WO2013004340A1

WO2013004340A1 - Method for producing packs of containers

Info

Publication number: WO2013004340A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/002560
Authority: WO
Inventors: Christopher Stuhlmann; Ernst Van Wickeren
Original assignee: Khs Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-07-05
Filing date: 2012-06-15
Publication date: 2013-01-10

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing packs (1a) of containers (2), wherein from a stream of containers, in which the containers (2) have an arbitrary orientation for example with regard to their container and/or fitting features (19), compressed or shaped groups of containers (2.1) are formed by separating off and bringing together a predetermined number of containers (2) and further bringing together the containers, and said groups of containers are subsequently combined in each case into a pack (1a).

Description

METHOD FOR PRODUCING BINDINGS FROM CONTAINERS

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 or 2.

The production of containers, i. from solid and easily manageable for the consumer transport units by forming a plurality of containers, such as multiple cans or bottles to a container group and by combining the container group is known. In particular, the combination of the respective container group forming the container using shrink films, as shown in US Pat. No. 7,726,464 A1, is also known. From DE 10 2006 037 105 A1 it is known to group a plurality of containers by means of a single carrying handle having staple-like recesses, and thus to produce a viable unit.

DE 10 2009 025 824 A1 discloses containers and a method for their production, which consist of a plurality of article groups, wherein the articles of a group of articles are each connected to each other by means of banderole. To form the actual container, the adjacent article groups or their bands are glued together. Furthermore, it is known from DE 10 2009 044 271 A1 to encompass containers of a container by means of a strapping in the region of the container waist, subsequently to rotate the individual containers in the desired manner in order to align the labels, and then the horizontal strapping by an adhesive application to fix. From DE 41 26 212 A1 it is also known to fix the foil blank, which connects the container, by gluing to the container surface.

In detail, the production of the container is carried out, for example, in such a way that the containers on a transport plane of a transporter upright and oriented with its container axis in the vertical direction or substantially vertical direction in a mass transport or in a wide container stream are supplied in which the container have an arbitrary orientation with respect to distinctive containers and / or features. This wide container stream is then converted by lane division into several single-lane container streams. In further process steps, the compartments of the later containers or their container groups forming the single-lane container streams, bringing together the necessary number of containers in each case to a compacted container group, in which the container with several shell or peripheral surfaces abut each other, and that connecting the container of each group of containers to the compact and solid or stable container. The object of the invention is to provide a method by which the production of containers in a simplified manner and / or with a substantially improved visual appearance is possible. To solve this problem, a method according to claim 1 or a container according to claim ... is formed.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the containers are produced in that the containers forming the respective container or the corresponding container group are at least partially provided on at least a portion of their container surface or outer surface with an adhesive or adhesive application and then by merging and pressing against each other These adhesive or adhesive jobs are connected to the solid and stable container.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the combination of the respective container or container group forming container is generally carried out by gluing, for example by the aforementioned adhesive or adhesive orders and / or adhesive tapes and / or by at least one strapping, preferably by at least one adhesive or self-adhesive strapping, and only after the containers are aligned with respect to an alignment feature, which is or corresponds to a distinctive container or container feature, such that the containers have a desired orientation in each container thus produced, ie are oriented with their container or equipment features in a given direction. This results in a harmonious, visually appealing appearance for each package, which u.a. provides an additional incentive to buy, especially against containers with arranged in arbitrary orientation containers.

The alignment of the container takes place in the inventive method basically by turning about the respective container axis. The alignment or the respective angle of rotation is controlled by detecting alignment features on the containers with opto-electrical sensors. If the alignment of the containers is then carried out when they have already been brought together to form the container group forming the container, the registration of the alignment features controlling the alignment takes place from above and / or from below. Especially in containers in the form of cans is usually the catchment area or at the top of the can tapered part of the can wall or the can shoulder provided with a container equipment, ie this catchment area is also printed, this all around by unavoidable tolerances of Container diameter basically has an overlap. This can then be used as a visually very distinctive alignment feature, especially since the orientation of the remaining equipment of the container with the orientation of the equipment at the catchment area clearly and completely correlated. The overlapping area can be seen optically well as a narrow line, so that with this overlapping area a very exact alignment of the respective container in the desired orientation is possible.

