DE102019119100A1 - Multipack with a honeycomb composite article and method and packaging system for producing such a multipack - Google Patents

Abstract

A multipack (4) is disclosed. The multipack (4) comprises at least four items. Furthermore, the multipack (4) only partially forms a honeycomb article composite comprising at least three articles, in which honeycomb article composite contact areas of the articles forming the honeycomb article composite are at least approximately in a common plane.

Description

The present invention relates to a multipack with a honeycomb-shaped article composite and a method and a packaging system for producing such a multipack, wherein the articles are or are connected to one another by an adhesive.

In order to be able to easily handle beverage containers, such as bottles or cans, for example, containers are known from the prior art which comprise several PET bottles held together, for example, by means of shrink film. Such containers can also have a handle with which the containers can be carried.

In order to be able to transport a large number of such packages, packages are arranged in several layers stacked on top of one another on pallets and then transported to a destination. In practice, the transfer to pallets takes place via palletizing or packaging robots, which receive bundles already grouped into a respective palletizable layer, move them in the direction of a respective pallet and then set them down on the respective pallet.

It is for example from the publication DE 10 2012 100 810 B4 It is known to first provide articles such as PET containers (PET: polyethylene terephthalate) with an adhesive in a packaging machine and then to press them together in order to produce a bundle of several articles.

The disadvantage of the previously known devices, methods and containers is the fact that after an article has been separated from the container produced with the method and the device, at least one further article is relatively weakly connected to the other articles. In the case of the DE 10 2012 100 810 B4 a bottle would only be connected to one additional item after the first bottle was detached.

If the articles are placed in a purely nested arrangement, this definitely has disadvantages with regard to the visual appearance. An example of such a container is given in the publication DE 10 2010 033 549 A1 disclosed. In addition, there are difficulties when attaching a handle, since a "zigzag line" is created on the leading and trailing side. After shrinking the film on, the container would have to be rotated in order to be able to attach a handle to the straight sides using conventional means.

The object of the present invention is to provide a possibility by means of which the disadvantages present in the prior art can be avoided or at least reduced.

The object of the invention is achieved by the subjects comprising the features in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are described by the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a method for producing containers with several articles which are connected by adhesive. A large number of articles are provided as part of the process. Another step provides for the formation of a combination of several articles provided and intended for a respective multipack.

The multiple articles of a respective configured combination are connected to form a multipack by means of adhesive application.

The several articles already provided and intended for a respective multipack are aligned with one another in a defined time at the latest with the final completion of the respective multipack, so that the finally completed multipack only has a honeycomb-shaped article combination comprising at least three articles in some areas due to the defined orientation, in which honeycomb-shaped Article composite Contact areas of the at least three articles are at least approximately in a common plane.

It can be the case that at least one adhesive and / or adhesive application is applied to the lateral jacket surfaces of articles, by means of which the several articles of a respective combination are connected to form a multipack. In this description, the adhesive and / or adhesive application or the adhesive and / or adhesive is sometimes referred to only as an adhesive.

It can also be the case that at least three adhesive and / or adhesive applications are applied to at least one of the several articles offset along a circumferential direction of its lateral lateral surface, the at least one article via a respective adhesive and / or adhesive application with a further article in each case the compilation is connected to a multipack.

The invention also relates to a multipack which comprises at least four articles connected by adhesive means. It is provided that the multipack has a honeycomb-shaped structure comprising at least three articles only in certain areas The article composite forms in which cart-shaped article composite contact surfaces of the articles forming the honeycomb article composite are at least approximately in a common plane.

The adhesive does not necessarily have to be applied between all adjacent articles. It is sufficient if every article is at least indirectly connected to every other article in the container with an adhesive.

It may be that at least two adjacent articles of the multipack are held together by an adhesive connection, it being provided in particular that the at least three articles of the honeycomb-shaped article assembly are held together by an adhesive connection.

Embodiments have proven to be useful in which the dimensions and / or geometries of the articles forming the honeycomb-shaped article composite are identical or at least approximately identical.

The articles of the multipack can be formed by beverage containers. In particular, it can be that the articles are formed by beverage bottles or PET bottles and / or beverage cans. In the case of beverage cans, these can be made at least partially from sheet metal, preferably from aluminum sheet, or have this material.

The multipack can optionally comprise at least five articles, whereby (the connections of the respective (this expression is omitted in the following for the sake of simplicity)) volume centers of three articles, which form a honeycomb-shaped article assembly, at least approximately a triangle and preferably at least approximately an isosceles, in particular form an at least approximately equilateral triangle. Furthermore, volume centers of two articles already forming the honeycomb-shaped article composite and volume centers of two further articles can form at least approximately a rectangle and preferably at least approximately a square.

The multipack can contain at least six items. Here, the volume centers of three articles, which form a first honeycomb-shaped article composite in the multipack, can form at least approximately a triangle and preferably at least approximately an isosceles, in particular an at least approximately equilateral triangle.

In addition, the volume centers of three further articles, which form a further honeycomb-shaped article composite in the multipack, can at least approximately form a triangle and preferably at least approximately an isosceles, in particular an at least approximately equilateral triangle. It can be provided that the volume centers of two articles forming the first honeycomb-shaped article composite in the multipack form at least approximately a rectangle and preferably at least approximately a square with volume centers of two articles forming the second honeycomb-shaped article composite in the multipack.

The invention also relates to a packaging system for producing containers with several articles which are connected by adhesive. The packaging system comprises at least one inlet for providing a large number of articles as well as at least one working device which can each form a respective multipack from at least four articles.

The at least one working device is designed to form a respective multipack, which respective multipack only has a honeycomb-shaped article composite comprising at least three articles in certain areas. In the case of the honeycomb-shaped article composite, contact areas of the at least three articles are at least approximately in a common plane.

It may be that the at least one working device has at least one means for applying an adhesive and / or adhesive application to lateral lateral surfaces of articles provided for a respective multipack.

It is conceivable that the at least one working device comprises at least one push rod, the geometry of the push rod being designed in such a way that the at least one push rod can transfer the respective article provided for the honeycomb-shaped article assembly into a relative arrangement, which relative arrangement of the articles at least approximately corresponds to their relative arrangement of the honeycomb-shaped article composite that is only to be formed in certain areas in the multipack.

Furthermore, it can be that the at least one working device comprises a plurality of clamping and / or gripping elements or receptacles, which are designed for the temporary acceptance of articles and which can bring articles into a relative arrangement to form a respective multipack, which at least approximately relative arrangement in the multipack corresponds. It may be that at least one clamping and / or gripping element of the plurality of clamping and / or gripping elements can be moved in two different horizontal spatial directions, which two different horizontal spatial directions are preferably oriented perpendicular to one another.

The at least one working device can also comprise a plurality of clamping and / or gripping elements which are designed to temporarily accept articles and which can bring articles into a relative arrangement to form a respective multipack which at least approximately corresponds to their relative arrangement in the multipack. It can be the case here that at least one clamping and / or gripping element of the plurality of clamping and / or gripping elements can be moved in two different horizontal spatial directions, which two different horizontal spatial directions are preferably oriented perpendicular to one another.

Embodiments have also proven themselves in practice in which the at least one clamping and / or gripping element is connected to an electromagnetic direct drive in the form of a planar drive, via which electromagnetic direct drive the at least one clamping and / or gripping element along the two different horizontal ones Spatial directions is movable.

The following description is intended to provide further clarification and is not to be understood as restrictive. Features which are mentioned below can optionally be provided in the previously described embodiments of the method according to the invention, the packaging system according to the invention and the container or multipack according to the invention. In particular, the container described below can be understood or designed as a multipack according to the invention. A “nested arrangement” according to the following description can also be understood or designed as a “honeycomb-shaped article composite” according to the invention.

The articles can be designed as beverage containers. The multipack can be designed as a container or represent a container.

The beverage containers can be formed, for example, by bottles or PET bottles and / or by beverage cans.

Thus, in conceivable embodiments, a container can only comprise beverage containers formed by beverage bottles.

In further embodiments, a container can also include both beverage containers formed by beverage bottles and beverage containers formed by beverage cans.

In further embodiments, a container can also comprise beverage containers formed only by beverage cans.

The contact areas of the articles can be in contact with a horizontal conveyor device at least temporarily during transport.

The majority of contact areas also form, in particular, the contact area of the finished container on a pallet (possibly spaced around a film and / or a cardboard box, which can also be attached around a container or several containers).

A longitudinal axis of the article is preferably defined perpendicular to the contact surface of an article, which axis is oriented essentially vertically and which extends from the center of the contact surface to the center of an upper side of the article. In particular, it can cut a volume center of gravity of the article (depending on the design of the article). The extension of the longitudinal axis of the article intersects in particular the center of the earth.

The longitudinal axes of the article of the container are consequently also essentially parallel.

• - Transportieren von mindestens vier Artikeln,
• - Herstellen eines Gebindes aus den mindestens vier Artikeln, welches mindestens eine genestete Anordnung aus mindestens drei Artikeln und mindestens eine ungenestete Anordnung von Artikeln umfasst
• - Abtransportieren des fertigen Gebindes

The method can have at least one or all of the following steps:

• - Transporting at least four items,
• - Production of a bundle from the at least four articles which comprises at least one nested arrangement of at least three articles and at least one non-nested arrangement of articles
• - Removal of the finished container

A nested arrangement, or in other words a honeycomb-shaped article composite, of three articles in this container is preferably defined in that each of the three articles in the nested arrangement touches the two other articles, possibly at a distance from an adhesive or the like that sticks the articles together ( this slight spacing can apply to all of the following embodiments with adhesive and should be neglected).

A nested arrangement or a honeycomb-shaped article composite can be characterized in that one, preferably each, of the three articles extends into an intermediate region of the other two articles.

In other words, all three articles of the nested arrangement can be immediately adjacent.

Accordingly, for the non-nesting, or in other words the non-honeycomb-shaped arrangement of articles, one article in this arrangement only touches one of the other three articles. However, this only applies to certain containers, including containers with only four items.

In a container with five articles, each article can touch at least two adjacent articles. The unrestrained arrangement of articles can result in the case that one (or two) articles (each) touches exactly two other articles, but these other two articles do not touch each other.

Generally speaking, a nested arrangement of articles has two adjacent articles whose respective other (excluding the two articles) neighbors do not touch the other article (s).

In other words, no neighbor of two touching articles touches the two articles.

In other words, each neighbor of an adjacent pair of articles is at a distance (by more than one application of adhesive) to an article of the pair of articles.

In particular, a non-nested arrangement of articles has at least two adjacent articles, in the intermediate area of which no other article is arranged.

The intermediate area can be defined as a volume that is created by all connections between the bodies of two articles and the volumes of the articles are cut out again. The connections are preferably only drawn in horizontal planes.

A nested arrangement can in particular be formed from at least four articles which are essentially arranged in a rectangle or square.

A nested arrangement can in particular be formed from at least three articles which form a triangle. A nested arrangement of at least four articles can be formed by arranging the at least four articles in a parallelogram.

If triangles, rectangles, parallelograms, etc. When we are talking about the connection line surrounding the respective arrangement between the outer articles in a plan view (from above) is meant, in particular in a plan view perpendicular to the contact surfaces of the articles.

Five articles can be nested in a trapezoidal arrangement.

An article in the bundle can be part of the nested arrangement and the nested arrangement. Several articles can also be part of both arrangements.

In particular, the container comprises at least one article that is exclusively part of the nested arrangement.

In particular, the container does not include an article that is exclusively part of the nested arrangement, but it is possible that at least one article is exclusively part of an nested arrangement.

• - Positionieren von mindestens drei Artikeln zu einer ersten Artikelzusammenstellung mit einer genesteten Anordnung
• - Positionieren von mindestens drei Artikeln zu einer zweiten Artikelzusammenstellung mit einer ungenesteten Anordnung
• - Zusammenführen von einer ungenesteten und einer genesteten Anordnung von Artikeln und Verbinden der Anordnungen zu einem Gebinde
• - Herstellen von mindestens zwei Teilgebinden, welche anschließend zu einem fertigen Gebinde zusammengeführt und verbunden werden
• - Herstellen von einem Teilgebinde, welchem anschließend einzelne Artikel zugeführt werden die einzelnen Artikeln und das Teilgebinde zu einem fertigen Gebinde verbunden werden
• - Verbinden von mindestens zwei Teilgebinden oder von Teilgebinden mit einzelnen Artikeln über Haftmittel, welches auf die Außenoberfläche von Artikeln mittels einer Düse aufgetragen wird
• - Im Wesentlichen gleichzeitiges Positionieren von Artikeln in eine Anordnung, welche sowohl ungenestete und genestete Anordnungen umfasst

The method can have one or more of the following steps:

• - Positioning of at least three articles to form a first article combination with a nested arrangement
• - Positioning of at least three articles to form a second article combination with a nested arrangement
• - Merging of a nested and a nested arrangement of articles and connecting the arrangements to form a bundle
• - Production of at least two sub-bundles, which are then brought together and connected to a finished bundle
• - Production of a sub-bundle, to which individual articles are then fed, the individual articles and the sub-bundle are combined to form a finished bundle
• - Connection of at least two part-packages or of part-packages with individual articles via adhesive which is applied to the outer surface of articles by means of a nozzle
• - Substantially simultaneous positioning of articles in an arrangement comprising both nested and nested arrangements

The partial bundles can only be bundles with a nested arrangement or an un-nested arrangement, the mixed arrangement only being created by the merging.

