with rotating folding boxes, the articles being delivered between the article gripping station and the wrapping head. using expandable delivery punches.

The packing station 40 with the packing head 41 is rotatable around a second fixed axis (packing head axis) 44 and with 12 a discharge device for the (in this case not ordered) evacuation of articles is designated in figure 1b. packed from the wrapping machine 100.

With such a modular structure of the wrapping machine 100, which refers in particular to a take-off wheel 21, although optionally also to an article gripping head 31 or a wrapping head 41, it can be chosen as a function of the desired product wrapping great flexibility, also with regard to an orientation of the articles inside the packaging machine 100, of the control of the corresponding clamping members (pairs of gripping jaws) depending on the type of article, so that In a packaging machine of this type, which preferably works in the middle-class area of up to about 800 products per minute, a possibility of rapid retrofitting of the machine is guaranteed even in small series, both by the manufacturer and the user. packaging machine, specifically both with respect to the formats and also with respect to the types of wrapping and types of packaging that can be made, having a great variability and variety.

In contrast to hitherto existing solutions, in the present wrapping machine 100, for example, not only the turning station 42, 43 (or one folding station or two alternatively proposed folding stations) can be changed depending on the type of wrapping on the wrapping head shaft 44, or different units may be provided, such as separator plate 7, belt or chain feed 8 or bar feed 9 as feeding or separating device 10 for the articles in the infeed zone of the packaging machine 100, but in particular the removal station 20 with the removal wheel 21 and / or the article gripping station 30 with the article gripping head 31 and / or the packaging station 40 with the wrapping head 41 and the corresponding stations, such as the turning station 43, interchangeably on the machine frame 2 of the wrapping machine 100 and can be combined extremely flexibly with respect to the "fixed point" on the machine, that is, the central axis 1 to take into account different types of articles, orientations of articles, as well as types of wrapping. It can also be envisaged that the wrapping machine 10, as indicated in figure 1a, provides the wrapping head as a fixed work station, so that only the article gripping station 30 (two heads) and / or the removal station 20 (take-off head 21) are interchangeable on machine frame 2. That is, a combination of fixed, predetermined packing devices carrying articles with rotatable heads arranged interchangeably and carrying articles as a reserve is also possible.

In this connection, preferably in combination with the central shaft 1, a central gear (not shown here) is provided, from which the movements of the article gripping head 31, including those of the corresponding gripping jaws, are also derived by cams, and preferably are Also derived from this central gear is a drive control for the packing station 40. In a comparable way, the drive of the withdrawal station 20 can also be cam-controlled, derived from the central gear. However, in particular with regard to the modular concept of the machine, it is also possible to decentralize the drives for the packaging devices carrying articles 20, 30 and 40 and to carry them out separately, for example based on individual servomotors, being controlled by a unit of central control (CPU). The actuation of the discharge device 12 is also carried out in a decentralized manner.

In addition, controls of the necessary movements can also be provided inside the packaging devices carrying articles 20, 30, 40, in particular in the area of the packaging station 40, if necessary other means of adjustment by motor, such as micromotors. , optionally also as hybrid motion control devices in combination with cam-controlled elements or they can be realized in conventional cam-controlled manner.

Therefore, a highly flexible transport of the articles is guaranteed by the chosen feeding and treatment device 7 or 8 or 9, taking into account the type of the article and the type of wrapping (type of packaging), and in particular it is made by means of interchangeable withdrawal wheels 21 at the withdrawal station 20, as will be explained below. The take-out wheel 21 has the function of removing the articles from the feeding or separating device 10 for delivery to the article-gripping head 31, the orientation of the articles can also be changed for certain types of wrapping.

For certain product orientations, the article gripping head 31 which is located on the central axis 1 is also changed and a corresponding change of the wrapping head 41 is provided, if necessary, in particular in combination with corresponding stations, as a bending station or turning stations 43.

Depending on the feeding and orientation of articles, as well as the separation of articles, the wrapping machine 100 shown in figures 1a and 1b with three heads carrying articles (take-out wheel 21, article gripping head 31, wrapping head 41 ) can be changed to be a two-head packaging machine (see figure 7), characterized by a type of construction that treats the product carefully, and which is known, for example, for packing lollipops according to EP 1712472 A1. Such a two head wrapping machine will preferably be explained in combination with a separation principle which will be explained below in more detail for the collection of the articles from a separator plate 7 and direct delivery to the article gripping head 31. In In this case, a special retraction wheel 20 is therefore dispensed with.

The modular nature of the packaging machine 100 is also manifested with respect to a possibility of optional use of other members or folding stations 11 arranged on the circumference of the packaging head 41, which can be provided for special wrapping, such as for example with tin foil. , or additional functions, such as quick-release elements, label dispensers and closure elements for packaging (gluing point).

The unloading device 12 also forms a separate modular unit with its own drive, preferably an ordered article delivery or, as shown schematically in figure 1b, an unordered article delivery can be performed. In the non-orderly evacuation shown here, the articles are transported by means of an ejector in the packing head 41 to a discharge belt of the discharge device 12. In an orderly discharge, instead, the articles are removed by means of a delivery wheel (here not shown) of the packing head 41 and are placed in a defined manner on a rib tape of the evacuation device 12. Next, an embodiment of a novel withdrawal of products or articles of a separating plate 7, here forming the feeding and separating device 10, for a two-head wrapping machine 100. Such a delivery can, however, be applied in a comparable way for a three-head wrapping machine, in which the articles are not delivered from the separator plate 7 directly to the article grab station 30 with the article grab head 31, but are delivered first Instead of the article-gripping head 31, a take-out wheel 21 acts as a take-out station 20. For the rest, depending on the type of product, it is also possible, for example, to provide a packaging machine for This type, explained here in accordance with the present embodiment, also of a separating plate and a gripping head, as known from EP 1712472 A1 for the packaging of lollipops.

