EP2792613A1 - Strapping with a plurality of articles and method for producing such a strapping - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for producing a strapping package (10), wherein at least two articles (12) with at least one horizontally around an outside of the article (12) stretched, band or strip-like, closed strapping (18) held together and connected to each other, which strapping (18) are formed by one, two or more similar or different strapping bands (20) made of plastic or a composite material, whose ends are each overlapping and fixed together to form a one-piece or multi-part contact point (22). A free end (26) of the strapping band (20) which projects beyond the contact point (22) on an outer side of the container (10) is used as a hand-grip peel-off handle (28) for opening the strapping band (20) of the strapping (20). 18) formed by separating the contact point (22). The free end (26) of the strapping band (20) forming the peel-off handle (28) is equipped, at least in regions, with means for increasing the friction and / or positively locking it with at least one finger of a human hand. The invention also relates to such a container (10) or strapping container (10).

Description

The present invention relates to a Umreifungsgebinde and a method for producing such a container, which comprises at least two interconnected articles such as. Liquid container, which are held together with a horizontally stretched around an outer side of the article or container, band or strip-like strapping.

A strapping is already from the international patent application WO 2011/045440 A1 became known, the disclosure content of which reference is made. The revelation content of WO 2011/045440 A1 It is intended to be fully and fully incorporated in the disclosure of the present invention, both in terms of the specification and all drawings.

In addition to this known Umreifungsgebinde various other ways are known and commonly used to summarize individual items to larger containers. For example, beverage containers are often combined by means of shrink films to form stable, transportable containers of four, six or more containers and packaged. The production of containers is usually essential for practical reasons, since they represent the most common variant of sales units for beverage containers and bottles made of PET plastic. For the transport to the intermediate and / or retail trade, these containers are sometimes combined to form so-called large containers and / or put together in layers and palletized.

In the production of such known shrink packages specific manufacturing steps are required in order to process the shrink films used here. These manufacturing steps require a relatively high energy input. In addition, the film used causes additional costs for the production, the provision, the handling and for their subsequent disposal, since it is no longer needed after the sale and represents recyclable waste. 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 foil wrapped around the bundles is shrunk by hot air charging around the articles, containers or bottles, also requires a relatively high capital investment.

As already mentioned above, articles such as containers, PET containers etc. can be combined to form a container by means of so-called strapping bands and connected to one another. Such containers are conventionally referred to as Umreifungsgebinde because on other outer packaging such as shrink films o. The like. Can be completely dispensed with. The strapping bands can optionally consist of metal. Usually, however, bands made of plastic, in particular made of PET, are used, which are welded or clamped together under pretension at an overlapping point.

The PET straps commonly used for strapping can be easily welded under pretension and released with some effort by destroying the welded joint from the end customer when individual containers are to be separated from the container. To open the strapping by the end user is used over the welded joint projecting end of the tape on which the user can pull and break the weld. If no such pull tab is formed, the end user must cut the strapping. These two ways to release the straps are equally uncomfortable and fraught with disadvantages if the opening tab, for example, is too short or difficult to reach.

An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost, stable and easy-to-handle strapping package in which the strapping can be released easily and with little effort by hand, especially in one-handed operation.

This object of the invention is achieved with the subject matter of the independent claim, wherein features of advantageous developments of the invention result from the dependent claims. In order to achieve the objects, the present invention proposes a strapping package formed by at least two interconnected articles, such as PET containers or other liquid containers, having at least one band or band stretched horizontally about an outside of the article or PET container strip-like, closed strapping are held together. This strapping is in turn formed by one, two or more similar or different strapping bands made of plastic or a composite material, the ends of which are each overlapping and fixed together to form a one-piece or multi-part contact point. To allow easy opening and loosening of the strapping, a free end surmounted the Contact point on an outside of the container and forms a hand-grip peel handle for opening the at least one strapping of the strapping by separating the contact point. According to the present invention, the free end of the strapping band which forms the peel-off handle is provided, at least in regions or in sections, with adhesive-enhancing and / or positive-locking means with at least one finger of a human hand. It has been proven in numerous experiments and can prove that the human hand can apply a force of about 30 to 35 N by grasping and clamping the thumb and one or two fingers, which in some cases is insufficient to a contact force of a previously break up the weld produced for the fixation of the pre-stressed strapping band. This means that in some cases the tensile force to be applied by the gripping force of the human hand is too low to release the strapping of the container and to remove the articles or containers from the container. In addition, it has been found in experiments carried out on containers with strapping that in particular a lack of friction between the belt surface and the fingers can prevent the application of a higher tearing force and also helps that the fingers can tend to slip.

