# US 10,246,206 B2 · Method and apparatus for packaging groups of articles which are combined to form packaging units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,206 B2 - Document ID: US10246206B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/423,521 - Filed: 2013-08-08 - Published: 2015-07-02 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-24 - Assignees: KHS GmbH - Applicants: KHS GmbH - Inventors: Bernd Cox; Michael Jörissen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246206B2 ## CPC - B65B 51/20: by fluid pressure acting directly on folds or on opposed surfaces, e.g. using hot-air jets (shrinking wrappers by heating B65B53/02) - B65B 11/12: and then to form closing folds of similar form at opposite ends of the tube - B65B 43/10: by folding the material - B65B 49/08: Reciprocating or oscillating folders - B65B 51/10: Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof {(welding of plastics per se B29C65/02; closing plastic tube ends in general B29C57/10)} - B65B 51/14: by reciprocating or oscillating members (B65B51/148 takes precedence) - B65B 53/02: by heat - B65B 53/063: {Tunnels} - B65B 11/004: {in blanks, e.g. sheets precut and creased for folding } - B65B 51/02: Applying adhesives or sealing liquids - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract A method for packaging groups of articles to form packaging units, includes sheathing a packaging unit with a film as it moves in a running direction on a transporting path by simultaneously forming a film cover and flaps projecting beyond the packaging unit along a direction perpendicular to the running direction, and positioning the flaps against the packaging unit as the packaging unit moves through a folding unit, fixing the flaps, and forming a film wrapper that is closed on all sides of the packaging unit. A preliminary-fixing step, which includes positioning the flaps in relation to one another, and initially fixing the flaps by generating heat, and exposing the flaps to the heat, follows. This is followed by a definitive-fixing step that includes exposing the packaging unit, as a whole, to generated heat. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising packaging groups of articles to form packaging units, wherein packaging said groups comprises receiving a packaging unit that has been wrapped by a piece of film over a top thereof while moving in a running direction on a transporting path during which said packaging unit passes over a front of said piece of film, wherein said packaging unit stands on overlapping ends of said piece of film thereby causing said piece of film to simultaneously form a film cover and flaps, wherein said flaps project beyond said packaging unit along opposite transverse directions that are perpendicular to said running direction, positioning said flaps against said packaging unit as said packaging unit moves through a folding unit, executing a preliminary-fixing step, and executing a definitive-fixing step, thereby forming a film wrapper that is closed on all sides of said packaging unit, wherein executing said preliminary-fixing step comprises passing said packaging unit between parallel heat-sources of a preliminary-fixing unit, moving said parallel heat sources along a path that extends along said running direction, and supplying an air current that applies heat to said flaps and that mechanically loads said flaps so that said flaps are reciprocally positioned and oriented relative to said packaging unit, thereby initially fixing said flaps, and wherein executing a definitive-fixing step comprises exposing said packaging unit, as a whole, to generated heat after having initially fixed said flaps. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein executing said preliminary-fixing step comprises at least partially laminating said flaps. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein at least partially laminating said flaps comprises exposing said flaps to said heat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein at least partially laminating said flaps comprises exposing said flaps to said parallel heat sources, wherein said parallel heat sources move along said running direction and, after having moved along said path that extends in said running direction, move along said path against said running direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein at least partially laminating said flaps comprises using a clamping element for laminating said flaps, wherein said clamping element holds said flaps such that said flaps lie against said packaging unit in a position imposed by said folding unit as said packaging unit moves through said preliminary-fixing unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein using a clamping element comprises using a clamping element that is arranged on both sides and parallel to said running direction, wherein, as said packaging unit moves through said preliminary-fixing unit, said clamping element holds said flaps such that said flaps lie against said packaging unit in a position imposed by said folding unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein executing said preliminary-fixing step comprises executing said preliminary-fixing step after said packaging unit has passed through said folding unit and before said packaging unit has entered said definitive-fixing unit, wherein said packaging unit moves in said running direction during said preliminary-fixing step and also during said definitive-fixing step. ### Claim 8 An apparatus comprising a definitive-fixing unit towards which groups of articles that have been combined to form a packaging unit move along a transporting path that leads into said definitive fixing-unit, wherein said definitive-fixing unit is configured for applying heat to said packaging unit as a whole and for definitively fixing flaps of a film cover that surrounds said packaging unit using at least said heat, wherein, when said packaging unit is received by the definitive-fixing unit after having been moved on said transporting path in a running direction thereof, said packaging unit has been covered by a film as a result of having been caused to pass over a front of said piece of film, said piece of film having been wrapped over a top of said packaging unit, wherein said packaging unit is standing on overlapping ends of said piece of film thereby causing said piece of film to simultaneously form a film cover and flaps that project beyond said packaging unit in opposite transverse directions that are perpendicular to said transporting path, wherein said apparatus comprises a fixing device and a folding unit that is separate from said fixing device, wherein said folding unit is configured for positioning said flaps against said packaging unit as said packaging unit passes through said folding unit towards said fixing device, wherein said folding unit is disposed upstream from said fixing device in said running direction, wherein said fixing device is configured to fix said flaps to each other, wherein said fixing device comprises a preliminary-fixing unit and said definitive-fixing unit, wherein said preliminary-fixing unit comprises a moving heat source that moves in a longitudinal direction parallel to said running direction and a source of an air current, wherein said source of an air current is configured for applying heat to said flaps that project in opposite transverse directions for preliminary fixing of said flaps to each other and for mechanically loading said flaps, and wherein said source of an air current is further configured for reciprocal positioning and orientation of said flaps relative to said packaging unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said preliminary-fixing unit is positioned downstream of said folding unit in said running direction, and wherein said definitive-fixing unit is positioned downstream of said preliminary-fixing unit in said running direction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said definitive-fixing unit is configured to supply energy to said moving heat source. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said moving heat source of said preliminary-fixing unit extends into said definitive-fixing unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said preliminary-fixing unit is configured to mechanically load said flaps and wherein said preliminary-fixing unit is further configured to expose said flaps to heat concurrently with loading said flaps. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said preliminary-fixing unit comprises a clamping element, wherein said clamping element is configured for mechanically loading said flap, and wherein said clamping element is further configured for reciprocal positioning and orientation of said flap relative to said packaging unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said preliminary-fixing unit comprises a clamping element, wherein said apparatus further comprising a coating, wherein said coating is oriented to face said flaps, wherein said coating is disposed on said clamping element, and wherein said coating suppresses adhesion between said clamping element. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said definitive-fixing unit is disposed downstream of said preliminary-fixing unit along the transporting path in said running direction such that said packaging unit enters said definitive-fixing unit as said packaging unit leaves said preliminary-fixing unit and such that only after said packaging unit has passed through said preliminary-fixing unit does said packaging unit enter said definitive-fixing unit. ### Claim 16 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said preliminary-fixing unit comprises a rotating tape that, after having been heated, reradiates heat for laminating said flaps. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said rotating tape is configured to move at the same speed as said packaging unit along said running direction.