EP2112089B1 - Device and method for producing of containers with handle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a plurality of containers of liquid containers. The liquid containers are first divided into groups. Then, each feeding a film via a feed area to the grouped into liquid containers. Finally, each group of liquid containers is wrapped in the film.

The invention further relates to a device for producing a plurality of liquid containers, each with at least one carrying handle.

In the present technical field of the invention, containers consist essentially of at least two liquid containers, for example P.E.T. Bottles or beverage cans, and a plastic film as packaging or cohesion for groups of liquid containers. The plastic film can be shrunk in addition to better holding the liquid container by means of a heating process. A container produced in this way can be carried by a person by means of a handle attached to the container. The carrying handle may be, for example, a handle which is applied with a self-adhesive handle tape on the surface of the shrink wrap.

For applying the carrying handle to the shrink packs (shrink pack) are currently usually separate handle applicator application machines used in bottling plants, after the shrink-film machine (shrink-film machine) and the shrink tunnel, apply the handle to the shrunk-ready container. A disadvantage here is that the shrink wrap when applying the handle provide little back pressure for pressing the self-adhesive handle tape, especially when a handle is glued into the concave curve between two liquid container. Another disadvantage is that the speed of the application head of the handle application machine must be synchronized to the packet speed or vice versa. For the handle application machine, a certain amount of space must be provided within the entire filling tray.

US 4,906,319 discloses a method and apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1 and claim 8, respectively.

According to some devices and methods of the prior art, the packaging films are initially in a wound form as a role, for example in the European patent application EP 0 178 142 A1 and the US patent US 6,513,657 B2 , To attach the carrying handles, the films must therefore be unrolled, the carrying handles are then applied to the film. Thereafter, the film, now including the carrying handles, rolled up again and provided further operations in the bottling plant. So there are two processes required for the winding or unwinding of the film. When rolled up, the rollers also bulge out through the applied carrying handles, which on the one hand can lead to undesired buckling of the film and on the other hand makes it difficult to store the rollers of films.

Due to the additional machine element for the application of the carrying handle also additional functions are necessary, such as to separate back one after the other accumulating container. Thus, the containers are divided for applying the carrying handles and / or the application head is synchronized to the speed with which the containers are transported through the filling system. These additional functions reduce the overall efficiency of the bottling plant.

According to various devices and methods of the prior art packaging films are already pre-prepared with handles before feeding the films for packaging the container, so that may not be flexible reacts to different configurations of containers during the filling operation, for example in the US patent US 6,513,657 B2 , In addition, such preprepared films are more expensive than non-prepped films.

Various generic rights for containers with handles and method for their preparation are known from the prior art, which are briefly described below.

The European patent application EP 0 178 142 A1 discloses a method for packaging liquid containers to form at least one carrying handle. Prior to shrinking by heating the packaging film, portions of the film along central portions of the longitudinal edges of the film are weakened such that as a result of heating the film, the weakened portions of the film form openings. The openings are located adjacent to the carrying handles so that users can grasp the carrying handles through the openings. The handles are already attached to the film, so the slides are pre-prepared with carrying handles. The film is removed to apply the carrying handles and then wound up again. This has a negative effect on the performance of the packaging machine. Likewise, the film roll bulges out at the point where the carrying handles are applied. There is a risk of jamming when unrolling.

The US patent US 3,756,395 discloses a shrink wrap and a method of making the same. Prior to shrinkage of a plastic film used for packaging, strips are folded or other types of reinforcing strips are locally introduced within this film locally in some areas of the film. The strips can be reinforced by lamination. The strips are mounted in the areas of the film in which a day grip is provided and in which the tensile force on the film caused by the carrying of the package is counteracted. This stabilizes the shrink wrap.

The European patent application EP 717 712 B1 discloses a bulk packaging for bottles and a method of making same. A sheet of heat-shrinkable plastic, in the region separating adjacent rows of bottles from each other, has a series of aligned incisions each extending over the entire circumference of the package and being adapted to release each of the rows of bottles from the adjacent row or rows of bottles.

