EP4166460A2 - Side edge folding device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a side edge folding station (12) for a packaging machine (10) for folding a side edge (70) of a paper packaging (64) surrounding a package (58) with a support (14) for the side edge (70) and a folding foot (18). for fixing the side edge (70) to the support (14) and a side edge folding device (34) arranged in the region of the support (14) and movable relative to the support for folding the fixed side edge (70), the side edge folding device (34) being set up for Raising the side edge (70) to carry out a movement with a vertical and a horizontal movement component.

Description

The invention relates to a side edge folding station for a packaging machine for folding a side edge of a (paper) packaging surrounding a package, with a support for the side edge and a folding foot for fixing the side edge on the support and a side edge folding device arranged in the region of the support and movable relative to the support for Folding of the fixed side edge.

There are ready-made envelopes or boxes for sending packages. If a package is to be shipped with such a mailing bag or box, the package must be inserted into a mailing bag, for example. The mailing bags are not optimally adapted to the size of the package. An alternative approach is to manufacture the envelope around the package to be shipped.

Since the postage is often based on the size and weight of the package or packaging to be sent, it is desirable to keep the size of the packaging within certain dimensions. You can save postage by choosing the right shipping method. One of the most popular formats in Germany is the so-called maxi letter. This is suitable for sending small goods of up to 1 kg. Objects such as clothing, hats, socks, mobile phones, etc. can also be sent in this way. A maxi letter may have a length of 10 - 35.3 cm, a width of 7 - 25 cm and a height of up to 5 cm.

If (paper) packaging is made around the package to be shipped, the side edges must be closed. The object of the present invention is to provide a side edge folding device and a packaging machine with such a side edge folding device with which one or two side edges of a package can be closed in a simple manner.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a side edge folding station for a packaging machine for folding a side edge of a (paper) packaging surrounding a package with a support for the side edge and a folding foot for fixing the side edge on the support and arranged in the region of the support relative to the support movable side edge folding device for folding the fixed side edge, wherein the side edge folding device is set up to perform a movement with a vertical and a horizontal movement component for erecting the side edge.

The opened side edge can thus first be fixed on the support by the folding foot. The side edge folding device can then carry out a superimposed vertical and horizontal movement and thereby erect the side edge around the folding foot, so that the side edge can then be folded over. A movement with a vertical and a horizontal movement component can, for example be circular motion. However, it can also be a linear movement oblique to the horizontal.

It is particularly preferred if the side edge folding device carries out a linear movement at an angle 0°<α<90° to the horizontal to erect the side edge. Such a linear movement can be implemented particularly easily. With such a movement, the side edge can be erected and folded toward the center of the package. This folding 0° < α < 90° has the advantage that the restoring force of the unfolded paper edge means that the folded paper does not want to wriggle out of the paper fold border that has arisen up to this point (seen on the left and right), but it is pressed into the paper fold border by the restoring force in. This allows the folding foot to be removed without the paper stretching out again.

Further advantages result when the folding foot is set up to perform a linear movement at an angle 0°<β<90° to the horizontal, where β<0. This measure can prevent the folding foot and the side edge folding device from colliding with one another. Since the side edge has a trace of glue, this can also prevent the folding foot from coming into contact with a trace of glue on the side edge when the side edge is upright.

According to a preferred embodiment, the side edge folding device can have a roller bar. A lower layer of paper at the edge of the page can be pushed up by the roller bar. The roller strip nestles the edge of the packaging around an edge of the folding foot. The use of a roller bar has the advantage over the use of a bar that the formation of creases on the side edge can be counteracted. In addition, the use of a roller bar can prevent the package from being offset when the side edge is formed.

The side edge folding device can have a bar which can be pivoted to press the folded side edge onto the support. The side edge can thus be pressed on by the bar, so that the side edge is glued.

Particularly preferably, the bar can have a flexible material, in particular rubber, on its underside. If there are any bumps at the edge of the page, e.g. due to the formation of folds or uneven application of adhesive, these bumps can be compensated for by the flexible material and reliable adhesion can still be ensured.

