ES2384423T3 - Pallet for multiple tied sets - Google Patents

Abstract

An even-numbered group of e.g. six plastic bottles (20) is arranged in two transposed rows side-by-side forming a parallelogram array as seen in plan view. Each row has the same number of bottles. The group of bottles is retained as a group by a belt or ring strap.

Description

Pallet for multiple tied sets

The present invention relates to a pallet for multiple tied assemblies having the characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

The request concerns the packaging of liquid containers, filled and closed, in particular filled plastic bottles. In commerce, bundled sets of plastic bottles can be obtained in which six bottles of the same shape and size are generally assembled to form a packaging unit with a rectangular plant and are packaged by means of a contractile sheet.

Other provisions of bottles or containers and the like that save space but which in practice have not been imposed are already known in the patent literature.

Document DE 201 9948 A1 describes a packaging unit in which a plurality of a minimum of seven bottles are assembled. The packaging of four or six bottles is described here as inconvenient. As the most convenient packaging unit, the unit consisting of seven bottles is described here, where six bottles are arranged around a central bottle such that an attached assembly is formed having a regular hexagon. Bottles arranged in this way are held together by a sheet of thermoplastic material, in particular of a contractile sheet, which directly touches the cylindrical walls of the bottles.

EP 0278723 B1 describes an arrangement consisting of three rows of packaged objects adjacent to each other in a decayed manner, the objects being joined together or between the central group and the two side groups by means of adhesive products. The preferred embodiment shows an arrangement of a total of seven bottles or cans in three rows, where the central group comprises three bottles or cans that are flanked on both sides by a secondary group comprising two bottles or cans, so that It forms a packaging unit with a hexagonal shaped planar surface.

The attached sets of seven bottles have a reduced floor area. The problem is, however, that when stacked on a conventional pallet, relatively much space is wasted on the sides at the edges that have to be free, otherwise the attached assemblies located on the edge of the pallet protrude and could fall from the pallet.

Document DE 2604729 C2 shows a machine for applying a strap around a bottle arrangement in which the bottles are assembled in a conventional manner known in rows arranged in parallel to form a packaging unit with a square rectangular plant.

Packaging liquid containers by means of contractile foil to form attached sets is relatively expensive. This is due on the one hand to the fact that it is necessary to pre-stretch the contractile sheet in a special procedure and on the other hand it is necessary that after having placed the sheet around the attached assembly it must be heated in a contraction tunnel or the like so that it contracts and firmly surround the bottles of the attached set. On the other hand in this packaging the material expense in terms of packaging sheet is considerably high.

Another possibility for packaging cylindrical containers is described for example in DE 8515888 U1. This document shows a multiple packaging based on at least two preferably round containers arranged one behind the other that are joined in the lower area by a strip-like band. If more than two containers arranged side by side are packed together then it is advantageous if the containers are joined together by means of a glue.

WO 2007147606 A2 describes an arrangement of plastic bottles that are surrounded by a strap at the bottom and a bottle holder at the top.

In the related straps as an alternative to contractile packaging, it is indicated in both documents that other fixing means are also required for the firm hold of the bottles or containers. In the case of DE 8515888 U1, for example, additional adhesives are described, while in WO 2007147606 A2 an additional special bottle holder is used.

EP 0354083 A generally shows the state of the art for palletizing of tied sets, this document in particular describing a method for palletizing tied sets and / or articles.

In US 4828110 A the arrangement of cylindrical articles in attached assemblies is described, where the cylindrical articles are surrounded and fastened by means of fastening tapes.

In US2007 / 0141207 A1 an arrangement of cylindrical articles is also described by forming attached assemblies that are preferably held together also by means of fastener tapes or the like arranged in a horizontal direction, and which in part comprise an additional carrying handle located in the top of the tied sets.

Document EP 844192 A shows a package that allows the transport of objects gathered together. For this there is an adhesive tape placed around the articles / bottles so that a group is formed. The document describes in particular the procedure to gather the articles by means of the adhesive tape.

The objective of the present invention is to prepare a pallet of multiple attached sets based on layers of attached sets of liquid containers, forming a firm packaging unit using little packaging material.

The objects of the invention are achieved with the object of the independent claim. Characteristics of some advantageous improvements of the invention are deduced from the respective dependent claims.