In particular, the four articles, preferably all articles, can be in Essentially cylindrical articles act. One example of this is conventional beverage cans.

“Essentially cylindrical” should also be understood to mean, for example, conventional bottles that have, inter alia, a cylindrical area and a conical or spherical area and grip areas (“pinch”) or petaloid bottoms or the like, as well as articles that essentially have a have a round cross-section.

Articles can also be used which have a substantially oval or polygonal cross-section, the polygon having at least five corners.

In particular, the articles have an outer contour along their horizontal circumference which is essentially convex throughout. Essentially convex, straight sections and slightly concavely curved areas, such as those found in so-called hot-fill panels, should not be excluded.

In particular, a bundle is produced whose articles all have essentially the same size.

In particular, all containers in the container can be filled with the same product (e.g. beer, cola, juice, water, etc.).

If a container is made from at least, in particular exactly, five articles, the connections of the centers of gravity of the volume of four articles of this container can essentially form a rectangle, preferably a square, and the connections of the centers of gravity of three articles can essentially form an isosceles, preferably equilateral To form triangle. In particular, two articles of this container are both part of an unrestrained and part of a nested arrangement.

In particular, a bundle can be produced from at least, in particular precisely, six articles, the connections of the volume centers of three articles each forming two essentially isosceles, preferably equilateral, triangles. In particular, four articles of this container are both part of an unrestrained and part of a nested arrangement and two articles are exclusively part of a nested arrangement.

• - Ausrichten von bestimmten Artikeln, auf denen kein Haftmittel oder anderes Verpackungsmaterial (Folie, Banderole etc.) aufgetragen wurde, insbesondere durch Drehung um die Artikellängsachse,
• - Auftragen eines Haftmittels auf bestimmte Artikel,
• - Ausrichten der mit einem Haftmittel versehenen Artikel, insbesondere durch Drehung um die Artikellängsachse,
• - Gruppieren der ausgerichteten und mit einem Haftmittel versehenen Artikel, indem die Artikel von Aufnahmen zumindest mittelbar kontaktiert, erfasst und zusammengeführt werden,
• - Herstellen eines Gebindes durch Zusammendrücken der Artikel an den mit Haftmittel versehenen Klebestellen, an welchen die Artikel im fertigen Gebinde unmittelbar und/oder lediglich um das Haftmittel voneinander beabstandet aneinanderstoßen,
• - Transportieren der verbundenen Artikel des Gebindes entlang eines vorgegebenen Transportpfads mittels Aufnahmen, wobei mindestens drei Aufnahmen vorgesehen sind, welche jeweils einen Artikel zumindest zeitweise entlang drei voneinander beabstandeten Transportpfaden transportieren,
• - Auftragen von kleineren Haftmittelmengen auf Klebestellen von Artikeln, welche Klebestellen an Sollbruchstellen eines Gebindes angrenzen, als auf Artikel, die nicht an Sollbruchstellen des Gebindes angrenzen

The method can have one or more of the following additional steps:

• - Alignment of certain articles on which no adhesive or other packaging material (film, banderole, etc.) has been applied, in particular by rotating around the longitudinal axis of the article,
• - applying an adhesive to certain items,
• - Alignment of the article provided with an adhesive, in particular by rotating around the longitudinal axis of the article,
• - Grouping of the aligned articles provided with an adhesive, in that the articles are at least indirectly contacted, recorded and brought together from recordings,
• - Production of a container by pressing the articles together at the adhesive points provided with adhesive, at which the articles in the finished container abut directly and / or only at a distance from one another by the adhesive,
• - Transporting the connected articles of the container along a predetermined transport path by means of receptacles, with at least three receptacles being provided, which each transport an article at least temporarily along three transport paths spaced apart from one another,
• - Application of smaller amounts of adhesive to adhesive points of articles, which adhesive points adjoin predetermined breaking points of a container, than to articles that do not adjoin predetermined breaking points of the container

The spaced-apart transport paths are defined in particular by the volume centers of gravity of the articles.

If one were to use the respective tunnel for the transport paths, which would be spanned by the movement of the outer sides of an article, then the tunnels can overlap, at least in certain areas, particularly in the case of nested articles.

A glue point is the area on an article to which adhesive is or is applied.

In particular, it can be the case that adhesive is applied to at least one article at at least three positions spaced apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the article.

The multipack or the container can comprise at least four interconnected articles, the four articles having contact surfaces which are located in a common plane in the finished container, with at least three Articles are arranged in a nested position and at least one article is arranged outside of intermediate areas of the three articles.

If the articles of the container are connected by adhesive, it may be that one or more articles are connected to their neighbors by adhesive at two or more adhesive points. These adhesive points between two articles are in particular arranged at two heights that are spaced from one another.

A container can have a predetermined breaking point between two or more articles, at which a user can particularly easily detach a connection between articles, that is to say more easily than the connections between articles that do not adjoin the predetermined breaking point. After the separation, you get partial containers that do not have to correspond to the intermediate containers during production, but can.

For example, a predetermined breaking point can be realized in that two articles are connected to one another with only one adhesive point and other, in particular all other, articles of the container with two adhesive points at different heights. As an alternative or in addition, the amount of adhesive applied at the adhesive points of two articles adjoining the predetermined breaking point can be smaller than the amount of adhesive between two other directly connected articles of the container.

A predetermined breaking point can be arranged, for example, between two arrangements of nested articles. In particular, the predetermined breaking point can be arranged between two articles which are each part of an unrestrained arrangement, in particular exclusively.

In particular, a predetermined breaking point in a container with six articles can be arranged in such a way that exactly three articles can be easily detached. In other words, the connections between three adjacent articles in a six-pack are made stronger than the connections between the three articles and the other three articles.

If there is only one predetermined breaking point on the container, this can be in the middle of the container. In particular, the same number of articles is present on both sides of the predetermined breaking point. In the case of containers with an uneven number, the difference between the articles on one side and the other is in particular 1.

In the case of two predetermined breaking points, the respective number of articles in the resulting partial containers after the separation of the articles at both predetermined breaking points can also be the same or differ by only one.

In particular, the connections, that is to say the adhesive applications, between the articles, which are located at the predetermined breaking point, can span a plane which is perpendicular to the contact surfaces of the articles.

In particular, all articles of a container according to the invention are in one level, i.e. no articles are arranged one above the other.

The partial containers that are created at a predetermined breaking point after separation can each have their own handle. In terms of the process, at least two handles can be attached to a container. In particular, the handles can be applied so that they run essentially parallel to one another, so that the handles can be applied in just one module.

Generally speaking, the container can have as many handles as there are predetermined breaking points + 1 on the container. If necessary, in addition to the entire handles for the partial containers, a main handle can also be attached to the container, which may consist of a more tear-resistant material or composite material or has a thicker cross-section.

It may be that the packaging system according to the invention can be used to produce a multipack in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the description above. It can also be the case that, by means of the method described above, a multipack is produced in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the description above. Various embodiments of the packaging system described can be designed to carry out steps of the different embodiments of the method described above.

• - eine Gruppiereinrichtung zum Anordnen der Artikel in einer definierten Position relativ zueinander,
• - eine Transporteinrichtung zum Transportieren der Artikel zu der Gruppiereinrichtung,
• - der Gruppiereinrichtung zugeordnete Aufnahmen, welche die mindestens vier Artikel bei der Gruppierung zumindest mittelbar kontaktieren und die Artikel entlang vorgegebener Transportpfade transportieren und die Aufnahmen eine definierte Artikelaufnahmeöffnung eines bestimmten Durchmessers aufweisen,
• - eine Ebene, auf welcher die vier Artikel bei oder nach der Gruppierung aufstehen,
• - eine Haftmittelauftragseinrichtung zum Auftragen von Haftmittel auf zumindest einen Teil der Artikel, wobei die Haftmittelauftragseinrichtung stromaufwärts der Gruppiereinrichtung angeordnet ist,
• - wobei ein erster Abstand zweier Transportpfade in einem Fügebereich, in welchem die mit Haftmittel versehenen Artikel zusammengefügt werden, kleiner ist als der Durchmesser der Aufnahmeöffnung einer der Aufnahmen und
• - ein zweiter Abstand zweier Transportpfade in dem oder in einem weiteren Fügebereich zumindest bereichsweise gleich dem Durchmesser der Aufnahmeöffnung einer der Aufnahmen ist.

The packaging system can have the following components:

• - a grouping device for arranging the articles in a defined position relative to one another,
• - a transport device for transporting the articles to the grouping device,
• - receptacles assigned to the grouping device, which at least indirectly contact the at least four articles during grouping and transport the articles along predetermined transport paths and the receptacles have a defined article receiving opening of a certain diameter,
• - a level on which the four articles appear during or after the grouping,
• - an adhesive application device for applying adhesive to at least a portion of the articles, the adhesive application device being arranged upstream of the grouping device,
• a first distance between two transport paths in a joining region in which the articles provided with adhesive are joined together is smaller than the diameter of the receiving opening of one of the receptacles and
• a second distance between two transport paths in the or in a further joining area is at least partially equal to the diameter of the receiving opening of one of the receptacles.

In particular, the grouping device can change the position of the articles arriving on the transport device relative to one another, in particular reduce it.

In particular, the recordings of the grouping device record each article individually and contact it directly.

The contact between a receptacle and an article can be made at several points along the circumference of the article and / or at several points spaced apart in the vertical direction.

In particular, the position of three or more articles or receptacles, which are later part of the same container, can be changed in the grouping device, in particular reduced in size.

In particular, the grouping device comprises a horizontal conveyor.

In particular, the transport path of a receptacle of the grouping device is endless; it preferably comprises two straight sections and two deflections, e.g. in the form of partial circles.

In particular, the grouping device comprises at least two, in particular, endless guides, along which receptacles are arranged circumferentially. The recordings can be located on carriages on which curve followers are arranged, which are guided along the guides.

In particular, the two guides are at a distance from one another in the horizontal direction, in particular transversely to the conveying direction of the articles.

The guides of a grouping device can each extend in a horizontal plane and are in particular arranged to the side of the transport paths of the articles. In particular, viewed in the direction of transport of the article, one guide is arranged on the left and the other guide on the right.

The receptacles of the grouping device or receptacle groups can for example be arranged on an endless belt which is driven by a stationary motor. In another embodiment, the receptacles or carriages on which the receptacles are arranged can comprise magnets which interact with stationary coils of a long stator (long stator linear drive or electromagnetic direct drive).

The guides of the grouping device can comprise curves (or tracks), in particular grooved curves, along which curve followers, in particular rollers, arranged on the receptacles are guided. Alternatively, a guide can also be designed magnetically, e.g. as an electromagnetic direct drive, or via a belt guide.

A guide can also be formed by two curves, along which two receptacles run through slightly different transport paths in order to achieve the mentioned first distance, for example. In the case of a circumferential guide, the receptacles rotating in or on it can all have essentially the same transport path, even if they run along different paths or curves.

Grooves or curves or paths along a guide do not have to be formed circumferentially, but mainly in an assigned joining area and / or shortly before this at a takeover point of the articles on the part of the receptacles arranged on the guides.

The term "guide" in the sense of this description can be understood not only as curve (s), but also as a transport device with associated drive, frame, etc., in particular for the second transport of articles in a row or (intermediate) containers. The tour is part of the work facility.

In particular, the transport device to the grouping device comprises three or more holding elements for the articles, which are each arranged at least in regions at equidistant distances from one another, in particular on a carousel.

The transport device or a part of it can subsequently be part of the adhesive device in certain exemplary embodiments.

The holding elements can be formed by turntables on which the articles stand up during transport. Additionally can Centering bells be part of the holding elements that clamp the article from above, i.e. opposite the turntable. The turntables can be equipped with drives for rotating the articles.

The turntables can be arranged on the carousel and revolve with it and rotate relative to the carousel.

The carousel is in particular part of the transport device to the grouping device.

The adhesive application device can be arranged in the vicinity of the transport device, in particular the carousel.

The adhesive application device can comprise one or more nozzles which are connected to a supply (e.g. in a tank or reservoir) for adhesive.

A control device controls the rotation of the articles and / or the adhesive application device if necessary such that adhesive is applied to the articles at predetermined circumferential positions.

In particular, the position of the adhesive application in the case of articles in the same container can differ relative to one another.

For example, an article that is later only nested can receive two or more adhesive applications that are spaced apart from one another at a circumferential angle of approximately 60 °. If the nested articles are only connected to one another by a chain, a purely nested article can also receive or have only one application of adhesive. A chain can according to the publication EP2878542A1 be educated.

Furthermore, another, later exclusively non-nesting, article can receive or have only one adhesive application or two or three or four adhesive applications which are (each) 90 ° apart from one another in the circumferential direction of the article.

An article that is in a nested and an unsstead arrangement can receive or have three adhesive coatings, each of which is arranged at different angles to one another in the circumferential direction of the article. For example, one distance between two orders can be 90 ° and the other distance 60 °.

The adhesive can for example be an adhesive.

