WO2013185898A1 - Waist-type carrier and method for producing a container package - Google Patents

Description

 WAFER SUPPORT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A CONTAINER BOND

The invention relates to a carrier element made of cardboard, e.g. made of corrugated board, cardboard or stiffer plastic material for containers, which are grouped together in one container.

Container according to the invention, for example, bottles, cans, tubes, pouches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, so for example, PET bottles, but also other packaging, especially those for filling of liquid or viscous products are suitable, but also already to groups or containers (multiple pack) combined containers. Such containers, e.g. PET bottles have a contact area which is e.g. In the case of glass bottles, this can be recognized by repeated use of the bottle, for example by means of the wear ring, which is usually recognizable in a light highlighting be arranged in PET bottles not only in the head area, but also in the foot or abdomen. Between the head area and the foot area or abdominal area, a constriction can be arranged, which can also be referred to as a waist.

In detail, the production of the container is carried out, for example, in such a way that the container on a transport plane of a transporter rising and oriented with its container axis in the vertical direction or substantially vertical direction in a mass transport or in a wide container stream, in the containers have an arbitrary orientation with regard 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 single-track container streams, which form the later containers or their container groups, are separated and the necessary number of containers are brought together to form a single container. sealed container group, in which the container with several lateral or circumferential surfaces, ie with the contact or contact surfaces abut each other, and that connecting the container of each group of containers to the compact and solid or stable container.

[0004] It is known to group together or formulate a plurality of articles each into a group of articles, and to manufacture solid or transportable storage and transport units or packages from the article groups using shrink films (for example, US 7,726,464 A1).

It has also been proposed to produce transportable containers in that each container formed into a group of containers is packed by strapping around the container group in a loop-like manner (DE 10 2009 025 824 A1, DE 10 2009 044 271 A1, DE 41 26 212 A1) ie be connected to a container, which is a particularly cost-effective and easy way to produce containers or transport and storage units. The strapping can also be glued to the containers. A disadvantage of the strapping, however, is that the first removal of a container from such a container, the remaining container in the container are no longer held together by the Umrei-. This applies not only when the strapping is separated or cut, but also when it is possible to remove a container from the container without severing the strapping.

Furthermore, when transporting such containers on a belt conveyor, there is always the risk that cylindrical or substantially cylindrical articles, such as cans, bottles or containers, assume a nesting position due to vibration, impact, etc., ie slip into the gap of the adjacent row , In order to prevent this, a very high tension must be applied to the strapping in known containers.

DE 10 2006 037 105 A1, on the other hand, deals with a method for assembling bottle packs, in which on both sides of a Track a rotary star is provided which pushes bottle necks in brackets on flat beams. The bottle package is still covered with a tape or wrapping (foil). According to DE 23 31 193 an adhesive is applied to containers in narrow areas or rows, each adjacent surfaces, which are not provided with adhesive, to allow gripping the package for the purpose of carrying. At the splice the containers stick together. EP 2 096 039 A1 also discloses to provide containers with an adhesive, but in addition also a shrink film is arranged around the bottle package.

It is also known to provide the container with a carrying handle, which is connected as a film strip with some of the PET bottles, so that virtually a support loop is formed, at which the consumer could transport the container. By means of the carrying strap, the container could be transported on a single hand, so that a second hand would be free for the transport of further purchases. After a short wearing time on the part of the consumer, however, the foil strip cuts so painfully into the carrying hand due to the effective total force of the pack that settling and possibly even a change of the carrying hand takes place. It has also been observed that the container is then lifted on the bottom side, and is transported so, without that the foil strip is gripped. The consumer will use his two hands to transport the container, so that the actual advantage of the film strip namely to have the second hand vacant.

