Method and device for packaging sanitary articles

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for packaging sanitary articles such as absorbent articles, like diapers, sanitary napkins, panty liners, incontinence pads or similar, wherein by means of at least one diverter ( 10 ) batches (A, B, C, D) of articles ( 5 ) are alternately directed towards M packaging arrangements ( 11, 12 ), each batch (A, B, C, D) comprising at least one article ( 5 ), and wherein the diverter ( 10 ) alternately directs batches (A, B, C, D) of articles ( 5 ) towards the packaging arrangements ( 11, 12 ) in a repeated series of M×N batches (A-C-B-D), with N>=2, wherein at least two of the N batches(A, B) of one series of M×N batches (A-C-B-D) directed towards the first packaging arrangement ( 11 ) differ in count.

1 . device for packaging sanitary articles comprising at least one diverter and M packaging arrangements arranged downstream of the diverter, with M>=2, wherein each packaging arrangement comprises a grouping device and at least one packaging device, and wherein by means of the at least one diverter batches (A, B, C, D) of articles are alternately directed towards the packaging arrangements, each batch (A, B, C, D) comprising at least one article,
 wherein a control unit is provided by means of which the at least one diverter is controllable for alternately directing batches (A, B, C, D) of articles towards the packaging arrangements in a repeated series of M×N batches (A-C-B-D), with N>=2, wherein at least two of the N batches (A, B) of articles of one series of M×N batches (A-C-B-D) directed towards the first packaging arrangement are settable to differ in count.   
     
     
         2 . The device for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a first packaging arrangement of the M packaging arrangements comprises at least two packaging devices or at least one dual lane packaging device, wherein preferably the M packaging arrangements each comprise at least two packaging devices or at least one dual lane packaging device. 
     
     
         3 . The device for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises two packaging arrangements arranged downstream of one associated diverter. 
     
     
         4 . The device for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the grouping devices of at least one of the M packaging arrangements is a stacker comprising a conveyor with a number of pockets for receiving individual articles. 
     
     
         5 . The device for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 4 , wherein at the stacker successive batches of the same series of batches (A-C-B-D) are separated by one or more empty pocket(s). 
     
     
         6 . The device for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 4 , wherein at the stacker successive batches of the successive series of batches (A-C-B-D) are separated by one or more empty pocket(s). 
     
     
         7 . The device for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 1 , wherein the grouping devices of at least one of the M packaging arrangements is a stacker comprising a conveyor with a number of compartments for batches (A, B, C, D) of articles. 
     
     
         8 . A method for packaging sanitary articles, wherein by means of at least one diverter batches (A, B, C, D) of articles are alternately directed towards M packaging arrangements, each batch (A, B, C, D) comprising at least one article,
 wherein the diverter alternately directs batches (A, B, C, D) of articles towards the M packaging arrangements in a repeated series of M×N batches (A-C-B-D), with N>=2, wherein at least two of the N batches (A, B) of one series of M×N batches (A-C-B-D) directed towards the first packaging arrangement differ in count.   
     
     
         9 . The method for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 8 , wherein at least at a first packaging arrangement of the M packaging arrangements articles are packaged using at least two packaging devices or at least one dual lane packaging device, wherein in particular at each of the M packaging arrangements articles are packaged using at least two packaging devices or at least one dual lane packaging device. 
     
     
         10 . The method for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 8 , wherein at least two of the N batches of one series of M×N batches of articles directed towards different ones of the M packaging arrangements differ in count. 
     
     
         11 . The method for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 8 , wherein at least at one of the M packaging arrangements articles are grouped by means of a stacker comprising a conveyor with a number of pockets for receiving individual articles. 
     
     
         12 . The method for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 11 , wherein at the stacker successive batches (A, B) of the same series of batches (A-C-B-D) are separated by one or more empty pocket(s). 
     
     
         13 . The method for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 11 , wherein at the stacker successive batches (A, B) of articles of successive series of batches (A-C-B-D) are separated by one or more empty pocket(s). 
     
     
         14 . The method for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 8 , wherein at least at one of the M packaging arrangements articles are grouped by means of a stacker comprising a conveyor with a number of compartments for receiving batches (A, B, C, D) of articles. 
     
     
         15 . The device for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 4 , wherein the conveyor is a closed-loop circulating conveyor. 
     
     
         16 . The method for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 11 , wherein the conveyor is a closed-loop circulating conveyor. 
     
     
         17 . The method for packaging sanitary articles according to  claim 14 , wherein the conveyor is a closed-loop circulating conveyor.