EP2878542B2 - Packaging comprising an interconnected articles, and methods and apparatus for producing the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bundle of articles connected to one another according to the features of the preamble of claim 1, as well as a method and a device for its production according to the features of the preamble of claim 8 and claim 12.

Bundles are an effective way of allowing multiple items to be handled at once, for example to facilitate the transport of multiple items at once.

The production of containers is usually unavoidable, since such containers form the most common variant of sales units for various items, such as beverage containers and bottles made of PET plastic.

In order to produce a bundle, it is known to first group a number of articles, also referred to as the bundle size, which are to be combined in the bundle, according to a desired arrangement within the bundle. For example, beverage containers can be combined into packs of four, six or more containers. The group of articles produced in this way is then held together according to the design of the container.

Through U.S. 5,979,147 It is known to group articles that are conveyed in two or more parallel, uninterrupted streams of articles into article groups that are each to be combined in one container. The bundles to be produced consist of rows and lines arranged at right angles to one another, each consisting of two or more articles. An article stream is provided for each row of articles in the container. The articles of each article stream move at a first speed. A number of articles corresponding to the number of rows in the bundle is separated from an article stream by providing a star for each article stream, which star rotates at a peripheral speed that corresponds to an outgoing, higher, second speed. The star separates a required number of articles from the article stream assigned to it, in that the star intervenes in the article stream, starting with a foremost article, after a number of articles corresponding to the number of articles in a row in the finished bundle and for a row in the bundle pushes the required number of articles from behind and accelerates it to the higher, second speed, forming a gap with the articles of the article stream moving along at a first speed. The articles separated in this way from their respective streams of articles are then brought together in parallel according to their arrangement in rows and rows in the article group to be combined into the bundle and then packed in cardboard boxes to hold the finished bundle together.

There are various options available for keeping the items in an item group together in a bundle. A first possibility is the use of an enclosure which encloses the articles of the bundle at the periphery of the article group. The items in a bundle can be held together, for example, by means of an enclosure in the form of a strap, an outer packaging such as a wrap, a shrink tube or a cardboard box, a cardboard box or a carrying frame, to name just a few conceivable designs. Simultaneously with the holding together, the container can also be packed by means of an enclosure. For example, beverage containers can not only be held together by means of shrink film wrappings, wrappings or a carton to form bundles, but can also be packed at the same time.

A carrying handle or one or more grip options can be provided on the enclosure in order to be able to grasp the finished container more easily with one hand.

In order to combine articles with partially cylindrical or approximately cylindrical shapes, such as beverage cans or beverage bottles, as space-savingly as possible and with the least possible relative mobility to one another, it is also known to form a so-called honeycomb or spherical composite, which is also referred to as a nested arrangement. The articles in the container are offset in rows from one another in such a way that the gaps formed between the containers are as small as possible. The rows do not run at right angles to the rows, but diagonally. Such a honeycomb or spherical arrangement represents a composite of a given number of containers with the smallest possible footprint.

In addition, containers are known that do not require an enclosure. In such containers, the articles themselves are connected directly to one another, for example by detachable snap-in connections, predetermined breaking points, such as perforations, or by means of adhesive bonds between the articles.

Through DE 203 10 721 U1 containers are known which are free of an enclosure. The packs consist of containers, each of which has at least one connecting means for connecting to at least one other container. In a first container in a nested arrangement, adhesive strips are attached to the lateral surfaces of the containers to connect the containers. Starting from a vertical container axis, each adhesive strip encloses the outer surface of its container over an angle of between 90° and 180° when viewed from above the container. As a result, each container is connected to each container of the bundle adjacent to it in the nested arrangement. Furthermore, each container has an adhesive strip, which is a significant waste of resources. In the case of a second container, there are at least two latching connections offset by 180° on the lateral surfaces of the containers intended. In addition, additional latching connections arranged at a different angle can be provided on the lateral surfaces. This allows nested array trusses to be made, where each container is connected to each adjacent container in the truss in the nested array, and rows and rows orthogonal array trusses to be made, all in a row and in items that are adjacent to each other in a row are connected to each other. Here, too, the considerable waste of resources due to the partially unused snap-in connections arranged at 180° to one another is disadvantageous.

Through DE 195 29 316 A1 a 2x2 bundle of articles connected to one another to form a closed chain by means of locking elements and a method for its production are known. Each of the articles combined to form a bundle has the same number of latching elements distributed regularly around its circumference, so that latching elements protrude from the outside of the bundle on each article.

Through DE 10 2011 119 966 B3 a device for the production of a bundle of articles connected to one another is known. The bundle includes A=RxZ items in R rows and Z rows with R≥2 and Z≥2. The device comprises an inflow of a number of streams of articles corresponding to the number of rows in the finished bundle, each consisting of articles directly following one another. The device comprises separating means for each article flow in order to separate an article string with a number of articles from the respective article flow that corresponds to the number of articles per row in the finished bundle from the respective article flow. The device comprises attachment means in order to provide individual, selected or all articles of the article strands separated from the article streams with connecting means. The device comprises merging means for merging the article strings with articles at least partially provided with connecting means according to the arrangement of the articles in the finished bundle such that the connecting means of the articles provided with connecting means connect all articles of the merged article strings. The device comprises alignment means which align the articles provided with connecting means in accordance with an orientation required to produce a continuous chain of interconnected articles in the finished bundle.

Through DE 10 2011 106 759 B3 is also known a device for the production of adhesive bundles in a right-angled and in a nested arrangement. The device comprises attachment means in order to provide individual, selected or all articles of the article strands separated from the article streams with connecting means. The attachment means can be implemented by one or more nozzles, by means of which adhesive dots serving as connecting means can be applied to the lateral surfaces of at least selected articles for the production of adhesive bonds.

One object of the invention is to specify a bundle of articles connected to one another, as well as a method and a device for its production, which manages with considerably fewer resources.

The above object is achieved in each case with the features of the independent claims. Further advantageous configurations are described by the dependent claims.

A first object of the invention therefore relates to a bundle of articles connected to one another, the articles of the bundle connected to one another forming a continuous, single-row chain of articles connected to one another in the bundle. The articles are arranged in at least two rows and at least three rows within the bundle. The rows and rows may be arranged at right angles to one another, or they may be arranged in a staggered nested manner in a zippered interlocking manner. The rows and rows are replicated by the chain, the chain e.g. in the case of an orthogonal arrangement, first along at least a portion of a row, then after a turn along at least a portion of a row, then again after another turn along at least a portion of a row can proceed and so on if necessary. In the case of a nested arrangement, for example, the chain may run along a line diagonal to the rows, beginning with an article at a corner of the truss, then, after a turn, jumping back to the row in which the article started at lies then, after another turn, to run along a line again, and so on. The term chain within the meaning of the invention therefore specifies that each article is only connected to its predecessor and successor in the chain or, if there is no predecessor or successor, only to its successor or predecessor. The chain can therefore be open with a beginning and an end, or it can be designed to circulate endlessly, being closed with no beginning and no end. In the case of an embodiment as an open chain with a beginning and an end, the case described occurs that an article at the beginning and at the end of the chain, where there is no predecessor or successor, is only connected to its successor or predecessor. In the case of an embodiment as a closed, circulating, endless chain without a beginning and without an end, all articles are only connected to their respective predecessor and successor in the chain. The term chain within the meaning of the invention does not presuppose that there are articulated connections between its chain links, nor is such an interpretation intended. On the contrary, the articles are rigidly connected to each other along the chain in the sense of being inflexible. Seen along the chain, the interconnected articles form a one-dimensional, linear array (in the case of an open chain) or a one-dimensional, endlessly revolving array (in the case of a closed chain) in a designated direction given by the course of the chain. Each item in the bundle forms a chain link, of which, in the case of an open chain with a beginning and an end, the outer chain links at the beginning and at the end of the chain are each connected to only one adjacent chain link, and the middle chain links in between are only connected to one are connected to their chain link preceding them in the chain and to their chain link following them in the chain. In the case of a closed chain without a beginning and without an end, all articles connected to one another along the chain form central chain links, which are each connected only to their chain link preceding and following in the chain.

Outside the chain there are no direct connections between the chain links.

The property according to which the connected articles form a one-dimensional array seen along the chain means that only one numerical specification corresponding to only one coordinate is required to determine the position of each article within the chain starting from a starting point. In the case of an open chain, the beginning or the end of the chain preferably represents such a starting point. Accordingly, this is a linear, one-dimensional array. In the case of a closed chain, the starting point can be chosen arbitrarily, for example with an article that occupies an exposed, unambiguous arrangement within the chain, which, for example, meanders or winds through the bundle, for example an article arranged at a corner in the bundle. Accordingly, this is an endlessly circulating, one-dimensional array. The chain itself can run in two or three dimensions within the container. The chain preferably runs two-dimensionally within the container, with sections running in alternating directions within one plane.

The chain can run through the container in a serpentine manner with, for example, Π (capital pi) or L-shaped turns. In this way, a right-angled arrangement of rows and rows each consisting of at least two or more articles can be simulated within the bundle without each article having to be connected to all of its neighboring articles, as is the case in the prior art. Particularly in the case of such bundles with an odd number of rows or rows, the same stability is obtained in connection with a central handle, since the handle can extend along the chain of articles connected to one another.

