DE102022114369A1 - Pallet assembly and method for producing a pallet assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A pallet assembly (10) with several stacked layers (1) is disclosed. A layer (1) comprises a plurality of outer containers (3), which together form a periphery of the layer (1), and at least one inner container (5), which is surrounded by the several outer containers (3). It is envisaged that adjacent outer containers (3) are fastened to one another via a respective adhesive application (9) and that the at least one inner container (5) is surrounded by the outer containers (3) without having to apply an adhesive to another container Position to be attached.

Description

The present invention relates to a layer for a pallet assembly and a pallet assembly with several such layers. The invention further relates to a method for forming a pallet assembly and a system for producing a pallet assembly.

In order to transport containers safely, they are usually placed on a pallet in layers stacked on top of each other. In order to increase the stability of such pallet combinations, pallet combinations are already known in which containers of the pallet combination are arbitrarily glued together. Such pallet combinations do not have sufficient stability, since individual containers may fall off the pallet if they are glued randomly, which in turn can lead to instability of the entire pallet. Therefore, such pallet combinations were often additionally wrapped with foil to increase stability. However, in practice, additional material consumption, such as that resulting from wrapping with film, is undesirable from an economic and ecological point of view. In addition, additional wrapping with foil requires a certain amount of time in order to be able to apply the foil to the respective pallet combination. However, devices and methods that can provide pallet combinations quickly or with high throughput are desirable.

Pallet combinations in which all containers are glued together are also known. In the case of such pallet combinations, no additional wrapping with film is necessary in order to ensure sufficient stability of the entire pallet combination, but such pallet combinations have an undesirably high requirement for adhesive.

An object of the invention can therefore be seen as providing a development with which the previously described disadvantages are at least partially avoided.

The above object is achieved with the subjects comprising the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

The invention relates to a layer for a pallet assembly. The layer comprises a plurality of outer containers, which together form a periphery of the layer, and at least one inner container, which is surrounded by the several outer containers. It is envisaged that an adhesive application is applied to outer containers for attachment to a further container and that the at least one inner container is surrounded by the outer containers without a respective adhesive application intended for attachment to a further container. Compared to layers in which all containers are glued together, such layers require less adhesive. Nevertheless, such layers are characterized by a high level of stability, since the at least one inner container can be held in a form-fitting manner over the several outer containers, of which adjacent outer containers are fastened to one another via a respective application of adhesive.

A container, as may be used in various embodiments of the invention, can consist of several items that are already connected to one another. A container can therefore include several containers and in particular several beverage bottles and/or beverage cans that are already connected to one another. To connect the multiple containers or beverage bottles and/or beverage cans, for example, strapping, adhesives, thermoplastic films, flat packaging blanks, clips and/or possibly other connecting means can be considered, which are known to those skilled in the art and are therefore not listed exhaustively. The bonds mentioned can, for example, be applied to lateral lateral surfaces of containers of a respective container, so that adjacent containers of the respective container are connected to one another or directly connected to one another via the adhesive bonds applied to lateral lateral surfaces.

Embodiments in which all adjacent outer containers of the layer are connected to one another via a respective application of adhesive as a ring that surrounds the at least one inner container have proven successful. Such embodiments are characterized by further improved stability. Furthermore, in such embodiments it is conceivable that containers of the layer, which are located within the ring of the outer containers, are connected to one another via a respective application of adhesive as a further ring that surrounds the at least one inner container. The further ring can be located within the ring, which is formed over all adjacent outer containers of the layer.

The invention also relates to a pallet assembly which has several layers according to one of the aforementioned embodiments Examples include stacked on top of each other on a pallet. The pallet assembly can include a pallet made of wood or plastic, on which several layers are positioned stacked one above the other according to one of the previously mentioned exemplary embodiments.

It has proven useful here if adjacent outer containers of at least one of the multiple layers positioned one above the other on a pallet are fastened to one another via an adhesive application, which couples two adjacent outer containers to one another via their lateral lateral surfaces. It may therefore be the case that at least one respective adhesive application, for example in the form of an adhesive center point, is located between two adjacent outer containers of at least one of the multiple layers stacked one above the other on a pallet, over which at least one adhesive application or adhesive center point is located two adjacent outer containers are connected to one another or which respective at least one adhesive application, which may be designed as an adhesive center, couples the respective two adjacent outer containers to one another via their lateral lateral surfaces.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it may be that adhesive applications are applied to upper lateral surfaces of outer containers of a first layer, which are thereby attached to lower lateral surfaces of outer containers of a further layer, which is located above the first layer. In particular, adhesive applications can be applied to upper lateral surfaces of all outer containers of a first layer, which are thereby attached to lower lateral surfaces of all outer containers of a further layer which is located above the first layer.

