EP3105133B1 - Pack, and method for creating packs - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to containers according to the preamble of claim 1.

It is known, containers of several containers in the form of bottles, especially those made of plastic, PET (polyethylene terephthalate), metal, aluminum, etc., realize that the respective container forming and in at least two rows, each with at least two containers arranged containers are connected to each other via point or partial adhesive bonds or adhesive applications, for example via adhesive jobs of a pressure-sensitive adhesive. This eliminates the need for additional means, such as strapping, carriers or trays, outer packaging, in the form of shrink films, etc., which are otherwise required for holding together the container of a container. It is also known ( DE 10 2011 107 265 A1 . DE 10 2011 107 264 A1 ) to provide such containers each with a attached to two containers by gluing support loop of a strip-shaped sheet or with a support sheet which forms a carrying handle and is held within the respective container by gluing, to the local, including the container interconnecting adhesive joints or adhesive jobs. A certain disadvantage of these known containers, however, is that through the adhesive bonds, especially in containers made of plastic, container packaging forming a container film and provided on these machine-readable codes, the product-specific information, at most only conditionally possible and container codes, if any, also machine are difficult to read.

The object of the invention is therefore to equip containers with a coding that allows in particular a machine reading not only of product-specific, but also of package-specific information problems. To solve this problem, containers are designed according to claim 1.

The machine-readable coding of the at least one information carrier of the container according to the invention is, for example, at least one bar or bar code and / or a 2D code, and / or the information carrier is equipped with at least one RFID or RFID transponder, wherein the coding and the RFID transponder, for example, not only with product-specific information, eg regarding the nature of the product, manufacturing and / or Filling time, etc., but also with container-specific information, such as number of containers per container, etc.

The information carrier is held by at least one end between two adjacent containers by gluing, namely at the adhesive connection connecting these containers together or to the corresponding adhesive application and is in the manner of a flag of the containers or the adhesive bond away so that the coding easy to read. The fact that the respective information carrier is held at least one end to the adhesive connection between two containers, also results in a certain warranty function, namely the fact that the information carrier is not removed without a visible destruction of the adhesive bond between the adjacent containers and / or replaced can be.

The term "essentially" or "approximately" or "approx." means for the purposes of the invention deviations from the respective exact value by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of insignificant changes for the function.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. In this case, all described and / or illustrated features alone or in any combination are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of their summary in the claims or their dependency. Also, the content of the claims is made an integral part of the description.

Fig. 1 und 2

jeweils in schematischer Darstellung und in Draufsicht mehrere zu einem Gebinde über partielle Klebeverbindungen oder Kleberaufträge miteinander verbundene Behälter, zusammen mit unterschiedlichen an dem jeweiligen Gebinde vorgesehenen Informationsträgern;

Fig. 3 und 4

jeweils in vereinfachter Darstellung und in Seitenansicht zwei der über einen Kleberauftrag miteinander verbundenen Behälter, zusammen mit einem Informationsträger;

Fig. 5

in vergrößerter Teildarstellung und in Draufsicht sowie teilweise geschnitten die Klebeverbindung zwischen zwei Behältern des Gebindes der Fig. 1 oder 2,

Fig. 6

eine Darstellung wie Figur 3 bei einer weiteren Variante;

Fig. 7

in vereinfachter Funktionsdarstellung eine Vorrichtung zum Formen der Gebinde und zum Anbringen der Informationsträger;

Fig. 8 und 9

in schematischer Darstellung und in Draufsicht (Fig. 8) bzw. in Unteransicht (Fig. 9) mehrere über Kleberaufträge zu einem Gebinde miteinander verbundene Behälter mit Informationsträgern bei weiteren Ausführungsformen der Erfindung;

Fig. 10

in vereinfachter Darstellung und in Seitenansicht zwei Behälter des Gebindes der Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 - 13

jeweils in perspektivischer Darstellung unterschiedliche Informationsträger zur Verwendung bei den Gebinden der Fig. 8 - 10.

The invention will be described below with reference to the figures of embodiments of FIGS. 8 to 13 explained in more detail, wherein the FIGS. 1 to 7 not belonging to the invention variants show. Show it:

Fig. 1 and 2

in each case in schematic representation and in plan view a plurality of containers which are connected to one another via partial adhesive bonds or adhesive applications, together with different information carriers provided on the respective container;

3 and 4

each in a simplified representation and in side view two of the interconnected via an adhesive application container, together with an information carrier;

Fig. 5

in an enlarged partial view and in plan view and partially cut the adhesive bond between two containers of the container Fig. 1 or 2 .

