JP2013504497A - Packaging for packing bands and bottles etc. and its manufacturing process - Google Patents

Abstract

The connecting band (3) for the container (2) includes a substantially cylindrical strip (4) disposed around the container so as to hold the at least two containers in an interconnected state, The strip (4) is at least one first portion (5) stably connected to the outer surface (2a) of each container (2), and at least the strip (4) is detachably disposed between the containers (2). One second part (6).
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to connecting bands for containers (such as bottles and the like), packages for such containers, and processes for forming such packages.

  That is, in the following description, reference is made (as a non-limiting example) to a bottle, generally a glass, metal, or plastic bottle package held together with a plastic film band.

  As is well known, in various fields (such as so-called “mass distribution”), several “single” product containers are grouped together by a band of polymer material wrapped around the assembly of containers.

  The band is cylindrical and is wrapped around a predetermined portion of the container so that the containers are held together close together. In other words, single containers (both bottles and other containers) are joined together and can be transported and / or handled as a single article. It is also well known that identification labels having various shapes and graphic and character contents are affixed to bottles and the like.

  For example, a single bottle is often covered with a plastic film on which a liquid food trademark and its chemical components are printed in accordance with food regulations.

  As a result, the bottle is subjected to a first winding step in which each of the labels is wrapped around each bottle. Subsequently, after the labeling bottles are brought close together to form the assembly, a second wrapping step in which a linking band (or appropriately shaped cardboard element) is wrapped around the bottle assembly to define a single package. Receive.

  The packaging process described above takes a considerable amount of time because the label must first be wrapped around the bottle and then the connecting band.

  As a result, the packaging process is extremely uneconomical in terms of material costs as well as production costs and time.

  In such a situation, the technical object of the present invention is to devise a bottle coupling band and a bottle packaging process that can solve the above-mentioned problems.

  In particular, connecting bands for containers such as bottles and the like, and more easily and quickly can reduce the amount of bottle packing material, for packing or bundling, or more generally “multiple of bottles or containers” It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for the production of a large number of composite) packages).

  Providing a method for binding containers (both bottles and others) that allows single containers to be labeled efficiently in a short time while at the same time keeping them in proper packaging This is a further object of the present invention.

The technical objectives described above are characterized in that they include one or more of the technical solutions claimed below, by connecting bands for containers such as bottles and the like, by packaging of containers such as bottles and others. This is substantially accomplished by a process for forming such a package.
By way of illustrative and non-limiting example, a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment for a package of connecting bands and containers (in this case bottles) according to the invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bottle package with a connecting band according to the present invention in each enclosed configuration. FIG. 1a shows the bottle package of FIG. 1 in each separate configuration. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bottle package according to a second embodiment in which the package is composed of three bottles. FIG. 2a shows the bottle package of FIG. 2 in each separate configuration. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a bottle package according to a third embodiment in which the package is composed of four bottles. FIG. 3a shows the bottle package of FIG. 3 in each separate configuration. FIG. 4 illustrates each of the process steps for forming another package according to the present invention. FIG. 4a shows each of the steps of the process for forming another package according to the present invention. FIG. 5 shows each of the process steps for forming yet another package according to the present invention. FIG. 5a shows each of the steps of the process for forming another package according to the present invention.

  Referring to the above figure, the bottle package is indicated generally by the numeral 1.

  As can be seen, the package 1 contains an assembly 7 of bottles 2. In the accompanying drawings, three different embodiments of a package 1 having a different number of bottles are shown only as an exemplary and therefore non-limiting example.

  In particular, FIGS. 1 and 1a show an assembly 7 consisting of two bottles 2, FIGS. 2 and 2a show an assembly 7 consisting of three bottles, and FIGS. 3 and 3a show four bottles 2 The assembly 7 comprised is shown.

  It should be pointed out that the bottle 2 can be of any kind and can have any shape suitable for containing the respective product. For the sake of simplicity and clarity, a plastic type bottle 2 for use in foods having a substantially cylindrical shape is shown in the drawing.

  The assembly 7 of bottles 2 is defined by a plurality of bottles 2 adjacent and adjacent to each other, each cylindrical outer surface being in contact with each other.

  The package 1 also includes a connecting band 3 that is suitable for being wrapped around a bottle assembly 7 to hold the bottles attached and connected to each other.

