EP2301852B1 - Assembly of multiple containers and method for producing the assembly - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a container, which comprises at least two interconnected PET containers, which are held together with a horizontally stretched around an outside of the PET container, strip or strip-like strapping, wherein a voltage applied to the outer sides of the PET container inside the Strapping is fixed to at least one contact point with one of the PET containers. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing this container.

There are various ways known to combine individual articles into larger containers. For example, beverage containers are usually combined and packaged by means of shrink films into containers of four, six or more containers. The production of containers is usually unavoidable, since they represent the most common variant of sales units for beverage containers and bottles made of PET plastic. The containers are partially recombined for transport and / or put together in layers and palletized.

The shrink films used for the production of known containers require certain production steps, which have a relatively high energy demand. In addition, the film used causes costs for production, for the provision, for handling and for later disposal, since it is no longer needed after the sale. The machine equipment for providing the so-called. Film wrapping modules and other handling stations causes high investment costs. Finally, the provision of the so-called. Shrink tunnel, in which the slipped around the container film is shrunk by Heißluftbeaufschlagung around the bottles, requires a relatively high capital investment.

The containers can also be summarized by means of so-called. Umreifungsbänder to a container and connected to each other. In this use of such strapping, however, there may be a problem that the packages do not remain stable due to the ambiguous assignment of the container to each other.

That is, the containers do not form a stable longitudinal or diagonal formation of the containers after such strapping. The reason for this is that the containers and thus the container can be moved by mechanical effects during transport in other processing machines from the longitudinal formation in the diagonal formation or vice versa. To reduce the displacement of the container and no higher clamping forces of the strapping, since a rolling of the cylindrical container against each other can not be reliably prevented. This is, for example, also due to the fact that the containers, in particular the PET containers themselves are not necessarily dimensionally stable.

The DE 20 2006 000 215 U1 discloses a container comprising goods and a packaging material stretched around the goods. The packaging material has a shape of a continuous strip of packaging material which also has two ends forming an overlapping area. The packaging material strip is stretched around the goods, creating an overlap area of the two ends. The packaging material sections formed thereby are adhesively secured around the goods at the expense of a cohesive force. For this purpose, it is proposed that on an outer surface of a free end of the strip-shaped packaging material, an adhesive strip is attached to form the free end of the packaging material self-adhesive. In this embodiment of a container, the containers can move in their formation and remain unstable in the container.

In Scripture DE 693 11 338 T2 a multipack for containers is disclosed. The containers are held together with a membrane to a container. The membrane is formed by a tubular strip of elastically extensible plastic, wrapped around a predetermined number of juxtaposed containers and clamped tightly. In order to prevent slippage of the container in the container is proposed that the strapping with an additional auxiliary locking means, for example. An adhesive label or an adhesive portion, is attached from the outside to the containers and the membrane. For this purpose, an additional tool is needed to keep the containers stable in their formation, resulting in a complex manufacturing process. In addition, an adhesive strip can easily peel off, so that the container can move in its formation again.

In Scripture EP 0 392 996 A1 discloses a package for packaging cylindrical or polygonal bodies, in particular plastic or glass bottles for drinks, wherein the packaging with the bottles forms a container according to the preamble of claim 1. With this packaging, a container arrangement with two, three or more cylindrical bottles is possible. The bottles are braced against each other with ribbons on a neck portion and on a lower lying coat area. By biasing the bottles against each other a frictional fixation is to be achieved while the upper band is fastened undetachably by the usually existing support ring of the bottles.

The DE 380 42 11 A1 discloses a multi-pack for six identical containers. The containers stand on a cardboard blank, which includes bottom flaps, which are each arranged between the container walls, so that a so-called six-pack is formed. Furthermore, the containers are connected to each other by a strapping at about half the height of the container walls parallel to the bottom surface of the container. The carton blank is to enable the containers with the help of the strapping a good and firm cohesion.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cost effective and easy to handle way for the production of stable containers, which avoids the disadvantages of the prior art, at least partially.

This object of the invention is achieved with the objects of the independent claim, wherein features of advantageous developments of the invention result from the respective dependent claims.

The invention relates to a container which comprises at least two interconnected PET containers, which are held together with a band-like or strip-like strapping tensioned horizontally around an outer side of the PET containers. These strappings are preferably placed around the PET containers during an uninterrupted conveying process and then fixed. During the application of the strapping, the PET containers are normally not stopped or delayed because the strapping can be applied around them in a continuous process during the uninterrupted delivery of the PET containers.

According to the invention, an inner side of the strapping resting against the outer sides of the PET containers is firmly fixed to at least one contact point with one of the PET containers. The invention is characterized in that the strapping is fixed to the contact point by means of a material connection in the form of at least one welded joint. Such a connection makes it impossible to move the PET containers in the container so that a defined packing arrangement is maintained.

