DE102011054994A1 - Container with carrying handle, method and apparatus for producing such containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a container (10) with carrying handle (12), which comprises at least two articles (14) which are at least partially enveloped and held together by means of a shrink film (20), band or the like outer package (18). The carrying handle (12) is fixed to contact points (22) on outer sides of articles (14), which contact points (22) at least partially coincide with recesses (24) in the outer packaging (18). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing such containers (10) and an apparatus for producing containers (10) with carrying handle (12).

Description

The present invention relates to a container with handle with the features of claim 1, a method for producing such containers with the features of method claim 6 and an apparatus for producing containers with handle with the features of claim 11.

For the purpose of transport beverage containers are usually summarized in handy containers with four, six or more containers, the container in these containers, for example. Wrapped with shrink film and can be held together. For ease of handling, containers with such so-called disposable secondary packaging made of PE shrink film or the like often carry handles made of flexible material, for example of sufficiently stable film, cardboard, paper, plastics such as PVC or mixed materials, if necessary with a paper and / or cardboard reinforced handle area. The handle strips can be fixed with their ends to the side surfaces of the container, for example by welding or gluing. For this purpose, the ends of the carrying handle may optionally have self-adhesive areas.

For such an arrangement to have sufficient mechanical stability in the manual handling of the container, not only the carrying handle must have the required load capacity, but also the connection points to the container and its envelope to which the carrying handle is fixed. That is, the wrap-around shrink wrap must have sufficient stretch and tear strength so that when handling the pack with the carry handle, the wrapper film can not overstretch and / or rupture. Since with increasing measures to reduce costs and in the interest of resource conservation in practice ever thinner packaging films with film thicknesses of 25 microns or less are used, the mechanical strength of the films enters critical areas. To tear out the carrying handles in containers with a total of six PET beverage containers á 1.5 ltr. To prevent reliable, film thicknesses of at least 40 microns are usually required. From such a reinforcing measure, however, results in a multiple use of film material of about 60 percent by weight, which is solely due to the fact that the film has at and in the vicinity of the connection points to the handle over a sufficient mechanical stability for the handling of the container.

The DE 693 11 338 T2 discloses a multi-pack for containers, in particular for beverage containers in a single group, in which the containers are held together by means of a plastic band. A flexible carrying handle is fixed to the outsides of the multi-pack, wherein the connecting points each form and cover a region in which the carrying handle ends are fixed to both the band and the container shell surfaces.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a container with handle with several held together by a film or outer packaging articles and a method and apparatus for producing such containers are available, in which / despite the use of a thin film or outer packaging as possible sufficient mechanical stability can be ensured in connection with the fixation of the handle ends on the container outside.

Said object of the invention is achieved with the objects of the independent claims. Features of advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the respective dependent claims. Thus, in order to achieve the stated object, the invention proposes a container with a carrying handle which is formed from at least two articles or comprises two or more articles which are at least partially enveloped and held together by means of a shrink film, a band or similar outer packaging. The carrying handle is fixed at defined contact points on outer sides of the articles, in particular on outer sides of at least two oppositely arranged articles of the container. These contact points coincide at least partially with recesses in the outer packaging, so that the contact points either pass through the recesses and at least partially touch the edges of the recess or are spaced from the edges of the recess and do not touch them. With such a fixation of the handle on the articles, the wrapping outer packaging is relieved of tensile forces and completely freed, which are transmitted to the handle when carrying the container on the handle and would lead to a high point loads in an anchored to the outer handle carrying handles to the point breakage, tearing or general failure or partial failure of the wrapping film or outer packaging.

As a handle material different plastic and / or composite materials in question, for example. A PET material of sufficient strength, which has a flexibility and possibly a longitudinal elasticity that allows a comfortable one-handed gripping and carrying the container on the handle. In addition, the handle material may have a paper or cardboard reinforcement and self-adhesive surfaces on the handle ends. Typical containers of this type may, for example, have four or six beverage containers which can be replaced by means of shrinkable film or by means of other outer packaging such as For example, tubular enclosures held together and combined into a transportable container.

The contact points can be formed in particular by splices between the lateral surfaces of the article and the carrying handle. Optionally, the contact points may be substantially limited to the recesses so that they do not touch the outer packaging and thus do not extend into the edges of the recess. In this case, the outer packaging, foil, shrink film o. The like. Completely free of tensile loads when the container is lifted on the carrying handle. However, variants are also possible in which the contact points extend at least partially into the outer packaging or edges of their recesses, so that the contact points comprise the edges of the recesses or at least partially overlap with the edges of the recesses.