In order to obtain a right-angled arrangement of rows and rows of at least two or more articles within the bundle, the included angle between a first, middle chain link and the second chain links on both sides of the middle chain link is 180° or 90°, depending on whether the chain section under consideration runs along a line with three or more articles or along a row. With three or more articles along a row, the included angle for each article in the chain enclosed within the row between two articles preceding and following in the chain is 180°, so that a grab handle extending transversely to the bundle along the Chain can run and thus extends over articles connected to each other in a straight line. Along the row, with a serpentine course of the chain through the container, there is always a change from one line of articles or chain links connected in a straight line to the next line, which is why the included angle here is 90°. For a container with a right-angled arrangement of rows and rows consisting of two rows of two, three or more articles, in which there are therefore two articles in each row, the included angle for each article in the chain is 90°.

Alternatively, the chain may zigzag with, for example, V-shaped turns, or N- or W-shaped. This provides a nested arrangement of the articles in which the articles zip-lock together as viewed along the rows and the rows are diagonal to the rows. Again, when the chain runs along a row of three or more items, the included angle between a first, middle chain link and the second chain links adjoining it on either side of the middle chain link is 180° for each article in the chain that falls within the row between two articles before and after are included in the chain. For the remaining chain links, the included angle between a first, middle chain link and the second chain links adjoining on both sides of the middle chain link is less than 90° and greater than 0°. In a corresponding nested arrangement with two rows, in which there are no rows with three or more articles, the included angle between a first, middle chain link and the second chain links adjoining on both sides of the middle chain link is always smaller in amount than 90° and greater than 0°.

Preferably, the articles are connected along the chain by gluing.

The bonds between the chain links can be made by one or more glue points, depending on the extent of the article perpendicular to the plane in which the chain lies. Two chain links, which are formed by correspondingly low or flat articles, can accordingly be connected to each other with only one point of glue, whereas chain links formed by high articles can be connected to each other with two or more points of glue distributed over the height of the articles. The plane in which the chain lies runs parallel to a plane formed by adhesive points of a chain of articles arranged at the same height as the articles. If several adhesive points are provided over the height of the articles connected to one another within the chain, the plane in which the chain lies runs parallel to the planes which lie in each case through adhesive points of the chain of articles arranged at the same height of the articles.

A second subject of the invention relates to a method for producing bundles of articles connected to one another, the articles of the bundle connected to one another forming a continuous, open or closed chain of articles rigidly connected to one another in the bundle, and the articles of the bundle forming at least two rows and two Rows are arranged, which can be arranged, for example, at right angles to one another, or can run diagonally to one another, as a result of which the articles within the rows and rows can be arranged in a nested manner offset like a zipper.

Each item in the bundle forms a link in the chain. In the case of an open chain, the outer chain links at the beginning and end of the chain are each connected to only one adjacent chain link. The central chain links lying in between are each only connected to their chain link that precedes them in the chain and their chain link that follows them in the chain. In the case of a closed chain, all chain links, like the middle chain links of the open chain, are connected only to the chain link that precedes them in the chain and their link that follows them in the chain.

The method provides for the articles to be connected to form a chain to be provided with connecting means and then for the articles to be connected to one another in accordance with the course of the chain within the container.

• jeder Artikel mit höchstens zwei anderen Artikeln verbunden ist.
• je Verbindung zwischen zwei Artikeln nur einer der Artikel mit Verbindungsmitteln versehen wird.
• je herzustellendem Gebinde eine Anzahl von Verbindungen zwischen den Artikeln vorgesehen ist, welche im Falle einer geschlossenen Kette der Anzahl der Artikel im fertigen Gebinde entspricht und im Falle einer offenen Kette der Anzahl der Artikel im fertigen Gebinde abzüglich eins entspricht.
• die miteinander verbundenen Artikel im fertigen Gebinde zu einer Kette verbunden sind.
• alle Artikel im fertigen Gebinde entlang der Kette miteinander verbunden sind, wobei im Falle einer geschlossenen Kette alle Artikel jeweils mittlere Kettenglieder bilden, welche jeweils nur mit zwei Artikeln verbunden sind, dem ihr in der Kette voranstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel und dem ihr in der Kette nachstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel, und wobei im Falle einer offenen Kette die äußere Kettenglieder bildenden Artikel am Anfang und am Ende der Kette nur mit einem in der Kette benachbarten Artikel verbunden sind und die zwischen den Artikeln am Anfang und am Ende der Kette liegenden, jeweils mittlere Kettenglieder bildenden Artikel jeweils nur mit zwei Artikeln verbunden sind, dem ihr in der Kette voranstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel und dem ihr in der Kette nachstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel.

The procedure provides that:

• each item is linked to at most two other items.
• only one of the articles is provided with fasteners per connection between two articles.
• a number of connections between the articles is provided for each bundle to be produced, which corresponds to the number of articles in the finished bundle in the case of a closed chain and corresponds to the number of articles in the finished bundle minus one in the case of an open chain.
• the articles connected to each other are connected to form a chain in the finished container.
• all articles in the finished container are connected to one another along the chain, whereby in the case of a closed chain all articles each form middle chain links which are each connected to only two articles, the article forming the preceding chain link in the chain and the article following it in the chain chain-link-forming articles, and in the case of an open chain the outer chain-link-forming articles at the beginning and at the end of the chain are only connected to an adjacent article in the chain and the middle chain links lying between the articles at the beginning and at the end of the chain Articles forming the chain are each connected to only two articles, the article forming the chain link preceding them in the chain and the article forming the chain link following them in the chain.

The method can provide that the connecting means are already arranged on the articles according to the subsequent course of the chain in the finished bundle. If, for example, the included angle between a first article, which forms a first, middle chain link of the chain, and two further articles preceding and following in the chain, which form second chain links of the chain on both sides of the middle chain link, is a predetermined one Angle, the method provides for arranging connecting means on the first article and/or on the other articles according to the included angle.

The easiest way to do this is by arranging a connecting means on each article to be assembled into an open or closed chain, preferably omitting the first or last article of an open chain, which does not require a counterpart on an article with which the article in the finished Chain will be connected or is. In this case, the articles to be connected to form a chain can be assembled after the arrangement of the connecting means according to the course of the chain in the finished bundle.

The method can also provide that connecting means are not or are not arranged on each article forming a central chain link. Instead, two connecting means can be provided only on every second article, which in each case forms a middle chain link, corresponding to every second middle chain link, one for connecting to the article forming a preceding chain link in the chain and one for connecting to the one in article forming the chain link below.

The method can provide that a bundle is produced within which the chain, to which the articles of the bundle are connected to each other, in serpentines with, for example, Π (big Pi) or L-shaped turns, or zigzag with, for example, V-shaped turns , or N - or W-shaped, corresponding to, for example, a regular array with a rectangular array of Rows and rows of at least two or more articles within the bundle in the case of a serpentine course of the chain, or a nested arrangement in the case of a zigzag or N- or W-shaped course of the chain.

The method preferably provides adhesive bonds as the means of connection. The adhesive bonds can be formed by adhesive spots that are applied to the lateral surfaces of the articles. A connecting means between two articles that are directly connected to one another within a chain can be formed by one or more adhesive bonds, for example each with one, two or more adhesive points. Bonding by means of adhesive lines, in which an adhesive, for example a hot-melt adhesive, is applied along a line on the lateral surface of an article, are also conceivable. As an alternative to gluing, welds are produced, for example, by one or more spot welds.

The number of gluings and/or their gluing points per connection between two articles along the chain preferably depends on the dimensions of the articles parallel and/or normal to a plane, within which plane the chain to which the articles are connected within the finished bundle are, runs. For example, articles that stand up high normal to the plane within which the chain connecting the articles within the finished bundle runs may have two or more glues and/or glue points across the height of the articles. Upright can be defined here, for example, by an extension of the individual articles normal to the plane within which the chain to which the articles are connected within the finished bundle runs, which is greater than an extension of the individual articles parallel to the plane . Alternatively or additionally, for articles that extend parallel to the plane within which the chain to which the articles are connected within the finished bundle runs, have a wide extension, two or more glueing and/or glueing points across the width of the article exhibit across. Broadly extending can be defined here, for example, by an extension of the individual items parallel to the plane within which the chain to which the items are connected within the finished bundle, which is greater than a height of the individual items normal to the plane. What has been said for gluing and adhesive points also applies to welding and welding points.

A preferred embodiment of the method can provide adhesive bonds with one or more adhesive points or adhesive lines, for example distributed over the height of the articles to be joined, as connecting means between articles along the chain, with the bundle being assembled by one of the number of rows a corresponding number of streams of articles is provided in the bundle, from which a strand of articles with one of the number of articles provided in the finished bundle is separated per row, for example as is known from the prior art described in the introduction. Individual, all or selected articles of one, several or all article strands separated in this way from their article streams are then provided with connecting means, whereupon the article strands are then, for example, so that their individual articles are at the same height, or are brought together like a zipper, depending on whether an arrangement with rows and rows running at right angles, or a nested arrangement is to be obtained. The preferred embodiment of the method also provides that at least those articles in the individual article strands to which connecting means were previously attached are, remain or are aligned in such a way that after the article strands have been brought together, those articles previously attached to at least some of the articles of the assembled article strands Connecting means connect all articles of the assembled strands of articles to form a single chain running through the entire bundle produced in this way. The preferred embodiment of the method can also provide for the connecting means to be produced by adhesive bonds, particularly preferably by means of adhesive spots.

