PACKAGING DEVICE FOR ARTICLES AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING ARTICLES

Abstract

A packaging device (1) for articles, such as beverage containers and the like, is disclosed. The packaging device (1) comprises at least one transport device (3) for articles and at least one manipulator. By the at least one transport device, articles can be moved into a working area of the at least one manipulator. The at least one manipulator can apply a respective outer packaging from above to articles moving into its working area within the context of a first packaging process and/or can place articles from above onto a respective outer packaging within the context of the first packaging process. In addition, a second packaging process is provided for the packaging device (1), which second packaging process comprises a lateral insertion of articles into a respective outer packaging not provided for in the first packaging process.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to German application 10 2018 203 180.0, filed Mar. 2, 2018, which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a packaging device for articles, such as beverage containers or the like, as well as a method for packaging such articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For processing, compiling, grouping and packaging articles, such as beverage containers, there are many different types of packaging. PET containers currently frequently used as beverage containers, for example, have relatively thin walls and are not fully dimensionally stable even when filled. For this reason, and in order to improve logistical manageability, a wide variety of packaging is used for grouped individual containers. For example, the containers can be arranged in groups on a cardboard sheet, the edges of which are folded upwards. These cardboard sheets are called trays. Together with their respective trays, the individual containers can then form a packaging unit. In order to be able to transport the individual packaging units in a simplified manner, it is often intended in practice that the individual packaging units are combined to form a larger packaging unit.

For example, it is possible to insert the beverage containers standing on a tray into a carton, then seal the carton and transport the carton containing the articles standing on trays to a destination. It may also be the case that beverage containers are inserted directly into such a carton without first being placed on a tray. There is packaging in which the beverage containers are removed from the top of the respective packaging. In addition, there is packaging which is placed on a plurality of beverage containers, wherein the respective beverage containers are held positively in place by the packaging and must be pulled off the packaging placed on top for removal. Altogether, there are numerous possibilities to combine a plurality of beverage containers by outer packagings.

In order to be able to handle beverage containers provided with an outer packaging according to customer requirements, outer packagings are also known which have a lateral access opening for the removal of respective beverage containers. In order to be able to form packaging units with such outer packagings, special packaging devices are required which, as the need arises, must be purchased in addition to an existing packaging device. In addition to the economic costs associated with the purchase of such packaging devices, other packaging devices require a place and/or area for installation that is often not available in practice.

For this reason, one of the tasks of the invention can be seen in providing a way by which articles can be easily and flexibly provided with a variety of different outer packagings at reduced economic expense. Furthermore, this should also be possible when space is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above task is solved by a packaging device and a method containing the characteristics set forth in the independent claims.

The invention relates to a packaging device for articles such as beverage containers or the like. The beverage containers can, for example, be bottles and/or PET bottles, glass bottles, canisters and/or cans.

The packaging device comprises at least one transport device for articles. The at least one transport device can have, for example, at least one circulating conveyor belt, on which at least one circulating conveyor belt articles stand up for the purpose of their movement. The at least one circulating conveyor belt can have an upper run, which is essentially horizontally oriented. Thus, the at least one transport device can be formed by at least one horizontal conveyor device or comprise at least one horizontal conveyor device. Where applicable, groups of articles which are spaced relative to one another in a transport direction of the at least one transport device can be transported via the at least one transport device. A particular group can be prepared for insertion into a particular outer packaging.

In addition, the packaging device comprises at least one manipulator. The at least one manipulator can, for example, be designed as a multi-axis robot and/or as a portal system. It is conceivable, for example, that the at least one manipulator is designed as a multi-axis robot and/or as a delta kinematics robot.

It is provided that articles can be moved into a working area of the at least one manipulator via the at least one transport device, and that the at least one manipulator can apply a respective outer packaging from above to articles moved into its working area within the context of a first packaging process, and/or that the at least one manipulator can place articles on a respective outer packaging from above.

For example, the at least one manipulator can comprise a plurality of clamping and/or gripping elements, via which the at least one manipulator can temporarily receive a plurality of articles to be placed on the respective outer packaging from above. Embodiments in which the at least one manipulator comprises a plurality of clamping and/or gripping elements, via which the at least one manipulator can temporarily and pneumatically receive a plurality of articles to be placed on the respective outer packaging from above, have proved to be successful. The respective manipulator can, if necessary, lower the plurality of clamping and/or gripping elements onto the respective plurality of articles to be received, grasp the respective articles to be received and/or, if necessary, pneumatically grasp them and then carry out a lifting movement, as a result of which the respective plurality of gripped and/or pneumatically grasped articles lose their contact with the at least one transport device carrying the plurality of articles to that point.

It is also conceivable for the first packaging process that articles are moved via a plurality of transport devices, wherein a gap is formed between immediately successive transport devices, through which a respective outer packaging is introduced into the transport path of the articles. The articles can hereby slide onto the respective outer packaging. The term “placing” is therefore to be understood broadly within the context of the present patent application and also includes embodiments in which articles slide onto the respective outer packagings.

In practice, it may be the case that a respective outer packaging intended for the first packaging process forms a plurality of chambers, wherein a respective chamber of a respective outer packaging is intended to hold a given article. The chambers of a respective outer packaging can be formed by a respective insert and/or a respective compartment. It may therefore be that the packaging device comprises at least one handling device which can insert a respective insert and/or a respective compartment into a respective outer packaging, which respective insert and/or which respective compartment is designed to form a plurality of chambers in the respective outer packaging provided for receiving articles.

Within the context of the first packaging process, the at least one manipulator described above can, if necessary, place articles on the respective outer packaging from above. For this purpose, the at least one manipulator may be designed in such a way that the at least one manipulator and/or a working tool possibly designed as a component of the at least one manipulator and/or clamping and/or gripping elements are lowered towards the respective outer packaging from above. If, as already mentioned above, a respective compartment and/or a respective insert is located in a respective outer packaging, it is possible that the at least one manipulator has a respective assigned centering device for each of the chambers formed in the outer packaging by the respective insert and/or the respective compartment, which assigned centering device guides a respective article into its respective chamber during insertion. The centering device can be temporarily immersed in the chambers for the insertion of a respective article at least in sections. The centering device can be part of a first working tool of the at least one manipulator. Within the context of a conversion for a second packaging process described below, the first working tool together with the centering devices can be removed from the at least one manipulator or transferred to a supply position if necessary. The first working tool can therefore be detachably arranged on at least one manipulator if necessary, so that the first working tool can be removed from the manipulator within the context of the conversion and possibly be replaced by a second working tool described below.