For the purposes of the invention, "containers" are in particular bottles, cans and soft packagings, for example those produced from cardboard and / or plastic film and / or metal foil.

In the context of the invention, "alignment feature" is a design feature of the particular container itself and / or the container equipment (container imprint and / or labeling), which has an unambiguous position relative to the desired target orientation and on which the alignment in the container is possible Target orientation takes place, and / or the respective adhesive or adhesive order to understand.

"Adhesives" within the meaning of the invention are, inter alia, all materials or compositions with which an adhesive bond between containers is possible, in particular compounds, materials or compositions which are applied in the liquid or viscous state form a self-adhesive order and / or using Pressure and / or by energy input and / or after curing or crosslinking (also by energy input) cause an adhesive bond. "Adhesive or adhesive" in the sense of the invention include also multi-layer materials, e.g. those of at least one carrier material, which is coated with a material with which an adhesive connection between containers is possible, that is at least two-sided adhesive and / or adhesive active.

The term "essentially" or "approximately" in the sense of the invention means deviations from respectively exact values by +/- 10%, preferably by +/- 5% and / or deviations in the form of changes insignificant 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.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of an embodiment. Show it:

Figure 1 shows a container according to the invention, consisting of six containers in the form of bottles, which are connected to each other by gluing to the container. FIG. 2 shows the container of FIG. 1 with a container removed from this container;

3 shows in a simplified representation and in plan view a device for the production of containers according to Figure 1;

Fig. 4 in a schematic functional representation of the treatment section of

Apparatus for applying the respective adhesive application to the containers and for connecting the containers to the containers by bringing them together and pressing them together;

Fig. 5 a container according to the invention, consisting of six containers in the form of bottles, which after alignment in a desired orientation by a

Strapping to the container were joined together;

6 shows in a simplified representation and in plan view an apparatus for the production of containers according to Figure 1;

7a and 7b, an adhesive and adhesive system with two different coating

Areas for adhesive and adhesive jobs;

Fig. 8 and Fig. 9 show in a perspective view special carrying handles in the form of an intermediate foil;

10 and 11 show analogous to the examples of FIGS. 8 and 9 carrying handles in the form of double-layered intermediate films which form a common engagement region above the container and

Figures 12 and 13 also show variants of carrying handles, similar to Figures 8 to 11, wherein the intermediate foil is formed only as a foil strip or tape, and both band ends are fixed between the containers and a

Training strap forms.

In the figures 1 - 4 are generally designated 1 container, which in this embodiment each of six by gluing directly together connected containers 2 in the form of bottles. For connecting the container 2 to the container 1, these are each provided at their Behälterober- or - outer surface with a plurality of adhesive and adhesive orders 3 an adhesive or adhesive, preferably a self-adhesive or adhesive, so that the container 2 of each container 1 after the Applying the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 by merging and juxtaposition to the container 1 are connected. In addition, the respective container 1 also has a carrying handle 4, which consists of a suitable sheet-like flat material and is likewise fastened by gluing to two containers 2 of each container 1.

FIG. 3 shows a device 5 for producing the containers 1. The device 5 comprises i.a. a feed dog 6, on which the containers 2 with their container axes BA are oriented in the vertical direction or substantially in the vertical direction, and in the mass transport, i. be supplied in a disordered amount and with a relatively large conveying width in a transport direction A on a section 6.1 of the conveyor.

In a subsequent to the section 6.1 section 6.2 of the conveyor 6 is carried out by outer and inner guide railing 7 first, a lane division of the container stream in such a way that several, i. in the illustrated embodiment, three by the inner guide railing 7 separate lanes 8 are formed, in which the container 2 each form a single-lane container stream.

In a subsequent in the direction of transport A section 6.3 or in there, reproduced schematically in the figure 3 by the block workstation 9, the application of the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 and the merging and pressing together of the container 2 to form the container 1. In the Workstation 9 is also carried out at the same time applying the carrying handles 4 on the container 1 by gluing or by applying the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 corresponding orders of adhesive or adhesive.