Furthermore, it is conceivable that under lateral surfaces of containers of the further layer are designed in such a way that they partially or preferably completely cover upper lateral surfaces of containers of the first layer. Alternatively or in addition to this, it may be that lower lateral surfaces of containers of the further layer are connected to one another with upper lateral surfaces of containers of the first layer via a respective application of adhesive.

Alternatively or in addition to this, it may be that the further layer, which is located above the first layer, is designed as the top layer of the pallet assembly, the adjacent outer containers of which are attached to one another via an adhesive application, which in each case covers two adjacent outer containers via their lateral lateral surfaces coupled together. In addition, in such embodiments, it may be that adhesive applications are applied to upper lateral surfaces of outer containers of the first layer, which are thereby attached to lower lateral surfaces of outer containers of the further layer, which is located above the first layer.

It has also proven useful if the adhesive applications, which are applied to the upper lateral surfaces of the outer containers of the first layer, are designed as adhesive strips, which each contact at least two upper lateral surfaces of at least two adjacent outer containers.

Alternatively, it may be that the adhesive applications, which are applied to the upper lateral surfaces of the outer containers of the first layer, are designed as adhesive dots. The adhesive dots can be applied to an area of the respective container in which the respective container has its greatest height or its largest extent in the vertical direction. The container can be, for example, an adhesive container or a shrink container, which comprises several items formed by beverage bottles. If the container is an adhesive container, adhesive applications can be applied directly to closures of beverage containers and/or directly to lateral surfaces of beverage containers.

The invention also relates to a method for forming a layer for a pallet assembly, in which containers intended for the layer are provided and arranged as a layer by manipulation. It is envisaged that an application process is carried out in which an adhesive application is applied to only individual containers for attachment to another container, so that only outer containers of the layer have an adhesive application for attachment to another container and at least one inner container is surrounded by the outer containers without an application of adhesive applied as part of the application process.

It may be that the containers intended for the layer are provided via at least one horizontal conveyor device. In order to arrange the containers provided and intended for the layer as a layer, at least one manipulator can be provided. The at least one manipulator can optionally be formed by at least one delta kinematics robot and/or by at least one handling device, which is guided through a portal system. It may be that as part of the application process on since An adhesive application is applied to the lateral surfaces of the individual containers for attachment to another container. Due to the arrangement as a layer, the outer containers can then come into contact with a further outer container of the layer via their respective adhesive application and can thus be secured to one another by the adhesive applications, especially if the adhesive applications have dried out. The respective adhesive application can be applied to each of the containers using at least one adhesive nozzle.

The invention also relates to a method for producing a pallet assembly, in which several layers are formed according to an embodiment of the method described above and transferred into an arrangement stacked on a pallet.

In the process, it may be that the containers in the arrangement as a layer are received by a palletizer and placed on a pallet, with the palletizer applying the adhesive to the individual containers before or after the containers in the arrangement as a layer are picked up by the palletizer have been placed on the pallet. Alternatively, it may be that an adhesive application is applied to the individual containers provided and intended for the respective layer before these individual containers provided are arranged as a layer by manipulation.

It is also conceivable that the containers already received via the palletizer are centered in their arrangement as a position before or during placement on the assigned pallet via several slides designed as part of the palletizer and at least one adhesive nozzle attached to a slide is placed on the pallet as part of the application process The respective adhesive application is applied to individual containers after the containers have already been centered in their arrangement as a layer via the several slides designed as part of a palletizer. The containers are located exactly at an expected target position. By attaching the adhesive nozzle to one of the slides, the adhesive application can be applied very precisely to a target position on the respective container. Since the adhesive applications are very precisely at a predetermined target position, the pallet assembly produced using the method has a very high stability in such embodiments.

It may be that the containers intended and provided for the respective layer are checked for predefined errors before being transferred to the respective arrangement as a layer and containers with predefined errors are rejected, with the other containers intended for the respective layer being temporarily stored and an additional container , which replaces the discarded container for the respective location.

