EP2878543B1 - Method and apparatus for the production of a package made of interconnected articles - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for producing a container from interconnected articles according to the features of the preamble of claim 1, as well as a device for its implementation according to the features of the preamble of claim 9.

Containers are an effective way to handle multiple items simultaneously, for example, to facilitate the transport of multiple items at the same time.

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 container, it is known to group a number of items to be summarized in the container, also referred to as container size, first according to a desired arrangement within the container. For example, beverage containers can be combined into containers of four, six or more containers. Subsequently, the article group thus produced is held together according to the design of the container.

By US 5,979,147 It is known to group articles that are conveyed two or more parallel, continuous streams of articles into groups of articles to be grouped together in each case in a package in a 2 × N arrangement. The containers to be produced consist of two rows and N rows arranged at right angles to the rows, each consisting of two articles. For each row of articles in the container an article stream is provided. The articles of each stream of articles thereby move on at a first speed. A number of articles corresponding to the number of lines in the package is separated from an article stream by providing a star for each article stream which rotates at a peripheral speed corresponding to an outgoing higher second speed. The star separates from the article flow assigned to it a required number of articles by the star, starting from a foremost article according to a number of articles in a row in the finished container corresponding number of articles in the article flow engages and for a number in the Packs the required number of articles from the rear and accelerates to the higher, second speed to form a gap to the articles of the moving at a first speed article flow. The thus separated from their respective article streams articles are then assembled according to their arrangement in rows and rows in the group of items to be summarized to the container group and then packed in cardboard boxes to hold the finished container together.

There are various options available to keep the articles of an article group together in one container. A first possibility is the use of an enclosure which surrounds the articles of the container at the periphery of the article group. The articles of a package may, for example, be held together by means of an enclosure in the form of a strapping, an overwrapping such as a wrapping, a shrink tube or carton, a cardboard box or a carrying rack, to name just a few conceivable embodiments. At the same time as holding together, the packaging can also be packaged by means of enclosing. For example, beverage containers can not only be held together by means of shrink film wrappings, wraps or a box to form containers, but at the same time they can also be packed.

On the enclosure a carrying handle or one or more intervention options may be provided to make it easier to grasp the finished container with one hand.

To summarize articles with partially cylindrical or approximately cylindrical shapes such as. Beverage cans or bottles, as compact as possible and with the least possible relative movement relative to each other, is also known to form a so-called. Honeycomb or ball bond, which is also referred to as a nested arrangement. In this case, the articles arranged in adjacent rows in the container are each offset from one another in such a way that the gaps formed between the containers are as small as possible. The lines do not run at right angles to the rows, but diagonally. Such a honeycomb or ball arrangement represents a composite of a given number of containers with the smallest possible footprint.

In addition, containers are known that manage without an enclosure. In such containers, the articles themselves are directly connected, for example, by releasable latching connections, predetermined breaking points, such as perforations, or by means of adhesive joints of the articles with each other.

By DE 203 10 721 U1 Packs of 1xN- and 2xN-assembly interconnected articles are known, which are free of an enclosure, and in which each N items in one (1xN) or in two (2xN) parallel rows are arranged. The articles are formed by containers, each having at least one connecting means for connection to at least one other container. In a first container in a nested arrangement adhesive strips are mounted on the colliding in the container assembly lateral surfaces of the container for connecting the container. Starting from a vertical container axis, each adhesive strip surrounds the lateral surface of its container in a plan view of the container over an angle between 90 ° and 180 °. As a result, each container is connected to each container of the container adjacent to it in the nested arrangement. Furthermore, each container has an adhesive strip, which is a considerable waste of resources. In a second container at least two offset by 180 ° locking connections are provided on the lateral surfaces of the container. In addition, can be provided on the lateral surfaces arranged at a different angle, additional locking connections. Thus, containers can be made in a nested arrangement in which each container is connected to each container of the container adjacent thereto in the nested arrangement, and containers can be made in a rectangular array of rows and rows, all in one row and in one row a row of adjacent articles are interconnected. The disadvantage here is the considerable waste of resources by the partially unused, arranged at 180 ° to each other locking connections, because at least one of these by 180 ° to each other arranged latching connections protrudes at least at the end of a row or row from the container.

DE-A-10 2011 119 967 It can be seen how containers are made, which are free of an enclosure, and made of glued together articles that are executed in more than two parallel rows of at least two articles regularly at right angles to each other. The rows are all simultaneously glued together.

However, it is complicated and expensive to deal with three or more rows of articles, for example, on a curing line, along which for the direct connection of articles of a container with each other must harden adhesions used before the joints produced by bonds are resilient and thus the container is stable.

An object of the invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for producing a container made of directly bonded together by bonding articles, which package is executed free of encircling, and whose articles in more than two parallel rows regularly at right angles or nested offset to each other are arranged.

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

A first subject of the invention accordingly relates to a process for producing a container from articles which are joined directly to one another by adhesive bonds. The articles of the container are arranged in more than two parallel rows of two or more articles regularly in a right angle or nested offset from each other. A first and a second article are directly connected to each other, by the outermost layer of the first article, for example, the lateral surface or a label applied thereto, with the outermost layer of the second article, for example, also its lateral surface or a label applied thereto, with a bond consisting of one or more adhesive dots or strips is connected. If the articles of a container made of articles which are directly connected to one another by adhesive bonds are provided with labels, for example, the adhesive dots can also be applied to the labels.

For example, the package may comprise A = RxZ articles in R rows and Z rows with R≥3 and Z≥2.

The bonds are formed by one, two or more adhesive dots of an adhesive. Not everyone must be provided with one or more other articles to the finished container articles to be joined with one or more adhesive dots or strips, but it can rather be provided that in two products to be joined only one is provided with adhesive dots, whereas the other article remains free of sticking points. This simplifies the handling of the articles to be joined to the finished container, since on the one hand only the articles provided with adhesive dots may need to be aligned in order to turn their adhesive dots over to the other articles adjacent to the finished container, and on the other hand, the articles can be attacked on all sides without adhesive dots when handling, as of them in particular no pollution of the attacking components of a device that manufactures or composes the container. The adhesive dots are therefore applied to at least one connection point with another article on at least one lateral surface of at least two articles directly connected to one another in the finished container.

In this context, it is important to emphasize that an adhesive point in the sense of the invention is by no means to be understood in a mathematical-geometric sense, but is an intellectual auxiliary construct which is intended to illustrate that the application of the adhesive is preferably non-contact and particularly preferred pulsed, or at least within a short period of time. For the purposes of the invention, the term adhesive point thus comprises at least on the finished container both a punctiform, as well as linear, and also flat adhesive application and even a resulting three-dimensional adhesive body or adhesive bonding body at the joints between the articles. The adhesive can be applied for example with a glue gun.

