EP3245141B1 - Multipack having adhesively bonded containers and a carrying handle - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container with at least four containers, which are interconnected by splices, and a method and an apparatus for producing the container.

The DE 23 31 193 as well as the US 3,902,992 disclose containers with at least four containers connected by adhesive joints. The US 3,388,791 discloses a container of containers arranged in at least a first and a second row, and which are connected by stronger and less resilient splices. Each container of the container has at least one more strong adhesive point and also between the first and the second row more resilient adhesive sites are arranged. Less resilient splices are used in particular for securing terminal containers.

Furthermore, from the FR 2 286 763 A1 Containers of a plurality of cans are known, which are connected to each other at their upper, flanged edge by, for example, a soldering process and are further bound together by a belt or band as an entire group of containers. The DE 10 2011 107265 A1 shows a container with the features of the preamble of claim 1 and a suitable method for its production, with the features of the preamble of claim 7, wherein each container is connected in the shoulder and in the foot area with the respective neighboring containers by an adhesive and adhesive , in particular a hot melt adhesive. Furthermore, at least two of the so adhesively bonded containers are connected to a carrying handle, which is suitable for carrying the entire container with upright containers.

The arrangement of the splices is complex and it is not for the user to recognize in which way or which result the containers are to be solved with minimal effort from the container.

It is an object of the invention to provide a container from which a user can detach individual containers with minimal effort.

This object is achieved with a container according to claim 1, a method according to claim 7 and with a device according to claim 10.

A container according to the invention has at least four containers, which are connected to one another by adhesive sites. According to the invention, each container has at least one first order adhesive and two or more containers have a second order adhesive, the first order adhesives holding subgroups of containers together and the second order adhesives being disposed between the subgroups of containers, and one carrying handle at least in sections spans upper ends of two containers. The container according to claim 1 is composed of subgroups of containers, usually rows of containers. The containers of a subgroup are by adhesive joints put together first order. At least two subgroups are then added to a container, and by second-order splices. The second-order splices are easier to loosen than the first-order splices; less force is needed to release the second-order splices than for first-order splices. When releasing a container from the container according to the invention, the container according to the invention is first broken down into subgroups, because the second-order splices first yield and are released. Then, the user can easily detach individual containers from each subgroup. The number of splices and the use of adhesive is minimal. Individual containers are very easy to extract from the container because user-friendly subgroups of containers are available which provide good access to a single container to be released. In addition, the container according to the invention has a carrying handle which spans the upper ends of two containers. During transport, the carrying handle stabilizes the container by preferentially straddling two containers belonging to different subgroups. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the carrying handle can be extended to a carrying strap in order to be able to carry the container more conveniently. For this he is folded or curled after the Gehindeherstellung and spans the container under train. This folding or curling can then be solved by consumers, the train on the container when wearing is so high that the adhesively bonded containers are securely held in the dressing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first-order splices are arranged on a lower half of the container. The deeper the first-order splices between the containers are arranged, the greater the leverage effect when detaching a container from a container. According to a further suitable embodiment of the invention, the container is characterized in that the second-order splices are arranged on a lower half of the container. A container in which all first and second-order splices are attached to the lower half of the container, represents a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention. It has been found that such a container is stable and the forces acting during transport grown, in particular This is because the carrying handle stabilizes the container sufficiently at the top, even if it only has two containers of different subgroups spans. The omission of enveloping films or cartons ensures an easy-to-use and economical packaging.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first-order splices have a stronger binding force than the second-order splices. The lesser bonding force can be produced in a variety of ways, be it by the choice of adhesive or the size or minimization of the bond. Alternatively, the second order bonds may have a shape that can be released by the user in disassembling the package with less force , z. B. a parallel to the height of the container elongated shape.

Within the scope of the invention, it is preferred that a subset of containers, the containers of which are respectively connected by a first order adhesive, are formed as a series of containers. Containers made up of rows of containers are, on the one hand, easy to manipulate in the production of the containers. On the other hand, the containers are particularly easy to disassemble, if the subgroups are formed row-shaped.