An adhesive can also only be applied to some of the articles of the same (later) container, e.g. only to three articles from a four-container, since an adhesive applied to an article later comes into contact with a container when the articles are assembled into a container in the grouping device other article surface occurs. If a two-component adhesive is used as the adhesive, the adhesive is preferably applied to each of the articles.

The transport device to the grouping device can furthermore comprise a horizontal conveyor. In particular, the horizontal conveyor can be formed by a driven conveyor belt. In the embodiments with a carousel, the horizontal conveyor is arranged in particular in front of the carousel.

In particular, the transport device to the grouping device can comprise a switch which divides the arriving articles onto two horizontal conveyors, which can each be designed like the horizontal conveyor to the grouping device described above. The two horizontal conveyors are then each arranged upstream of a respective carousel.

From the two carousels, which can each be designed like the carousel described above, the articles of the two article flows are transferred at least indirectly, but in particular directly, to the grouping device.

Instead of being conveyed in two container flows, the articles can also be conveyed to the grouping device in just one container flow on just one horizontal conveyor and by means of a carousel. In that case, a distribution device could be arranged between the carousel and the grouping device, which distributes the one container flow to the respective receptacles of the at least two guides.

The recordings of the grouping device can capture the articles in the area of their deflection and transport the articles further along a straight transport path or a straight transport path section. The transport paths for the articles can therefore be partly curved and partly straight within the grouping device.

After the detection of the articles provided with adhesive, the recordings of the grouping device, which have detected the articles of the same bundle, can approach one another and press the articles together at the adhesive points or establish contact at the adhesive points.

The compression can take place over a certain time interval / a certain distance until the adhesive is at least partially cured.

The distance on which the articles provided with adhesive are held together represents the joint area.

The plane described, on which the four or all articles of the container stand during or after grouping, can be, for example, the surface of a horizontal conveyor of the grouping device, or a downstream conveyor belt on the way to a palletizer.

A grouping device can alternatively have three or four guides for receptacles. The three or four guides can in particular each have a distance from one another and at least regionally in the horizontal direction.

If three or four guides are used, a third and fourth guide can alternatively be arranged downstream of the first and second guide, viewed in the conveying direction of the articles, and be part of another grouping device, which first and second guide can be arranged essentially in the same area.

The first and second guides can be part of the same grouping device, while the third guide can be part of a second grouping device. In particular, the fourth guide can also be part of the second grouping device.

Alternatively, all three (or four) guides can be part of the same grouping device and be arranged in the same area as seen in the conveying direction. In such a case it can be the case that one (or two) guide (s) is arranged above the transport path of the articles, while the other two guides are arranged to the side of the transport path of the articles. It can also be that all three (or four) guides are arranged above the transport path for articles.

The number of guides can correspond to the number of rows of articles in the later container.

Each grouping device can have a joining area in which a bundle or intermediate bundle is formed. In this joining area, each article can have a transport path.

The transport paths can be parallel to the respective guides, in particular at a distance from the receptacles and possibly the carriages.

The receptacles can have a receptacle opening which is adapted to a specific article diameter.

When an article diameter is mentioned, this does not necessarily mean a maximum diameter of a round article, but rather a (averaged) double distance from the respective contact points of the receptacles to the already defined article longitudinal axis.

The route traversed by the longitudinal axis of the article can define the respective transport path of the article. It can also be defined by the center of gravity of the volume of an article, if the shape of the article does not allow a clear longitudinal axis to be defined.

In a first embodiment, a first distance between two transport paths is smaller than a receiving diameter. The two transport paths are in particular assigned to two articles which will later be in a nested arrangement with one another in the container.

Furthermore, in this first embodiment, a second distance between two transport paths is equal to the diameter of a receiving opening. In this case, these two transport paths are in particular assigned to two articles which, in the later bundle, will be part of an unrestrained arrangement.

A first transport path which defines the first distance with another second transport path is in particular a transport path which defines the second distance with a third transport path.

The distances are measured in particular in the joining area of the same grouping device. If an intermediate container is produced in a first joining area of a first grouping device and the final container is produced in a further, i.e. second, joining area, in particular a second grouping device, the distance can be measured by lengthening the transport paths from the first joining area into the second joining area or vice versa will. If there is a shift of the intermediate container or a reorientation between the two grouping devices or joining areas, the assigned values for the shift or reorientation must be subtracted again when calculating the distance.

In particular, two articles of the same container pass through one of the three transport paths. Two other articles of the same container can also run through one of the three transport paths.

Due to the two different distances, the articles of a bundle can be connected to one another at different distances, so that two arrangements of nested and non-nested types are made possible.

In particular, the first distance can be in the range from 0.6 to 0.95 times the receiving diameter, preferably between 0.8 to 0.9 times the receiving diameter, in particular in the case of articles with essentially cylindrical outer surfaces, the first distance can be approximately 0.87 times the mounting diameter.

In particular, all receptacles of the same grouping device, preferably all grouping devices, have the same receptacle diameter.

In particular, it can be that two receptacles that are assigned to the same guide but different articles have a different distance (center of the receptacle diameter) from the guide, at least in some areas. In other words, these two receptacles can be adjacent as seen in the transport direction.

In particular, a distance from a receptacle can be changed by an adjusting device, in particular at a position of the receptacle shortly before a joining area.

In this position, the distance can be increased so that an article has a greater distance from the guide, in particular by half the diameter of the article.

The adjusting device can be, for example, a curve, a pneumatic cylinder or an electric drive which is arranged on the receptacle, on the carriage or on the guide.

In the case of drives, an electronic control system can specify the correct point in time or the correct position shortly before reaching the joining area for actuating the drive.

As an alternative to an adjusting device, the articles can also be transferred directly to the receptacles with the first spacing and the second spacing by a distribution device arranged in front of the grouping device.

The distribution device can be formed, for example, by a star with a plurality of pivotable arms arranged on it.

Individual arms can be controlled differently. In particular, two or more curves can be provided along which the arms move. Alternatively, each arm can be equipped with its own motor to rotate it.

An example of this can be found in the publication DE102006023531A1 represent the star described.

As mentioned, a distribution device can be arranged between an already described carousel and the grouping device.

Alternatively, one could also replace the carousel with the distribution device and arrange the adhesive application device in the area of the distribution device.

• - zwei Transporteinrichtungen zum Transportieren von Artikeln zu zwei Gruppiereinrichtungen,
• - eine erste Gruppiereinrichtung zur Herstellung eines Zwischengebindes aus mindestens drei Artikeln,
• - eine von der ersten Gruppiereinrichtung beabstandete zweite Gruppiereinrichtung zur Herstellung eines fertigen Gebindes aus dem Zwischengebinde und mindestens einem weiteren Artikel,
• - eine dritte Transporteinrichtung zum Transport des Zwischengebindes von der ersten Gruppiereinrichtung zu der zweiten Gruppiereinrichtung entlang einer Transportrichtung,
• - den Gruppiereinrichtungen jeweils zugeordnete Aufnahmen, welche die mindestens vier Artikel bei der Gruppierung zumindest mittelbar kontaktieren und die Artikel entlang vorgegebener Transportpfade transportieren, wobei die Aufnahmen eine definierte Artikelaufnahmeöffnung eines bestimmten Durchmessers aufweisen,
• - eine Ebene, auf welcher die vier Artikel (12) bei oder nach der zweiten Gruppiereinrichtung aufstehen,
• - zumindest eine Haftmittelauftragseinrichtung zum Auftragen von Haftmittel auf zumindest einen Teil der Artikel, wobei die Haftmittelauftragseinrichtung stromaufwärts zumindest der ersten Gruppiereinrichtung angeordnet ist,
• - wobei mindestens eine Aufnahme der zweiten Gruppiereinrichtung relativ zu bestimmten Artikeln des Zwischengebindes in der Transportrichtung um einen halben Durchmesser versetzt angeordnet ist.

One or more of the components mentioned below can also be designed as part of the packaging system according to the invention. In particular, these can be part of a second embodiment.

• - two transport devices for transporting articles to two grouping devices,
• - A first grouping device for producing an intermediate container from at least three articles,
• - a second grouping device spaced apart from the first grouping device for producing a finished container from the intermediate container and at least one further article,
• - A third transport device for transporting the intermediate container from the first grouping device to the second grouping device along a transport direction,
• - receptacles assigned to the grouping devices, which at least indirectly contact the at least four articles during the grouping and transport the articles along predetermined transport paths, the receptacles having a defined article receiving opening of a certain diameter,
• - a level on which the four articles (12) stand at or after the second grouping device,
• - At least one adhesive application device for applying adhesive to at least some of the articles, the adhesive application device being arranged upstream of at least the first grouping device,
• - wherein at least one receptacle of the second grouping device is arranged offset by half a diameter in the transport direction relative to certain articles of the intermediate container.

It may be that at least two grouping devices are part of the packaging system and also the working device. Each grouping device is optionally assigned a separate upstream transport device which conveys the articles to the respective grouping device.

A transport device can have, for example, two essentially parallel transport belts and two carousels, two adhesive application devices being provided, each of which is arranged in an area in the vicinity of a carousel. In this case, the containers are conveyed in two parallel flows to the carousels or the grouping device.

As an alternative, it can also be the case that one or both grouping devices are only supplied by a single-row container flow.

The first transport device is arranged upstream of the first grouping device.

The first grouping device can be controlled via a controller in such a way that it only produces intermediate packs. These are transported via a third transport device to the second grouping device, which is at a distance from the first grouping device.

The intermediate container can already have one, two or three rows of articles.

The second grouping device can be controlled via a control system in such a way that it produces the intermediate containers by adding further articles or other intermediate containers to the final container.

The second grouping device is arranged downstream of the first grouping device.

In particular, at least one further row of articles is added to the intermediate container in the second grouping device.

At least one adhesive application device is arranged upstream of the first grouping device. However, two adhesive application devices can also be arranged in front of the first grouping device, for example in the case of a two-stream article feed.

The second transport device is arranged upstream of the second grouping device in the direction of the articles to be added (not in the direction of the intermediate containers).

Furthermore, a further adhesive application device can be arranged upstream of the second grouping device in the region of the second transport device, which applies an adhesive to the article. In principle, this could also be done by the adhesive application devices located upstream of the first grouping device, but for the purpose of drying time for the adhesive, a prompt application is better in many cases.

There is indirect contact between a recording and an article, for example, when a recording only touches another article, but this touches one article. This can happen if an intermediate container is only guided by a receptacle of the second grouping device, which grips around all the articles of the intermediate container.

Alternatively, each article of a bundle can be contacted directly by a receptacle of the grouping devices or guides.

In particular, the receptacles which are assigned to the second grouping device and add articles to the intermediate container are set up and intended to contact the articles individually and directly. In other words, these receptacles each have a receptacle diameter. This can in particular also apply to all recordings of the first grouping device.

At least one receptacle of the second grouping device can be arranged offset by half a diameter in the transport direction (conveying direction) relative to certain articles of the intermediate container.

In other words, at least one receptacle of the second grouping device is arranged offset by half a diameter relative to certain receptacles of the first grouping device. As a result of the fixed specification of this position of the receptacles, a multipack can be produced which only in certain areas forms a honeycomb-shaped article composite.

Given constant conditions (speed, orientation), it can also be said that the distance between a receptacle of the second grouping device and a receptacle of the first grouping device is x times the receptacle diameter + half the receptacle diameter at the respective moment of processing the same container.

In particular, at least two, at least three or more receptacles can be arranged offset in this way.

The offset of the recordings by half a diameter in the transport direction of the recordings of the second grouping device is in particular when the first grouping device produces a non-nested intermediate container - that is, the receptacles of the first and second guides are not offset in the transport direction. In this case, there is an offset to all receptacles or articles in the intermediate container.

The receptacles to be added to an intermediate bundle are offset from the receptacles of the first grouping device in such a way that either articles are added to a purely nested intermediate bundle without being nested relative to certain articles of the intermediate bundle or articles are added nested relative to certain articles of the intermediate bundle to an untested intermediate bundle.

The grouping device (s) can be part of the working device.

In the following, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions, since some forms are simplified and other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

The embodiments, examples and variants of the preceding paragraphs, the claims or the following description and the figures, including their different views or respective individual features, can be used independently of one another or in any combination. Features that are described in connection with an embodiment are applicable to all embodiments, provided that the features are not incompatible.