In order to eliminate these identified disadvantages, the invention now proposes effective countermeasures which either lead to an increase in the frictional force between the fingers and the strip surface or to an improvement in a positive connection between the strip and the fingers or a combination of the two measures. Thus, a first variant of the container according to the invention or Umreifungsgebindes provides that the Abziehgriff forming the free end of the strap is provided at least on one side with at least one adhesive friction increasing adhesive point and / or at least one adhesive friction increasing adhesive portion or area. Optionally, the free end of the strapping band forming the peel-off handle can also be provided with at least one insert such as a button, a rivet or the like. As a further alternative, the free end of the strapping band forming the peel-off handle can be provided at least on one side with at least one adhesive-enhancing coating and / or at least one adhesive-enhancing coating. Finally, it is also possible, at least on one side, to provide the free end of the strapping band, which forms the peel-off grip, with at least one structurization which makes it possible to improve the friction and / or form fit. Such Structuring, corrugation, roughening or the like measure can be produced relatively easily, in particular in the case of strapping bands made of thermoplastic materials, for example by heat deformation. Also perforations, slits and / or roughening of the tape end are suitable for the desired increase in friction when gripping the tape end, which serves as a peel-off.

Depending on the available production technology, for example, a hot glue in the form of a glue dot, a glue bead or a ribbed glue surface or the like can be applied to the opening flap. The hot glue can be applied with commercially available hot glue devices. In this context, it may be useful to clamp the tab precisely before applying glue, for example. By a suitable catching device such as a Zentrierklotz o. The like. Basically, the glue application with regard to the surface obtained, the thickness and the base can be designed almost arbitrarily. All other mentioned measures to increase friction such as a button, a rivet, a structuring, ribbing, perforation, etc. can be designed in different ways, each of which can achieve the desired effect, which consists in an increase in the transferable by the human hand clamping force ,

Finally, the measures mentioned, such as, for example, the application of glue, cause the adhesion of the human fingers on the opening tab to be increased by positive locking and / or increased friction. Measurements have been used to determine and prove that the application of glue and / or one or more of the other measures described can be used to apply a clamping and pulling force of more than 50 N by pulling on the tab. In this way, on the one hand the strapping can be reliably opened by the end user. On the other hand, the process reliability in the production of the containers is increased by allowing a greater tolerance in the reproducibility of the strength of the welded joint in the application and fixation of the strapping. Since a higher tensile force is transferable when opening the strapping, the weld joint can be made at least slightly more stable, which can significantly reduce the risk of failure and breakage of the weld during handling of the strapping with the consequence of the collapse of the container.

Another advantage can be achieved by an optional coloring of the glue application or by a coloring of the corresponding modification to the peel-off handle, since so that the end user can be visually signaled where he finds the handle to open the container and where he must pull to separate the strapping from the container.

Since a winding of a strapping on a trained as Abziehgriff or tab protruding free end can be done not only with a so-called. Spitzgriff, but also with a so-called. Key grip, provides a further useful embodiment of the invention, the key handle thereby and going there To support or optimize that the Abziehgriff forming the free end of the strap is provided with a closed loop or designed as such that allows a positive connection with at least one finger of a human hand. In this context, the notion of the key handle means grasping the tab between the thumb surface and an angled index finger, while the term of the pointed handle means a handle of the pressing thumb tip and the fingertip of the index finger. Now, if according to another preferred embodiment of the Umreifungsgebindes the free end is formed as a closed loop, so either the two types of handles are possible, which is facilitated by the deflection of the loop or the kink formed by the gripping, as the fingers thereby be prevented from slipping. In addition, the closed loop allows engagement with any finger, typically the index or slightly stronger middle finger and a pull on it, so that the adhesive point of the strap is relatively easy, i. Break open and release with reasonable hand force. In this way, easily opening forces of significantly more than 50 N can be applied, if this is necessary or expedient due to the strength of the contact point on the strapping.