Optionally, the contact or splice can be formed over the entire surface or comprise multiple adhesive dots per contact point. In addition, the recesses may correspond substantially to the dimensions of the contact surfaces or may be slightly smaller than these, so that the fixed regions of the carrying handle extend at the edges of the recesses into the outer packaging. Alternatively, variants are conceivable in which the recesses are substantially larger than the contact points or contact surfaces, so that the recesses can, for example, each form a so-called. Foil eye, which has arisen by wrapping the grouped into a container article about a horizontal transverse axis.

The invention further comprises a method for producing containers with a carrying handle, in which at least two articles are at least partially enveloped and held together by means of a shrink film, band or the like. Moreover, in the method, the carrying handle is fixed to contact points on outer sides of articles. These contact points at least partially coincide with recesses in the outer packaging or film wrapping. The film or the outer packaging may have, for example, so-called film eyes which leave parts of the articles free, so that the carrying handle ends can be fixed or glued to the exposed article lateral surfaces which simultaneously form the side surfaces of the container.

In a first variant of the method according to the invention, the film or outer packaging may be provided with recesses. These recesses can be introduced, for example, immediately after the unwinding of the film from an endless supply and before the wrapping of the articles, for example by a mechanical or optical punching process such as, for example, a laser cutting process. During the film transport, the carrying handle can be applied with its ends over the recesses introduced into the film with at least partial covering or covering of the recesses on the film or outer packaging, after which the articles are then wrapped with the film or outer packaging. In this variant of the method, the carrying handle adheres to the prepunched foil, so that the fixing or gluing of the carrying handle then extends through the punched-out portions to the article-covering surface. Alternatively, a pre-cut film can be unwound from the film supply, which already has the provided recesses.

In a second variant of the method, the film or outer packaging can also be initially provided with recesses, for example by laser or punching, after which the articles are wrapped with the film or outer packaging and then the carrying handle by contacting the recesses on the lateral surfaces of the articles, i. on the wrapped container, is applied. Optionally, in this case too, a pre-cut film can be unwound from the film supply, which already has the recesses provided.

A third variant of the method according to the invention provides that the articles are first wrapped with the film or outer packaging, after which the outer packaging is provided with recesses, which can be done, for example, by mechanical punching or laser after applying the film. Subsequently, the carrying handle can be made by contacting the recesses on the lateral surfaces of the articles, i. on the finished container, to be applied.

If, for example, shrink wrap is used as the outer packaging, then it may already have the required recesses prior to the wrapping of the articles. After wrapping the articles is usually the shrinking of the film under the action of heat, after which the carrying handle can be applied, for example, in the region of the remaining film eye to the article jacket surfaces. In such a variant of the method, the articles may, for example, be enveloped by means of a film wrapping module in the conveying direction in the conveying direction with a film provided by an endless supply, so that containers are formed with recesses arranged laterally in the conveying direction on opposite outer sides. During further transport, the containers can be rotated by about 90 ° or 270 ° about a vertical axis or at an angle of 90 or 270 ° transversely to the conveying direction, so that the carrying handle under contact with the recessed, in the conveying direction front and arranged at the back Container outside can be applied. In this process variant can be used as wrapping for example shrink film, adhesive film or a thin and stretchy, well-adherent film web as a wrapper for the article to form film packs as outer packaging. Essential in this variant of the application method for the carrying handles is the rotation of the container, whereby the so-called. Foil eye is directed in or against the direction of the transported container, which would not exist after wrapping by means of a wrapping module. For this purpose, the containers can, for example, be rotated by 90 or 270 degrees about their vertical axis.

Finally, the present invention comprises an apparatus for carrying out a method for producing containers with carrying handles according to one of the previously described embodiments. The apparatus comprises a transport path for conveying article groups and a film wrapping module for wrapping the article groups with a stretchable and / or heat shrinkable film from a film supply to form film packs provided with recesses on at least two opposite side surfaces of the packs. Furthermore, the device comprises an application device for applying carrying handles while fixing the carrying handle ends in the region of the recesses.

By partially or completely bonding the carrying handle with the containers themselves instead of the wrapping film, the power flow during lifting of the container does not run from the carrying handle over the film to the container, but directly between the handle and container. The handle strength is thus independent of the film strength with this arrangement, so that optionally even very thin film can be used. With the same function, the material used on film or secondary packaging can thus be significantly reduced. The carrying capacity of the handle is also significantly increased. The containers can be manufactured and processed with conventional machines without significant conversion. In load tests, it has been found that packages made in such a way with shrink film secondary packagings were also to be loaded with film thicknesses of 25 μm with a high number of load cycles without the compound and / or the film failing, whereas with conventional connection systems hardly a lifting of the container without tearing of the film was to be realized.