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems und verdeutlicht jeweils einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können;
• 2 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems und verdeutlicht jeweils einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können und wie ein erfindungsgemäßes Gebinde produziert werden kann;
• 3 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems und verdeutlicht jeweils einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können;
• 3a ist eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines Ausschnitts aus 3
• 4 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems und verdeutlicht jeweils einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können;
• 5a zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems und verdeutlicht jeweils einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können;
• 5b zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer zur 5 ähnlichen Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems und verdeutlicht einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können;
• 6a zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems und verdeutlicht jeweils einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können;
• 6b zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer zur 6a ähnlichen Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems und verdeutlicht jeweils einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können;
• 6c zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer zur 6a ähnlichen Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems und verdeutlicht jeweils einzelne Schritte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsformen des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens vorgesehen sein können;
• 7 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems mit optionalen, weiteren Maschinen einer Abfüllanlage;
• 8 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystem mit optionalen, weiteren Maschinen einer Abfüllanlage;
• 9 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems mit optionalen, weiteren Maschinen einer Abfüllanlage;
• 10A bis 10B zeigen jeweils eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Multipacks;
• 11A und 11B zeigen eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform einer Palettenzusammenstellung mit erfindungsgemäßen Multipacks;
• 12a bis 12p zeigen erfindungsgemäße Multipacks, bzw. 12a einen Teil eines erfindungsgemäßen Multipacks;
• 13a bis 13c zeigen, wie erfindungsgemäße Multipacks an Sollbruchstellen von einem Benutzer aufgetrennt werden können;
• 14a bis 14i zeigen einzelne Aspekte, wie sie bei diversen Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystem vorgesehen sein können;
• 15 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht (Draufsicht) einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems;
• 16 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht (Draufsicht) einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verpackungssystems; 16a zeigt eine Seitenansicht eines Ausschnitts der 16

Even if “schematic” representations and views are generally spoken of in connection with the figures, this in no way means that the figure representations and their description should be of secondary importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. The person skilled in the art is quite able to derive enough information from the schematically and abstractly drawn representations that facilitate his understanding of the invention without his understanding being impaired in any way from the drawn and possibly not exactly to scale proportions . The figures thus enable the person skilled in the art as a reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive ideas formulated in the claims and in the general part of the description of general and / or more abstractly formulated ideas on the basis of the more specifically explained implementations of the method according to the invention and the more specifically explained mode of operation of the device according to the invention.

• 1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention;
• 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps in each case as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention and how a container according to the invention can be produced;
• 3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention;
• 3a is an enlarged illustration of a section from 3
• 4th shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention;
• 5a shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention;
• 5b shows a schematic view of a for 5 similar embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention;
• 6a shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention;
• 6b shows a schematic view of a for 6a similar embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention;
• 6c shows a schematic view of a for 6a similar embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention and illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention;
• 7th shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention with optional, further machines of a filling plant;
• 8th shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention with optional, further machines of a filling plant;
• 9 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention with optional, further machines of a filling plant;
• 10A to 10B each show a schematic side view of an embodiment of a multipack according to the invention;
• 11A and 11B show a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a pallet assembly with multipacks according to the invention;
• 12a to 12p show multipacks according to the invention or 12a part of a multipack according to the invention;
• 13a to 13c show how multipacks according to the invention can be separated by a user at predetermined breaking points;
• 14a to 14i show individual aspects as they can be provided in various embodiments of a packaging system according to the invention;
• 15th shows a schematic view (top view) of a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention;
• 16 shows a schematic view (top view) of a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention; 16a shows a side view of a section of FIG 16

Identical reference symbols are used for identical or identically acting elements of the invention. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures which are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are only examples of how the invention can be configured and do not represent a final limitation. If bottles, beverage containers or the like are mentioned in the following, these can also be replaced by other articles.

1 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention 1 and illustrates individual steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

The embodiment of a packaging system 1 from the embodiment according to 1 includes a feeder 3 with a first conveyor belt 5 , a second conveyor belt 7th and a third conveyor belt 9 . Over the first conveyor belt 5 and the third conveyor belt 9 are each beverage container 12 of a first type provided. Via the second conveyor belt 7th are exclusively beverage containers 12 of a second type provided. The types can differ in the type of product, in size, shape or diameter. Identical beverage containers can also be used 12 over all conveyor belts 5 , 7th and 9 to be provided.

The feed 3 stands with a work facility 15th in connection, which from the first beverage containers 12 going over the first conveyor belt 5 and the third conveyor belt 9 are provided and from second beverage containers 14th going over the second conveyor belt 7th are provided, a respective container 2 , which comes as a multipack 4th is designed, can produce.

The conveyor belts 5 , 7th and 9 as well as the work facility 15th are via the control and / or regulating device S. controlled.

The conveyor belts 5 , 7th can be part of a first transport device, the conveyor belt 9 Part of a second transport device (see above).

Part of the work facility 15th are a first gluing device 17th , a second gluing device 19th and a third gluing device 21st which each work on the principle of a rotary machine or carousel (see above). 1 reveals here that the first adhesive device 17th the first conveyor belt 5 is assigned that the second adhesive device 19th the second conveyor belt 7th is assigned and that the third gluing device 21st the third conveyor belt 9 assigned.

The first gluing device 17th takes first beverage container 12 from the first conveyor belt 5 and transports the from the first conveyor belt 5 accepted first beverage container 12 along a circular path. While moving along the circular path, the first Beverage container 12 on nozzles 18th the first gluing device 17th moved past. The nozzles 18th are part of the adhesive application device (see above). The nozzles 18th the first gluing device 17th apply an adhesive to the lateral surfaces 45 (see. 12 ) which used to be over the first conveyor belt 5 transported the first beverage container 12 on.

The second gluing device 19th , which the second conveyor belt 7th is assigned, takes second beverage container 14th from the second conveyor belt 7th and transports the from the second conveyor belt 7th accepted second beverage container 14th along a circular path. During the movement along the circular path, the second beverage containers 14th on nozzles 20th the second gluing device 19th moved past. The nozzles 20th the second gluing device 19th bring an application of adhesive or adhesive to lateral lateral surfaces 47 (see. 12 ) which used to be via the second conveyor belt 7th transported second beverage container 14th on.

The third gluing device 21st is the third conveyor belt 9 assigned, takes first beverage container 12 from the third conveyor belt 9 and transports the from the third conveyor belt 9 accepted first beverage container 12 along a circular path. The first beverage containers 12 which is on the third conveyor belt 9 and the first beverage containers 12 which over the first conveyor belt 5 are transported are designed identically in terms of volume, geometry and dimensions or have an identical vertical extension. During the movement along the circular path over the third gluing device 21st will be the first beverage containers 12 on nozzles 22nd the third gluing device 21st moved past. The nozzles 22nd the third gluing device 21st apply an adhesive to the lateral surfaces 45 (see. 12 ) which used to be via the third conveyor belt 9 transported the first beverage container 12 on.

During the movement along the respective circular path, the first gluing device, which is designed as a rotary machine (carousel), is thus used 17th , via the second gluing device designed as a rotary machine (carousel) 19th and via the third gluing device designed as a rotary machine (carousel) 21st each beverage container 12 or. 14th held on their respective lateral lateral surfaces 45 or. 47 (see. 10 ) a respective adhesive application is applied.

As 1 also shows the packaging system 1 a horizontal conveyor 25th on which the respective container 2 or the respective first and second beverage container 12 and 14th comprehensive multipack 4th will be produced. A conveying direction FR of the horizontal conveyor 25th is in 1 indicated by arrows. Part of the horizontal conveyor 25th can be part of the third transport device (see above).

About the adhesive devices designed as rotary machines 17th , 19th and 21st held beverage container 12 and 14th with their applied adhesive to the horizontal conveyor 25th to be able to transfer is in the embodiment according to 1 any gluing device 17th , 19th and 21st a guided tour 51 , 52 and 53 for the recordings 61 , 62 , 63 assigned. The tours too 51 , 52 and 53 are part of the work equipment 15th . The guides 51 and 52 including the assigned recordings are part of a first grouping device (see above). The guides 53 and 54 including the assigned recordings 63 and 64 are part of a second grouping device.

The guides 51 , 52 and 53 are assigned several circumferentially guided recordings, in the following also clamping and / or gripping means 61 , 62 and 63 called about which the tours 51 , 52 and 53 from the gluing devices 17th , 19th and 21st Beverage container 12 or. 14th receive and to the horizontal conveyor 25th can convict. The horizontal conveyor 25th does not necessarily have to be at the beginning (left) of the tours, as shown 51 , 52 be provided, but could also only begin at the end of this, depending on whether support is necessary. The clamping and / or gripping means 61 and 63 the first tour 51 and the third tour 53 can be designed identically and each correspond to the first beverage container 12 . The clamping and / or gripping means 62 the second tour 52 correspond to second beverage containers 14th . The clamping and / or gripping means 61 , 62 and 63 can each be removed from the guide and replaced by additional clamping and / or gripping means. Embodiments in which the clamping and / or gripping means have proven themselves here 61 , 62 and 63 connected to a quick-change system for acceptance. Be on this work facility 15th all the same containers 12 processed, so can all recordings 61 , 62 , 63 and possibly 64 be designed essentially identically.

During the guided tours 51-54 it can be an electromagnetic direct drive or they can include one. About one as part of the respective tour 51 , 52 or. 53 trained stator can the respective clamping and / or gripping means 61 , 62 and 63 and possibly 64 or associated trolleys (see below) driven and for transferring the respective beverage container 12 or. 14th to the horizontal conveyor 25th be moved around.

In addition to an electromagnetic direct drive, the recordings 61-64 be guided along curves or paths.

The electromagnetic direct drive 51 for or as a guide is only an example and can be used in all embodiments for which an electromagnetic direct drive 51 is shown or described, can be replaced by other, in particular mechanical, means, for example by a revolving belt or a revolving chain, which with the respective receptacles 61-64 (or indirectly via car) and which or which is driven by a flanged electric motor, the recordings can also be guided in curves or grooves. (Not shown)

The one about the first electromagnetic direct drive 51 circumferentially guided first clamping and / or gripping means 61 take the first beverage container 12 , on their lateral lateral surfaces 45 (please refer 10 ) an adhesive application was applied in each case, from the first adhesive device 17th and set a respective one of two (or more, not shown) first beverage containers in successive steps 12 existing first row 41 on the horizontal conveyor 25th from.

Successive and still from the first gluing device 17th held first beverage container 12 have a relative distance or pitch delay, compared to the relative distance between successive first beverage containers 12 a respective first row 41 is enlarged. The speeds of the first clamping and / or gripping means 61 are coordinated so that the first clamping and / or gripping means 61 first beverage container 12 from the first gluing device 17th can receive, then the relative distance between consecutive and already accepted first beverage containers 12 then reduce the size and the first beverage containers that have been accepted up to then 12 without or with only small spaces as the first row 41 on the horizontal conveyor 25th drop.

As previously mentioned, the nozzles 18th Adhesive application on lateral lateral surfaces 45 (see. 12 ) the first beverage container 12 upset. It can be the case that the first beverage container 12 then on the horizontal conveyor 25th separated first row 41 are connected to one another via these adhesive applications. During another movement of the first row 41 In the conveying direction FR, the applied adhesive applications can harden, so that lateral lateral surfaces 45 of the first beverage containers 12 the first row 41 via a respective one between the lateral surfaces 45 arranged and cohesive connection formed by a cured adhesive application in the finished multipack 4th stick together.

The functional principle of the second electromagnetic direct drive 52 which of the second gluing device 19th is assigned is essentially identical to the functional principle of the first electromagnetic direct drive 51 which of the first gluing device 17th assigned. So are about clamping and / or gripping means 62 of the second electromagnetic direct drive 52 second beverage container 14th with already applied adhesive from the second adhesive device 19th accepted and as the second row 42 on the horizontal conveyor 25th discontinued. Also on lateral lateral surfaces 47 the second beverage container 14th an application of adhesive can already be applied here, over which the second beverage container 14th the second row 42 after being placed on the horizontal conveyor 25th are in connection with each other and which adhesive application during a further movement of the respective second row 42 hardens in the conveying direction FR to form an integral bond.

1 shows first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th the first and second row 41 and 42 form a honeycomb composite article. The first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th are thus nested.

1 It also makes clear that the first electromagnetic direct drive 51 on the horizontal conveyor 25th first row to be produced 41 and the respective via the second electromagnetic direct drive 52 on the horizontal conveyor 25th second row to be produced 42 at least approximately at the same time and immediately adjacent to one another and as a honeycomb-shaped beverage container assembly on the horizontal conveyor 25th be dropped off; be discontinued; be deducted; be dismissed.

On lateral lateral surfaces 45 or. 47 then on the horizontal conveyor 25th separate beverage container 12 or. 14th the first and / or second row 41 or. 42 an application of adhesive can be applied over which the first beverage container 12 the first row 41 with second beverage container 14th the second row 42 are related to each other. While moving the first row 41 and the second row 42 The adhesive application can harden in the conveying direction FR, so that the first beverage container 12 the first row 41 with second beverage container 14th the second row 42 in a multipack 4th are firmly connected. The articles of the first and second rows come into contact within the joining area of the first grouping device 51 , 52 .

The third electromagnetic direct drive 53 is the first electromagnetic direct drive 51 and the second electromagnetic direct drive 52 downstream in conveying direction FR. The one for a respective multipack 4th provided third row 43 on the first beverage containers 12 is opposite the first and the second for a respective multipack 4th provided row 41 and 42 on the horizontal conveyor 25th at a later time on the horizontal conveyor 25th discontinued. For this purpose, the first beverage containers 12 with an already applied adhesive application via the reference with number 63 in 1 illustrated clamping and / or gripping means by the third gluing device 21st accepted and as the third row 43 immediately adjacent to the second row 42 on the horizontal conveyor 25th discontinued.