The roller bar can be arranged at one end of the beam. The diameter of the rollers and the position of the rollers of the roller bar can be chosen so that the roller bar is not in contact with the side edge when the side edge is pressed by means of the bar.

The side edge folding device can comprise two length-adjustable arms on which the beam is pivotally mounted. The pivoting movement of the beam can in particular be driven pneumatically. The length-adjustable arms can be telescopic.

It is particularly advantageous if the folding foot comprises a pivoting part which, in particular against a restoring force, can be pivoted relative to a folding foot base part. This measure allows the pivoting part to be pivoted in the direction of the center of the packaging and thus removed from the side edge, so that it is also ensured that the folding foot does not come into contact with a trace of adhesive on the side edge.

The support can be designed as a vacuum bar or include one. Thus, the side edge can be fixed on the support when the folding foot has been raised. This can prevent the packaging from shifting while the side edge is being pressed on.

A packaging machine with a side edge folding station according to the invention also falls within the scope of the invention. There is no waste when creating the packaging.

The machine can be designed to pack the largest possible package 35x25x5 (maxi letter). In the case of the packaging produced with the packaging machine according to the invention, the width specified here corresponds to the length and can, just like the height. be adjusted. The length of 10-35.3 cm specified here (the width in the case of the packaging produced with the packaging machine according to the invention) can be adjusted, for example, by changing the paper roll.

It can be single format packaging machine. In particular, there can be no adjustment option for the width of a package. However, the height of the packaging can be adjusted automatically by the paper placed around the package. The length of the packaging can be adjusted by the paper web deductions. A counter can be provided which counts the packed packages.

Example: The packaging machine creates 50 packages and they all fall into a lattice box at the back. 30 of them fall within the size spectrum of a maxi letter. If the machine in length z. B. is variable up to 450 mm, she packs the remaining 20 packages larger. The sender automatically knows how many packages he is sending and since the packaging machine counts how much postage he has to pay for how many packages.

It is particularly advantageous if the packaging machine has a surface head for the surface application of adhesive to a paper web. With a surface head, adhesive can be applied particularly easily to a paper web moving past it. A so-called PSA adhesive is particularly preferably applied in this case. Such an adhesive can be applied warm. It remains permanently adhesive until it is pressed on.

The surface head can be set up to apply two parallel, spaced-apart lines of adhesive. One line of glue can be used to glue an upper and a lower layer of paper together, with the package being placed between the lower and the upper layer of paper. The second, outer line of adhesive can be used to glue the folded side edge and thus to close the packaging.

It is particularly preferred if the distance between the surface head and a transport plane in which the paper web is transported can be adjusted. In this way, the surface head can be spaced apart from the paper web when the paper web is at a standstill because there is currently no package to be packed. This can prevent the paper web from becoming saturated with adhesive.

The surface head can be at a distance from a separating device that is set up to separate glued paper webs, which distance corresponds to the length of the smallest package to be packaged. The adhesive track is usually interrupted at the points where the paper webs are to be connected to one another. The shortest line of adhesive to be applied corresponds to the distance between the separating device and the surface head. The distance is preferably at least 8 cm. A larger distance would result in a much larger minimum packet.

1. a. Bereitstellen einer oberen und einer unteren Papierlage unterschiedlicher Breite in einer Verpackungsmaschine,
2. b. Aufbringen von zumindest einer Klebstoff- oder Leimspur in zumindest einem Randbereich einer der Papierlagen
3. c. Einführen eines zu verpackenden Gegenstandes zwischen die Papierlagen,
4. d. miteinander Verleimen oder Verkleben der Papierlagen hinter dem Gegenstand,
5. e. Zusammenbringen der Papierlagen so, dass ein Rand der breiteren Papierlage über die schmalere Papierlage übersteht,
6. f. Umfalten des überstehenden Rands der breiteren Papierlage und Verleimen oder Verkleben mit der schmaleren Papierlage mittels der zumindest einen in Schritt b. aufgebrachten Klebstoff- oder Leimspur.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing packaging, in particular paper packaging, with the steps:

1. a. Providing an upper and a lower paper layer of different widths in a packaging machine,
2. b. Application of at least one line of adhesive or glue in at least one edge area of one of the paper layers
3. c. inserting an object to be wrapped between the layers of paper,
4. i.e. gluing or gluing together the layers of paper behind the object,
5. e. Bringing the paper layers together in such a way that one edge of the wider paper layer protrudes over the narrower paper layer,
6. f. Folding over the protruding edge of the wider paper layer and gluing or gluing to the narrower paper layer using the at least one in step b. applied adhesive or glue line.

An adhesive with a long open time, in particular a permanently adhesive adhesive, is preferably used. It goes without saying that at least one line of adhesive or glue can be applied to two opposite sides of the wider paper ply and the wider paper ply can be folded onto the narrower paper ply. Before folding, the narrower paper layer can be pressed onto the wider paper layer. It is not absolutely necessary to connect the narrower paper layer to the wider paper layer before folding. It is even advantageous to proceed in this way, since larger objects can be packed with the same paper layer width. There is also a reduced risk of wrinkling.

Since the wider paper ply is folded over by more than 90°, the narrower paper ply is held by the folded edge of the wider paper ply and the narrower paper ply is prevented from detaching from the wider paper ply before the edge of the wider paper ply meets the narrower paper ply is glued.

In step d. the paper layers for a side edge of the next packaging to be produced in a packaging machine can be connected at the same time. The paper layers can therefore be glued or glued together in front of the next object.

Two paper webs can be fed to the packaging machine as upper and lower paper layers, with the front edges of the paper webs being brought together and glued or glued together in the transport direction of the paper webs.

Two parallel lines of glue or glue can be applied to the wider paper layer. The narrower paper ply can be glued or glued to the wider paper ply using the inner bead of glue or glue. The protruding edge of the wider paper layer can then be folded over and glued or glued to the narrower paper layer using the outer adhesive or glue line. This reliably seals the packaging.

The line of adhesive or glue is preferably applied before an object to be packaged is inserted, in particular before the paper layers are connected behind the inserted object. Furthermore, adhesive or glue is preferably only applied for the item currently to be packaged. Thus there is no data offset. A data offset could lead to problems in the event of malfunctions in the packaging machine, e.g. if glue or adhesive were applied for the 3rd or 4th item to be packaged. In such a case, all packaged goods (objects) that have already been measured would have to be cleared out of the system and placed again.

Traces of glue or adhesive are preferably applied to a web or sheet of paper that is still flat before it is folded over the object to be packaged. This applies in particular to traces of glue or adhesive that are applied to a lateral edge area of a paper web. Applying traces of glue or adhesive to a flat paper web requires particularly little effort.

The application of the traces of adhesive is preferably always carried out for the next object. A trace of adhesive can first be applied for the smallest object to be packaged, corresponding to the smallest intended package. If the next item to be packaged corresponds to the smallest item to be packaged, you can start with a gap and then apply the glue line for the smallest possible package. If the next item to be wrapped is larger than the smallest item to be wrapped, the glue trail may be extended then leave a gap and then apply a track corresponding to the smallest intended packaging for the next item.

A line of adhesive can always be applied first in a length that is suitable for the smallest possible packaging. If the next item to be wrapped is larger (longer) than the smallest possible item to be wrapped, the glue line can be lengthened accordingly. A gap may be left between traces of glue for consecutive items. The size of an item to be packaged can be specified or measured.

There are particular advantages when the adhesive is a permanently adhesive adhesive. If the glue for the smallest possible packaging is applied and no items are inserted for packaging for a long time, a normal glue with an open time would dry up and would no longer be usable. Empty packaging would have to be produced after each downtime of the system and this empty packaging would then have to be ejected.