In addition, a second packaging process is provided for the inventive packaging device, which second packaging process comprises a lateral insertion of articles into a respective outer packaging not provided for in the first packaging process. The ability of the packaging device and/or this one device to perform both the described first packaging process and the described second packaging process allows articles to be placed in a variety of different outer packagings. Outer packagings, which are prepared for the first packaging process, can be designed for the removal of articles and/or beverage containers from the respective outer packaging from above. Outer packagings, which is prepared for the second packaging process, can be designed for the lateral removal of articles and/or beverage containers from the respective outer packaging. Within the context of the conversion, outer packagings prepared for the first packaging process can be removed from the packaging device and replaced by outer packagings prepared for the second packaging process. The outer packagings prepared for the first packaging process can be made of cardboard and/or plastic. The outer packagings prepared for the second packaging process can also be made of cardboard and/or plastic.

The packaging device may be designed to change between the first packaging process and the second packaging process, if necessary. Alternatively, or as a supplement, it may be possible to convert the packaging device provided until then for carrying out the first packaging process to carry out the second packaging process.

In various embodiments, the packaging device may comprise at least one first working tool for the at least one manipulator, by which at least one first working tool the at least one manipulator can apply, within the context of the first packaging process, a respective outer packaging from above to articles moved into its working area and/or detection area, and/or by which at least one first working tool the at least one manipulator can temporarily receive articles within the context of the first packaging process and place them on a respective outer packaging from above.

Furthermore, the packaging device can comprise at least one second working tool for the at least one manipulator, via which at least one second working tool the at least one manipulator can laterally insert articles into a respective outer packaging within the context of the second packaging process, it preferably being provided that the at least one second working tool is detachably fixed to the at least one manipulator.

Accordingly, the manipulator responsible in the first packaging process for applying a respective outer packaging from above to articles moved into its detection zone and/or for placing articles on a respective outer packaging from above may remain in the packaging device as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device in the case of a respective change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process and/or in the case of a respective conversion for carrying out the second packaging process.

In the first packaging process, the at least one manipulator designed as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device can thus be prepared to place articles from above on the respective outer packaging. Furthermore, the at least one manipulator designed as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device can be prepared in the second packaging process for the lateral insertion of articles into a respective outer packaging. Within the context of the conversion, the second working tool can be arranged on the at least one manipulator and/or provided by the at least one manipulator, so that the at least one manipulator can insert articles laterally into a respective outer packaging via the second working tool in the second packaging process. In conceivable embodiments, the first working tool can remain on the manipulator and, if necessary, be adapted and/or converted for further temporary receipt of articles for the second packaging process. In other conceivable embodiments, the first working tool can be removed from the manipulator and replaced by the second working tool within the context of the conversion. The second working tool can also have clamping and/or gripping elements for temporary receipt of a large number of articles. In addition, it is conceivable that the at least one manipulator independently moves the first working tool into a waiting position and/or into storage within the context of the conversion and accepts the second working tool from a waiting position and/or from storage. It is therefore conceivable that the packaging device can be converted at least partially automatically.

Embodiments in which the at least one transport device remains in the packaging device as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device during a respective change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process and/or during a respective conversion to carry out the second packaging process have also proved successful.

It may be that the at least one transport device is designed in such a way that the at least one transport device can move articles into the working area of the at least one manipulator as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device both within the context of the first packaging process and within the context of the second packaging process. Accordingly, it may be that this at least one particular transport device is designed as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device both within the context of the first packaging process and within the context of the second packaging process as a component of the packaging device. Thus the at least one transport device and/or this at least one transport device can be provided in the first packaging process and in the second packaging process for the respective movement of articles into the working area of a respective manipulator provided for the first packaging process and the second packaging process. It is therefore conceivable that the at least one transport device and/or this at least one transport device is not affected by conversion operations on the packaging device.

It is also conceivable that the packaging device comprises at least one horizontal conveyor device which is designed both within the context of the first packaging process and within the context of the second packaging process for moving outer packagings, and which at least one horizontal conveyor device remains as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device in the packaging device during a respective change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process and/or during a respective conversion to carry out the second packaging process. A transport direction of the at least one transport device and a transport direction of the at least one horizontal conveyor device can run parallel to each other.

Accordingly, it may be that this at least one particular horizontal conveyor device is designed as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device both within the context of the first packaging process and within the context of the second packaging process as a component of the packaging device. Thus the at least one horizontal conveyor device and/or this at least one horizontal conveyor device can be formed in the first packaging process and in the second packaging process for moving outer packagings.

Since, in practice, outer packagings intended for the first packaging process and for the second packaging process may differ from one another in terms of their dimensions, embodiments have proved successful in which at least one horizontal conveyor device is preferably designed in such a way that a track width oriented perpendicularly to its conveying direction can be flexibly adapted to the outer packagings to be moved in the respective packaging process. For this purpose, the at least one horizontal conveyor device can have at least two adjacent conveying units, which are each driven by actuators and whose relative distance perpendicular to a conveying direction of the at least one horizontal conveyor device can be adapted as a function of the respective packaging process to be carried out. In particular, embodiments have proved successful in which the at least one horizontal conveyor device comprises at least one actuator and/or in which the at least one horizontal conveyor device is assigned at least one actuator which can adapt the track width and/or the relative distance between the at least two adjacent conveying units to one another. The actuator can be connected to a control unit. At the instigation of the control unit and possibly with the provision of an instruction from a user, which instruction contains information on the respective packaging process to be carried out, the actuator can possibly adjust the track width of the at least one horizontal conveyor device and/or the relative distance of the at least two adjacent conveyor units from one another.

Further, the at least one horizontal conveyor device may be designed for releasably receiving and moving a plurality of holding devices provided in the second packaging process for holding flaps and/or sides of outer packagings in an upright position. In particular, the at least one horizontal conveyor device can be designed in such a way that the plurality of holding devices provided for holding flaps and/or sides of outer packagings in an upright position can be releasably fixed to the at least one horizontal conveyor device in different relative positions with respect to one another and/or at different relative distances with respect to one another.

Furthermore, the packaging device may include a first magazine which is designed to accommodate a variety of outer packagings adapted to the first packaging process and/or prepared for the first packaging process. In addition, the packaging device may include a second magazine designed to receive a plurality of additional outer packagings adapted to the second packaging process and/or prepared for the second packaging process. The packaging device may also comprise at least one integrated handling device which remains in the packaging device as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device during a respective change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process and/or during a respective conversion for carrying out the second packaging process.

It may be that the at least one handling device integrated as a fixed component in the packaging device is designed for expanding the plurality of outer packaging adapted to the first packaging process and/or prepared for the first packaging process and for expanding the plurality of outer packagings adapted to the second packaging process and/or prepared for the second packaging process and/or can be converted for expanding the plurality of outer packagings adapted to the first packaging process and/or prepared for the first packaging process and for expanding the plurality of outer packagings adapted to the second packaging process and/or prepared for the second packaging process.