According to the present embodiment, the separator plate 7 has, on its outer circumference, a load ring 7a separated from an inner load zone 7b, which rotates in the same direction or in the opposite direction to this load zone 7b. , a plurality of accommodation bags 12, in which the articles 13 have been distributed by rotational forces and housed, which have first been loaded in an unordered manner on the separator plate 7. The load ring 7a rotates in the direction arrow (counterclockwise in figure 2). The inner loading zone 7b, from which the unordered articles 13 are distributed between the accommodation bags 12, can rotate depending on the products and the process in the opposite direction in a clockwise direction or also in the opposite direction. same direction (clockwise).

After the articles 13 have been housed in the accommodation bags 12 in a relatively low position, in the present exemplary embodiment a special evacuation device 50 is provided, which is designed and provided to lift each article 13 individually from the accommodation bags. 12 and make them available in a path of the article gripping head 31 of the article gripping station 30, to be gripped by gripping jaws 33 that can be rotated in pairs about rotation axes 32 of the rotating article stations 35 on the article gripping head 31 about rotation axes 34 parallel to the central axis 1 of the article gripping head 31 and being conveyed in the direction of the arrow by the article gripping head 31.

In the two-head wrapping machine 100 described here, the article gripping station 30 therefore acts as a take-out device or take-out station, which directly picks up the articles 13 from the separating plate 7 for delivery to a wrapping head 41 here. not shown, a piece of packaging material not shown here is also fed into the article-gripping head 31 in the subsequent course of movement of the article and engaging the article 13. For clamping the piece of packaging material, similarly to what is already described in the applicant's document EP1712472A1, a rotary clamp for packaging material 36 forms part of each article station 35 rotatably provided on the article-gripping head 31, being assigned to respectively a pair of gripping jaws 33, 33.

For clarity, in Figure 2 the forward gripping station is not shown, but has been omitted, to more clearly represent the evacuation device 50 with an upper punch 51.

As Figure 2 clearly shows, in the present embodiment the article 13 is clamped by the jaws gripping jaws 33 on its front sides and is picked up by the corresponding pair of gripping jaws 33, 33.

The evacuation device 50 will now be explained in more detail with the aid of Figures 3 to 6.

In addition to an upper punch 51 rotatable around a rotary axis 52, it has as its main component a lower punch wheel 53 (see FIG. 4), which, as FIG. 6 clearly shows, is arranged below the separating plate 7 of such that, from the wheel of lower punches 53, the lower punches 54 carried eccentrically, in the present case are three lower punches 54, are submerged alternately and as a function of the division distance of the accommodation bags and the circumferential speed of the separator plate 7 always in vertical orientation (see figure 4 - figure 6) from below in the accommodation bags 12, lifting the articles 13 from the accommodation bags 12 to deliver them to the gripping jaw pairs 33, 33 , as shown particularly clearly also in figure 3.

The upper punch 51 is used to secure the position of the article 13 while it is raised by the lower punch 54, the movement of which is ensured by an upper punch gear 55 not shown in detail here.

Alternatively, there is also the possibility of completely relinquishing the securely positioned upper punch 51 by positively adjusting the articles 13 on the lower punch 54, that is, by making a surface of the same in adaptation to the corresponding article 13 and by means of the realization of an article guiding and clamping geometry in the lower punch 54 and placing the articles 13 without such position assurance in the trajectory of the pairs of gripping jaws 33, 33 which are further rotatable about the axis 34 and rotating with the article gripping head 31. In the present embodiment, the articles 13 are first separated inside the separator plate 7 (perforated plate) in the accommodation bags 12, the articles 13 being transported by the plate separator 7 in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) in the circumferential direction and transporting us e, that is, being pushed at the same time into a support ring 6. Alternatively, the articles 13 can also be housed directly on the separator plate, for example in positive-fit shaped receiving bags, and can again be fully supported by East. The article gripping head 31 rotates in a clockwise direction, as is also represented in Figures 2 and 3 by the arrows.

The receiving bags 12 of the separating plate 7 are adapted to the shape of the articles 13 and are made, for example, of a circular, oval, square or rectangular shape. Products with a rectangular or oval base configuration and base surface can be conveyed either in the left direction (tangential) or in the transverse direction (radial) with respect to the direction of movement by the separator plate 7. In the present case, the articles 7 have a rectangular configuration and are arranged radially oriented in the separator plate 7 or in the receiving bags 12, so that they are clamped by the gripping jaws 33, 33 along their length after having been put through. arrangement by the evacuation device 50.

Correspondingly, in the case of a transport along the direction of movement of the separator plate, the receiving bags thereof are arranged in the tangential direction on the circumferential or, as in the present case, for transport with a main axis of article transversely to the direction of movement, the receiving bags are arranged in the radial direction, so that in the present embodiment the articles 13 are delivered transversely to their conveying direction to the article-gripping head 31.

As Figures 4 to 6 clearly show, and as is also shown with the aid of the article delivery, as shown with the aid of the snapshots in Figures 2 and 3, the lower punch wheel 53 is provided in the present case with three lower punches 54, which are housed and driven in the lower punch wheel 53 in such a way that they are always in a vertical position for a whole revolution of the lower punch wheel 53, that is, with the punch surface facing upwards .

Correspondingly they carry out an immersion movement in the receiving bags 12 of the separating plate 7, adapted to the division of the receiving bags 12 and the circumferential speed of the same, to successively lift an article 13 of the receiving bag 12 respectively. corresponding and deliver it to the article gripping head 31, that is, to the gripping jaws 33, 33.

To control the movement of the position of the lower punches 54, a special punch gear 60 with a special arrangement of toothed wheels is used, as can be seen in FIG. 5.

The lower punches 54 are respectively housed together with a corresponding guide gear 56 by shafts 57, each guide gear 56 having the same number of teeth as a main gear 58, centrally arranged, stationary and fixed on the frame. There is supported on this for each guide gear 56 a driveable intermediate gear 59, which drives the guide gear 56 rotatably. The intermediate sprockets 59 are housed like the shafts 57 in the housing of the lower punch wheel 53. The number of teeth of the intermediate sprockets 59 can be freely chosen. The lower punches 54 are preferably eccentrically connected to the shafts 57 or the relevant guide sprocket 56 respectively. However, the lower punches 54 can have their point of articulation also on the axis of the shafts 57 or centrally on the guide gear 56 fixed on the shaft, as is the case in the present embodiment example.

