ITMI20091553A1 - COUPLING RANGE FOR CONTAINERS SUCH AS BOTTLES AND SIMILARS, MULTIPLE CONTAINERS OF CONTAINERS SUCH AS BOTTLES AND SIMILARS AS WELL AS PROCEDURE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE SAME PACKAGE - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Attached to a patent application for INDUSTRIAL INVENTION having the title

"COUPLING BAND FOR CONTAINERS SUCH AS BOTTLES AND SIMILAR, MULTIPACK OF CONTAINERS SUCH AS

BOTTLES AND SIMILARS AS WELL AS PROCEDURE

REALIZATION OF THE SAME PACKAGE "

The present invention relates to a coupling band for containers (such as bottles or the like, for example), a package of such containers and a process for manufacturing such package.

In particular, in the following description reference will be made (exemplary but not limitative) to bottle packages, generally glass, metal or plastic bottles, kept associated with each other in groups by means of a band of plastic film.

As is known, in various fields (such as that of the so-called "large-scale distribution), various" single "containers of products are kept grouped by a tape made of polymeric material (which in turn can be heat-shrinkable or not) wrapped around the group of containers same.

This belt has a tubular conformation and is wrapped around a given portion of the containers, so as to bring them closer and keep them grouped: in other words, the individual containers (be they bottles or whatever) remain associated with each other in order to be transported and / or handled as one object. Identifying labels having various shapes and graphic-literal contents are also known on bottles and / or similar containers.

For example, a single bottle is often coated with a plastic film on which the advertising brand of the liquid food product is printed and, in accordance with the regulations governing the production of food products, the chemical composition of the product contained therein.

Consequently, the bottles undergo a first wrapping step in which each bottle is wrapped with its respective label; subsequently, the bottles labeled and mutually placed side by side in groups undergo a second winding phase in which they are wrapped with the coupling tape (or with a suitably formed cardboard element) which defines the single package.

The packaging process just described is particularly laborious, given the steps of wrapping the bottles to apply the label first and then the coupling band.

Consequently, the manufacture of the packages is particularly expensive in terms of production costs and times, as well as in terms of material costs.

In this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a coupling band for bottles and a process for manufacturing a package for bottles that is capable of solving the aforementioned problems.

In particular, it is the task of the present invention to provide a coupling band for containers such as bottles and the like (and a process for making a packing or bundling or more generally a "multiple package" of bottles or containers) that is simple, of fast execution and able to limit the material used to wrap the bottles themselves.

Furthermore, the present invention has as its object the design of bundling containers (bottles or anything else) which allows rapid and efficient labeling of the individual containers, and which at the same time allows them to be kept suitably packed.

The specified technical task is substantially achieved by a coupling band for containers such as bottles and the like, as well as by a package of containers such as bottles and the like and a process for making such a package, which are characterized by the fact that they include one or more of the technical solutions claimed hereinafter.

The description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a coupling band and of a package of containers (in this case, bottles), according to the invention, illustrated in the annex, is now reported by way of indicative and non-limiting example. drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a bottle package provided with a coupling band according to the invention and in a respective closed configuration;

Figure 1a shows the packaging of bottles of Figure 1 in a respective decoupling configuration;

Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a bottle package according to a second embodiment in which a package consisting of three bottles is provided;

Figure 2a shows the packaging of bottles of Figure 2 in a respective decoupling configuration;

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a package of bottles according to a third embodiment in which a package consisting of four bottles is provided; And

Figure 2a shows the bottle package of Figure 3 in a respective decoupling configuration.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, a package of bottles is globally indicated with the number 1.

It should be noted that the package 1 contains a group 7 of bottles 2: in the accompanying figures, three different embodiments of package 1 having a different number of bottles are shown, by way of example only and therefore not limiting.

In particular, in figure 1 and la a group 7 consisting of two bottles 2 is provided, in figures 2 and 2a a group 7 consisting of three bottles is provided, while in figures 3 and 3a a group 7 of four bottles 2 is provided .