The packaging device can also comprise a driverless transport system which can automatically provide the at least one handling device integrated as a structural component in the packaging device with a first magazine or a second magazine, depending on the first packaging process or second packaging process to be carried out, with the plurality of outer packagings matched to the respective packaging process and/or prepared for the respective packaging process. The driverless transport system may be designed such that the driverless transport system replaces a respective first magazine or a respective second magazine with a respective new first magazine and/or a respective new second magazine when outer packagings received by the respective magazine are running out.

Furthermore, the packaging device may comprise a gripper unit which is designed for folding the upper flaps of a plurality of outer packagings and can place outer packagings together with inserted and/or pushed-in articles on another outer packaging. The gripper unit can be designed in such a way that the gripper unit can be arranged within the context of the conversion on a manipulator designed as a component of the packaging device. It may also be the case that the packaging device is designed in such a way that the packaging device can be supplemented with a manipulator which has a gripper unit for carrying out the second packaging process, with the gripper unit being designed for folding upper flaps of a plurality of outer packagings and being able to place outer packagings together with inserted and/or pushed-in articles on a further outer packaging.

It may also be the case that the packaging device is designed in such a way that the packaging device can be supplemented with a plurality of folding rails intended for folding and/or holding flaps and/or forms fastening positions for a plurality of folding rails provided for folding and/or holding flaps. In particular, the plurality of folding rails provided for folding and/or holding flaps can be positioned along the at least one horizontal conveyor device already described above. The at least one horizontal conveyor device can be provided and/or formed both in the first packaging process and in the second packaging process for moving respective outer packagings.

Furthermore, the packaging device can be prepared in such a way that the packaging device can be supplemented with a transfer table in the course of the conversion to carry out the second packaging process, on which transfer table articles can be placed for lateral insertion into a respective outer packaging. In particular, the packaging device can provide a working position for arranging and/or supplementing the transfer table, which working position is arranged laterally adjacent to the at least one horizontal conveyor device. A plane for placing articles formed by the transfer table and a transport plane for outer packagings provided by the at least one horizontal conveyor device may be located at substantially identical vertical heights.

The invention also concerns a process for packaging articles such as beverage containers or the like. Features which have already been described for various embodiments of the packaging device can also be provided for in the process described below and are not mentioned repeatedly. In addition, the features described below, which relate to the embodiments of the process in accordance with the invention, may be provided for in the case of the packaging device already described above.

In the inventive process, a first packaging process is carried out in and/or by a packaging device, in which first packaging process a respective outer packaging is applied to articles from above and/or articles are placed on a respective outer packaging from above.

According to the invention, a second packaging process is carried out in this packaging device temporally subsequent to the first packaging process, which second packaging process provides for the lateral insertion of articles into outer packagings not provided for in the first packaging process.

In particular, it may be that an instruction for changing from the first packaging process to the second packaging process is given to the packaging device in order to carry out the second packaging process, and/or that conversion operations, which are adapted to the second packaging process, are carried out on the packaging device in order to carry out the second packaging process. Thus, it is conceivable that the packaging device and/or this one packaging device can change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process without conversion operations being performed and only through instructions given by a user, without changes and/or conversion operations being carried out on the packaging device. However, in further embodiments it may be the case that initially the first packaging process is terminated, temporally subsequently conversion operations are carried out on the packaging device in accordance with the second packaging process and, temporally after the conversion operations have been completely concluded, the packaging device carries out the second packaging process.

It is conceivable that a handling device preferably carries out the conversion operations adapted to the second packaging process independently on the packaging device. In particular, the handling device can carry out the conversion operations adapted to the second packaging process independently when a user gives an instruction.

It is also possible that at least one transport device is provided, which at least one transport device remains in the packaging device during a respective change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process and/or during respective conversion operations being performed to carry out the second packaging process and provides articles for packaging both in the first packaging process and in the second packaging process.

It is possible that a respective outer packaging can be applied from above onto articles by at least one manipulator and/or that articles are placed from above on a respective outer packaging by at least one manipulator. The same at least one manipulator can hereby insert articles laterally into outer packagings during the second packaging process. The at least one manipulator therefore can remain in the packaging device within the context of the conversion operations and/or when changing from the first packaging process to the second packaging process.

Furthermore, it may be the case that in the first packaging process, outer packagings are applied from above to articles using at least one first working tool of the at least one manipulator and/or that articles are applied from above to a respective outer packaging using at least one first working tool of the at least one manipulator. Temporally after the first packaging process, a second working tool can be arranged on the at least one manipulator or provided by the at least one manipulator, wherein the at least one manipulator in the second packaging process inserts articles laterally into outer packagings via the second working tool. This at least one manipulator can remain in the packaging device within the context of conversion operations and/or can remain in the packaging device when changing from the first packaging process to the second packaging process.

Also, in the first packaging process and in the second packaging process, outer packagings can be moved via the same at least one horizontal conveyor device. In this arrangement, a track width present in the first packaging process of the and/or this at least one horizontal conveyor device can preferably be adapted to the outer packagings to be moved in the second packaging process. In particular, it may be the case that a plurality of holding devices are arranged on the at least one horizontal conveyor device within the context of the conversion operations, which plurality of holding devices hold front and rear sides and/or front and rear flaps of outer packagings in an upright orientation during a movement of these outer packagings brought about by the at least one horizontal conveyor device in the second packaging process. In the first packaging process, holding devices can also already be arranged on the at least one horizontal conveyor device. If this is the case, the holding devices in the second packaging process can be fixed to the at least one horizontal conveyor device in different relative positions and/or relative distances from one another compared to the first packaging process.

It may be that, temporally subsequent to the first packaging process and temporally prior to the second packaging process, a track width of the at least one horizontal conveyor device is adapted to outer packagings to be moved within the context of the second packaging process.

In various embodiments, it may be the case that outer packagings adapted to the first packaging process and outer packagings adapted to the second packaging process of the packaging device are provided as required via a driverless transport system.

It is also possible that temporally during the first packaging process an instruction to change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process is given to the packaging device, and that during a continuous packaging operation the packaging device changes from the first packaging process to the second packaging process.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention and its advantages will be explained in more detail using the enclosed figures. The proportions of the individual elements to each other in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions, since some forms are simplified and other forms are enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging device which performs a first packaging process.

FIG. 2 shows the packaging device from FIG. 1, which carries out a further first packaging process.

FIG. 3 shows the packaging device from FIGS. 1 and 2, which performs a further first packaging process.

FIG. 4 shows the packaging device from FIGS. 1 to 3, which performs a further first packaging process.

FIG. 5 shows the packaging device from FIGS. 1 to 4, which has already been converted to carry out a second packaging process.

FIG. 6 shows the packaging device from FIGS. 1 to 5, which performs a second packaging process.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show views from opposite sides of the packaging device from FIGS. 1 to 6, with the packaging device performing the second packaging process from FIG. 6.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9, and 10 each show individual components and individual steps of a packaging device, which carries out a second packaging process after appropriate conversion operations having been performed.

