Method of removing cardboard packaging from a packed food product

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of removing a cardboard packaging from a packed food product, wherein the cardboard packaging comprises a base layer, a top layer and a side wall arrangement; and wherein the top layer is provided at at least three sides with folding flaps which are each folded along a folding edge onto corresponding sides of the side wall arrangement and are adhesively bonded thereto at a respective at least one adhesion point. The folding flaps are each severed between the folding edge and the adhesion point in order thus to release the top layer from the side wall arrangement at the corresponding sides. The released top layer is folded open or removed to create a removal opening for the packed food product. The food product is removed from the cardboard packaging through the removal opening.

1 . A method of removing a cardboard packaging from a food product, wherein the cardboard packaging comprises a base layer, a top layer, and a side wall arrangement which is formed by closed side walls and/or by flaps; and wherein the top layer is provided at at least three sides with folding flaps which are each folded along a folding edge onto corresponding sides of the side wall arrangement and are adhesively bonded thereto at at least one respective adhesion point, wherein the method comprises the steps:
 severing the folding flaps in each case between the folding edge and the adhesive point in order thus to release the top layer from the side wall arrangement at the corresponding sides;   folding open or removing the released top layer to create a removal opening for the packed food product; and   removing the food product from the cardboard packaging through the removal opening.   
     
     
         2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the folding flaps are each severed along a separating line or separating curve which is spaced apart both from the folding edge and from the adhesion point along its total extent.   
     
     
         3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein respective folding flaps are only severed at three sides of the top layer, while the top layer is left in a state connected to the corresponding side of the side wall arrangement at the remaining side, with the top layer released at three sides being folded open along the remaining side.   
     
     
         4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the top layer is released from the side wall arrangement at a long side and at two opposite transverse sides which are shorter than the long side.   
     
     
         5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the folding flaps are each severed at least 15 mm remote from the folding edge.   
     
     
         6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the folding flaps are severed at the same height.   
     
     
         7 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the folding flaps are cut through by means of a cutting blade arrangement, with either   the cutting depth being selected to be as large as a nominal thickness of the respective folding flap; or   the cutting depth being selected to be larger by a safety margin than the nominal thickness of the respective folding flap, with the safety margin being smaller than a nominal thickness of the side wall arrangement.   
     
     
         8 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the food product is gripped by means of a suction gripper for removal from the cardboard packaging and is pulled out of the cardboard packaging while the latter is fixed.   
     
     
         9 . The method in accordance with  claim 8 ,
 wherein, to fix the cardboard packaging, it can itself be held fast and/or a stiffening insert arranged in the cardboard packaging and gripping around the food product in the region of the side wall arrangement is held fast.   
     
     
         10 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cardboard packaging, including the packed food product, is turned about a horizontal axis after the folding open or removal of the released top layer and the cardboard packaging is pulled off from the food product.   
     
     
         11 . The method in accordance with  claim 1 ,
 wherein a stiffening insert arranged in the cardboard packaging and engaging around the food product in the region of the side wall arrangement is removed from the cardboard packaging through the removal opening and is supplied to a further processing.   
     
     
         12 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the removal of the packaging insert takes place after the removal of the food product from the cardboard packaging. 
     
     
         13 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 ,
 wherein the removed stiffening insert is made available for a reuse.   
     
     
         14 . The method in accordance with  claim 11 ,
 wherein the stiffening insert is gripped by means of an object gripper arrangement for removing from the cardboard packaging and is pulled out of the cardboard packaging while holding the latter fast.   
     
     
         15 . The method in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the stiffening insert is gripped in the region of an intermediate space of the side wall arrangement formed between two flaps.   
     
     
         16 . The method in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the stiffening insert, which is designed as an open sleeve with four folded wall sections, is gripped at at least two wall sections.   
     
     
         17 . The method in accordance with  claim 16 ,
 wherein the stiffening insert is first only gripped at two wall sections extending in parallel with one another and is pulled into a predefined handling position, with the stiffening insert additionally being gripped at a third wall section after reaching the handling position and being completely pulled out of the cardboard packaging at at least three wall sections.   
     
     
         18 . The method in accordance with  claim 17 ,
 wherein the stiffening insert is additionally gripped at a third wall section which is not connected to the adjacent wall section at one side.   
     
     
         19 . The method in accordance with  claim 14 ,
 wherein the stiffening insert is unfolded by means of the object gripper arrangement and is placed down as a planar material layer.   
     
     
         20 . An apparatus for removing a cardboard packaging from a packed food product, comprising
 a cutting blade arrangement for cutting through predefined layers of the cardboard packaging; at least one handling apparatus for the controlled movement and/or handling of the cardboard packaging and, optionally, of the food product; and a control device connected to the cutting blade arrangement and to the handling apparatus,   wherein the apparatus is configured for carrying out a method in accordance with  claim 1 .