EP2711308B1 - Outer packaging for containers - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an outer packaging for containers of grouped items, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the prior art, various ways are known to form packages of grouped items. The containers may be in particular those from beverage packaging such as plastic cans or bottles. Here, in particular, the usual in cans outer packages are treated in which a plurality of cans are formed side by side to a container and are surrounded by a shrunk plastic film. The container is wrapped with a plastic film, which is then applied by means of a shrinkage process particularly close to the grouped in the container items. The plastic film substantially completely wraps the bundles in the area of their large, parallel end faces, which are essentially formed by the top and bottom of the cans or bottles, and also in two side areas which are parallel to the longitudinal extent of the cans or bottles run.

Although this type of outer packaging has been established in the prior art, in particular for use in the beverage industry, there are still disadvantages in that the shrink packaging has two shrink holes due to the system (Bulls-Eye called), which affect the stability of the container. In particular when the outer packaging is loaded by, for example, lifting the container parallel to the large end faces, the outer packaging may become unstable, so that individual grouped items come out of the grouping, following gravity, and in the worst case fall out of the outer packaging by a shrinkage hole not covered by the plastic film can.

A gattugsgemäße outer packaging is from the JP 2004 315 030 known.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an overpack for bundles of grouped items, by means of which the grouped items safely and firmly held in the wound, shrunk plastic film and can not move within the outer packaging in the direction of Bulls-Eyes, where the outer packaging is deformed or, in the worst case, the individual goods can fall out of the outer packaging.

To solve this problem, an outer packaging for containers from grouped items with the features of claim 1 is proposed.

With the invention, a possibility is created for the first time to close the shrinking holes which impair the stability of the outer packagings and thus to eliminate the known disadvantages of shrink wrapping. The result is a total of a sealed, stable and also attractive container, in which the grouped in the outer packaging items can not migrate in the direction of the shrink hole under load and thus preserves the geometric shape of the entire outer packaging. The use of a tape which does not close off the area covered by the shrunk-on plastic film also results, in particular, in a simplified production of the entire outer packaging. Previously, shaped or unshaped boards, so-called pads, were inserted into the container for stabilizing larger cans. Due to the mechanical complexity of such a solution, the outer packaging is considerably more expensive. By the solution according to the invention can now be completely dispensed with the second packaging material, namely the stabilizing cardboard. The adhesive strip of the invention stabilizes the container in a simple manner, so that the cardboard is unnecessary. This can save costs for the additional packaging material and packaging machines.

The invention further provides that the adhesive strip is arranged on an outwardly facing side of the plastic film so that it completely covers the region not covered by the plastic film. Although the adhesive strip could thus be glued directly to the grouped items, under the plastic film, according to the invention, in the sense of the invention, a solution is advantageous in which the adhesive strip is applied from the outside, after the shrinkage of the plastic film on the outer packaging. This results in the advantageous effect that the edge regions of the plastic film, in the area of the bulls-eye, stretched and thus kept stable. In addition, there is the advantageous effect that the entire outer packaging appears to be more attractive from the outside. In addition, this solution also includes manufacturing advantages.

It is provided that the adhesive strip in a side region of the container, which is orthogonal to a large end face of the container, is arranged. In this case, the adhesive strip according to the invention is arranged exactly where the shrinkage hole has formed in the outer packaging by the shrinkage process.

Advantageously, the adhesive strip has the same material as the plastic film. This results in a sorted and thus resource-saving packaging. In the previously known in the prior art solution in which additional cardboard was inserted within the container, there was a great deal of effort in terms of the separation of the different types of packaging material. Now, the environment is not burdened by another packaging material, since the outer packaging is made of a single material. The outer packaging is thus disposable without separating individual components and can be fed directly to the recycling process intended for this purpose.

