CN210590752U

CN210590752U - Operating device for closing an outer bottom web of a package

Info

Publication number: CN210590752U
Application number: CN201890000335.5U
Authority: CN
Inventors: C·卡纳利基奥; A·胡特尔; M·普林兹; T·斯塔德勒
Original assignee: Krones AG
Current assignee: Krones AG
Priority date: 2017-02-06
Filing date: 2018-01-04
Publication date: 2020-05-22
Anticipated expiration: 2028-01-04
Also published as: WO2018141498A4; WO2018141498A3; EP3576932A2; DE102017201842A1; WO2018141498A2; EP3576932B1; EP3576932C0

Abstract

The utility model relates to an operating means for closing the outside bottom tab of packing, the packing has the folding line that is used for inside bottom tab and outside bottom tab. The handling device comprises at least one holding device for the pulled-apart carton blanks, at least one adhesive application means and a closure module with at least one closure unit for closing the outer bottom flaps of the pulled-apart carton blanks held by the holding device. The closing unit comprises two slide elements which are movable relative to each other in a horizontal plane. The present invention also relates to a method for closing the bottom gusset of the exterior of the package. The operating device of the invention provides a cost-effective closure device for closing the outer bottom webs of a package, wherein the number of required drive mechanisms is reduced. Furthermore, the space required for such a device should be as small as possible and such a device should preferably be able to process several packages simultaneously.

Description

Operating device for closing an outer bottom web of a package

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an operating means for closing outside bottom splicing of packing.

The utility model relates to a to the manufacturing of carton packing, especially the manufacturing of RSC carton. Carton packaging is understood in this context to be a packaging made from suitable carton trim. In RSC packaging, RSC refers to "regular slotted carton" and refers to a box structure having four flaps or bottom tabs over the box lower opening and four flaps or bottom tabs over the box upper opening. In rectangular carton boxes, the bottom and top tabs with shorter side lengths are referred to as smaller flaps or tabs. The bottom tab or top tab having a longer side length that provides the length of the box is referred to as the primary tab. The primary tabs meet in the middle where they can be bonded together, for example, with plastic or water activated tape.

Background

The carton blank is first folded into a box structure with respective open box upper and lower openings and the superimposed side tabs are glued, thereby forming a cuboid open on both sides. The smaller inner bottom tab with the shorter side length is thereafter folded inwardly until it is arranged substantially perpendicular to the respectively connected side wall. The outer surface of the correspondingly folded smaller inner bottom tab is usually provided with an adhesive or the like. The larger outer bottom or main tab is now folded in the direction of the smaller inner bottom tab and pressed against it, so that the larger outer bottom or main tab is adhesively connected to the smaller inner bottom tab. The devices known from the prior art currently close the large outer bottom web by means of a pivotable flap. For each larger outer bottom web to be closed, a movable plate is required, wherein each movable plate is driven by its own pneumatic cylinder or another suitable drive mechanism. In the case of pneumatic cylinders, each cylinder must be set individually. Thus, two movable panels and two suitable drive mechanisms are required to close the larger exterior bottom tabs of each carton. If a plurality of cartons are processed simultaneously, the number of required movable plates and driving mechanisms is correspondingly increased.

DE 4325181C 2 describes an operating device in which at least the two outer faces of the end faces are provided with a folding mechanism, which has a pre-folding unit and a common closing unit for each outer web, the pre-folding unit bending and folding each outer web about its folding line, but not abutting the outer web against the inner web; the operation of the closing unit brings the two curved outer tabs into abutment against the inner tabs. In a first working step, the outer web is bent only about its fold line and encloses an angle of about 20 to 30 degrees with the inner web, for example. During the second phase, the already bent outer web bears against the inner web. The component of motion may be imparted by a punch that moves substantially perpendicular to the plane of the inner tab. The movement required for full folding is split into two motion components oriented substantially orthogonal to each other so that each motion component has a short movement path.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Based on the known prior art, a primary object of the present invention may be to provide a cost-effective closure device for closing an outer bottom tab of a package, wherein the number of required drive mechanisms is reduced. Furthermore, the space required for such a device should be as small as possible and such a device should preferably be able to process several packages simultaneously.