In a particularly economical embodiment of the invention, the second-order splices are arranged only at selected, in particular terminal containers between two subgroups. It has surprisingly been found that containers of several subgroups, which are interconnected by splices of first order, can be assembled very stable, even if only selected, especially terminal containers of different subgroups are connected by second order splices. The subgroups introduce a basic strength into the structure of the container which allows only second-order splices to be placed between terminal containers of different subgroups, and subgroups containing more than five containers, also on selected non-terminal containers. Thus, it is further preferred that a first and a second container as well as a third and a fourth container are connected by a first-order adhesive, and that a first and a third container and a second and a fourth container are connected by a second-order adhesive are.

Containers according to the invention are bottles, cans, tubes, bags, each made of metal, glass, plastic and / or a composite material, typically z. As PET bottles or a composite material made of plastic, aluminum foil and paper. For the purposes of the invention, the containers include all materials, in particular those which are suitable for filling liquid or viscous products. Also already grouped into containers (multiple packs) are among the containers in the context of the invention. The containers of the container are preferably arranged in a non-nesting position, that is, the containers of one row of the container are not arranged in the gap of an adjacent row of the container. The containers according to the invention may have any cross-section, oval, round or angular. The shape of the container may be bag, pyramid or cuboid, but is often cylindrical.

• Bereitstellen einer ersten und einer zweiten Gruppierung von Behältern
• Anbringen eines Klebepunkts erster Ordnung an Behältern der ersten und der zweiten
  Gruppierung
• Fügen der Behälter der ersten Gruppierung zu einer ersten Untergruppe und Fügen
  der Behälter der zweiten Gruppierung zu einer zweiten Untergruppe, wobei jede
  Untergruppe jeweils durch einen Behälter ohne Klebepunkt ergänzt werden kann,
• Anbringen mindestens eines Klebepunkts zweiter Ordnung an mindestens einem
  Behälter der ersten Untergruppe
• Fügen der ersten und der zweiten Untergruppe.

An inventive method for producing a container with the features described above comprises the following steps:

• Providing a first and a second grouping of containers
• Attaching a first-order adhesive point to containers of the first and the second
  grouping
• Add the containers of the first grouping to a first subgroup and join
  the container of the second grouping into a second subgroup, each one
  Subgroup can be supplemented by a container without glue point,
• Affixing at least one second order adhesion point to at least one
  Container of the first subgroup
• Joining the first and second subgroups.

First, individual containers are provided in a first and a second grouping, and a first order glue dot is attached to the containers of both groupings. The gelled containers are added to a first and a second subset, typically to rows of bottles or cans. Each subgroup may be supplemented with a terminal container which does not have a first order glue dot but which is merely fixed to the adjacent container of the subgroup by forming the glue pad.

The production of a splice between two containers of adhesive applied to a container adhesive point is carried out by pressing or pressing the two containers together, wherein the adhesive of the adhesive point connects the two containers at a splice. Adhesive in the context of the invention is any material - are all materials or masses that are suitable for producing an adhesive bond between containers, in particular those materials, materials or masses that applied in the liquid or viscous state, form a self-adhesive glue point, but also such materials, materials or masses, which by energy input, z. B. by applying pressure, radiation or temperature or by means of chemical curing or crosslinking build a splice. Typical adhesives are UV-curable adhesives that can be processed and cured by radiation even in a low-viscosity state, or a hot glue that cools after application, and which loses its adhesive force below a typical material temperature, so that hot glue only for the immediate production of a Adhesive is suitable. Adhesive according to the invention are also multi-layer materials, eg. As those of at least one carrier material, which is coated with an adhesive such that a bond between two containers can be produced. Typically, these multilayer materials are formed as pads, which are formed on two sides adhesive or adhesive.

A trained with a glue point container thus has adhesive, which is applied in a dot or line or in a pattern of dots and / or lines. Preferably, an adhesive is selected whose adhesive force allows a detachment of the container from a container by hand. In particular, UV-curable adhesives are suitable because the adhesive force developed by the adhesive at the bond site can be well adjusted by the composition of the adhesive and the intensity of the cure. The containers according to the invention are connected to each other by splices of the first or second order. Preferably, the splices connect the containers directly to each other.