Furthermore, the connection technique according to the invention between handle and container has the advantage that all types of imprints, images, structuring, etc., which are located on the outer packaging or the shrink film and may be aligned and positioned with respect to the wrapped articles or beverage containers and possibly , during handling of the container can not be affected, since the outer packaging or the film do not move when lifting the container on the carrying handle against the articles, but remain in their intended original position.

Hereinafter, embodiments illustrate the invention and its advantages with reference to the accompanying drawings. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

1 shows in four schematic views of a first variant of a container according to the invention with handle.

2 shows in two schematic views of an alternative variant of a container according to the invention with handle.

3 shows a schematic view of a first variant of an apparatus for producing containers according to the invention.

4 shows a schematic view of a second variant of the apparatus for producing containers according to the invention.

5 shows a schematic view of a third variant of the apparatus for producing containers according to the invention.

Identical or equivalent elements of the invention are designated by the same reference numerals. For the sake of clarity, only reference symbols in the individual figures which are required for the description of the respective figure are usually shown. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the device or method of the invention may be configured and are not an exhaustive limitation.

The schematic views of 1a and the 1b show a first variant of a container according to the invention 10 with carrying handle 12 , The container 10 comprises a total of six articles 14 in the form of PET beverage containers 16 , grouped in a so-called. Rectangular arrangement and with a wrapping disposable outer packaging 18 in the form of a shrink film 20 , in particular a PE shrink film are held together. The carrying handle 12 is at defined contact points 22 on outsides of at least two oppositely disposed articles 14 or beverage containers 16 of the container 10 fixed. These contact points 22 coincide according to the present invention, at least partially with recesses 24 in the outer packaging 18 or foil 20 so the contact points 22 in the embodiment shown by the recesses 24 reach through and the edges 26 the recess 24 at least partially touching, as the enlarged view of 1c clarified. That at the contact point 22 adherent, rectangular and oblong in the vertical direction along the lateral surface 28 of the container 16 or the article 14 extending handle end 30 This covers both completely also the elongated recess 24 , but also its edge area 26 as well as part of the edge 26 surrounding film surface 32 , however, due to which in the recess 24 concentrating, an adhesive bond 34 having a contact point 22 largely the entire power flow directly from the handle 12 through the recess 24 through to the lateral surface 28 of the contacted article 14 or container 16 takes place. At the same time, the film surface becomes 32 and thus the contact point 22 surrounding area of the outer packaging 18 or shrink film 20 of tensile forces when carrying the container 10 relieved, as the relatively small contact area outside the edge 26 no significant tensile forces F in the outer packaging 18 or foil 20 initiate.

Optionally, the contact point 22 also be designed in such a way that the adhesive bond 34 in the area of the recess 24 limited, whereas the edge area 26 and the area outside of this edge 26 has no adhesive, causing the film 20 or outer packaging 18 be kept free of traction forces F which are above the carrying handle 12 be applied.

The schematic detail view of 1d shows a variant in which the contact point 22 several recesses 24 having vertically arranged in a row one above the other. These recesses 24 each form the adhesive bonds 34 to the lateral surfaces 28 the item 14 or beverage container 16 , where again optionally the adhesive bond 34 in the on the film surface 32 in the area outside the edges 26 resting handle end 30 may extend or these areas may be kept free of adhesive.

In the in the 2a and 2 B shown second container variant is the carrying handle 12 not in one to the size of its contact points 22 at the handle end 30 fixed recess, as with the in 1 embodiment shown is the case, but in the area of a so-called. Folienauges 36 arranged, which covers a relatively large area of the vertical front and back sides of the container 10 of foil 20 uncovered and that during heat shrinking of the shrink film 20 tends to be even greater than after wrapping the grouped articles 14 or beverage container 16 with the foil 20 , The foil eye 36 can, for example, a share of about 50% of the front and back of the container 10 take, but optionally also a much smaller or larger proportion.

In this variant are the contact points 22 with the adhesive joints 34 the carrying handle ends 30 of the carrying handle 12 at the to the outside of the container 10 pointing areas of the lateral surfaces 28 the two centrally arranged beverage containers 16 of the container 10 fix, not in adhesive contact with the outer packaging 18 or shrink film 20 but preferably have a small distance to the upper edge of the film eye 38 on.