The object of the invention is to provide a carrier element for containers, which are combined to form a container, with which the aforementioned disadvantages are repealed, wherein even after the removal of one or more articles from a container, the cohesion of the remaining articles in Container is maintained, and in spite of the omission of an encompassing film and / or in spite of dispensing with a strapping in a simple way is always avoided that the articles arrive in the transport in a nesting position. To achieve this object, a carrier element for containers, which are combined to form a container provided with the features of claim 1, wherein the carrier element has a main carrier, main carrier, which is a horizontal position in a use position container area with container receptacles, which as U a cutout with rounded base web and designed as a holding web U-legs are executed, and having a handle portion, and wherein an outer support is connectable to the container area, wherein the outer carrier has a strip member corresponding to the number of container receptacles number of counter-receptacles, which Correspondingly designed as a U-shaped cutout with rounded base web and designed as a counter support web Ii-legs, wherein the containers are enclosed by a circular receptacle when the container portion is connected to the outer support. However, the object can also be achieved with a method for producing a container from containers with the features of claim 10, wherein the container and a carrier element are transported to a union by means of conveyors, in which the containers are inserted into container receptacles of a container region of the carrier element , and wherein the container portion is connected to an outer support, when the container receptacles of the Trägerele- element are occupied with containers.

Containers according to the invention are, e.g. PET bottles, i. et al Bottles, cans Tubes, pouches, each made of metal, glass and / or plastic, but also other packaging, especially those that are suitable for filling liquid or viscous products, but also already to groups (multiple pack) together summarized container. The containers of the container are arranged in a non-nesting position.

"Adhesives" in the context of the invention are, inter alia, all materials or compounds 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 under In the sense of the invention, "adhesives" within the meaning of the invention are, inter alia, also multilayer materials, eg those of at least one carrier material which coat with a material Thus, an adhesive bond between containers is possible, that is to say they are at least two-sided adhesive and / or adhesive active, Such adhesives or adhesives may be referred to as "pads." An "adhesive" container has adhesives or adhesives within the meaning of the invention on, or is provided with a sticker and adhesive. The adhesive or adhesive is preferably selected such that the containers are detachable manually or non-destructively from the container or separable from each other. It is conceivable that liquid adhesive is applied by the applicator elements. It is possible to apply a low-viscosity UV-curing adhesive. Also suitable would be a Heizleim, which, however, cools very quickly, and so could possibly give up its adhesive properties before the containers of the container are sufficiently glued together. A UV-curing adhesive is also advantageous in terms of particularly easy adjustment of its desired properties. A corresponding curing station or a curing section is provided in a meaningful manner downstream of the application elements stationary or along the linear conveyor above or optionally also below. A curing station can be, for example, a tunnel with UV illumination.

Targeting is that the handle portion has a recess which is designed slot-like, so that they can be penetrated. The grip area extends parallel to the vertical axes of the container of the container. In an expedient embodiment, the container region projects perpendicularly from the grip region on both sides, so that, as it were, an inverted T-shaped main carrier is formed.

The containers of the container have a head region and an abdominal region, between which a constriction or taper is arranged, which may also be referred to as a waist. In a favorable embodiment, at least the container receptacles of the container area are adapted to the dimensions of the enclosure. tion or the taper adjusted so that the container, in particular the PET bottles can be inserted into the container receptacle. Also, the counter-images of the outer wearer can be conveniently adapted to the dimensions of the constriction.

The container receptacle is designed in a simple manner as a U-shaped cutout, which is wegorientiert with its opening of the handle area. The section has parallel U-legs, which merge into a circular segment-like, ie rounded base web. Between each adjacent U-shaped cutouts a holding web is arranged on the container area. In one possible embodiment, three container receptacles are respectively arranged on the container regions arranged on both sides on the grip region, so that the carrier element is suitable for forming a container with six bottles or for transporting six exemplary PET bottles. The number of containers in the container is of course only exemplary and not restrictive.

The outer carrier has a configuration corresponding to the container area. In this respect, it is expedient if the outer carrier has a strip element corresponding to the number of container receptacles number of counter-receptacles. The counter-receptacles are correspondingly designed as a U-shaped cutout with rounded base web and parallel U-legs. Adjacent to the counter-receptacles, a respective counter-bridge is arranged in each case. If the outer support and the container area are connected to one another, a circular receptacle is thus formed, in which the container or the PET surface is accommodated with the taper or constriction.