FIG. 11 shows individual steps in the flowchart, as they can be provided for in an embodiment of the inventive procedure.

Identical reference signs are used for identical or equivalent elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only the reference signs required for the description of the respective figure are displayed in the individual figures. The embodiments shown are merely examples of how the invention can be implemented and do not constitute a final limitation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging device 1, which in FIG. 1 carries out a first packaging process and/or is prepared to carry out a first packaging process. Using the packaging device 1 from the exemplary embodiment from FIG. 1, beverage containers 8 (see FIGS. 8 to 10), which may be formed, for example, by PET bottles or glass bottles, can be packaged. For this purpose, the packaging device 1 comprises a transport device 3, which moves the respective beverage containers along a horizontal transport direction TR. The beverage containers are placed on the transport device 3 and/or are transported standing on it. In various designs, the beverage containers 8 on the transport device 3 can stand together in groups of beverage containers 8, which groups are spaced apart relative to one another in transport direction TR and are moved in horizontal transport direction TR, wherein a respective group of beverage containers 8 are provided with a respective outer packaging 9 (see FIGS. 8 to 10), as described below.

The schematic top view of FIG. 1 also shows a horizontal conveyor device 5 designed as part of the packaging device 1 as well as a first magazine 11. The first magazine 11 contains a large number of outer packagings, which are intended for the packaging of beverage containers in the first packaging process. A handling device not shown here is used to remove from the first magazine 11, in a folded orientation, respective outer packagings intended for the packaging of beverage containers 8 in the first packaging process, which outer packagings are then expanded and/or unfolded and set down on the horizontal conveyor device 5 so that the horizontal conveyor device 5 can move the expanded outer packagings intended for the first packaging process in the direction of the conveying direction FR indicated by an arrow.

FIG. 1 shows here that the conveying direction FR, along which expanded outer packagings intended for the first packaging process are moved, and the transport direction TR, along which the transport device 3 moves beverage containers, run opposite to one another and are oriented parallel or substantially parallel to one another.

The expanded outer packagings intended for the first packaging process are then moved in the direction of a further magazine 12 by the horizontal conveyor device 5. In the further magazine 12, inserts are stored which can be inserted into the expanded outer packagings intended for the first packaging process and thereby form a plurality of chambers in the respective outer packaging, of which chambers one chamber respectively is designed and/or intended for receiving a respective beverage container. Such inserts, such as those used in the first packaging process according to FIG. 1 and/or placed in secondary packaging, are in practice referred to as compartments. In accordance with the plurality of outer packagings arranged in folded orientation in the first magazine 11, the inserts and/or compartments arranged in the further magazine 12 can also be folded and expanded during or after removal from the further magazine 12. For expanding the respective insert and/or compartment as well as for inserting the respective insert and/or compartment into a respective outer packaging, a handling device not shown in the figures of this patent application may be provided, the working area of which may extend over the further magazine 12.

The reference numbers 16 in FIG. 1 refer in each instance to an applicator formed as a component of the packaging device 1, with each respective applicator 16, a respective adhesive and/or bonding agent can be applied to a flap of an outer packaging intended for the first packaging process. It may thus be the case that, before a respective outer packaging is placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5, one application of adhesive and/or bonding agent or a plurality of applications of adhesive and/or bonding agent are carried out on one flap or a plurality of flaps, these flaps are then folded and are then held in a folded orientation through their respective application of adhesive and/or bonding agent. Since the respective outer packagings deposited on the horizontal conveyor device 5 are moved in the conveying direction FR temporally before the respective beverage containers are inserted, the respective application of adhesive and/or bonding agent can at least partially dry and/or harden, so that the risk of unintentional loosening during or temporally after the insertion of beverage containers into the respective outer packaging is kept low.

Also in the area of the further magazine 12 there is an applicator 16 for applying an adhesive and/or bonding agent application to the respective outer packaging and/or to a respective insert and/or a respective compartment. The respective insert and/or the respective compartment in the respective outer packaging is integrally connected by the adhesive and/or bonding agent application applied by the applicator 16 arranged in the area of the further magazine 12.

Between the horizontal conveyor device 5 and the transport device 3 there is a further transport device 7 which is designed as a component of the packaging device 1. After the respective insert and/or the respective compartment has been placed in a respective outer packaging, the respective outer packaging together with the respective inserted insert and/or compartment is transferred to the further transport device 7. For this purpose, a manipulator can be provided which transfers a respective outer packaging together with the respective insert and/or compartment already inserted to the further transport device 7.

After transfer of the respective outer packaging with the insert and/or compartment located therein, the respective outer packaging with the insert and/or compartment located therein is transported via the further transport device 7 in the movement direction BR indicated by the arrow. The movement direction BR of the further transport device 7 and the transport direction TR of the transport device 3 are oriented parallel to each other and run in the same direction. The movement direction BR of the further transport device 7 as well as the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveyor device 5 are oriented parallel to each other and run in opposite directions to one another.

Reference number 18 refers to a working tool designed as part of a manipulator not shown. Beverage containers can be accepted by the transport device 3 via the working tool 18. The working tool 18 can comprise a large number of clamping and/or gripping elements in order to be able to receive a plurality of beverage containers simultaneously from the transport device 3, which are intended for insertion into a respective outer packaging. After receipt, the working tool 18 is then moved into the position shown in FIG. 1 and places, from above, the respective beverage containers received from the transport device 3 in a respective outer packaging. In a respective chamber formed by an insert and/or a compartment, a respective beverage container is inserted from above. The working tool 18 can be equipped with centering devices in order to be able to insert beverage containers precisely into a chamber formed by a respective insert and/or a respective compartment in the respective outer packaging.

An adhesive and/or bonding agent application can then be applied to an upper flap of the respective outer packaging, into which beverage containers have already been placed, using applicator 16. Temporally after the beverage containers have been inserted, this upper flap is folded in, whereupon the applied adhesive and/or bonding agent application holds the folded-in upper flap in its respective position. The outer packaging is thus sealed. The outer packaging with its respective insert and/or compartment as well as the beverage containers inserted thus forms a complete finished packaging unit, which is moved by the further transport device 7 continuously in the direction of movement BR for further handling and/or palletizing.

The schematic illustration of FIG. 2 shows the packaging device 1 from FIG. 1, which carries out a further first packaging process. The first packaging process, which is carried out by the packaging device 1 in FIG. 2, differs in the design of the inserts which are inserted into the respective outer packagings which are expanded and already placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5.

In FIG. 1, a further magazine 12 is assigned to the packaging device 1, which comprises a plurality of inserts and/or compartments, which form a plurality of chambers for the insertion of beverage containers in a respective outer packaging. On the other hand, the packaging device 1 in FIG. 2 is assigned a further magazine 13 which comprises a plurality of inserts via which a plurality and in particular six beverage containers can be combined and which inserts each form a handle for carrying the beverage containers combined via the respective insert. Such an insert, as it is received by the magazine 13 in FIG. 2, is called “basket carrier” in practice.