As shown, the single-lane container streams in the lanes 8 are first moved apart, by a corresponding course of the outer and inner guide railing 7, so that the lanes 8 and thus also the There container streams are perpendicular to the transport direction A clearly spaced from each other. In a further section 6.4 of the also extending through the station 9 transporter 6 is a separation of the container 2 in each alley 8, so that the container 2 then in a further, in the direction of transport A subsequent section 6.5 in each lane 8 a predetermined distance have from each other. With the help of applicators 10, the adhesive or adhesive jobs 3 are applied laterally to the passing containers 2, ie, to the side regions of the container outer surfaces oriented perpendicular to the transport direction A. Following this, the containers 2 provided with the adhesive and adhesive applications 3 are rotated through 90 ° by suitable means, ie with suitable rotary devices 11 about their vertical or essentially vertical container axis, so that the adhesive and adhesive applications 3 are facing in the direction of transport the containers 2 pass through another applicator 12 for applying adhesive or adhesive jobs 3 to further regions of the container outer surface that are oriented perpendicular to the transport direction A. In the illustrated embodiment, the adhesive or adhesive jobs 3 are applied to the applicators 10 and 12 in pairs in the form of an upper and a lower adhesive or adhesive application 3. Following this, a turning device 3 rotates the containers about their container axis by 90.degree. So that the last applied adhesive or adhesive jobs are located on the regions of the respective container outer surface leading in the transport direction.

Since in containers 1 with a total of six containers 2 only seven pairs of adhesive or adhesive orders 3 are required, in the illustrated embodiment the containers 2 in the two outer lanes 8, i. 4 in the upper lane 8 and in the lower lane 8 in this figure each provided with two pairs of adhesive or adhesive orders 3, in the upper lane 8 in Figure 4 only every second container 2 and in the in 4 lower alley 8 each container 2. In the middle lane 8 is applied to each container only a pair of an upper and a lower adhesive or adhesive application 3, so that there the applicator 12 is not provided. Furthermore, only every second container 2 is rotated in the middle lane 8 after applying the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 with the rotator 11 about its container axis by 90 °.

In a subsequent to the section 6.5 section 6.6 of the conveyor 6 are then first in each alley 8 two containers associated to a container 1 merged and pressed together, so that these containers 2 are connected to each other via the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 and a container subgroup 2.2 form. Following this, the container subgroups 2.2 are brought together transversely to the transport direction A and pressed together, so that then the respective container 1 forming container groups 2.1 is obtained and the container thus formed 1 in Transport direction A can be promoted to another system component, for example to a palletizer.

The rotation and alignment of the container 2 to the rotating means 11 and 13 is preferably controlled by opto-electrical sensors, for example in the form of cameras or camera systems and using a sensor or image signals of the sensors 14 evaluating computer 15, the respective rotating device 11 and 13 controls. As an orientation feature while the applied to the container 2 adhesive or adhesive orders 3 are used.

Basically, it is also possible to provide at the streets 8 in the transport direction A in front of the applicators 10 more alignment or rotating devices 16, with which the alignment of the container 2 by rotating about its container axis such that the container 2 then in the respective container. 1 with regard to their container equipment features have a predetermined target orientation and thereby results in a visually appealing appearance for each container. The alignment of the containers 2 at these additional rotating devices 16 is again effected in each case with the aid of at least one opto-electric sensor 17, for example in the form of a camera or a camera system, for detecting an equipment feature or alignment feature 19 of the respective container and with the help of the sensor or As an alignment feature 19 here are distinctive features of the container 2 itself or distinctive features of the respective container equipment, for example, the overlap region of the equipment forming imprint etc. is used , By aligning the container 2 at the turning means 16 then also the application of adhesive or adhesive orders 3 takes place in a predetermined assignment to a specific, preferably striking equipment feature of the container 2, so that the container 2 in the respective container 1 with this container and / or equipment feature are arranged in a predetermined desired orientation and results in the desired quality for the respective container reproducible. With appropriate adaptation of the applicators 10 and 12, the application of the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 can be carried out in various ways, for example in the form of a fluid, which is then dried and / or cured, for example, after application in a suitable manner that the self-adhesive and / or under pressure to produce an adhesive bond-producing adhesive and adhesive orders 3. The flowable, for example, liquid or viscous adhesive or adhesive fluid is applied, for example, by spraying or printing, for example using moving transfer pads on the surface of the container.