An eccentric articulation of the lower punches 45 has the advantage that in this way the strokes made by the lower punches 54 to lift the article 13 from the accommodation bag 12 can be increased. To adapt the circumferential speeds of the load ring 7a and the lower punch wheel 53, it is of course necessary to take into account such a prolonged duration of the immersion of the lower punch 54 in the corresponding receiving bag 12.

Preferably, the measurement of the eccentricity of the lower punches housing 54 can be adjusted, so that the measurement of the stroke of the lower punches can also be variably adjusted in a large frame in accordance with the size of the article 13, as well as a situation of the withdrawal wheel or gripping wheel that it receives, up to the possibility of providing the lower punches 54 with a different lifting stroke.

As FIG. 6 clearly shows, the lower punches 54 approach in a circular path from below the receiving pockets 12 of the separator plate 7, the support ring 6 being interrupted in the area of the arrangement of the lower punches wheel 53 , to leave space for a free passage of the lower punch 54 to the corresponding housing bag 12 of the separator plate 7.

Furthermore, by means of a conical outlet zone 6a of the support ring 6, shown in figure 3, it is ensured that between the support ring 6 and the adjacent lower punch 54 only a narrow gap remains, so that the article 13 it is pushed through this slit by the support ring 6 on the lower punch 54, as Figure 6 clearly shows.

The operation of the evacuation device for the delivery of an article 13 from the separating plate 7 to the article gripping head 31 is as follows:

At the beginning of an upward movement of the corresponding lower punch 54, the upper punch 51 moves past a receiving bag 12 filled with an article from the separator plate 7, so that a closed chamber is formed, which fixes the article 13 corresponding with positive setting. In the subsequent course of the upward movement (see FIG. 3), the article 13 is clamped between the lower punch 54 and the upper punch 51 and is therefore held securely. The open clamping jaws, that is, the gripping jaws 33 of the article gripping head 31 acting in this case as a removal unit, move to a position opposite the side surfaces of the articles 13. This takes place from laterally upwards in combination with the rotation of the article gripping head 31 or a further rotary movement of the article station 35 about the axis 34.

As Figure 3 clearly shows, in the delivery position the clamping between the lower punch 54 and the upper punch 51 is loosened by clamping the article 13 at the same time by clamping on their opposite front surfaces by the gripping jaws 33, which now assume the guiding and securing of article 13.

The other example of embodiment of a two-head packaging machine 100 according to figure 7 shows the possibility of a belt or chain feed 8 as a feeding and separation device and clearly shows, as already explained with the aid of the figure 1, also the angular displacement between the packing head 41 and the gripping head 31. In figure 7, the direction of movement of the longitudinal transport device 8, as well as of the article gripping station 30 and of the packing station 40. Preferably, the linear feeding device 8 (feeding belt and / or chain) has an accumulation belt not shown in detail here, as well as a discharge belt or discharge chain provided directly in the area of delivery to the article gripping head 31, wherein the articles 13 are spaced a discrete distance between articles coincident with the division distance of the gripping jaws 33 on the article gripping head 31, as well as taking into account the feed speed, as well as the circumferential speed of the pairs of gripping jaws 33 of the gripping head 31. Regarding a belt feed 8 of this type to a two-head wrapping machine 100, the articles are fed in this case from a side that is opposite to that of a three-head wrapping machine 100 that will be explained below, that is, in the representation of FIG. 7 from the right, whereas in the case of an arrangement of an additional take-off wheel 21 (three-head wrapping machine, see FIG. 1b), such a belt feed is provided from the left.

Of course, also for a three-head packaging machine, articles can be fed with the aid of a separating plate, as explained above with the aid of FIGS. 2 to 6.

The longitudinal conveying device 8 in FIG. 7 may also be a chain feed device by choice. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 7, the orientation of the articles is preferably transverse to the direction of transport and, for example, a sachet fold can be provided as a packaging wrap with a fold wrap at the bottom. and a spin wrapping on the head of the product, by a corresponding embodiment of the packing station 40, as shown in Figure 12.

In the following, other exemplary embodiments of the packaging method according to the invention will be explained as a correspondingly configured packaging machine 100 with reference to a machine three-head wrapping machine, collecting, as in the schematic representation of figure 1b, three packaging devices that carry articles, that is, the withdrawal station 20 with the withdrawal wheel 21, the articles from a feeding and / or separating device 10, an article gripping station 30 with the article gripping head 31 conveying the collected articles 13, a piece of packing material being assigned, specifically to a packing station 40 with a packing head 41 in which packing takes place from the article. In this regard, preferably at the take-out station 20 and / or at the article-gripping station 30, changes in the orientation of the articles are provided in the packaging process, while the orientation of the articles in general in the process does not change. baler head 41, but should not be excluded either.

Figure 8 schematically describes a first embodiment of the process with the help of packaging an article 13 in double twist wrapping, it being possible to produce in a comparable way also sealed "protected twist" packagings or sachet wrappers and this method being characterized by the use of a withdrawal wheel 21 as a withdrawal station 20, whereby the article 13 can be picked up without changing the orientation of a feeding belt 8, formed by an accumulation belt 8a and a belt of separation 8b, and be delivered without changing the orientation of the article to the article gripping head 31 in the article gripping station 30. The course of the procedure or of the packaging when packing in this case hemispherical chocolates 13 in double twist wrapping is shown schematically in figure 8, the corresponding configurations of the device technique not being represented, this being done s respectively on the contrary with the aid of pairs of clamping or gripping jaws, preferably controlled by cams. After collecting the individual articles 13 on the separating belt 8b and guiding them without change of direction on the take-off wheel 21, they are delivered to the gripping jaws of the article gripping head 31, being fed to the article gripping head 31 at the same time the packaging material, that is, a piece of packaging material 5, being applied to the article 13, specifically with the aid of a clamp for the packaging medium 36 (see figure 2, Figure 3). Before the article 13 is rotated 90 °, as shown by the position of a bottom surface of the article 13 rotated between the collection of the article and the introduction of the piece of packaging material 5. Since it is in this case articles 13 covered with chocolate, the piece of packaging material 5 is in turn made of two layers with an inner wrapper 5a and an outer wrapper 5b, the two scraps of the piece of packaging material 5a, 5b come close adhered directly to each other (the piece of packaging material 5a has a shorter length than the piece of packaging material 5b) to the article 13, as indicated schematically in figure 8, being otherwise usual. A packaging material feeding device is designated 4.