The application of the adhesive takes place in a conventional manner by nozzles which apply the most liquid adhesive directly to a container to one or more adhesive point or spray. After applying the adhesive, the containers are joined, z. B. by the action of terminal strips that bring a plurality of containers in contact, so that at the points where a glue dot is applied to a first container, by applying a second container without glue point, a point of adhesion is formed. The second container may also have an adhesive point at the location where the first container comes into abutment, so that an adhesive patch can be made up of two adhesive dots.

The first and second subgroups are then added to a container by first applying second order adhesive dots to selected, in particular terminal containers, either already to the individual containers provided in the first or second grouping or only to the containers joined into subgroups. Subsequently, in a known manner by joining the subgroups and forming a bond from the second-order adhesive dots, z. B. by pressing together by terminal strips, a container produced. Finally, a carrying handle is stretched over at least two, preferably centrally arranged containers, the containers preferably belonging to different subgroups.

The second-order splices are usually attached at an angle of 90 °, based on the arrangement of the first adhesive point on the circumference of a container. They differ from the first-order splices because they produce weaker cohesion between the subgroups than the first-order splices between the containers of a subgroup. They are z. B. smaller or made of an adhesive with weaker bond strength or they have a shape that produces a lower bond strength. The latter embodiment may be, for example, an elongate, parallel to the height of the container arranged adhesive point, so that when dissolving a subgroup only a very small adhesive point is overcome.

Finally, the invention comprises an apparatus for producing a container according to the invention with means for conveying containers, means for applying adhesive, means for joining containers to a container, and means for attaching a carrying handle, said means for conveying being adapted to assemble a first and a second group of containers, wherein first means for applying adhesive are arranged, a glue dot first Apply order to a container, and that first means for joining are adapted to each add a first group of containers to a first subgroup and a second group of containers to a second subgroup, that second means are arranged for applying adhesive, a Second order adhesive point applied to a container, and that second means for joining are adapted to add a container from the first and the second subgroup by producing a second order bond from a second order glue point.

The means for generating a glue point are known per se, mostly nozzles are used, which either apply a liquid adhesive directly to the container wall or spray. For the device according to the invention either nozzles can be used, which are movable so that they apply first and second splices, z. B. in round and elongated shape. However, it is preferred that separate first and second adhesive applying means are adapted to apply first and second order adhesive dots at different locations of the containers. This design is z. B. then required if different adhesives are used to produce first and second-order splices with different bond strength. But even when applying adhesive dots with different shape, separate means for generating adhesive dots or splices prove to be helpful. Alternatively, the means for generating a glue point may be designed as a means for applying two-sided adhesive pads.

The means for joining are also known from the prior art. Most attacks, terminal strips or rails or grippers are used, which squeeze the containers or sub-groups to be joined, so that the container walls come into contact with each other and the adhesive can be cured or crosslinked at the adhesive points to splices. In the present case, it makes sense to use two different means of joining, as the joining of subgroups from containers with first-order adhesive dots Means for joining with other dimensions required than the joining of subgroups with second-order adhesive dots to containers. Suitably, a plurality of means for joining subgroups may be connected upstream of a means for joining containers.

Finally, the device according to the invention comprises means for attaching a carrying handle, which are known per se, and which usually comprise means for handling plastic strips and means for adhering a plastic strip to two containers of a container. Advantageously, the means for adhering are designed so that they each fix one end of the plastic strip at the upper end of a first and a second container, wherein the first and the second container preferably belong to different subgroups.

• Fig. 1 eine Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Gebinde,
• Fig. 2 eine Draufsicht auf ein erfindungsgemäßes Gebinde nach Fig. 1 nach Entfernen des Tragegriffs,
• Fig. 3 eine Ansicht des Gebindes nach Fig. 1 beim Zerlegen in Untergruppen,
• Fig. 4 eine Draufsicht auf zwei Untergruppen, zerlegt aus einem Gebinde nach Fig. 1.