In the following, therefore, a distinction is no longer made between a spot or a strip-like or a different type of adhesive application for producing a bond between adjacent articles of a container made of articles bonded directly to one another by adhesive bonding, but the term adhesive point is used uniformly for all of the aforementioned embodiments.

The method provides that each row of the finished container an article strand is provided with one of the number of articles per row number of articles in the finished container, of which initially at least one of two in the finished container by means of an adhesive bond with each other at least one, two or more adhesive dots is provided.

Subsequently, the articles of two article strands are brought together and glued together to form an intermediate container with two rows by the first row in the finished container forming article of a first article strand and a second series in the finished container forming article of a second article strand at the provided with adhesive dots, in the container assembly colliding Joined joints against each other and / or pressed and held for bonding, in particular until the curing of the adhesive.

After at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive at the joints between the articles of the first and second article strand, at least one further row is added to the intermediate package by the at least one further series of articles forming at least one further article strand of at least one Side added to the articles provided with adhesive points against the article at least one outer row of the intermediate container and / or pressed and held until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive. In this case, the other article strand and the risen already in the intermediate container, where an outer row forming article strand according to the desired arrangement of the articles or the rows and rows in the finished container are first brought together accordingly before their articles joined at the joints provided with adhesive points against each other and / or pressed and held until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive.

In the intermediate container, which is made by gluing the first row of articles forming the finished article in the first article strand and the second article strand forming a second series in the finished container, the first row and the second row each form an outer row of the intermediate container. If, in addition, a further row is added on the side of the second row facing away from the first row, the first row and the further row each form an outer row of the intermediate container. If a further row on the side opposite the second row is added to the first row, the second row and the further row each form an outer row of the intermediate box. The restriction according to which the at least one further row of articles forming at least one further article strand is joined and / or pressed against the articles of at least one outer row of the intermediate package from at least one side at the points provided with adhesive dots and held until the adhesive has hardened Accordingly, it will be understood that either another row is added from one side to an outer row of the intermediate package, or at the same time from each side a further row is added to each of the two outer rows of the intermediate package. In other words, on both sides of a prefabricated intermediate container produced with adhesive dots, in each case one additional article strand of one side can be used against the articles of the two outer rows of the intermediate container are joined and / or pressed and held until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive.

In the case of a bundle with rows and rows running at right angles to one another, the article strands are brought together in parallel side by side so that the individual articles of the article strands are at the same height.

In particular, the connecting lines between the centers of three L-shaped adjacent articles, two of which are arranged adjacent one another in a row and two in a row, form an isosceles and right-angled triangle within a rectangular array, particularly if the articles are substantially cylindrical.

In the case of a container with nested articles arranged the article strands are brought together in a zipper, so that at least the articles of two adjacent product strands are offset in a compacted arrangement against each other.

In particular, the connecting lines between the centers of three adjacent articles, two of which are arranged adjacent one another in a row and two in a row, form an equilateral triangle within a nested arrangement, in particular if the articles are substantially cylindrical.

It is important to emphasize that the curing of the adhesive in the context of the invention means that the adhesive changes from a state when it is applied to the adhesive dots after being pressed against one another into a state in which it is capable of releasing and holding, to endure the stresses and strains acting on the further handling of the intermediate container or the finished container by forces and moments acting between the articles joined together by bonding. Depending on the adhesive used, this condition may already occur before, for example, the adhesive is actually completely through-hardened. If, in the context of the above-reproduced method steps of a joining and / or a juxtaposition of the article for the purpose of producing a permanently adhesive connection of the article to each other to form a container is mentioned, the joining forces applied for this purpose may in principle include a very wide range. Thus, for example, under a pressing optionally also a slight pressing against each other can be understood. Likewise can be understood by a joining a light pressing or stronger pressing. This joining and / or juxtaposing can basically the two Aspects of the production of an adhesive bond as well as the possibly associated joining force to intensify the adhesive bond and thus increase the adhesive forces, without that would already be said, as the weighting of these two aspects should be.

The application of the adhesive dots on the articles of different strands does not necessarily have to be done at the same time. For example, the application of the adhesive dots to the articles of another article strand can be delayed until later, after the articles of the first and second article strand have already been provided with adhesive dots and / or have already been brought together to form the intermediate package.

The adhesions may preferably be produced by an adhesive which initially hardens one after the other, for example accelerated under the action of electromagnetic radiation, such as, for example, long-wave thermal radiation or short-wave ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation, UV light). As a result, the curing of the adhesive of the adhesive dots can be specifically controlled at selected connection points by appropriate action of electromagnetic radiation, whereas the adhesive is produced by adhesive points at connection points at which a connection or bonding to another article is made only at a later point in the current process. initially free of any impact and thus does not harden. The adhesive of the adhesive dots at the connection points at which a connection or bonding with another article is produced at a later time in the current process, preferably experiences an effect of the electromagnetic radiation, as soon as a curing of the adhesive to produce a bond the relevant liaison office in the current proceedings. This procedure makes it possible to apply in principle the adhesive for generating the adhesive dots at all joints simultaneously and to perform a timing of its curing targeted for each joint by the action of electromagnetic radiation.

An advantageous embodiment of the method may provide, first to produce a first intermediate container with two rows, then after curing of the adhesive of the first Zwischengebindes a second and optionally at least another intermediate container by adding at least one other row to produce an outer row of the intermediate container previously prepared , Each time you add another series, the items will be at least one of them Row of forming article strand supplied from at least one side and joined against the articles at least one outer row of the intermediate container and / or pressed and held until the curing of the adhesive, before then by adding at least one last series of articles of a last article strand to at least one outer row the previously produced intermediate container, pressing together the article and holding until the curing of the adhesive, the container is completed.

A further advantageous embodiment of the method provides that at least the articles provided with adhesive dots are first aligned after application of the adhesive dots by rotation about their normal to a the rows and rows of the package enclosing plane raised axes before they joined against each other and / or pressed and held until the adhesive has cured.

Preferably, the method provides that the article strands, whose articles in each case form a row in the finished container, are separated from at least one article stream of articles transported directly one behind the other. Particularly preferably, an article flow is provided per row of the finished bundle, from which in each case one article strand is separated per row of a container to be produced, corresponding to an inlet of one of the number R of rows in the finished container corresponding number of article streams.

The method can also provide that first the articles of at least one article strand or the articles of the same article strands are joined together before the articles of different strands of articles are joined together. It can be provided that first the articles of the first and / or the second and / or at least one other article strand are connected to each other by gluing, before merging two strands of articles and the articles of the merged article strands are connected by bonding by the various strands of articles against each other and / or pressed and held until the adhesive has cured.

The method may also provide that the holding or clamping of the intermediate package is carried out in a shorter time than the holding or pressing of the finished package. In particular, in this way the total time of the process can be shortened. This is particularly possible if the container of the intermediate container with each other (and thus again) be held together or -gepresst while the other series of articles are held together or -gepresst with the intermediate container.