In the packing head 41, a packaging material hose 13a is first formed after the reception in pairs of corresponding clamping jaws of the gripping jaws of the article-gripping head 31, as is schematically represented in FIG. 8, Before turning stations, not shown in detail here, arranged on both sides of the packaging head 41, cause a double-twist wrapping of the article to take place, which is then thrown in a non-oriented manner on a discharge belt of a evacuation device 12 by means of an ejector not shown here.

Figure 9 shows another embodiment for the packaging machine 100 or for the packaging process, the removal station having been changed compared to the embodiment according to Figure 8, that is to say, using a removal wheel 21 ' instead of the withdrawal wheel 21 on the machine frame 2 of the packaging machine 100. This withdrawal wheel 21 'now allows a change in the orientation of the article on the way of a collection of the article 13 from the separation belt 8b to the article-gripping head 31, into which the piece of packaging material 5 is fed, with an additional rotation of the article 13 being made about a transverse axis or about an axis that runs parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel. withdrawal 21 'or to an axis of rotation of the corresponding pairs of clamping jaws substantially about 90 °, as shown by the arrows in Figure 9 with respect to the withdrawal wheel 21'. For this, the pairs of clamping jaws of the withdrawal wheel 21 'are rotatable around another axis, in addition to their possibility of rotation, so that for the attachment of the articles a suspension or an almost "cardanic" housing results. .

A corresponding structure of an article unit 22 for an article 13 on the take-off wheel 21 'will now be explained with the aid of Figure 11, with Figures 1a and 11b respectively showing a downstream and upstream view of the article unit. 22. After delivery of the articles 13 to an article-gripping station 30 ', in the example according to FIG. 9, another rotation of the article 13 is carried out at the article-gripping station 30, in other words, at In comparison with the embodiment according to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, in this exemplary embodiment also another article gripping head 31 'is used, so that a rotation of the article orientation is performed around 90 ° around of a radial vertical axis of the corresponding gripping jaw pairs. This is also indicated by the opposite arrows in the area of an article 13 of the article gripping head 30 '.

While the article 13 therefore adopts after a rotation on the withdrawal wheel 21 '(rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of rotation of the withdrawal wheel 21') a position in which a bottom surface of the article 13 it is oriented in the direction of a trajectory of the article 13, by means of a rotation about a vertical axis by means of corresponding cam-controlled control of the pairs of gripping jaws carrying the articles 13 of the article gripping head 31 each article is rotated there in such a way that it adopts a position in which its bottom surface is oriented outwards, that is, practically in the direction of the central axis 1 of the head 31 'article grip.

As shown schematically in FIG. 9, in this case too the piece of packaging material 5 is applied to the article 13 on the article-gripping head 31 ', it is clamped by the packaging material clamp 36, not shown here, and It is delivered in this configuration to the packaging head 41, with the pairs of clamping jaws of the same holding the article always with the piece of packaging material folded into a U-shape, that is, without direct contact with the article 13, but always from the outside, the piece of packaging material 5 already folded into a U-shape being inserted. In this way a delivery is carried out for the particularly careful collection of the article 13.

Before explaining an embodiment for carrying out the further rotation of the article on the take-off wheel 21 'according to FIGS. 11a and 11b, reference is made to another embodiment according to FIG. 10, which, like that of FIG. Figure 9, can be used for example for a top-twist wrap and in which a third type of a take-off wheel 21 "is used. Again the articles 13 are grasped and picked up from the separation belt 8b by pairs of clamping jaws On the first wheel, that is, on the withdrawal wheel 21 ", the articles 13 are tilted or rotated approximately 90 °, in this case about a tangential axis, so that after this rotation or tilting by means of a corresponding rotational control of the withdrawal clamping jaw pairs about an axis running tangentially on the withdrawal wheel 21 "a bottom surface of the articles 13 is oriented towards the shape, i.e. , in the direction of the corresponding axis of rotation of the withdrawal wheel 21 ", as shown in figure 10. Such a position, which is carried out either by means of an additional rotation inside the second head, that is to say, inside the article removal head 31 'according to figure 9, or according to the embodiment of figure 10, in this case a rotation in the second head, that is to say, in the head of gripping articles 31, is a prerequisite for an embodiment of the "top-twist" type of bending, as represented in Figures 9 and 10.

Depending on the type of wrapping chosen, the different variants can be mixed and matched with each other accordingly, so that the article 13 is in the "correct" position relative to the packaging when the wrapping begins with a piece of packaging material 5. on the baler head 41.

The "gimbal" accommodation of the aforementioned articles 13 with respect to a rotation of the articles 13 on the withdrawal wheel 21 'will be explained in more detail with the aid of the corresponding embodiment for the withdrawal wheel 21' in FIGS. 11a and 11b. In this case it is also preferable that this rotation of the article 13 can be stopped by means of rotating clamping jaws, so that the withdrawal wheel 21 'can transport the articles with or without rotation of the articles 13 on the withdrawal wheel 21' of choice. in combination with the corresponding assignment of an article gripping head 31 or 31 ', ie with additional article rotation in the second head.