The US patent US 6,513,657 B2 discloses a package with a tear handle forming a tear opening. A tear tape system having a first and a second portion is attached to the packaging material. The first section is rupturable with respect to the second section. The second section remains attached to the packaging material and forms a carrying handle in combination with the packaging material. A first slot is formed by the packaging material near one side of the tear opening for gripping the carrying handle in the opened state. The carrying handles are already attached to the packaging material, the packaging material is thus prepared with carrying handles. In addition, the packaging material is rewound with the applied handles again before the liquid containers are packed with the packaging material to containers.

The US patent US 6,354,739 B1 discloses tear tape and container with a tear strip. A container for storing objects is provided with a tab made of a tear-resistant film material having first and second major surfaces for closing the container. A tearable tape strip is mounted on one of the first and second major surfaces of the tab. A handle-shaped carrying handle is not formed.

The object of the invention is to provide a method for producing a plurality of handles provided with handles of liquid containers, which increases the overall efficiency of a filling system for the liquid container.

The above object is achieved by a method comprising the features of claim 1.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for the production of containers of liquid containers with carrying handles, which operates time and cost efficient.

The above object is achieved by a device comprising the features of claim 8.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cost-producible container of liquid containers with at least one carrying handle.

In the method according to the invention for producing a multiplicity of containers of liquid containers, carrying handles are applied to a film before the liquid containers are grouped, wrapped with individual sections of the film and the groups of liquid containers are made into containers. During the application of the carrying handles to the film, the film is located in a supply area of a device for filling the liquid containers, via which a portion of the film is fed to the grouped liquid containers.

In the method according to the invention, the carrying handles are applied to the film with at least one apoptotic head. The configuration of the application head can be made according to the prior art. In particular, the carrying handles can be fixed by means of the application head on the film, for example with an adhesive or by lamination. Particularly advantageous for the durability of the carrying handles on the film is when relative to the application head, a roller or shaft is arranged, which cooperates with the application head. The application head and roller or shaft firmly press at least one of the handles onto the portion of the film currently between the application head and the roller or shaft. Subsequently, the roller or shaft advances the film with the now applied carrying handles.

The film is designed as a continuous foil. the film is separated into film sections only after application of the carrying handles, as they are needed for the completion of the container. In another embodiment, however, the carrying handles are applied to the already separated sections of the film.

In order for a user to tear open the finished container easily, it is advantageous to introduce perforations in the film, for example, before the groups of Liquid container wrapped with the film and the containers are completed. The perforations can be introduced into the film by means of at least one perforation knife of the prior art. Additionally or alternatively, at least one engagement slot per handle can be cut into the film, again, for example, before the groups of liquid containers are wrapped with the film and the respective containers are completed. The engagement slots can be cut into the foil by means of at least one cutting knife.

The order of process steps as to when the handles are applied to the film, the perforations and / or the engagement slots in the film and the film is singulated may vary and is not essential to the scope of the invention.

In the process according to the invention, the film undergoes a heat-shrinking process and the liquid containers, which are divided into groups, are wrapped with the shrunk-on film and thus combined into the containers. In another embodiment, the engagement slots are inserted into the film prior to the heat shrinking process so that the engagement slots open during the heat shrinking process for later engagement by the user. However, the engagement slots can also be introduced into the film only after the liquid containers have been put together with the film.

An advantage of the method according to the invention is that it can be dispensed with special, often cost-effective, with handles handled slides. This allows the filling company more flexibility when purchasing its packaging such as foil and carrying handles. Since the foil packaging is easy to open due to the perforations introduced in the device, special, cost-effective adhesive tape containing this function can be dispensed with.

The inventive device for producing a plurality of containers of liquid containers, each having at least one carrying handle operates according to the above-described steps of the method according to the invention. It can, as also described above, comprise at least one application head, which is located in the feed region of the film and applies the carrying handles to the film. The application head is within the device with respect to the direction of the film in front of a station of Means is arranged, which surrounds the grouped liquid container with the film at least partially.