It is also conceivable with the method to produce different configurations of containers in a production run. For example, alternately one can be successively produced without adding another row and a package in the configuration described above.

This can be advantageous, for example, if an area of a layer on a pallet is to be completely filled. For example, one layer may consist of several 2x3 containers and 3x3 containers. It is also possible, for example, to accommodate several 3x3 and 4x3 containers on one layer. Here a variety of combinations is conceivable.

In particular, the adhesive dots with which the articles of the further series are provided are applied only when the articles of the intermediate package have already been brought together. These include, in particular, the adhesive dots which connect the further row with the intermediate container.

In particular, the articles are transported continuously during the Zusammenhaltens or -pressens.

1. 1. Fördern von mindestens zwei Artikelsträngen mit mindestens zwei Artikeln pro Artikelstrang;
2. 2. Optional Ausrichten von mindestens zwei Artikeln des ersten und/oder des zweiten Artikelstrangs;
3. 3. Auftragen von Klebepunkten auf mindestens zwei der vier Artikel des ersten und/oder des zweiten Artikelstrangs;
4. 4. Ausrichten der mindestens zwei Artikel des ersten und/oder des zweiten Artikelstrangs, auf denen Klebepunkte angebracht wurden;
5. 5. Zusammenführen der mindestens vier Artikel des ersten und des zweiten Artikelstrangs, so dass sich die Klebepunkte jeweils mit zwei Artikeln verbinden und dadurch ein Zwischengebinde entsteht;
6. 6. Zusammenführen des Zwischengebindes mit mindestens zwei Artikeln des dritten Artikelstrangs, auf welche zuvor, insbesondere nach Schritt 5, Klebepunkte aufgebracht wurden.

In particular, the following method steps, in particular in the order given, are carried out:

1. 1. conveying at least two article strands with at least two articles per article strand;
2. 2. Optionally aligning at least two articles of the first and / or second article strand;
3. 3. applying adhesive dots to at least two of the four articles of the first and / or second article strand;
4. 4. Aligning the at least two articles of the first and / or second strand of article to which adhesive dots have been applied;
5. 5. Merging the at least four articles of the first and second article strand, so that the adhesive dots each connect to two articles, thereby creating a Zwischengebinde;
6. 6. Merging the intermediate container with at least two articles of the third article strand, to which previously, in particular after step 5, adhesive dots were applied.

In particular, it is possible that the intermediate container is oriented, in particular turned, prior to being joined to one or more articles of another article strand.

A second subject of the invention relates to a device for producing a container from articles bonded directly by means of adhesions. For example, the package may comprise A = RxZ articles in R rows and Z rows with R≥3 and Z≥2. The bonds are each formed by one, two or more adhesive dots of an adhesive. The adhesive dots are applied to at least one joint with another article on at least one lateral surface of at least two in the finished container directly interconnected article.

The device comprises provision means for a number of article strands corresponding to the number R of rows in the finished package, each of which corresponds to a number of articles corresponding to the number of articles in the individual rows in the finished package.

The provisioning means may comprise an inlet of a number of article streams corresponding to the number R of rows in the finished package, each of which comprises directly consecutive articles. The providing means may further comprise separating means for each article stream, said separating means separating an article strand having a number of articles per row in the finished package from the respective article stream corresponding number of articles from the respective article stream.

For example, the separating means can operate according to the principle known from the introductory description, according to which the article strand is separated from the stream of articles by an acceleration of the articles of an article strand to be separated from an article stream to a higher speed than that of the article flow.

The apparatus also includes attachment means for providing adhesive dots to individual, selected or all articles of the article strands.

The attachment means may be realized by one or more nozzles, by means of which adhesive dots serving to produce bonds Jacket surfaces of at least selected items can be applied, applied or applied.

The one or more nozzles can be realized by one or more, in particular V-shaped double nozzles, with which a simultaneous application of two or more adhesive dots on an article or at most a simultaneous application of one adhesive dot to one of the number of nozzle outlet openings of the double nozzles corresponding number of articles is possible.

A realized by a double nozzle nozzle can be arranged, for example, between two unreached article strands or between the transport paths of two article strands, for example, from their separation of their respective original article stream to their merger with each other to form a container or a tundish, where they at the same time an article of the can provide an article strand and an article of the other article strand, each with a glue point.

Alternatively, a realized by a double nozzle nozzle side of a not yet merged with another article strand strand or laterally the transport path from the separation of the article strand, for example, from its original article flow to its merger with one or more other strands of articles to a finished container or a intermediate container be arranged where they arranged an article of the article strand with two, for example, along its normal to a parallel to the rows and rows in the finished container extending plane extending vertical axis arranged adhesive dots, or two successive in one and the same article strand articles each provided with a glue point can.

The use of double or multiple nozzles as nozzles significantly reduces the number of nozzle elements required and thereby contributes to a simplification and shortening of a device suitable for producing a container described. This allows cost savings in the design, construction, installation and operation of a corresponding device, the latter also because of the reduction in space required for the installation of the device.

The device furthermore comprises first joining means for firstly forming a first article strand forming a first row in the finished container and a second article strand forming a second series in the finished container, the article thereof at least partially provided with adhesive dots, according to the arrangement of the articles of the first and second series in the finished container first merge into a tundish, then add to the adhesive dots against each other and / or press and then at least until at least temporarily and / or partially Curing the adhesive to keep.

Furthermore, the device comprises at least second joining means to form an intermediate package and at least one further article row forming at least one further row in the finished package, the article thereof - ie the articles of the intermediate package and / or of the at least one further article strand are at least partially provided with adhesive dots, according to the arrangement of the articles of the intermediate container and the at least one further row in the finished container to first merge to form another intermediate container or the finished container, then to the adhesive dots against each other to add and / or press and then to hold at least until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive.

If this is still a further series of articles fed to a tundish, the device may also include third, fourth and so on means of merging to add more rows corresponding to the ever growing intermediate containers.

The separation means may be integrated into the assembly means.

The merging means may be designed to be movable in whole or in part along a conveying direction in order to transport an intermediate container and / or a finished container during the curing of the adhesive in the conveying direction.

The joining means may, for example, comprise at least one pressing unit, which inserts and / or presses the articles of the article strands to be joined together to form an intermediate container or of an intermediate container to be assembled into a finished container and of at least one further article strand and at least until at least temporarily and / or partial curing of the adhesive holds against each other.

A pressing unit may for example comprise circumferential clamping units, which are individually and independently controllable and thus also during the Pressing and holding at different positions in the conveying direction F can be driven.

The device can also have an application unit for applying a carrying handle to the finished container. In particular, the carrying handle is attached directly to one or preferably two, in the container opposing articles.

A possible application unit for applying a carrying handle can be arranged above the merging means, for example in the center and, if appropriate, in the conveying direction so as to be movable with it.