The invention relates to the arrangement of so-called diagonally attached sets on a pallet of multiple attached sets. A pallet of this class comprises at least two layers of attached sets arranged on top of each other, a layer of attached sets being formed by a minimum of two rows of the diagonally attached sets that will be described later. The arrangement of the liquid containers within a layer of attached sets based on diagonally attached sets describes a hexagonal Close-Pack.

Between the layers of attached sets an intermediate element or an intermediate layer can be arranged. The intermediate element can be for example paper, cardboard, plastic, foil or other material. The at least two layers of attached sets and eventually the intermediate layer may be arranged on a plastic or wooden pallet to improve stability and transport them better. Around the two layers of attached assemblies and the possible intermediate layer, an outer packaging can be placed to improve the joint and / or as safe for transport. This can be for example a contractile sheet, in particular a contractile hood.

A pallet of multiple tied sets of this class has several advantages. Due to the arrangement of the diagonally attached sets on the pallet, the stability of the pallet is increased since the containers of a layer of finished tied assemblies support each other. In addition, a larger number of attached sets and therefore a larger number of liquid containers can be arranged on a pallet.

On what is called a Düsseldorf pallet, for example, ten conventional packages can be placed, the so-called linear packages of six, with a rectangular plan surface, so that in total there are sixty containers of liquid in a layer of attached sets. On this same pallet twelve sets tied in diagonals of six can be placed in place, so that in a layer of tied sets there is a total of seventy-two containers of liquid. This means an increase of twenty percent (20%) of more liquid containers that can be transported.

The tied assemblies gathered on the pallet of multiple tied assemblies are composed of several liquid containers that are held together by at least one fastener. In the attached set, a minimum of four liquid containers are arranged in a minimum of two rows. Each of the at least two rows has the same number of liquid containers. The at least two rows are arranged next to each other such that the planar surface of the attached assembly forms a parallelogram. This tied set is also called diagonal tied set or diagonal packing arrangement.

According to a preferred embodiment, an attached assembly contains 2n containers of liquid, in particular filled and closed, n.2 being. These are preferably containers with a cylindrical wrap surface, at least by sections. According to a preferred embodiment, the liquid containers have a round, oval, hexagonal, octagonal or similar planar surface. The containers are preferably cylindrical liquid containers, in particular plastic bottles.

Liquid containers are held together by at least one fastener. They meet forming a tied set of at least four, preferably six, eight or twelve liquid containers.

Liquid containers are arranged in a minimum of two rows z, that is z�2, each row comprising y = 2n / z being and an integer. The rows z of liquid containers are arranged in such a way that the plan surface of the assembly describes a parallelogram of rounded vertices.

According to a preferred embodiment, the clamping element that surrounds all the liquid containers of the attached assembly may be a strap. In the case of a two-row arrangement, this zuncho can touch all liquid containers. On the other hand, if the liquid containers are located in more than two rows, then the bottles that are in the at least one intermediate row and in the center of this row have no contact with the zuncho.

The strap is preferably made of plastic and is tensioned around the liquid containers so that they cannot move between them. To improve the fixation there may be between the strap and at least one of the liquid containers an adherent medium, which will preferably be a soluble adherent medium. As an adhesive, for example, an adhesive tape or the like can also be used.

According to another embodiment, a kind of tray on which the liquid containers are arranged is used as the holding means. The tray has a planar surface formed as a parallelogram and side walls perpendicular to it. The side walls serve for the lateral stabilization of the liquid containers. To improve the stability of an attached assembly of this kind with a tray-shaped clamping means, it may be advisable to use an additional strap that surrounds it, located for example at half the height.

The tray-shaped clamping means can be for example cardboard or a firm cardboard, but it can also be a molded piece of plastic or the like.

The attached assembly or packaging unit may also have a carrying handle to improve transport. According to a preferred embodiment, an adhesive tape is placed directly on two liquid containers.

The carrying handle is preferably arranged in such a way that it centers around two outer rows centered and is held at least in a liquid container of the respective row. To do this, pay attention that the carrying handle is fixed so that the support is in the center of gravity of the attached assembly.