For the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 are also hot or hot melt adhesives, which are then applied in a suitable manner, for example via nozzles in the hot and thus liquid or viscous state on the outer surface of the container 2, wherein connecting the container to the respective container by merging and pressing together the container is still sufficiently liquid hot melt adhesive or the adhesive and adhesive 3 formed by the hot melt adhesive at or immediately before connecting the container 2 by energy input, eg be placed in a liquid or viscous state by heat, infrared radiation, etc. In principle, there is also the possibility of using such hot melt adhesives that form self-adhesive adhesive or adhesive jobs 3 or adhesive jobs 3 after cooling, which connect the pressing together of the container to the respective container. Furthermore, there are the possibilities of applying the adhesive and / or adhesive jobs 3 by adhesives and / or adhesives or foils, e.g. through the use of adhesive tapes or adhesive labels, in particular using two-sided adhesive tapes or adhesive labels. Suitable for this purpose is in particular also the adhesive tape offered by the company tesa SE, 20253 Hamburg under the brand "Powerstrip".

In the same way as connecting the respective container group 2.1 to the container 1, the attachment of the respective carrying loop or of the respective carrying handle 4 by gluing to two containers 2 of the relevant container group 2.1.

In an advantageous variant, the adhesive or adhesive jobs (3) are Velcro elements or materials. These are known to each have an adhesive and / or adhesive backing, or a back, which can be provided with a Kebe- or adhesive to secure them on the first surface, here a container surface. The front sides are complementary, in a hook and eye principle, so that the style of the front side is a hook and loop with a variety of small and flexible hook or claw-like elements and the counterpart, the other front, a plurality of small loop or counter-claws , In the method according to the invention, the containers 2 provided in the spaced state in a suitable manner with the respective parts of the Velcro elements, so that after the approach and pressing a viable container 1 is formed. The attachment of a handle or handle can acc. made of the types described herein.

It has been assumed above that, to form the containers, the containers of the respective container group 2.1 are each directly connected to one another via the adhesive or adhesive jobs 3. The invention further contemplates that, when the containers 2 are aligned prior to forming the respective container, taking into account such features formed by design features of the containers and / or the container equipment, the forming of the respective container is quite general by connecting the container of the respective container group, eg in general by gluing and in this sense also with a corresponding strapping of the aligned container group. As strapping here are, for example, tapes, especially those made of a transparent material and / or those with a self-adhesive or adhesive coating, or bands that before applying to the relevant container group 2.1 with the aligned containers 2 with an adhesive or Adhesive fluid are provided, or bands that are thermally welded at least at their ends to form the respective container group 2.1 enclosing and holding together strapping.

FIG. 5 shows, in a representation similar to FIG. 1, such a container 1 a, which is held together with a strapping 18. Since the containers 2 are aligned in the container 1a taking into account their optically detectable design features and / or taking into account their container equipment in a desired orientation, the respective container 1a has a particularly appealing visual appearance.

It comprises in turn the conveyor 6, on which the containers 2 with their container axes oriented in the vertical direction or substantially in the vertical direction and first in the mass transport, ie in a disordered amount and be supplied in arbitrary orientation and with a relatively large conveying width in the transport direction A on the section 6.1 of the conveyor 6. In the section 6.2 by the outer and inner guide railing 7 again the lane division of the container flow into a plurality of separate lanes 8, ie in the illustrated embodiment in three separate lanes 8, in which the containers 2 each form a single-lane container flow. Still within the Section 6.2, that is still within the lanes 8 is carried out a division of a predetermined number of containers 2 from each alley 8 to form a first not yet compacted or not yet finally formed container group. The number of containers 2 in this group of containers is already equal to the number of containers in the container group 2.1 of the respective container 1a. In the illustrated embodiment, the same number of containers 2 is separated from the single-lane container stream of each lane 8, ie two containers 2 from each lane 8 on the section A in the transport direction A or in the there provided station 9 a then the application of the strapping 18 to the respective container group 2.1. The containers 1a thus formed are then fed to the conveyor 6 for further use. In order for the container 1a the appealing appearance, each container 2 in the respective container 1a, taking into account its local position on a predetermined target orientation, so that, for example, a certain equipment feature, ie in the form of a brand used logo, respectively at the Outside of the container 1a is thus optimally visible, preferably also by the strapping formed by a transparent band 18th