Also on the third gluing device up until then 21st worn first beverage container 12 an application of adhesive can be applied over which the first beverage container 12 the third row 43 temporally after being placed on the horizontal conveyor 25th with second beverage container 14th the second row 42 stay in contact. Immediately after forming the third row 43 or after removing the for the third row 43 provided first beverage container 12 on the horizontal conveyor 25th form the first beverage containers 12 the first row 41 , the second beverage container 14th the second row 42 and the first beverage containers 12 the third row 43 a grouping. If the adhesive applications are at least partially cured, the respective grouping forms with the beverage containers connected via the at least partially cured adhesive applications 12 or. 14th a finished container 2 or a finished multipack 4th from, which only has a honeycomb-shaped beverage container composite in some areas.

During the further movement of a grouping in the conveying direction FR, the respective adhesive application can thus at least partially harden, so that in the multipack produced 4th a cohesive connection between the first beverage containers 12 the third row 43 and second beverage containers 14th the second row 42 consists. Since the first beverage container 12 the first row 41 also via a material connection to the second beverage container 14th the second row 42 can stick, all beverage containers 12 or. 14th of the container 2 or the multipack 4th Be releasably held to one another via the integral connections.

It is conceivable here that all beverage containers 12 or. 14th of the respective container 2 or the respective multipack 4th are held releasably to one another exclusively via the material connections.

At approximately the same height in the conveying direction FR with the third electromagnetic direct drive 53 includes the packaging system 1 a fourth electromagnetic direct drive 54 , which has several clamping and / or gripping instruments 64 circumferential leads. At the time of and especially at the time after the third row was dropped 43 on the first beverage containers 12 can the clamping and / or gripping instrument 64 all for a respective container 2 designated beverage containers 12 and 14th Hold in a form-fitting manner and accompany in sections during a further movement in the conveying direction FR. This can avoid that for the respective container 2 or the respective multipack 4th designated beverage containers 12 and 14th the first, second and / or third row 41 , 42 and or 43 unintentionally tilt or slip during their movement in the conveying direction FR. The clamping and / or gripping instrument can alternatively be designed as a simple, possibly L-shaped, push rod. Since the first beverage container 12 which is already on the horizontal conveyor 25th separated first row 41 with the second beverage container 14th the one on the horizontal conveyor 25th separated second row 42 can form a honeycomb beverage container composite by holding at least part of the first beverage container in a form-fitting manner 12 and / or at least a part of the second beverage container 14th via the clamping and / or gripping instrument 64 be avoided that the held beverage container 12 unintentionally get into an orientation in which the first beverage container 12 the first row 41 with second beverage container 14th the second row 42 leave the honeycomb or nested arrangement.

If, as already mentioned, on lateral lateral surfaces 45 or. 47 from the first and / or already on the horizontal conveyor 25th arranged beverage containers 12 or. 14th an application of adhesive is applied, embodiments have proven in which the beverage container 12 or. 14th a respective row 41 , 42 or. 43 via the clamping and / or gripping instrument 64 are held together with clamping force during their movement in the conveying direction FR. The clamping and / or gripping instrument 64 (or the recording 64 ) from the exemplary embodiment 1 includes two gripping fingers that are attached to the front and rear beverage containers in the conveying direction FR 12 and 14th for a particular container 2 are provided and are on the horizontal conveyor 25th are located, applied force. In this way, it can be ensured with a high degree of certainty that the adhesive applications, after curing, form a cohesive connection via which the respective immediately adjacent beverage containers 12 or. 14th of the respective container 2 or the respective multipack 4th be held together securely.

The clamping and / or gripping instrument 64 and / or the recordings 61 , 62 and 63 can have relatively movable, in particular controllable gripper fingers that can enclose an article like tongs - at least in certain areas.

Embodiments in which the for a respective container 2 or a respective multipack 4th over a certain period of time during its movement over a clamping and / or gripping instrument 64 are kept, have also proven themselves, provided that on the respective container 2 or on the respective multipack 4th a handle or handle is arranged. For this purpose, for example, a handle application module can be provided, as is exemplified in FIG 7th to 9 is shown in each case by reference with number 89.

The respective grouping and / or the already finished container can be timed while the respective handle or carrying handle is being attached 2 or multipack 4th via the clamping and / or gripping instrument 64 being held. This can prevent the beverage container 12 or. 14th the respective grouping and / or the already finished container 2 or multipacks 4th move unintentionally to each other. Alternatively, the carrying handle can also be applied downstream of the working device.

With position identifier 64 'is an alternative embodiment to the receptacles 64 the leadership 54 marked, which is a slide. This can in particular be L-shaped or as a simple rod without a clamping function.

By means of the packaging system 1 after 1 becomes a container 2 or a multipack 4th manufactured in which all the second beverage containers 14th each between at least two first beverage containers 12 are positioned. The beverage containers 12 the first row 41 make up with beverage containers 14th the second row 42 a honeycomb-shaped or nested composite beverage container. Second form beverage containers 14th the second row 42 with the first beverage containers 12 the third row do not have a honeycomb-shaped beverage container structure or are not nested (non-nested). One by means of the packaging system 1 manufactured multipack 4th is thus characterized by the fact that the packaging system 1 manufactured multipack 4th forms a honeycomb beverage container composite only in some areas.

The packaging system 1 can be one of the horizontal conveyors 25th downstream in conveying direction FR and in 1 Grouping station, not shown, for containers 2 comprise, which are made up of a plurality of a plurality of first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th comprehensive containers 2 or multipacks 4th forms a palletizable layer. The grouping station can also have one in 1 palletizing station, not shown, which then places several such palletizable layers in a stacked arrangement on an assigned pallet.

The second beverage container 14th that form the second row do not necessarily have to be different from the first beverage container 12 but can be of the same type (size, product, label ...).

2 shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention 1 and illustrates individual steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention. The embodiment according to 2 differs from the embodiment according to 1 especially in the design of the feed 3 . So are also in the embodiment 2 furthermore a first conveyor belt 5 and a third conveyor belt 9 provided which for each container to be produced 2 or multipack 4th first beverage container 12 provide. Instead of in the embodiment according to 1 existing second conveyor belt 7th includes the packaging system 1 from the embodiment according to 2 a one-piece 70 . The one-piece 70 is capable of first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th in a certain order to the second gluing device 19th to pass which particular order to different beverage containers 12 and 14th the respective second row 42 of the container to be produced 2 or the multipack to be produced 4th is matched.

The second electromagnetic direct drive 52 takes first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th in the means of the one piece 70 predetermined sequence from the second gluing device 19th and places the first and second beverage containers received 12 and 14th as the second row 42 on the horizontal conveyor 25th from. The first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th the second row 42 have on their lateral lateral surfaces 45 and 47 already an adhesive application over which the on the horizontal conveyor 25th separate first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th the second row 42 with those on the horizontal conveyor 25th removed first beverage containers 12 the first row 41 stay in contact. The application of adhesive to beverage containers 12 and 14th which for the second row 42 are provided is via the second gluing device 19th on these beverage containers 12 and 14th upset.

During a joint movement of the first row 41 and the second row 42 The adhesive applications can at least partially cure in the conveying direction FR. According to the embodiment already described 1 are via the third electromagnetic direct drive 53 first beverage container 12 from the third gluing device 21st accepted and as the third row 43 on the horizontal conveyor 43 discontinued. The first beverage containers 12 are in this way on the horizontal conveyor 25th placed that first beverage container 12 the third row 43 with first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th of the second row form a honeycomb-shaped beverage container assembly or are nested.

Also on the first beverage container 12 the third row 43 an application of adhesive has been applied to the horizontal conveyor 25th removed first beverage container 12 the third row 43 a material connection to the first and second beverage containers 12 or. 14th the second row 42 produce.

The fourth electromagnetic direct drive 54 includes as in the embodiment according to 1 a grasping instrument 64 which beverage container 12 or. 14th of the non-nesting intermediate container 41 , 42 to the containers 12 the third row 43 , in particular pressed against each other or brought into contact with force.

That by means of the packaging system 1 from the embodiment according to 2 manufactured containers 2 or multipack 4th has a second beverage container 14th , the opposite of the first beverage containers 12 has a smaller vertical extent. The second beverage container 14th is in the container 2 or in a multipack 4th all around from the first beverage containers 12 surround. Such by means of the packaging system 1 produced container 2 or one via the packaging system 1 manufactured multipack 4th has an improved stackability compared to mixed containers known from the prior art. This also forms by means of the packaging system 1 from the embodiment according to 2 manufactured multipack 4th , as well as that by means of the packaging system 1 from the embodiment according to 1 manufactured multipack 4th , only partially a honeycomb beverage container composite.

The main three differences to the 1 (the one-piece 70 alternating feeding of the first and second containers 12 , 14th and the sequence of production of the nested and untested arrangement) can alternatively also be used individually as an addition to 1 to be available. For example, in 2 same influx 3 to the gluing device 19th with the same type of container (first container), only that in the first grouping device, that is, from the guides 51 , 52 , a non-nesting intermediate container is produced and containers in the second grouping device 12 nested is added.

Generally speaking, you can use the packaging system 1 according to 1 and 2 adhesive bandages nested in areas only 2 with at least three rows, each row in the container 2 container 12 from its own feed and each feed 3 its own adhesive application device 20th having.

Furthermore, it can generally be said that a through the first grouping device 51 , 52 Any intermediate container produced exclusively either nested or non-nested containers 12 having, after which by a second grouping device 53 , 54 a nested intermediate container 12 un-nested or an un-nested intermediate container 12 nested to be added. In particular, the intermediate containers can consist of two rows.

3 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention 1 and each illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

The embodiment of a packaging system 1 after 3 includes according to the exemplary embodiments 1 and 2 continue to be part of the feed 3 trained first conveyor belt 5 as well as one as part of the feed 3 trained second conveyor belt 7th , the first conveyor belt 5 and the second conveyor belt 7th first beverage container 12 move. The first conveyor belt 5 is also a first gluing device 17th downstream which first beverage container 12 from the first conveyor belt 5 receives and an adhesive and / or adhesive application via the nozzles 18th on the lateral lateral surfaces of the first conveyor belt 5 accepted first beverage container 12 brings up.

Also the second conveyor belt 7th is also a second gluing device 19th downstream which first beverage container 12 from the second conveyor belt 7th and via the nozzles 20th an application of adhesive and / or adhesive to the first beverage container received 12 brings up. Via the electromagnetic direct drives 51 and 52 will be the first beverage containers 12 with the already applied adhesive and / or adhesive applications from the adhesive devices 17th and 19th and in a relative orientation on the horizontal conveyor 25th deposited, which of their relative arrangement or orientation in the finished container 2 or multipack 4th corresponds. The time after the adhesive and / or adhesive applications have at least partially cured, the first beverage containers 12 are held cohesively to one another by means of the at least partially cured adhesive and / or adhesive applications, so that the first beverage containers held to one another via the adhesive and / or adhesive applications 12 a respective container 2 or a respective multipack 4th form. “At least partially cured” can mean that the adhesive is not yet completely dry, but a certain amount of force is required to separate the containers from one another. This state can occur very shortly after two containers have been brought into contact, i.e. already in the joint area between the guides 51 , 52 .

Such a container 2 or multipack 4th leaves 3a recognize the first beverage container 12 of the container 2 or multipacks 4th continue on the horizontal conveyor 25th stand up. Three first beverage containers 12 of the container 2 or the multipack 4th form a first area 201 in the container 2 or multipack 4th with a honeycomb composite article 250 out. Three more first beverage containers 12 of the container 2 or the multipack 4th form a second area 202 in the container 2 or in a multipack 4th with another honeycomb composite article 250 out. Four first beverage containers 12 are also in a third area 203 of the container 2 or the multipack 4th brought into an arrangement with one another, in which the beverage container 12 in the third area 203 are not arranged in a honeycomb shape to one another or are not oriented in a honeycomb shape to one another.

The third area 203 of the container 2 or the multipack 4th is preferably located between the first area 201 and the second area 202 . Longitudinal axes of the first beverage containers 12 , which is a honeycomb-shaped composite 250 in the first area 201 can be connected to form a triangle. The longitudinal axes of the first beverage containers can also be used 12 , which is a honeycomb-shaped composite 250 in the second area 202 train to be connected to a triangle or equilateral triangle. In addition, the longitudinal axes of beverage containers 12 which in the third area 203 are not arranged in a honeycomb to one another or are not oriented in a honeycomb to one another, are connected to one another to form a square.

In 3a which is a section of 3 acts in which the recordings 62 have been omitted, three transport paths A, B, C are also shown, along which the containers 12 be transported in the joining area. Here, a first distance D or E between two transport paths, here A and B or B and C, is smaller than a receiving diameter. The two transport paths, here A and B or B and C, in particular, are assigned to two articles which will later be in a nested arrangement with one another in the container.

Furthermore, a second distance F between two transport paths A and C is equal to the diameter of a receiving opening. These two transport paths A, C are in particular two containers 12 assigned which in the later container 12 Are part of a nested arrangement.

The first transport path A, which defines the first distance D with another second transport path B, is in particular a transport path A which defines the second distance F with a third transport path C.

One can in the 3 already realize that at least one guide 51 , 52 different recordings 62a, 62b (for the sake of clarity, only two recordings of the four have been provided with position identifiers), since the front and rear articles viewed in the conveying direction FR 12 at a different distance from the guides 51 , 52 must be guided. A variant is shown here in which the front end and rear end of the bundle of bundles 12 associated ends of the receptacles 62b have a greater distance from the guide than the receptacles 62a.