Fig. 6

a representation like FIG. 3 in another variant;

Fig. 7

in simplified functional representation, a device for molding the container and for attaching the information carrier;

8 and 9

in a schematic representation and in plan view ( Fig. 8 ) or in the lower view ( Fig. 9 ) a plurality of adhesive applications to a container interconnected container with information carriers in further embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 10

in a simplified representation and in side view two containers of the container Fig. 8 ;

Fig. 11 - 13

each in perspective different information carrier for use in the containers of Fig. 8 - 10 ,

In the FIGS. 1-7 are 1 container in the form of cans, for example, consist of metal, with a filling (eg beer or soft drinks) filled and sealed. A plurality of containers 1, ie in the illustrated embodiment, a total of six containers 1 are connected to each other via glue joints, which are formed by adhesive applications 2 and 3 to form a container 4, in which the containers 1 are arranged in two rows of three containers 1. The adhesive orders 2 and 3, the preferably from a fast setting or curing adhesive or from a pressure-sensitive adhesive are formed, are applied to the peripheral or lateral surface of the container 1 such that the adhesive jobs 2, the container 1 in the two rows of containers and the adhesive jobs 3 each connect a container 1 one row with a container 1 of the adjacent row. The containers 1 are further arranged in the respective container 4 with their container axes BA parallel to each other.

The peculiarity of the container 4 is that at least one information carrier 5a - 5d with at least one end is attached to the adhesive bonds formed by the adhesive applications 2 and 3 between the containers 1 to each container 4 by bonding at least one end in the illustrated embodiment with at least a bar or bar code 6 is provided. The bar code 6 contains e.g. the usual product-specific information, such as the type of filled into the container 1 contents, manufacturing and / or filling date, etc., and preferably also container-specific information, such as. Number of containers 1 in the container 4 etc.

In the illustrated embodiment, the information carriers 5a-5d are each formed by a length of a single-layer or multi-layer strip-shaped flat material 5, for example made of plastic and / or of metal foil and / or paper or cardboard.

In the illustrated bundles 4, the strip-shaped information carriers 5a-5d are held on the containers 1 in such a way that they each rest against the circumferential or circumferential surface of at least one container 1 with one surface side and project from this container like a flag or e.g. tangential or substantially tangential to the container perimeter area, i. extend in an axial direction perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the container axis BA.

In the illustrated embodiment, the information carriers 5a - 5d are each connected at the end to which they are held on a container 1 via an additional adhesive application 7 with the relevant container 1. In the area of this adhesive application 7, each information carrier 5a-5d is provided with an opening 5.1, through which the adhesive application 2 or 3 two adjacent containers 1 connects directly with each other. This ensures that the connection of the container 1 to the respective container 4 takes place exclusively via the adhesive jobs 2 or 3 and not via the arranged between two adjacent containers 1 end of the information carrier 5a - 5d. The additional adhesive jobs 7 can be designed differently, for example, square or rectangular according to the Fig. 3 or circular according to the Fig. 4 ,

In detail, the information carrier 5a is bow-shaped, ie the information carrier 5a forming strip of the sheet 5 is attached at both ends to a container 1, namely in the in the Fig. 1 illustrated embodiment of a common container 1 and in particular to the middle container 1 a row of containers. The information carrier 5a is laterally away from the container 4.

The information carriers 5b and 5c are each formed like a flag so wegstehend from the containers 1 and this held in the simplest case only at one end to the adhesive connection between two containers, in the illustrated embodiment at the adhesive joint between an outer and a middle container 1 a row of containers , In the illustrated embodiment, the information carrier 5b and 5c extending from its fixed end with a partial length to a portion of the circumference of the outer container 1 a row of containers, for example, a quarter or about a quarter of the circumference of these containers 1 and stand with its remaining part length away from the relevant container 1.

The strip-shaped information carrier 5d extends like a banderole over a part of the container circumference, ie in the illustrated embodiment over three quarters or substantially three quarters of the container circumference and is held at both ends in the region of adhesive bond formed by the adhesive applications 2 and 3 between the containers 1, namely in the illustrated embodiment at one end to the adhesive joint between the two first containers 1 of the two rows of containers and at the other end to the adhesive connection between the first and the middle container 1 of a row of containers, so that the information carrier 5d extends beyond the middle of the container facing away from the outside of the first container 1 a row of containers.

Above, it was assumed that the adjacent containers 1 are connected to each other via only one application of adhesive 2 and 3 respectively. The Fig. 6 shows in a representation similar Fig. 3 two containers 1 of a container 4, in which the containers are connected to each other via two, in the direction of the container axis BA staggered adhesive jobs 2 and 3 with each other. The respective information carrier 5a-5d is then adhesively attached to one of these adhesive applications 2 or 3 with at least one end between two adjacent containers 1, in the same way as described above.