An advantageous embodiment of the device provides that the device comprises alignment means which align at least the articles provided with adhesive dots according to their orientation necessary for the production of direct connections of the articles formed by bonds in the finished container.

The alignment means can additionally align the articles even before the application of one or more adhesive dots, such that, for example, an article and the adhesive dots are in a specific orientation relative to the package. This may be desirable to place, for example, imprints or labels with a company logo or a brand name within the container so that they are visible from the outside.

For example, the alignment means may comprise a carousel, on which a plurality of turntables can be arranged, on which the articles are placed. Each turntable is aligned by a each turntable individually associated drive, in particular by a servo drive. In particular, the articles are additionally held by a likewise rotating with the carousel centering from above. The articles are thus clamped between the turntable and the centering head.

It can be seen that the invention can be realized by a separate feed of articles to be adhered to an existing intermediate container to form at least three-row containers. A resulting advantage is a particularly simple handling of the container and the intermediate container, since not three or more Rows of articles to be bonded to each other must be joined and / or pressed against each other while the adhesive is not yet cured.

• Die dritte sowie gegebenenfalls weitere Reihen werden jeweils separat zu einem zuvor hergestellten Zwischengebinde hinzugefügt. Ein Zwischengebinde wird dabei durch Zusammenführung zweier Artikelstränge bzw. eines Artikelstrangs und eines Zwischengebindes bzw. zweier Artikelstränge und eines Zwischengebindes hergestellt. Dabei kann eine weitere Reihe von einer ersten Seite her und eine weitere Reihe von der gegenüberliegenden Seite her dem Zwischengebinde zugeführt und mit diesem verklebt werden.
• Eine Anpresseinheit mit mindestens einer großen Klammereinheit auf dem letzten Klemmförderer für ein zuvor hergestelltes Zwischengebinde.
• Ein eine oder mehrere in Förderrichtung beweglich angeordnete Klammereinheiten beherbergender, letzter Klemmförderer kann länger ausgeführt sein, als ein erster Klemmförderer, um eine Restaushärtung des Klebstoffs vom ersten Klemmförderer zu erhalten.
• Eine Pressung der Artikel erfolgt zumindest auf dem letzten Klemmförderer auch quer zur Transport- bzw. Förderrichtung. Dies trifft bevorzugt insbesondere für die Pressung der Artikel eines Zwischengebindes zueinander zu.

The invention may have one or more of the following features:

• The third and optionally further rows are added separately to a previously produced intermediate container. An intermediate container is produced by bringing together two article strands or an article strand and an intermediate package or two article strands and an intermediate container. In this case, a further row can be supplied from a first side and a further row from the opposite side to the intermediate container and adhesively bonded thereto.
• A pressing unit with at least one large stapling unit on the last clamping conveyor for a previously manufactured intermediate container.
• A last clamping conveyor accommodating one or more clamping units movably arranged in the conveying direction can be made longer than a first clamping conveyor in order to obtain a residual hardening of the adhesive from the first clamping conveyor.
• A pressing of the article takes place at least on the last clamping conveyor also transversely to the transport or conveying direction. This is preferably true in particular for the pressing of the article of an intermediate container to each other.

Fig. 1

ein 3x2 Gebinde aus vermittels Verklebungen unmittelbar miteinander verbundenen Artikeln mit drei Reihen und zwei rechtwinklig zu diesen angeordneten Zeilen in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 2

ein 3x3 Gebinde aus vermittels Verklebungen unmittelbar miteinander verbundenen Artikeln in genesteter Anordnung mit drei Reihen und drei schräg zu diesen verlaufenden Zeilen in einer Draufsicht, wobei n Fig. 2 a) dessen schräg zu den Reihen angeordnete Zeilen V-förmig abgewinkelt sind und in Fig. 2 b) dessen schräg zu den Reihen angeordnete Zeilen gerade verlaufen.

Fig. 3

eine Verklebung zwischen zwei innerhalb eines Gebindes unmittelbar miteinander verbunden Artikeln mit nur einem Klebepunkt in Fig. 3 a), mit zwei über die Höhe der Artikel verteilt angeordneten Klebepunkten in Fig. 3 b) und mit drei über die Höhe der Artikel verteilt angeordneten Klebepunkten in Fig. 3 c), jeweils in einer Seitenansicht.

Fig. 4

eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von 3x3 Gebinden mit rechtwinklig zueinander angeordneten Reihen und Zeilen in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 5

eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von 3x3 Gebinden in genesteter Anordnung, dessen schräg zu den Reihen angeordnete Zeilen V-förmig abgewinkelt sind, in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 6

eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von 3x2 Gebinden mit rechtwinklig zueinander angeordneten Reihen und Zeilen in einer Draufsicht.

Fig. 7

eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von 3x2 Gebinden in genesteter Anordnung, dessen schräg zu den Reihen angeordnete Zeilen V-förmig abgewinkelt sind, in einer Draufsicht.

In the following, embodiments of the invention and their advantages with reference to the accompanying figures will be explained in more detail. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration. For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the device or method according to the invention can be configured and are not an exhaustive limitation. They show in a schematic representation:

Fig. 1

a 3x2 container from directly interconnected by means of gluing articles with three rows and two perpendicular to these arranged rows in a plan view.

Fig. 2

a 3x3 container of directly glued-together articles in a nested arrangement with three rows and three lines running obliquely to them in a plan view, where n Fig. 2 a) whose obliquely arranged rows to the rows are V-shaped angled and in Fig. 2 b) whose rows are arranged obliquely to the rows straight.

Fig. 3

an adhesive bond between two articles directly connected with each other within a bundle with only one glue dot inside Fig. 3 a) , with two adhesive dots distributed over the height of the article Fig. 3 b) and arranged with three adhesive dots distributed over the height of the article Fig. 3c) , each in a side view.

Fig. 4

a device for producing 3x3 containers with rows and rows arranged at right angles to each other in a plan view.

Fig. 5

a device for the production of 3x3 containers in a nested arrangement, whose obliquely arranged to the rows rows are V-shaped angled, in a plan view.

Fig. 6

a device for the production of 3x2 containers with rows and rows arranged at right angles to each other in a plan view.

Fig. 7

a device for the production of 3x2 containers in a nested arrangement, whose obliquely arranged to the rows rows are V-shaped angled, in a plan view.

An in Fig. 1 . Fig. 2 . Fig. 3 . Fig. 4 . Fig. 5 . Fig. 6 . Fig. 7 Wholly or partially presented container 01 consists of a number A of directly related by gluing 02 Articles 03. The articles 03 of the container 01 are offset in more than two parallel rows 04 to two or more articles 03 regularly at right angles or nested arranged to each other. The articles 03 of the container 01 are therefore arranged in R rows 04 and Z rows 05, wherein the number of articles 03 per row 04 corresponds, for example, to the number Z of rows 05 in the container 01. However, it is also possible in principle for rows with different numbers of articles 03 to be joined together to form a container 01.