Preferably, the take-off wheel 21 has the item units 22 rotatably accommodated and controlled by cams, each item unit 22 having two opening levers 23, each carrying a rotatably accommodated clamping jaw 24. By means of drawbars 25, the clamping jaws 24 can be rotated 90 ° and can be stopped. This rotary movement is induced by a rotary lever 26 controlled by cams, so that a rotation of the articles 13 is induced, although it can be stopped. Both an axis of rotation of the rotary lever 26 and an axis of rotation for the clamping jaws 24 (which substantially coincides with a transverse axis of the article or which runs parallel to it) therefore run substantially with axes parallel to an axis. of rotation of the take-off wheel 21 '.

Next, a packing station 40 with a packing head 41, a turning station 43 and a folding station 45 provided instead of the second turning station 42 in FIG. 1a will be explained in another embodiment of the invention. First, an exemplary embodiment of the turning station 43 will be explained.

In FIG. 1a, turning stations 43 are provided for the packaging of small-sized articles with correspondingly small twist wraps, in which a compensation for the shortening due to inward turning of the packaging material is compensated by a rotational axis of The turning station is arranged inclined with respect to a rotation axis of the corresponding wrapping head 41, so that the corresponding rotating grippers perform an oscillation (by inclined position), that is, a movement in the axial direction, due to the movement of rotation of the turning station. However, such a solution is insufficient, when wrapping large articles with twist wrapping, that is, in a diameter range between 30 mm and 40 mm, since in this case a substantially more axial adjustment travel is necessary. great for rotating clamps in combination with the correspondingly greater shortening of the packaging material as the fringes rotate inwards.

As FIG. 12 clearly shows, the larger embodiment of the turning station 43 with the rotary grippers 46 axially movable and occupying a larger construction space on a front side of a corresponding rotary head 47 also leads to a change of the packing head 41 , so that this is made with concave cutouts 41a respectively assigned to the position of the corresponding rotating gripper (unlike the usual circular cylindrical embodiment of an outer circumferential surface of the wrapping head 41), to allow collision-free opening movement and sufficient closing of the rotary clamp jaws 48 of the rotary clamp 46.

Returning to the control of the movement, in particular to the control of the longitudinal movement of the rotary clamps 46 (of which for clarity in figure 12a only one is shown on the front front side of the rotary head 47), these rotary clamps 46 rotate as it is usually synchronous with the corresponding pairs of clamping jaws 49 of the wrapping head 41 (of which also only one pair of clamping jaws 49 (facing upwards) is shown in FIG. 12a for clarity).

Alternative configurations of the wrapping head are also possible, for example with rotating folding boxes, the article being delivered assisted by the punches between the wrapping head and the station mounted in front of it.

An oscillating movement of the rotary grippers 46 is generated with a drum cam 70, which is shown in Fig. 15 showing the rotary head 47 in more detail, to which reference will be made below. On this slotted cam 70, rotatable rocker levers 71 are provided, which transmit the control movement generated by the drum cam 70 of the fixed drum cam 70 to the axially movable rotary clamps 46. Preferably, the rotary grippers 46 carry out a maximum oscillation stroke at each turn of the rotary head 47.

However, this is adjustable, which could be achieved, on the one hand, by using different drum cams and / or by predetermining the cam engagement position between the cam and the cam follower in the circumferential direction, although in the present case it takes place continuously adjustable by means of an adjustment device 75, with which an effective stroke adjustment for the inward turning process is induced by a displacement of the oscillation start moment relative to a closing moment of the rotary clamp jaws 48 from the rotary clamp 46. This is achieved by rotating the drum cam 70 relative to a closing and opening cam 72. A precondition for this is a decoupling of the gearing technique from the longitudinal movement or axial oscillation of the rotary clamps 46 of the closing and opening movement of the rotary clamp jaws 48. This is done on the rotary head 47 in accordance with this e An example of an embodiment because the closing and opening cam 72 drives a tooth segment 73, to which a reciprocating rotary movement is thus conferred. A toothed wheel 74 meshes with the tooth segment 73, which is rotatably mounted on a push rod 76 and is rotated in both directions of rotation. A cam sleeve 77 is fixedly connected to the gear wheel 74, which bears against the rocker lever 71. In this way, the push rod 76 moves axially and the jaws of the rotary clamps 48 of the rotary clamps are opened and they close. During an oscillating movement (axial movement) of the rotating clamps 76, the spur gear wheel 74 slides axially in the teeth of the tooth segment 73, so that the axial movement (oscillating movement) of the rotating clamps 46 is disengaged from the closing and opening movement of the jaws of the rotating clamps 48.

As has already been shown in figure 12a for the packaging station 40, opposite the turning station 43, on the other side of the packaging head 41, a folding station 45 is arranged, to make types of wrapping such as sachets (sachets). , Top-twist and the diagonal letter fold on one side of the corresponding article.

For other types of wrapping, such as double twist wrapping, two opposing turning stations 43 can of course be used or folding stations 45 can be arranged on both sides of the wrapping head in case of a wrapping with letter fold diagonal to the two. sides. In the present exemplary embodiment, the structure of the folding station 45, as well as a special folding procedure will be explained below with the aid of sachet folding with the aid of Figures 13 and 14. In this context, reference is also made to Figure 12b, which shows a central cut-out of the packaging station 40 in enlarged representation, with the turning station 43 and the rotating jaws 48 of the corresponding rotating clamp 46 on the right side, as well as details of the wrapping head 41 with the pairs of clamping jaws 49 and other bending members of a bending head 78 at bending station 45.

For a sachet fold, item 13 (see figure 12b) is delivered in the manner described above together with piece of packaging material 5 (see figure 14, not shown in figure 12b) from the gripper head. items 31 to the wrapper head 41. The clamping jaws 49 of the wrapper head 41 wrap the item 13, the piece of packaging material not shown in Figure 12b being placed snugly around the item and being held tightly in the shape of a " U "together with Article 13 (see Figure 14). This is a starting position for a folding procedure, as will be explained below with the aid of Figure 14. A starting position for sachet folding to be explained below is designated in Figure 14 by "80". At the front of a packing head shaft is the folding station 45 with the folding head 78, which performs the folding processes for a bottom fold (sachet bottom). At the rear of the wrapping head shaft is the turning station 43 with the turning head 47, which forms a fringe on the upper side of the packaging and thus ends the packaging process. As shown, the packing head 41 is located in the center between the rotating head 47 and the folding head 78.