The Fig. 7 shows in a schematic functional representation of a system 8 for producing the container 4. At a container inlet of the system 8, the container 1 with its container axis BA oriented in the vertical direction via a conveyor 9 fed in a multi-lane container stream. The number of tracks of this container flow corresponds, for example, to the number of rows of containers in the packages 4 to be produced, ie in the illustrated embodiment, the multi-track container stream on the conveyor 9 has two rows.

In a system component 10, the attachment of the ends of the information carriers 5a-5d to the relevant containers 1 is first carried out via the additional adhesive jobs 7. The strip-shaped flat material 5 provided with the openings 5.1 and the respective barcode 6 is drawn off, for example, from a supply 11 (supply reel) and with the respective information carrier 5a - 5d forming length separated. The strip-shaped flat material 5 is, for example, already provided with the additional adhesive jobs 7 likewise formed by a pressure-sensitive adhesive or else these adhesive jobs 7, which serve essentially only to simplify the process or temporarily fix the information carriers 5a-5d, are immediately before Connecting the relevant end of an information carrier 5a - 5d applied. With the additional adhesive orders 7, the information carrier 5a - 5d are already held on the respective containers 1, so then also in the system component 10 via suitable adhesive application elements, for example in the form of nozzles and possibly by controlled rotation of the container 1 to its container axis BA Glue orders 2 and 3 can be applied. In a following in the container transport direction A to the system component 10 system component 12, the merging and compacting or pressing together of each one container 4 forming container 1, so that they are then connected to the container 4 via the adhesive jobs 2 and 3. About a feed dog 13, the container 4 are fed in the transport direction A for further use.

The 8 and 9 show a container 4a, which is formed of several, in turn via the adhesive applications 2 and 3 interconnected containers 1a in the form of bottles, for example in the form of PET bottles. Although in principle the invention is suitable for any conventional number of containers per container, in the present case the container 4a is formed in each case of six containers 1a, which are arranged in two rows of containers to three containers. How the particular Fig. 10 It can also be seen that the adjacent containers 1 a are each connected via two adhesive jobs 2 and 3 staggered in the direction of the container axis BA. The container 4a is further provided with at least one information carrier 14a - 14c, which is equipped with at least one bar or bar code 6 or with a 2D code 6a.

Deviating from the information carriers 5a-5d, the information carriers 14a-14c are not formed by a strip-shaped flat material (foil), but the information carriers 14a-14c are punched and / or molded parts made of a material which is substantially more rigid than a foil, for example metal and / or or plastic, which is usually integrally formed as an extrusion body, monolithic. The particular advantage consists in such as stamped and / or molded parts shaped information carrier that this is held against rotation and position.

At an end remote from the respective bar code 6 or 2D code 6a, the information carriers 14a-14c are in turn held glued between two adjacent containers 1a, namely at an adhesive application 2 or 3. Furthermore, the information carriers 14a-15c at the in the 8 and 9 shown container 4a with its bar code 6 or the 2D code 6a end having arranged between four containers 1a free space arranged so that the bar code 6 or 2D code 6a from the top of the container 4a is well readable.

In detail, the information carrier 14a is formed by a strip of material which is twisted or twisted (approximately 90 °) in its middle region about the longitudinal axis of the information carrier 14a, so that the planes of the surface sides of this strip material are at the barcode 6 end or section 14a.2 perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the surface sides of the opening 15 having an end portion 14a.1 are oriented.

The information carrier 15b essentially consists of a tab-shaped portion 15b.1 having the opening 15 and a second tab-shaped portion 15b.2 connected to this portion, which has the 2D code 6a and the planes of its surface sides perpendicular to the surface sides of the first section 15b.1, but oriented parallel or substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the information carrier 14b.

The information carriers 14a and 14b are in turn held with their opening 15 having the end between two adjacent containers 1a by gluing, in such a way that the bonding of these adjacent container 1a adhesive application 2 and 3 passes through the opening 15 and connects the container directly, while the respective information carrier 14a or 14b is away from the adjacent containers 1a or from the adhesive connection.

The information carrier 14c, which does not have the opening 15, consists of a thin web-like section 14c.1, which merges at one end into a broad section 14c.2 carrying the bar code 6. For holding the information carrier 14c is the thin web-like portion 14c.1 at his the Barcode 6 remote end embedded in the respective adhesive application 2 or 3, in such a way that the side of the web-like portion 14c.1 continues on the adhesive application 2 and 3, an immediate adhesive bond between the adjacent containers 1a is reached.