Details of the invention are explained below with reference to figures. Show it:

• Fig. 1 a top view of a container according to the invention,
• Fig. 2 a plan view of an inventive container after Fig. 1 after removing the carrying handle,
• Fig. 3 a view of the container behind Fig. 1 when decomposing into subgroups,
• Fig. 4 a plan view of two subgroups, disassembled from a container Fig. 1 ,

Fig. 1 shows a container 2 of six containers 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f. The containers are for example bottles made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) or aluminum cans. The container 2 is composed of two subgroups 6a, 6b. A subgroup 6a, 6b is composed of three containers arranged in a row with the containers 2a, 2b and 2c as the first subgroup 6a and the containers 2e, 2d, 2f as the second subgroup 6b. The containers of the subgroups 6a and 6b are joined to the container 2 in a non-nesting arrangement. About upper ends 16 of the centrally disposed container 2b and 2d, a carrying handle 8 is stretched. The carrying handle 8 consists of a band of plastic, which can be extended to carry the container 2 by a loop, so that the hand of the wearer the carrying handle 8 undisturbed by the upper ends 16 of the container 2 may include.

Fig. 2 shows the container Fig. 1 but after removal of the carrying handle 8. Fig. 2 moreover, clearly shows the first-order splices made of the like dots 10a, 10b and 10c, 10d, which connect the three containers 2a-2c of the first subgroups 6a and 2d-2f of the second subgroup 6b, respectively. The splices are formed by applying adhesive dots of the first order to the containers 2a, 2b and by joining the three provided in a row container 2a-2c to a subgroup 6a and dry or curing of the adhesive dots to splices. Container 2c has no adhesive point and is connected to the container 2b via the adhesive point 10b when joining the subgroup 6a. Subgroup 6b is prepared in the same way.

The sub-groups 6a, 6b are connected to a container 2 by second-order splices, which are produced from identically designated adhesive dots 12a, 12b. The second-order splices 12a, 12b are made of the same adhesive, but are significantly smaller in size than the first-order splices 10a-10d. Relative to the circumference of the container wall 14, the splices 12a, 12b are arranged offset by 90 ° from the first-order splices 10a-10d. The splices 12a, 12b are arranged between the respective outer containers 2a, 2c, 2d and 2f. This design ensures an inexpensive production of the container 2 at the same time simple production.

The removal of the handle 8 allows, as in Fig. 3 illustrated, the decomposition of the container 2 in two subgroups 6a, 6b. The disassembly into subgroups is possible with very little effort if, as in Fig. 3 represented, the second-order splice 12a, based on the height H of the container 2 in the lower half of the container, ie below a center line 14, are arranged. Since the container 2 is disassembled by touching at the upper end 16 of the container forth acts on splices in the lower half of the container a particularly large leverage. Therefore, when in the Fig. 1-4 illustrated embodiment, the first-order splices 10a-10d in the lower half of the container, mounted at the level of second-order splices. Even without a handle 8 holds the container 2 by the splices first and second order together well, with the handle 8 is given a further improved stability, although the handle 8 only two containers 4b, 4e, he keeps the subgroups 6 of the container 2 together very effectively.

After the container, as in Fig. 3 shown, broken down into subgroups, can, as in Fig. 4 shown, the container 4 are separated individually from the respective subgroups, z. B. by turning the container, as by the arrow in Fig. 4 indicated.

The illustrated sequence of disassembly of the container 2 with the steps of removing the handle 8, disassembly of the container 2 into subgroups by releasing the splices 12 connecting the subgroups and subsequent disassembly of the subgroups by releasing individual containers 4, typically by turning, but also by Levering from the upper end 16 of the container 4 ago allows the user advantageous to have to solve only one adhesive point. This is just a terminal container, which is usually connected by two splices with the other containers of the container, can be isolated with very little effort. Furthermore, it is advantageous that the subgroups are easy to handle units from which consumers can extract individual containers without having to hold, lift or manipulate the entire container. So even weaker consumers, eg. As children, disassemble a container with little effort.