Further advantages of the invention result from the description and the drawing. Likewise, the features mentioned above and those detailed below can be used according to the invention individually or collectively in any combination. The embodiments shown and described are not to be understood as an exhaustive list, but rather have an exemplary character for the description of the invention.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Verpackungsmaschine;

Fig. 2

zeigt die wesentlichen Teile einer Seitenrandfaltstation in einer Ansicht von vorne;

Fig. 3

zeigt die Seitenrandfaltstation, wobei die Faltfüße auf Auflager bewegt wurden;

Fig. 4

zeigt die Seitenrandfaltstation mit ausgefahrenen Rollenleisten;

Fig. 5

zeigt die Seitenrandfaltstation mit verschwenktem Schwenkteil der Faltfüße;

Fig. 6

zeigt die Seitenrandfaltstation mit nach oben verlagerten Faltfüßen;

Fig. 7

zeigt die Seitenrandfaltstation mit verschwenkten Balken einer Seitenrandfalteinrichtung;

Fig. 8

zeigt die Anordnung eines Flächenkopfs;

Fig. 9

zeigt in vergrößerter schematischer Ansicht eine Schnittdarstellung durch den linken Rand einer Verpackung vor der Formung eines Seitenrands;

Fig.10a - c

zeigen stark schematisiert die Verfahrensschritte zur Formung eines gefalteten Seitenrands.

The individual figures show:

1

shows a perspective view of a packaging machine;

2

shows the essential parts of a side edge folding station in a front view;

3

shows the side edge folding station with the folding feet moved onto supports;

4

shows the side edge folding station with extended roller bars;

figure 5

shows the side edge folding station with pivoted pivoting part of the folding feet;

6

shows the side edge folding station with the folding feet shifted upwards;

7

shows the side edge folding station with pivoted bars of a side edge folding device;

8

shows the arrangement of a surface head;

9

Figure 12 shows, in enlarged schematic view, a sectional view through the left edge of a package prior to formation of a side edge;

Fig.10a - c

show highly schematized the process steps for forming a folded side edge.

In the 1 The (paper) packaging machine 10 shown for packaging a package in a package made of an upper paper layer and a lower paper layer, the upper paper layer being narrower than the lower paper layer, has a connecting and separating device 11 and a side edge folding station 12. In the joining and separating device 11, an upper and lower layer of paper are glued together so that a paper curtain is formed. The connected paper layers are pulled in a transport direction by a pull-off device, so that a package to be packaged can be introduced between the paper layers. Then the layers of paper behind the package halfway through the Connecting and disconnecting device 11 glued together. The layers of paper are then separated so that the package is enclosed in a kind of banderole by the layers of paper except for two sides and a new curtain of paper is available for packaging a new package.

The 2 shows the essential parts of the side edge folding station 12 in a front view. Only the left half 13 of the side edge folding station 12 is described below. The left half 13 is used to form a left side edge, the right half 15 of the side folding station 12 is used to form a right side edge and is constructed analogously. Between the halves 13, 15 a conveyor belt, not shown here, is arranged, with which a side-opened package can be transported into the side edge folding station 12.

The side edge folding device 12 has a support 14 which includes a vacuum bar 16 , it being possible for the vacuum bar 16 to be integrated into the support 14 . A folding foot 18 is arranged above the support 14 . The folding foot 18 has a base part 20 and a pivoting part 22 which can be pivoted about the axis 24 . The pivoting movement is limited by two stops 26,28. The pivoting part 22 is pivoted against the restoring force of a spring, not shown here. The pivoting part 22 of the folding foot 18 has a folding edge 30 . The folding foot 18 is in the direction of the double arrow 32, d. H. inclined to the horizontal, movable. The folding foot 18 can perform a linear movement in the direction of the double arrow 32 . The movement has a horizontal and a vertical movement component. The linear movement takes place at an angle β to the horizontal.

