Abstract: An apparatus (6), as well as a method, for the pre-treatment of packaging blanks is disclosed (10). Each blank has through-openings for receiving articles (12) and for forming packaging units (18). A weakening of the at least one through-opening of the packaging blank (10) can be carried out by using at least two different expansion dies (44; 44a, 44b, 44c). The expansion dies (44; 44a, 44b, 44c) are each equipped with expansion tools with different opening widths and/or different contours for respectively influencing an extent of the weakening of the at least one through-opening. At least one handling robot (70, 88, 90, 108) serves to bring together the packaging blanks (10) with at least one of the at least two available expansion dies (44; 44a, 44b, 44c).

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a tool for producing strapped packages, where least two articles having deformable or flexible lateral surfaces are grouped and brought into a rectangular arrangement and kept together by at least one strapping band. In the method, firstly deformation forces are applied to at least one short side of the group of articles, which deformation forces act approximately uniformly on all articles of the group. Subsequently, the strapping band (26) is placed on the group of articles, wherein an overall length of the strapping band corresponds to or is minimally greater than an overall circumference of the group. The deformation forces acting on the group are then removed, wherein the lateral surfaces of the articles elastically return to their original shape and bring about a band tensioning of the strapping band. The invention also relates to a tool for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A packaging apparatus includes a magazine (12) having several stacked, sheet-like packaging blanks (10), and a removal apparatus. The removal apparatus includes a horizontally and vertically movable handling device (16) with tools. The tools include at least a clamping bracket (22) and a gripping device (30). The clamping bracket (22) serves presses on and fixes the stack (14) of packaging blanks (10) in a first surface region (24). The gripping device (30) takes hold of a packaging blank (10, 10-1) that is uppermost in the stack (14), in a second surface region (32). The gripping device (30) is pivotable such that the second surface region (32) can be angled towards the first surface region (24) to separate the gripped packaging blank (10, 10-1) from the stack (14), after releasing the clamping bracket (22), and to remove it from the magazine (12).

Abstract: A device (1) for applying packaging film to groups of articles (12) comprises a horizontal conveyor (5) for transporting groups of articles (12) and a feed apparatus (15) which introduces pieces of cut packaging film (14) into a transport path of the groups of articles (12. A plurality of wrapping rods (30) move in a rotary fashion such that they take up a remaining free portion (17) of the piece of cut packaging film (14) and guide it around the group of articles (12) each time. A flow generating apparatus (40) generates at least one air flow and blows a remaining free portion (17) of the piece of cut packaging film (14), which has already been taken up by a wrapping rod (30), toward the group of articles (12) each time.

Abstract: The invention relates to a strapping device and a method for producing strapped packages, which combine at least two articles by at least one strap. The strapping device is paired with a device for providing two or more grouped articles. and the strapping device comprises a handling device (10) with two pivoting arms (11, 12) which can be adjusted relative to each other and each of which is equipped with clamping devices (14, 15) for fixing the belt ends (27) of a strapping belt (26) or a strapping blank (28) in a clamped manner. The pivoting arms (11, 12) can surround the grouped articles for the purpose of strapping same, thereby pivoting the first pivoting arm (11) and the second pivoting arm (12). The strapping device additionally comprises a fixing device for connecting the two belt ends (27) of the strapping belt (26) or the strapping blank (28).

Abstract: A packaging apparatus and a method for applying packaging (20) to an article combination (30) comprising at least two articles in each instance. The packaging apparatus comprises at least one preparation die for preparing the packaging (20). The preparation die (40) comprises a folding device for folding over opposite edge regions (23) of a packaging blank (21) that forms the packaging (20). The packaging apparatus further comprises an application die for receiving the prepared packaging blank (21v) and for applying said blank to the article combination (30), so that the packaging (20) applied to the articles is disposed at least in part between the articles, wherein the packaging (20) applied to the articles at least partially surrounds outer lateral surfaces (36) of the article combination (30).