The end of the loop can basically be fixed in different ways on the strap. For example, fixation types in which the end of the loop is welded or glued and / or riveted to the strapping band are suitable.

In addition, it is optionally possible in all embodiments of the design of the peel handle described above, the contact point on the strap two-piece form, two spaced-apart traps of the overlapping portions of the strapping are separated by a discharge loop, and wherein a protruding free end is formed as Abziehgriff , In this case, it makes sense to form a smaller and / or weaker effective adhesion surface when the first catchment point is closer to the peel-off grip as in a separated by the discharge loop from the peel-off, further away second detention. Thus, for example, the first point of adhesion can be provided with a bond or weld whose adhesive force or adhesive force is less than an adhesive or adhesive force of the second adhesion point equipped with a bond or weld. In this way, the pull-off forces can advantageously be controlled and defined so that the free end closest to the free end formed as a peel-off handle is easier to separate than the other. By virtue of the fact that the release force for opening the first connection point, which adjoins the pull-off handle on one side, is less than the release force for opening the second connection point, which is separated from the first connection point by the release flap, it is possible to ensure that the first When the puller handle is pulled manually, the joint first gives way and ruptures, so that first of all the pretensioning of the strapping band is reduced by tightening the relief tab. Only then can a larger resistance bidding second connection point be opened and torn open. This configuration reliably prevents the abrupt opening or rewinding of the abruptly opening strapping band, as previously the tension of the tightened band is reduced by the release tab allowing a certain band elongation until the band lies loosely over the articles or containers and is easily completely opened can. Optionally, it may be advantageous for easy handling if the contact points and / or the connection points each have structured bonding and / or welding points for influencing and / or facilitating a detachment process, preferably providing a larger adhesive or weld contact surface at the second contact point is, which is remote from the peel-off, so that under all circumstances occurring in practice, the connection point closer to the Abziehgriff is first separated for a given manual pulling force.

The present invention includes not only the strapping bundle described in various embodiments, but also a method of making such a strapping bundle in which at least two articles are held together and bonded together with at least one strapped, band or strip strapped around an outside of the article become. In this case, the strapping bands are formed by one, two or more similar or different strapping bands made of plastic or a composite material, the ends of which are each overlapping and fixed together to form a one-piece or multi-part contact point. In addition, a free end of the strapping, which projects beyond the contact point on an outer side of the container, as a hand-grip Abziehgriff for opening the at least one strap of the strapping formed by separating the contact point. In addition, in the method, the Abziehgriff forming free end of the strapping at least partially equipped with friction enhancing and / or a form fit with at least one finger of a human hand enabling or training means, so that the strapping thus equipped largely widely used with one or two fingers and under separation and destruction of the tape fixing the container welding, adhesive or adhesive connection can be solved and separated from the container.

To facilitate the placement of the additional gripping aids on the peel-off handle, a variant of the method provides that the strapping bundle provided with the fixed strapping band is guided laterally past an application device during a continuous conveyance in a transport direction, wherein at the same time the free end of the strapping band, which is the Contact point on the outside of the container dominated, brought by means of centering and / or guide elements in a defined position and then provided with the haftreibungserhöhenden and / or a positive connection with at least one finger of a human hand enabling or training means. In this way, it can be ensured that the adhesive-enhancing and / or the positive-fit improving agent are applied exactly to the right place. For this purpose, centering and / or guide elements are used, for example, by lateral guide rails o. The like. Can be formed, which guide the belt end and guide, so that the end of the tape to be machined in an exact relative position to an adhesive or Lackapplikator o. Like. Can be brought.