The invention also relates to a system for producing a pallet assembly from several layers of containers. The system includes a device which can transfer several containers by manipulation into an arrangement as a layer, in which arrangement as a layer several outer containers form a periphery and surround at least one inner container. The system further comprises a palletizer following the device for receiving containers in the arrangement as a position and transferring the received containers to an assigned pallet as well as an application device which can apply an adhesive application to containers. It is envisaged that the application device is configured and equipped for applying adhesive applications to individual selected containers in such a way that adjacent outer containers of a respective layer in the pallet assembly are assigned a respective adhesive application intended for attachment to a respective further outer container of the pallet assembly and the respective at least one inner container is surrounded by the outer containers without being attached to another container of the pallet assembly via an adhesive application.

In various embodiments, it may be that the system for producing a pallet assembly is designed without a winder for wrapping the layers of a respective pallet assembly with packaging material or that the system for producing a pallet assembly does not include a winder for wrapping the layers of a respective pallet assembly with packaging material. It is also conceivable that the system includes a winder, which is configured and designed in such a way that the winder can wrap a pallet assembly with at least one and at most three layers of packaging material. The packaging material can be cellulose-containing packaging material or a plastic film.

In various embodiments, it may be that the application device comprises at least one adhesive nozzle, which can apply an adhesive application to a respective lateral lateral surface of a respective individual selected container and/or which has a respective one Adhesive application can be applied to an upper surface of a respective individual selected container.

Furthermore, it may be that the application device comprises at least one specific adhesive nozzle, which can apply an adhesive application to a respective lateral lateral surface of a respective individual selected container and can apply a respective adhesive application to an upper lateral surface of a respective individual selected container. The at least one specific adhesive nozzle can optionally be designed to be pivotable in order to apply an adhesive application both to a respective lateral lateral surface of a respective individual selected container and to an upper lateral surface of the respective individual selected container.

Also proven are embodiments in which the palletizer comprises several slides for centering containers of a received arrangement of containers as a layer and in which the at least one adhesive nozzle or the at least one specific adhesive nozzle is arranged on a slide of the palletizer.

It is also conceivable that a position of the adhesive nozzle can be adjusted to adapt to different heights of containers.

It may be that the adhesive nozzle is designed as a component of the palletizer and the palletizer comprises at least one sensor for detecting a respective position of a respective individual selected container, with a position of the adhesive nozzle in coordination with the respective recognized position in coordination with the respective recognized position can be adjusted via at least one actuator of the palletizer.

In addition, it may be that the at least one adhesive nozzle is designed to apply an adhesive strip to individually selected containers, which adhesive strip contacts the upper lateral surfaces of at least two adjacent containers in their arrangement as a layer.

The system can also include a control and/or regulating device on which information is stored which assigns adhesive orders to individual containers of a respective layer to be formed. The control and/or regulating device comprises two independent machine controls or can be designed by two independent machine controls. A first of the machine controls can be part of the application device, while another of the machine controls is part of the previously mentioned at least one manipulator. The first machine control and the second machine control can be connected to one another for the purpose of communication. The first machine control and the second machine control and possibly a further machine control can be connected to a system control. It may be that containers intended for a respective layer are moved on a conveyor, with a respective application of adhesive being applied to individual containers, which form outer containers in the layer, during the movement on the conveyor. During movement on the conveyor, these containers can be moved outwards or into an edge position on the conveyor after the respective adhesive application has been applied. As a result, containers intended for a layer can be very easily brought into a relative arrangement to one another in a subsequent step, which is coordinated with the layer to be formed.

At this point it should be additionally emphasized that features which were previously mentioned in relation to the embodiment of the method according to the invention for forming the layer or in relation to the embodiments of the method according to the invention for producing the pallet composition equally relate to or can be partial aspects of the layer according to the invention and the pallet composition according to the invention. Therefore, if one of the methods according to the invention is mentioned at one point in the description or in the definitions of the claims, this applies equally to the embodiments of the layer according to the invention and the pallet composition according to the invention, without being mentioned again. The same applies in the opposite way, so that all aspects and embodiment variants that were explained in connection with embodiments of the position according to the invention and the pallet composition according to the invention equally relate to or can be partial aspects of the method according to the invention. Therefore, if certain aspects and/or connections and/or effects are mentioned at one point in the description or in the claim definitions regarding the location or pallet composition, this applies equally to the methods according to the invention. In various embodiments, the system according to the invention described can be designed to implement or carry out the previously described embodiments of the method according to the invention. It may also be the case that the already described embodiments of a layer according to the invention or a pallet composition according to the invention can be produced using the system. In addition, it may be that by means of the embodiment of Method according to the invention for producing a pallet assembly one of the previously described embodiments of a pallet assembly is produced.