The packaging device 1 according to FIG. 1 and the packaging device 1 according to FIG. 2 can each comprise a driverless transport system or be connected to a driverless transport system. If the stock of outer packagings and/or inserts in a respective magazine 11, 12 and/or 13 is exhausted, packaging device 1 can be supplied with a new magazine 11, 12 and/or 13 and respective outer packagings and/or inserts via the driverless transport system.

Both in FIG. 1 and in FIG. 2, beverage containers are inserted from above into respective outer packagings and/or are placed from above on respective outer packagings. The handling described in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the first packaging process, in which beverage containers are inserted from above into their respective outer packaging, is referred to in practice as “top load”. A lateral insertion of beverage containers in a respective outer packaging is not provided for in the first packaging process. However, the packaging device 1 can carry out a second packaging process, as described in FIGS. 5 to 11 below, in which beverage containers are inserted laterally into outer packagings.

The schematic representation of FIG. 3 shows the packaging device 1 from FIGS. 1 and 2, which carries out a further first packaging process. Even in the first packaging process according to FIG. 3, beverage containers are placed on outer packagings only from above. A lateral insertion of beverage containers into a respective outer packaging is also not provided for in the first packaging process according to FIG. 3. On the other hand, in a second packaging process, a lateral insertion takes place through the packaging device 1, as described in FIGS. 5 to 11.

A look at FIG. 3 together with the further FIGS. 1 and 2 makes it clear that the further magazine 12 and/or 13 provided for the packaging device 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 is missing in FIG. 3. The outer packagings picked up from the first magazine 11 in the first packaging process according to FIG. 3 may correspond to outer packagings picked up from the first magazine 11 in the first packaging process according to FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, the outer packagings can be formed by cardboard boxes comprising an upper flap, which is closed after insertion of the respective article and/or beverage container.

Since the further magazine 11 and/or 12 provided in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the respective first packaging process is missing in FIG. 3, no inserts and/or compartments or basket carriers are provided in the first packaging process according to FIG. 3, which inserts and/or compartments or basket carriers are placed in the respective outer packaging before the respective outer packaging is transferred to the further transport device 7. As described for the first packaging process carried out in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 by the packaging device 1, beverage containers are inserted via the working tool 18 into the respective outer packaging already arranged on the further transport device 7. In contrast to the first packaging process in FIGS. 1 and 2, no chambers are formed in the outer packaging and/or no insert is arranged in them, so that the respective beverage containers are inserted into an outer packaging and/or cardboard packaging which has no further subdivision. In accordance with the first packaging process from FIGS. 1 and 2, temporally after the respective beverage containers have been inserted into the respective outer packaging, which has no subdivision in FIG. 3, an adhesive and/or bonding agent application is applied to an upper flap via the applicator 16, the upper flap is then folded in and, as a result, the outer packaging, without any subdivision, is closed. The closed outer packaging, which has no subdivisions, then forms a packaging unit with its inserted beverage containers, which can be moved by the further transport device 7 for further handling and/or palletizing.

Also in the first packaging process according to FIG. 3, beverage containers are inserted from above into the respective outer packagings, and/or placed from above on the respective outer packagings, according to the respective first packaging process according to FIGS. 1 and 2. A handling described in FIGS. 1 to 3 in the first packaging process, in which beverage containers are inserted from above into their respective outer packaging, as mentioned above, is referred to in practice as “top load”.

The schematic representation of FIG. 4 shows the packaging device 1 from FIGS. 1 to 3, which carries out a further first packaging process. The horizontal conveyor device 5 provided for the first packaging process according to FIGS. 1 to 3, on which outer packagings taken from the first magazine 11 are placed, is not provided for in the first packaging process according to FIG. 4 and/or is not part of the packaging device 1. In the first packaging process according to FIG. 4, a large number of trays are arranged in the first magazine 11. The magazine 14 also contains a large number of outer packagings which can hold a plurality of beverage containers and which outer packagings are completely or essentially completely closed from all sides. On one upper side, the outer packagings arranged in the further magazine 14 can form a handle or grip area via which handle or grip area the respective outer packaging can be carried together with the beverage containers received.

In the first packaging process according to FIG. 4, outer packagings arranged in the further magazine 14 are removed from the further magazine 14, expanded and then placed on the further transport device 7. The working tool 18, which is arranged on the manipulator not shown here, also simultaneously receives a plurality of beverage containers from transport device 3 and places it, from above, on the outer packaging of the further magazine 14, which is already arranged on the further transport device 7. The beverage containers placed on the outer packaging are then conveyed together with the outer packaging via the further transport device 7 in the direction of movement BR. An outer packaging and/or tray is also removed from the first magazine 11 and placed on the further transport device 7. The beverage containers placed on the outer packaging of the further magazine 14 are then lifted onto the tray together with the outer packaging from above, wherein a plurality of packaging units formed by beverage containers already combined by a respective outer packaging of the further magazine 14 via a respective tray are combined on a respective tray to form a larger packaging unit.

Compared to the first packaging process from FIGS. 1 to 3, the packaging process from FIG. 4 can be implemented by a packaging device, which has a compact design compared to the first packaging process from FIGS. 1 to 3.

Also in the first packaging process according to FIG. 4, beverage containers are inserted into the respective outer packagings from above, and/or placed on respective outer packagings from above, in accordance with the respective first packaging process according to FIGS. 1 to 3. A handling described in FIGS. 1 to 4 in the first packaging process, in which beverage containers are inserted into their respective outer packaging from above and/or placed on their respective outer packaging from above, as already mentioned above, is referred to in practice as “top load”. A lateral insertion of beverage containers into outer packagings is also not intended for the first packaging process described in FIG. 4.

The schematic illustration of FIG. 5 shows the packaging device 1 from FIGS. 1 to 4, which has already been converted to carry out a second packaging process. As FIG. 5 shows, transport device 3 is still part of packaging device 1 and was not removed from packaging device 1 within the context of the conversion operations. The transport device 3 continues to move the articles and/or beverage containers to be packed in transport direction TR. The further transport device 7 was also not removed from the packaging device 1 within the context of the conversion operations performed and is therefore still part of packaging device 1 temporally after the conversion operations have been completed. Likewise, the horizontal conveyor device 5, which was already designed as a component of packaging device 1 in the first packaging process according to FIGS. 1 to 4, was not removed from packaging device 1 within the context of the conversion operations and is used in the second packaging process.

An overview of FIGS. 1 to 4 with FIG. 5 shows that a transfer table 20 was added to packaging device 1 within the context of the conversion and/or conversion operations. Compared to the first packaging process in FIGS. 1 to 4, the transport direction TR of the transport device 3, the movement direction BR of the further transport device 7 and the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveyor device 5 run parallel to each other and in identical directions.