The 3 to 5 each show in schematic views three different variants of a device for the production of containers according to the invention 10 , The respective feasible process for the production of the container 10 are also based on the 3 to 5 explained. This is how the packaging machines shown there have 40 together, that in a transport direction 42 each grouped article 14 or container 16 on horizontal conveyors 44 first a foil packer 46 and then a shrink oven 48 go through, after which they have a container transport section 50 another, not shown here, packaging and / or processing stations are supplied, so for example. A Palettiereinrichtung o. The like.

In the area of the foil packer 46 is used to package the grouped items 14 or container one of an endless foil stock 52 unrolled shrink film 20 provided and via a film separation station 54 a film wrapping module 56 supplied, which the groupings of the articles 14 or container 16 with the shrink film 20 envelops. Based on 3 to 5 Now, different variants of the method for producing the container according to the invention 10 with carrying handle 12 clarified. Common to all the process variants shown is that the articles 14 or container 16 in the area of the foil packer 46 each with the shrink film 20 or outer packaging 18 wrapped and held together. In addition, in the process of the carrying handle 12 at the designated contact points on the outside of the article 14 fixed, these contact points correspond at least partially with recesses in the outer packaging or film wrapping. The foil 20 or the outer packaging 18 may, for example, so-called. Film eyes have (see. 2 ), the parts of the article 14 leave free so that at the exposed article lateral surfaces, which at the same time the side surfaces of the container 10 form, the carrying handle ends 30 can be fixed or glued.

At the in 3 shown first variant of the method according to the invention can be the shrink film 20 in the area of the foil packer 46 , between the film supply 52 and the film separation station 54 provided with suitable recesses. These recesses can by means of a punching device 58 o. The like. Immediately after unwinding of the film 20 from her endless supply 52 and before the wrapping of the articles 14 For example, by a mechanical or optical punching process such as. A laser cutting process. During further film transport, the carrying handle 12 with its ends over in the foil 20 introduced recesses under at least partial overlap or cover the recesses on the film 20 or outer packaging are applied, after which the articles with the film 20 or outer packaging are wrapped. For this purpose, the punching device 58 a suitable application device 60 for fixing the carrying handles on the not yet separated into sections foil 20 subordinate before the slide 20 then the film separation station 54 passes.

In this variant of the method, the carrying handle adheres to the pre-cut film 20 , so that the fixing or bonding of the carrying handle then extends through the punched passages to the article casing surface. Optionally, a pre-cut film of the film supply 52 be handled, which already has the intended recesses, so this case if necessary on the the film supply 52 downstream punching device 58 can be waived. The film wrapping module 56 then handles the wrapping of the grouped items 14 with the suitably cut to length film sections, each already having the suitably positioned handle, before further transport through the shrink oven 48 and the container transport section 50 he follows.

At the in 4 shown second variant of the method, the film 20 or repackaging initially from the film supply 52 be handled, the film separation station 54 go through and by means of the film wrapping module 56 in the foil packer 46 around the grouped articles 14 be wrapped. Subsequently, the foil packs 10 in the intended direction of transport 42 over the horizontal conveyor 44 through the shrink oven 48 to the downstream container transport section 50 transported, in the embodiment shown both a punching device 58 for introducing the required recesses in the film packaging as well as one of these punching device 58 downstream application device 60 is assigned, in which the carrying handles are applied. Optionally, in this variant, a pre-punched film 20 from the film supply 52 be unwound, which already has the provided recesses, so that the punching device 58 in the container transport section 50 possibly also can be omitted.

The in the schematic representation of 5 shown third variant of the method according to the invention provides that the article 14 first in a way with the foil 20 or wrappers are wrapped that in the transport direction 42 laterally located longitudinal sides of the container 10 each in the 2 recognizable foil eyes 36 exhibit. These foil eyes 36 serve as recesses in the context of the invention. After wrapping the article 14 takes place in a shrink oven 48 the shrinking of the film under heat, after which the carrying handle in the areas of the remaining film eyes 36 can be applied to the article envelope surfaces. During further transport in the container transport section 50 become the containers 10 first by means of a suitable handling device 62 about 90 ° or 270 ° about a vertical axis or about an angle of 90 or 270 ° transversely to the conveying direction 42 rotated, so that the carrying handle by means of the downstream application device 60 under contact with the recesses in the form of the film eyes 36 provided, in the conveying direction 42 can be applied front and rear side of the container outside. In this process variant can be used as wrapping for example shrink film, adhesive film or a thin and stretchy, well-adhering film web as a wrapper for the article to form film packs as outer packaging. Essential in this variant of the application method for the carrying handles is the rotation of the container 10 whereby the so-called foil eye is directed in or against the running direction of the transported container, which after wrapping by means of the wrapping module 56 not given. For this purpose, the containers can, for example, be rotated by 90 or 270 degrees about their vertical axis.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or changes may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