In a tied set consisting of at least six bottles that are arranged in at least two rows, the transport handle is preferably applied to each of the upper sides of a liquid container located in the center of each row, in each of the outer rows.

The carrying handle can also be of a non-adhesive plastic band or the like and that is fixed with an adhesive material to the liquid containers.

For advertising or information purposes or for optical reasons, both the strap and the carrying handle can be colored, in particular they can be printed.

A packaging unit described with a strap as a means of attachment has several advantages compared to conventional sets tied to six, known. In the diagonal arrangement described here, it is enough to fix the liquid containers by means of a strap that surrounds them tightly. Due to the large contact surfaces between the different liquid containers, they have good mutual support and once they have been fixed by at least one strap there is no risk that the packaging unit arranged diagonally will decompose. In the case of conventional attached assemblies with a rectangular planar surface, a fixation by a single strap would not suffice. For this reason conventional containers are completely wrapped with a shrink foil. In this respect, a considerable energy saving is obtained for the manufacture of the diagonally attached assemblies, since no shrink tunnel is required. In addition, special contractile sheets that are also more expensive to manufacture should not be used for packaging. This means a considerable reduction in packaging costs for the operator of an installation of this class.

The preparation of a diagonally attached assembly takes place by first preparing 2n liquid containers that are subdivided into 2n / z rows, where z 2. Then the 2n / z rows of liquid containers are positioned next to each other so that the plan surface of the resulting arrangement describes a parallelogram with rounded vertices. When assembling them with a fastening means, for example by surrounding them with a strap or arranging the liquid containers on a tray-like base with a planar surface in the form of a parallelogram, the liquid containers are pressed tightly together, so that They tense each other and can no longer run. Also in the diagonally attached assembly a transport handle can be applied to facilitate transport by the end customer.

Other features, objectives and advantages of the present invention are deduced from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention that serves as a non-limiting example, and which refers to the attached drawings. The components that are the same have in principle the same references and partly are not described repeatedly.

Fig. 1a shows a perspective view of a set tied diagonally based on six bottles, with a strap located at half the height;

fig. 1b shows a perspective representation of a set tied diagonally based on six bottles with a clamping means similar to a tray;

fig. 1c shows a diagonally tied set consisting of six bottles, viewed from above;

fig. 2a shows a perspective view of a set tied diagonally based on eight bottles with a strap located at half the height;

fig. 2b shows a perspective representation of a diagonally attached set based on eight bottles with a tray-like clamping means;

fig. 2c shows a diagonally tied set of eight bottles, seen above;

fig. 3a shows a perspective representation of a set tied diagonally on the basis of twelve bottles with a strap located at half the height;

fig. 3b shows a perspective representation of a diagonally attached set of twelve bottles with a clamping means similar to a tray;

fig. 3c shows a diagonally tied set of twelve bottles viewed from above;

fig. 4a / b / c show the arrangement of conventional tied sets of six containers known in the art on a standard Düsseldorf pallet;

fig. 5th shows a tied set of six diagonal containers;

fig. 5b shows an arrangement of a diagonally tied set of six containers on a standard Düsseldorf pallet;

fig. 6a shows a diagonally tied set of eight containers and

fig. 6b shows the arrangement of a diagonally tied set of eight containers on a standard Düsseldorf pallet.

In figures 1a-1c a tied assembly 10 is represented, consisting of six bottles arranged diagonally in two rows.

Figures 1a / b / c show respectively an attached assembly 10 based on six bottles 20, 21 arranged in two rows. In this case it is preferably full and closed plastic beverage bottles. A row of bottles is composed respectively of three bottles 20 arranged next to each other. The second row is positioned such that the bottles 20 of the second row each penetrate the recess formed by two adjacent bottles 20 of the first row. In this diagonal arrangement there is respectively a round bottle 21 of each row that only has contact with a bottle 20 of the other respective row of bottles.

The attached assemblies 10 further comprise a fastening means that holds the bottles together in the diagonal arrangement. Fig. 1st shows the use of a strap 22 arranged at half the height. However, the strap 22 can also be located in a lower zone or in a higher zone. By means of the diagonal arrangement of the bottles 20, 21 and by means of the tensioned strap 22, the attached assembly 10 is held firmly together, specifically so firmly that the bottles 20, 21 can no longer run between them. The strap 22 can be additionally bonded securely with at least one bottle 20, 21 by means of an adhesive product.