Abstract: The invention relates to a container treatment machine for treating containers, in particular in the beverage-processing industry, medical technology, or the cosmetics industry, the container treatment machine comprising a control unit for controlling the function of the container treatment machine and at least one treatment unit for treating the containers; the container treatment machine is designed to treat the containers in exactly one way; the container treatment machine comprises at least one component which can output data relating to its operating state and/or the operating state of the container treatment machine to the control unit; and the control unit comprises a neural network which is configured and trained to use the data to determine whether a deviation of the operating state of the container treatment machine from a normal state is present and/or imminent.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for packaging articles (2). Outer packages (3) are set down on a horizontal conveying device (10, 20) and are transported along a packaging line. During the transport, articles are introduced via a manipulator into the outer packages (3), and the outer packages (3) with the introduced articles (2) are subsequently removed from the horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8). A predetermined packaging process (VP1) is carried out, in which the outer packages (3) are received by the horizontal conveying device (10, 20) via a plurality of shuttles (5), the outer packages (3) standing on said plurality of shuttles (5), until the outer packages (3) together with the introduced articles (2) are removed from the at least one horizontal conveying device (10, 20) as a packaging unit (8).

Abstract: A method and a packaging apparatus for producing packaging units as well as an application head (60) for use in the method or in the packaging apparatus are disclosed. In the method, a flat packaging blank (14) is transferred, by an application head (60) to an article grouping (20) held ready, to be applied there to an upper end face of the article grouping (20), producing a mechanical connection between the packaging blank (14) and the article grouping (20). Foldable portions (24) of the packaging blank (14) that project beyond an upper side of the article grouping (20) are then folded over and are applied to the article grouping (20) laterally. The packaging apparatus is equipped with at least one such application head (60).

Abstract: The invention relates a method using an application head for grouping articles that are held together by a strapping band. The method includes: providing the at least two grouped articles; inserting a prefabricated closed strapping band into the application head, wherein the strapping band is fixed in a defined position. The application head has a variable opening width of a cage which surrounds the grouped articles. It is then lowered over the articles by a feed movement which runs approximately parallel to longitudinal central axes of the articles, wherein the cage contacts the grouped articles and slightly compresses the grouped articles. The strapping band is then positioned by lowering the application head. The opening width of the cage is then increased while the strapping band is simultaneously released. Then the application head is raised over the strapped article grouping and is removed therefrom.

Abstract: The invention relates to a packaging system (1) and to a method for using the same. The packaging system (1) comprises a packaging module (2), a first transport device (3) for feeding articles to the packaging module (2) in a first transport direction (TR1), and a second transport device (4) for feeding flat packaging materials (20) arranged in a first upright orientation (22sv1) in a second transport direction (TR2). The packaging system (1) comprises a handling device (5) for arranging the flat packaging materials (20) on the second transport device (4), and at least one displacement unit (8), configured to displace a plurality of upright packaging materials (20) relative to one another. The displacement unit (8) has vertically oriented side walls (9) and a support surface (10), wherein an angle differing from 90 degrees is formed between each of the side walls (9) and the support surface (10).

Abstract: The invention discloses a method for producing packaging units and the produced packaging units, comprising at least two substantially similar articles, wherein the articles are held together by at least one packaging blank (14). A main surface of the packaging blank (14) is applied to first end faces of an article grouping (20), forming a connection between the articles and primary fixing element of the packaging blank (14). The primary fixing element fixes the positions of the articles relative to one another. The side surfaces (24) of the packaging blank (14) are subsequently folded over, wherein secondary fixing element interacts with the shell surfaces of the articles. The secondary fixing elements are formed by strapping sections, which surround the article grouping (20) and fixes the articles in a substantially parallel alignment to one another. The invention also relates to a packaging device for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A packaging method is described in which at least one primary packaging (2) is inserted through a closable opening into a secondary packaging (3) after a handling device (20) has been positioned at the closable opening of the secondary packaging (3). The primary packaging (2) is guided by the handling device (20) during its insertion into the opening of the secondary packaging (3), and a target position of the primary packaging (2) is predetermined within the secondary packaging (3). After insertion of the at least one primary packaging (2) into the secondary packaging (3), the opening of the secondary packaging (3) is at least partially closed under the cooperation or action of the handling device (20). Furthermore, a packaging module is described which is designed to perform such a packaging process.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and devices for producing packaging units. Each of the packaging units has at least two articles which are held together by at least one strapping band and by at least one packaging blank. The method includes: providing the articles in a handling area of an application head; inserting a closed strapping band and a prepared packaging blank into the application head; feeding the application head to the articles, with the grouped articles being at least slightly compressed; positioning the strapping band; securing the packaging blank to the articles; opening the application head while simultaneously releasing and separating the at least one strapping band from the fixed position of the strapping band within the application head; releasing and separating the at least one packaging blank; and removing the application head from the strapped article grouping combined by a packaging blank.