The welded connection can be produced, for example, by an ultrasonic welding connection or a laser welding connection or another suitable connection technique. In the case of thermoplastics or thermoplastics, the material must be melted or at least softened by supplying heat at the desired welding point, in order to allow a material connection at the contact point to be welded. Thus, in ultrasonic welding, the plastics are connected by means of mechanical vibrations. The main feature of this procedure is that necessary for welding Heat between the components is created by molecular and boundary surface friction in the components.

The strapping is formed by at least one flat band stretched around the outsides of the PET containers and then biased at their ends. With this tensioned, strip or band-shaped strapping, the PET containers are combined into a container and held so that they can be safely transported. Of course, two or more parallel bands can form the strapping. The strapping is thus produced by one, two or more similar or different bands of plastic or a composite material, wherein the bands are glued together at their ends overlapping or bumping together, welded, clamped, knotted or otherwise connected. An advantageous embodiment may be formed by a welding of the overlapping ends of the strapping. In addition, it is conceivable that the ends are welded by means of a welding point to at least one PET container of the container, so that the PET containers are secured in their formation during transport. The container of the container can thus not be moved into different formations, such as. From a longitudinal formation in a diagonal formation.

It should be mentioned that the container can optionally comprise two or more, but preferably at least three PET containers, since only in the case of containers of at least three interconnected containers, the mentioned problem of mutually displacing container occurs. In a preferred variant of the container according to the invention at least one welding point is attached as a fixing point to a central PET container and / or to another oppositely arranged PET container. It is also conceivable that a welding point can be attached to a PET container, which forms an outer of several containers of the container, a so-called. Eckcontainer.

In a container in which the PET containers are arranged in a diagonal formation, it would also be possible for a first fixing point to be attached to a middle PET container and a second fixing point to a diagonally opposite PET container. With this variant, the container could not be in one Move longitudinal formation, since the strapping is fixed to the PET containers by means of a welding point and thus does not allow a displacement path of the container. The strapping should preferably be fastened with at least one fixing point to the PET containers assembled into a container. With two fixation points, it may be that these are attached to the opposite PET containers.

The PET containers which are held together to form a container optionally have annular recesses extending in each case and / or recesses extending in the horizontal direction for receiving and / or fixing the strapping. With such a recess, an additional fixation of the strapping can be formed, since the strapping applied are thus fixed in their horizontal position. Furthermore, the PET containers held together to form a container each have a container neck below an upper-side opening, on which a further strapping for fixing the PET containers can be attached. Each of these mentioned strapping variants is additionally provided with at least one welding point on at least one PET container of the container, so that the disadvantages of the prior art are eliminated.

Particularly advantageous is a recyclable material can be used as a strapping, which, for example, consists of unmixed thermoplastic material. Possibly. can also be used biodegradable material, optionally as a composite material.

As further advantages of the invention over known variants of the prior art u.a. to mention that the strapping are cheaper to produce than a film and also to be processed. There is no shrink tunnel required, whereby a high energy saving and a reduction of investment costs are possible.

The PET containers assembled into a container have container inner sides which abut one another in the container arrangement. These container inner sides of the PET containers can be glued together at their contact points. This would mean that the abutting container inside each with at least a gluing point or at least a double-sided adhesive tape. This adhesive variant is possible with containers which are arranged in a longitudinal or in a diagonal formation. Instead of the adhesive variant, a cohesive connection of the abutting container inner sides would also be conceivable. Thus, at least one fixing point in the form of a welding point could be attached to the abutting container inner sides. With these just mentioned variants, it would be possible for the PET containers to be held together by so-called internal fixing points, so that strapping in the lower region of the container is no longer necessary. However, a further fixation should take place in the form of a strapping or a band in a recess or a recessed grip of the PET containers. It would also be conceivable that an additional strapping is attached to at least two obliquely arranged containers around the container neck.

For further stabilization of containers, wherein the PET containers are arranged in a diagonal formation, it would be conceivable that a first strapping runs, for example, in the recess or in the recessed grip and a second strapping extends around at least two container necks of a shortest diagonal of the container. The diagonal formation of a container is comparable to a parallelogram which has two diagonals. On the one hand a short diagonal and on the other a long diagonal. This strapping, which runs around the short diagonal of the container necks, could also be used as a carrying handle.