The utility model discloses an operating means, this operating means include that at least one is used for through the carton that pulls open to tailor the retaining device of piece. A drawn-open carton blank is understood to mean, in particular, a pre-glued carton blank which, after being drawn open, forms a box shape with two mutually opposite openings, wherein the two openings each have an open bottom or top flap on both sides. Fold lines are formed between the bottom or top flap and the side walls of the carton trim which allow the bottom or top flap to be controllably tucked or tucked in. Particularly preferred herein relates to RSC carton trim.

The use of the designation bottom tab is not restricted in particular to the arrangement in the finished product. The bottom-side closed carton blanks produced by means of the operating device described here can then be tilted by, for example, about 90 ° and loaded and closed at the side, whereby the tabs, which are referred to in this application as bottom tabs, are arranged at the side in the finished product.

Furthermore, at least one adhesive application device is provided, by means of which, for example, glue or another suitable adhesive can be applied to the outer side of the folded-in inner base web in order to adhere it to the folded-in outer base web connected thereto. According to an alternative embodiment, a suitable adhesive can be applied by means of an adhesive application device in the region of the contact point or contact line of the two folded-in outer base webs. For example, the two outer bottom tabs are connected to one another by an adhesive strip.

For the bottom web folded into the exterior, a closure module is provided, which comprises at least one closure unit. Two sliding elements which are movable relative to one another in a horizontal plane belong to the closure element.

The holding device is provided with a first holding mechanism for clampingly holding the built-in side of the drawn-apart carton blanks. In particular, the first retaining means is clamped between the inner sides of two mutually opposite side walls of the drawn-apart carton blank. The holding device further comprises at least one second holding means for turning in and/or holding at least one inner bottom tab of the drawn-open carton trim. This involves, for example, suction means such as suction cups, vacuum-loaded suction cups, etc. The carton blanks are pulled apart, in particular via the retaining plate, with the inner bottom tab being folded in. A second retaining mechanism is secured to the tucked-in inner bottom tab to retain the opened carton trim. Alternatively, the second retaining means catches on the usually two inner bottom tabs and pulls at the same time in the direction of the interior space formed between the side walls of the drawn-apart carton blank, whereby the inner bottom tabs are folded through 90 ° along the folding lines and are retained.

Furthermore, a method for closing an outer bottom tab of a package by means of an actuating device is described. Usually carton trimmings are provided as pre-glued planar trimmings in a storage or the like and must first be pulled apart into a box shape open on both sides. But it is also possible to provide the method with carton trimmings that have been pulled apart.

The opened carton blanks are held by the first and/or second holding means of the above-described holding device, wherein the inner bottom tab is turned in advance or simultaneously or subsequently along the folding line through 90 ° toward the box-shaped interior. The adhesive can then be applied at least partially to the outer side of the folded-in inner bottom web according to the first embodiment of the method. The carton trim thus prepared is arranged between two glide elements of one closing unit. Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that, first of all, the drawn-off carton blank with the folded-in inner bottom web is arranged between the two glide elements of a closure unit and closes the outer bottom web. The adhesive can then be applied to the outer side of the folded-in inner bottom web via an adhesive application device, which is preferably variable in position, in particular adjustable in height.

The prepared carton blanks are arranged in particular between the two sliding elements of the closure unit in such a way that the bottom plane formed by the folded-in inner bottom flaps lies directly or slightly above the bearing plane formed by the upper sides of the sliding elements.

The outer bottom web of the prepared carton blank is now closed by folding through 90 ° along the respective folding line, wherein the two sliding elements of the closing unit are moved toward one another in a horizontal plane which is formed directly below the bottom plane of the pack formed by the folded-in inner bottom web. In particular, the two sliding elements are each moved at the same relative speed toward one another until they substantially touch one another.

According to a second embodiment of the method, no adhesive is applied on the outer side of the inner bottom tab. Alternatively, the folded-in outer bottom webs are closed by means of adhesive tape or the like along the contact line formed between the two folded-in outer bottom webs. In this case, it can be advantageous if the two sliding elements of the closing unit are moved partially apart from one another again. The adhesive applying mechanism may apply adhesive tape or the like from below at this time. In order to press the adhesive tape firmly against the outer bottom tab, the displacement elements can be moved back toward one another and, if necessary, additionally press the carton blanks additionally from above onto the preferably elastic support surface of the displacement elements by a downward movement of the holding device. Furthermore, embodiments of the method can provide for a combination of applying adhesive on the outer side of the inner bottom tab and applying adhesive on the folded-in outer bottom tab.