The alignment of the container 2 is again by turning about its container axis. This alignment or respectively the angle of rotation required for the alignment is controlled taking into account alignment features on the containers 2, which are detected by optoelectrical sensors, for example in the form of cameras or camera systems, and with the help of at least one computer, which controls the sensor or image signals of the sensors, in the same manner as described above in connection with the alignment or rotation units 16 and the sensors 17.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the alignment of the containers 2 takes place in the station 9a immediately before the application of the respective strapping 18. Basically, however, the alignment of the containers can take place at other regions or sections of the device 5a. The alignment takes place but in any case after the lane. For example, the alignment of the container 2 in its respective desired orientation on section 6.2 or on at least a partial length of the lanes 8 before dividing the groups of containers from these lanes 8, ie based on the transport direction A in front of a compartment causing device 20th take place, in such a way that in each case the alignment of at least one container in each alley 8 takes place in one operation.

Furthermore, the alignment of the containers 2 in their desired orientation can also be carried out after the compartments or container subgroups have been divided, for example in such a way that at least two containers 2, preferably all containers of the container subgroups generated by the compilation, are aligned in one operation. If the alignment of the container 2 at a time at which these containers are already 2 merged to the compact, the respective container 1a forming container group 2.1, then at least an alignment feature at the top or at the shoulder of the respective container 2 for aligning used, so an alignment feature on such a container outer surface, which is accessible from above and is not covered by other container 2 in whole or in part.

The detection of the respective alignment feature from above also has the fundamental advantage that already at the beginning of alignment in the computer processing the sensor or image signal the actual orientation, which coincidentally has the alignment feature prior to alignment, and from this for aligning the respective container 2 in the desired orientation necessary rotation angle can be calculated. As a result, a very fast alignment of the container 2 and thus a high performance of the device 5a (number of aligned and summarized to containers 1a container 2 per unit time) achieved.

It has been assumed above that the connection of the container 2 forming the respective formed container group 2.1 by the application of the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 (device 5) or by the strapping 18 (device 5a) follows. But there are also methods possible in which the connection of the container 2 by the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 and by the application of at least one strapping 18 is combined, for example, such that only subsets of the respective container group 2.1 forming container 2, for example Container of the sub-container groups 2.2 on the adhesive or adhesive jobs and otherwise the connection of the container to the respective container through the at least one strapping 18 takes place.

Before applying the at least one strapping 18 and / or the adhesive or adhesive jobs 3, for example, at least such areas of Container outer surfaces provided with a coating fluid, on the subsequent strapping the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 are applied. In this case, the coating fluid is, for example, a primer that improves adhesion of the adhesive or adhesive jobs 3. Coatings based on silicates or acrylic base are known, if necessary with photoinhibitors, which are curable extremely rapidly under UV radiation.

Conversely, depending on the adhesive and the substrate, it may be advantageous to provide a coating fluid for forming a coating, which ensures or facilitates the manual and non-destructive detachment or separation of the containers, thus reducing or completely preventing sticking or sticking. In particular, coating fluids based on silicones, silcon oils or fats are known here. In these coating fluids, it is often not so crucial that they cure very quickly or dry, as long as they do not lead to contamination.

If a two-time adhesive or adhesive tape or film is applied, the application of adhesion or adhesion-reducing fluids can be carried out in sections directly on the tape or film, so that an engagement and manipulation section is produced. Ideally, the tape or film will also be cut in this area.

Such systems of material (substrate), coating fluid and adhesive are widely described and must be selected depending on the container material.

A particularly advantageous variant consists of creating an engagement region on a smaller partial area by the application of adhesion-reducing or -verhindernden coating fluids, on which the consumer can grip and peel the adhesive and adhesive, especially when so-called adhesive strips are applied, which dissolve in elongation under train from the surface, such as. the customary powerstrip ^® from Tesa.