An easy way to apply such coatings, adhesive dots or other applications on Abziehgriff, is also in an additional process step during or after the separation of the tape end of a continuously fed by means of application head strapping, fed from the pack maturation in a defined length and after manufacture the welding is separated under defined band prestress on the container, wherein the Abziehgriff is formed by a defined length of the contact point superior band portion. If an additional application step for applying a glue dot or the like is introduced in the process of cutting or cutting the tape, this will result At a minimum additional expense in container production and possibly makes it possible to dispense with separate application facilities entirely.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines mit einer horizontalen Umreifung und mit einem Tragegriff versehenen Gebindes in diagonaler Anordnung.
• Fig. 2 zeigt in zwei Ansichten eine erste Variante der Umreifung.
• Fig. 3 zeigt in drei Detailansichten verschiedene weitere Varianten der Umreifung.
• Fig. 4 zeigt in vier Detailansichten Gestaltungsvarianten eines als Abziehgriff fungierenden freien Endes der Umreifung.
• Fig. 5 zeigt in zwei Detailansichten verschiedene weitere Varianten der Umreifung mit einer Abziehschlaufe am Bandende.
• Fig. 6 zeigt in vier Detailansichten aufeinander folgende Prozessphasen bei der Herstellung eines Umreifungsgebinde gemäß vorliegender Erfindung.

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. 1 shows a perspective view of a container provided with a horizontal strapping and with a carrying handle in a diagonal arrangement.
• Fig. 2 shows in two views a first variant of the strapping.
• Fig. 3 shows in three detailed views various other variants of the strapping.
• Fig. 4 shows in four detailed views design variants of acting as Abziehgriff free end of the strapping.
• Fig. 5 shows in two detailed views various other variants of the strapping with a peel loop at the end of the tape.
• Fig. 6 shows in four detail views successive process phases in the production of a strapping package according to the present invention.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the device or method of the invention may be configured and are not an exhaustive limitation.

In the case of the strapping bundle 10 described below or of the sales unit described below, several articles 12 are summarized using beverage containers 14 as an example. The containers 10 are formed by strapping the container 14 by means of flexible bands of plastic or other materials, in particular PP or PET. Basically, all conceivable geometric arrangements of the container 14 are possible with the indicated connection type "container strapping": Linear matrix arrangement in an n × m arrangement of lines and Columns for round or rectangular, square or other containers and, for example, ball packs in the 30 ° or 60 ° angle for round containers 14 in any number. The arrangement of the container 10 and its article 12 or container 14 is dependent on the supply of the container 14 and their division by so-called. Container a divider within a not further detail here Zuführabschnittes.

The Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of such a Umreifungsgebindes 10. In the container arrangement, the article 12 or container 14 are arranged side by side in a so-called. Longitudinal formation. The container 10 is composed in the present example of six interconnected PET containers 14, which are held together with a horizontally stretched around an outer side 16 of the PET container 14, band or strip-like strapping 18. The strapping 18 is formed by a flat strapping band 20 made of plastic, which is stretched around the article 12 or container 14 and fixed with its overlapping free ends under application of a bias. This connection point is referred to in the present context generally as a contact point 22. The strapping 18 or the strapping band 20 is fixed to the contact point 22 by means of a material connection, for example in the form of at least one welded connection or an adhesive connection. Optionally, in addition, a loop-like carrying handle 24 may be provided which spans the tops of the container 10 in an oblique or diagonal direction. In the illustrated embodiment, the strapping 18 is stretched in an upper region around the container 14 and is located in a so-called. Recessed recess 15, through which the container 14 are fitted.

A free end 26 of the strapping band 20 protrudes outward at the contact point 22, projects beyond the outer side of the container 10 at this location, where it forms a hand-grip peel-off handle 28 for opening the at least one strapping band 20 of the strapping 18 by severing the contact point 22, However, what in the schematic perspective view of Fig. 1 not clearly recognizable, but merely hinted at. As will be explained in more detail with reference to the following figures, the free end 26 of the strapping band 20 forming the peel-off handle 20 is at least partially provided with friction-enhancing and / or positive-locking means with at least one finger of a human hand enabling the removal of the strapping band 20 for separating the container 10 is much easier.