According to the utility model discloses an embodiment sets up to, and the closed module includes a plurality of closed cells, and the closed cell has two elements that slide that can move each other relatively on the horizontal plane respectively to can process a plurality of cartons simultaneously and tailor within the closed module, the quantity that the carton was tailor corresponds with the quantity of closed cell. In particular, the sliding elements of all the closing units can be arranged in a common horizontal plane, so that the upper sides of all the sliding elements lie in a common bearing plane.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the sliding elements of at least one of the closing units are arranged in a kinematic coupling on a common drive, to be precise in that, simultaneously with the movement of the first sliding element of the closing unit in the first direction, a counter-movement of the second sliding element of the closing unit in the opposite direction takes place, so that the sliding elements of the closing units are moved in each case with the same relative movement towards one another or away from one another. By means of the kinematic coupling of the two sliding elements, the two outer bottom tabs of the carton blank are simultaneously folded or folded in, wherein only a single drive mechanism is required.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sliding elements of all the closing units in a closing module with a plurality of closing units are arranged as described above in a kinematically coupled manner on a common drive, so that only a single drive is required for the simultaneous processing of a plurality of carton blanks, as a result of which the closing module can be produced cost-effectively.

For example, the drive mechanism can comprise at least one circumferential conveying means arranged on the drive means, which conveying means has an upper and a lower return section, wherein a respective one of the sliding elements of a closure unit is arranged on the upper return section of the conveying means and wherein the other sliding element of the closure unit is arranged on the lower return section of the conveying means. Since the direction of movement of the lower path section is opposite to the direction of movement of the upper path section in the circulating conveyor device, the arrangement of the sliding elements is such that the sliding elements of the closing unit arranged on the upper path section move opposite to the sliding elements of the closing unit arranged on the lower path section.

In particular, if a plurality of closing units are arranged on the circulating conveyor means, it can be provided that the displacement elements of all closing units are arranged alternately on the upper and lower return sections of the conveyor means. The movement of the conveying means, which moves the two sliding elements of a closing unit towards one another, then simultaneously effects that adjacent sliding elements of adjacent closing units move separately from one another.

The drive mechanism may preferably comprise two parallel-guided conveying means arranged on the drive means via a common drive shaft. The sliding elements are each arranged between the two conveying means and are each fixed to the two conveying means. In particular, the displacement elements are preferably arranged alternately on both sides on the upper run of the two conveying means or on both sides on the lower run of the two conveying means.

As a driving device for the conveying device, an electric motor, a servo driving mechanism, and the like are provided. At least one preferably circumferential conveyor element is, for example, a toothed belt. In this embodiment, in particular, a plurality of sliding elements and thus a plurality of closing units can be driven via a single actuating drive or another suitable drive means. Such a central drive in particular makes it possible for the operating device to be started in a simple and synchronous manner. The closing speed of a plurality of closing units can be simply matched to a new product, in particular a new RSC carton cutter, by adjusting and controlling a single drive mechanism. Furthermore, the displacement element can be positioned at different points on the circumferential conveying means.

According to a further embodiment, the sliding elements of all the closure units can also each have their own drive, wherein the drive is controlled via the control device in such a way that the sliding elements of one closure unit can each be moved in opposite directions and/or the adjacent sliding elements of the adjacent closure unit can be moved correspondingly in opposite directions.

It can furthermore be provided that the sliding element has an elastically mounted bearing element, which forms a bearing surface for an outer bottom web of the packaging. Due to the elasticity of the plurality of support elements, a uniform force distribution is achieved, which in particular allows excess adhesive, for example glue, between the inner and outer base webs to be pressed out uniformly. Excess glue can be removed in particular via the pull-off mechanism. Preferably, a pull-off mechanism, such as a glue wick or the like, is assigned to each closure unit.

A transport mechanism for transporting away the bottom-side closed carton blanks can also be arranged below the at least one closing unit. The bottom-closed carton blanks can be dropped onto the transport mechanism by a movement of the sliding elements of the respective closing units away from one another. In order to avoid the bottom-closed carton blanks from tipping over, twisting, etc., guide elements for the controlled placement of the bottom-closed carton blanks on the transport mechanism can be provided. The first guide element can be formed below the sliding element and a further second guide element can be arranged on the sliding element. The first guide element is configured, for example, as an inclined guide plate which is parallel to the transport mechanism and orthogonal to the sliding element of the closing unit. The inclined guide plate reduces the impact energy of the carton blanks closed at the bottom on the transport means, whereby the carton blanks can be prevented from falling over.