Beginning with an article forming a first, outer chain link and ending with an article forming a last, outer chain link, in the case of an open chain, these outer chain links and all middle chain links in between, each formed by an article, are along a path that runs through the bundle , one-dimensional, linear array connected throughout. In the case of a closed chain, in which all articles each form middle chain links, all middle chain links are continuously connected to one another along a one-dimensional, endlessly circulating array that runs through the bundle, starting in a first direction along the closed chain, circulating away from one first middle chain link starting and ending coming from the first direction at a second middle chain link directly adjacent to the first middle chain link opposite to the first direction.

A third subject matter of the invention relates to a device for producing bundles from articles that are connected to one another, the articles of the bundle that are connected to one another forming a continuous chain of articles that are connected to one another in the bundle. The articles of the bundle are arranged in at least two rows and three lines, which can be arranged, for example, at right angles to one another or can run diagonally to one another, whereby the articles within the rows and lines can be arranged in a zipper-like nested manner.

The device comprises an inlet of a the number of rows in the finished container corresponding to the number of streams of items consisting of items that follow each other directly. This corresponds to a multi-lane feed, using the example of a pack with a 2x3 arrangement to a two-lane feed. The device also includes separating means for each article flow, in order to separate an article string with a number of articles from the respective article flow that corresponds to the number of articles per row in the finished bundle from the respective article flow. The device also comprises attachment means for providing the articles of the article strands separated from the article streams with connection means, only one of the articles being provided with connection means for each connection between two articles.

A number of connections between the articles are provided for each bundle to be produced, which in the case of a closed chain corresponds to the number of articles in the finished bundle and in the case of an open chain corresponds to the number of articles in the finished bundle minus one, so that the interconnected Items in the finished container must be connected to form a chain so that all items in the finished container are connected to one another.

Furthermore, the device comprises merging means for merging the article strands with articles that are at least partially provided with connecting means according to the arrangement of the articles in the finished bundle in such a way that the connecting means of the articles provided with connecting means connect all articles of the merged article strands to form a chain, in which case an open chain beginning with an article forming a first, outer chain link at the beginning of the chain and ending with an article forming a last, outer chain link at the end of the chain these outer chain links and all middle chain links in between, each formed by an article, along a are continuously connected to one another in a one-dimensional, linear array that pulls through the bundle, and in which, in the case of a closed chain in which all articles each form middle chain links, all middle chain links r are continuously connected to each other along a one-dimensional, endlessly circulating array that runs through the bundle, beginning in a first direction along the closed chain, circulating away from a first middle chain link and ending from the first direction at a counter to the first direction second middle chain link immediately adjacent to the first middle chain link.

Adhesive bonds produced by means of glue nozzles come into consideration as connecting means, for example, but welds are also conceivable. For each bond or weld, one, two or more adhesive or weld points can be provided distributed over the height of the article. The adhesive or welding points between two items form a connection means of the connection between these two items.

The apparatus may also include alignment means which align the items provided with the connecting means according to an orientation required to produce a continuous chain of interconnected items in the finished bundle.

The attachment means are implemented by one or more nozzles, in particular glue nozzles, by means of which adhesive dots serving as connecting means can be applied to the lateral surfaces of at least selected articles for the production of adhesive bonds.

The one or more nozzles are realized by one or more V-shaped double nozzles, with which a simultaneous application of two or more glue dots on an article or a maximum of a simultaneous application of one glue dot on a number of nozzle outlet openings of the double nozzles corresponding number of articles is possible.

A double nozzle can be arranged between two strands of articles that have not yet been brought together and/or to the side of a strand of articles that has not yet been brought together with another strand of articles. In the first case, the double nozzle can simultaneously provide an article of one line of articles and an article of the other line of articles, each with a dot of adhesive. In the first case and in the second case, the double nozzle can alternatively provide an article of one or the other strand of articles with two adhesive dots arranged distributed, for example along its height later perpendicular to the plane within which the chain runs in the assembled bundle, or apply a glue dot to two consecutive articles in the same article chain.

Advantages over the prior art are a significantly reduced number of connections to be made between the articles of a container that is produced without an enclosure. For example, compared to a conventional rectangular arrangement of rows and rows in a pack with two rows and three rows, corresponding to a 2x3 arrangement in which all adjacent articles are connected to one another, two connections between articles of the pack can be dispensed with. Starting from seven necessary connections in the prior art, the invention enables a saving of 28.6% of the connections with just five necessary connections. In comparison to the bundle known from the prior art described in the introduction, in which each article of the bundle is provided with at least two connecting means arranged offset by 180°, supplemented by a connecting means arranged between 0° and 180° in a 2x3 arrangement in the prior art, a requirement of 18 connectors compared to just five in the invention, a saving of 72.2%. Compared to the bundle known from the prior art described above, in which the articles are arranged nested and connected by adhesive strips, the invention also requires only five connections between the six articles of a nested 2x3 arrangement, whereas that known from the prior art mentioned nested bundle has nine connections between the items, some of which are made twice. As a result, the invention in the latter case results in a saving of the necessary connections and, associated therewith, of the resources expended for this of 44.4% compared to the prior art.

Fig. 1

ein 2x3 Gebinde mit rechtwinklig zueinander angeordneten Reihen und Zeilen, dessen Artikel zu einer durchgängigen Kette verbunden sind, in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 2

ein 2x3 Gebinde in genesteter Anordnung, dessen Artikel zu einer durchgängigen Kette verbunden sind, in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 3

eine Verbindung zwischen zwei zu einer durchgängigen Kette innerhalb eines Gebindes verbunden Artikeln mit einer Verbindungsstelle in Fig. 3 a), eine Verbindung zwischen zwei zu einer durchgängigen Kette innerhalb eines Gebindes verbunden Artikeln mit zwei über die Höhe der Artikel verteilt angeordneten Verbindungsstellen in Fig. 3 b) und eine Verbindung zwischen zwei zu einer durchgängigen Kette innerhalb eines Gebindes verbunden Artikeln mit drei über die Höhe der Artikel verteilt angeordneten Verbindungsstellen in Fig. 3 c), jeweils in einer Seitenansicht.

Fig. 4

eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von 2x3 Gebinden mit rechtwinklig zueinander angeordneten Reihen und Zeilen, deren Artikel zu einer durchgängigen Kette verbunden sind, in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 5

eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von 2x3 Gebinden in genesteter Anordnung, deren Artikel zu einer durchgängigen Kette verbunden sind, in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 6

ein 4x3 Gebinde mit rechtwinklig zueinander angeordneten Reihen und Zeilen, dessen Artikel zu einer durchgängigen Kette verbunden sind, in einer Draufsicht.

In the following, exemplary embodiments are intended to explain the invention and its advantages in more detail with reference to the attached figures. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the real proportions, since some forms are shown in simplified form and other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration. Identical reference symbols are used for elements of the invention that are the same or have the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures that are necessary for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments merely represent examples of how the device according to the invention or the method according to the invention can be designed and do not represent any conclusive limitation.

1

a 2x3 container with rows and rows arranged at right angles to one another, the articles of which are connected to form a continuous chain, in a top view.

2

a 2x3 bundle in a nested arrangement, the articles of which are connected to form a continuous chain, in a plan view.

3

a connection between two articles connected to form a continuous chain within a bundle with a connection point in Fig. 3 a) , a connection between two articles connected to form a continuous chain within a bundle with two connection points distributed over the height of the articles in Fig. 3 b) and a connection between two articles connected to form a continuous chain within a bundle with three connection points arranged distributed over the height of the articles Fig. 3 c) , each in a side view.

4

a device for the production of 2x3 containers with rows and rows arranged at right angles to one another, the articles of which are connected to form a continuous chain, in a top view.

figure 5

a device for the production of 2x3 bundles in a nested arrangement, the articles of which are connected to form a continuous chain, in a plan view.

6

a 4x3 container with rows and rows arranged at right angles to one another, the articles of which are connected to form a continuous chain, in a top view.

at a in 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , figure 5 Container 01 of interconnected items 02 shown in whole or in part, which includes A=RxZ items 02 in R rows 09 and Z lines 10 with R≥2 and Z≥2, the interconnected items 02 of the container 01 form a continuous, single row Chain 03 in the form of a one-dimensional, linear array of articles 02 connected to one another in a predetermined, designated direction by the course of the chain 03 in the container 01. In the chain 03 of the in 1 and 2 The container 01 shown is an open chain 31 with a beginning 05 and an end 06.

Within the open chain 31, each article 02 within the chain 03 forms a middle chain link 04, which is only connected to its predecessor and successor in the chain 03 ( 1 , 2 ). Each item 02 at the beginning or at the beginning 05 and at the end 06 of the open chain 31, where there is no predecessor or successor, forms an outer chain link 07 and is only connected to its successor or predecessor.

at a in 3 , 6 Container 01 of interconnected items 02 shown in whole or in part, which includes A=RxZ items 02 in R rows 09 and Z lines 10 with R≥2 and Z≥2, the interconnected items 02 of the container 01 form a continuous, single row Chain 03 in the form of a one-dimensional, endlessly revolving array of articles 02 connected to one another in a predetermined, designated direction by the course of the chain 03 in the container 01. In the chain 03 of the in 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , figure 5 The container 01 shown is a closed chain 32 without a beginning 05 and without an end 06.