The container 01 accordingly comprises, for example, A = RxZ Article 03 in R rows 04 and Z rows 05 with R≥3 and Z≥2.

A container 01 with mutually perpendicular rows 04 and lines 05 is in Fig. 1 shown. A container 01 with nested arranged articles 03 is in Fig. 2 shown. In the case of a container 01 with nested articles 03, the rows 04 and lines 05 run obliquely or diagonally to each other, wherein the obliquely to the rows 04 extending lines in a plan view as in Fig. 2 a) may be V-shaped angled, or as in Fig. 2 b) can run straight shown.

The bonds 02 are formed by one, two or more adhesive dots 20 of an adhesive applied to the shell surfaces of the articles 03 that collide in the bundle arrangement. An adhesion 02 between two articles 03 can accordingly as in Fig. 3 a) represented one, or as in Fig. 3 b) represented two or as in Fig. 3c) comprise three or more adhesive dots 20.

Basically, not all articles 03 within the package 01 with all its neighboring articles 03 must be directly connected. For example, an article 03 inside the container 01 can be directly connected only to one, two or three articles 03 of all its neighboring articles 03. Preferably, however, each article 03 within the finished package 01 is connected to each of its adjacent articles 03, which are adjacent at least along the same row 04 and along the same line 05 within the package 01.

The adhesive dots 20 are applied in particular at different heights on an article 03 and in particular on the surfaces which have the greatest distance to the central axis of the article 03. For example, an article 03, such as a bottle, may have a glue dot 20 above a grip area and below a grip area.

The container 01 may be provided with a handle 06.

A method for producing a previously described container 01 provides that each row 04 of the finished container 01 an article strand 30 is provided with a number of articles 03 in the corresponding row 04 in the finished container 01 corresponding number of articles 03, of which first at least one each of two in the finished container 01 by means of a bond 02 interconnected article 03 with at least one, two or more adhesive dots 20 is provided.

Subsequently, the articles 03 of two article strands 30 are brought together and glued together to form an intermediate container 10 having two rows, by the first row 41 in the finished container 01 forming article 03 of a first article strand 31 and the second series 42 in the finished container 01 forming article 03 a second article strand 32 are pressed against each other at the connection points 21 provided with adhesive dots 20 and held until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive.

After at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive at the connection points 21 between the articles 03 of the first article strand 31 and the second article strand 32, at least one further row 43 is added to the intermediate package 10 by the at least one further row 43 in the finished package 01 forming article 03 of at least one other article strand 33 of at least one side of the provided with adhesive dots 20 joints 21 pressed against the article 03 at least one outer row 40 of the intermediate container 10 and held until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive. In this case, the other article strand 33 and the already risen in the intermediate container 10, where an outer row 40 forming article strand 31, 32 according to the desired arrangement of the article 03 or the rows 04 and lines 05 in the finished container 01 initially merged accordingly before their article 03 are pressed against each other at the connection points 21 provided with adhesive dots 20 and held until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive.

In the intermediate container 10, which is made by gluing the first row 41 in the finished container 01 forming article 01 of the first article strand 31 and a second row 42 in the finished container 01 forming article 03 of the second article strand 32, form the first row 41 and the second row 42 each have an outer row 40 of the intermediate container 10.

In the case of a bundle with rows 04 and rows 05 running at right angles to one another, the article strands 31, 32, 33 are brought together in parallel alongside one another such that the individual articles 03 of the article strands 31, 32, 33 are at the same height ( Fig. 4 ; Fig. 6 ).

In the case of a bundle with nested articles 03, the article strands 31, 32, 33 are brought together in a zipper, so that at least the Article 03 of two adjacent article strands 31, 32, 33 are offset from each other in a compacted arrangement ( Fig. 5 ; Fig. 7 ).

The application of the adhesive dots 20 to the articles 02 of different article strands 31, 32, 33 does not necessarily have to take place at the same time. For example, the application of the adhesive dots 20 to the articles 03 of another article strand 33 as in Fig. 4 . Fig. 5 . Fig. 6 . Fig. 7 shown only when the articles 03 of the first article strand 31 and the second article strand 32 have already been provided with adhesive dots 20 and / or have already been brought together to form the intermediate package 10.

The adhesions 02 may preferably be produced by an adhesive which initially hardens one after the other, eg accelerated under the action of electromagnetic radiation, such as, for example, long-wave thermal radiation or short-wave ultraviolet radiation (UV radiation, UV light). , As a result, the curing of the adhesive of the adhesive dots 20 can be selectively controlled at selected connection points 21 by appropriate action of electromagnetic radiation, whereas the adhesive of adhesive dots 20 at connection points 21, at which only at a later time in the current process, a compound or bonding 02 with a other article 03 is produced, initially free from any impact and thus does not harden. The adhesive of the adhesive dots 20 at the connection points 21, at which a connection or bonding 02 with another article 03 is produced at a later time in the current process, preferably only experiences an effect of the electromagnetic radiation as soon as the adhesive cures Production of a bond 02 is provided at the corresponding connection point 21 in the current process. This procedure makes it possible to apply in principle the adhesive for producing the adhesive dots 20 at all joints 21 at the same time and to carry out a temporal control of its hardening specifically for each joint 21 by the action of the electromagnetic radiation.

For curing by means of UV light, UV emitters, for example, above and / or below the second Aushärtestrecke 140 may be provided.

The method may provide that when a package of more than three or four rows 04 is to be produced, first a first intermediate package 10 having two rows 04 is produced, whereupon, after curing of the adhesive of the first Zwischengebindes 10 a second and optionally at least one further intermediate container 10 by adding at least one further row 43 is made to an outer row 40 of the intermediate container 10 previously prepared. Each time a further row 43 is added, the articles 03 of at least one article strand 30 forming the respective row 04 are pressed from at least one side against the articles 03 of at least one outer row 40 of the then present intermediate package 10 and held until the adhesive has hardened then the container 01 is completed by adding at least one last row 04 of articles 03 of a last article strand 30 to at least one outer row 40 of the previously made intermediate package 10, pressing the articles together and holding until the glue hardens.

At least the articles 03 provided with adhesive dots 20 can, according to an advantageous further development of the method after the application of the adhesive dots 20, first be aligned by rotation around their normal axes to a plane embracing the rows 04 and lines 05 of the finished package 01, before they press against each other and held until the adhesive has cured.

The method preferably provides that the article strands 30, whose articles 03 each form a row 04 in the finished container 01, are separated from at least one article stream 35 from articles 03 which are transported one behind the other. Particular preference is given to each row 04 of the finished container 01 an article stream 35 is provided, each of which an article strand 30 per row 04 of a product 01 is separated, corresponding to an inlet of one of the number R of the rows 04 in the finished container 01 corresponding number of Article streams 35.