The perspective view of Fig. 2a illustrates a variant of a strapping 20, as it is for the strapping 10 of the invention according to Fig. 1 can be used. The schematic plan view of Fig. 2a illustrates the arrangement of the individual containers 14 in the container 10 and their cohesion by the prestressed strapping 20th

The in the Fig. 2a shown variant of the strapping 18 provides a strapping 20 with a so-called. Compensator 30 for reducing the bias when removing the strapping 18 and the strapping 20 of the containers 14 before. This compensator 30 is formed as a relief loop 32, which bulges inward to the container outer side 16 of the container 16 of the container 10. The compensator 30 or relief loop 32 is formed in that the contact point 22 has a total of two connection points 34 and 36, each of the abutting and overlapping band ends of the strap 20 to be joined together, in particular by welding and / or gluing. Between the two spaced connection points 34 and 36 is a band portion 38 or a tab which is longer than the distance between the two connection points, so that he / she bulges in the form of the relief loop 32 inwardly and thereby form the compensator 30 can, if the strapping 20 should be solved by pulling on the peel handle 28 from the container 10. The schematic plan view of Fig. 2b shows these individual components in cooperation with the strapped and held together by the strapping 20 containers 14.

It should be emphasized at this point that the compensator 30 in the context of the present invention is to be considered as an option, for the realization of the invention Umreifungsgebindes 10, however, is not mandatory. The strapping band 20 can also fulfill its purpose for the easily detachable strapping 18 of the container 10 with only one connection point 34 at the contact point 22 and without the compensator 30 or the discharge loop 32.

As the FIGS. 2a and 2 B indicate, the two connection points 34 and 36 of the two overlapping ends of the strap 20 may be designed so that the strap 20 between the two spaced connection points 34 and 36, which may be formed in particular by welding, not flush, but that one side slightly is too long and thereby forms the longer band portion 38 and the tab mentioned above. In this tab 38, the two superimposed portions of the strapping 18 lift slightly from each other. Will now the strapping 18 and the strapping 20 by pulling the peel handle 28 of the protruding end 26 is released, so first the first weld of the first connection point 34 is broken directly at this projecting end 26. As a result, initially relaxed under high bias strapping band 20 by a small amount, which is provided by the compensator 30 and the difference in length between the distance between the two connection points 34 and 36 and the actual length of the band portion 38 therebetween. Only then is the now loosened strapping 18 completely opened by breaking open the second weld of the second connection point 36 and can then be removed. Since the strapping 20 are normally applied under relatively high bias, their removal is often associated with a sudden relaxation, which is perceived by many users as uncomfortable, especially since the strap 20 may possibly also break off from the container 10 by his sudden relaxation whip-like. This is due to the optionally to be understood variant of the discharge loop 32 (compensator 30) accordingly Fig. 2 reliably prevented.

The two mentioned connection points 34 and 36 may, for example, be designed as welds or as splices, wherein the first connection point 34 or weld can usefully be loosened and severed with less tensile force than the second connection point 36. In this way, the welding or bonding of the Contact point 22 are gradually separated, wherein first the contact area in the region of the first connection point 34 (left in the image of FIGS. 2a and 2 B ), whereby the tab 38 is available as a band reservoir for reducing the bias voltage available. Only then, the second connection point 36 is replaced by another train on the pull tab 28, whereby the contact point 22 is completely separated; the strap 20 is thereby opened and can be removed from the containers 14, whereby the container 10 can be disassembled into its individual parts.

The detailed views of the FIGS. 3a . 3b and 3c illustrate various embodiments of an inventively designed contact point 22 of the strapping 18, in which each of the in Fig. 2 Compensator 30 has been omitted. Because in the FIGS. 3a . 3b and 3c Focusing the pull-off handle 28 is shown in different, to be understood by way of example design options and explained below, is made with the waiver of the representation of the compensator no statement about the advantages of one or the other variant.