Each item 02 within the closed chain 32 forms a middle chain link 04 and is only connected to its predecessor and successor in the chain 03.

The items 02 are outside of the chain 03 free of connections 08 to each other.

Each item 02 in the container 01 thus forms a chain link, of which the outer chain links 07 at the beginning 05 and at the end 06 of an open chain 31 ( figure 1 , 2 ) are each connected to only one adjacent chain link, and the middle chain links 04 lying in between, as well as all articles 02 that each form a middle chain link 04 in the closed chain 32 ( 6 ) are each only connected to their chain link in the chain 03 above and their chain link in the chain 03 below. Outside the chain 03 there are no direct connections 08 between the chain links.

• ist jeder Artikel 02 mit höchstens zwei anderen Artikeln 02 verbunden,
• sind die miteinander verbundenen Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 zu einer Kette 03 verbunden,
• ist eine Anzahl V von Verbindungen 08 zwischen den Artikeln 02 vorgesehen, welche bei einem Gebinde 01, dessen Artikel 02 wie in Fig. 6 dargestellt zu einer geschlossenen Kette 32 miteinander verbunden sind, der Anzahl A=RxZ der Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 V=A entspricht, und welche bei einem Gebinde 01, dessen Artikel 02 wie in Fig. 1 und Fig. 2 dargestellt zu einer offenen Kette 31 miteinander verbunden sind, der Anzahl A=RxZ der Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 abzüglich eins entsprechend V=A-1 entspricht, wobei die Anzahl A der Artikel 02 im Gebinde 01 das Produkt der Anzahl R der Reihen 09 im Gebinde 01 und der Anzahl Z der Zeilen 10 im Gebinde 01 ist, und
• sind alle Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 entlang der Kette 03 miteinander verbunden, wobei:
  • im Falle einer geschlossenen Kette 32 alle Artikel 02 jeweils mittlere Kettenglieder 04 bilden, welche jeweils nur mit zwei Artikeln 02 verbunden sind, dem ihr in der Kette 03 voranstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel 02 und dem ihr in der Kette 03 nachstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel 02, und
  • im Falle einer offenen Kette 31 die äußere Kettenglieder 07 bildenden Artikel 02 am Anfang 05 und am Ende 06 der Kette 31 nur mit einem in der Kette 03 benachbarten Artikel 02 verbunden sind und die zwischen den Artikeln 02 am Anfang 05 und am Ende 06 der Kette 31 liegenden, jeweils mittlere Kettenglieder 04 bildenden Artikel 02 jeweils nur mit zwei Artikeln 02 verbunden sind, dem ihr in der Kette 03 voranstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel 02 und dem ihr in der Kette 03 nachstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel 02.

For container 01:

• each Article 02 is linked to a maximum of two other Articles 02,
• the connected articles 02 are connected to form a chain 03 in the finished container 01,
• a number V of connections 08 is provided between the articles 02, which in the case of a container 01, the article 02 of which is as in 6 are shown connected to each other to form a closed chain 32, the number A=RxZ of the articles 02 in the finished container 01 V=A corresponds, and which corresponds to a container 01, the article 02 of which is as in 1 and 2 shown are connected to each other to form an open chain 31, corresponding to the number A=RxZ of articles 02 in the finished bundle 01 minus one corresponding to V=A-1, with the number A of articles 02 in bundle 01 being the product of the number R of rows 09 in container 01 and the number Z of rows is 10 in container 01, and
• all items 02 in the finished container 01 are connected to each other along the chain 03, where:
  • in the case of a closed chain 32, all articles 02 each form middle chain links 04, which are each connected to only two articles 02, the article 02 forming the preceding chain link in the chain 03 and the article 02 forming the following chain link in the chain 03, and
  • in the case of an open chain 31, the outer chain links 07 forming articles 02 at the beginning 05 and at the end 06 of the chain 31 are only connected to an adjacent article 02 in the chain 03 and between the articles 02 at the beginning 05 and at the end 06 of the chain 31 lying, each forming middle chain links 04, are each connected to only two articles 02, the article 02 forming the preceding chain link in the chain 03 and the article 02 forming the following chain link in the chain 03.

The container 01 is designed without an enclosure that would encompass the articles 01 of the container 01 grouped into an article group from the periphery of the article group. The container 01 thus manages without an enclosure. With such containers 01, the articles 02 themselves are directly connected to one another.

The articles 02 within the container 01 are thus arranged in at least two rows 09 and in at least two rows 10 . Rows 09 and rows 10 can be used as in 1 , 4 and 6 shown perpendicular to each other, or they can be as in 2 and in figure 5 shown, run diagonally to each other. If the rows 09 and the rows 10 run diagonally to one another, the articles 02 of the container 01 are arranged in a nested, offset, interlocking manner like a zipper.

Rows 09 and rows 10 are replicated by chain 03.

The chain 03 can be designed as an open chain 31, for example in the case of a right-angled arrangement, first along at least one section of a row 10, then after a turn 11 along at least one section of a row 09, then again after another turn 11 along at least one section of a row 10 can run and possibly so on ( 1 ).

In the case of a nested arrangement, the chain 03 designed as an open chain 31 can, for example, start on an article 02 at a corner of the bundle 01 and run along a row 10 running diagonally to the rows, then after a turn 11 jump back to the row 09, in which is the article 02 where you started, to then, after another turn 11, run along a line 10 again, and so on ( 2 ).

The chain 03 can be designed as a closed chain 32, for example in the case of a 2xZ or Rx2 pack with two rows 09 and at least two rows 10 running at right angles thereto, circulating in the pack 01 following the periphery of the pack 01 in an O-shape. A chain designed as a closed chain 32 can be arranged in a C-, H-, M- or G-shape in the container 01 in containers that have three or more rows 09 and rows 10, with the closed chain 32 following the course accordingly in the Container 01 is laid. 6 shows an example of a C-shaped, encircling, closed chain 32 in a 3x4 container 01 with three rows 09 and four rows 10 arranged at right angles thereto. On one side, the closed chain 32 follows the periphery of the container 01, whereas the closed chain 32 on the opposite side of the container 01 jumps back in the shape of a C or Π (big Pi) to the articles 02 arranged inside.

The same applies to the closed chain 32 in the case of nested arrangements, in which case the closed chain can be inclined in comparison to the perpendicular arrangement according to an italic notation.

The chain 03 thus preferably runs two-dimensionally within the container, with sections running in alternating directions within, for example, parallel to one through the undersides of the Article 02 formed level runs.

The twists 11 along the warp 03 can be made as in 1 shown Π- (upper case Pi) or L-shaped, so that overall a serpentine course of the chain can result through the container 01, with the chain running alternately, at least in sections, along rows and rows or vice versa, or the chain 03, for example, at 2xZ or Rx2 container 01, for example, follows the periphery of container 01. Alternatively, the phrases as in 2 shown in a V-shape, so that the chain 03 runs through the container 01 in an N or W shape or generally in a zigzag.

Due to the serpentine course, a right-angled arrangement of rows 09 and rows 10 each consisting of at least two or more articles 02 within the container 01 can be simulated by means of an open chain 31 ( 1 ). A nested arrangement of the articles 02 can be obtained by means of a zigzag course by means of an open chain 31, in which the articles 02, seen along the rows 09, interlock like a zipper and the rows 10 run diagonally to the rows 09 ( 2 ).

The chain 03 preferably changes its direction by an amount of 90° at the L-shaped turns or it changes its direction by an amount of between 90° and 180° at the V-shaped turns, in each case its direction along the chain 03 seen. Such changes in direction correspond to an included angle 12 along the chain 03 at the L-shaped turns of the amount every 90° or at the V-shaped turns of the amount every <90°.

In order to obtain a right-angled arrangement of rows 09 and rows 10 each consisting of at least two or more items 02 within the container 01, the included angle is 12 between a first, middle chain link 04 and the second chain links on both sides of the middle chain link 04 180° or 90°, depending on whether the section of chain 03 under consideration runs along a line 10 with, for example, three or more articles 02 or along a row 09. With three or more articles 02 along a row 10, the included angle 12 for each article 02 in the chain 03 that is included within the row 10 between two preceding and following articles 02 in the chain is 180°. As a result, a handle 13 extending transversely to the container 01 can run along the chain 01 and thus extend over articles 02 that are connected to one another in a straight line. Along the row 09, when the chain 03 runs in a serpentine manner through the container 01, there is always a change from a row 10 of articles 02 or chain links connected to one another in a straight line to the next row 10, which is why the included angle 12 here is 90 ° is. In the case of a container 01 with a right-angled arrangement of rows 09 and rows 10 consisting of two rows 09 with two, three or more articles 02, in which there are therefore two articles in each row 10, the included angle 12 for each article is 02 in the chain 03, which is then designed as an open chain 31, has an angle of 90° ( 1 ).