It should also be specified that the bottles 2 can be of any type and have any shape suitable for containing a respective product. For simplicity and greater clarity, bottles 2 of the type made of food-grade plastic, having a substantially cylindrical shape, are illustrated.

The group 7 of bottles 2 is defined by a plurality of bottles 2 adjacent and close to each other, with the respective cylindrical outer surfaces in mutual contact.

The package 1 also comprises a coupling band 3 wrapped around the group 7 of bottles 2 and adapted to keep the bottles adherent and coupled together.

In greater detail, the coupling band 3 has a substantially tubular band 4 arranged around the bottles and in contact with the outer surface 2a of the bottles 2 themselves. The belt 4 is configured in accordance with the various embodiments illustrated in the accompanying figures.

For example, in figure 1 and la in which two bottles 2 are present, the belt develops in cross section according to a substantially oval path. In the solution in which there are three bottles 2 (figure 2 and 2a) the belt 4 has a substantially triangular shape in cross section. In Figures 3 and 3a, in which the unit 7 consists of four bottles 2, the belt 4 has a substantially square shape in cross section.

The belt 4 is preferably made of plastic material (and even more preferably of heat-shrinkable plastic material which, once wrapped around median portions of the bottles 2, can undergo a heating phase to shrink while keeping the bottles mutually coupled).

Structurally, the belt 4 comprises first portions 5 adjacent to and alternating with second portions 6: the number of portions 5 and 6 that make up the belt 4 is equal to the number of bottles 2 which defines the group 7 (for example, in figure 1 and the in which there are two bottles 2 and two first portions 5 are therefore provided alternating with two second portions 6).

The first portions 5 are stably coupled to the external surface 2a of a respective bottle 2: in particular, each first portion 5 comprises an internal wall 5b extending over a portion of the external surface 2a of the respective bottle 2.

The inner wall 5b of the first portion 5 has at least one gluing area (not visible in the accompanying figures) to be permanently associated with the respective bottle 2.

Each first portion 5 also has an external wall 5a in sight and opposite to the internal wall 5b on which a graphic pattern relating to the product contained in the bottle 2 is printed (or more generally, in the case of bundling / packing of products and / or containers different, any type of information intended to be perceived by consumers / users). The second portions 6, interposed between the first portions 5, are instead arranged to be removed to define a bottle decoupling configuration (figures la, 2a, 3a).

In particular, between the first and second portions 5, 6, a series of separation lines 8 are formed, each of which extending from an upper edge 4a to a lower edge 4b of the tubular belt 4.

The separation lines 8 (obtained for example by pre-perforation) can be of any pattern and distribution, depending on the number and / or shape of the containers that define the package (multiple, or "packing / bundling" as desired ): for example, the separation lines 8 can be parallel to each other, equidistant and parallel to the longitudinal development axis of the bottles.

The separation lines 8 are advantageously constituted by a series of consecutive holes made on the belt 4 along a straight path. In this way, the separation lines 8 allow the manual tearing of the tape 4 along the same lines 8 to separate the second portions 6 from the first portions 5.

As illustrated in figures la, 2a and 3, when the bottles 2 are to be removed from the package 1, the second portions 6 are torn from the belt 4 along the separation lines 8.

In this way, the torn tape 4 makes it possible to dissociate and remove the individual bottles 2 from the respective group 7.

It should be noted that the first portions 5 remain glued to the respective bottles 2 even after their removal from the package 1. Consequently, once the tape 4 has been torn, the bottles are removed with the first portions 5 used as a label.

Depending on the needs of the moment, it is also possible to implement the present invention with containers and / or bottles of different shape and / or cross section, such as for example with bottles / containers having a quadrangular, rectangular or oval shape / section (and so on): for example, having square-section prismatic bottles it may be possible to make a multiple pack of six or more containers: in this case, in fact, the considerable lateral surface of the individual containers allows to exploit a considerable adhesion area on which to attach the first portions 5 , thus ensuring an adequate structural coherence to the entire packing or multiple packaging, if you prefer.