FIG. 7 shows such a variant in which a first coating 21, which improves adhesion and / or adhesion, and a second coating 22, which reduces the adhesive force, is applied to the container 2a. The first coating 21 in the area, attached, in which the containers 2a and 2b are to be held by the local section of the adhesive and adhesive application 3.1. The second coating 22 is ideally arranged so that the portion of the adhesive and adhesive application 3.2 lying there can be gripped manually by the consumer and released in the direction of the arrow A (peel-off). In FIG. 7b, arrow B shows the pulling direction, below which an adhesive and adhesive application 3 is stretched in the style of a strip, with simultaneous detachment from the surface of the container 2b and subsequently (not visible) also from the first coating 21 and the container 2a. In one variant, adhesives or adhesives may be applied which already have two zones on the production side, one with a high adhesive or adhesive force and one with or without reduced adhesion or adhesive power.

The adhesive tapes used for the adhesive or adhesive jobs 3, the straps 18 and handles 4, for example, consist of a temperature-resistant belt-shaped carrier material, for example of plastic, e.g. based on polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, in particular polyethylene terephthalate (PET, PVC, polyamide or polyimite and / or of paper and / or of a composite material of the aforementioned substances.) This carrier material is then, for example, both sides (for the adhesive or adhesive jobs 3) or but is coated on one side (for the strapping 18) with the adhesive or adhesive, these adhesive tapes or PSAs preferably having little or no anisotropy being produced Corresponding adhesive tapes or adhesives and their preparation are described in DE 10 2005 054 054 A1.

Adhesives or adhesives which are curable by the action of energy, for example by heating and / or by irradiation, for example by infrared radiation, UV radiation, electromagnetic radiation or microwave energy are also suitable for the adhesive or adhesive applications 3 and for the strapping 18 , by radiation, by electron or X-ray radiation, etc. These adhesives or adhesives may in turn be part of adhesive tapes or PSAs consisting of the web-shaped support material. Pressure-sensitive adhesive compositions or adhesive tapes of the aforementioned type and their preparation are described in DE 103 44 449 A1 described.

As adhesives or adhesives in particular those substances are used which have a good adhesion to the material of the container and a high cohesion (internal strength in the respective adhesive or adhesive layer), whereby good adhesive properties and thus a particularly strong connection of the container to the stable container is achieved. Such adhesives and adhesives are described in DE 103 23 048 A. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the adhesive and adhesive are slightly raised, so that the support surface is increased on the usually slightly convex container wall. If water-soluble or dispersible adhesives or adhesives, for example water-soluble or water-dispersible hotmelt adhesives, are used in the invention, it is then possible to apply the adhesive or adhesive jobs 3, the strapping 18 and / or the carrying handles 4 and / or to the containers 2 remaining residues thereof, at least in the cleaning of the empty container 2 in the usual cleaning machines to remove, for example, heated to a temperature range between 40 ° C to 70 ° C water with addition of electrolyte, for example with the addition of sodium hydroxide. In FIGS. 8 to 11, variants of a carrying handle construction or carrying handle arrangement are shown, in which one or more intermediate and carrier foils 23 are provided, a flat, foil or fabric-like material. In the embodiment variants, as shown in FIG. 8 or 9, an intermediate and carrier film 23 is arranged in each case between two rows of containers 2 directly connected by means of adhesive or adhesive applications 3. In this case, the intermediate and carrier films 23 have recesses 24 in the region of the adhesive or adhesive applications 3, via which the rows of containers 2 are connected to the parallel row of containers 2. The intermediate and support film 23 is further dimensioned such that it projects beyond the container 2 or the container 1 above the closures (FIG. 8) or on the ventral side. In this overhanging part of the intermediate and supporting foil 23, a carrying handle opening 25 may be provided, as shown in Figure 7, or a perforation 26 to make a carrying handle for the end user educable. In the case of lifting the container 1 on the intermediate and support sheets 23, the recesses 24 form eyelets held by the adhesive or adhesive application 3. It is harmless if the edge of the recess 24 was slightly adhered to the approach and contact pressure of the container rows of the adhesive or adhesive application 3 on one of the two opposite container surfaces zw., This variant may be at least one or more of Adhesive or adhesive orders 3 are deliberately provided to fix the intermediate and support film 23 in the packaging process in its position relative to the container 2. In a larger or more than two-row container 1, it may be advantageous to provide more than one or a double-layer intermediate and support film 23. FIG. 10 shows such a double-layer, one-piece intermediate and carrier film 23 which has been turned over above the containers 2. Figure 11 shows an alternative variant in which in each of the two rows of containers 2, each an intermediate and support film 23 is arranged, which jointly grasped in the abdominal region in front of the containers 2 can be. The recesses can not be seen in this figure and of course the solutions of Figure 10 and 11 can be provided analogously. FIGS. 12 and 13 show variants in which the intermediate and supporting foil 23 is designed as a band or narrow strip, the one end with aforementioned recesses 24 being held between at least two containers 2, the middle part of the band above or in front of the containers 2 is arranged or guided so that it forms a handle portion or loop, so can be detected as a carrying handle and further the other end between the same two or other containers 2, respectively the adhesive or adhesive orders 3 is positioned and held. For larger containers 1, it is recommended that the band-like intermediate and supporting foil 23 diagonally or otherwise suitably lead over the container 1, that an advantageous weight distribution is achieved. It may be advantageous not to provide an above-mentioned intermediate and supporting foil 23, which itself forms or has the handle or carrying portion, but rather to an intermediate and carrying foil 23 which does not or virtually does not protrude beyond the containers 2 or the container Carrying handle or loop, for example, by a suitable adhesive, shit or soldering.