According to the invention, the outer packaging has a carrying handle in a side region of the container opposite the adhesive strip. This results in easier handling for the buyer when transporting the container. By means of the carrying handle, the entire container can be carried like a carrying bag, wherein the longitudinal axis of the container is aligned parallel to the body axis of the buyer. This results in the functionality of a carrier bag.

The invention further provides that the carrying handle over a not of the shrunken plastic film covered area of the container is arranged. This results in a container which carries on one side of the outer packaging an adhesive strip over the shrink hole and on the exactly opposite side of the outer packaging a carrying handle for easy handling of the container. The carrying handle is placed over a shrink hole. When lifting the container by means of the carrying handle, it could now come to a slipping of the individual goods within the container, since the opposite shrink hole is perpendicular to the ground. However, since the adhesive strip according to the invention is arranged on the opposite side of the container for stabilization, a stable formation of the individual goods within the container also results when carrying the container with end faces tilted by 90 degrees to the bottom. The tape holds the downwardly facing shrink hole of the package firmly and securely closed, so that the entire outer package in this area can not deform and lead to instability of the container or at worst to a loss of individual goods from the container. Even with the removal of individual goods from the packaging in the area of the carrying handle, the outer packaging remains stable.

It is also particularly advantageous if both existing in the outer packaging shrink holes are closed by means of a respective adhesive strip. As a result, the entire container is hygienically sealed. As an alternative to two separate adhesive strips, of course, an adhesive strip such as a banderole can be glued together over both shrink holes.

Furthermore, the application of the adhesive strip or strips to the shrink holes results in an additional area that can be used for advertising messages as desired or intended. The adhesive strips can be left transparent or printed according to their starting material.

The invention further proposes that the adhesive strip has a height between 85 and 130 mm and a width between 155 and 220 mm. This height or width is sufficient to cover on the one hand shrink holes in common packaging sizes for beverage packaging, and on the other to sufficiently support the plastic film in the side areas of the outer packaging.

Finally, it is provided that the carrying handle has a width of about 25 to 40 mm. This width is particularly suitable to be able to comfortably carry the weight of the entire container on the one hand, and on the other to avoid a painful cutting of the carrying handle into the customer's hand.

Figur 1:

ein Gebinde aus gruppierten Getränkedosen in einer Seitenansicht,

Figur 2:

ein Gebinde aus gruppierten Getränkedosen in einer Draufsicht.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment. Show it:

FIG. 1:

a container of grouped beverage cans in a side view,

FIG. 2:

a container of grouped beverage cans in a top view.

In FIG. 1 a) is a container of grouped items 2, namely individual beverage cans, shown. The container 1 is shown in a side view on a side region 6 of the container 1. The grouped items 2 are arranged parallel to each other, so that essentially flat surfaces and side surfaces of the container arise. In FIG. 1 b) the container is shown with a surrounding plastic film 3. The plastic film 3 is wrapped around the grouped items 2 and shrunk. In this case, due to the shrinkage process on both sides of the container 1 each have a shrink hole 11 (so-called bulls-eye), in which the container 1 is not enclosed by plastic film 3. Now, if the container 1 is raised, in particular with the side region 6 pointing downwards, push the items 2 against the not covered by the shrunken plastic film 3 area 4, which can solve individual items 2 from the parent compound. This results in a buckling of the plastic film 3 in not covered by the plastic film 3 area 4 of the container 1. As in FIG. 1c) 1, an adhesive strip 5, which completely surrounds the uncovered region 4, is therefore glued over the area 4 of the container 1 not covered by the shrunken plastic film 3. The adhesive strip 5 is arranged on the outwardly facing side of the plastic film 3 in one or both of the side regions 6, 8 of the container 1 so that it completely covers the uncovered regions 4, 10. In FIG. 1 d) the finished sealed container 1 with adhesive strip 5 arranged above the uncovered region 4 is shown.