The arrangement of the transport means for feeding carton blanks closed at the bottom side to the further processing section below the at least one closing unit is particularly space-saving. When the bottom-side closed carton blanks are delivered onto the transport mechanism, the holding device can grip the next drawn-open carton blank and prepare it for closing the bottom flap of the outer portion by attracting the bottom flap of the inner portion. The yield of finished carton blanks can thereby be increased, since the holding device does not have to move the bottom-side closed carton blanks to a transport device and place them there.

The bottom-side closed carton trim can also be released to fall only in certain processing scenarios. For further processing, it can be advantageous if the carton blanks closed at the bottom are transferred for further processing to a further conveyor by means of holding tools or holding devices. In the case of a release drop onto a transport means arranged below or in the case of a transfer by means of a holding means or a holding device, it can be provided that the bottom-side closed carton blanks are rotated by 90 ° before being placed on the transport unit or conveyor.

For pressing the adhesive, after closing the outer bottom tab, the feed movement of the slide element can be assisted when the folded-in inner bottom tab is pressed onto the folded-in outer bottom tab by a further slight downward movement of the carton blank closed at the bottom. For this purpose, the holding device, for example, holding the carton blanks, executes a slight downward movement in the direction of the elastic bearing surfaces of the sliding elements which are fed toward one another.

Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention and their advantages are explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensional ratios of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the actual dimensional ratios, since some shapes are shown simplified and others are shown enlarged for better illustration than others.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a process flow for manufacturing a side-opening package, in particular an RSC package, by means of a closing module,

figure 2 shows a schematic view of a clamping mechanism for pulling apart carton trimmers,

figure 3 shows the adjustment mechanism of the closure module,

figure 4 schematically shows a side view of a part of the adjusting mechanism of the closing module according to figure 3 in a first operating state,

figure 5 schematically shows a side view of a part of the adjusting mechanism of the closure module according to figure 3 in a transitional state between the first operating state and the second operating state,

figure 6 schematically shows a side view of a part of the adjusting mechanism of the closing module according to figure 3 in a second operating state,

figure 7 shows a view from above of the adjusting mechanism of the closure module according to figures 3 and 4 in a first operating state,

figure 8 shows a view from above of the adjusting mechanism of the closure module according to figures 3 and 6 in a second operating state,

figure 9 shows a perspective view of a closure module for closing the outer bottom tab of the package,

fig. 10 shows the lower structure of the closure module of fig. 9.

The same reference numerals are used for identical or functionally identical elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only the reference numerals necessary for describing the respective figures are shown in the respective figures. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of what the described apparatus may be constructed of and are not ultimately limiting.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a process flow 1 for manufacturing a side-opening package 120, in particular an RSC package, by means of a closure module described below. The pre-glued carton blanks 100 are removed from the storage 2 and are pulled apart in a first method step Va into a box shape. The particularly drawn-open carton trim 101 has the typical box shape with four bottom tabs 102 at the box lower opening and four top lid tabs 105 at the box upper opening. The drawn-apart carton blank 101 in particular has two small inner bottom tabs 103 opposite one another and two outer bottom tabs 104 arranged opposite one another and offset between the small inner bottom tabs 103 (see fig. 2). The fold line for the bottom tab 102 or the top cap tab 105 is shown in phantom with reference numeral 107. The bottom tab 102 and the top tab 105 in the opened carton blank 101 are each also arranged in one plane with the respective side wall 109 adjoining a respective one of the carton blanks 101, so that the carton blank has two openings facing one another.

In a second method step Vb, the opened carton blank 101 (shown in detail in fig. 2) is gripped by means of the gripper mechanism 50, wherein the gripper arm 52 grips through the top cover opening of the carton blank 101 and sucks the bottom tab 102 turned inside by 90 °.

In a third method step Vc, adhesive 130 is applied at least partially to the outside of the folded-in inner bottom web 103 in the method embodiment shown here. In a fourth method step Vd, the outer bottom web 104 is then folded over with the aid of the closure module 10 described in detail below and the thus formed open-sided package 120 is transported to the next processing section via the transport device 16 corresponding to the closure module 10. Alternatively, the side-open package 120 thus formed can be transferred in a method step Ve by means of the gripper mechanism 50 to a further transport unit 60 for further processing. For this purpose, it can be provided, if necessary, that the side-open package 120 is rotated by 90 ° during the transfer.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a gripper mechanism 50 for an opened carton trim 101. The drawn carton trim 101 is particularly shown in cross-section so that the gripper mechanism 50 partially disposed within the interior of the drawn carton trim 101 can be better illustrated.