Fig. 1b shows the use of a holding means similar to a tray 23. The basic form of this holding tray 23 is a parallelogram, to better stabilize a tied assembly 10. With the holding tray it may be advisable to surround the liquid containers 20 , 21 additionally with a zuncho 22.

Fig. 1c shows a set tied 10 from above. In this case, it is clearly seen the fixing of a carrying or holding handle 24 that serves to transport the attached assembly, in particular for carrying out the transport by the final consumer. The transport handle 24 can be fixed, for example, in the central bottles 20 of each row of bottles using an adherent agent. In accordance with another embodiment, an adhesive tape 24 which is fixed with its adherent surface in at least two bottles 20 is used as a holding or carrying handle 24.

Figures 2a / b / c also show a tied assembly 12 of two rows, but in which four bottles 20, 21 are arranged next to each other in each row. Due to the disposed arrangement, a diagonally attached set of eight containers 12 is formed, and is also held together by a strap 22 (fig. 2a) or a support tray (fig. 2b). A preferred embodiment for the application of the transport handle 24 is also shown in Figure 2c. The carrying handle 24 can also be applied elsewhere, in particular in other bottles 20.

Figures 3a / b / c show an attached set of twelve containers 14, in which four bottles 20, 21 per row in three diagonal rows are arranged in each case.

Figures 4a / b / c show an arrangement 30 of packages of six containers according to the known state of the art, or attached sets of six containers 8 with a rectangular plant (see Figure 4a) on a so-called Düsseldorf pallet 31 (see fig. 4b / c). Between the different layers of tied sets 32 an intermediate layer 40 must be located. Within a layer of tied sets 32 a total of ten such attached sets of six containers 8, ie a total of sixty bottles 20, can be packaged in a layer of tied sets 32.

Figures 5b show the arrangement of a layer of tied sets 32, of diagonally attached sets of six containers 10 (fig. 5a). Twelve diagonally attached sets of six containers 10 can be arranged on a pallet in Düsseldorf. This corresponds to a volume of bottles of seventy-two bottles per layer of sets

5 10

tied 32. Therefore, twenty percent more bottles 20, 21 can be transported or placed on a pallet of tied sets 32, compared to conventional arrangement 30, of conventional tied sets 8 (see Figs. 4a / b / c). This results in a notable reduction in transport and storage costs. Figure 6b shows an arrangement of a layer of tied sets 34, of diagonally attached sets of eight containers 12 (see Fig. 6a). Up to ten diagonally attached sets of eight containers 12 can be arranged on a pallet in Düsseldorf. This corresponds to a volume of bottles of eighty bottles per layer of tied sets 38. Therefore they can be transported or stored on a pallet and within a pallet. layer of tied sets 34 thirty-three percent larger bottles 20, 21, than in a conventional arrangement 30 of conventional tied sets 8 (see Figs. 4a / b / c). The invention is not limited to the previous embodiments. Rather, it is possible to imagine a plurality of variants and modifications that make use of the idea according to the invention and therefore also fall within the scope of protection.

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Claims (3)

1. Pallet of multiple tied sets comprising at least two layers of tied sets (34, 36) consisting of several sets tied and placed on top of each other, each layer of tied sets (34, 36) being composed of at least two rows of attached assemblies (10, 12, 14) arranged in rows located next to each other, at least four liquid containers (20) arranged in a bundle (10, 12, 14) less in two rows, each row presenting the same number of liquid containers (20), characterized in that the planar surface of the attached set describes a parallelogram with two acute angles, the assembled sets being placed on the pallet of multiple tied sets of such so that in the arrangement of liquid containers (20) within a layer of attached sets (34, 36) describes a Close 10 Hexagonal pack, where the liquid containers (20) support each other.

2.

 Pallet of multiple tied sets (34, 36) according to claim 1, wherein between each two layers of tied sets (34, 36) an intermediate layer (40) is integrated in each case.

3.

 Pallet of multiple tied assemblies (34, 36) according to one of claims 1 or 2, the pallet of multiple tied assemblies (34, 36) being wrapped by another outer packaging as safe for transport.