Like the Fig. 3a Optionally, an adhesive or glue point 40 can be applied at the free end 26 of the strapping band 20, which projects beyond the contact point 22 with the welded or bonded joint 34, which can be supplied, for example, with a suitable glue or glue applicator 42. This applicator 42 is to be attached at a suitable location on a transport section for conveying the container 10, so that the adhesive or glue point 40 can be applied exactly at the correct location, at the free end 26, on the side facing away from the container 10 outside of the Abziehgriffes 28. The schematically indicated adhesive point or glue point 40 thus forms the mentioned, the static friction and / or positive engagement with gripping fingers of a human hand improving means, so that a higher tensile force for opening the strapping 20 can be applied by separating the contact point 22 than this at an untreated free end of tape 26 would be the case.

The detailed view of the Fig. 3b shows a second variant of such, the static friction and / or the positive engagement with grasping fingers of a human hand improving agent formed by a structuring 44 at the free end 26 of the strapping 20, which projects beyond the contact point 22 with the welded or glued joint 34 is. For the production and application of such a structuring, a suitable, for example, forceps-like applicator can be used, which heats the strip to a softening temperature so that it is plastically deformed and a permanent structuring 44 can be introduced. Such an applicator uses, for example, the known hot stamping method for producing the in Fig. 3b indicated structuring 44 forms in this way the mentioned, the static friction and / or positive engagement with gripping fingers of a human hand improving means, so that also a higher tensile force to open the strap 20 by separating the Pad 22 can be applied as this would be the case with an untreated free end of the tape 26.

Like the Fig. 3c can recognize, may at the free end 26 of the strapping 20, which projects beyond the contact point 22 with the welded or bonded joint 34, optionally also a paint application or a paint layer 46 may be applied, for example. Supplied with a suitable paint applicator 48 and applied. This applicator 48 is to be attached at a suitable point on the transport section for conveying the container 10, so that the lacquer layer 46 exactly at the right place, at the free end 26, on the side remote from the container 10 outside of the peel-off handle 28, can be applied. The schematically indicated, possibly supplemented with a suitable structuring paint layer 46 forms in this way the mentioned, the static friction and / or positive engagement with gripping fingers of a human hand improving means, so that a higher tensile force to open the strapping 20 with separation of the contact point 22 can be applied as would be the case with an untreated free end of the tape 26.

A variant not shown here can provide that the free end 26 of the strapping band 20 forming the peel-off handle 20 is provided with a suitable insert such as a button, a rivet or the like, which also leads to the desired improvement of the positive connection and thus to the application a higher tensile force in the separation of the contact point 22 may contribute.

The four schematic representations of Fig. 4 show various possibilities of structuring and / or modification of the trained at the free end 26 of the strapping band 20 Abziehgriffes 28, according to Fig. 4a For example, by a regular perforation 50 with punched holes 52 or according to Fig. 4b may be formed by a perforation 50 with crescent-shaped openings 54. In addition to the in Fig. 4a and Fig. 4b Numerous modifications and various perforations, breakthrough designs and / or structuring can be incorporated into the band end 26, all of which can provide the same effect.

The Fig. 4c shows an example of a structuring 44, as well as in the Fig. 3b is indicated. Such structuring 44 of the strip surface can be introduced, for example, by means of a known hot stamping process. In principle, such a structuring 44 can have a variable roughness depth and, for example, can also be realized by targeted roughening of the band end 26. The Fig. 4d shows an example of a resist layer 46, as well as in the Fig. 3c is indicated. Such a lacquer layer 46 of the strip surface can, for example. By means of in Fig. 3c indicated applicator 48 are applied. Optionally, on the paint layer 46, an additional logo, lettering 56 o. The like. Be applied or incorporated as the Fig. 4d lets recognize. In addition, such a logo or a print can also be used for useful user instructions, for example, for a lettering such as "tear here" or another note on the easier handling of the container and its strapping.

If necessary, those in the Fig. 4 shown design variants are combined with each other in almost any way, possibly with meaningful modification of the individual design features.

The two schematic representations of Fig. 5a and the Fig. 5b show a further embodiment of a positive connection with at least one finger of a human hand enabling or forming means at the free end 26 of the strapping band 20, which forms the peel-off handle 28. The representations of the FIGS. 5a and 5b differ essentially only by the size of one formed at the tape end 26 and the Abziehgriff 28 forming closed loop 58, both variants of the loops 58 are each formed so that at least a finger of a user reach through and applying relatively high forces on the loop 58 can pull, so that the contact point 22 separated with little effort and the tape 20 can be removed from the containers 14. An end 60 of the loop 58 may be suitably fixed to the strap 20, in particular by welding or gluing, or by other suitable means.