If the chain 03 runs along a row 10 with three or more items 02, the included angle 12 between a first, middle chain link 04 and the second chain links on both sides of the middle chain link 04 is 180° for each article 02 in the Chain 03 enclosed within line 10 between two preceding and following articles 02 in chain 03. For the remaining chain links, the included angle 12 between a first, middle chain link 04 and the second chain links adjoining it on both sides of the middle chain link 04 is less than 90° and greater than 0°. In a corresponding nested arrangement with two rows 09, in which there are no rows 10 with three or more articles 02, the included angle 12 between a first, middle chain link and the second chain links adjoining on both sides of the middle chain link 04 is the amount after ever smaller 90° and larger 0° ( 2 ).

If the container 01 is provided with a handle 13, this can extend over at least two articles 02 connected to one another in a straight line along the chain 03.

In the case of a container 01 with an odd number of rows 09 or rows 10, the same stability can be obtained in connection with a central handle 13 as in the prior art, since the handle 13 extends along the chain 03 of articles 02 connected to one another.

It is also conceivable that the handle 13 extends diagonally from one corner of the container 01 to an opposite corner of the container 01. Another possibility arises in connection with containers 01, the articles 02 of which are connected to one another, for example to form an endlessly circulating, closed chain 32 without a beginning 05 and without an end 06 ( 6 ), or are connected to form an open chain 31 with a beginning 05 and an end 06 ( 1 , 2 ), wherein the handle extends from a first article 02 of the chain 03 to a second article 02 of the chain 03, which are neither directly adjacent to one another nor lie within the bundle in a straight line along the chain 03.

A connection 08 between two items 02 is established by connecting means 18 which enable a mutual transmission of force and torque at one or more connecting points 80 between the two items 02 . For example, the connecting means 18 can comprise adhesive bonds, which can each be formed by one or more adhesive points and/or adhesive lines. Welds, each with one or more weld points, are also conceivable as connecting means 18 . In summary, a connection 08 between two items 02 can include one or more connection points 80 at which a mutual transmission of force between these two items 02 takes place. The term connection 08 between two items 02 therefore does not refer to the number of connecting elements or connection points 80 between the items 02, but merely to the fact that two items 02 are connected to one another at any number of connection points 80, so that a mutual Power and torque transmission is possible within the limits tolerable by the connecting means 18 ( 3 ).

The connections 08 of the articles 02 along the chain 03 can be produced, for example, by gluing. Two items 02 are glued together using one or more adhesive points as connecting means 18, depending on a ratio of the extent of the items 02 perpendicular to the plane in which the chain 03 runs or on which the items 02 stand, to an extent of the individual items 02 parallel to this plane. Two chain links, which are formed by correspondingly low or flat articles 02, can therefore be connected to one another with just one adhesive point at a connection point 80 ( Fig. 3 a) ), whereas chain links formed by high items 02 with two ( Fig. 3 b) ) or more adhesive dots distributed over the height of the article 02 can be connected to one another at a corresponding number of connection points 80. The plane in which the chain 03 lies runs parallel to a plane formed by the connecting points 80 of a chain 03 of articles 02 arranged at the same height as the articles 02 . If several connection points 80 are provided across the height of the articles 02 connected to one another within the chain 03, the plane in which the chain 03 lies runs parallel to the planes that are formed by the connection points 80 of the chain 03, which are arranged at the same height of the articles 02 of Articles 02. For example, the number of connecting points 80 formed, for example, by a dot of adhesive bonding comprising connecting means 18 preferably depends on the dimensions of the articles 02 parallel and/or normal to a plane, within which plane the chain 03 to which the articles 02 belong within the finished Container 01 are connected, runs. For example, in the case of articles 02, which are normal to the plane within which the chain 03, to which the articles 02 are connected within the finished container 01, runs high, two or more connection points 80 in the form of, for example, gluing and/or Glue dots over the height of Article 021. Standing up can be defined here, for example, by an extension of the individual articles 02 normal to the plane within which the chain 03 runs, to which the articles 02 are connected within the finished container 01, which is greater than an extension of the individual articles 02 parallel to the plane. Alternatively or additionally, in the case of articles 02, which extend parallel to the plane within which the chain 03, to which the articles 02 are connected within the finished container 01, runs a wide extension, two or more, for example by gluing and/or Glue points have formed joints 80 across the width of the article 02 away. Broadly extending can be defined here, for example, by an extension of the individual items 02 parallel to the plane within which the chain 03, to which the items 02 are connected within the finished container 01, is greater than the height of the individual items 02 normal to the plane. A combination of the described properties of a connection 08 between two articles is also possible, in which several connection points 80 can be provided both over the height and over the width of the article 02.

A previously described and in 1 , 2 , 3 and 6 Container 01 shown in full or in part can be replaced by an in 4 or in figure 5 device 20 shown can be produced.

• einen Zulauf von einer der Anzahl R der Reihen 09 im fertigen Gebinde 01 entsprechenden Zahl von Artikelströmen 21 aus jeweils unmittelbar aufeinander folgenden Artikeln 02,
• je Artikelstrom 21 Abtrennungsmittel 22, um einen Artikelstrang 23 mit einer der Anzahl Z von Artikeln 02 je Reihe 09 im fertigen Gebinde 01 vom jeweiligen Artikelstrom 21 entsprechende Zahl von Artikeln 02 vom jeweiligen Artikelstrom 21 abzutrennen,
• Anbringungsmittel 24, um einzelne, ausgewählte oder alle Artikel 02 der von den Artikelströmen 21 abgetrennten Artikelstränge 23 mit Verbindungsmitteln 18 zu versehen, wobei je herzustellendem Gebinde 01 eine Anzahl V von Verbindungen 08 zwischen den Artikeln 02 vorgesehen ist, welche im Falle einer geschlossenen Kette 32 der Anzahl der Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 entspricht (V=A) und im Falle einer offenen Kette 31 der Anzahl A=RxZ der Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 abzüglich eins entspricht (V=A-1), so dass die miteinander verbundenen Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 zu einer Kette 03 verbunden sein müssen, damit alle Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 miteinander verbunden sind,
• Zusammenführungsmittel 25, um die Artikelstränge 23 mit zumindest zum Teil mit Verbindungsmitteln 18 versehenen Artikeln 02 entsprechend der Anordnung der Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 derart zusammenzuführen, dass die Verbindungsmittel 18 der mit Verbindungsmitteln 18 versehenen Artikel 02 sämtliche Artikel 02 der zusammengeführten Artikelstränge 23 zu einer Kette 03 verbinden, in welcher im Falle einer offenen Kette 31 beginnend bei einem ein erstes, äußeres Kettenglied 07 bildenden Artikel 02 am Anfang 05 der offenen Kette 31 und endend bei einem ein letztes, äußeres Kettenglied 07 bildenden Artikel 02 am Ende 06 der offenen Kette 31 diese äußeren Kettenglieder 07 und sämtliche dazwischen liegenden, durch je einen Artikel 02 gebildeten mittleren Kettenglieder 04 entlang einer sich durch das Gebinde 01 hindurch ziehenden, eindimensionalen, linearen Aufreihung durchgängig miteinander verbunden sind, und in welcher im Falle einer geschlossenen Kette 32, in der alle Artikel 02 jeweils mittlere Kettenglieder 04 bilden, sämtliche mittleren Kettenglieder 04 entlang einer sich durch das Gebinde 01 hindurch ziehenden, eindimensionalen, endlos umlaufenden Aufreihung durchgängig miteinander verbunden sind, beginnend in einer ersten Richtung entlang der geschlossenen Kette 32 umlaufend weg von einem ersten mittleren Kettenglied 04 ausgehend und endend aus der ersten Richtung kommend bei einem entgegen der ersten Richtung unmittelbar zum ersten mittleren Kettenglied 04 benachbarten zweiten mittleren Kettenglied 04.

The device 20 for producing a bundle 01 from articles 02 connected to one another, wherein the articles 02 of the bundle 01 are arranged in at least two rows 09 and two rows 10, which can be arranged, for example, at right angles to one another or can run diagonally to one another, whereby the articles 02 within the rows 09 and rows 10 can be arranged in a staggered manner nested with one another like a zip, and the articles 02 of the container 01 that are connected to one another form a continuous chain 03 of articles 02 that are connected to one another in the container 01, includes:

• an inflow of a number of article streams 21 corresponding to the number R of the rows 09 in the finished container 01, each consisting of articles 02 directly following one another,
• per article stream 21 separating means 22, in order to separate an article string 23 with a number of articles 02 from the respective article stream 21 corresponding to the number Z of articles 02 per row 09 in the finished container 01,
• Attachment means 24 for providing individual, selected or all articles 02 of the article strands 23 separated from the article streams 21 with connection means 18, with a number V of connections 08 being provided between the articles 02 for each container 01 to be produced, which in the case of a closed chain 32 corresponds to the number of items 02 in the finished container 01 (V=A) and in the case of an open chain 31 corresponds to the number A=RxZ of the items 02 in the finished container 01 minus one (V=A-1), so that the interconnected Article 02 must be connected to a chain 03 in the finished container 01 so that all articles 02 are connected to each other in the finished container 01,
• Merging means 25 for merging the article strands 23 with articles 02 that are at least partially provided with connecting means 18 in accordance with the arrangement of the articles 02 in the finished container 01 in such a way that the joining means 18 of the articles 02 provided with connecting means 18 combine all the articles 02 of the assembled article strands 23 into one Connect chain 03, in which, in the case of an open chain 31, starting with an article 02 forming a first, outer chain link 07 at the beginning 05 of the open chain 31 and ending with an article 02 forming a last, outer chain link 07 at the end 06 of the open chain 31, these outer chain links 07 and all middle chain links 04 in between, each formed by an item 02, are continuously connected to one another along a one-dimensional, linear array that extends through the container 01, and in which, in the case of a closed chain 32, in the all articles 02 each ls form middle chain links 04, all middle chain links 04 are continuously connected to one another along a one-dimensional, endlessly circulating array that extends through container 01, starting in a first direction along closed chain 32, circulating away from a first middle chain link 04 and ending coming from the first direction at a second middle chain link 04 directly adjacent to the first middle chain link 04 opposite to the first direction.