Overall, it should be noted that the grouping device 51 , 52 eight recordings per container to be produced 12 assigned. Alternatively (not shown) only six recordings can be used 62 be provided when the front and rear containers 12 only from one recording at a time 62 only one of the tours 51 , 52 be included.

Through a change, for example a regrouping of the recordings 62 or adding / removing recordings 62 to the tours 51 , 52 other containers can also be produced with this device - for example the containers 12 after the 12b , 12g , 12k , 12m , 12n , 12p .

4th shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention 1 and illustrates individual steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention. The feed 3 includes in 4th a first conveyor belt 5 , a second conveyor belt 7th , a third conveyor belt 9 and a fourth conveyor belt 11.

Over the first conveyor belt 5 and the second conveyor belt 7th become first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th provided in a specific order, which specific order for the respective container 2 or the respective multipack 4th provided first and second row 41 and 42 is matched. About the first and second gluing devices 17th and 19th are over the first conveyor belt 5 and the second conveyor belt 7th first and second beverage containers provided in the specific order 12 and 14th accepted, whereupon a respective application of adhesive on lateral lateral surfaces 45 or. 47 the received first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th is applied.

With the adhesive applied, the first and second beverage containers become 12 and 14th then via the first and second electromagnetic direct drive 51 and 52 as the first and second row 41 and 42 on the horizontal conveyor 25th discontinued. The second beverage container 14th have optional over the first beverage container 12 In terms of amount, there is still a smaller extension in the vertical direction. In the first row 41 as well as in the second row 42 is a respective second beverage container 14th in the conveying direction FR between each two first beverage containers 12 arranged. Via the third electromagnetic direct drive 53 and via the fourth electromagnetic direct drive 54 become the first beverage containers 12 from the third and fourth conveyor belt 9 and 11 received and as for a respective container 2 provided third row 43 and fourth row 44 on the horizontal conveyor 25th discontinued. This as the third row 43 and as the fourth row 44 on the horizontal conveyor 25th removed first beverage container 12 make up with beverage containers 12 or. 14th the first row 41 and the second row 42 a honeycomb-shaped composite article or a honeycomb-shaped beverage container composite. In addition, the first and second form beverage containers 12 or. 14th the first row 41 with first and second beverage containers 12 or. 14th the second row 42 an area in the finished container 2 or multipack 4th in which the beverage container 12 or. 14th are not arranged honeycomb to one another.

Also are in the container then produced 2 or multipack 4th two second beverage containers 14th all around from the first beverage containers 12 surround. The second beverage container 14th still own compared to the first beverage containers 12 In terms of amount, a smaller extension in the vertical direction. That by means of the packaging system 1 from the embodiment according to 4th manufactured containers 2 or multipack 4th has an improved stackability compared to the mixed containers known from the prior art.

5a shows a schematic view of an embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention 1 and each illustrates individual steps as they can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention. The embodiment of the packaging system 1 after 5a includes an inlet 3 with several guide rails 67 , between which beverage container 12 be moved. Part of the packaging system 1 is also a work device that has a push rod 65 can move in conveying direction FR. The push rod 65 occurs on the back with beverage containers 12 in the system and pushes the beverage container 12 in transport direction FR. A contact between these beverage containers 12 and the push rod 65 already takes place during a tour of the respective beverage container 12 between the guide railings 67 . Such a contact is in 5a and 5b each illustrated. The direction or shape of the guide railings 67 and the geometry of the push rod 65 are in the 5a and 5b each designed in such a way that by means of the guidance of beverage containers 12 over the guide railing 67 and pushing the beverage container 12 in the conveying direction FR an arrangement of beverage containers 12 can be formed which an arrangement of the beverage container 12 in the finished multipack 4th corresponds. In this arrangement the beverage containers form 12 a honeycomb beverage container composite only in some areas.

Another embodiment of a packaging system 1 out 6a and 6b corresponds essentially to the embodiment from FIG 5a and 5b so that on the previous description to the 5a and 5b can be referred back.

The embodiment according to 6a and 6b or. 6c differ from the embodiment according to 5a and 5b each in the number of guide railings 67 of the inflow 3 as well as in the geometric design of the push rod 65 , what a 6a and 6b or. 6c on the reduced number of guide railings 67 is matched. Also through the packaging system 1 from the embodiment according to 6a and 6b or. 6c becomes an arrangement of beverage containers 12 formed, which only in some areas forms a honeycomb beverage container assembly. The arrangement, which by means of the embodiment according to 6a can be generated, corresponds to that already 3a described arrangement. In 6c is also a control and / or regulating device S. provided which with a camera 535 is connected. Via the camera 535 can the control and / or regulating device S. monitor whether the particular arrangement produced Beverage containers 12 corresponds to a predetermined target arrangement.

The embodiments of the 5 and 6th can be part of the embodiment according to 15th be. Alternatively, it would be conceivable that immediately before or in a device after the 5 and 6th an application of adhesive to the container takes place, this preferably taking place at a height of the container which is not the height of the points of application of the railings 67 and / or the push rods 65 on the containers. (not shown) In particular, in this case adhesive application nozzles can be provided above the transport plane of the containers, which are aligned at an angle (not equal to 0 °) to the vertical.

7th shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention 1 and illustrates individual steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

The packaging system 1 from the embodiment according to 7th comprises a temperature control device for preforms to which in 7th with number 80 is referred. Via the temperature control device for preforms 80 so-called preforms are heated, for example, via infrared radiation and / or microwave radiation and / or laser radiation and then linked to the reference with number 82 shown stretch blow molding module, which from the heated preforms or from the heated preforms first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th (see. 1 to 6th ) forms. For this purpose, the stretch blow molding module can comprise different stretch blow molds which are attached to the first beverage container to be formed 12 and second beverage container 14th are adapted. If necessary, you can use the stretch blow molding module 82 first and / or second beverage container 14th in any number from the temperature control device 80 heated preforms or preforms are produced.

The then in the stretch blow molding module 82 manufactured first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th are sent to the filling and sealing station 84 passed, wherein liquid (beverage) in the first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th is introduced. Then the first and second filled beverage containers 12 and 14th in the filling and sealing station 84 locked. On the filling and sealing station 84 a drying station follows 85 , to which a labeling station 86 connects. The labeling station 86 is present as a direct printing machine 87 formed and can thus outer circumferential surfaces of first beverage containers 12 and second beverage containers 14th to print. Alternatively, the direct printing machine can also be used in front of the filling and sealing station 84 and after the blow molding machine 82 be arranged (not shown).

From the labeling station 86 (or closing station, not shown) are the filled first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th to the feeder 3 passed, which in the present case is designed as a distributor star 88. A first and second adhesive device 17th take the first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th from the feeder 3 or from the distributor star 88 and apply a respective application of adhesive to the first and second beverage containers received 12 and 14th on. Via the first and second electromagnetic direct drive 51 and 52 become the first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th on the horizontal conveyor 25th deposited, with on the horizontal conveyor 25th a respective container 2 or a respective multipack 4th (see. 1 to 6th ) is formed, which several first beverage containers 12 and at least one second beverage container 14th includes. The respective container is via the handle application module 89 2 or the respective multipack 4th provided with a handle or several handles. Next is made of several containers 2 or from several multipacks 4th via the palletizing station 4th a pallet assembly formed. The container 2 or the multipack 4th which via the packaging system 1 after 9 is produced, forms a honeycomb beverage container assembly only in some areas.

The containers 2 or multipacks 4th , which by means of the packaging system 1 after 7th are formed, each comprise a second beverage container 14th , which opposite all the first beverage containers 12 Has a smaller extent in terms of amount in the vertical direction. In the container 2 or in a multipack 4th is the second beverage container 14th between two first beverage containers 12 . Such by means of the packaging system 1 after 7th produced container 2 or such by means of the device 7th manufactured multipack 4th has an improved stackability compared to the mixed containers known from the prior art.

With regard to the embodiment from 7th it may be that the first and / or second beverage container 12 or. 14th from the distributor star 88 to a first conveyor belt 5 and / or a second conveyor belt 7th are passed on, for example in one of the exemplary embodiments 1 to 4th are shown. An embodiment according to one of the 1 to 5 can thus as part of the device 1 after 7th be designed and connect to the distributor star 88. It can with the device 1 after 7th containers according to the invention can also be produced which only have first containers.

8th shows a schematic view of a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention 1 and illustrates individual steps as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention. The embodiment of a packaging system 1 from the embodiment according to 8th differs from the embodiment 7th in the structure or in the function of the reference with number 86 shown labeling station. The labeling station 86 out 8th is designed as a module and includes the drying station 85 . Via the labeling station 86 can put adhesive labels on the lateral surfaces 45 or. 47 (see. 10 ) from first and second beverage containers 12 or. 14th be applied.

Also the embodiment 9 differs from the embodiment 8th in the structure or in the function of the reference with number 86 shown labeling station. In the embodiment according to 9 is the drying station 85 still part of the labeling station 86 and arranged in front of this to dry the containers for labeling and gluing. Compared to the exemplary embodiment 8th includes the labeling station in 9 also several nozzles 18th , via which an adhesive is applied to the lateral surfaces of the first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th can be applied. The feed 3 or the distribution star 88 is the labeling station 86 immediately downstream and can first and second beverage containers 12 or. 14th with already applied adhesive from the labeling station 86 and to the electromagnetic direct drives 51 and 52 pass on. Instead of a distribution star, another type of switch can be used - also with the 7th and 8th . Furthermore, a further drying station can be arranged immediately before the adhesive is applied (not shown).

If cans are processed, a heating module can be used 80 and a stretch blow molding module 82 be waived. Instead, a depalletizer can be the filler 84 be upstream. A labeling station can optionally be provided after the closer.

The 10 each show a schematic side view of an embodiment of a container according to the invention 2 , each as a multipack 4th is trained. The container 2 or the multipack 4th out 10A includes three rows of beverage containers 12 or. 14th , of which in 10A a first row 41 can be seen. The three other rows are in the direction of the image plane behind the in 10A shown first row 41 and are from the first beverage containers 12 the first row 41 covered. The first row 41 only includes first beverage containers 12 . A second row of beverage containers 12 or. 14th which one of the first row 41 is immediately adjacent, consists of two first beverage containers 12 and a second beverage container 14th , which second beverage container 14th between the first two beverage containers 12 the second row. The position of the second beverage container 14th is in 10A shown hatched. A third row, which is then immediately adjacent to the second row, in turn consists exclusively of first beverage containers 12 . 10 shows that the second beverage container 14th compared to all of the first beverage containers 12 In terms of amount, it has a smaller extent in the vertical direction or that the second beverage container 14th smaller than the first beverage container 12 is.

The first beverage containers 12 as well as the second beverage container 14th of the container 2 after 10A each include lateral lateral surfaces 45 or. 47 . On lateral lateral surfaces 45 the first beverage container 12 and the second beverage container 14th An adhesive was applied so that the beverage container 12 and 14th of the container 2 with their immediately adjacent beverage containers 12 or. 14th of the container 2 are held together by a material connection. It is also conceivable that for the container 2 out 10A and / or for the containers 2 from the 10B and / or 10C a strapping, thermoplastic packaging material and / or a packaging blank is provided, which the beverage container 12 or. 14th of the respective container 2 in addition or as an alternative to the cohesive connections.

The container 2 or the multipack 4th out 10A has an improved stackability compared to known mixed containers and can be designed as part of a pallet assembly.

Even with the container 2 or the multipack 4th according to the embodiment 10B is a first row 41 on beverage containers 12 or. 14th to recognize, being in the direction of the picture plane behind the first row 41 a second row is arranged. The second row and the first row 41 are in terms of the number and design of beverage containers 12 and 14th identical. So include the first row 41 and the second row has two first beverage containers 12 and a second beverage container 14th between the first beverage containers 12 is arranged. The second beverage container 14th is still across from all the first beverage containers 12 reduced in terms of amount with regard to its vertical extent. Also the container 2 or the multipack 4th after 10B has one compared to known mixed containers improved stackability. Between lateral lateral surfaces 45 or. 47 from immediately adjacent beverage containers 12 or. 14th a material connection can be formed.

10C shows a first row 41 a further embodiment of a container according to the invention 2 or multipacks 4th . In the direction of the picture plane is behind the first row 41 arranged a second row, which is through the in 10C illustrated beverage container 12 and 14th is covered and therefore cannot be seen. The second row, however, depends on the number and design of the beverage containers 12 and 14th identical to the first row 41 designed. The second row thus also comprises two first beverage containers 12 and two second beverage containers 14th .

The first beverage containers 12 and the second beverage container 14th are connected to one another via adhesive applications which are placed on lateral lateral surfaces 45 or. 47 the first and second beverage containers 12 and 14th are upset. Apply a defined force to one of the beverage containers 12 or. 14th applied, the respective cohesive connection produced via the adhesive application, which between directly adjacent beverage containers 12 and 14th is trained to be broken up. The respective beverage container 12 or. 14th can then from the container 2 or multipack 4th be removed. Also in the embodiment according to 10C is the respective vertical extension of the second beverage container 14th compared to the respective vertical extension of the first beverage container 12 reduced in amount. A respective second beverage container 14th is located between the first two beverage containers 12 . The containers 2 or multipacks 4th from the exemplary embodiments 10A to 10C form a honeycomb-shaped beverage container assembly only in certain areas, which simulates the only regionally formed trolley-shaped beverage container assembly in the side views 10A to 10C each cannot be seen.