In the Fig. 5a shown variant of the loop 58 allows engagement of two or more fingers, while the in Fig. 5b shown smaller loop 58 can engage at least one finger.

Not shown here is an application head for producing the optional compensator 30, the pull-out handle 28 designed according to the above variants, and its coatings and / or structuring, and optionally for producing the alternative loop handle 58 when connecting the strap ends of the strapping 18. Such an application head For example, may have one or more clamps for fixing the band 20 during the formation of the loop of the compensator 30 by lifting a rocker arm. The welding of the strip 20 for the production of the mechanically loadable contact point 22 can, for example, by swiveling in a Heizdornes o. The like. Take place. Furthermore, cam wheels may be provided for actuating the movable punches and the pivoting lever. On the one hand, the application head can be used to produce the contact point 22 and thus the application of the pretensioning of the strapping 18 as well as the production of the relief loop 32. In principle, any desired variant of the relief loops 32 can be produced and introduced into the strapping 18 by a plurality of punches and pulling devices or the rocker arm which are coupled with one another in their movement sequences. The fixation of the discharge loop 32 can with the help of mentioned Heizdornes by brief heating with simultaneous application of a defined contact pressure. The band 20 is thus welded to the contact point 22, wherein at the same time the desired fixations for the preparation of the discharge loop 32 and the compensator 30 take place. For example, the application head may have three or more holding and / or lifting sections arranged side by side for fixing, welding and / or gluing the band ends, for forming the loops and / or relief straps or tear-open straps.

The schematic representations of Fig. 6 illustrate successive process steps in the manufacture of a Umreifungsgebindes 10, which is equipped with a pull-off handle 28 according to one of the embodiments described above. This clarifies the Fig. 6a a first process phase in which the - 10 shown here only as a container - 10 is transported in the transport direction 62 on a horizontal conveyor not shown here. At the in Fig. 6a In the process phase shown, several articles 12 or containers 14 have already been connected to one another by means of the band-shaped or strip-like, closed strapping 18 stretched horizontally around an outside of the article 12 or container 14. The ends of the strapping band 20 were overlapped and fixed together to form the pad 22. In addition, the free end 26 of the strapping band 20 overhanging the pad 22 has been formed as the hand-grip peel handle 28 for opening the strapping band 20 of the strapping 18 by severing the pad 22.

To the placement of the additional handle aids (see. Fig. 3 . Fig. 4 To facilitate the pull-off handle 28, the method provides that the strapping bundle 10 provided with the fixed strapping band 20 is guided laterally past an application device 64 during its continuous transport in the transport direction 62, with the aid of which the free end 26 of the strapping band 20 that supports the strapping Contact point 22 projects beyond the outside of the container 10, brought by means of centering and / or guide elements 66 in a defined position and then by means of the glue applicator 42 or the paint applicator 48, the desired coating is applied.

The Fig. 6b shows a subsequent process phase in which the container 10 has reached the guide elements 66 and passes laterally, which should provide for the centering and exact positioning of the free end 26 with the peel-off handle 28, so that the glue point 40 (see. Fig. 3a ) or the glue application 46 (cf. Fig. 3c ) can be placed correctly and without errors. In the in Fig. 6c shown process phase, the free end 26 of the belt 20 was centered by the guide elements 66 of the application device 64 and applied to the outside of the container 10, so that its exact positioning for the subsequent glue or color application ( Fig. 6d ) is guaranteed. The Fig. 6d finally clarifies the activation of the application device 42 or 48, whereby the glue or paint is applied to the exact correct position, so that the peel-off handle 28 according to Fig. 3a can be equipped with a glue or glue point 40.