The number Z corresponds to the number of rows 10 in the finished container 01.

For each connection 08 between two items 02, only one of the items 02 is provided with connecting means 18.

The device 20 can include alignment means, which align the items 02 provided with the connecting means 18 in accordance with an orientation required to produce a continuous chain 03 of interconnected items 02 in the finished container 01.

The attachment means 24 can be implemented by one or more nozzles 26, by means of which adhesive dots serving as connecting means 18 can be applied, are applied or can be applied to the lateral surfaces of at least selected articles 02 for the production of bonds.

The one or more nozzles 26 can be implemented as one or more V-shaped double nozzles, with which a simultaneous application of two or more dots of adhesive to an article 02 or a maximum of a simultaneous application of one dot of glue to one of the number of nozzle outlet openings of the double nozzles corresponding number of articles 02 is possible.

A nozzle 26 implemented as a double nozzle can be arranged, for example, between two article strands 23 that have not yet been brought together or the transport paths of two article strands 23 from their separation from their respective original article flow 21 to their combination with one another to form a container 01 or part of a container 01, where it can simultaneously provide an article 02 of one line of articles 23 and an article 02 of the other line of articles 23, each with a dot of adhesive.

Alternatively, a nozzle 26 realized by a double nozzle can be installed on the side of an article strand 23 that has not yet been merged with another article strand 23 or on the side of its transport path from the separation of the article strand 23 from its article flow 21 to its merger with one or more other article strands 23 into a finished article Container 01 or a part of a container 01, where they place an article 02 of the article strand 23 with two, for example, distributed along its height later extending normal to the plane within which the chain 03 runs in the assembled container 01, or two articles 02 that follow one another in one and the same strand of articles 23 can each be provided with an adhesive dot.

The use of double or multiple nozzles as nozzles 26 significantly reduces the number of nozzle elements required and thereby contributes to simplifying and shortening a device 20 suitable for producing a container 01 described above. This enables cost savings in the development, construction, assembly and operation of a corresponding device 20, the latter also because of the reduced space required for setting up the device 20 due to a reduction.

The bringing together means 25 can be designed, for example, as is known from the prior art described in the introduction, in order to form packs 01 with rows 09 and rows 10 running perpendicular to one another. Alternatively, the bringing together means 25 can bring the strands of articles 23 together in the manner of a zip in order to obtain a nested arrangement in the finished container 01.

The merging means 25 can, for example, comprise at least one pressing unit 27, which presses the articles 02, which have previously been provided with connecting means 18, of the strands of articles 23 to be assembled into a continuous chain 03 in the finished container 01 against one another.

A pressing unit 27 can, for example, comprise rotating clamping units 28 which can be controlled individually and independently of one another and can therefore also be moved to different positions in the conveying direction F during the pressing operation.

For the sake of completeness it should be mentioned that the Separating means 22 can alternatively or additionally also be designed, for example, as is known from the prior art described in the introduction, whereby by accelerating the articles 02 of an article line 23 to be separated from an article flow 21 to a higher speed than that of the article flow 21, the article line 23 moves away from the Article stream 21 is separated.

• jeder Artikel 02 mit höchstens zwei anderen Artikeln 02 verbunden wird,
• je Verbindung 08 zwischen zwei Artikeln 02 vorgesehen sein kann, nur einer der Artikel 02 mit Verbindungsmitteln 18 zu versehen,
• je herzustellendem Gebinde 01 eine Anzahl V von jeweils durch ein oder mehrere Verbindungsmittel 18 hergestellten Verbindungen 08 zwischen den Artikeln 02 vorgesehen ist, welche im Falle einer geschlossenen Kette 32 der Anzahl der Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 entspricht (V=A) und im Falle einer offenen Kette 31 der Anzahl der Artikel A=RxZ im fertigen Gebinde abzüglich eins entspricht (V=A-1),
• die miteinander verbundenen Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 zu einer Kette 03 verbunden sind, und
• alle Artikel 02 im fertigen Gebinde 01 entlang der Kette 03 miteinander verbunden sind, wobei im Falle einer geschlossenen Kette 32 alle Artikel 02 jeweils mittlere Kettenglieder 04 bilden, welche jeweils nur mit zwei Artikeln 02 verbunden sind, dem ihr in der Kette 03 voranstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel 02 und dem ihr in der Kette 03 nachstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel 02, und wobei im Falle einer offenen Kette 31 die äußere Kettenglieder 07 bildenden Artikel 02 am Anfang 05 und am Ende 06 der offenen Kette 31 nur mit einem in der Kette 03 benachbarten Artikel 02 verbunden sind und die zwischen den Artikeln 02 am Anfang 05 und am Ende 06 der offenen Kette 31 liegenden, jeweils mittlere Kettenglieder 04 bildenden Artikel 02 jeweils nur mit zwei Artikeln 02 verbunden sind, dem ihr in der Kette 03 voranstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel 02 und dem ihr in der Kette 03 nachstehendes Kettenglied bildenden Artikel 02.

The device 20 described above allows a method to be carried out for producing a previously described bundle 01 from articles 02 connected to one another, which comprises A=RxZ articles in R rows 09 and Z rows 10 with R≥2 and Z≥2, and in which the interconnected articles 02 of the container 01 have a continuous, single-row chain 03 in the form of a one-dimensional, linear array in the case of an open chain 31, or in the form of a one-dimensional, endlessly revolving array in the case of a closed chain 32 in a manner specified by the course of the chain 03 , designated direction of interconnected articles 02 in the container 01 form. The items 02 of the container 01 are arranged in at least two rows 09 and two rows 10 . The rows 09 and rows 10 can, for example, be arranged at right angles to one another, or they can run diagonally to one another, as a result of which the articles 02 can be arranged nested within the container 01 in a staggered manner like a zipper. The articles 02 to be connected to form a chain 03 are provided with connecting means 18 according to the method. The articles 02 are then connected to one another according to the course of the chain 03 within the container 01 using the connecting means 18, with:

• each Article 02 is combined with a maximum of two other Articles 02,
• each connection 08 between two items 02 can be provided to provide only one of the items 02 with connecting means 18,
• for each container 01 to be produced, a number V of connections 08 produced by one or more connecting means 18 is provided between the articles 02, which in the case of a closed chain 32 corresponds to the number of articles 02 in the finished container 01 (V=A) and in the case of an open chain 31 corresponds to the number of items A=RxZ in the finished bundle minus one (V=A-1),
• the articles 02 connected to one another are connected to form a chain 03 in the finished container 01, and
• All items 02 in the finished container 01 are connected to one another along the chain 03, with all items 02 forming central chain links 04 in the case of a closed chain 32, which are each connected to only two items 02, the chain link that forms the chain link in front of them in the chain 03 Article 02 and the article 02 forming the chain link following it in the chain 03, and in the case of an open chain 31 the outer chain links 07 forming article 02 at the beginning 05 and at the end 06 of the open chain 31 only with an adjacent article in the chain 03 02 are connected and the items 02 lying between the items 02 at the beginning 05 and at the end 06 of the open chain 31, each forming middle chain links 04, are each only connected to two items 02, the item 02 forming the preceding chain link in the chain 03 and Article 02, which is the next chain link in chain 03.

In the case of the container 01 to be produced using the method from articles 02 connected to one another, the articles 02 of the container 01 connected to one another form a continuous chain 03 of articles 02 connected to one another in the container 01. Each article 02 in the container 01 forms a chain link. In the case of an open chain 31, the outer chain links 07 at the beginning 05 and at the end 06 of the chain 03 are each connected to only one adjacent chain link, and the middle chain links 04 in between are each only connected with their leading in the chain 03 and their in connected to the following chain link of the chain 03. In the case of a closed chain 32, the chain links are all middle chain links 04, each of which is only connected to its chain link that precedes it in the chain 03 and its chain link that follows it in the chain 03.

A connection 08 between two items 02 is established by connecting means 18, which enable a mutual transmission of force and/or torque at one or more connecting points 80 between the two items 02.

The connecting means 18 can already be arranged on the articles 02 in the finished container 01 in accordance with the later course of the sections of the chain 03 formed by the individual articles 02. If, for example, the included angle 12 is between a first item 02, which forms a first, middle chain link 04 of the chain 03, and two other items 02 preceding and following in the chain 03, which are adjoined on both sides of the middle chain link 04 by a second If chain links of chain 03 form a predetermined angle, the method can provide for connecting means 18 to be arranged on first article 02 and/or on the other articles 02 in accordance with included angle 12.