Abstract: A method can include: irradiating a container with a measuring beam of an irradiation device at measurement points along a measurement direction, wherein a signal indicative of the wall thickness of the container at each measurement point is obtained by means of an optical detector, wherein by means of an evaluation device, the measurement points are compared with a reference curve that specifies the wall thickness of a reference container along the measurement direction, wherein if the comparison results in agreement between the measurement points and the reference curve it is determined that the wall thickness of the container corresponds to a predefined wall thickness and wherein if the comparison does not result in said agreement it is determined that the wall thickness of the container does not correspond to the predefined wall thickness.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transport device (1) and a method for distributing a plurality of similarly shaped and dimensioned articles (10). The transport device (1) comprises an infeed (2) for conveying articles (10) in a mass flow, and a distribution section (3) downstream of the infeed (2), where the distribution section (3) leads into a row transport (4), where the articles (10) are conveyed in at least two separate parallel rows (5). The transport device (1) also comprises at least one sensor device (6, 8, 11) signal-coupled to a motor-driven actuator (14) assigned to the distribution section (3) In the event of detected gaps, interruptions, or in the event of a detected termination of the mass flow within the infeed (2) or within the distribution section (3) or within the rows (5), the actuator (14) moves a movable steering device (16) adjoining the mass flow.

Abstract: Inspection method for inspecting containers, such as bottles, where an image of a container moved past an inspection device is recorded by the inspection device and the recorded image is compared with a reference image, where the reference image is formed from a number of previously recorded images of containers moved past the inspection device and it is determined in dependence of the comparison of the recorded image with the reference image whether the inspection device is operational.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for packaging articles (2). Outer packages (3) are moved by a first conveying device (10) and then by a second conveying device (20), which second conveying device (20) is located next to the first conveying device (10). Furthermore, articles (2) are inserted into an outer package (3), while the outer package (3) is located on the first conveyor (10) and/or the second conveyor (20). The outer packages (3) are received on the first conveyor (10) by format parts (5) and, together with their respective format part (5), are transferred to the second conveyor (20). The outer packages (3), which will be continuously arranged on the format parts until then, will be removed from the format parts (5) together with the inserted articles (2). The format parts (5) will then be returned to the first conveyor (10) for renewed seizure of outer packages (3).

Abstract: Disclosed are a method and a device (1) used to package articles into printed packaging blanks (2). In the method, a plurality of packaging blanks are first positioned in a magazine (4) and subsequently extracted from the magazine (4). Subsequently, articles are brought together with the packaging blanks (2) extracted from the magazine (4) such that a particular packaging blank (2) forms a particular packaging or a particular component of a particular packaging for in each instance at least one article. It is moreover provided that the packaging blanks (2) are printed onto, with the printing onto a packaging blank (2) being carried out temporally after the positioning of the packaging blank (2) in the magazine (4) and temporally before the particular bringing together of the packaging blank (2) with the particular at least one article. The device (1) can be operated in a corresponding manner.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method to calibrate a handling device (18) including a handling robot or parallel kinematic robot (24), with a tool head (28) suspended from at least two parallel kinematically movable arms (26). Each of the at least two arms comprises an upper arm, which is movable between two end positions about a defined upper-arm swivel axis (38). Each of the at least two arms also comprises a lower arm (40), which is swivelably mounted on the upper arm. The upper arms are brought into approximately corresponding angular positions by detection of load torques and/or of angle positions. First one, than another of the upper arms is brought into one of the two end positions, and the angular position reached is detected and used for the position initialization or angle initialization of the particular upper arm, whereupon the upper arm is returned.