• 1 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Ausführungsform einer teilweise bereits gebildeten erfindungsgemäßen Palettenzusammenstellung sowie eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Lage;
• 2a bis 2c zeigen jeweils eine Draufsicht auf unterschiedliche Ausführungsformen einer erfindungsgemäßen Lage, wie sie als Bestandteil einer Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Palettenzusammenstellung Verwendung finden können;
• 3 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer teilweise bereits gebildeten erfindungsgemäßen Palettenzusammenstellung sowie eine Ausführungsform einer erfindungsgemäßen Lage;
• 4 zeigt einen Greifkopf, wie er als Bestandteil eines Manipulators in diversen Ausführungsformen einer erfindungsgemäßen Anlage sowie bei der Umsetzung in diversen Ausführungsformen eines erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Herstellen einer Lage vorgesehen sein kann;
• 5 bis 7 zeigen unterschiedliche Ausführungsformen einer erfindungsgemäßen Anlage.

In the following, exemplary embodiments will explain the invention and its advantages in more detail using the attached figures. The proportions of the individual elements in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions, as some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• 1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a partially already formed pallet assembly according to the invention and an embodiment of a layer according to the invention;
• 2a until 2c each show a top view of different embodiments of a layer according to the invention, as can be used as part of an embodiment of a pallet assembly according to the invention;
• 3 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a partially already formed pallet assembly according to the invention and an embodiment of a layer according to the invention;
• 4 shows a gripping head as it can be provided as part of a manipulator in various embodiments of a system according to the invention and when implemented in various embodiments of a method according to the invention for producing a layer;
• 5 until 7 show different embodiments of a system according to the invention.

Identical reference numbers are used for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference numbers that are necessary for the description of the respective figure are shown in the individual figures. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the invention can be designed and do not represent a final limitation.

1 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a partially already formed pallet assembly 10 according to the invention and an embodiment of a layer 1 according to the invention. In a complete pallet assembly 10, several layers 1, each with several containers 3 or 5, are stacked on the pallet 7. In 1 So far only one layer 1 has been placed on pallet 7. The layer 1 includes several outer containers 3 and at least one inner container 5 (cf. 2a until 2c ), which has at least one inner container 5 in 1 cannot be seen because it is surrounded by the outer containers 3. An arrangement or position for such an inner container 5 is in the 2a until 2c each clearly visible. In 1 the inner container 5 is located in the direction of the image plane behind the outer containers 3. The pallet assembly 10 according to the embodiment 1 can be produced with a system 100 as shown in the 5 and 6 will be shown.

In the present case, a respective container 3 or 5 comprises several beverage containers 4, which are held together by thermoplastic packaging material. It is also conceivable for further embodiments that containers 3 and 5 include, for example, several beverage containers 4 that stand on a tray and/or are held together by a clip.

Only on the outer containers 3 is a respective adhesive application 9 applied in layer 1, which in the present case is designed as a respective adhesive center point 14. For the at least one inner container 5, which is shown in the side view 1 cannot be seen, no such adhesive application 9 or adhesive center 14 is provided. The adhesive application 9 or adhesive center 14 was applied to an upper lateral surface 14 of a respective outer container 3.

If on the in 1 shown layer 1 is placed another layer, a respective adhesive application 9 connects the respective outer container 3 with a further outer container 3, which rests on this outer container 3. Thus, outer containers 3 of layers 1 standing on top of each other are held together in a materially bonded manner via the adhesive center points 9.

However, the inner containers 5 are firmly secured on the pallet 7 even without such an application of adhesive 9, since the outer containers 3 of a respective layer 1 are connected to a respective further outer container 3 of a further layer and the respective inner container 5 of a respective layer 1 is arranged in a form-fitting manner between the outer containers 3. This means that the respective inner container 5 cannot accidentally fall off the pallet 7. The pallet assembly 10 therefore has a high level of stability while at the same time requiring little adhesive application 9.

2a until 2c each show a top view of different embodiments of a layer 1 according to the invention, as used as part of an embodiment of a pallet assembly 10 according to the invention can. A pallet assembly 10 can have different layers 1 according to the embodiments 2a until 2c own. For example, it may be that a top layer 1 of the pallet assembly 10 according to the exemplary embodiment 2c corresponds and another layer 1, which is located under the top layer 1, according to the exemplary embodiment 2a or 2 B corresponds.