Advantageously, the bottles 2 undergo a winding phase only with the coupling band 3. In fact, using the first portion 5 glued to the respective bottle 2 as an advertising and information label, the bottles 2 must not undergo a previous phase of application of the aforementioned labels . Consequently, the production cycle of the packs 1 of bottles 2 is particularly fast, simple and therefore low costs.

A substantial saving of plastic film with which the bottles are wrapped must also be considered 2.

In fact, the tubular belt 4 which wraps the group 7 of bottles 2 has the dual function of keeping the bottles 2 associated and of giving them, by means of the first glued portion 5, a label illustrating the food product.

As a result, no additional coating material is used for each individual bottle 2.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS 1. Coupling band for containers such as bottles or the like, comprising a substantially tubular belt (4) arranged around at least two bottles (2) to keep said containers (2) coupled together, characterized in that said belt (4) comprises at least a first portion (5) which can be stably coupled to the external surface (2a) of a respective container (2), and at least a second portion (6) which can be removed and interposed between at least two containers (2). Band according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said belt (4) comprises a first portion (5) which can be associated with each container (2); each second portion (6) being interposed between two first portions (5) and being dissociable from said first portions (5) to define a condition of decoupling of the containers (2). Band according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises a series of separation lines (8) interposed between a respective first and second portion (5, 6). Band according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each separation line (8) consists of a series of consecutive holes to allow manual tearing along the line (8) itself and to remove the second portions (6). Band according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each first portion (5) comprises an inner wall (5b) extending over a portion of the outer surface (2a) of the respective container (2) and having at least one gluing area to be immovably associated with said respective container (2). 6. Band according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each first portion (5) further comprises an external wall (5a) in sight, opposite the internal wall (5b) and presenting a graphic pattern to define a label of the container (2) . Band according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said tubular tape (4) is made of plastic material preferably heat-shrinkable. 8. Multiple package comprising a plurality of containers (2) adjacent to each other to define a group (7), characterized in that said containers (2) are kept associated with each other by a coupling band (3 ) of the type described in one or more of the preceding claims. 9. Process for making a multiple package of containers such as bottles and the like, comprising the steps of: - approaching a plurality of containers (2) to each other defining a group (7); - providing a coupling band (3) defined by a tubular band (4); and - wrapping said unit (7) with the tubular tape (4) to keep the containers (2) coupled together; characterized in that said step of preparing the band (3) comprises the subphase of defining first portions (5) which can be unmovably coupled to the bottles (2) to form respective labels of the bottles (2) themselves. 10. Process according to the preceding claim, characterized by the fact that said sub-phase of defining first portions (5) which can be unmovably coupled to the containers (2) is carried out by printing a representative graphic motif on an external wall (5a) in view of the first portions (5) the content and brand of the bottles (2) themselves. 11. Process according to claims 9 or 10, characterized by the fact that said sub-phase of defining first portions (5) which cannot be removably coupled to the bottles (2) is carried out by distributing an adhesive material on an internal wall (5b) of each first portion (5) ; said inner wall (5b) of each first portion (5) being abutting to the outer surface (2a) of a respective container (2) to be glued thereto. 12. Process according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said step of preparing the band (3) further comprises the sub-step of defining second portions (6) adjacent and alternating to the first portions (5) and dissociable from the first portions (5) themselves to define a condition of decoupling of the containers (2) themselves. 13. Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said step of defining the second portions (6) is carried out by making a plurality of separation lines (8) extending from opposite edges (4a, 4b) of the tubular belt (4); each separation line (8) being interposed between the first and second portion (5, 6). 14. Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said separation lines (8) are made by means of a series of consecutive holes arranged along a predefined path defining said lines (8); said holes allowing the transversal tearing of the belt (4) to separate the first portions (5) from the second portions (6) defining the condition of decoupling of the containers (2).