The invention has been described above by means of exemplary embodiments. It is understood that changes and modifications are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1, 1a container

2 containers

2.1 to the container 1 or 1a merged container group. 2

2.2 preliminary container group

3 adhesive or adhesive application

4 carrying strap or carrying handle

5, 5a device

6 transporter

6.1 - 6.5 Sections of the carrier 6

7 guiding railings

8 lanes

9, 9a station

10 applicator

11 turntable

12 applicator

13 turntable

14 opto-electrical sensor

15 computers

16 turntable

17 sensor

18 strapping

19 Alignment feature

20 Device for dividing container groups

21 Coating (improving adhesion or adhesive strength)

22 Coating (reducing adhesive strength)

23 intermediate and carrier foil

24 recess

25 carrying handle opening

26 perforation for handle opening

A Transport direction of the carrier 6

BA tank axis

Claims

claims

A method for producing containers (1a) from containers (2), wherein from a container flow in which the containers (2) have an arbitrary orientation with respect to their containers and / or features, a lane formation for the formation of single-lane container flows in alleys ( 8) and then formed by dividing a predetermined number of containers (2) in the lanes (8) not yet final formed, provisional container groups and from these by merging the container (2) respectively formed, compressed container groups and subsequently to the respective Container (1a) are summarized, wherein the container group (2.1) of a container (1a) forming container are aligned with respect to a distinctive container and / or equipment feature, so that the container (2) in the finished container (1 a) a predetermined Have target orientation, characterized in that a singular the container (2) in each alley (8) is such that in the transport direction, the container (2) in each alley (8) have a predetermined distance from each other, and wherein subsequently aligning the respective container (2) by controlled rotation to its container axis takes place, with respect to an alignment feature (19), namely with respect to the desired position of at least one applied to the respective container (2) adhesive or adhesive application (3) the alignment of the respective container (2) after the lane division and in that, after aligning the containers, the compacted and formed container groups (2.1) formed by them are joined together to form the container (1a) by means of adhesive or adhesive or adhesive application (3), the containers (2) following manually and non-destructively from the group of containers (2.1) or separable from each other.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (2) of the container stream, in which the container (2) with respect to their container and / or features features an arbitrary orientation, before connecting to the respective container (1) respectively be aligned with respect to a distinctive container and / or equipment feature, so that the container (2) in the finished container (1) have a predetermined orientation, wherein the alignment of the container (2) preferably takes place after a draft of the container stream.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting of the respective container group (2.1) of the container (1a) forming Container at least by at least one of the container group (2.1) enclosing and adhering to this by an adhesive or adhesive strapping (18) and / or connected to each other, that at least a subset of the formed container group (2.1) of a container (1a) forming Container (2) is provided on at least a partial surface of its container surface with at least one adhesive or adhesive application (3), and that the container (2) of the container group (2.1) are brought together and pressed together so that they on the adhesive and adhesive orders (3) are interconnected.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alignment of the respective container (2) takes place by controlled rotation about its container axis, in relation to an alignment feature (19) in particular with regard to the desired position and / or orientation of a container - or equipment feature and / or with regard to the desired position of the at least one on the respective container (2) applied adhesive or adhesive application (3).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the approaching and / or pressing and / or aligning the respective container (2) by means of at least one method holding and gripping head, which is movable in and / or against the main transport path.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the holding and gripping head, the gripped container (2) moves individually in the X-Y direction relative to each other.