FIG. 2 shows a container 1 in the plan view, wherein the grouped individual goods. 2 are shown. The upper end face 7 of the container 1 is formed by the upper end faces of the beverage cans combined in the container 1. According to FIG. 2 b) the container 1 has two side regions 6, 8, wherein the side region 6 points downward in the image plane, while the side region 8 points upwards. In addition, the container 1 surrounding plastic film 3 is shown. By lifting the container as in FIG. 2 b) shown, the weight of the container 1 loads on the lower side portion 6. In this case, the not covered by the plastic film 3 area 4 is bulged, so that the grouped items 2 can break out of the formation of the grouped items 2 and against the plastic film 3 in the area covered area 4. To avoid this disadvantage is in accordance FIG. 2c) an inventive adhesive strip 5 in the lower side region of the container 1 is arranged. The adhesive strip 5 completely covers the uncovered region 4 from the outside, so that a closed packaging surface results in the lower side region 6 of the container 1. Like in the FIG. 2c) 2, the adhesive strip 5, in conjunction with the plastic film 3, stably holds the grouped items 2 within the package 1, so that the grouped items 2 remain symmetrically within the package. In addition, according to FIG. 2c) a carrying handle 9 is arranged on the plastic film 3 of the container 1. With the aid of this carrying handle 9, a customer can comfortably carry the container 1 after shopping home, without causing a shifting of the grouped items 2 inside the container 1. Likewise, individual items 2 can be removed in the region of the carrying handle 9 from the container 1, without risking the stability of the entire container 1. In addition to the carrying handle 9, an adhesive strip 5 can also be arranged in the region 10 not covered by the plastic film 3, the side region 8 of the container 1 pointing upwards in the image plane. As a result, both shrink holes 4, 10 of the container are sealed, so that the grouped items 2 are hygienically separated from the environment.

Overall, the invention thus provides an outer packaging for containers 1 from grouped items 2, in which the shrinkage holes 4, 10 resulting from the system are stably and hygienically sealed with adhesive strips 5 within the plastic film 3, so that an advantageous storage and carrying of the container 1 becomes possible without risking instability of the entire container 1. In addition, the carrying handle 9 according to the invention also results in a particular advantage in the transport of the container 1.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

container

2

Single goods

3

Plastic film

4

uncovered area

5

tape

6

page range

7

face

8th

page range

9

handle

10

uncovered area

11

shrink hole

12

shrink hole

Claims (7)

1. An outer packaging for bundles (1) comprising side areas (6, 8) and front surfaces (7) and being composed of grouped single goods (2), comprising a plastic foil (3) which is wrapped and shrunk around the grouped single goods (2), wherein the plastic foil (3) is in immediate contact with the single goods (2) in the side areas (6, 8) and on the front surfaces (7), and wherein the plastic foil comprises at least two shrink holes (11, 12) in the side areas, whereby the bundle (1) comprises at least two areas (4), (10) which are not covered by the plastic foil (3),
   characterized by
   an adhesive strip (5) arranged in an area (4), (10) of the bundle (1) which is not covered by the shrunk plastic foil (3) and a carrying handle (9) arranged in a side area (8) opposite the adhesive strip (5).
2. An outer packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the adhesive strip (5) is arranged on the outwardly facing side of the plastic foil (3) such that it completely covers the area (4), (10) which is not covered by the plastic foil (3).
3. An outer packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adhesive strip (5) is arranged in a side area (6) of the bundle which is orthogonal to a large front surface (7) of the bundle (1).
4. An outer packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive strip (5) comprises the same material as the plastic foil (3).
5. An outer packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrying handle (9) is arranged above an area (4), (10) of the bundle (1) which is not covered by the shrunk plastic foil (3).
6. An outer packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive strip (5) comprises a height comprised between 40 and 150 mm, preferably between 85 and 130 mm, and a width comprised between 100 and 300 mm, preferably between 155 and 220 mm.
7. An outer packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrying handle (9) comprises a width of approximately 25 to 40 mm.

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