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

Bezuaszeichenliste

10

Container, strapping

12

items

14

Container, beverage container, PET container

15

grip

16

outside

18

strapping

20

strapping

22

contact point

24

handle

26

free end

28

Pull Tab

30

compensator

32

relief loop

34

first connection point

36

second connection point

38

Tape section, tab

40

Glue point, glue point

42

Adhesive applicator, glue applicator

44

structuring

46

Paint layer, paint application

48

paint applicator

50

perforation

52

Holes, punched holes

54

crescent-shaped breakthroughs

56

lettering

58

Loop, closed loop

60

End of the loop

62

transport direction

64

application device

66

Centering element, guide element

Claims (12)

A container (10) comprising at least two interconnected articles (12) held together by at least one strapping (18) stretched horizontally around an outside of the articles (12), banded or strip-like, by one, two or more identical or different strapping bands (20) of plastic or a composite material is formed, the ends of which are each overlapping and fixed to form a one-piece or multi-part pad (22) to each other, wherein a free end (26) of the strapping band (20), which is the contact point (22) projecting beyond an outer side of the container (10), forming a hand-grip peel-off handle (28) for opening the at least one strapping band (20) of the strapping (18) by severing the contact point (22), and 28) forming free end (26) of the strapping band (20) at least partially with friction-enhancing and / or a positive connection with at least one m finger of a human hand enabling or training means is provided. Container according to Claim 1, in which the free end (26) of the strapping band (20) forming the peel-off handle (28) is provided at least on one side with at least one adhesive-enhancing adhesive point (40) and / or at least one adhesive-enhancing adhesive portion or region. A container according to claim 1, wherein the free end (26) of the strapping band (20) forming the peel-off handle (28) is provided with at least one insert such as a button, a rivet or the like. Container according to Claim 1, in which the free end (26) of the strapping band (20) forming the peel-off handle (28) is provided on at least one side with at least one adhesive-enhancing coating and / or at least one adhesive-enhancing coating (46). Container according to Claim 1, in which the free end (26) of the strapping band (20) forming the peel-off handle (28) has at least one side with at least one structure (44), perforation (50), slit ( 54) and / or roughening is provided. A container according to claim 1, wherein the free end (26) of the strapping band (20) forming the peel-off handle (28) is formed with a closed loop (58) enabling a positive fit with at least one finger of a human hand , Container according to claim 6, wherein one end (60) of the loop (58) is fixed to the strapping band (20), in particular welded or glued and / or riveted. A container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the contact point (22) is formed in two parts with two spaced apart detents (34,36) of the overlapping portions of the strap (20) separated by a relief loop (32), and wherein an overhanging free end (26) is designed as a peel-off handle (28). A container according to claim 8, wherein a first detent (34) closer to the peel-off handle (28) has a smaller and / or weaker effective adhesive surface than the second detent located further away from the peel-off handle (28) by the relief loop (32) (36). A container according to claim 9, wherein the first adhesion site (34) is provided with a bond or weld whose adhesive force or adhesive force is less than an adhesive force of the second adhesion site (36) provided with a bond or weld. Method for producing a strapping package (10), in which at least two articles (12) are held together and connected to one another by at least one strapping (18) stretched around an outer side of the article (12), band-like or strip-like, which strapping ( 18) are formed by one, two or more similar or different strapping bands (20) made of plastic or a composite material, the ends of which are each overlapping and fixed together to form a one-piece or multi-part pad (22), wherein a free end (26) of the Strapping band (20) overhanging the pad (22) on an outside of the bundle (10) as a hand gripping peel handle (28) for opening the at least one strapping band (20) of the strapping (18) by severing the pad (22 ), and wherein the free end (26) of the strapping band (20) forming the peel-off handle (28) is at least in regions e with static-enhancing and / or a positive connection with at least one finger of a human hand enabling or training means is provided. A method according to claim 11, wherein the strapping bundle (10) provided with the fixed strapping band (20) is guided laterally past an applicator device (64) during a continuous conveyance in a transport direction (62) at which the free end (26) of the strapping band (20), which projects beyond the contact point (22) on the outside of the container (10), brought by means of centering and / or guide elements (66) in a defined position and then with the adhesive friction increasing and / or a positive connection with at least one finger provided by human hand.

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