Referring to Figure 14, but also Figure 12b and Figure 13, a folding process for the sachet bottom folding envelope begins with a subsidence of a 5/1 surface of the stretch of packaging material in the form of A protruding U, oriented towards the center of the packer head by a pre-bender 79, following the same bending with the finish bender (sinker) 81 in the same direction of movement. This is applied tightly to the item or corresponding surface of item 13, it is very flat and therefore capable to completely smooth the 5/1 surface to be folded of the piece of packing material.

The particularity in this context is that in this case the same bending step is carried out successively by means of the pre-bender and the finish bender 79, 81, the pre-bender 79 acting in such a way that it reduces the tension of the material, so that it can Accurate bending can be achieved by the finish bender (sinker) 81, also on relatively rigid sheets and packaging materials with a relatively strong springback characteristic.

A 5/2 collar of packaging material disposed laterally of the upstream finish folder 38 viewed in the direction of movement is bent by a side folder 82 and is placed on top of the finish folder 81 or sinker 81.

A fold of the packaging material arranged downstream viewed in the direction of movement (see arrow in FIG. 14) is then placed on a folding plate provided stationary as a side bender 83 on top of the previously made folds.

In the subsequent course of the rotation of the folding head 78, the side bender 83 carried out relatively long in the circumferential direction serves as a clamping piece for the already made folds and the surfaces of the packaging material arranged on the front side. The bottom folding of the sachet is completed by another pre-bender 84 and the rear finish bender (sinker) 85, sinking them by means of the second side bender 83 inward (pre-bender) or finishing the folding (finish bender 85). Also in this case, the pre-bender 84 serves to loosen and relieve tension in the material and ultimately for a clean bending that is finished by the finish bender 85. Also in this case a bending step is carried out by means of two bending movements oriented in the same direction, which leads to a particularly high quality bending or leaves a greater play compared to the packaging material used.

The tabs of packaging material 5/3, 5/4 that still remain on the two sides along a main direction of the article 13 are now bent by the folding members housed in the packaging head 41, the inner folder 86 and the outer bender 87. During this process, the packaging material tab 5/3 which is arranged upstream viewed in the direction of movement is bent by the inner bender 86 and the packaging material tab 5/4 arranged downstream seen in the direction of movement it is pressed by the outer bender 87 on the tab of packaging material 5/3 bent by the inner bender 86.

In this way, a bottom surface and the side surfaces of a sachet are completely enveloped by the packaging material. With the help of the fringe jaws 48 the protruding packaging material hose is then grasped and the packaging process ends by the formation of a fringe. During such a folding and packing cycle, most of the time interval available over a predetermined angular interval of the rotation of the packing head 41 is available for bottom folding, while a smaller and more short is used for spin wrap formation. By adjusting the oscillation moment in relation to a closing moment of the rotating gripper jaws 48 explained above, these time relationships can be adjusted and thus an optimization of the packaging process can be achieved, so that for the realization of the More complicated bottom folding a sufficiently large angular range is available, while a relatively small angular range of the rotation of the wrapping head serves for finishing the packaging by twist wrapping.

Figure 13 shows the head 78 again in an individual representation, with respect to the control of the movement of the aforementioned bending members being pointed out to an outer cam 88, which controls the movement of the first pre-bender 79, while the outer cam 89 The stationary drive controls the finish bender (sinker) 81. The rebound forces required for the outer cam drive are applied by pull springs 90. In addition, a movement of the side bender 82 is controlled by a slotted cam 91.

To control the second pre-bender 84, as well as the second finish bender (sinker) 85, a four-joint gear 92 is provided, the control of which takes place via a path of a stationary spatially grooved cam 93, while the second pre-bender 84 and second finish bender (sinker) 85 are carried by a second four-link gear 94, the movement control of which takes place by means of another trajectory of the spatial slotted cam 93.

For the first time it is possible to carry out with a continuously operating packaging machine sachet folds and other relatively complicated forms of wrapping, specifically in a novel folding method, which folds a U-shape of a relatively stable packaging material by means of two folding members that can be controlled separately, a pre-bender and a finish bender (sinker) for the bending step, a corresponding procedure also being carried out for a bottom bending. Also here two bending members are used that can be controlled separately, i.e. a second pre-bender and a finish bender (sinker), whereby the bending forces that occur are minimized, an opening of the bending is avoided and a high quality of the bending is guaranteed, the packaging material being held securely.

Furthermore, the new concept leads to the evacuation of the articles to be packed from a separating plate at a smooth running of the packaging machine hitherto not achieved in the foreseen performance range, being the product extremely carefully.

The machine concept also enables for the first time the packaging of very large products in the intended performance range in continuous operation.

Finally, it should be noted that in combination with twist wraps and turning stations, heated rotary clamps can also be used for sealing packaging material, as described in EP 1712472 A1, which is hereby included by express reference by way of object of the present invention.

According to the invention, the modular structure of the machine also leads in the field of packaging devices that carry articles, in particular in the area of a removal station or an article gripping station, to a high variability with respect to possible forms of wrapping and orientations of the articles inside the packaging machine.