The further magazine 12, 13 and 14 removed for the first packaging process in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 is no longer intended for the second packaging process. However, a second magazine 15 was added to the packaging device 1 within the context of the conversion, in which second magazine 15 a large number of outer packagings is arranged, which outer packagings are matched to the second packaging process. The outer packagings arranged in the second magazine 15 and/or received by the second magazine 15 each have a lateral access opening through which a plurality of articles and/or a plurality of beverage containers can be pushed laterally into a respective outer packaging.

Within the context of the second packaging process, an outer packaging arranged in the further and/or second magazine 15 is removed from the second magazine 15, expanded and placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5. The horizontal conveyor device 5 then moves the outer packaging removed from the second magazine 15 and set down in the conveying direction FR, wherein the outer packaging removed from the second magazine 15 and placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5 reaches a position in which the outer packaging removed from the second magazine 15 and placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5 is located laterally adjacent to the transfer table 20.

A manipulator not shown takes a plurality of articles and/or beverage containers simultaneously from the transport device 3 via a working tool, which can be designed according to the working tool 18, which was shown and described in the previous FIGS. 1 to 4, and places this plurality of articles and/or beverage containers on the transfer table 20. The manipulator already provided in the first packaging process, which in the first packaging process is designed to place beverage containers onto a respective outer packaging from above, can still be provided in the second packaging process. In addition, this manipulator provided within the context of the first packaging process can be functionally redesigned to carry out the second packaging process, so that this manipulator places beverage containers on the transfer table 20 instead of placing beverage containers from above on a respective outer packaging.

By a transfer tool 19 (see FIGS. 8 to 10), which within the context of conversion operations can possibly be arranged on the manipulator provided within the context of the first packaging process for depositing beverage containers on outer packagings or on a further manipulator, the articles and/or beverage containers deposited on the transfer table 20 are then moved in a direction which is oriented perpendicularly to the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveyor device 5. Thereby, these beverage containers moved perpendicularly to the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveyor device 5 are inserted laterally into a respective outer packaging which still stands on the horizontal conveyor device 5. Such a lateral insertion is not provided within the context of the first packaging process already described in FIGS. 1 to 4 and is only implemented in the second packaging process via the packaging device 1.

After the articles and/or beverage containers have been inserted laterally into a respective outer packaging, a side flap 43 (see FIG. 7), which has not been closed until then for inserting articles and/or beverage containers into a respective outer packaging, is folded and an adhesive and/or bonding agent application is applied to a lower flap 45 (see FIG. 7). The lower flap is then folded upwards and holds the lateral flaps in their folded orientation by the adhesive and/or bonding agent application. A respective application of adhesive and/or bonding agent can also be applied using the applicator 16 already provided for carrying out the first packaging process.

The first magazine 11 contains trays of outer packagings on which a plurality of packaging units that have already been formed by lateral insertion into a respective outer packaging can be combined into a larger packaging unit. Embodiments in which packaging units are combined to form a larger packaging unit by a further outer packaging have proven themselves in practice in order to further improve the logistical manageability.

The outer packagings arranged in the first magazine 11 and designed as trays are removed from the first magazine 11 and placed on the further transport device 7. The further transport device 7 then moves the set-down outer packagings in the direction of movement BR.

In order to place the respective articles and/or beverage containers already inserted into an outer packaging of the second magazine 15 on the trays moved in the direction of movement BR by the further transport device 7, a manipulator not shown in FIG. 5 is provided. The manipulator has a gripper unit 30, which can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7. Via the gripper unit 30 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the manipulator receives beverage containers together with their respective outer packaging and, on receipt, folds in an upper flap of the respective outer packaging so that the respective outer packaging is closed all around at least to a large extent. The upper flap is then held in its folded position by an adhesive and/or bonding agent application applied to the upper flap beforehand.

One direction of the respective transfer movement of the manipulator and/or of the gripper unit 30 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is oriented obliquely and in particular perpendicularly to the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveyor device 5 and to the movement direction of the further transport device 7. After the gripper unit 30 together with the received outer packaging and the beverage containers arranged therein has reached a position in which the gripper unit 30 and the outer packaging carried by the gripper unit 30 with the beverage containers arranged therein are located above a respective tray arranged on the further transport device 7, the gripper unit 30 performs a lowering movement and places the respective received outer packaging with the beverage containers arranged therein on the respective tray. Subsequently, the gripper unit 30 releases the outer packaging with its respective beverage containers arranged therein, whereupon the tray and the outer packagings standing and/or set down on the tray with the respective beverage containers arranged therein are transported by the further transport device 7 in the direction of movement BR for further handling and/or palletizing.

The schematic representation of FIG. 6 shows the packaging device 1 from FIGS. 1 to 5, which carries out a second packaging process. The packaging device 1 from FIGS. 1 to 5 can be seen already converted to the second packaging process in plan view.

FIG. 6 shows outer packagings 9 placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5, which outer packagings 9 have two upper flaps 42 respectively, arranged on opposite sides and which have not been folded in until receipt via the gripper unit 30. Front and rear flaps of a respective outer packaging 9 are already brought into an upright position during a movement of a respective outer packaging from the second magazine 15 (see FIG. 5) in the direction of the horizontal conveyor device 7 and, after placing the respective outer packaging 9 on the horizontal conveyor device 7, are held in their upright position by holding devices 36 during a continuous movement along the conveying direction FR.

The outer packagings 9 placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5 for the first packaging process according to FIGS. 1 to 4 does not have such front and rear flaps, which have to be held in an upright position during the movement of the respective outer packaging 9 in the conveying direction FR, so that the holding devices 36 are added to the horizontal conveyor device 7 and/or to the packaging device 1 within the context of conversion operations adapted to the second packaging process. Also, the manipulator, which may have been provided for the first packaging process for placing outer packagings on the horizontal conveyor device 5, was adapted to the second packaging process in such a way that this manipulator can erect the front and rear flaps of a respective outer packaging to be placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5 in the second packaging process.

The schematic illustration of FIG. 6 also shows that a plurality of beverage containers at a time can be simultaneously inserted from the transfer table 20 into a plurality of outer packagings 9 perpendicular to the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveyor device 5. The front and rear flaps of a respective outer packaging, which are already in an upright orientation, are held in their upright orientation temporally during the insertion of the beverage containers into the respective outer packaging by the holding devices 36.

Embodiments in which the outer packagings 9 does not have the front and rear flaps described are also conceivable. With such outer packagings 9, the holding devices 36 may nevertheless be provided in the second packaging process in order to support the front and rear sides and/or sidewalls of outer packagings 9 moved by the horizontal conveyor device 5 during movement and/or to hold them in an upright orientation.