 container

12

 handle

14

 items

16

 Container, beverage container

18

 overpack

20

 Foil, shrink wrap

22

 contact point

24

 recess

26

 Edge, edge area

28

 lateral surface

30

 Handle end

32

 film surface

34

 adhesive bond

36

 foil eye

40

 packaging machine

42

 transport direction

44

 Horizontal conveyor

46

 film packer

48

 shrink oven

50

 Container transport section

52

 Foil supply, endless foil stock

54

 Film release station

56

 Film wrapping module

58

 punch

60

 application device

62

 handling device

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 69311338 T2 [0004]

Claims (11)

Containers ( 10 ) with carrying handle ( 12 ) comprising at least two articles ( 14 ), which by means of a shrink film ( 20 ), Banderole o. The like. Umverpackung ( 18 ) are at least partially wrapped and held together, the carrying handle ( 12 ) at contact points ( 22 ) on outsides of articles ( 14 ), which contact points ( 22 ) at least partially with recesses ( 24 ) in the outer packaging ( 18 ) cover. Container according to claim 1, in which the contact points ( 22 ) by splices ( 34 ) between lateral surfaces ( 28 ) the item ( 14 ) and the carrying handle ( 12 ) are formed. Container according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the contact points ( 22 ) essentially on the recesses ( 24 ) restrict. Container according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the contact points ( 22 ) at least partially into the outer packaging ( 18 ). Container according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the recesses ( 24 ) substantially with the dimensions of the contact surfaces ( 22 ) correspond. Process for the production of containers ( 10 ) with carrying handle ( 12 ), in which at least two articles ( 14 ) by means of a shrink film ( 20 ), Banderole o. The like. Umverpackung ( 18 ) are at least partially wrapped and held together, the carrying handle ( 12 ) at contact points ( 22 ) on outsides of articles ( 14 ), which contact points ( 22 ) at least partially with recesses ( 24 ) in the outer packaging ( 18 ) cover. Method according to Claim 6, in which the film ( 20 ) or outer packaging ( 18 ) with recesses ( 24 ), then the carrying handle ( 12 ) over the recesses ( 24 ) on the film ( 20 ) or outer packaging ( 18 ) and then the articles ( 14 ) with the film ( 20 ) or outer packaging ( 18 ) are wrapped. Method according to Claim 6, in which the film ( 20 ) or outer packaging ( 18 ) with recesses ( 24 ), then the articles ( 14 ) with the film ( 20 ) or outer packaging ( 18 ) and then the carrying handle ( 12 ) contacting the recesses ( 24 ) on the lateral surfaces ( 28 ) the item ( 14 ) is applied. Method according to Claim 6, in which the articles ( 14 ) with the film ( 20 ) or outer packaging ( 18 ), then the outer packaging ( 18 ) or foil ( 20 ) with recesses ( 24 ) and then the carrying handle ( 12 ) contacting the recesses ( 24 ) on the lateral surfaces ( 28 ) the item ( 14 ) is applied. Method according to Claim 6, in which the articles ( 14 ) by means of a film wrapping module ( 56 ) in the region of a transport path in the conveying direction ( 42 ) with one of an endless supply ( 52 ) provided film ( 20 ), so that containers ( 10 ) in the conveying direction ( 42 ) laterally arranged recesses ( 24 . 36 ) are formed on opposite outer sides, after which the containers ( 10 ) each about 90 ° or 270 ° rotated about a vertical axis and the carrying handle ( 12 ) under contact with the recesses ( 24 . 36 ), in the conveying direction ( 42 ) is applied front and rear side of the container outside. Device for carrying out a method for producing containers ( 10 ) with carrying handles ( 12 ) according to one of claims 6 to 10, comprising a transport path for conveying article groups, a film wrapping module ( 56 ) for wrapping the article groups with one of a film stock ( 52 ), stretchable and / or heat shrinkable film ( 20 ) for the formation of foil packs which have recesses ( 24 . 36 ) at least two opposite side surfaces of the container ( 10 ), and with an application device ( 60 ) for the application of carrying handles ( 12 ) with fixation of the carrying handle ends ( 30 ) in the region of the recesses ( 24 . 36 ).

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