WO2018184762A1 - System and method for producing packaging multi-packs - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for producing packaging multi-packs from at least two packagings filled with a fluid level of liquid filling material according to the preamble of claim 1. The invention further relates to a method for producing packaging multi-packs according to the preamble of claim 12. The substantial aspect of the system according to the invention for producing packaging multi-packs from at least two packagings filled with a liquid filling material is that the system has at least one spraying device and/or cooling device before the second functional unit in the transport direction, which spraying device and/or cooling device is provided for applying a spraying medium and/or cooling medium to the packagings at least in the upper region of the packagings.

Description

 Plant and method for producing packaging containers

The present invention relates to a plant for the production of

Packaging containers of at least two filled with a filling level of liquid filling packaging according to the preamble of claim 1. The present invention further relates to a method for producing packaging containers according to the preamble of claim 12.

Basically, the production of packaging containers takes place in such a way that in each case a plurality of packages are assembled into a packaging group in which the packages close together and that the respective packaging is then wrapped or enclosed preferably with a shrink film. Known methods usually use a shrink film, which reduces their dimensions by applying heat in a shrink tunnel so that the film applies voltage to the packaging of the respective packaging bundles and fixes them. With such shrink tunnel for shrinking shrink film is a hot air or hot gas flow, for example, laterally on the respective, with the

Shrink wrap already wrapped packaging containers applied to the

Shrink shrink film onto the packaging container. Further, the shrink gas stream may also be directed to the underside of the shrink wrap wrapped packages of the package to seal the overlapping ends of the shrink film there, i. to be welded or glued.

Also known from the prior art and packaging containers

consisting of several individual, forming a packaging group,

Packages which are arranged on a common carrier and connected by a shrunk shrinkable film blank together with the carrier to form a stable packaging unit. The in the known Cartridges used are preferably made of cardboard or paperboard, while the shrink film blanks of a shrink film

formed plastic film are formed. In particular, during the application of heat in the shrink tunnel, direct heat is applied to the outer surface of the packaging, for example the PET bottle. This heat effect in the upper region of the packaging designed as a PET bottle, ie a heat in the

Head portion of the PET bottle, can at the transition from the liquid level to the overlying, unfilled free space to a possible deformation of the

Lead packaging in this area. This effect is further intensified in packaging with a lower relative liquid level, ie one

Liquid level, which is several centimeters below the closure of a PET bottle. The consequence of the deformation or deformation of the PET bottle is that the closure is no longer concentric on the center vertical axis of the PET bottle with its center, but is inclined for example at an angle to the side. However, it is also possible for deformations to occur locally in the upper region of the package, which do not result in a change in position of the closure, but are evident as a bulge or dent on the packaging.

The object of the invention is an improved system for the manufacture of

Packaging packaging from at least two filled with a liquid filling packaging show that eliminates the disadvantages of the prior art and in particular there is no deformation or deformation of the packaging of the packaging package in the shrink tunnel. To solve this

The object is a system for producing packaging containers from at least two filled with a liquid filling packaging according to the

Claim 1 is formed. A method for producing

Packaging packaging is the subject of claim 12.

The essential aspect of the plant according to the invention for the manufacture of

Packing container from at least two filled with a liquid filling packaging is to be seen in the fact that the plant in the transport direction before second functional unit at least one Sprühvor rectification and / or cooling device for pressurizing the packaging with a spray medium and / or

Has cooling medium at least in its upper region. Thus, the packaging container is particularly advantageous with the acted upon by means of the spray device on the packaging in the upper area

Spray into the second functional unit, namely the shrink tunnel,

retracted. Alternatively or additionally, the packaging and / or the liquid filling material can be acted upon in the upper region by means of the cooling device, in particular locally cooled.

Thus, due to the application of heat to an evaporation of the water content of the spray of the spray, which leads to a cooling of the water content of the spray itself and its environment. This cooling is caused by the fact that the water fractions of the spray and its environment required for evaporation "evaporation or

In the case of cooling in the upper region of the packaging by means of the cooling device, heat is applied to the second one

Functional unit due to the occurring temperature difference to a

Condensation, in particular a moisture deposit, on the inner and / or outer circumferential surface of the package, in particular in the upper region. During condensation, heat energy is released from the condensate to the environment. This heat of condensation can have the same or approximately the same value as the heat of vaporization.

According to one embodiment variant, provision can be made for the area of the packaging not filled with liquid filling material to be acted upon by the at least one spraying device and / or cooling device with the spraying medium and / or cooling medium.