As also described above, the device may comprise at least one cutting knife for cutting engagement slots in the film and / or for separating the film and at least one perforation knife for introducing perforations into the film.

The container according to the invention comprises at least two liquid containers, wherein the at least two liquid containers are assembled with a film to the container and on the container at least one carrying handle is firmly attached. The at least one carrying handle of the container is attached by means of the device according to the invention and by means of the method according to the invention prior to the wrapping of the liquid container with the film and prior to completion to the container. As described above, the film can essentially consist of a shrinkable material and by means of a shrinkage each form the container from the liquid containers.

It is advantageous if the carrying handle of the container according to the invention substantially consists of a non-shrinkable material, so that the carrying handle is not deformed undesirable and thus may not be so easy to reach by the user. Such materials are known in the art. The carrying handles do not detach from the film during the heat shrinking process; since the commonly used adhesives for the permanent connection of the handle with the film only dissolve at higher temperatures than the temperature used in the heat shrinking process.

As also described above, the container may have at least one engaging slot introduced in the film per handle, wherein the engagement slot is disposed adjacent to the respective carrying handle. Additionally or alternatively, at least one perforation for tearing the film packaging may be introduced into the film.

In the following, embodiments of the invention, the inventive device and the carrying handle according to the invention and their advantages are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying figures.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a section of a flat spread film with applied handles and introduced perforations and engaging slots.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a container with the carrying handle according to the invention and the perforations and engagement slots.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the container with the carrying handle according to the invention and the perforations and engagement slots.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention, wherein the device is set such that the carrying handles are mounted on the inside of the film.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of the device according to FIG. 4 , wherein the device is converted in such a way that the carrying handles are mounted on the outside of the film.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a section of a flat spread film 4 or film web for example, three-lane packaging machine, the three wraps per cycle clock each next to each other (not shown) simultaneously wrapped in the film. Three handles 1 are applied to the shown section of the film 4. In the embodiment of the carrying handle 1 shown here, a perforation 7 is introduced in each case on the left and right of the longitudinal sides of the carrying handles 1 and in each case an engagement slot 8 is cut into the film 4.

The areas on the film 4, at which in a later operation of the device 10 according to the invention (not shown, see FIGS. 4 and 5 ) are compiled with the inventive method liquid container 3 with sections of the film 4 to finished inventive container 2 are exemplified for a six liquid container 3 comprehensive container 2 (not shown), indicated at the handle handle 1 shown on the left by the six dotted circles. The handles 1 are placed according to the dimensions for the manufactured container 2 on the film 4 spaced.

The supplied, for example, in three parallel sheets of film 4 is conveyed in a running direction 6 of the film 4 by the device 10 according to the invention. FIG. 1 shows the already cut film 4 according to a step of the device 10 with the inventive method before the groups of liquid container 3 wrapped with the film 4 and the container 2 are completed.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of the container 2 according to the invention with the carrying handle 1 and the two perforations 7 and two engagement slots 8 after FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 shows the finished container 2, after the corresponding group of liquid container 3 wrapped with the film 4 and the container 2 was completed.

By proper and at least partially wrapping the liquid container 3 by means of the device 10 and the method according to the invention is the handle 1 at the top of the container 2. Left and right next to the handle 1, the engagement slots 8 are arranged, in which a user can engage to to be able to hold the handle 1 better.

The two perforations 7 are now each between the three pairs of liquid containers 3. By tearing each one of the two perforations 7, the user can easily remove one or more liquid container 3 from the film package.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the container 2 according to the invention with the carrying handle 1 and the two perforations 7 and the two engagement slots 8 after the FIGS. 1 and 2 , By shrinking the film 4 on the liquid container 3, the engagement slots 8 are widened, here for example, crescent-shaped, so that the user can even better engage in the engagement slots 8 with his fingers.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention, wherein the device 10 is set such that the carrying handles 1 are mounted on the inside 4a of the film 4. On the basis of the device 10, the essential steps of the method according to the invention are described below.