Claims (30)

1. Procedure for packing small-sized articles (13), in particular chocolates or candies covered with chocolate, in continuous operation by means of a packing machine (100) with modular structure, the packing machine (100) being able to be retrofitted between operation with two heads that carry articles (31, 41) and with three or more heads that carry articles (21, 31, 41), the articles (13) being fed according to a type of article and / or an orientation of the article and / or a type of packaging, in particular a type of wrapping of the packaging, by means of a predetermined feeding device (10) that can be chosen from predetermined transport systems, individually to a predetermined packaging process and leading to a gripping station of articles (30) rotatable around at least one axis of rotation defined as central axis 1, stationary, which forms a withdrawal station (20) in the packaging machine (100) with two heads Ears that carry articles (31, 41) or in front of which a take-off wheel (21) is mounted on the packaging machine (100) with three or more heads that carry articles (21, 31, 41), also performing a feeding of packaging material (5) for packaging the article (13) to this article gripping station (30), the packaging material (5) with the article (13) then being fed to a packaging station (40) rotatable around at least one stationary axis of rotation (44), the packaging station (40) containing a wrapping head (41), to which wrapping devices (42, 43) are assigned predetermined depending on the type of wrapping, which It is possible to choose between different devices, in particular turning and / or folding stations and the packed articles (13) being subsequently evacuated, and the removal wheel (21) and / or the article gripping station (30) being housed and / or the packing station (40) with the packing head (41) and the corresponding wrapping devices (42, 43) interchangeably on a machine frame (2) of the packaging machine (100) and flexibly combined with respect to the central axis 1, stationary to take into account different types of articles , article orientations, as well as types of packaging, in particular types of wrapping. Method according to claim 1, the articles (13) being fed individually by means of a device for separating articles rotatable around at least one axis of rotation, in particular a separating plate (7), or by means of a device for separating articles. longitudinal transport, in particular a belt or chain transport device (8) for feeding individual articles (13) or by means of a continuous dough bar feeding device (9), the individual articles being separated from the dough bar . Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 2, the individual articles (13) being collected and turned before their delivery to another device, in particular an article-gripping or packaging station (30), around of at least one axis, preferably at least one article axis or an axis parallel to such an axis. 4. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, the articles (13) being rotated, between the collection of the articles from a separation and / or feeding device (10) and the delivery thereof to another device, at least once about 90 °. Method according to claims 3 or 4, the axis, in particular the article axis, running substantially parallel to the axis to an axis of rotation, forming a center of curvature of a movement path of the article (13 ) and / or substantially radially perpendicular to this axis of rotation and / or substantially tangential to the trajectory of the article (13). Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, the packaging process being carried out with feeding from a first feeding direction by means of a three-head packaging machine (100) with a take-off wheel (21), a article gripping head (31) and a packing head (41) or feeding the articles (13) from a second feeding direction, opposite to the first feeding direction, by a two-head machine with a gripping head of articles (31), to which the packaging material is also fed, and a rear packaging head (41). Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, the modules of the packaging machine being controlled, in particular a separation and / or feeding device (10), a removal station (20), a station for gripping articles (30), a packing station (40) or an evacuation device for the articles independently of each other, in particular by servomotors. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, an article gripping station (30) being driven by a central gear and a drive being derived from at least one other station, in particular from the packaging station (40), of the central gear, in particular the central gear containing cams for controlling the movement of modules, such as pairs of clamps or clamping jaws and clamps for packaging means of the article and / or gripping station. a withdrawal station and / or a packing station. Method according to claim 8, whereby substations of the packaging station (40) can be operated, such as a turning station (43) or a pair of opposite turning stations (43), arranged on both sides of a packing head (41) of the packing station (40), or a folding station (45) or a pair of folding stations arranged on the two sides of the packing head together by means of a gear central, modules of the bending station (45) being driven by cams of a central gear. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 9, the work stations being controlled and / or operated at least in part individually, in particular a feeding device (10), a separation station and / or removal device (20), an article gripping station (30), a packaging station (40) and / or an evacuation device by a central control device (CPU) or by decentralized control and / or drive modules . Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 10, being provided inside packaging devices, in particular the removal station and / or the article-gripping station and / or the draining station. micromotor packaging to control the movement of modules of packaging devices, such as rotating clamps, benders or pairs of clamps or clamping jaws. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, the packaging devices being actuated and controlled by a mixture of gear elements, such as a central gear with cams that are scanned by cam followers and / or being provided inside the micromotor packaging devices to control the movement of modules, such as rotating clamps, benders or pairs of clamps or clamping jaws. Method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 12, being controlled a control for the actuation of peripheral modules, such as a feeding device, a separation device or an evacuation station by servomotors, while at least the article gripping station is driven by a central gear, and / or substations of the packaging station, such as the turning station or the folding station are driven / controlled at least in part by servo motors, in particular in combination with a mechanical or micromotor control of modules of these substations. 14. Wrapping machine (100) with modular structure for the continuous packaging of small-sized articles, in particular chocolates or candies covered with chocolate, the wrapping machine (100) can be retrofitted between operation with two heads carrying articles (31, 41 ) and with three or more heads that carry articles (21, 31,41), with a machine frame (2) and a plurality of packaging devices that carry articles (20, 30, 40) that are housed in the machine frame (2), in particular for carrying out the method according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 13, a central axis 1 being defined in the machine frame (2), stationary as the axis of rotation of a gripping station of articles (30), which forms a withdrawal station (20) in the packaging machine (100) with two heads carrying articles (31, 41), or in front of which a withdrawal wheel (21) is mounted on the packing machine (100) with three o more heads that carry articles (21, 31,41), being also carried out a feeding of packaging material (5) for the packaging of the article (13) and being assigned to the article gripping station (30) as a module a separating and / or feeding device (10) and then a wrapping station (40) being arranged rotatable around a stationary axis of rotation (44) with wrapping devices (42, 43) that can be chosen, and the removal wheel (21) and / or the article gripping station (30) and / or the packaging station (40) being housed with the packaging head (41) and the corresponding wrapping devices (42, 43) of interchangeable shape in a machine frame (2) of the packaging machine (100) and can be flexibly combined with respect to the central axis (1), stationary, to take into account different types of articles, article orientations, as well as types packaging, in particular types of wrapping. Wrapping machine according to claim 14, the packaging devices carrying the articles being a take-out wheel (21) of a take-out station (20), an article-gripping head (31) of a pick-up station articles (30) or a packing head (41) of a packing station (40), and being assigned in particular to the article-gripping head (31) at least one other article-carrying head, in particular the take-off wheel (20 ) and / or the packing head (41). 16. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 15, comprising a separating and / or feeding device as a separate module, preferably with a separate, independent drive device, such as a servomotor. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 16, the articles (13) being fed individually by means of a device for separating articles rotatable around at least one axis of rotation, in particular a separating plate ( 7), or by means of a longitudinal transport device, in particular a belt or chain transport device (8) for feeding individual articles (13) or by means of a continuous dough bar feeding device (9), separating the individual items of the dough bar. Packaging machine according to claim 17, the separation and feeding device (10) being a conveyor device by belt or by chain (8), in particular with an accumulation belt for accumulating articles, and a separation belt downstream of the accumulation belt, in particular the separation and feeding device (10) including a soft caramel dough bar (9). 19. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 18, being coupled the feeding device (10) mechanically with the packaging devices carrying articles (20, 30) or being able to be actuated and controlled in particular by means of a decentralized actuating device separately and independently of the actuation of the packaging devices. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 19, the article gripping station (30) having an article gripping head (31) and pairs of gripping jaws (33, 33) housed in this, in particular rotatably, and packaging material scraps being fed to the article-gripping head (31) and / or an article-feeding device (10) being assigned to the article-gripping head (31), in particular a linear belt or chain feed device (8) or a separator plate (7) rotatable about a substantially vertical axis of rotation with accommodation bags (12) arranged on the circumference for individual accommodation of articles (13), in particular along its length in radial arrangement, or a device for feeding a dough bar (9). Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 20, the article gripping head (31) having pairs of gripping jaws (33, 33) as removal units with gripper for packaging means (36 ) assigned to them for the assignment and joint delivery of an article (13) with a piece of packaging material to the rear packer head (41). 22. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 21, the article-gripping head (31) being accommodated interchangeably on the central axis of rotation (1), stationary, in particular to take into account different orientations of articles in the feeding device, being assigned in a modular way, in particular as a function of the type of article and / or the orientation of the article and / or the type of packaging of an article gripping station (30) housed on a central machine shaft (1), a predetermined feeding device (10) and / or a predetermined gripper head (31) and / or a predetermined packing station (40). 23. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 22, a drive of the packaging station (40) being derived from the central gear and the drive movements within the packaging station being derived, in particularly for controlling bending processes, cams or individual drives, such as micromotors inside the packaging station. 24. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 23, whereby the feeding device and / or a removal station and / or the article gripping station and / or the packaging station and / or an evacuation device each one of them by means of individual drive devices in an independent and decentralized way, in particular by means of servomotors. 25. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 24, the packaging station itself having a modular structure and being assigned to the packaging head, depending on the type of article or the type of packaging, on one side or on both sides of a plane of the wrapping head, different turning or folding stations that rotate with the wrapping head or also along a housing circumference of the wrapping head a stationary bending device, preferably a bending arch or additional devices , such as devices for making quick-opening elements, label dispensers, devices for making packaging closures or other folding means for making other types of wrapping, for example in tin foil, these being preferably interchangeable in a modular way . 26. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 25, a device for feeding packaging material (4) being provided adjacent to the article-gripping station (30) for substantially horizontal or horizontal feeding. inclined packaging material scraps to the article gripping head (31), the packaging material scraps preferably being formed by a plurality of packaging material scraps (5a, 5b) of different sizes and of different materials, for the realization of a multi-layer article packaging, in particular the packaging material scraps properly presenting said quick-opening elements or closing elements or being assigned to the packaging head devices for the realization of quick-opening or closing elements, as well as devices auxiliaries, such as label dispensers, being the same interchangeable in a modular way. 27. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 26, a removal station being formed by a removal wheel (21) upstream of an article gripping head (31) for a three-pack packaging machine. heads (100) or by an article gripping head (31) for a two-head wrapping machine (100). 28. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 27, comprising a coupling gear, which can be activated and deactivated by choice, for pairs of withdrawal or gripping jaws of a withdrawal wheel (21) or of an article gripping head (31) for the rotation of the withdrawal or gripping jaws of the pairs of withdrawal or gripping jaws about an axis of rotation parallel to the central, stationary axis of rotation of the withdrawal head or for gripping articles (2; 31) and / or an axis of rotation of the pairs of withdrawal or gripping jaws, in particular the pairs of withdrawal or gripping jaws carrying the articles have two opening levers ( 23) rotatable around preferably tangential axes, each with a clamping jaw (24) (withdrawal or gripping jaws) housed in a rotatable, which can preferably be rotated 90 ° by means of drawbars (25), in particular an actuation of the pairs of drawbars (25) being formed, which can be stopped, of each pair of withdrawal or gripping jaws by a lever rotary (26) controlled by cams. 29. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 28, comprising a withdrawal wheel (21) interchangeably housed in a modular way in the machine frame (2), with pairs of rotating withdrawal jaws around axes of rotation running parallel to the axis of rotation of the take-out wheel (21) for delivery of articles to the article-gripping head (31), without changing an orientation of the article on the take-out wheel (21 ) and subsequent change of an article orientation in the article gripping head (31) by pairs of gripping jaws rotatably housed in the article gripping head (31) prior to delivery to the wrapping head (41). 30. Packaging machine according to at least one of the preceding claims 14 to 29, comprising a withdrawal wheel (21 ') housed interchangeably in a modular way in the machine frame (2), with pairs of withdrawal jaws rotating around axes of rotation running parallel to the axis of rotation of the take-off wheel (21 ') for the delivery of articles to the article-gripping head (30'), with a change of an orientation of the article on the withdrawal (21 '), the article (13) being rotated around an axis of rotation parallel to the axis of rotation of the withdrawal wheel (21') and / or to the axis of rotation of the pairs of clamping jaws and subsequent collection and delivery of the article to the packer head (40) without change in the orientation of the article or with another change in the orientation of the article in the article gripper head (30 ').