The opened carton trim 101 is held on the inner side wall 110 of the box shape 101 by the holding element 51. The drawn-apart carton blanks 101 are held in particular in such a way that a spacing a is set between the free ends of the holding elements 51, which spacing corresponds to the spacing between the opposite inner side walls 110 of the drawn-apart carton blanks 101. The holding elements 51 are arranged on two gripper arms 52 of the gripper mechanism 50. The two gripper arms 52 can be moved relative to one another and in particular toward one another or away from one another. Further, the clamp arm 52 may be rotatable and/or variable in length. Before receiving the drawn-off carton trim 101, the gripper arms 52 are positioned relatively close to one another so that the spacing between the free ends of the retaining elements 51 is smaller than the spacing a between the opposite inner side walls 110 of the carton trim 101 to be received. The gripper arm 52 of the gripper mechanism 50 enters the carton trim from above through the upper opening of the drawn-open carton trim 101 until the lower free end 53 of the gripper arm 52 is arranged at the level of the folding line 107 with the bottom tab 102. The lower free ends 53 of the gripper arms 52 each have a suction device 54 in order to fold the small inner bottom webs 103 upward by suction. The gripper arms 52 are moved away from one another so far that the free ends of the holding elements 51 are clamped between the inner side walls 110 of the drawn-apart carton blanks 101, so that the carton blanks 101 are held.

The gripper arm 52 can also first enter into the carton trim 101 to such an extent that the suction element 54 is arranged below the folding line 107. After the small inner bottom tab 103 has been removed, the holding arm 52 is pulled upwards again until the free end 53 of the holding arm 52 is at the level of the fold line 107 with the bottom tab 102. In this way, the inner bottom web 103 can be folded inward.

Alternatively and/or additionally, the suction element 54 can be configured for a rotatable and/or pivotable movement and/or a length variable etc. in order to take up the small inner bottom tab 103 and to turn it in upward until it is arranged at 90 ° relative to the side wall 110 and the outer bottom tab 104.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the retaining elements 51 can be varied in length, so that the length between the respective free end of the retaining element 51 and the end of the retaining element 51 fixed to the gripper arm 52 can be adjusted. Thus, the relative spacing between the gripper arms 52 need not necessarily be changed in order to grip the carton trim 101 via the side walls 110. It may be advantageous to vary the relative spacing between the gripper arms 52 and the length of the retaining element 51 to retain the drawn carton trim 101.

Preferably, the drawn-off carton trim 101 is held by the clamping mechanism 50 via the clamping side walls 109 on the one hand and the small inner bottom tab 103 on the other hand.

According to a not shown embodiment, the carton blanks 101 are pulled apart via the positioning plate, wherein the inner bottom tabs 102 are turned inward by 90 °. The suction element 54 rests on the folded-in inner bottom web 102, thereby additionally retaining the drawn-off carton blanks 101.

Fig. 3 shows the adjusting mechanism 11 of the embodiment of the closure module 10 for closing the outer bottom tab 104 of the package separately. The adjusting mechanism 11 comprises a plurality of pressure strips 20, which are in particular designed as pressure sliders. Preferably, a plurality of compression straps 20 are mechanically coupled to one another so that they can be driven together. As is clearly visible in fig. 3, the drive system 30 comprises two parallel-guided circumferential toothed belts 31, 32. The toothed belts are coupled to the servo drive 33 via a common drive shaft 35, so that the toothed belts 31, 32 are driven synchronously.

The pressing strips 20 are each arranged between and connected to the toothed belts 31, 32 via a fixing means 21, the movement of the toothed belts 31, 32 causing a corresponding movement of the pressing strips 20. The pressure strips 20 which are arranged next to one another are arranged alternately on the upper return sections 31o, 32o or the lower return sections 31u, 32u of the toothed belts 31, 32. In particular, the pressure strips 20a are arranged on the upper return portions 31o, 32o of the toothed belts 31, 32 and the pressure strips 20b are arranged on the lower return portions 31u, 32u of the toothed belts 31, 32. The alternating arrangement is such that the side-by-side pressing strips 20a, 20b are driven by the movement of the toothed belts 31, 32 to move in opposite directions, respectively.