This can be done most simply by arranging at least one connecting means 18 on each article 02 to be assembled to form a chain 03, preferably omitting a first and/or last article 02 of a chain 03 to be designed as an open chain 31 02 manages, with which the article 02 will be or is connected in the finished chain 03. In this case, the articles to be connected to form a chain 03 02 are assembled following the arrangement of the connecting means 18 according to the course of the chain 03 in the finished container 01. In the case of an open chain 31, one of the articles 02 of the container 02 to be assembled into the chain 03, for example the first or the last article at the beginning 05 or at the end 06 of the chain 03, is carried out free of a connecting means 18. In the case of the closed chain 32, each article 02 can be designed with a connecting means 18. Alternatively, the articles can be designed alternately without connecting means 18 and with two connecting means 18, which reach in both directions in the finished warp 03 adjacent articles 02. The variant of providing only one connecting means 18 for connecting to one item 02 per item 02 has the advantage that the connecting means 18 do not have to be attached to the items 02 with a special orientation corresponding to the course of the chain 03 in the container, but rather the items 02, each with an applied connecting means 18 for connecting to an adjacent article 02 within the chain 03, only has to be aligned prior to assembly to form the container 01, which can be done by simply rotating them about their vertical axis, which is normal to the contact area.

The method can provide for gluing as connecting means 18, which are formed by adhesive spots that are applied to the lateral surfaces of the articles 02, with a connecting means 18 between two articles 02 that are directly connected to one another within a chain 03 by one or more gluings, each with one, two or more glue points is formed. Accordingly, a connection 08 between two articles 02 along the chain 03 can have a plurality of connection points 80, which can each be formed by a connection means 18, for example adhesive points, which together form an adhesive bond as connection means 18 of a connection 08.

As already stated with regard to the number of connection points 80 of a connection 08 between two items 02 along the chain 03, the number of adhesive bonds and/or their adhesive points preferably depends on the dimensions of the items 02 parallel and/or normal to a plane within which Level the chain 03, to which the items 02 are connected within the finished container 01, runs.

• im Falle eines Gebindes 01 mit rechtwinklig zueinander verlaufenden Reihen 09 und Zeilen 10 so parallel nebeneinander liegend zusammengeführt werden, dass die einzelnen Artikel 02 der Artikelstränge 23 auf gleicher Höhe liegen (Fig. 4), oder
• im Falle eines Gebindes 01 mit genestet angeordneten Artikeln 02 reißverschlussartig zusammengeführt werden, so dass zumindest die Artikel 02 zweier benachbarter Artikelstränge 23 in verdichteter Anordnung gegeneinander versetzt liegen (Fig. 5),

und die zuvor angebrachten Verbindungsmittel 18 sämtliche Artikel 02 der Artikelstränge 23 zu einer durchgängigen Kette 03 im fertigen Gebinde 01 verbinden, in welcher Kette 03 im Falle einer Ausführung als eine offene Kette 31 beginnend bei einem ein erstes, äußeres Kettenglied 07 bildenden Artikel 02 und endend bei einem ein letztes, äußeres Kettenglied 07 bildenden Artikel 02 diese äußeren Kettenglieder 07 und sämtliche dazwischen liegenden, durch je einen Artikel 02 gebildeten mittleren Kettenglieder 04 entlang einer sich durch das Gebinde 01 hindurch ziehenden, eindimensionalen, linearen Aufreihung durchgängig miteinander verbunden sind, oder in welcher Kette 03 im Falle einer Ausführung als eine geschlossene Kette 32, in der alle Artikel 02 jeweils mittlere Kettenglieder 04 bilden, sämtliche mittleren Kettenglieder 04 entlang einer sich durch das Gebinde 01 hindurch ziehenden, eindimensionalen, endlos umlaufenden Aufreihung durchgängig miteinander verbunden sind, beginnend in einer ersten Richtung entlang der geschlossenen Kette 32 umlaufend weg von einem ersten mittleren Kettenglied 04 ausgehend und endend aus der ersten Richtung kommend bei einem entgegen der ersten Richtung unmittelbar zum ersten mittleren Kettenglied 04 benachbarten zweiten mittleren Kettenglied 04. Das Verfahren kann dabei vorsehen, dass zumindest diejenigen Artikel 02 in den einzelnen Artikelsträngen 23, an denen zuvor Verbindungsmittel 18 angebracht wurden, derart ausgerichtet werden, bleiben oder sind, dass nach dem Zusammenführen der Artikelstränge 23 die an zumindest einigen der Artikel 02 der zusammengeführten Artikelstränge 23 zuvor angebrachten Verbindungsmittel 18 sämtliche Artikel 02 der zusammengeführten Artikelstränge 23 zu einer einzigen, durch das gesamte derart hergestellte Gebinde 01 verlaufenden Kette 03 verbinden. Die Verbindungsmittel 18 können hierbei durch besonders bevorzugt jeweils einen oder mehrere Klebepunkte umfassende Verklebungen hergestellt sein.Accordingly, the method can provide for adhesive bonds with or without adhesive dots to be provided as connecting means 18 between articles 02 along the chain 03, with the bundle 01 being assembled by providing a number of streams of articles 21 corresponding to the number R of rows 09 in the bundle 01 , from each of which a strand of articles 23 with one of the number Z of articles 02 provided in the finished container 01 per row 09 is separated. The method can then provide that individual, selected or all articles 02 of one, several or all article strands 23 separated from their article streams 21 are provided with connecting means 18, then the articles 02 in the individual article strands 23 are optionally aligned by rotating them about their vertical axes be used to align the connecting means 18 in a desired direction for each article 02. After this has been done, the method may provide for the article strands 23:

• in the case of a container 01 with rows 09 and rows 10 running at right angles to one another, are brought together so parallel next to one another that the individual articles 02 of the article strands 23 are at the same height ( 4 ), or
• in the case of a container 01 with articles 02 arranged in a nested manner, are brought together in the manner of a zip, so that at least the articles 02 of two adjacent article strands 23 are offset from one another in a compacted arrangement ( figure 5 ),

and the previously attached connecting means 18 connect all the articles 02 of the strands of articles 23 to form a continuous chain 03 in the finished bundle 01, in which chain 03, if designed as an open chain 31, begins with an article 02 forming a first, outer chain link 07 and ends in the case of an article 02 forming a last, outer chain link 07, these outer chain links 07 and all intermediate chain links 04, each formed by an article 02, are continuously connected to one another along a one-dimensional, linear array that extends through the container 01, or in which chain 03, in the case of an embodiment as a closed chain 32 in which all articles 02 each form middle chain links 04, all middle chain links 04 are continuously connected to one another along a one-dimensional, endlessly circulating array that extends through the container 01, beginning in a in the first direction along the closed chain 32 all the way around, starting from a first middle chain link 04 and coming from the first direction and ending at a second middle chain link 04 that is directly adjacent to the first middle chain link 04, opposite to the first direction. The method can provide that at least those articles 02 in the individual strands of articles 23 to which connecting means 18 were previously attached are, remain or are aligned in such a way that after the strands of articles 23 have been brought together, the connecting means 18 previously attached to at least some of the articles 02 of the strands of articles 23 that have been brought together can hold all articles 02 of the article strands 23 that have been brought together to form a single chain 03 that runs through the entire bundle 01 produced in this way. The connecting means 18 can be produced here by particularly preferably adhesive bonding comprising one or more adhesive spots be.

The method can also provide that connecting means 18 are not or are not arranged on every article 02 forming a central chain link 04 . Instead, two connecting means 18 can only be provided on every second article 02, which forms a middle chain link 04, corresponding to every second middle chain link 04, one for connecting to the article 02 forming a preceding chain link in the chain 03 and one for connection to article 02, which is a chain link that follows in chain 03.

The method can provide that a container 01 is produced, within which the chain 03, to which the articles 02 of the container 01 are connected to one another, in serpentines with, for example, Π (capital Pi) or L-shaped turns 11, or zigzag with e.g. V-shaped turns 11, or N- or W -shaped, corresponding, for example, to a regular arrangement with a right-angled arrangement of rows 09 and rows 10 each consisting of at least two or more articles 02 within the container 01 in the case of a serpentine course of the chain 03, or a nested arrangement in the case of a zigzag or N - or W -shaped course of the chain 03.