In 2a again a layer 1 for a pallet assembly 10 can be seen, which has several outer containers 3, of which the inner container 5 is surrounded. Adhesive applications 9 are assigned to the upper lateral surfaces 14 of the outer containers 3, which are in 2a are designed as adhesive strips 15. A respective adhesive strip 15 contacts several adjacent outer containers 3 of layer 1. As a result, the respective several outer containers 3 can be held together via the respective adhesive strip 15. All outer containers 3 are connected to one another as a ring, which is guided around the inner container 5. Upper lateral surfaces 14 of the outer containers 3 located in the four corners of layer 1 are each contacted via two adhesive strips 15.

The inner container 5 is not assigned an adhesive application 9, via which the inner container 5 is attached to another container 3 or 5 or in a pallet assembly 10 (cf. 1 ) could be attached. However, the inner container 5 is held in a form-fitting manner over the outer containers 3, which are connected to one another via the adhesive strips 15 as a ring which surrounds the inner container 5. To create the stable position 1 2a Therefore, only a relatively small proportion of adhesive applications 9 are required. On location 1 according to 2a can be in a pallet composition 10 (cf. 1 and 3 ) get up another layer. The outer containers 3 can be used in the adhesive strips 15 2a Layer 1 shown can be connected to outer containers of the further layer, with the adhesive strips 15 contacting lower lateral surfaces of outer containers of the further layer.

2 B shows a top view of a further embodiment of a layer 1 according to the invention. Also in the embodiment according to 2 B A respective adhesive application 9 is applied to each upper lateral surface 14 of a respective outer container 3. The adhesive applications 9 are designed as adhesive dots 16 and thus correspond to the adhesive application 9, as shown in FIG 1 illustrated embodiment of a pallet assembly 10 has already been described. In addition, the outer containers 3 can be placed in position 1 2 B be connected via adhesive applications 9, which are applied to lateral lateral surfaces 12 (cf. 3 ) of the outer container 3 are applied. About the adhesive orders 9, which are in 2 B are located on the upper lateral surfaces 14 of the outer containers 3, the outer containers 3 are connected to outer containers of a further layer, which are in this case on the in 2 B stand up the outer container 3 shown. No adhesive application 9 is assigned to the inner container 5. The inner container 5 is surrounded by the outer containers 3 and is arranged in a form-fitting manner between the outer containers 3. The inner container 5 is therefore free from adhesive applications that could connect the inner container 5 with other containers 3 or 5.

A further embodiment of a layer 1 according to the invention is shown in the schematic top view 2c to recognize. Between lateral lateral surfaces 12 of immediately adjacent outer containers 3 there is an adhesive application 9, which connects the respective outer containers 3 to one another. The adhesive applications 9 are designed as adhesive dots 16. All external containers 3 of layer 1 are connected to one another as a ring via the adhesive applications 9. The inner container 5 is surrounded by the outer containers 3, which form a ring, and does not have such an adhesive application 9. The inner container 5 is held in a form-fitting manner by the outer containers 3. Since no adhesive application 9 is provided for the inner container 5, a relatively small amount of adhesive is required to produce the layer 1. The layer 1 also has a high level of stability when stacked with other layers as part of a pallet assembly 10 (cf. 1 and 3 ) is used.

3 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a partially already formed pallet assembly 10 according to the invention and an embodiment of a layer 1 according to the invention. On the in 3 In the layer 1 shown, several further layers 1 are arranged in a finished or complete pallet assembly 10. The pallet 7 thus carries several layers 1 in a stacked arrangement in a finished or complete pallet assembly 10. All outer containers 3 are connected to one another via adhesive applications 9 and thus form a ring, which is an in 3 inner container 5 not shown (cf. 2a until 2c ) surrounds. A respective adhesive application 9 is located on a respective lateral surface 12 of a respective outer container 3. With the exception of the number of outer containers 3, layer 1 corresponds to the structure according to FIG 2c already shown and previously described top view. To the previous description 2c can therefore be referred back become. In the embodiment, a container 3 or 5 comprises a pallet assembly 10 3 in turn several beverage containers 4, which are connected to one another via thermoplastic packaging material.

4 shows a gripping head 50, as it can be provided as part of a manipulator in various embodiments of a system 100 according to the invention and when implemented in various embodiments of a method according to the invention for forming a layer 1. In particular, the gripping head 50 can be designed as part of a device for manipulating containers 3 or 5, which in 5 until 7 each shown by reference with number 180.