The two respectively adjoining pressure strips 20a, 20b form a so-called slide pair 25, so that a linear opening or closing movement is effected via the toothed belts 31, 32.

The carton blank 101 prepared according to fig. 2 and having the small inner bottom web 103 already folded in is arranged above between the two press strips 20a, 20b of the slider pair 25, on the outer side of which adhesive 130 (see fig. 1) has optionally been applied, so that the folded-in small inner bottom web 103 lies substantially in a horizontal plane H which corresponds approximately to the horizontal plane formed by the upper sides 22 of the press strips 20a, 20b (see also fig. 4). The outer bottom web 104 is suspended downward between the pressure strips 20a, 20b of the slider pair 25. The carton blank 101 is arranged in particular between the press strips 20a, 20b of the pair of sliders 25, so that the outer bottom webs 104 are oriented parallel-suspended relative to the press strips 20a, 20 b. The pressure strips 20a, 20b of the pair of sliders 25 are now moved towards each other. By the movement of closing the pressure strip, the outer bottom web 104 is folded or folded upwards and pressed onto the outside of the folded-in small inner bottom web 103. In particular, via the control device 40, the actuating drive 33 is actuated in such a way that the upper run 31o, 32o of the toothed belts 31, 32 is moved in the first movement direction B1. In accordance therewith, the pressure bars 20a arranged on the upper return portions 31o, 32o are moved in the movement direction B1 and the pressure bars 20B arranged on the lower return portions 31u, 32u are moved counter to the movement direction B1.

A resiliently mounted pressing plate 23 is attached to the pressing bar 20. When the pressure strips 20a, 20b of the slider pair 25 are pushed together, the pressing plate generates a uniform pressure which acts on the outer side of the respective outer base web 104. In conjunction with the pressure exerted by the suction element 54 of the holding means 50 on the small inner bottom web 103, the outer bottom web 104 is therefore pressed onto the small inner bottom web 103 which has been folded in and is held by the suction element 54 of the holding means 50, whereby the adhesive, for example glue, which is applied to the outer side of the inner bottom web 103 is distributed uniformly and excess glue can be pressed out if necessary.

Fig. 4 to 6 each schematically show a part of the adjusting mechanism 11 of the closure module 10 according to fig. 3In the first operating state AZ1 (FIG. 4), in the transitional state

Figure 920010DEST_PATH_GDA0002040017890000111

(fig. 5) and in the second operating state AZ2 (fig. 6). Fig. 7 shows a view from above of the adjusting mechanism 11 of the closure module 10 according to fig. 3 and 4 in a first operating state AZ1, while fig. 8 shows a view from above of the adjusting mechanism of the closure module according to fig. 3 and 6 in a second operating state AZ 2.

In the first operating state AZ1, the two pressing strips 20a, 20b of the slide pair 25 are spaced apart from one another, and the carton blank 101 prepared according to fig. 2 is arranged between the two pressing strips 20a, 20b of the slide pair 25 with the small inner bottom web 103 already turned inside over by means of the clamping mechanism 50, so that the small inner bottom web 103 turned inside in lies substantially in a horizontal plane H, which corresponds substantially to the horizontal plane formed by the upper sides 22 of the pressing strips 20a, 20 b. The outer bottom web 104 is suspended downward between the pressure strips 20a, 20b of the slider pair 25. The feed movement of the pressure strips 20a, 20b of the slider pair 25, which is illustrated by the arrows in fig. 5, causes the outer bottom web 104 to be folded or folded upwards along the folding line 107 and to be pressed onto the outside of the folded-in small inner bottom web 103.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective schematic view of a closure module 10 with a bottom tab 104 for closing the exterior of a package 101 (see fig. 2) according to the adjustment mechanism 11 of fig. 3, and fig. 10 shows a lower structure of the closure module 10 according to fig. 9, which is arranged below the adjustment mechanism 11 (see fig. 3).

The pressure strips 20a, 20b of the slide pair 25 can be positioned at different points on the upper or lower return sections 31o, 32o, 31u, 32u of the toothed belts 31, 32 of the drive system via the fastening means 21. For example, an arrangement in the region of the glue receiving means is advantageous in order to remove excess glue that has overflowed between the small inner bottom tab 103 and the outer bottom tab 104 when the outer bottom tab 104 is closed and pressed onto the small inner bottom tab 103.