  More specifically, the connecting band 3 includes a substantially substantially tubular strip 4 disposed around the bottle in contact with the outer surface 2a of the bottle 2. The strip 4 has a configuration according to different embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  For example, in FIGS. 1 and 1a, which shows two bottles 2, the strip extends transversally along a substantially elliptical path. In the solution involving three bottles 2 (FIGS. 2 and 2a), the cross section of the strip 4 has a substantially triangular shape. In FIGS. 3 and 3a, in which the assembly 7 consists of four bottles 2, the cross section of the strip 4 is substantially square.

  The strip 4 is preferably made of a plastic material (more preferably a heat-shrinkable plastic material that is wrapped around the central portion of the bottle 2 and then undergoes a heating step to shrink and hold the bottle in an interconnected state). The Viewed structurally, the strip 4 includes first portions 5 that are alternately disposed adjacent to the second portions 6. The number of parts 5, 6 constituting the strip 4 is equal to the number of bottles 2 defining the assembly 7 (for example, FIGS. 1 and 1 a show two bottles 2, so two second parts 6 and Two first parts 5 arranged alternately are provided).

  The first part 5 is firmly connected to the outer surface 2a of each bottle 2 (steady, steady, steady, stable). In particular, each first portion 5 includes an inner wall 5b that extends to a portion of the outer surface 2a of each bottle 2.

  The inner wall 5b of the first part 5 has at least one adhesive region (not shown in the accompanying drawings) that irremovably couples with each bottle 2.

  Each first part 5 is printed with a graphic design relating to the product contained in the bottle 2 (more generally any information perceived by the consumer / user about different products and / or bundles / packages of containers). It also has a visible outer wall 5a opposite to the inner wall 5b.

  The second part 6 interposed between the first parts 5 can be removed to define the unconnected state of the bottle (FIGS. 1a, 2a, 3a).

  In particular, a series of separation lines 8 are provided between the first and second parts 5 and 6, each extending from the upper edge 4 a to the lower edge 4 b of the cylindrical strip 4. .

  The dividing line 8 (such as that obtained by pre-drilling) depends on the number and / or shape of the containers defining the package (which may be referred to as multiple packages or “pack / bundle”), It may have any distribution or pattern. For example, the dividing lines 8 may be parallel to each other and equally spaced and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bottle.

  Advantageously, the dividing line 8 is constituted by a series of consecutive holes formed in the strip 4 along a straight path. Thus, in order to divide the second part 6 from the first part 5, the strip 4 can be manually broken along the dividing line 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 a, 2 a, 3 a, when the bottle 2 has to be removed from the package 1, the second part 6 is broken from the strip 4 along the dividing line 8.

  The strip 4 thus broken allows a single bottle to be dissociated and removed from each assembly 7.

  It must be emphasized that the first part 5 remains adhered to each bottle 2 even after the bottle 2 is removed from the package 1. As a result, when the strip 4 is broken, the bottle is removed with the first part 5 acting as a label.

  Depending on the specific requirements, the invention may also be implemented in containers and / or bottles having different shapes and / or cross sections, such as bottles / containers having a square / rectangular or elliptical shape / cross section (etc.). Is possible. For example, a prismatic bottle with a square cross-section could create a multiple package containing 6 or more containers. In such a case, in fact, since the side surface of the single container is wide, a wide adhesive area to which the first portion 5 is attached is provided to ensure proper structural bonding force of the multiple package or the entire bundle.

  Conveniently, the bottle 2 only receives a single winding step in which the connecting band 3 is mounted. In fact, by using the first portion 5 bonded to each bottle 2 as an advertisement and information label, the bottle 2 need not be subjected to the preceding step of attaching the label.

  As a result, the production cycle of the bottle 1 package 1 is significantly faster, simpler and more economical.

  It should also be pointed out that this solution saves a lot of plastic film used for packaging the bottle 2.

  In practice, the cylindrical strip 4 wound around the assembly 7 of the bottle 2 holds the bottle 2 in a joined state and provides a label depicting the contained food by the first adhesive portion 5. Carry out heavy functions.

  As a result, no other coating material is attached to the single bottle 2.

  Variations of the above description are possible in the process for forming a package according to the present invention. Actually, in order to attach the cylindrical strip 4 to a bottle having a cylindrical body as shown in the above example, an adhesive is directly applied to the bottle itself, and then the strip is wound around the bottle. Also good.

  If the strip initially has an open configuration, it may be wrapped around the bottle as a band that adheres to the area where the adhesive has been applied.