A further embodiment variant may provide that a carrying handle is applied and fixed on the outside of the container and / or on the strapping during or after the application of the strapping. If necessary, this carrying handle can contribute to the additional stabilization of the container formation, so that the beverage containers can shift to one another to a lesser extent. The carrying handle forms a container handle at its top cross-handle, which is arranged and fixed to the outside of the container and / or on the strapping.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing containers, which are formed from at least two PET containers, by means of at least one be held together horizontally around the outsides of the PET containers strained, band-like strapping. As already mentioned above, the strapping is formed by at least one band stretched around the containers, which is connected at its free ends by applying a bias, the band being welded to one of the containers at an at least one point of contact with one of the containers , The welding of the at least one band takes place during or immediately after the strapping of the at least two, preferably three or more PET containers.

• Fig. 1a bis 1d zeigen schematische Darstellungen einer ersten Variante eines Gebindes in verschiedenen Ansichten.
• Fig. 2a bis 2d zeigen schematische Darstellungen einer zweiten Variante eines Gebindes in verschiedenen Ansichten.
• Fig. 3a bis 3d zeigen schematische Darstellungen einer dritten Variante eines Gebindes in verschiedenen Ansichten.
• Fig. 4a bis 4d zeigen schematische Darstellungen einer vierten Variante eines Gebindes in verschiedenen Ansichten.
• Fig. 5 zeigt eine schematische Darstellung einer Seitenansicht eines Gebindes in Längsformation.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

• Fig. 1a to 1d show schematic representations of a first variant of a container in different views.
• Fig. 2a to 2d show schematic representations of a second variant of a container in different views.
• Fig. 3a to 3d show schematic representations of a third variant of a container in different views.
• Fig. 4a to 4d show schematic representations of a fourth variant of a container in different views.
• Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of a side view of a container in longitudinal formation.

The following detailed descriptions of possible embodiments of the invention will serve as non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same components in principle have the same reference numerals and will not be explained several times.

In the container described below or the sales unit described below several beverage containers are summarized. The containers are made by strapping the containers with the help of strings, tapes made of various materials, such as. Paper, plastic, metal, rubber, etc. formed of rigid or flexible type. Basically, all conceivable geometric arrangements of the container are possible with the indicated connection type "container strapping": linear matrix arrangement in an n × m arrangement of rows and columns for round or rectangular, square or other containers and e.g. Ball packs in 30 ° or 60 ° angle for round containers in any number. The arrangement of the container or container is dependent on the supply of the container and its division by the so-called. Container one-piece.

In the figure sequence 1a to 1 d schematic representations of a container 10 are shown in different views. All views of FIGS. 1a to 1d each show a container arrangement in the form of a container 10, wherein the container 14 are arranged side by side in a so-called. Longitudinal formation 11. The container 10 is composed in the present example of six interconnected PET containers 14, which are held together with a horizontally around an outer side 16 of the PET container 14 stretched, band or strip-like strapping 30. An inner side 32 of the strapping 30 resting against the outer sides 16 of the PET container 14 forms at least one contact point 40 with one of the PET containers 14 and is fixed there in accordance with the present invention. The strapping 30 is fixed at the contact point 40 by means of a material connection 42 in the form of at least one welded connection 44 and prevents this fixing a displacement of the PET container 14 in the container 10. Thus, this container 10 is maintained in its longitudinal formation 11.

The sequence of figures 2a to 2d shows various views of a container 10, which has also arranged the PET containers 14 in a longitudinal formation 11, as already in the FIGS. 1a to 1d is shown. The combined to the container 10 PET containers 14 each have annular circumferential and / or extending in the horizontal direction recesses 18 for receiving and / or fixing the strapping 30. This recess 18 has a width which corresponds at least to the width of the strapping 30, so that it can be introduced into the recesses 18. The recess 18 serves to further fix the PET container 14 in the container 10 and to increase the stability of the container 10th

Also in this embodiment, the inner side 32 of the strapping 30 bears against the outer sides 16 of the PET containers 14. At at least one contact point 40, the strapping 30 is fixed to one of the PET containers 14. The strapping 30 is fixed at this contact point 40 by means of a material connection 42 in the form of at least one welded joint 44 and prevented by this fixation a displacement of the PET container 14 in the container 10. Thus, this container 10 is maintained in its longitudinal formation 11.

In the sequence of figures 3a to 3d, a container 10, which likewise consists of PET containers 14, is shown in a diagonal formation 12. Also in this embodiment, the container 10 is composed of six interconnected PET containers 14, which are held together with a horizontally around the outside 16 of the PET container 14 stretched, band or strip-like strapping 30, wherein on the outer sides 16 of PET container 14 adjacent inner side 32 of the strapping 30 is fixed to at least one contact point 40 with one of the PET container 14.