The gripping head 50 has a joint 56 and two clamping jaws 52, which can be moved towards one another in order to receive a container 3 intended for manipulation. The joint 56 is designed in such a way that the clamping jaws 52 can be rotated about a vertical axis together with the container 3 received. The joint 56 is also designed such that the clamping jaws 52 can be pivoted about a horizontal axis.

The containers 3 and 5, which are to be arranged as layer 1, stand on a horizontal conveyor 20 and are transported in the direction of the image plane. The gripping head 56 can move a received container 3 in the direction of the image plane or perpendicular to the direction of the image plane and, if necessary, rotate it in order to form a pre-grouping from containers 3 or 5. By means of a subsequent compression of a respective pre-grouping, the containers 3 and 5 of the respective pre-grouping are transferred into an arrangement as layer 1.

In 4 was already applied to the lateral surfaces 12 of the in. before such manipulation 2 An adhesive application 9 is applied to the container 3 shown. In order to avoid contact with the adhesive application 9 during manipulation, the clamping jaws 52 each have a recess 54 in which a respective adhesive application 9 is located when the respective container 3 is held by the clamping jaws 52 or by the gripping head 50.

5 shows an embodiment of a system 100 according to the invention and illustrates steps that can be provided in various embodiments of the two methods according to the invention.

The system 100 according to the embodiment 5 includes an oven 105 in which preforms are heated. The oven 105 is followed by a blow molding machine, which uses a stretch blow molding process to produce beverage containers 4 (cf. 1 and 3 ), which are subsequently transferred to a rinser 120. The rinser 120 is followed by a filler 130, which introduces liquid into the beverage containers, whereupon the filled beverage containers are closed via the sealer 140. The filled and closed beverage containers 4 are then provided with labels via the labeler 150 and fed to a packer 160. The packer 160 applies a secondary packaging, which can be formed, for example, by a thermoplastic packaging blank, by a tray, by a clip or by another secondary packaging, to several beverage containers and thereby combines the respective several beverage containers into a respective container 3 or 5 (see. 1 until 4 ) together. The packer 160 is followed by an application device 170, which applies a respective adhesive agent 9 to a lateral lateral surface 12 (cf. 3 ) and/or on an upper lateral surface 14 (cf. 1 ) of a respective container 3, which is intended to form an outer container 3 in a finished layer 1. The application device 170 is configured and equipped in such a way that the application device 170 only applies an adhesive application 9 to individual specific containers 3, which individual specific containers 3 are intended to define a periphery of the layer 1 in a finished layer 1. The application device 170 does not apply such an adhesive application 9 to all further containers 5, which are surrounded by the outer containers 3 in a finished layer 1 to be formed, but rather moves these additional containers 5 without an applied adhesive application 9 in the direction of the device for manipulating containers 180 continued.

It may be that the application device 170 reaches containers 3 or 5 within a predetermined timing. Information can be stored on the application device 170 or on a control and/or regulating device designed as part of the application device 170, which causes the application device 170 to provide certain containers 3 with adhesive applications 9 within the framework of a known cycle and further containers 5 in Direction of the device 180 for manipulating containers 180 without an adhesive application 9 being applied to these containers 5 by means of the application device 170.

The device for manipulating containers 180 therefore reaches several containers 3 and 5, of which only some containers 3, but not all containers 3 and 5, are provided with adhesive applications 9. The device for Manipulating containers 180 and the application device 170 are operatively connected to one another, so that the device 180 knows which containers 3 were previously applied with an adhesive application 9 by means of the application device 170 and which containers 5 do not have such an adhesive application 9. The device 180 arranges the supplied containers 3 and 5 as layer 1 (cf. 1 and 3 ), with several outer containers 3 forming a periphery of the layer 1 and surrounding at least one inner container 5. The outer containers 3 are containers 3 to which an adhesive application 9 was previously applied using the application device 170. Via the respective adhesive application 9 applied to the outer containers 3, the respective outer containers 3 of a respective layer 1 are fixed to one another and thereby form a ring of several interconnected outer containers 3, which surrounds the at least one inner container 5 (cf. 2a - 2c ). The inner container 5 is held in a form-fitting manner via the outer containers 3. The outer containers 3, which are attached to one another via the adhesive applications 9, together with the at least one inner container 5, form a layer 1, which is subsequently attached to a pallet 7 (cf. 1 and 3 ) can be transferred. For this purpose, a palletizer 190 is provided, which the layer 1 reaches after leaving the device 180.