For producing the package with e.g. Six PET bottles can now be proceeded as follows. First, the support member is made with its main carrier and the outer carrier as each as separate components.

[0019] Two container streams are separated from the wide container stream, the containers or PET bottles also being aligned according to orientation characteristics. can be so that the container in the later container can all be aligned the same. The main carrier is held on a suitable holding or transport device and fed to the two separated container streams, so that a single container or a single PET bottle can be inserted into each container holder. The container streams can be transported to linear conveyor elements and / or star conveyors in the direction of the merger of the carrier element or the main carrier with the respective containers or bottles, while the containers can be transported on the ground up or floating.

It is of course possible to provide contact and contact surfaces of the container or PET bottles with an adhesive or adhesive, including corresponding job stations along the conveying path of the container are provided. It is also helpful if the main carrier is provided with an adhesive or adhesive at its grip region or at contact and contact surfaces of the container with the grip region. In a preferred embodiment, adhesive strips may be arranged on the handle region, wherein an adhesive strip may be provided for each container of the container. The adhesive strips extend in a preferred arrangement perpendicular, ie parallel to the extension of the grip area.

If containers are arranged in all container receptacles of the main carrier, these can rest against each other at their contact and contact surfaces but also at the contact and contact surfaces for grip area, due to the adhesive or adhesive, a corresponding compound can be reached.

To connect the main carrier to the outer carrier of this can now be placed in a simple manner preferably on the main carrier. In this case, the outer carrier rests with its counter-holding webs on the retaining bars. It is also possible to bring the outer carrier from below to the container area.

As already stated, the outer carrier is guided to the container area in such a way that a circular receptacle results, which passes through the container. stands out. For connecting the main carrier to the outer carrier, a punched connection, a riveted connection or an adhesive connection can be selected.

The outer support is connected to the main carrier, that a removal of the container from the support element only by means of a destruction of the support element, preferably a destruction of the outer support is possible. In Zielführender embodiment, the outer carrier to opposite to its counter receiving opening on a predetermined breaking point, which may be designed as a notch.

In a further possible embodiment, the container area, dispensing with a rivet, adhesive or stamped connection by means of suitable connecting elements and corresponding mating connecting elements in the exemplary embodiment as a hook and eye, key and lock, locking element and Gegenras- telement be connected to the outer support , Wherein the container area (5) can be positively frictionally connected to the outer support (8). A frictional connection in the context of the invention is such that the connection is unintentionally not destructive separable. However, if the connection is to be released intentionally, this is possible in a non-destructive manner contrary to the joining direction. In the case of such a connection type, the previously mentioned predetermined breaking point could also be omitted.

By the predetermined breaking point the consumer is shown the most favorable position for tearing of the support element on its outer support, in which the least resistance is to be expected, so that the container or the PET bottle is easily removable, without the cohesion of the rest Canned is lifted. Because the carrier element remains on the remaining containers of the container, so that it is still easy to transport from the consumer by being attacked on the handle area or the slot is penetrated with one hand.

In an advantageous embodiment, the support member with its main carrier and with its outer support of the material cardboard, eg corrugated cardboard or cardboard formed. Thus, the main carrier can be glued to its handle area folded virtually. By means of the multi-layered grip region thus formed, a wide grip area, or a broad contact surface of the corresponding slot edge on the support hand, results with a lightweight design, so that painful cutting as in film loops is avoided. The material cardboard is also easy to dispose of and reprocessable in the course of the recycling of waste paper. Of course, the support member may be formed of any other suitable material, for example of a stiffer plastic.

Even with the manufacturer, an advantage of the support element is there recognizable as a nesting position of the container of the container is avoided during transport with appropriate machinery, since the container of the container due to the adhesive or adhesive can be interconnected and by means of Tragelementes still be kept stationary.