11A and 11B show a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a pallet assembly or layer 500 with multipacks according to the invention 4th from containers 12 only one type (first container). As 11a and 11b each show the form as part of a pallet assembly 500 trained containers 2 or multipacks 4th each only in some areas from a honeycomb-shaped beverage container assembly. The containers 2 or multipacks 4th the pallet assembly 500 after 11b differ from the containers 2 or multipacks 4th the panel composition 500 after 11a in the number and arrangement of their beverage containers 12 . The arrangement of the beverage containers 12 as part of a pallet assembly 500 after 11b trained containers 2 or multipacks 4th corresponds to that already to 3a described embodiment.

In 11b become the nested areas 201 , 202 (see. 3a) of two containers 2 or multipacks nested to one another in order to gain as much space as possible. If you look at the middle container 2 so you can see that you have three nested areas 201 , 202 of three containers nested to one another.

The containers 2 are all aligned in the same way and nested together as a whole.

To create such a layer, the containers 12 after their production are brought into such an arrangement by a grouping module. The grouping module can have a robot, which the respective containers 12 moves and / or rotates to each other or relative to a conveyor.

12a to 12p show multipacks according to the invention 4th , or. 12a part of a multipack according to the invention 4th . So shows 12a a honeycomb-shaped beverage container composite 250 as it is part of various multipacks 4th can be provided. The other containers too 2 or multipacks 4th are distinguished by the fact that these only partially and not completely form a honeycomb-shaped beverage container assembly, which area is referred to with a number 250 is indicated. The dashed line in 12a is essentially intended to show the above-mentioned intermediate areas, which in a nested arrangement are not or only insignificantly from other containers 12 that are solely part of an unrestrained arrangement. In other words, there is no or only an insignificant volume of an exclusively non-nested container within the dashed area. A spacing between the containers, which is created by adhesive dots K, is also indicated. The adhesive dots are not shown in most of the figures for the sake of simplicity. Alternatively, the containers can also touch each other directly if an adhesive "point" surrounds the contact point.

With various multipacks 4th , as for example in the embodiment according to 12c , it is provided that longitudinal axes of beverage containers 12 in areas in which the Multipack 4th forms a honeycomb beverage container assembly that can be connected to form an equilateral triangle. In other areas of the multipack 4th in which the multipack 4th no honeycomb beverage container composite 250 trains, the longitudinal axes of the Beverage container 12 be connected to a square. In the embodiments according to 12m , 12n and 12p own the beverage container 12 each a polygonal cross-section. In contrast, the beverage containers have 12 from the exemplary embodiments 12a to 12l each a circular cross-section.

As an option, TG handles can be provided or attached to all of the containers shown. The position identifier TG for this was only used in 12b used, in the other figures it has been omitted for the sake of clarity.

In 12b Two handles TG span the container, these can be used alternatively or both. Each handle spans two adjacent articles and is attached, in particular glued, to the side surfaces of the article.

If two handles are provided, a predetermined breaking point is preferably provided between the respective pairs of articles.

The in the following 12c to 12p The handles shown are each also arranged either individually or as an alternative to one another or in each case together on a container.

12c shows a main handle (drawn horizontally), which spans two sub-containers of three articles, on each of which a further handle is arranged. There can also be only the two handles for the partial containers or only the main handle.

12f shows a container 2 from 17 articles. This can be divided into two sub-containers, each with a handle (running vertically), with the middle row of the non-nested arrangement remaining on one side. Alternatively, there is an inclined handle for the entire container 2 intended.

The container 12g can, for example, be divided into three sub-containers each with a handle, the middle one from two and the other two from three articles 12 consist.

Are handles in different directions on one container 2 arranged, the respective container can be rotated after a first handle has been applied and before a second handle, which is arranged differently, has been applied. (Not shown)

12o shows a container 2 from oval containers 12 which either with the device 3 can be produced or with the device according to 4th if the transport direction was pointing to the right. As mentioned earlier, the number of shots used can change 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 or carriage per guide 51-54 and vary per container, especially in the forms of performance according to the 1 to 4th and 14a - i .

13a to 13c show how multipacks according to the invention 4th at predetermined breaking points S. can be separated into partial bundles by a user. As previously mentioned, adjacent beverage containers 12 of a respective container 2 or multipacks 4th Be held together by adhesive and / or adhesive applications. Such an application of adhesive and / or adhesive can optionally be separated by a corresponding force applied by a user, the in the 13a to 13c parts of the container shown and separated from one another on the right-hand side of the arrow representation 2 or multipacks 4th arise. In particular, in 13b to recognize that the separated parts of the former container 2 or multipacks 4th each a honeycomb-shaped beverage container assembly 250 form.

The predetermined breaking points S. are shown with the dashed lines.

The items in the containers shown 2 in the 13a , 13b both each have only one predetermined breaking point S. on while the container 2 in 13c in two variants one (left) or two (right) predetermined breaking points S. having. After the separation at the predetermined breaking points, partial containers are created.

Preferably exists between all articles 12 the (still whole) container 2 between each other an adhesive connection, only that the connections between the articles 12 that are later part of the same sub-container are stronger than the connections between the articles at a predetermined breaking point S. . This can be achieved, for example, by different amounts of adhesive applied (number of adhesive dots, size of the adhesive dots, shape of the adhesive dots (line, point ...) and / or position of the adhesive dots (different levers)) between different articles. Accordingly, the nozzles for an adhesive application can be activated via a control. For example, an opening time of the nozzles for an ejection of adhesive can be set to vary the amount of adhesive to be applied, or nozzles arranged at different heights can, depending on the containers to be produced, either only apply adhesive at one level of a container (at the predetermined breaking point) or one application at two levels of the Apply the container (if this adhesive point is part of the partial container). (Not shown)

14a to 14i show individual aspects as they are in various embodiments of a packaging system according to the invention 1 can be provided, in particular with the in 1-4 and 7-9 illustrated systems.

About the clamping and / or gripping means 61 can according to a synopsis of 14a and 14c or. 14b and 14d Beverage container 12 are received and placed in an arrangement that relates to the respective container to be produced 2 or the respective multipack to be produced 4th is matched.

The recordings 61 can be used in all embodiments on wagons 72 be attached.

Embodiments in which the clamping and / or gripping means have proven themselves here 61 are in connection with a quick-change mechanism, via which the clamping and / or gripping means 61 can easily be exchanged, e.g. by attaching them to the car 72 are attached by means of a bayonet lock (not shown). Alternatively, the recording diameter of the recordings 61 be adaptable or adaptive.

14b Fig. 3 is a side view of Fig 14a along the line shown. The hatching in 14b serves only for better illustration. The 14c and 14d show the same device, only with incorporated containers 12 .

14b and 14d indicate that parallel to one another and along a conveying direction FR (cf. 1 ) running tracks 66 are provided along which the clamping and / or gripping means 61 via curve follower 68 (executed here as an example as roles) that are in the tracks 66 are included.

The 14a - 14d each show a part of a guide or an electromagnetic direct drive 51 like he or she, for example, in the 1 - 4th can be used. The position symbols 52 , 53 , 54 or. 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 are only intended to show that it is any one of the four shown in FIG 1 can act. At 3 would only be the middle shots 61 , 62 shown.

In the 14c and 14d have the clamping and / or gripping means 61 already beverage containers 12 received and can this possibly on a horizontal conveyor 25th (see. 1 ) or on a horizontal conveyor 25th Bring into an arrangement which is based on the respective container to be produced 2 or multipack 4th is matched.

To for the respective container 2 or multipack 4th To form a honeycomb-shaped beverage container assembly in some areas, it can be that at least one clamping and / or gripping means 61 perpendicular to the direction of conveyance FR (cf. 1 ) via further clamping and / or gripping means 61 (which are assigned to the same container) protrudes or can execute a horizontal adjusting movement or lifting movement which is oriented perpendicular to the conveying direction FR.

14b shows that the shots 61 neighboring car 72 can be arranged offset in height to each other. This can also be the case with other embodiments. In other words, horizontally adjacent recordings overlap 61 . Generally speaking, there may be at least one recording 61 extends in an operating state into a reference area of an adjacent receptacle, which by a vertical (intersecting the center of the earth) projection of the outer dimensions of the adjacent receptacle 61 is defined. In a different operating state, for example when returning the recording 61 This overlap does not necessarily have to take place to accommodate the next set of containers or the next container.

The drive of the recordings or carriage is not shown here. In the case of an electromagnetic direct drive, for example, electromagnets could be installed along the guide track 66 to be ordered. Alternatively, a belt could be provided on which the car 72 or indirectly the recordings 61 are arranged.

Here are two guideways 66 shown in which two roles per car 68 to run. To ensure sufficient stability of the car 72 this can also guarantee more than four curve followers 68 include those in two or more lanes 66 or tours run around.

Furthermore, per car 72 not two, but only one shot 61 be provided or three or more.

In connection with this exemplary embodiment, it should be pointed out that although two receptacles are arranged vertically one above the other per trolley and assigned to the same container / article, it can be assumed in the rest of the description - as long as no explicit reference is made to the arrangement above one another - that when there is talk of receptacles or clamping and / or gripping means, these are always assigned to different containers. In particular, these recordings are at a horizontal distance from one another.

14e shows further aspects as they are in various embodiments of the packaging system according to the invention 1 , but specifically for the system 3 , as well as can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention.

In plan view after 14e become clamping and / or gripping means 61 about rolls that are in lanes 66 are added along a for beverage container 12 provided conveyor line moves. The outer (left and right) directly opposite clamping and / or gripping means act here 61 in pairs to form a respective beverage container 12 to be able to receive temporarily. The middle receptacles are each assigned to only one container. Part of a grouping device is shown here 51 , 52 .

An infeed movement of respective clamping and / or gripping means interacting in pairs 61 can by the course of the tracks 66 (not shown here, see 14b and 14 d) and / or via at least one adjusting device 70 be effected with which the clamping and / or gripping means 61 related or which the recordings 61 or car 72 can include.

Generally speaking, a guide can 51 at least one adjustment device 72 include which a recording 61 relative to a neighboring recording 61 adjusted, preferably in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the conveying direction FR.

An additional track is shown here 66 , in which second curve follower 69 of recordings 61 walk along. The railways 66 from the 14a to 14d to guide the recordings 61 along the transport path comprising two partial circles and two straight lines are not shown here, but are present. The curve follower 69 is about a mechanic 71 , shown here as a lever, with a recording 61 connected, taking the inclusion 61 , the mechanics 71 and the curve follower 69 relatively mobile to the car 72 are executed, in particular linearly adjustable. The mechanics 71 is in the car 72 movably mounted.

In alternative embodiments (not shown), a cart 72 a drive, for example a small electric motor or a pneumatic cylinder, over which the recording 61 relative to the car 72 is adjustable, or during certain recordings 61 along from the tracks 66 run around, other recordings run 61 in further additional tracks, which have a different course than the tracks 66 .

A corresponding quick-change mechanism can also be used in the embodiment according to 14e be provided to clamping and / or gripping means 61 to be able to exchange quickly and easily.

Also made clear 14f individual aspects, as in various embodiments of a packaging system according to the invention 1 and can be provided in various embodiments of the method according to the invention. In particular shows 14f that individual clamping and / or gripping means 61 compared to other clamping and / or gripping means 61 protrude to a container 2 or a multipack 4th to be able to produce, which only has a honeycomb-shaped beverage container composite in some areas.

While in 14e two shots 61 of two tours 51 , 52 for the front and rear container 12 according to the container 13b or. 3 were assigned are here in 14f only one recording at a time 61 from a tour 51 , 52 for these containers 12 intended.

Generally speaking, any container can 12 Recordings 61 can be assigned by two separate guides or one recording (or several vertically offset recordings 61 ) from just one tour 51 , 52 .

As you can see here, a guide can 52 more shots 61 or car 72 be assigned to another leadership 51 same grouping device 51 , 52 . The picture on the far right 61 is the only one assigned to a container in a different container.

• - Beim Einsatz eines elektromagnetischen Direktantriebs für die Wagen 72 bzw. Aufnahmen 61 sind diese durch das Antriebskonzept unabhängig voneinander durch eine Steuerung steuerbar, so dass deren Abstand nach der Übernahme von Artikeln flexibel verkleinert werden kann.
• - Durch eine Übernahme von Artikeln 12 in einem Umlenkbereich (z.B. o.g. Teilkreis) der Aufnahmen 61 bzw. Wagen 72 wird der Abstand zweier Aufnahmen 61 geometrisch bedingt kleiner, wenn diese in den linearen Bereich gelangen, sofern ein Aufnahmemittelpunkt einen Abstand weg (nach außen) von der Bahnkurve 66 aufweist.
• - Es kann eine zusätzliche Mechanik zwischen einzelnen Wagen 72 vorgesehen sein, welche über einen Antrieb (z.B. weitere Kurve, Pneumatikzylinder, Hebel etc.) eine gewisse Anzahl von Wagen 72 zueinander verstellt. Hierfür kann es notwendig sein, dass jeweils nur ein Wagen 72 einer Wagengruppe einer Führung 51 mit einem Riemen oder einer Ketter zum Transport der Wagen 72 verbunden ist.