An empty pallet 7 (cf. 1 and 3 ) moved into a work area of the palletizer 190. The palletizer 190 successively picks up several layers 1 or several containers 3 and 5 in their arrangement as layer 1 and places them on the pallet 7 in a stacked formation. A finished pallet composition, in which only the outer containers 3 of a respective layer 1 have been attached to one another with adhesive applications 9 in accordance with the previous description, has a high level of stability and requires a lower amount of adhesive compared to pallet combinations known from the prior art.

6 shows a further embodiment of a system 100 according to the invention. The system 100 of the exemplary embodiment 6 includes, as well as the embodiment of a system 100 according to 5 , an oven 105 for preforms, a blow molding machine 110, a rinser 120, a filler 130, a closer 140 and a labeler 150. A packer 160, an application device 170 and a device for manipulating containers 180 are also in the system 100 according to Embodiment according to 6 intended. A summary of the 5 with 6 clarifies that the packer 160, the application device 170 and the device for manipulating containers 180 in the system 100 after 6 are structurally combined. The function of the packer 160, the application device 170 and the device for manipulating containers 180 according to the exemplary embodiment 5 . The palletizer 190 receives empty pallets 7 from the pallet feeder 195 and places layers 1 on containers 3 and 5 in stacked formation on the pallet 7.

7 shows a further embodiment of a system 100 according to the invention. Part of the system 100 is a depalletizer, shown by reference with number 108, which removes beverage containers, such as beverage cans, from a pallet 7 (cf. 1 and 3 ) can be removed and passed on to a subsequent rinser 120 for cleaning. The cleaned beverage containers are filled again via the filler 130 and handed over to a seamer 140. A packer 160, an application device 170 and a device for manipulating containers 180 are in turn combined as a structural unit. Their function corresponds to the previous description of the exemplary embodiments 5 and 6 . The palletizer 190 receives empty pallets 7 from the pallet feeder 195 and places layers 1 on containers 3 and 5 in stacked formation on the pallet 7.

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

Reference symbol list

1

Position

3

External container

4

Beverage containers

5

Inner container

7

palette

9

Adhesive application

12

Lateral surface

14

Upper lateral surface

15

Adhesive strips

16

Glue dot

20

Horizontal conveyor device

50

Gripping head

52

Jaw

54

recess

56

joint

100

Attachment

105

Oven

108

Depalletizer

110

blow molding machine

120

Rinser

130

ink pen

140

Closer

150

Labeler

160

packer

170

Application device

180

Device for manipulating containers

190

Palletizer

195

Pallet feeding

Claims (18)