According to a further embodiment variant, it can be provided that at least that of the at least one spraying device and / or cooling device can be achieved by means of the at least one spraying device and / or cooling device an upper mouth region of the respective packaging can be acted upon by the spraying medium and / or cooling medium preferably up to 2 to 5 cm below a respective filling level of a corresponding packaging. According to yet another embodiment, it may be provided that the packages before the first functional unit with the at least one

Spray device and / or cooling device with the spray medium and / or

Can be acted upon cooling medium. According to yet another embodiment, it may be provided that the packages in the region of the first functional unit, in particular prior to the provision of a respective packaging group with the shrink film, with the at least one spray device and / or cooling device with the spray medium and / or cooling medium are acted upon.

According to yet another embodiment, it may be provided that the packages in the region of the first functional unit, in particular after the provision of a respective packaging group with the shrink film, and / or after the first functional unit and before the second functional unit with the at least one spray device and / or cooling device can be acted upon with the spray medium and / or cooling medium.

According to yet another embodiment, it may be provided that the at least one spray device for generating a spray as

Spray medium is formed, wherein the packaging can be acted upon at least in its upper region with the spray.

According to yet another embodiment variant, it may be provided that the spray generated by the at least one spray device is directed in the direction of the respective packages conveyed along at least one feed conveyor along the treatment path in such a way that at least their respective upper region can be acted upon by the spray mist. According to yet another embodiment, it can be provided that the respective outer packaging of a packaging group formed from a plurality of packaging rows relative to a transverse axis along the treatment path before the second functional unit with the by the at least one

Sprayer generated spray in their respective upper area

can be acted upon.

According to yet another embodiment variant, it can be provided that the at least one cooling device is designed to produce a cooling medium in the form of a gaseous cooling atmosphere, preferably cold air, the packages being at least in their upper region with the gaseous

Cooling atmosphere can be acted upon. According to yet another

Embodiment variant can be provided that in the second functional unit by means of a suction device resulting vapor of the heat of evaporation and / or condensation heat sucked and / or un-saturated air by means of a

Blowing device is feasible.

In this case, at least one of the spray devices in the altitude and / or with respect to the outlet angle or its inclination to the horizontal is adjustable in order to apply optimally to the container area to be cooled a fluid. It may also be useful that the spray device is oriented so that it can spray under an already launched or foil or foil section. In particular, when the spraying device is arranged at or after the film wrapping unit and directly from the entrance to a heat source, such as a shrink tunnel.

For the purposes of the present invention, packaging means in particular packaging materials filled with a product, for example in the form of containers, such as cans, bottles, tubes, metal pouches, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging materials which are suitable for filling liquid or viscous containers To understand products. Preferably, packaging is understood as meaning PET bottles filled with a liquid filling material. The expression "essentially" or "approximately" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from the exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of Function insignificant

Changes.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination, in principle, the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their

 Dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. They show: in schematic functional representation an exemplary

 Embodiment of a plant according to the invention for producing packaging containers with at least one spray device,

2a and 2b in a schematic side view and plan view, respectively

 Embodiment of an exempt sprayer with exemplary packaging

3a and 3b in a schematic side view and plan view another

4 shows a schematic plan view of a packaging container along the treatment path in the second functional unit 5a and 5b in a schematic side view and plan view, respectively

Variant of an optional cooling device with exemplary packaging and

Fig. 6 in a schematic functional representation of another exemplary

 Embodiment of a plant according to the invention for producing packaging containers with at least one cooling device. For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used in the figures. Furthermore, for clarity, only reference numerals in the individual figures are shown, which are required for the description of the respective figure. In the figures, 1 is generally a plant for the manufacture of

 Packaging bundles 3 from at least two filled with a liquid product packages 2 referred to. The plant 1 is in particular as

Production plant for packages 2 filled with liquid product, e.g. filled with a drink bottles, especially PET bottles trained. The treatment section BS of the system 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used in particular for assembling the packages 2 filled with the liquid filling material into packaging groups 4, i.a. using a shrink film 5, so that the packaging group 4 each after shrinking the shrink film

Packaging container 3, each with a predetermined number of packaging 2 form.