The side edge drop station 12 also has a side edge folding device 34 . The side edge folding device 34 comprises a beam 36, at the end of which a roller bar 38 is arranged. The roller bar 38 can be adjusted in the direction of the double arrow 40 . The movement therefore includes a vertical and a horizontal movement component. In particular, the roller bar 38 can be adjusted at an angle to the horizontal. The direction of movement according to the double arrow 40 is at an angle α to the horizontal, where α>β.

According to the representation of 3 the folding foot 18 was moved obliquely downwards, so that the folding foot 18 rests on the support 14 and thereby fixes a side edge of a packaging, not shown here. The side edge of the packaging protrudes to the left beyond the roller strip 38.

According to the 4 the roller bar 38 was moved obliquely upwards. As a result, the overhanging side edge of the packaging is erected and partially folded around the folded edge 30 of the folding foot 18 .

As a result, the figure 5 pivoting member 22 pivots counterclockwise so that it is moved away from the partially folded side edge of the package. In particular, the pivoting part 22 is pivoted in the direction of the center of the packaging. This can ensure that when the folding foot 18 is shifted upwards at an angle, as is shown in FIG 6 is shown, contact of the folding foot 18 with a trace of adhesive on the folded edge of the packaging is avoided. In the situation of 6 the side edge of the packaging is fixed by the vacuum strip 16, so that the packaging, the side edge of which is not yet completely folded over, remains in place.

In the Fig.7 it can be seen that the bar 36 has been pivoted about the axis of rotation 42 and thereby presses the folded side edge onto the support 14 . This results in a gluing of the side edge. On the underside, the bar 36 has a layer 44 of flexible material, such as rubber. In the 7 It can further be seen that the side edge folder 34 has arms 46 with respect to which the beam 36 is pivotable. For this purpose, the beam 36 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 48 at one end. The adjustment of the folding foot 18 in the direction of the double arrow 32 and the roller bar 38 in the direction of the double arrow 40 can also be done pneumatically.

The 8 shows part of the paper packaging machine 10 including the separating device 11 according to FIG 1 . In particular, here is a surface head 50 for applying glue. The area head 50 can put traces of adhesive on a paper web 52 which is fed from below. The distance between the surface head 50 and the paper web 52 can be adjusted, in particular perpendicularly to a transport plane of the paper web 52. As long as the paper web 52 is not being moved, the surface head 50 can be removed from the paper web 52 in order to ensure that the paper web 52 is saturated with adhesive impede. Furthermore, in the 8 to recognize that a paper web 54 is fed from above, wherein the paper webs can be glued together at a point 56. This creates a paper curtain. In addition, a separation is carried out at point 56 after the gluing. A package 58 to be wrapped can be placed between the paper webs 52,54. If the connected paper webs 52, 54 are pulled off to the right, the paper webs 52, 54 can be connected again after the package 58 has passed through, so that the package 58 is virtually surrounded by a banderole.

The distance from point 56 to surface head 50 corresponds to the shortest length of a package 58 to be packed.

The 9 Figure 12 shows a partial section through a package before folding a side edge. In particular, the lower paper layer 52 and the upper paper layer 54 can be seen, between which the package 58 to be packaged is arranged. On the lower layer of paper 52 there are two traces of adhesive 60, 62 applied by the area head 50, which are spaced apart from one another. The upper paper layer 54 is narrower than the lower paper layer 52. The upper paper layer 54 is connected to the lower paper layer 52 via the adhesive line 62. The adhesive of the adhesive tracks 60, 62 is a permanently adhesive adhesive that is adhesive until it is pressed on. It is pressed on via the folding foot 18. The fact that the traces of glue 60, 62 are at a distance from one another can prevent the outermost end of the paper layer 54 from also being glued to the lower paper layer 52. This can facilitate the subsequent folding of the side edge. The adhesive track 62 can be omitted. When folding the bottom In the paper layer 52, the upper paper layer 54 can be held in position by the edge of the lower paper layer 52 folded over by more than 90°.