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

Reference List

01

container

02

article

03

Chain

04

middle chain link

05

beginning (of the chain)

06

end (of the chain)

07

outer chain link

08

connection

09

row (of articles in bundle)

10

Line (of items in bundle)

11

turn

12

included angle

13

grab handle

18

lanyard

20

contraption

21

article stream

22

release agent

23

article strand

24

means of attachment

25

matching funds

27

pressing unit

28

clamping unit

31

open chain

32

closed chain

80

connection point

f

conveying direction

A

Number of articles 02 in a container 01

R

Number of rows 09 in a bundle 01

Z

Number of lines 10 in a bundle 01

V

Number of connections 08 between articles 02 in a container 01

Claims (13)

1. A bundle (01) of articles (02) connected to each other, which bundle (01) comprises A=RxZ articles (02) in R rows (09) and Z lines (10), characterised in that R≥2 and Z≥3, wherein the articles (02) of the bundle (01), which articles (02) are connected to each other, form a continuous chain (03) of articles (02) rigidly connected to each other in the bundle (01), which articles (02) are free from interconnections (08) outside of the chain (03), wherein, within the chain (03), each article (02) is only connected to its predecessor and to its successor in the chain (03), wherein, if the chain (03) is a closed chain (32) without beginning (05) and end (06), each of the articles (02) connected to each other along the chain (32) is an article (02) within the chain (03), and, if the chain (03) is an open chain (31) with a beginning (05) and an end (06), each article (02) at the beginning (05) and at the end (06) of the chain (31), where there is either no predecessor or no successor, is only connected to its successor or to its predecessor.
2. The bundle as recited in claim 1 wherein the chain (03) within the bundle (01) runs section-wise in changing directions.
3. The bundle as recited in claim 1 or 2, wherein the chain (03) runs through the bundle (01) in serpentine lines with Π- (uppercase pi) or L-shaped turns (11), or in zigzag lines with V-shaped turns (11), or N- or W-shaped.
4. The bundle as recited in claim 3 wherein the chain (03) changes its direction by an amount of 90 degrees in each case at the L-shaped turns (11) or by an amount between 90 degrees and 180 degrees in each case at the V-shaped turns (11).
5. The bundle as recited in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the bundle (01) is provided with a holding handle (13).
6. The bundle as recited in one of the previous claims wherein the interconnections (08) of the articles (02) along the chain (03) are produced by adhesive bonds.
7. The bundle as recited in claim 6 wherein an adhesive bond of two articles (02) to each other is produced by one or more adhesive points, based on the ratio of the extension of the articles (02) perpendicular to a plane on which the articles (02) stand in relation to an extension of the individual articles (02) parallel to this plane.
8. A method for producing a bundle (01) as recited in one of the claims 1 to 7 wherein the articles (02) to be connected to each other to form a chain (03) are provided with connection means (18) and the articles (02) are subsequently connected to each other by means of the connection means (18) corresponding to the course of the chain (03) within the bundle (01), wherein:

   - each article (02) is connected to at most two other articles (02),

   - a number of interconnections (08) is provided between the articles (02) for each bundle (01) to be produced, which number of interconnections (08) in the instance of a closed chain (32) corresponds to the number of articles (02) in the finished bundle (01), and which number of interconnections (08) in the instance of an open chain (31) corresponds to the number of articles (02) in the finished bundle (01) minus one,

   - the articles (02), which are connected to each other, are connected to form a chain (03) in the finished bundle (01), and

   - all articles (02) are connected to each other along the chain (03) in the finished bundle (01), wherein all articles (02) in the instance of a closed chain (32) in each case form middle chain links (04), which are each connected to only two articles (02); to the article (02) forming the chain link preceding it in the chain (03) and to the article (02) forming the chain link succeeding it in the chain (03), and wherein the articles (02) forming the outer chain links (07) at the beginning (05) and at the end (06) in the instance of an open chain (31) are only connected to one adjacent article (02) in the chain (03), and the articles (02) located between the articles (02) at the beginning (05) and at the end (06) of the chain (31), which articles (02) in each case form middle chain links (04), are each connected to only two articles (02); to the article (02) forming the chain link preceding it in the chain (03) and to the article (02) forming the chain link succeeding it in the chain (03), wherein the articles are rigidly connected along the chain.
9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein the connection means (18) are arranged at the articles (02) already corresponding to the later course of the chain (03) in the finished bundle (01).
10. The method as recited in claim 8 or 9 wherein adhesive bonds are provided as connection means (18), which are formed by adhesive points, which are applied onto the lateral surfaces of the articles (02), wherein one connection means (18) between two articles (02) immediately connected to each other along a chain (03) is formed by one or more adhesive bonds with one, two, or more adhesive points each.
11. The method as recited in one of the claims 8, 9 or 10 wherein adhesive bonds are provided as connection means (18) between articles (02) along the chain (03), and the bundle (01) is grouped by a number (R) of article flows (21) being provided corresponding to the number (R) of rows (09) in the bundle, of which article flows (21) in each case one article strand (23) is separated, which has a number (Z) of articles (02) per row (09) as is intended in the finished bundle (01), subsequently individual, selected or all articles (02) of one, more or all article strands (23) thus separated from their article flows (21) being provided with connection means (18), the articles (02) then being aligned in the individual article strands (23), as the case may be, by a rotation about their vertical axes in order to align the connection means (18) for each article (02) in a desired direction, whereupon:

    - the article strands (23) are then merged located parallel next to each other such that the individual articles (02) of the article strands (23) are located at the same height in the instance of a bundle (01) with rows (09) and lines (10') running toward each other at right angles, or

    - the article strands (23) are then merged in a zipper-like manner such that at least the articles (02) of two adjacent article strands (23) are located in a compacted arrangement offset from each other in the instance of a bundle (01) with articles (02) in a nested arrangement,

    and the previously applied connection means (18) connect all articles (02) of the article strands (23) to form a continuous chain (03) in the finished bundle (01), in which chain (03) in the instance of an open chain (31), starting with an article (02) forming a first, outer chain link (07) and ending with an article (02) forming a last, outer chain link (07), these outer chain links (07) and all middle chain links (04) located in between, which are formed by one article (02) each, are continuously connected to each other along a one-dimensional, linear line-up running through the bundle (01), or in which chain (03) in the instance of a closed chain (32), in which all articles (02) each form middle chain links (04), all middle chain links (04) are continuously connected to each other along a one-dimensional, endlessly circulating line-up running through the bundle (01), starting in a first direction along the closed chain (32) circulating away from a first middle chain link (04) and, coming from the first direction, ending at a second middle chain link (04), which is immediately adjacent to the first middle chain link (04) against the first direction.
12. An apparatus (20) for producing a bundle (01) from articles (02) connected to each other, which bundle comprises A=RxZ articles (02) in R rows (09) and Z lines (10) with R≥2 and Z≥3,wherein the articles (02) of the bundle (01), which are connected to each other, form a continuous chain (03) of articles (02) connected to each other in the bundle (01), the apparatus comprising:

    - an infeed of a number of article flows (21) corresponding to the number (R) of rows (09) in the finished bundle (01), which article flows (21) are composed of articles (02) in each case immediately following each other.

    - separation means (22) for each article flow (21) for separating off from the respective article flow (21) an article strand (23) with a number of articles (02) corresponding to the number (Z) of articles (02) per row (09) in the finished bundle (01),

    - application means (24) for providing individual, selected or all articles (02) of the article strands (23), which have been separated from the article flows (21), with connection means (18), wherein a number of interconnections (08) between the articles (02) is provided for each bundle (01) to be produced, which number of interconnections (08) in the instance of a closed chain (32) corresponds to the number of articles (02) in the finished bundle (01), and which number of interconnections (08) in the instance of an open chain (31) corresponds to the number of articles (02) in the finished bundle (01) minus one such that the articles (02), which are connected to each other, have to be connected to form a chain (03) in the finished bundle (01) in order for all articles (01) to be connected to each other in the finished bundle (01),

    - merging means (25) for merging the article strands (23) with articles (02), which have at least partly been provided with connection means (18), corresponding to the arrangement of the articles (02) in the finished bundle (01) such that the connection means (18) of the articles (02) provided with connection means (18) connect all articles (02) of the merged article strands (23) to form a chain (03), in which chain (03), in the instance of an open chain (31), starting with an article (02) forming a first, outer chain link (07) at the beginning (05) of the chain (31) and ending with an article (02) forming a last, outer chain link (07) at the end (06) of the chain (31), these outer chain links (07) and all middle chain links (04) located in between, which are formed by one article (02) each, are continuously connected to each other along a one-dimensional, linear line-up running through the bundle (01), and in which chain (03), in the instance of a closed chain (32), in which all articles (02) each form middle chain links (04), all middle chain links (04) are continuously connected to each other along a one-dimensional, endlessly circulating line-up running through the bundle (01), starting in a first direction along the closed chain (32) circulating away from a first middle chain link (04) and, coming from the first direction, ending at a second middle chain link (04), which is immediately adjacent to the first middle chain link (04) against the first direction,

    wherein the application means (24) are realised by one or more nozzles (26), by means of which adhesive points (20), which serve as connection means (18) for producing adhesive bonds, are applicable onto the lateral surfaces of at least selected articles (02), and wherein the one or more nozzles (26) are realised by one or more V-shaped dual nozzles, by means of which a simultaneous application is possible of in each case two or more adhesive points onto an article (02), or maximally a simultaneous application of in each case one adhesive point onto a number of articles (02) corresponding to the number of nozzle outlet openings of the dual nozzles, wherein a dual nozzle is arranged between the transport routes of two article strands (23) that have not yet been merged and/or lateral to a transport route of an article strand (23) that has not yet been merged with another article strand (23).
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the apparatus (20) comprises alignment means, which align the articles (02) provided with connection means (18) corresponding to an orientation required for producing a continuous chain (03) of articles (02) connected to each other in the finished bundle (01).

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