  On the other hand, if the initial configuration of the strip 4 is a closed configuration (i.e. cylindrical or ring-shaped), an initial annular shape slightly larger than that made of heat-shrinkable plastic material and required for bottle packaging. Using a strip with an extended area, dropping it into the bottle and applying it to the pre-applied adhesive using the heat shrink capability of the strip, the strip is attached and the strip shrinks to the bottle It is conceivable that it adheres closely.

  However, for solutions with irregular shapes or multiple diameters, or in any case with a non-uniform body like the cylindrical body of the bottle shown in FIGS. Both laws are not usable.

  Some examples of irregular bottles are shown in FIGS. 4, 4a, 5, 5a illustrating the respective steps of the packaging process, and the same references are used to refer to elements that match those already discussed. Numbers are used.

  In a variant of the invention, the strip 4 is composed of a film made of a heat-shrinkable plastic material, such as PET, PVC, PP, OPS, PLA, PE, etc., and is subdivided into the parts 5 and 6 described above, As previously described, the bottle is divided by a dividing line 8 that allows it to be removed from the package.

  Portion 5 is intended for attachment to bottle 2 having a convex outer profile that is not uniform as can be seen. For this reason, an adhesive is applied to the inner wall 5b 'of the portion 5, and the adhesive is thermally activated at a temperature within a range where the heat-shrinkable film of the strip 4 contracts.

  According to the present invention, the adhesive is preferably applied in the same ink printing process used to create the letters and graphics on the label.

  In this way, in fact, the application does not slow down the production cycle and can be carried out on the same machine used for label printing. For this purpose, it is possible and advantageous to use flexo or rotogravure printing machines such as those employed industrially for label printing.

  According to this teaching, an adhesive is applied to the ink layer printed on the inner wall 5b of the part 5, and for this reason the adhesive is (at least partly) transparent.

  Next, since the adhesive must be dried at a temperature below the activation temperature, the coated cylindrical strip is processed in the following steps of the production process.

  For this reason, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the available adhesives may be based on polyesters, vinyl acrylics, EVA, ionomers dispersions. As long as it is applied to the plastic film during the production cycle as described above and then activated within the heat shrink temperature range of the plastic film, other thermal adhesives may be used as well.

  Depending on the type of plastic film used for the strip 4, its thickness, hot chamber duration, and other factors, this range is included between 35 ° C and 85 ° C.

  As can be appreciated, when the strip 4 is cold, it has a larger annular extension range than is necessary for wrapping the bottle 2 and can be lowered into the bottle as shown in FIG. In this state, the adhesive applied to the inside of the part 5 of the strip 4 is not active, so that the problem of interference with the bottle 2 does not arise.

  As the bottle 2 passes through the hot chamber of the packaging facility (not shown in the drawing as it is known per se) to shrink the wrapped strip 4, following the shrinking process, the portion 5 of the strip 4 is As it adheres to the bottle 2, the thermally active adhesive present on the inner wall 5b 'of this part also becomes sticky.

  In the process according to the present invention, the bonding step and the heat shrinking step of the cylindrical strip 4 are carried out at the same time, so it is advantageous that the process can also be carried out on bottles with irregular diameters as shown in the drawing.

  In practice, the application of adhesive to such bottles (unlike having a circular body as described in the previous example) is problematic because of the variability in diameter along the bottle body.

  However, if the adhesive distribution on the bottle is uneven, air bubbles may be trapped between the bottle and the strip film, which may negatively affect the stability of the connection and the appearance of the package. That will be easily understood.

  As the number of bottles increases, this negative effect increases in that the width of the strip portion 5 decreases in this case, as can be seen in FIGS. .

  The wrap angle around the bottle is small and occupies approximately a quarter of the bottle's outer surface. In this situation, it is clear that poor adhesion needs to be avoided since otherwise the stability of the package and single bottle is compromised.

  Finally, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second parts 5, 6 of the strip 4 when using irregular bottles as shown in FIGS. 4, 4a, 5, 5a. It should be pointed out that the dividing line 8 between the two is obtained by perforating the strip with a hot needle.

  In this way, high temperature perforation locally strengthens the material in the vicinity of the hole so that the film is not broken by the tension generated in the heat-shrinked strip.