FIG. 6 also illustrates that the gripper unit 30, which receives outer packagings 9 with the beverage containers inserted therein from the horizontal conveyor device 5 and places them on a tray located on the further transport device 7 and/or on a further outer packaging 9 located on the further transport device 7, is designed in such a way that the gripper unit 30 can fold in upper flaps 42 of a respective outer packaging 9. The gripper unit 30 can be arranged on a manipulator already provided in the first packaging process within the context of the conversion of the packaging device 1 to suit the second packaging process. It is also possible to add a manipulator to the packaging device 1 within the context of the conversion, which manipulator comprises the gripper unit 30 shown in FIG. 6 for receiving outer packagings 9 with the respective articles inserted therein and for folding in the respective upper flaps 42 of outer packagings 9.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show views from opposite sides of the packaging device 1 from FIGS. 1 to 6, with packaging device 1 performing the second packaging process from FIGS. 5 and 6. Within the context of the conversion, a first folding rail 32, a second folding rail 32′, a third folding rail 33 and a fourth folding rail 33′ were added to packaging device 1. The first folding rail 32 and the second folding rail 32′ each run along the horizontal conveyor device 5 and are arranged on a first side of the horizontal conveyor device 5. The third folding rail 33 and the fourth folding rail 33′ also run along the horizontal conveyor device 5 and are arranged on an opposite side of the horizontal conveyor device 5.

Already when setting down a respective outer packaging 9 on the horizontal conveyor device 5, respective lateral flaps 43 and 44 of a respective outer packaging 9 are already folded in and are held in their folded orientation by the first folding rail 32 during a continuous movement effected by the horizontal conveyor device 5 and oriented in the conveying direction FR. The respective lower flaps 45 and upper flaps 42 of a respective outer packaging 9 have not yet been folded and/or converted to a folded orientation immediately when a respective outer packaging 9 is placed on the horizontal conveyor device 5. The number 20 continues to refer to the previously mentioned transfer table. In the area of the transfer table 20, a plurality of beverage containers 8 (see FIGS. 8 to 10) are each inserted into a respective outer packaging 9.

FIG. 7B shows that after inserting respective beverage containers 8 into a respective outer packaging 9 lateral flaps of the respective outer packaging 9, to which lateral flaps numbers 43′ and 44′ refer in FIG. 7B, are closed and/or folded in. So that these side flaps 43′ and 44′ retain their folded orientation, these side flaps 43′ and 44′ then come into contact with the third folding rail 33, which holds the side flaps 43′ and 44′ in the folded orientation. During a further movement of the respective outer packaging 9 together with the already inserted beverage containers 8 in the conveying direction FR, the respective lower flaps 45 of these outer packagings 9 are successively erected. The second folding rail 32′ is responsible for this on the first side of the horizontal conveyor device 5, which is arranged inclined relative to a horizontal. On the opposite side of the horizontal conveyor device 5, the fourth folding rail 33′ is responsible for erecting the lower flaps 45, which is also inclined relative to a horizontal. The lower flaps 45 reach a vertical orientation due to the erection effected by the respective folding rail 32′ and/or 33′ and remain attached to the side flaps 43′ and 44′, which are still folded in, by an adhesive and/or bonding agent application previously applied to the lower flaps.

Even temporally after the lower flaps 45 had been completely erected, the respective upper flaps 42 of a respective outer packaging 9 had not yet been folded in. The upper flaps 42 are folded by the gripper unit 30, which then receives a plurality of outer packagings 9 together with the completely folded flaps from the horizontal conveyor device 5 and places this plurality of outer packagings 9 simultaneously on a common further outer packaging and/or on a common tray.

When looking at FIGS. 1 to 4 together, in which the packaging device 1 carries out the first packaging process described, and at FIGS. 5 to 7, in which the packaging device 1 carries out the second packaging process described, the conversion operations carried out on the packaging device 1 becomes apparent. The conversion of packaging device 1 comprises the following steps and/or aspects, which are only to be understood as examples and not exhaustively:

Equipping a manipulator with a gripper unit 30, which is designed to fold in upper flaps of a plurality of outer packagings 9 and can place outer packagings 9 together with introduced and/or pushed-in beverage containers on a further outer packaging and/or providing a manipulator with a gripper unit 30, which is designed to fold in upper flaps 42 of a plurality of outer packagings 9 and can place outer packagings 9 together with inserted and/or pushed-in beverage containers on a further outer packaging 9;

Mounting a plurality of folding rails 32, 32′, 33 and 33′ provided for folding in and/or holding flaps on opposite sides of a horizontal conveyor device 5, which horizontal conveyor device is already provided in the first packaging process for transporting outer packagings 9 and also moves outer packagings in the second packaging process;

Arrangement of a transfer table 20 lateral of the horizontal conveyor device 5, from which transfer table 20 beverage containers are inserted into outer packagings 9;

Attaching a plurality of holding devices 36 to the horizontal conveyor device 5, via which plurality of holding devices 36 front and rear sides and/or front and rear flaps of a respective outer packaging 9 are held in an upright orientation;

Adjustment of a track width of the horizontal conveyor device 5 to match a transport of outer packagings 9 intended for the second packaging process;

Provision of a second magazine 15 for the packaging device 1, in which second magazine 15 outer packagings 9 are accommodated, each having a lateral opening for inserting a plurality of beverage containers.

The FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9 and 10 each show individual components and individual steps of a packaging device 1, which carries out a second packaging process after corresponding conversion operations. Thus, in FIG. 8A, a second working tool 31 can be seen, which is provided by the manipulator, which places articles from above onto outer packagings 9 in the first packaging process and/or is arranged on the manipulator, which places articles from above onto outer packagings 9 in the first packaging process, in order to insert beverage containers 8 into outer packaging 9 in accordance with a combined view of the FIGS. 8A and 8B. The second working tool 31 is arranged as a transfer tool 19 and/or strip which is brought into surface contact with beverage containers 8 in order to insert beverage containers 8 into outer packaging 9 and then pushes beverage containers 8 perpendicularly to the conveying direction FR indicated by the arrow in FIGS. 6 and 7. A longitudinal direction of the second working tool 31 and/or of the transfer tool 19 extends parallel to the conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveying device 5 (see FIGS. 5 to 7).

A combined view of FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrates the surface contact between the second working tool 31 and beverage containers 8 as well as the insertion of the respective beverage containers 8 into the outer packagings 9, which continue to stand on the horizontal conveyor device 5. FIGS. 8A and 8B also show here that the respective outer packagings 9 are in contact with the holding devices 36 during the insertion of the beverage containers 8. In addition, beverage containers 8 are moved between guide elements 22 during insertion in order to avoid unintentional disorientation of beverage containers 8 during insertion. The guide elements 22 can be carried by the respective manipulator and/or arranged on the respective manipulator.