Appendix 1 includes i.a. at least one transporter 6, on the horizontal or substantially horizontal transport plane E, the packages 2 are conveyed in a transport direction A along the treatment line BS, for example as a four-lane packaging stream, ie as four transverse to

Transport direction A side by side conveyed packaging 2, from which then the packing groups 4 are separated in the manner known to those skilled in the packaging in which the packages 2 are provided close to each other. The transport direction A extends in a longitudinal axis L of the at least one transport 6. Q denotes a transverse axis which is preferably perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the transport direction A and parallel or in the

Is oriented substantially parallel to the transport plane E. The packages 2 in this case have a centrally extending central longitudinal axis MA, which is directed during the transport of the respective packages 2 along the treatment line BS perpendicular to the transport plane E of the at least one transport 6. The respective central longitudinal axes MA of the packaging 2 forming a packaging group 4 are preferably parallel or substantially parallel

oriented to each other along the treatment line BS. Preferably, a packaging container 3 produced by means of the system 1 according to the invention has at least two packages 2 arranged next to one another transversely to the transport direction A, ie along the transverse axis Q. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 4, a packaging container 3 can be formed from a packaging group 4 of four packaging rows R1... R4 arranged respectively along the transverse axis Q of three packages 2 arranged along the transport direction A, ie of a total of 12 packages 2 be.

The packaging bundles 3 can be arranged on an only schematically indicated, in plan view, for example, rectangular carrier 7, in particular in a tray, for example made of cardboard, on the already separated each packaging group 4 in the area in front of a first functional unit F1 along the treatment route BS example is postponed.

The system 1 according to the invention comprises a plurality of functional units, in particular at least the first functional unit F1 and a second

Functional unit F2, which extends along the treatment path BS in

Transport direction A connect to each other.

The first functional unit F1 is designed as a packaging unit at least for applying a shrink film 5 to the packaging 2. It can the first functional unit F1 can also be designed to set up or insert the respective packaging groups 4 on the carrier 7 and then to provide the carrier 7 and the packaging group 4 with the shrink film 5. In principle, it is also possible for the first functional unit F1 to be already supplied with the carriers 7 with the packaging groups 4 or the packaging group 4 of the first functional unit F1 without carrier 7, and in the first functional unit F1 only the application of the

Shrink film 5 is done. In this case, following the first functional unit F1 in the direction of transport A, the second functional unit F2 can be connected to each other via the least one transporter 6. The second functional unit F2 is designed as a shrinking unit for shrinking the shrinking film 5 applied in the first functional unit F1 by heating. The action of heat in the second functional unit F2 can be done, for example, by hot air and / or heat or infrared radiation, so that the respective shrink film 5 shrunk onto the respective packaging group 4 and a transportable and storable packaging container 3 is formed. As can be seen, for example, from FIG. 4, in the second

Functional unit F2 in particular the respective outer packaging 2, that is, the arranged in relation to the transverse axis Q in the first or last packing row R1 and R4, due to their spatial proximity to those in the second

Function unit F2 provided heat sources WQ particularly large

Exposed to heat. So that in this manufacturing step of the packaging container 3 to none

Deformations or deformations of the packaging 2 of the packaging container 3 in the second functional unit F2 comes is provided according to an essential aspect of the present invention that the system 1 in the transport direction A before the second functional unit F2 at least one spray device 20 and / or cooling device 30 for applying the packaging 2 with one

Having spray medium and / or cooling medium at least in its upper region. Particularly advantageous is the upper portion of the portion of the respective packaging 2 by means of at least one spray device 20 and / or

Cooling device 30 is acted upon by the spray medium and / or cooling medium, which is not filled with liquid filling material, thus forming the upper, unfilled space of the respective packaging.

Furthermore, as the upper region, that section of the respective packaging 2 can also be acted upon by the at least one spraying device 20 and / or cooling device 30 with the spraying medium and / or cooling medium extending from the upper mouth region MB of the respective packaging 2, in which

For example, in the case of a PET bottle, the bottle opening and the rotary closure are located, preferably extending to liquid contents 2 to 5 cm below the respective filling level FP. Furthermore, it can be provided that the packages 2 along the

 Treatment path BS in the transport direction A before the first functional unit F1 with the at least one spray device 20 and / or cooling device 30 are acted upon with the spray medium and / or cooling medium. Alternatively or additionally, the packages 2 along the

 Treatment line BS in the region of the first functional unit F1, in particular before the provision of the respective packaging group 4 with the shrink film 5, with the at least one spray device 20 and / or cooling device 30 with the

Be sprayed and / or cooling medium applied.

Alternatively or additionally, the packages 2 along the

Treatment line BS in the region of the first functional unit F1, in particular after the respective packing group 4 with the shrink film 5, or after the first functional unit F1 and before the second functional unit F2 with the at least one spray device 20 and / or cooling device 30, ie immediately before Transferring the respective packing group 4 into the second functional unit F2, to which the spray medium and / or cooling medium are applied. In particular, it can be provided that the in the first Functional unit F1 applied shrink film 5 openings and / or a

Has perforation, and preferably at least in the portion which is associated with the upper portion of the packages 2, that covers the upper portion of the packages 2.