In the embodiment of the closure module 10 shown here, the transport means 16 are arranged below the adjusting means 11 (see in particular fig. 3) in order to transport further the now closed-bottom package 120 (see fig. 1 and 6). The packs are, for example, conveyed to a packing module, in which the packs are filled with goods and, if appropriate, closed.

The packs closed on the bottom side by the feed movement of the pressure strips 20a, 20b of the slider pair 25 can be released by a movement of separating the pressure strips 20a, 20b of the slider pair 25 from one another and placed on the transport means 16 arranged below the adjusting means 11. In order to ensure that the packages do not tip or twist when they are placed on the transport device 16, first guide elements 17, 18 can be provided on the substructure 12. Furthermore, a second guide element 24 can be arranged on the pressure strips 20a, 20b in an auxiliary manner.

The packs are guided on the transport unit 16 by lateral guide elements 18. The first guide elements 17 arranged above the lateral guide elements 18 are embodied in particular as inclined surfaces, so that the impact energy of the pack on the transport device 16 is advantageously reduced and the pack is thus prevented from tipping over.

The entire process flow, in particular the transport of the packs further to the subsequent packing modules, can be optimized in terms of time by directly lowering the packs closed on the bottom side.

For folding the outer bottom tabs 104 of the carton blanks 101 by means of the feed movement of the two glide elements or press strips 20a, 20b, it is also possible to use closure modules 10 without the substructure 12 according to fig. 10.

However, if the closure module 10 has a substructure 12 according to fig. 9 and 10, the packaging closed on the bottom side does not necessarily have to be placed on the transport device 16. For some processes it may be advantageous that the bottom-side closed package is transported to a suitable location and set down by a holding mechanism 50 for holding. In this regard, the bottom-side closed package can be brought into a desired orientation by rotation of the holding device 50, for example, the package can be rotated by 90 °.

When placing the bottom-side closed package on the transport means 16 of the lower part 12 of the closure module 10, it can also be provided that, after closing and pressing the outer bottom web 104, the bottom-side closed package is rotated, in particular by 90 °, before it is placed on the transport means 16 by the separating movement of the pressure strips 20a, 20b of the slider pair 25 from one another. This rotation can in particular also be caused by a rotation of the gripper mechanism 50 holding the package during the complete folding and closing process.

The bottom-closed package can then be filled directly with goods, for example bottles, combinations of goods combined with the package, for example baskets, trays, shrink-wrap, multipacks with bottles or the like, in a subsequent packaging module. It may also be provided to first load the package with separating elements, such as compartments, and then with goods.

In this context, it is particularly advantageous if a plurality of packages can be handled simultaneously by means of a single drive mechanism. The number of packs that can be closed in parallel corresponds here to the number of pairs of sliders 25 that are coupled to one another in terms of drive technology. Since only one drive mechanism has to be actuated, the operation of such a closure module 10 is simple. In particular, such a closure module 10 can be adapted quickly and easily to new products when the products are changed. For example, the respective speeds and the respective time intervals of the drive toothed belts 31, 32 must be set via the control mechanism in order to set the appropriate spacing of the pressure strips 20a, 20b of the slider pair 25 before closing the outer bottom web 104 of the package 101. The required spacing results from the width of the pack 101 which is to be arranged between the pressure strips 20a, 20b of the respective slide pair 25. The closing speed can be matched to the respective package 101 by adjusting the speed of the infeed movement of the pressing strips 20a, 20 b.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and drawings and their different views or corresponding individual features can be applied independently of one another or in any combination, and features described in connection with one embodiment can be used for all embodiments unless this feature is incompatible.

List of reference numerals

1 Process scheme

2 storage part

10 closed module

11 adjustment mechanism

12 substructure

16 transport mechanism

17 first guide element

18-sided guide element

20 pressing strip

21 fixing mechanism

22 upper side

23 pressing plate

24 second guide element

25 slide block pair

30 drive system

31 toothed belt

31o and 32o upper return section

32 tooth belt

31u and 32u downward return section

33 servo drive mechanism

35 drive shaft

40 control mechanism

50 fixture

51 holding element

52 gripper arm

53 lower free end

54 suction element

60 transport unit

100 pre-glued carton trim

101 (drawn) carton trim, box shape

102 bottom tab

103 small inner bottom tab

104 outer bottom tab

105 roof tab

107 fold line

109 side wall

110 inner side wall

120 one-sided opening package

130 adhesive

AZ1 first operating State

AZ2 second operating State

Figure 774833DEST_PATH_GDA0002040017890000141

Transitional state

H horizontal plane

Va method step, first method step

Vb method step, second method step

Vc method step, third method step

Vd method step, fourth method step

Ve method step, fifth method step.