As the distance between individual cars 72 or recordings 61 through the transfer points of a carousel of a gluing device or another transfer device to the grouping device 51 , 52 too large, it may be necessary to adjust the distance between individual cars 72 or recordings 61 for combining articles 12 to decrease along the conveying direction FR in the grouping device. This can be done in several ways (not shown):

• - When using an electromagnetic direct drive for the car 72 or recordings 61 these can be controlled independently of one another by a control system through the drive concept, so that their distance can be flexibly reduced after items have been taken over.
• - By taking over articles 12 in a deflection area (e.g. pitch circle) of the recordings 61 or car 72 becomes the distance between two recordings 61 smaller due to geometrical reasons, if these reach the linear area, provided that a recording center point is one Distance away (outwards) from the trajectory 66 having.
• - There can be an additional mechanism between individual cars 72 be provided, which a certain number of carriages via a drive (e.g. further curve, pneumatic cylinder, lever, etc.) 72 adjusted to each other. For this it may be necessary that only one car 72 a group of wagons of a tour 51 with a belt or chain to transport the car 72 connected is.

14g also shows that clamping and / or gripping means 61 can have a holding mandrel 91 which is used to hold a respective beverage container 12 with a spring mechanism 92 in connection. By pushing a container past the holder mandrel, it can be opened against the spring force. When a container is being dispensed, the force of the adhesive in the container assembly can be sufficient to overcome the spring force of the holding mandrel 91.

Alternatively (not shown), receptacles can have arms or tongs which are arranged movably with respect to one another and which, for example, can be actively controlled or likewise preloaded with respect to one another by means of a spring.

In the 14h and 14i is shown how the receptacle diameter 75 of a receptacle 61 for a round and an oval container 12 can be understood.

15th shows a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention 1 . In the area of the inlet 3 includes the packaging system 1 a push rod 65 , their geometry to the respective multipack to be produced 4th is adapted and which according to the description of the 5a to 6c Beverage container 12 can slide in the direction of conveyance FR. Next are as described in the 5a to 6c Guide railing 67 provided, the course of which is designed such that the beverage container 12 with a pushing movement via the push rod 65 can be brought into an arrangement that corresponds to the arrangement in the multipack to be produced 4th corresponds. The beverage containers form therein 12 a honeycomb beverage container composite only in some areas. Digit 18th refers to a respective nozzle by means of which an adhesive and / or adhesive is applied to the lateral lateral surfaces of the beverage container 12 can be applied. The nozzles 18th are the influx 3 downstream in conveying direction FR. Via the gripper head 550 can use the beverage container 12 received with their applied adhesive and / or adhesive application and in assigned outer packaging 530 or on a conveyor 25th are deposited, their already established arrangement is essentially retained. The outer packaging 530 can relate to the horizontal conveyor 25th are located and are by means of the horizontal conveyor 25th together with the used beverage containers 12 discharged parallel to the conveying direction FR. The in a respective outer packaging 530 used beverage container 12 are in the outer packaging 530 further brought into an arrangement in which the beverage container 12 form a honeycomb-shaped beverage container assembly only in certain areas.

The gripper head 550 includes rotating packing tulips that can be adjusted in a horizontal plane. The adjustment can be similar to the print DE102007039850B4 (not shown). In this way it is possible - viewed relative to all containers - on the outside of the container 12 to rotate the applied adhesive dots inwards, for example by 90 ° or 180 °, and then to join the containers via the adjustment before they are on the conveyor 25th or placed in an outer packaging.

You could use the jets 18th alternatively above the container 12 and arranged horizontally between the containers so that they can apply the adhesive immediately in the correct rotational position of the respective container. That way you would have the packing tulips of the head 550 can only be moved linearly.

16 shows a further embodiment of a packaging system according to the invention 1 . In the embodiment according to 16 includes the inflow 3 several guide railings 67 be guided in several parallel rows. A gripper head 550 then receives the beverage containers guided in several parallel rows and places the beverage container on it, in particular a trolley (not shown) on a clipboard 540 from. In and / or around the clipboard area 540 there are several nozzles 18th , via which an adhesive and / or adhesive is applied to the lateral outer surfaces of the separate beverage containers 12 can be applied. Alternatively, the adhesive can also be applied beforehand, for example according to 15th .

At the clipboard 540 it can be an electromagnetic direct drive in the form of a planar drive, on which trolley via magnetic coils in the clipboard 540 can be moved independently of one another in two horizontal, mutually perpendicular directions. In addition, a carriage 541 can be rotated about a vertical axis.

These trolleys 541 can hold containers on them 12 so in front of the nozzles 18th place the adhesive on a desired location of the container 12 takes place (unless the adhesive is applied before or after). After the adhesive has been applied, the trolleys with the containers placed on them can be used 12 be moved into an arrangement or combination which only partially forms a honeycomb-shaped article composite. The containers are preferred 12 connected at their glued points in this train - the planar motor allows a certain amount of force for connecting the containers 12 to a container 2 to provide. The carriages can have a receptacle (for example a clamp, a latching mechanism or a cup-shaped recess) in which the containers are set or clamped.

In particular, the carriages 541 have lateral recesses 542 so that the containers 12 can come into contact laterally. An example of this is in 16a shown. Two carriages 541 are shown here, which are essentially U-shaped. The left container can be applied with adhesive and / or joined from left to right or vice versa - as shown, for example, through the nozzle 18th . In the case of carriage 541 on the right-hand side, this could be done in the direction of the image plane, since it was rotated by 90 °.

The carriage 541 can be moved by a controller S. be effected. If a different container format (eg more containers per container, different arrangement of containers in the container ...) is to be produced after a production run, this can be easily set with the control.

From the clipboard 540 or from the carts arranged on it, the beverage containers 12 or container 2 then again using the gripper head 550 or another (additional, not shown) gripper head received and in outer packaging 530 introduced, which is on a horizontal conveyor 25th located, or they will be on the horizontal conveyor 25th discontinued. By using a different, additional gripper head, there is no need to change the gripping means in the gripper head (e.g. packing tulips). For example, the other gripper head can be a clamping gripper, which clamps two of the containers laterally. Alternatively, the containers 2 or compilations from the clipboard 540 be pushed off by a slide.

About the horizontal conveyor 25th can use the outer packaging 530 together with the used or introduced beverage containers 12 be transported away parallel to the conveying direction FR in the embodiment shown.

This in 16 The system disclosed is not only for the production of containers that are nested in areas only 2 usable, but also for purely nested or purely non-nested containers. Therefore, it may alternatively be an independent invention.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

List of reference symbols

1

Packaging system

2

Container

3

Feed

4th

Multipack

5

First conveyor belt

7th

Second conveyor belt

9

Third conveyor belt

12

First beverage container, beverage container

14th

Second beverage container

15th

Work facility

17th

Gluing device (first)

18th

jet

19th

Gluing device (second)

20th

jet

21st

Gluing device (third party)

22nd

jet

25th

Horizontal conveyor

41

First row

42

Second row

43

Third row

45

Lateral jacket surface

47

Lateral jacket surface

51

Electromagnetic direct drive, guide

52

Electromagnetic direct drive, guide

53

Electromagnetic direct drive, guide

54

Electromagnetic direct drive, guide

61

Clamping and / or gripping means, receptacle

62

Clamping and / or gripping means, receptacle

63

Clamping and / or gripping means, receptacle

64

Clamping and / or gripping means, gripping instrument, receptacle

65

Push rod

66

Track, groove, curve

67

Guide railing

68

First curve follower

69

Second corner follower

70

Adjusting device

71

mechanics

72

dare

80

Temperature control

82

Stretch blow molding module

84

Filling and sealing station

85

Drying station

86

Labeling station

87

Direct printing machine

201

First area

202

Second area

203

Third area

250

Honeycomb-shaped beverage container composite

500

Pallet assembly

530

Outer packaging

535

camera

540

Clipboard

550

Gripper head

S.

Control and / or regulating device

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was 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.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102012100810 B4 [0004, 0005]
• DE 102010033549 A1 [0006]
• EP 2878542 A1 [0109]
• DE 102006023531 A1 [0149]
• DE 102007039850 B4 [0307]

Claims (14)

A method for producing packs (2) with several articles, the method comprising the following steps: - providing a plurality of articles, - forming a combination of several articles (12) provided and intended for a respective multipack (4), and - connecting the several articles Article of a respective combination formed by an adhesive to form a multipack (4), the method characterized in that - several articles already provided and intended for a respective multipack (4) are aligned in a defined manner with one another at the latest when the respective multipack (4) is finally completed so that the finally completed multipack (4) only partially has a honeycomb-shaped article composite comprising at least three articles due to the defined alignment, in which honeycomb-shaped article composite contact surfaces of the at least three articles are at least approximately in one common level. Procedure according to Claim 1 , in which at least one adhesive and / or adhesive application is applied to the lateral jacket surfaces (45, 47) of articles, by means of which the several articles of a respective combination are connected to form a multipack (4). Procedure according to Claim 2 , in which at least three adhesive and / or adhesive applications are applied to at least one of the several articles offset along a circumferential direction of its lateral lateral surface, the at least one article being added to the composition via a respective adhesive and / or adhesive application with a further article a multipack (4) is connected. Multipack (4), comprising at least four articles which are connected to one another by means of adhesive, the multipack (4) characterized in that - the multipack (4) only has a honeycomb-shaped article composite comprising at least three articles in some areas, in which honeycomb-shaped article composite are contact areas of the honeycomb-shaped article composite forming article are at least approximately in a common plane. Multipack after Claim 4 , in which at least two adjacent articles of the multipack (4) are held together by an adhesive connection and in which it is provided in particular that the at least three articles of the honeycomb-shaped article assembly are held together by an adhesive connection. Multipack after Claim 4 or Claim 5 , in which multipack (4) dimensions and / or geometries of the articles forming the honeycomb-shaped article assembly are identical or at least approximately identical. Multipack according to one of the Claims 4 to 6th , in which the articles are formed by beverage containers (12). Multipack according to one of the Claims 4 to 7th , comprising at least five articles, whereby the volume centers of three articles, which form a honeycomb-shaped article assembly, at least approximately form a triangle and preferably at least approximately an isosceles, in particular an at least approximately equilateral triangle, and at which volume centers of two articles and volume centers that already form the honeycomb article assembly of two further articles at least approximately form a rectangle and preferably at least approximately form a square. Multipack according to one of the Claims 4 to 8th , comprising at least six articles, wherein - volume centers of three articles, which form a first honeycomb-shaped article composite in the multipack (4), at least approximately form a triangle and preferably at least more closely an isosceles, in particular at least approximately equilateral triangle, and where - volume centers of three other Articles which form a further honeycomb-shaped article assembly in the multipack, at least approximately a triangle and preferably at least approximately an isosceles, in particular an at least approximately equilateral triangle, whereby it is provided that - volume centers of two articles forming the first honeycomb-shaped article assembly in the multipack with volume centers of two articles forming the second honeycomb article composite in the multipack form at least approximately a rectangle and preferably at least approximately a square. Packaging system (1) for producing containers (2) with a plurality of articles which are connected to one another by an adhesive, the packaging system (1) comprising - at least one inlet (3) for providing a large number of articles and - at least one working device (15) , which can form a respective multipack (4) from at least four articles, the packaging system is characterized in that - the at least one working device (15) is designed to form a respective multipack (4), which respective multipack only has a honeycomb-shaped article composite comprising at least three articles in some areas, in which honeycomb-shaped article composite contact surfaces of the at least three articles are at least approximately in a common plane. Packaging system according to Claim 10 in which the at least one working device (15) has at least one means for applying an adhesive and / or adhesive application to lateral lateral surfaces (45, 47) of articles provided for a respective multipack (4). Packaging system according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 , in which the at least one working device (15) comprises at least one push rod (65), the geometry of the at least one push rod (65) being designed in such a way that the at least one push rod (65) respective articles intended for the honeycomb-shaped composite article are in contact with can transfer a relative arrangement to one another, which relative arrangement of the articles at least approximately corresponds to their relative arrangement of the honeycomb-shaped article composite to be formed only in certain areas in the multipack (4). Packaging system according to one of the Claims 10 to 12 , in which the at least one working device (15) comprises a plurality of clamping and / or gripping elements (61, 62, 63) which are designed for the temporary acceptance of articles and which articles for forming a respective multipack (4) in a relative arrangement to one another which at least approximately corresponds to their relative arrangement in the multipack (4) and in which packaging system it is provided that - at least one clamping and / or gripping element (61, 62, 63) of the plurality of clamping and / or gripping elements (61, 62, 63) is movable in two different horizontal spatial directions, which two different horizontal spatial directions are preferably oriented perpendicular to one another. Packaging system according to Claim 13 , in which the at least one clamping and / or gripping element (61, 62, 63) is connected to two electromagnetic direct drives, via which two electromagnetic direct drives the at least one clamping and / or gripping element (61, 62, 63) along the can be moved in two different horizontal spatial directions.

Images