The method can also provide that first the articles 03 of at least one article strand 30 or the articles of the same article strands 30 are joined together before the articles 03 of different article strands 30, for example the articles 03 of the first article strand 31 and the second article strand 32, are joined together. It can be provided that first the articles of the first and / or second and / or at least one other article strand 31, 32, 33 are connected to each other by gluing 02 before two strands of articles 30 merged and the article 03 of the merged article strands 30 by gluing 02 connected by the articles 03 of the various Article strands 30 are pressed against each other and held until the adhesive has cured.

It is important to emphasize that alternatively or additionally is also conceivable to first produce two or more intermediate container 10 and then glue the intermediate container 10 to a finished container with each other.

An in Fig. 4 . Fig. 5 . Fig. 6 . Fig. 7 Wholly or partially illustrated device 100 is suitable for carrying out a method described above.

The apparatus 100 comprises providing means 110 for a number of article strands 30 corresponding to the number R of the rows 04 in the finished container 01, each of which corresponds to the number of articles 03 corresponding to the number of articles 03 in the respective row 04 in the finished package 01.

The provisioning means 110 may comprise an inlet of a number of article streams 35 corresponding in each case directly successive articles 03 to one of the number R of the rows 04 in the finished container 01. The provisioning means 110 may also include per article stream 35 separation means 111, which separating means 111 a article strand 30 with a number of articles 03 of the corresponding row 04 in the finished container 01 from the respective article flow 35 corresponding number of articles 03 separated from the respective article flow 35. The article stream 35 is preferably transported on a conveyor belt.

The separating means 111 can, for example, operate according to the principle known from the introductory description, according to which the article strand is separated from the stream of articles by an acceleration of the article 03 of an article strand 30 to be separated from an article stream 35 to a speed higher than that of the article flow.

The device 100 further comprises attachment means 120 for providing individual, selected or all articles 03 of the article strands 30 with adhesive dots 20.

The attachment means 120 can be realized by one or more nozzles 121, by means of which adhesive dots 20 serving to produce bonds 02 can be applied, applied or applied to the outer surfaces of at least selected articles 03. The nozzles 121 may be, for example, a plurality of glue guns, which are directed to specific locations of the articles 03 or their lateral surfaces and their valves by a Control are switched such that a glue dot 20 is fired during the continuous Vorbeiförderns the article 03 on the glue guns substantially perpendicular to the lateral surface of the article 03.

Depending on the transport speed of the article 03, a plurality of nozzles 121 may be provided in order to apply adhesive dots 20 to lateral surfaces of the articles 03 transported past. For example, articles 03 can be transported, for example, by means of a star or carousel, around whose circumferential section a plurality of nozzles 121 forming a transport path for the articles 03 can be arranged. The arrangement of a plurality of nozzles 121 may be required, for example, because the switching speed of the nozzles 121 is limited. In principle, however, it is possible to provide the articles 03 of a complete series 04 in the finished container 01 forming article strand 30 by means of only a single nozzle 121 with adhesive dots 20.

The one or more nozzles 121 may be realized by one or more V-shaped double nozzles, with which a simultaneous application of two or more adhesive dots 20 on an article 03 or a maximum simultaneous application of one adhesive dot 20 to one of the number of nozzle outlet openings the double nozzles 121 corresponding number of articles 03 is possible.

A nozzle 121 realized by a double nozzle can be arranged, for example, between two unconnected article strands 30 or between the transport paths of two article strands 30, for example, from their separation from their respective original article stream 35 for bringing them together to form a container 01 or an intermediate container 10, where it can simultaneously provide an article 03 of one article strand 30, for example the articles 03 of a first article strand 31 and an article of the other article strand 30, for example the articles 03 of a second article strand 32, each with a glue dot 20.

Alternatively, a nozzle 121 realized by a double nozzle can be laterally connected to an article strand 30 which is not yet joined to another article strand 30 or laterally to its transport path from the separation of the article strand 30, for example, from its original article stream 35 until its merging with one or more other article strands 30 a finished container 01 or a intermediate container 10 may be arranged, where they have an article 03 of the article strand 30 with two, for example, along which normal to a parallel to the rows 04 and Lines 05 in the finished container 01 extending plane extending vertical axis distributed adhesive dots 20, or two in one and the same article strand 30 successive article 03 can each be provided with a glue point 20.

The device 100 further comprises first joining means 130 to first a first article strand 31 forming a first row 41 in the finished package 01 and a second article strand 32 forming a second row 42 in the finished package 01, the articles 03 of which are provided with adhesive dots 20 at least in part are, according to the arrangement of the articles 03 of the first row 41 and the second row 42 in the finished container 01 first to a intermediate container 10 merge, then press against the adhesive dots 20 against each other and then at least until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive to keep.

Furthermore, the device 100 comprises at least second joining means 140 to form an intermediate package 10 and at least one further article row 33 forming at least one further row 43 in the finished package 01, whose article 03 - ie. the articles 03 of the intermediate container 10 and / or the at least one further article strand 33 are provided at least partially with adhesive dots 20, according to the arrangement of the articles 03 of the intermediate container 10 and the at least one further row 43 in the finished container 01 first to another intermediate container or merge the finished container 01, then press against each other at the adhesive dots 20 and then to hold at least until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive.

If a further row of articles 03 are subsequently fed to a intermediate container 10, the device 100 can furthermore comprise third, fourth and so forth joining means in order to add further further rows 43 to the increasingly growing intermediate containers 10.

The first and second and optionally further joining means 130, 140 may be wholly or partially movable along a conveying direction F in order to transport a intermediate container 10 and / or a finished container 01 during the curing of the adhesive in the conveying direction F.

The first and second and optionally further joining means 130, 140 may, for example, comprise at least one pressing unit 150, which comprises the articles 03 of the article strands 30 to be joined to an intermediate container 10 or one to a finished container 01, previously provided with adhesive dots 20 to be brought together intermediate container 10 and at least one other article strand 33 against each other and at least until at least temporary and / or partial curing of the adhesive holds against each other.

A pressing unit 150 may, for example, comprise circumferential clamping units 151 which are individually and independently controllable and thus can also be moved during pressing and holding at different positions in the conveying direction F.

The second merging means 140 may be configured to compress and hold the articles 03 along the transport direction F for approximately twice as long as the first merging means 130. In the finished package 01 and / or in the intermediate package 10, rows 04 of two articles each 03, twins of clamping units 151 can circulate on the two merging means 130, 140. Accordingly, on the two merge means 130, 140 triplets of staples can circulate to form in the finished container 01 and / or in the intermediate container 10 rows 04 of three articles 03 or it can quadruplets of clamping units 151 rotate around in the finished container 01 and / or in the intermediate container 10 rows 04 of three articles 03 to form and so on. Accordingly, the number of clamping units 151 in a group or pressing unit 150 also corresponds with other formations of the number of articles 03, which can be found in a row 04 in the finished container 10.