Claims

1. Operating device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package, characterized in that the package has a fold line (107) for an inner bottom tab (103) and an outer bottom tab (104), the operating device comprising:

-at least one holding device (50) for an opened carton trim (101) having a fold line (107) for an inner bottom tab (103) and an outer bottom tab (104),

-at least one adhesive application mechanism, and

-a closure module (10) with at least one closure unit (25) for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a pulled open carton trim (101) held by the holding device (50),

-wherein the closing unit (25) comprises at least two gliding elements (20) movable relative to each other in a horizontal plane, the gliding elements (20) comprising elastic supporting elements (23).

2. Operating device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 1, characterized in that the holding device (50) comprises a first holding mechanism (51) for clampingly holding an inner side of a pulled-open carton trim (101), and wherein the holding device (50) comprises at least one second holding mechanism for turning in and/or holding at least one inner bottom tab (103) of a pulled-open carton trim (101).

3. Operating device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the closing module (10) comprises a plurality of closing units (25) each having two glide elements (20) movable relative to each other in a horizontal plane, wherein the glide elements (20) of all closing units (25) are arranged in a common horizontal plane.

4. Operating device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 3, characterized in that the slide elements (20) of at least one closing unit (25) are arranged in a kinematic coupling on a common drive (30), wherein the opposite movements can be carried out in each case by the slide elements (20) of the closing units (25), or wherein the slide elements (20) of all closing units (25) are arranged in a kinematic coupling on a common drive (30), wherein the opposite movements can be carried out in each case by the slide element (20) of one closing unit (25) and wherein the opposite movements can be carried out in each case by the directly adjacent slide element (20) of the adjacent closing unit (25).

5. The handling device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 4, wherein the drive mechanism (30) comprises at least one encircling conveying means arranged on a drive means, the conveying means having an upper return section (31o, 32o) and a lower return section (31u, 32u), wherein the respective one of the glide elements (20) of one closing unit (25) is arranged on the upper return section (31o, 32o) of the conveying means and wherein the other glide element (20) of the closing unit (25) is arranged on the lower return section (31u, 32u) of the conveying means.

6. The handling device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 5, characterized in that the drive mechanism (30) comprises two parallel-guided conveying means arranged on the drive means via a common drive shaft (35), wherein the slide elements (20) are arranged between and fixed on the two conveying means, respectively.

7. Operating device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 5, wherein the drive means is a servo drive (33) and/or wherein at least one surrounding conveying means is a toothed belt (31, 32).

8. Operating device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 4, characterized in that the sliding elements (20) of all closing units (25) each have their own drive mechanism, wherein the drive mechanisms are actuated via the control mechanism (40) in such a way that the sliding elements (20) of one closing unit (25) can each be moved in opposite directions and/or adjacent sliding elements (20) of adjacent closing units (25) can each be moved in opposite directions.

9. The handling device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a transport mechanism (16) for carrying away bottom-side closed carton cutouts (120) is arranged below at least one closing unit (25), wherein the bottom-closed carton cutouts (120) can be dropped onto the transport mechanism (16) by a movement of the sliding elements (20) of the respective closing unit (25) which are separated from one another.

10. Handling device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a carrying away mechanism for carrying away excess adhesive (130) is assigned to at least one closing unit (25).

11. Operating device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 2, characterized in that the holding device (50) comprises a suction means (54) for turning in and/or holding an inner bottom tab (103) of a drawn-open carton trim (101).

12. The handling device for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 6, characterized in that the slide elements (20) are arranged alternately on both sides on the upper return sections (31o, 32o) of the two conveying means or on both sides on the lower return sections (31u, 32u) of the two conveying means, respectively.

13. Operating means for closing an outer bottom tab (104) of a package according to claim 9, characterized in that guide elements (17, 18, 24) are provided for controlled placement of the bottom-closing carton trim (120) on the transport mechanism (16).