The device 10 comprises a film mandrel which carries a roll 24 on which the film 4 is wound. If the film 4 is unwound from the roll 24, in the embodiment of the device 10 shown here, the film 4 unwound from an adjacent reserve roll 23 and in the meantime again a new roll 24 with film 4 are placed on the corresponding film mandrel.

The device 10 further comprises guide elements 25, via which the film 4 is conveyed along the running direction 6 to an application roller 22. For applying the carrying handles 1 on the inside 4a of the film 4, the film 4 is first guided over the guide elements 25 such that the film 4 is guided from top to bottom, so that the outside 4b of the film 4 passes over the application roller 22.

The application roller 22 cooperates with an application head 5 of the device 10. The carrying handles 1 are fed to the application head 5 from the direction of travel 26. Depending on the embodiment of the device 10, the carrying handles 1 can be supplied separately to the application head 5 as individual parts or, for example, one behind the other in the form of a band, whereby the band is divided into individual carrying handles 1. The type of feeding the carrying handles 1 is not relevant to the scope of the invention. At least one carrying handle 1 is applied to a region of the film 4 parallel to the running direction 6 of the film 4 via the at least one application head 5. By rotation and pressing of the application head 5 against the application roller 22, the handles 1 are firmly connected to the film 4, for example by additional heating, laminating and / or before on the handles 1 applied adhesive. In multi-lane film processing a handle 1 is attached to each foil web per cycle.

The film 4 which is now applied with the carrying handles 1 is subsequently conveyed in the embodiment of the device 10 shown here to a dancer 16 according to the prior art, through which the film 4 then runs. The dancer 16 serves to compensate for the different speeds of conveyance of the film 4 occurring in the device 10 as a function of the working step.

The film 4 is now supplied to at least one perforation 17 in the embodiment of the device 10 shown here, which in the FIGS. 1 to 3 described perforations 7 and engaging slots 8 in the film 4 introduces. Subsequently, the parallel film webs are cut into individual blanks by means of at least one cross-cutting blade 18 of the device 10 (see Fig. 1 ). The perforation knives 17 may also be disposed in the device 10 after the cross cutting knives 18 (not shown) without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Now, the film 4 is provided with the carrying handles 1, the perforations 7 and the engagement slots 8 and the film 4 is then further, for example via a conveyor belt 20 of the device 10 as individual parts to a film wrapping device 14 of the device 10. Here, the liquid containers 3 are prepared in groups by at least partially wrapping with film 4 on the adjoining elements (not shown) of the device 10 for heating and optionally still shrinking the separated film 4 on the liquid container 3.

The feed region 12, via which the film 4 is guided from below to the liquid containers 3, which are divided into groups, before they are wrapped with the film 4 and the containers 2 are finished, is located inside the device 10 preferably in alignment below the liquid container 3 Conveyor, as well as the application head 5 and the application roller 22, whereby a very compact space-saving design is achieved.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of another embodiment of the device 10 after FIG. 4 , wherein the device 10 is converted in such a way that the carrying handles 1 are mounted on the outside 4b of the film 4. For this purpose, the unwound from the roll 23 or 24 film 4 only in the reverse direction of the application roller 22 must be supplied. The film 4 is guided over the guide elements 25 such that the film 4 from bottom to top and thus the inside 4a of the film 4 via the application roller 22 runs. All other elements of the device 10 and essential procedural steps are in the description too FIG. 4 already included.

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 of the invention can be made without departing from the scope of the following claims. In particular, the perforations 7 may be omitted or have a different shape and / or number, the engagement slots 8 are omitted or have a different shape and / or number, the handles are 1 by different methods and means attached to the film 4, the liquid container. 3 be different in shape and / or size than shown in the figures, the number and composition of the liquid container 3 per container 2 be different, the device 10 include other or further elements and the method according to other or further process steps include To leave the scope of the following claims. In the device 10, the application head 5 and the application roller 22 can also be arranged after or between the perforation blade 17 and the cutting blade 18, without departing from the scope of the following claims. Essential to the present invention is that the carrying handles 1 are applied to the film 4 before wrapping the grouped liquid container 3 with the film 4 and the completion of the container 2, after they have been unwound from the roll 23 or 24 or another suitable film dispenser is.