The Figures 10a - 10c show the processes for forming a page border again in a highly schematic representation. The Figure 10a FIG. 12 shows a front plan view of the package 64 formed from the layers of paper 52,54. At the front end is a front side edge 66 which is formed at 56 ( 8 ) was formed by gluing the top and bottom paper layers 52, 54 together. The packaging 64, in which the packaged item 58 to be packaged is already located, lies on a conveyor belt 68. The side edge 70 rests on the support 14 and is fixed from above by the folding foot 18 . In particular, the folding foot 18 firmly clamps the side edge 70 onto the support 14 . The side edge 70 extends beyond the roller bar 38.

According to the Figure 10b the roller strip 38 is then moved obliquely upwards in the direction of arrow 41, as a result of which the side edge 70 is folded around the folding edge 30. Following this, the pivoting part 22 can pivot in the direction of the arrow 72 so that it is removed from the adhesive track 60 . The folding foot 18 can then be moved in the direction of the arrow 31 or superimposed. Contact of the folding foot 18 with the trace of adhesive 60 can also be avoided by this movement. In order to prevent the side edge 70 from detaching from the support 14 , the side edge 70 can be fixed via the vacuum strip 16 .

In the process step according to Figure 10c bar 36 is pivoted to align side edge 70 with adhesive line 60 on top of top paper ply 54 at location 72 (see Fig 9 ) to glue.

Claims (15)

Side edge folding station (12) for a packaging machine (10) for folding a side edge (70) of a (paper) packaging (64) surrounding a package, with a support (14) for the side edge and a folding foot (18) for fixing the side edge (70 ) on the support (14) and a side edge folding device (34) arranged in the region of the support (14) and movable relative to the support (14) for folding the fixed side edge (70), characterized in that the side edge folding device (34) is set up for Raising the side edge (70) to carry out a movement with a vertical and a horizontal movement component. Side edge folding station according to Claim 1, characterized in that the side edge folding device (34) performs a linear movement at an angle of 0°<α<90° to the horizontal in order to erect the side edge (70). Side edge folding station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding foot (18) is set up to perform a linear movement at an angle 0°<β<90° to the horizontal, where β<α. Side edge folding station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side edge folding device (34) has a beam (36) which can be pivoted to press the folded side edge (70) onto the support (14). Side edge folding station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bar (36) has a flexible material (44), in particular rubber, on its underside. Side edge folding station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side edge folding device (34) comprises two length-adjustable arms (46) on which the beam (36) is pivotably mounted. Side edge folding station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the folding foot (18) comprises a pivoting part (22) which can be pivoted relative to a folding foot base part (20), in particular against a restoring force. Side edge folding station according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support (14) is designed as a vacuum bar (16) or includes one. Packaging machine (10) with a side edge folding station (12) according to one of the preceding claims. Packaging machine according to Claim 9, characterized in that the packaging machine has a surface head (50) for the surface application of adhesive to a paper web (52). Packaging machine according to Claim 10, characterized in that the surface head (50) is set up to apply two parallel, spaced adhesive tracks (60, 62). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the flat head (50) is adjustable in its distance from a transport plane in which the paper web (52) is transported. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surface head (50) to a Separating device, which is set up to separate paper webs, has a distance which corresponds to the length of the smallest package (58) to be packed. Method for producing packaging (64), in particular paper packaging, with the steps: a. Providing an upper and a lower paper layer of different widths in a packaging machine (10), b. Application of at least one line of adhesive or glue (60, 62) in at least one edge area of one of the paper layers c. inserting an object to be wrapped between the layers of paper, i.e. gluing or gluing together the layers of paper behind the object, e. Bringing the paper layers together in such a way that one edge of the wider paper layer protrudes over the narrower paper layer, f. Folding over the protruding edge of the wider paper layer and gluing or gluing to the narrower paper layer using the at least one in step b. applied adhesive or glue line (60, 62). Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that two paper webs are fed to the packaging machine as upper and lower paper layers, the front edges of the paper webs in the transport direction of the paper webs being brought together and glued together.

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