Due to the rigid construction of the information carriers 14a-14c, these can also be used as levers to break open the container 4a which has been formed by adhesive applications 2 or 3 between two adjacent containers 1a, namely by pivoting the respective information carrier 14a. 14c to the adhesive application 2 or 3, as with the double arrow C in the Fig. 10 is indicated. The opening 15 of the information carrier 14a is provided with a web 16, which facilitates a breaking of the adhesive application 2 or 3 by pivoting when swiveling.

In the FIGS. 11 to 13 further variants of the information carrier 14 are shown, wherein the elements or parts (14a.1 to 14c.2) can be suitably combined and / or exchanged in a suitable manner, also with respect to the in FIGS. 8 to 10 shown variants of the rigid information carrier 14 with a horizontal section in the proper attachment.

Instead of the bar code and / or the 2D code or in addition thereto, the respective information carrier 5a-5d or 14a-14c can also be equipped with an RFID or RFID transponder.

In the method for mounting the information carrier, this is supplied either with a free end as uncut material or in final execution and cutting. The bonding of an information carrier is ideally carried out by the approach and compression of the container provided with the adhesive order, which virtually capture the information carrier and pinch between them.

In an alternative variant, the information carrier is brought to a container with one end on or in the region of the adhesive application to the plant and mechanically guided and held until contact with an opposite container by means of a holding and guiding device.

In a further improved method, no or less adhesive can be applied to the containers in the region of the adhesion point for the information carrier, and the information carrier itself is provided with adhesive before or during delivery to the final attachment location between two containers. This adhesive application via the information carrier is esp. For the punched and / or molded molded rigid information carrier useful and suitable.

In the process variants described above, the containers are ideally aligned prior to compaction to the final container so that the bar codes of the individual bottles in the middle of the container or between containers, so that these bar codes of the individual bottles are not erroneously detected by the usual laser scanners as "container information" can be.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a

container

2, 3

adhesive application

4, 4a

container

5

flat material

5a-5d

information carrier

5.1

opening

6

barcode

6a

2D code

7

additional glue application

8th

Plant for producing the containers 4, 4a

9

carrier

10

plant component

11

stock

12

plant component

13

carrier

14a - 14c

information carrier

14a.1, 14a.2

section

14b.1, 14b.2

section

14c.1, 14c.2

section

15

opening

16

web

A

Container transport direction

BA

container axis

Claims (8)

1. Pack comprising a plurality of containers (1a), which are joined to one another by adhesive bonds formed by applications of adhesive (2, 3) to form the respective pack (4a), characterised by at least one information carrier (14a-14c), which is held by least one end between two adjacent containers (1a) of the pack (4a) by adhesive bonding, by an application of adhesive (2, 3) joining the containers (1a), wherein the at least one information carrier (14a-14c) is formed from a shaped or stamped part, for example from a shaped or stamped part made of plastic and/or metal, wherein the information carrier (14a-14c) is provided with a coding, preferably with a machine-readable coding, and wherein the information carrier (14a-14c) projects from the containers (1, 1a) or from the adhesive bond in such a way that the coding can be read without any difficulty, and the information carrier (14a-14c) cannot be removed and/or replaced without a visible destruction of the adhesive bond between the adjacent containers (1a).
2. Pack according to claim 1, characterised in that the information carrier (14a-14c) comprises a first section (14a.1, 14b.1, 14c.1) in the form of a tab or web, with which it is held at the adhesive bond between two containers (1a), and a second section (14a.2, 14b.2, 14c.2) connecting to this first section, which is provided with the machine-readable code (6, 6a) and or with the RFID, and that the planes of the surface sides of the first section (14a.1, 14b.1) enclose an angle with the planes of the surface sides of the second section (14a.2, 14b.2), such as an angle of 90° or essentially of 90°.
3. Pack according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the information carrier (14a-14c) is provided with a machine-readable coding in the form of at least one barcode (6) of a 2D code (6a) and/or with an RFID.
4. Pack according to claim 1, 2, or 3 characterised in that the information carrier (14a-14c) is configured in at least one part section in the form of a strip or a tab, and is held by this part to the containers (1a), projecting from the containers (1a).
5. Pack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one information carrier (14a-14c) is held by only one end at the adhesive bond between the two containers (1a) and projects in the form of a pennant from this bond.
6. Pack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the information carrier (14a-14c) is in contact with a surface side against the circumferential surface of the at least one container (1a).
7. Pack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one information carrier (14a-14c) exhibits at its end held at the adhesive bond between two containers (1a) an opening (15), through which the adhesive application (2, 3) extends, forming the bond between the containers (1, 1a).
8. Pack according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one information carrier (14a-14c) is held by an additional adhesive application (7) to at least one container (1a).

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