In order to further favor the evaporation process, it can be provided that in the second functional unit F2 the resulting vapor of the

Evaporative heat and / or condensation heat is sucked, for example by means of a suction device and / or at the same time with a blower new, unsteady air is supplied.

Particularly advantageously, the at least one spraying device 20 is designed to generate a spray 21 as spraying medium and to act on the packs 2 to be supplied with the spray 21 at least in their upper area. The spray 21 may be at least partially formed from water and / or an emulsion with water. In particular, the spray 21 can be reflected at least in the upper region of the respective packaging 2 in such a way that on the outer circumferential surface of the corresponding

Packaging Form 2 drops of water and / or emulsion.

For this purpose, the spray 21 generated by the at least one spray device 20 in the direction of the respective along the treatment line BS in

Transport direction A on the transported at least one transport 6

Packaging 2 directed, such that at least the respective upper portion of the spray 21 is acted upon.

In particular, the at least one spraying device 20 may be provided such that at least a first half of the outer circumferential surface of the respective packaging 2 can be acted upon by the spray 21 in the respective upper region, ie via an outer circumferential surface section which extends over a circular sector relative to the central axis MA of the respective one Packaging 2 extends from at least 180 ° (Figures 2a, 2b). Alternatively or additionally, at least two spray devices 20 may be provided such that the outer jacket surface of the respective package 2 can be acted upon by the spray mist 21 via its approximately complete outer circumferential surface circumference in the upper region (FIGS. 3a and 3b). The at least two spray devices 20 may preferably be arranged relative to one another on opposite sides, ie along an imaginary line intersecting the center axis MA, relative to the center axis MA of the respective packages 2.

For example, it can be provided that the at least one

Spray device 20 laterally next to the treatment line BS, in particular laterally next to the at least one transport 6, before the second

Functional unit F2 provided along the transport direction A, for example, by means of a machine frame, not shown, on the conveyor 6, is fixed.

In particular, the at least one spraying device 20 above the

Transport level E be provided laterally next to the treatment line BS such that at least the respective upper portion of the respective along the

Treatment path BS in the transport direction A on the at least one

Transporter 6 conveyed packages 2 with the spray 21

can be acted upon.

Alternatively or additionally, the at least one spraying device 20 may also be provided above the respective packages 2 conveyed along the treatment path BS in the transport direction A on the at least one transporting gate 6, again such that at least their respective upper region can be acted upon by the spray 21.

Particularly advantageous are the respective outer packaging 2, that is, based on the transverse axis Q in the first packaging row R1 and last

 Packing row, for example, the fourth packing row R4 arranged packaging 2 of a respective packaging group 4 along the

Treatment path BS before the second functional unit F2 with the by the at least one spray device 20 generated spray 21 applied in its respective upper region. In this way, at least the packages 2, which are closest to the lateral heat sources of the second functional unit F2 and are conveyed along the treatment section BS, are subjected to the spray 21 of the spraying device 20 in a particularly advantageous manner.

Advantageously, the plant 1 in this case has a plurality of spraying devices 20 at the respective above-explained positions or areas along the

Treatment line BS.

As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 5a and 5b, the at least one cooling device 30 can be designed to produce a cooling medium in the form of a gaseous cooling atmosphere, preferably cold air, the packages (2) being in gaseous form at least in their upper region

Cooling atmosphere can be acted upon. Advantageously, the at least one

Cooling device 30 for this at least partially along the

Treatment path BS extending along the longitudinal axis L oriented cooling zone 31 form with the gaseous cooling medium, which is separated via wall sections 32 a relation to the outside of the cooling zone 31 prevailing atmosphere.

In particular, the wall sections 32 enclose the upper region of the respective packages 2 at least partially along the treatment path BS. During the transport through the cooling zone 31, the packages 2 can be separated by partitions 33 between the individual rows of packages R1... R4, in which only one row of packages is shown by way of example in FIGS. 5a and 5b. In particular, the cooling device 30 may have a separate cooling zone 31 for each packaging row R1... R4.