FIG. 9 again shows a possibility of inserting beverage containers 8 into outer packagings 9 during the second packaging process. In FIG. 9, a respective front side of a respective outer packaging 9 rests on a respective rear side of an immediately adjacent outer packaging 9. The number of holding devices 36 required for holding in an upright orientation is reduced in FIG. 9 compared to FIG. 8. A corresponding arrangement of holding devices 36 according to FIGS. 8 or FIG. 9 can be made within the context of converting the packaging device 1 to suit the respective second packaging process to be carried out.

The insertion from FIG. 10 essentially corresponds to the insertion from FIGS. 8A and 8B and differs from the insertion from FIGS. 8A and 8B in the respective relative arrangement which the beverage containers 8 have to each other during insertion and after insertion.

FIG. 11 shows individual steps in the flowchart, as they can be provided for an embodiment of the inventive process 10. Within the context of a first step, a first packaging process is carried out in a packaging device. Temporally after the first packaging process has been completed, conversion operations are carried out on this packaging device, which conversion operations are matched to a second packaging process. After the conversion operations have been completed, a second packaging process is carried out in this converted packaging device, whereby the second packaging process provides for the lateral insertion of articles into outer packagings not provided for in the first packaging process.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and the figures, including their different views or respective individual characteristics, may be used independently of each other or in any combination. Features that are described in conjunction with a particular embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless the features are incompatible.

Although in the context of the figures there is generally talk of “schematic” representations and views, this in no way means that the figure representations and their description should be of secondary importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. Experts are perfectly capable of extracting enough information from the schematically and abstractly drawn representations to facilitate their understanding of the invention without their understanding being in any way impaired, for example, by the drawn and possibly not exactly to scale proportions of the piece goods and/or parts of the device or other drawn elements. The figures thus enable the expert as reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive idea formulated more generally and/or more abstractly in the claims and in the general part of the description on the basis of the more concretely explained embodiments of the invention procedure and the more concretely explained functioning of the inventive device.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

Packaging device

Transport device

5 Horizontal conveyor device

7 Further transport device

8 Beverage container

9 Outer packaging

10 Method

11 First magazine

12 Further magazine

13 Further magazine

14 Further magazine

15 Second magazine

16 Applicator for adhesive and/or bonding agent

18 Working tool

19 Transfer tool

20 Transfer table

22 Guide element

30 Gripper unit

31 Second working tool

32 First folding rail

32′ Second folding rail

33 Third folding rail

33′ Fourth folding rail

36 Holding devices

42 Upper flap

43 Lateral flap

43′ Lateral flap

44 Lateral flap

44′ Lateral flap

45 Lower flap

BR Movement direction

FR Conveying direction

TR Transport direction

Claims

1. A packaging device (1) for articles comprising the at least one transport device (3) moves articles into a working area of the at least one manipulator, and wherein the at least one manipulator is operable in a first packaging process to apply a respective outer packaging (9) to articles from above and/or places articles on a respective outer packaging (9) from above, and wherein the at least one manipulator is operable in a second packaging process to laterally insert articles into a respective outer packaging (9).

at least one transport device (3) for articles and

at least one manipulator, wherein

2. The packaging device of claim 1 wherein the at least one manipulator is adapted to change between the first packaging process and the second packaging process.

3. The packaging device of claim 2 wherein the at least one manipulator comprises at least one first working tool (18) and at least one second working tool (31), wherein the at least one first working tool:

a) can apply a respective outer packaging from above to articles, and/or

b) can temporarily receive articles and place them on a respective outer packaging (9) from above, and

wherein the at least one second working tool (31) can insert articles laterally into a respective outer packaging (9), wherein the at least one second working tool (31) can be detachably fixed to the at least one manipulator.

4. The packaging device of 2 wherein the at least one transport device (3) remains as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device (1) during a change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process.

5. The packaging device of claim 4 wherein the at least one transport device (3) can move articles into the working area of the at least one manipulator both within the context of the first packaging process and within the context of the second packaging process.

6. The packaging device claim 5 wherein the at least on transport device (3) comprises at least one horizontal conveyor device (5), wherein a track width oriented perpendicularly to its conveying direction (FR) can be flexibly adapted to the size of the outer packaging (9).

7. The packaging device according to claim 6 wherein the at least one horizontal conveyor device (5) comprises a plurality of holding devices (36) provided in the second packaging process to hold flaps and/or sides of outer packagings (9) in an upright position.

8. The packaging device of claim 7 further comprising: wherein the at least one handling device expands the plurality of outer packagings adapted to the first packaging process and expands the plurality of outer packagings adapted to the second packaging process.

a first magazine (11), which is designed to receive a plurality of outer packagings, which are matched to the first packaging process, and a second magazine which is adapted to receive a plurality of further outer packagings which are matched to the second packaging process, and

at least one handling device which remains in the packaging device as a structurally integrated component of the packaging device (1) during a respective change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process,

9. The packaging device of claim 8 comprising a driverless transport system which can automatically provide the first magazine or the second magazine with the plurality of outer packagings (9).

10. A method (10) for packaging articles comprising:

carrying out a first packaging process in a packaging device (1) by applying an outer packaging from above to articles and/or placing articles from above on an outer packaging, and

carrying out a second packaging process in the packaging device (1), temporally subsequent to the first packaging process, by laterally inserting articles into outer packagings (9).

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising instructing the packaging device (1) to change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising converting the packaging device (1) from the first packaging process to the second packaging process through the use of a handling device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one transport device (3) remains in the packaging device (1) during the conversion step and wherein the at least one transport device (3) supplies articles for packaging both in the first packaging process and in the second packaging process.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein, in the first packaging process, an outer packaging (9) is applied from above to articles via at least one manipulator and/or articles are placed from above on a respective outer packaging (9) via at least one manipulator, and wherein, in the second packaging process, the same at least one manipulator inserts articles laterally into outer packagings (9).

15. The method of claim 14 wherein, in the first packaging process, outer packaging (9) is applied from above to articles via at least one first working tool (18) of the at least one manipulator and/or articles are applied from above to a respective outer packaging (9) via at least one first working tool (18) and wherein at least one second working tool (31) is arranged on the at least one manipulator or provided by the at least one manipulator temporally after the first packaging process, wherein the at least one second working tool (31) inserts articles laterally into outer packaging.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein, in both the first and second packaging processes, outer packaging (9) is moved via the same at least one horizontal conveyor device (5), and wherein a track width of the at least one horizontal conveyor device, in the first packaging process, is adapted to outer packaging (9) to be moved in the second packaging process.

17. The method of claim 16 in which a plurality of holding devices are arranged on the at least one horizontal conveyor device (5) wherein the holding devices hold front and rear sides and/or front and rear flaps of outer packaging (9) in an upright orientation during a movement of the outer packaging (9) in the second packaging process.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein a driver transport system provides outer packagings (9) to the first packaging process and to the second packaging process.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein, during the first packaging process, instructing the packaging device (1) change from the first packaging process to the second packaging process and wherein the packaging device (1) changes from the first packaging process to the second packaging process during a continuous packaging operation.