Claims (9)

1. Method for producing a multiplicity of packs (2) of liquid containers (3) with the following steps:

   • provision of a continuous film (4) for a packaging machine, wherein no handles (1) are applied on the continuous film (4) yet;

   • application in sections of at least one separate handle (1) per cycle onto the continuous film (4) parallel to a running direction (6) of the continuous film (4) using at least one application head (5);

   • division of the liquid containers (3) into groups which constitute the pack (2);

   • separation of the continuous film (4) into sections after the handles (1) have been applied onto the continuous film (4);

   • feeding of the continuous film (4), which has been separated into sections and onto which the handles have been applied (1), via a feed area (12) to the liquid containers (3) which have been divided into groups;

   • wrapping of each group of liquid containers (3) with one section of the continuous film (4), on which at least one handle (1) has been applied, in each case, and subsequent initiation of a heat shrink process and, as a result, combination and finishing of the groups of liquid containers (3) wrapped with the sections of the continuous film (4) to form packs (2);

   characterized by the following steps:

   • fixing of the at least one handle (1) per cycle onto the continuous film (4) by means of an application roller (22) which is arranged opposite the application head (5) within the feed area (12) and cooperates with the application head (5), wherein the application head (5) and the application roller (22) press the at least one handle (1) per cycle onto an area of the continuous film (4) which is located between the application head (5) and the application roller (22) in each case; and

   • subsequent further transportation of the continuous film (4) with the now applied handles (1) by means of the application roller (22).
2. Method according to Claim 1, wherein the continuous film (4) is divided in its running direction (6) into a number greater than or equal to two of webs in each cycle and for each web at least one handle (1) is applied onto the continuous film (4) and this number of pack groups is produced side by side in each case transversely to the running direction (6).
3. Method according to one of the preceding Claims, wherein at least one perforation (7) is introduced into the film (4) before the groups of the liquid containers (3) are wrapped with one section of the continuous film (4) in each case and the packs (2) are finished.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one engagement slot (8) per handle (1) is introduced into the continuous film (4) before the groups of the liquid containers (3) are wrapped with one section of the continuous film (4) in each case and the respective packs (2) are finished.
5. Method according to Claim 4, wherein the engagement slots (8) are introduced into the continuous film (4) before the heat shrink process and open during the heat shrink process for a later engagement.
6. Method according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein the engagement slots (8) are introduced into the film (4) after the combining of the liquid containers (3) to form packs (2) with the film (4).
7. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 6, wherein the handle (1) essentially consists of an unshrinkable material.
8. Apparatus (10) for producing a multiplicity of packs (2) of liquid containers (3) with at least one handle (1) in each case, wherein the apparatus (10) comprises a roller (23, 24) by means of which a continuous film (4) for a packaging machine can be provided, wherein no handles (1) are applied on the continuous film (4) yet, the apparatus (10) comprises at least one application head (5) which is located in a feed area (12) of the continuous film (4) and wherein per cycle the at least one handle (1) can be applied in sections onto the film (4) parallel to a running direction (6) of the continuous film (4) using the at least one application head (5), and wherein the application head (5) is arranged, with respect to the running direction (6) of the film (4), upstream of a station of the apparatus (10), by means of which station the grouped liquid containers (3) can be surrounded at least to some extent with one section of the continuous film (4) in each case, characterized in that the apparatus (10) has an application roller (22) which is arranged opposite the application head (5) within the feed area (12), the application roller (22) cooperates with the application head (5) during operation in such a manner that the application head (5) and the application roller (22) press the at least one handle (1) per cycle onto an area of the continuous film (4) which is located between the application head (5) and the application roller (22) in each case.
9. Apparatus (10) according to Claim 7, wherein the apparatus (10) comprises at least one cutting knife (18) for separating the film (4), a perforation/cutting knife (17) for the longitudinal cuts (8) and a perforation knife (17) for introducing perforations (7) into the continuous film (4).

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