A manufacturing method for forming the aforementioned bundles ideally comprises a station for attaching the carrying handles, in which the containers of the container are still held or supported in relation to each other by corresponding holding and gripping means. This can be done stationary or advantageously during transport of a container forming group of containers. Thus, ideally, the station for attaching the carrying handles should be an integral part of the setting and drying station or line or be arranged along this setting and drying station or line.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

container

4

container

6

subgroup

8th

handle

10

First order adhesive

12

Adhesive second order

14

Container wall / center line

16

Upper end of the bottle

Claims (11)

1. Multipack (2) having at least four containers (4), which are connected to one another by adhesive points, wherein each container (4) comprises at least one adhesive point of the first order (10) and two or more containers (4) comprise an adhesive point of the second order (12), wherein the adhesive points of the first order (10) hold together subgroups (6) of containers (4), and wherein the adhesive points of the second order (12) are applied between the subgroups (6) of containers (4), and that a carrying handle (8) spans at least in sections over upper ends of two containers (4), characterised in that the adhesive points of the second order (12) are arranged at a lower half of the container (4).
2. Multipack (2) according to claim 1, characterised in that the adhesive points of the first order (10) are arranged at a lower half of the container (4).
3. Multipack (2) according to claims 1-2, characterised in that the adhesive points of the first order (10) exhibit a stronger binding force than the adhesive points of the second order (12).
4. Multipack (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1-3, characterised in that a subgroup of containers (4), of which the containers (4) are in each case connected by an adhesive point of the first order (10), and are configured as a row of containers (4).
5. Multipack (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1-4, characterised in that adhesive points of the second order (12) are arranged only at selected containers (4), in particular at end positions, between two subgroups (6).
6. Multipack (2) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1-5, characterised in that a first and a second container (4) as well as a third and fourth container (4) are connected by an adhesive point of the first order (10), and that a first and a third container (4) and a second and a fourth container (4) are connected to one another by an adhesive point of the second order (12).
7. Method for producing a multipack (2) according to claims 1-6, with the steps

   - provision of a first and a second grouping of containers (4)

   - application of an adhesive point of the first order (10) to containers (4) of the first and the second grouping

   - merging of the containers (4) of the first grouping to form a first subgroup (6) and merging of the containers (4) of the second grouping to form a second subgroup (6), wherein each subgroup (6) can be supplemented in each case by a container (4) without an adhesive point,

   - application of at least one adhesive point of the second order (12) to at least one container (4) of the first subgroup (6)

   - merging of the first and the second subgroup (6)

   - spanning a carrying handle (8) over at least two containers (4).
8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the end-position containers (4) of the first and second subgroup (6) are connected by merging at an adhesive point of the second order (12).
9. Method according to claim 8, characterised in that, in order to produce an adhesive point of the first order (10) more adhesive and/or a larger adhesive point is applied onto a container (4) than for producing an adhesive point of the second order (12).
10. Device for producing a multipack (2) in accordance with at least one of claims 1-6, with means for the conveying of containers (4), means for applying adhesive, means for merging containers (4) to a multipack (2), and means for applying a carrying handle (8), characterised in that the means for conveying are configured such as to bring together a first and a second grouping of containers (4), that first means for the application of adhesive are configured for applying an adhesive point of the first order (10) onto a container (4), and that first means for merging are configured for merging in each case a first group of containers (4) into a first subgroup (6) and a second group of containers (4) to a second subgroup (6), that second means for the application of adhesive are configured to apply an adhesive point of the second order (12) onto a container (4), and that second means for merging are configured such as to merge a multipack (2) from the first and second subgroup (6) by producing an adhesive point of the second order (12) from an adhesive point of the second order (12), characterised in that
    the means for merging containers (4) are configured such that a container (4), which is provided with an adhesive point of the first order (10), as well as a container (4) which does not exhibit an adhesive point, are merged into a subgroup (6).
11. Device according to claim 10, characterised in that first and second means for the application of adhesive are configured such as to apply adhesive points of the first and second order (10, 12) at different places on the containers (4).

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