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the holding and gripping head comprises motor-driven gripping elements, whereby the gripped container (2) can be rotated about their respective container axis independently or rotationally aligned.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alignment of the container (2) after the division of the respective container (1, 1a) forming the container group from the container stream, for example after the lane formation takes place.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that prior to applying the adhesive or adhesive jobs (3) at least such areas of the container outer surfaces with a coating fluid The coating fluid is then, for example, a fluid which improves adhesion of adhesive or adhesive jobs (3), in particular based on silicon or acrylic.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the coating fluid is dried immediately after application and / or cured, in particular by means of a radiation emitter.

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that before applying the adhesive or adhesive jobs (3) at least in such areas of the container outer surfaces are provided with a coating fluid in partial areas of these areas, then to the the adhesive or Adhesive application (3) are applied, wherein the coating fluid is a liability of adhesive or adhesive orders (3) lowering or preventing fluid, in particular silicone, silicone oil and / or oil-based.

12. The method according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that at least such areas of the container outer surfaces are provided with different a coating fluid in partial areas of these areas, then applied to the adhesive or adhesive orders (3), wherein a Coating fluid increases the adhesion of the adhesive or adhesive jobs (3) and another coating fluid on another sub-surface reduces the adhesion or preventing fluid.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at one or more containers (2) of the respective container (1, 1a) a carrying handle (4) is fixed, in particular by gluing or by means of an adhesive or adhesive or by a suitable soldering or welding process.

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alignment of the container (2) and the detection of the at least one alignment feature (19) is controlled in each case with at least one opto-electronic sensor, for example with at least one camera or a camera system.

15. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alignment of the container (2) by detecting the at least one alignment feature (19) from above and / or from below takes place.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as an alignment feature (19) an overlap of a container for the container equipment forming imprint is used.

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive or adhesive jobs (3) are formed by a two-sided adhesive or adhesive adhesive or adhesive element or - material, for example, a two-sided adhesive tape or a two-sided adhesive label.

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the double-sided adhesive tape is constructed in the manner of a Klebestrips, which dissolves upon rotation under train, from the surfaces.

19. The method according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the double-sided adhesive tape has a non-adhesive or low-adhesion or adhesive engagement region.

20. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive or adhesive jobs (3) represent Velcro elements or material, each having an adhesive and / or adhesive or can be provided with a Kebe- or adhesive first side and in as a counterpart complementary hook or claw-like or a loop or counter-claws having second side.

21. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive or adhesive jobs (3) by a flowable, for example, liquid or viscous adhesive or adhesive fluids are generated.

22. The method according to claim 21, characterized in that the adhesive or adhesive fluid is applied by spraying and / or printing, for example by means of at least one nozzle and / or by means of at least one moving transfer pads on the container (2).

23. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive or adhesive is a hot melt adhesive.

24. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection of the container (2) to the respective structure (1) forming the container group (2.1) takes place in at least two stages, wherein initially the subset of the container (1) forming Container, preferably container of the rows of containers produced by the alley formation with adhesive or adhesive orders (3) and then connected to provisional container groups (2.2), and then in at least one subsequent step, these container sub-groups (2.2) by merging and pressing together to the Container (1) forming container group (2.1) are connected.

25. The method according to claim 24, characterized in that the application of the container subgroups (2.2) connect adhesive or adhesive jobs (3) after and / or before the preparation of the container subgroups (2.2).

26. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective container (1, 1a) forming container group (2.1) from at least partially on the adhesive and adhesive orders (3) interconnected containers (2) with at least one strapping ( 18) is provided.

27. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two containers an intermediate and support film (23) is inserted, which in the region of the adhesive or adhesive orders (3) at least one recess (24) and at one end at least one Carrying section has, in particular a carrying handle opening (25).

28. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that the intermediate and supporting film (23) is designed as a carrying or handle loop.

29. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that at least one carrying or grip loop is attached to the intermediate and support film (23).

30. The method according to claim 27, characterized in that a perforation (26) for the later formation of a handle opening (25) is provided.