By means of a cooling unit not shown in detail, a cooling temperature of the cooling medium can be generated in the cooling zone 31 of the cooling device 30, which depends on the temperature of the liquid contents of the packaging 2, preferably between 20 ° and 50 ° below the temperature of the liquid

Contents of the packaging 2 is. In particular, the gaseous cooling medium in the form of cold air have a temperature which is between 20 ° and 50 below the temperature of the liquid filling material of the packages 2.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, but may be varied as desired within the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 plant

 2 packaging

 3 packaging containers

 4 packing group

 5 shrink film

 6 transporter

 7 carriers

20 spraying device

21 Spray mist 30 Cooling device

31 cooling zone

32 wall sections

33 partitions

A transport direction

BS treatment course

E transport level

F1 first functional unit

F2 second functional unit

FP liquid level

L longitudinal axis

 MA central axis

MB mouth area

R1 ... R4 packaging series

WQ heat source

Q transverse axis

Claims

 claims 1 . Plant for producing packaging containers (3) from at least two packages (2) filled with a liquid filling material, which has a treatment line (BS) along which the packages (2) are transported and supplied  Packaging packages (3) are packaged, wherein a packaging container (3) contains at least two juxtaposed packages (2), comprising at least one first functional unit (F1) designed as a packaging unit for applying a shrink film (5) to the packages (2), the system (1) comprising at least one second functional unit (2) corresponding to the first functional unit (F1) is arranged downstream in a transport direction (A) and as a shrinking unit for shrinking the shrink film (5) applied in the packaging unit by heating, characterized in that the installation (1) in the transport direction (A) in front of the second functional unit (F2) at least one spraying device (20) and / or cooling device (30) for  Having the packaging (2) with a spray medium and / or cooling medium at least in its upper region. 2. Plant according to claim 1, characterized in that by means of at least one spraying device (20) and / or cooling device (30) of not liquid Filled material filled area of the packaging (2) with the spray medium and / or cooling medium can be acted upon. 3. Plant according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that by means of at least one spray device (20) and / or cooling device (30) at least from an upper mouth region (MB) of the respective packaging (2) to preferably 2 to 5 cm below a respective filling level (FP) of a appropriate packaging (2) can be acted upon with the spray medium and / or cooling medium. 4. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packages (2) before the first functional unit (F1) with the at least a spray device (20) and / or cooling device (30) can be acted upon by the spray medium and / or cooling medium. 5. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packages (2) in the region of the first functional unit (F1), in particular before the provision of a respective packaging group (4) with the shrink film (5), with the at least one spray device (20) and / or Cooling device (30) can be acted upon with the spray medium and / or cooling medium. 6. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packages (2) in the region of the first functional unit (F1), in particular after the provision of a respective packaging group (4) with the shrink film (5), and / or after the first functional unit (F1) and before the second functional unit (F2) with the at least one spray device (20) and / or cooling device (30) can be acted upon with the spray medium and / or cooling medium. 7. Plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one spray device (20) for generating a spray (21) is designed as a spray medium, wherein the packages (2) are acted upon at least in its upper region with the spray (21). 8. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one spray device (20) generated by the spray (21) in the direction of the respective along the treatment line (BS) in the transport direction (A) on at least one conveyor (6) promoted Packaging (2) is directed such that at least the respective upper portion of the spray (21) can be acted upon. 9. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that with respect to a transverse axis (Q) respectively outer packaging (2) of a packaging group formed from several rows of packaging (R1 ... R4) (4) along the treatment section (BS) in front of the second functional unit (F2), the spray mist (21) generated by the at least one spray device (20) can be acted upon in its respective upper region. 10. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one cooling device (30) for generating a cooling medium in the form of a gaseous cooling atmosphere, preferably cold air, is formed, wherein the packages (2) at least in its upper region with the gaseous cooling atmosphere can be acted upon. 1 1. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the second functional unit (F2) by means of a suction device resulting vapor of the heat of evaporation and / or condensation heat sucked and / or unattenuated air by means of a blower can be guided. 12. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one spraying device (20) in the elevation position and / or with respect to the exit angle or its inclination to the horizontal is adjustable, in particular motor-driven adjustable. 13. A method for producing packaging containers (3) from at least two packages (2) filled with a liquid product, in which the packages (2) are conveyed along a treatment line (BS) in a transport direction (A). transported and packaged in a packaging container (3), the packaging container (3) containing at least two juxtaposed packages (2), wherein at least one shrink film (5) is applied to the packages (2) in at least one first functional unit (F1), which is designed as a packaging unit, and wherein at least one second functional unit (2), that of the first Functional unit (F1) downstream in a transport direction (A) and as Shrinking unit, the shrinking film (5) applied in the packaging unit is shrunk by heating, characterized in that the packages (2) are at least in their upper region in the transport direction (A) in front of the second functional unit (F2) at least by means of a spray device (20) and / or cooling device (30) acted upon by a spray medium and / or cooling medium.