The clamping units 151 preferably grip the articles 03 at a height which is spaced from the horizontal plane in which adhesive dots 20 have been applied. In particular, the clamps of adjacent clamping units 151 engage within a group at different heights, so that when the articles 03 are brought together along the transport direction F, no collisions can occur between the clamps of adjacent clamping units 151. The distance between two adjacent brackets of different groups is preferably greater than the distance of two adjacent brackets within a group.

A clamping unit 152 of a last pressing unit 150, with which a intermediate container 10 and at least one further article strand 33 are brought together, pressed and held, can be formed with at least one large stapling unit to hold the intermediate container 10.

For example, the clips of the clamping units 152 of the merging means 140 for holding the intermediate package 10 may be longer than the clips of the first merging means 130 to enclose both rows of the intermediate package 10.

A pressing unit 150 accommodating one or more clamping units 151, 152 movably arranged in the conveying direction F, for example, may be made longer than a pressing unit 150 projecting in the conveying direction F in order to obtain a residual curing of the adhesive, for example of the adhesive which is present the first pressing unit 140 has been applied to at least a portion of the article 03 of the container 01.

The device 100 can also have an application unit 160 for applying a carrying handle 06 to the finished container 01.

A possible application unit 160 for applying a carrying handle 06 may be arranged so as to be movable in motion above the first or second or possibly further joining means 130, 140, for example in the center and possibly in the conveying direction F.

It can be seen that the invention can be realized by a separate feed of articles 03 to be adhered to a intermediate container 10 previously produced by gluing articles 03 of article strands 30 to form at least three-row containers 01. A resulting advantage is a particularly simple handling with the container 01 and the intermediate container 10, since not three or more rows 04 to be bonded together with each other article 03 against each other must be pressed while the adhesive is not cured.

It is important to emphasize that a pressing against each other of the article 03 takes place at least on the last clamping conveyor also transversely to the transport or conveying direction F.

The described device 20 allows the implementation of a method according to the invention for producing a container 01.

It is important to emphasize that the described device 10 and the described method are basically also suitable for forming packages 01 with nested articles 03 having a different number of articles 03 per row 04. For example, a container 01 with nested arranged items 03 are made of eight arranged in three rows 04 03 articles in which the outer two rows 41, 42 each have three articles 03 and the inner row 40 only two articles 03, or it may, for example, a container 01 with nested arranged articles 03 from a total ten are arranged in three rows 04 arranged articles 03, the outer two rows 41, 42 each have three articles 03 and the inner row 40 has four articles.

It is also important to emphasize that when producing a container 01 from a total of six articles 03 arranged in three rows 04 and two rows 05 according to a previously described method and / or by means of a device 100 described above, the container 01 is used for further processing steps, such as, for example Arrangement of a carrying handle 06 or the transport of the container 01 to or by means of a palletizer must not be rotated by 90 °, as in the prior art in a container 01 with two rows 04 and three rows 05 in conjunction, for example with the arrangement of a handle 06th and / or a further container transport by means of a palletizer is required.

The method described and the device described therefore offer the advantage that the containers 01 no longer need to be rotated, which may possibly lead to damage or weakening of the joints due to the action. An additional advantage results from the fact that during the completion of the final container 01 in the last pressing the final container 01 during fixation by means of the rotating gripping and guiding elements, a carrying handle 06 can be applied. The carrying handle 06 can be applied, for example, by means of an application unit 160, which is able to synchronize itself within the conveying or pressing path to the respective container 01 and to attach a carrying handle 06 to it during a continuous advancement of the container 01. A resulting advantage is that the attachment of the handle 06 has no harmful effect on the bonds 02, since the finished container 01 while the arrangement of the handle 06 is still held by the last pressing unit 150 and thereby stabilized.

While the inlets to the provisioning means 110 of the first two rows are substantially parallel, the inlet of the containers to the supply means 110 for the additional row to be attached to the intermediate container can extend in regions perpendicular to the other two inlets.

The distance between the bumping in the inlet bump container is changed in particular by an inlet star in the supply means 111 so that the container can be individually parked on evenly distributed on a carousel turntable orientation star of the provision of 111. The distance between the containers on the turntables is here still greater than the distance of the container in the container. The final distance of the container in the container is produced in particular by the clamping units in the pressing unit and in particular by the divergence of individual brackets in the radius of the deflection of the pressing and the merging of the brackets in the linear part of the clamping unit. This aspect can also be an independent invention.

In principle, it would be conceivable to add an article strand, whose row is perpendicular to the rows of the intermediate package, to the intermediate container 10 formed from rows, wherein each row is assigned to an article strand 30. In other words, each row of the finished container could thus consist of containers, which came from different strands 30.

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

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

01

container

02

bonding

03

items

04

line

05

row

06

handle

10

between containers

20

gluepoint

21

junction

30

Article strand

31

first article strand

32

second article strand

33

further article strand

35

Article power

40

outer row (of intermediate box 10)

41

first row (of finished package 01)

42

second row (of finished package 01)

43

further series (of finished container 01)

100

contraption

110

Providing means

111

separation means

120

attachment means

121

jet

130

first merging agent

140

second combining agent

150

pressing unit

151

terminal unit

152

terminal unit

160

application unit

F

conveying direction

A

Number of articles 03 in one container 01

R

Number of rows 04 in one container 01

Z

Number of lines 05 in one container 01

Claims (15)