In the figure sequence 4a to 4d, finally, a container 10 is shown, which also consists of PET containers 14, which are arranged in a diagonal formation 12. Here, the PET container 14 also has a recess 18, as already in the FIGS. 2a to 2d is shown. In this recess 18, the strapping 30 can be performed.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a side view of a container 10, wherein the PET containers 14 are arranged in a longitudinal formation 11. The PET containers 14 are fixed to container inner sides 26 by means of adhesive dots 24 with each other, so that strapping on a lower side of the PET container 14 can be omitted. Furthermore, a strapping 30 is tensioned around the recess 18 or a so-called grip recess 19 of the PET container 14. This strapping 30 is provided with at least one contact point 40 between the strapping 30 and a PET container 14 with a weld point 46. This connection 42 may, for example, also be attached to an opposite PET container 14.

The PET containers 14, which are held together to form a container 10, each have a container neck 22 below an upper-side opening 20, on which a further strapping 30 for fixing the PET containers 14 can be attached. This strapping variant is additionally provided with at least one weld point 46 at at least one contact point 40 between the strapping 30 and a PET container 14 of the container 10.

By the adhesive dots 24, which are attached to the container inner sides 26 of the PET container 14, a displacement of the container 10 is prevented, ie that the container 10, for example, remains stable in its longitudinal formation 11. These adhesive dots 24 can of course also be attached to containers 10 which have a diagonal formation 12 (cf. Fig. 4 ) exhibit.

A further variant (not shown here) can provide that the PET containers held together to form a container each have a container neck below an upper-side opening, on which a further strapping for fixing the PET containers can be attached.

In each of the strapping variants described above, at least one welding point 46 is additionally provided on at least one contact point 40 between the strapping 30 and a PET container 14 of the container 10.

The cohesive connection 42 does not necessarily have to be attached to the middle PET container 15. It is also conceivable that the welded joint 44 is located on a so-called. Eckbehälter.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

container

11

longitudinal formation

12

Diagonal formation

14

PET containers

15

Medium size PET container

16

outside

18

recess

19

grip

20

Top opening

22

container neck

24

adhesive dots

26

Container inside

30

Strapping, band

32

inside

40

contact point

42

connection

44

welded joint

46

WeldingSpot

Claims (10)

1. A bundle (10) comprising at least two PET containers (14) connected to each other and being held together by a tensed ribbon- or strip-like strapping band (30), which is horizontally looped around the outer surfaces (16) of the PET containers (14), wherein an inner surface (32) of the strapping band (30) fitting against the outer surfaces (16) of the PET containers (14) is attached to one of the said PET containers (14) in at least one contact point (40), characterised in that the strapping band (30) is attached at the contact point (40) by means of a material bond (42) in the form of at least one welded joint (44).
2. A bundle according to claim 1 wherein the welded joint (44) is an ultrasonic welded joint or a laser welded joint.
3. A bundle according to one of the claims 1 to 2 wherein the strapping band (30) is formed by at least one flat strip that is tensed around the outer surfaces (16) of the PET containers (14) and subsequently the ends of the said strapping band (30) are connected under pre-tension.
4. A bundle according to claim 3 wherein the strapping band (30) is formed by one, two or more strips of similar or different types, made of a synthetic or composite material, wherein the ends of each strip overlap or form a stack and are connected by means of gluing, welding, cramping, knotting or otherwise joined to each other.
5. A bundle according to one of the claims 1 to 4 wherein the bundle (10) comprises at least three PET containers (14) and wherein at least one welding point (46) is added as a fixation point on a middle PET container (15) and/or on a further PET container (14) arranged opposite the said middle PET container (15).
6. A bundle according to one of the claims 1 to 5 wherein the PET containers (14), which are held together in a bundle (10), are each provided with recesses (18) for receiving and/or attaching the strapping band (30), said recesses being arranged in an annular circumferential manner or extending in a horizontal direction.
7. A bundle according to one of the claims 1 to 6 wherein the PET containers (14), which are held together in a bundle (10), are each provided with a container neck underneath a top-side opening, said container neck being used for arranging a further strapping band (30) to fixate the PET containers (14).
8. A bundle according to one of the claims 1 to 7 wherein a carrying handle, which extends across the top side of the bundle (10), is arranged and attached at the outer surface (16) of the bundle (10) and/or at the strapping bands (30).
9. A method for producing bundles (10) comprising at least two PET containers (14) held together by at least one ribbon-like strapping band (30), which is horizontally tensed around the outer surfaces (16) of the PET containers (14), wherein the strapping band (30) is formed by at least one strip tensed around the PET containers (14), the free ends of said strip being connected by applying a pre-tension, wherein the strip is welded to one of the PET containers (14) in at least one contact point (40) of an inner surface (32) of the strip facing the PET containers (14).
10. A method according to claim 9 wherein the process of welding the at least one strip to the PET container (14) is performed during or immediately after looping the strapping band (30) around the at least two PET containers (14).

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