Layer (1) for a pallet assembly (10), comprising a plurality of outer containers (3), which together form a periphery of the layer (1), and at least one inner container (5), which is surrounded by the several outer containers (3), characterized in that an adhesive application (9) is applied to outer containers (3) for attachment to a further container and the at least one inner container (5) is removed from the outer containers without a respective adhesive application (9) intended for attachment to a further container (3) is surrounded. location Claim 1 , in which all adjacent outer containers (3) of the layer (1) are connected to one another via a respective adhesive application (9) as a ring, which surrounds the at least one inner container (5). Pallet assembly (10), comprising several layers (1). Claim 1 or Claim 2 , which are stacked one above the other on a pallet (7). Pallet composition Claim 3 , in which - adjacent outer containers (3) of at least one of the several layers (1) positioned one above the other on a pallet (7) are fastened to one another via an adhesive application (9), which in each case has two adjacent outer containers (3) over their lateral lateral surfaces (12). located in the first layer. Pallet composition Claim 4 , in which it is provided that - the further layer, which is located above the first layer, is designed as the top layer of the pallet assembly (10), the adjacent outer containers (3) of which are fastened to one another via an adhesive application (9), each of which two adjacent outer containers (3) are coupled to one another via their lateral lateral surfaces (12) and in which pallet assembly (10) it is provided that - adhesive applications are applied to the upper lateral surfaces (14) of outer containers (3) of the first layer, which are thereby applied to the lower ones Outer surfaces of outer containers (3) of the further layer, which is located above the first layer and is designed as the top layer of the pallet assembly (10), are fastened. Pallet composition Claim 4 or Claim 5 , in which the adhesive applications (9), which are applied to the upper lateral surfaces (14) of the outer containers (3) of the first layer, are designed as adhesive strips (15), which each have at least two upper lateral surfaces (14) of at least two adjacent ones contact the outer container (3). Method for forming a layer (1) for a pallet assembly (10), in which containers (3, 5) intended for the layer (1) are provided and arranged as a layer (1) by manipulation, characterized in that an application process is carried out , in which an adhesive application is applied to only individual containers (3, 5) for attachment to another container, so that only outer containers (3) of the layer (1) have an adhesive application (9) for attachment to another container and at least one inner container (5) is surrounded by the outer containers (3) without an adhesive application (9) applied as part of the application process. Method for producing a pallet assembly (10), in which several layers (1) after Claim 7 formed and transferred into an arrangement stacked on a pallet (7). Method for producing a pallet assembly (10). Claim 8 , in which - the containers (3, 5) in the arrangement as a layer (1) are received by a palletizer (190) and placed on a pallet (7), the palletizer (190) applying the adhesive to the individual containers (3 ) applies, before or after in which the containers (3, 5) in the arrangement as a layer (1) have been placed by the palletizer (190) on the pallet (7) or in which method - on the individual containers provided and intended for the respective layer (1). (3) an adhesive application (9) is applied before these individual containers (3) provided are arranged as a layer (1) by manipulation. Procedure according to Claim 9 , in which the containers (3, 5) already received via the palletizer (190) are centered in their arrangement as a layer (1) before or during placement on the assigned pallet (7) via several slides designed as part of the palletizer (190). and at least one adhesive nozzle attached to a slide applies the respective adhesive application (9) to the individual containers (3) as part of the application process, after the containers (3, 5) are arranged as a layer (1) over the several as part of one Palletizer (190) trained slide have already been centered. Procedure according to one of the Claims 7 until 10 , in which the containers (3, 5) intended and provided for the respective layer (1) are checked for predefined errors before being transferred to the respective arrangement as layer (1) and containers (3, 5) with predefined errors are rejected, whereby the other containers (3, 5) provided for the respective layer (1) are temporarily stored and an additional container (3, 5), which replaces the separated container (3, 5) for the respective layer (1), is provided. System (100) for producing a pallet assembly (10) from several layers (1) of containers (3, 5), comprising a device (180) which converts several containers (3, 5) into an arrangement as a layer (1) by manipulation can, in which arrangement as a layer (1) several outer containers (3) form a periphery and surround at least one inner container (5), a palletizer (190) following the device (180) for receiving containers (3, 5) in the arrangement as a layer (1) and transferring the received containers (3, 5) to an assigned pallet (7) and an application device (170), which can apply an adhesive application (9) to the container (3), characterized in that the application device (170) is configured and equipped for applying adhesive applications (9) to individually selected containers (3) in such a way that adjacent outer containers (3) of a respective layer (1) in the pallet assembly (10) have a respective one for attachment to one respective further outer containers (3) of the pallet assembly (10) are assigned the intended adhesive application (9) and the respective at least one inner container (5) is surrounded by the outer containers (3), without an adhesive application (9) on another Containers (3, 5) of the pallet assembly (10) to be attached. Plant according to Claim 12 , in which the application device (170) comprises at least one adhesive nozzle, which can apply an adhesive application (9) to a respective lateral lateral surface (12) of a respective individual selected container (3) and/or which can apply a respective adhesive application (9) to an upper The lateral surface (14) of a respective individual selected container (3) can be applied. Plant according to Claim 12 , in which the application device (170) comprises at least one specific adhesive nozzle, which can apply an adhesive application (9) to a respective lateral lateral surface (12) of a respective individual selected container (3) and also a respective adhesive application (9) to an upper lateral surface (14) of a respective individual selected container (3). Plant according to Claim 14 , in which the palletizer (190) comprises a plurality of slides for centering containers (3, 5) of a received arrangement of containers (3, 5) as a layer (1) and in which the at least one adhesive nozzle or the at least one specific adhesive nozzle a slide of the palletizer (190) is arranged. Plant according to one of the Claims 13 until 15 , in which a position of the adhesive nozzle can be adjusted to adapt to different heights of containers (3, 5). Plant according to one of the Claims 13 until 16 , in which the adhesive nozzle is designed as a component of the palletizer (190) and in which the palletizer comprises at least one sensor for detecting a respective position of a respective individual selected container (3), wherein a position of the adhesive nozzle is coordinated with the respective recognized position at least one actuator of the palletizer (190) is adaptable. Plant according to one of the Claims 13 until 17 , in which the at least one adhesive nozzle is designed for applying an adhesive strip (15) to individually selected containers (3), which adhesive strip (15) covers the upper lateral surfaces (14) of at least two adjacent containers (3) in their arrangement as a layer (1). contacted.

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