1. A method for producing a bundle (01) from articles (03) connected immediately to each other by means of glued joints (02), which bundle (01) comprises articles (03) arranged in at least three rows (04) of at least two articles (03) each, wherein the glued joints (02) are each formed by one, two, or more glue dots (20) of an adhesive, which glue dots (20) are applied onto at least one lateral surface of at least two articles (03) immediately connected to each other in the finished bundle (01), characterised in that an article strand (30) with a number of articles (03) corresponding to the number of articles (03) in the respective row (04) in the finished bundle is provided per row (04) of the finished bundle (01), of which articles (03) at first at least one of two articles (03) connected to each other in the finished bundle (01) is provided with at least one, two, or more glue dots (20), then the articles (03) of two article strands (30) are glued together to an intermediate bundle (10) of two rows (04) by joining and/or pressing the articles of a first article strand (31) against each other, which articles (03) form a first row (41) in the finished bundle (01), and the articles (03) of a second article strand (32), which articles (03) form a second row (42) in the finished bundle (01), at the glue dots (20) and holding the said articles (03) until the adhesive is at least partly hardened, and then at least one further row (43) is added to the intermediate bundle (10) by joining and/or pressing the articles of at least one further article strand (33), which articles (03) form the at least one further row (43) in the finished bundle (01), from at least one side against the articles (03) of at least one outer row (40) of the intermediate bundle (10) at the glue dots (20) and holding the said articles (03) until the adhesive is at least partly hardened.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein at first a first intermediate bundle (10) is produced from two rows (04), then, after the adhesive of the first intermediate bundle (10) has hardened, a second and, as the case may be, at least one further intermediate bundle (10) is produced by the addition of respectively at least one further row (43) to an outer row (40) of the previously produced intermediate bundle (10), wherein, for each addition of a further row (43), the articles (03) of at least one article strand (33) forming the respective row (43) are joined and/or pressed against the articles (03) of at least one outer row (40) of the intermediate bundle (10) from at least one side and held until the adhesive is at least partly hardened, before the bundle (01) is then completed by the addition of at least one last row (43) of articles (03) of a last article strand (33) to at least one outer row (40) of the previously produced intermediate bundle (10), by pressing the articles (03) together and holding them until the adhesive is at least partly hardened.
3. The method as recited in claim 1 or 2 wherein articles (03) of a further article strand (33) on each of both sides of a previously produced intermediate bundle (10), which articles (03) have been provided with glue dots (20), are joined and/or pressed against the articles (03) of the two outer rows (40) of the intermediate bundle (10), each from one side, and held until the adhesive is at least partly hardened.
4. The method as recited in claim 1, 2, or 3 wherein, after the application of the glue dots (20), at least the articles (03) provided with glue dots (20) are first aligned by rotation about their vertical axes that stand normal to a plane enclosing the rows (04) and lines (05) of the bundle (01), before they are joined and/or pressed against each other and held until the adhesive is at least partly hardened.
5. The method as recited in one of the previous claims wherein at first the article strands (30, 31, 32, 33) of at least one article stream (35) of articles (03) being transported immediately one after the other are separated off.
6. The method as recited in claim 5 wherein an article stream is provided for each row of the finished bundle, from which article stream respectively one article strand (30, 31, 32, 33) per row (04, 41, 42, 43) of a bundle (01) to be produced is separated off, corresponding to an infeed of a number of article streams (35) corresponding to the number (R) of rows (04) in the finished bundle (01).
7. The method as recited in one of the previous claims wherein at first the articles (03) of at least one article strand (30, 31, 32, 33) are connected to each other before the articles (03) of different article strands (30, 31, 32, 33) are connected to each other.
8. The method as recited in one of the preceding claims wherein:

   - in the instance of a bundle (01) with rows (04) and lines (05) running toward each other at right angles, the article strands (30, 31,32,33) are merged located in parallel next to each other such that the individual articles (03) of the article strands (30,31,32,33) are located at the same height; or

   - in the instance of a bundle (01) with articles in a nested arrangement (03), the article strands (30, 31,32,33) are merged in a zipper-like manner such that at least the articles (03) of two adjacent article strands (30, 31, 32, 33) are located in a compacted arrangement offset from each other.
9. A device (100) for producing a bundle (01) from articles (03) connected immediately to each other by means of glued joints (02), which bundle (01) comprises articles (03) arranged in at least three rows (04) of at least two articles (03) each, wherein the glued joints (02) are each formed by one, two, or more glue dots (20) of an adhesive, which glue dots (20) are applied onto at least one lateral surface of at least two articles (03) immediately connected to each other in the finished bundle (01), comprising:

   - providing means (110) for a number of article strands (30, 31, 32, 33) corresponding to the number of rows (04) in the finished bundle (01), each article strand (30, 31, 32, 33) with a number of articles (03) corresponding to the number of articles (03) per row (04) in the finished bundle (01);

   - application means (120), for providing individual, selected, or all articles (03) of the article strands (30, 31, 32, 33) with glue dots (20);

   - first merging means (130) for at first merging a first article strand (31) forming a first row (41) in the finished bundle (01) and a second article strand (32) forming a second row (42) in the finished bundle (01), the articles (03) of which article strands are at least in parts provided with glue dots (20), to an intermediate bundle (10) corresponding to the arrangement of the articles (03) in the first and the second row (41,42) in the finished bundle (01), subsequently joining and/or pressing them against each other at the glue dots (20), and then holding them until the adhesive is at least partly hardened; as well as

   - at least second merging means (140) for at first merging an intermediate bundle (10) and at least one further article strand (33) forming at least one further row (43) in the finished bundle (01), wherein the articles (03) of the intermediate bundle (10) and/or the at least one further article strand (33) are at least partly provided with glue dots (20), to a further intermediate bundle (10) or to the finished bundle (01) corresponding to the arrangement of the articles (03) of the intermediate bundle (10) and of the article strand (33) forming at least one further row (43) in the finished bundle (01), subsequently joining and/or pressing them against each other at the glue dots (20), and then holding them until the adhesive is at least partly hardened.
10. The device as recited in claim 9 wherein the providing means (110) comprise:

    - an infeed of a number of article streams (35) corresponding to the number (R) of rows (04) in the finished bundle (01), which article streams (35) are composed of articles (03) immediately following each other;

    - separation means (111) for each article stream (35) for separating off an article stream (30, 31, 32, 33) with a number of articles (03) from the respective article stream (35) corresponding to the number of articles (03) per row (04, 41, 42, 43) in the finished bundle (01) from the respective article stream (35).
11. The device as recited in claim 9 or 10 wherein the merging means (130, 140) are designed to be movable along a conveying direction (F) in order to transport an intermediate bundle (10) and/or a finished bundle (01) in the conveying direction (F) during the hardening of the adhesive.
12. The device as recited in claim 9, 10, or 11 wherein the merging means (130, 140) comprise at least one pressing unit (150), which joins and/or presses the articles (03), which were previously provided with glue dots (20), of two article strands (30, 31, 32, 33) to be merged to an intermediate bundle (10) or of an intermediate bundle (10) to be merged to a finished bundle (01) and at least one further article strand (33), and holds them against each other at least until the adhesive is at least partly hardened, which at least one pressing unit (150) preferably comprises circulating clamping units (151, 152), which are, in particular, controllable individually and independently from each other and movable to different positions, as seen in conveying direction (F), during the pressing and holding.
13. The device as recited in one of the claims 9 to 12 wherein the device (100) comprises alignment means, which align at least the articles (03) provided with glue dots (20) according to their orientation required in the finished bundles (01) for producing immediate connections of the articles (03) to each other, said immediate connections being formed by glued joints (02).
14. The device as recited in one of the claims 9 to 13 wherein the application means (120) are realised by one or more nozzles (121), by means of which glue dots (20) are applicable onto the lateral surfaces of at least selected articles (03).
15. The device as recited in claim 14 wherein the one or more nozzles (121) are realised by one or more V-shaped dual nozzles, by means of which a simultaneous application of respectively two or more glue dots (20) onto an article (03), or maximally a simultaneous application of respectively one glue dot (20) onto a number of articles (03) corresponding to the number of nozzle outlet openings of the dual nozzles is possible, wherein a dual nozzle is arranged between the transport routes of two article strands (30, 31, 32, 33) that have not yet been merged and/or lateral to a transport route of an article strand (30, 31, 32, 33) that has not yet been merged with another article strand (30, 31, 32, 33).

Images