  All of the above variations will also fall within the scope of the following claims.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Bottle package 2 Container 2a Outer surface 3 Connection band 4 Cylindrical strip 4a Upper edge 4b Lower edge 5 1st part 5a Outer wall 5b, 5b 'Inner wall 6 2nd part 7 Bottle assembly 8 Dividing line

Claims (22)

  In a connecting band for containers such as bottles and the like, comprising a substantially cylindrical strip (4) arranged around at least two bottles (2) for holding said containers (2) connected to each other. The strip (4) is detachable between the at least one first part (5), which is firmly connected to the outer surface (2a) of each container (2), and the at least two containers (2). A band, characterized in that it has at least one second part (6) arranged intervening.   The strip (4) has a first part (5) that can be coupled to each container (2), and each second part (6) is interposed between the two first parts (5). Band according to claim 1, characterized in that it is separable from the first part (5) to define the unconnected state of the container (2).   Band according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it further comprises a series of dividing lines (8) interposed between each of the first and second parts (5, 6).   Each said dividing line (8) is constituted by a series of continuous holes that allow manual breakage along said line (8) and removal of said second part (6), characterized in that The band according to item.   An inner wall (5b) extending at a part of the outer surface (2a) of each container (2) and having at least one adhesive region that is non-detachably coupled to each container (2) is provided for each first. Band according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the part (5) comprises.   Each first portion (5) further includes an outer wall (5a) visible opposite the inner wall (5b) and having a graphic design defining a label of the container (2). The band according to claim 1.   Band according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tubular strip (4) is preferably made of a heat-shrinkable plastic material.   The inner wall (5b) of the first part (5) of the strip (4) is thermally activated at a temperature substantially equal to the heat shrink temperature of the plastic material of the cylindrical strip (4). The band according to claim 7, wherein an adhesive is provided.   A multiple package comprising a plurality of containers (2) adjacent to each other so as to define an assembly (7), wherein said containers (2) by means of a connecting band (3) of the type according to one or more of the preceding claims ) Are held in an interconnected state.   10. The container according to claim 9, wherein the container is a bottle or the like, and the body of the bottle includes a region having an irregular profile and having different diameters or some uneven dimensions. Package. In the process of forming multiple packages for containers such as bottles and others,
Disposing a plurality of containers (2) in close proximity to each other to define an assembly (7);
Providing a connecting band (3) defined by a cylindrical strip (4);
Wrapping the tubular strip (4) around the assembly (7) to hold the interconnected containers (2);
Including
The step of providing the band (3) defines a first portion (5) that can be non-removably connected to the bottle (2) to constitute a label for each of the bottles (2). Including sub-steps,
process.   The sub-step defining a first part (5) that can be non-removably connected to the container (2) prints a graphic design on the visible outer wall (5a) of the first part (5). Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the graphic design represents the contents and trademarks of the bottle (2).   The sub-step defining a first part (5) that can be non-removably connected to the bottle (2) is carried out by dispensing an adhesive material on the inner wall (5b) of each first part (5) The inner wall (5b) of each first part (5) is in contact with the outer surface for adhering to the outer surface (2a) of each container (2) (in abutment). 13. Process according to claim 11 or 12, characterized.   The adhesive material to be applied to the inner wall (5b; 5b ′) of each first part (5) has the tubular strip (4) having a film made of a heat-shrinkable plastic material. 14. Process according to claim 13, which can be thermally activated at a temperature within a temperature range where thermal contraction of the cylindrical strip (4) occurs.   15. Process according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the adhesive material is applied to the inner wall (5b) of the part (5), like ink printed on the strip (4).   16. Process according to claim 15, wherein at least one ink layer is printed on the inner wall (5b) of the first part (5) and the adhesive material is applied to the at least one printing ink layer.   The cylindrical strip (4) is made by using a film made of a heat shrinkable plastic material selected from: PET, PVC, PP, OPS, PLA, PE A process according to any one of the preceding claims.   The adhesive material applied to the inner wall (5b) of the first part (5) of the strip (4) is selected from the following: polyester, vinyl acrylic resin, EVA, ionomer. ). The process of any one of the preceding claims.   The step of providing the band (3) is further arranged alternately with the first part adjacent to the first part (5) to define the unconnected state of the container (2). 19. Process according to any one of claims 11 to 18, characterized in that it comprises sub-steps defining a second part (6) that can be separated from (5).   The step of defining the second part (6) is carried out by forming a plurality of dividing lines (8) extending from opposite side edges (4a, 4b) of the cylindrical strip (4), Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that a dividing line (8) is interposed between the first and second parts (5, 6).   With a series of continuous holes arranged along a predetermined path that defines the dividing line (8), the line (8) is created to define the unconnected state of the container (2), Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hole allows a lateral break of the strip (4) to divide the first part (5) from the second part (6).   The process of claim 21, wherein the hole is created by using a hot needle.

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