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

1 shows a carrier element in a perspective view,

2 shows a main carrier as a detail,

3 shows an outer carrier as a detail,

Fig. 4, the support member of Figure 1 with container container, in pages and frontal view

Fig. 5 shows the carrier element of Figure 1 with container container and punched connection of the main carrier with the outer carrier as a partial view, and

Fig. 6, the support member of Figure 1 with container container and riveted connection of the main carrier with the outer carrier in different views. In the different figures, the same parts are always provided with the same reference numerals, which is why they are usually described only once.

FIG. 1, in conjunction with FIGS. 4 to 6, shows a carrier element 1 for containers 2, which are combined to form a container 3. The carrier element 1 has a main carrier 4, which has a container portion 5 with container receptacles 6 and a handle portion 7 (Figure 2). An outer support 8 (FIG. 3) can be connected to the container region 5.

The gripping region 7 has a recess 9, which is designed like an oblong hole, so that it can be penetrated by a carrying hand. The grip region 7 extends parallel to the vertical axes of the containers 2 of the container 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the container region 5 projects perpendicularly from the grip region 7 on both sides, so that an inverted T-shaped main carrier 4 is formed.

The container 2 of the container 3 have a head portion 10 and a stomach area 11, between which a constriction 12 or taper 12 is arranged, which can also be referred to as the waist 12. In a favorable embodiment, the container receptacles 6 of the container region 5 are adapted to the dimensions of the constriction 12 and the taper 12, so that the container 2, in particular the PET bottles 2 can be inserted into the container receptacle 6. The support element 1 can therefore also be referred to as a waist support 1. The container receptacle 6 is carried out in a simple manner as a U-shaped cutout 13, which is oriented away with its opening 14 of the handle portion 7. The cutout 13 has parallel U-legs 15, which in a go over a circular section, so rounded base web 16. In each case adjacent to the U-shaped cutouts 13, a holding web 17 is arranged on the container region 5. By way of example, three container receptacles 6 are respectively arranged on the container regions 5 arranged on both sides on the grip region 7, so that the carrier element 1 is suitable for forming a container 3 with six bottles 2 or for transporting six exemplary PET bottles 2. The outer support 8 has a corresponding to the container portion 5 embodiment. By way of example, the outer support 8 has, as a strip element, a number of counter receptacles 18 corresponding to the number of container receptacles 6. The counter-receptacles 18 are correspondingly designed as a U-shaped cutout 19 with rounded base web 20 and parallel U-legs 21. Adjacent to the counter receptacles 18, a corresponding counter-stop 22 is arranged in each case. The counter receptacles 18 are adapted to the dimensions of the constriction 12 and the taper 12.

If the outer carrier 8 and the container region 5 are connected to one another, a circular receptacle 23 is formed (FIG. 1) when the holding webs 17 or counter-holding webs 22 are in contact with each other. In the receptacle 23, the respective container 2 or the PET bottle 2 with the taper 12 or constriction 12 is received (Figures 4 to 6). Figures 4 to 6 can be taken that the constriction 12 between the abdominal region 10 and the head portion 1 1 executed in the manner of a parabola, which of course should be exemplary only. The aim of this embodiment is that the constriction 12 from the abdominal region 10 in the direction of the neutral phase and from the neutral phase in the direction of the head region 1 1 at any point at a constant diameter, but a decreasing or increasing diameter. The neutral phase is in the context of the invention, the parabolic zenith, wherein the constriction here has the smallest diameter. The circular receptacle 23 is adapted to this diameter, so that the container in the waist 12 are held securely and place stable.

From a wide container flow two container streams are separated in advance, the container 2 or PET bottles 2 can also be aligned by Ausrichtungsmerkmalen so that the container 2 in the subsequent container 3 can all be aligned the same. The main carrier 4 is held on a suitable holding or transporting device and fed to the two separated container streams, so that a single container 2 or a single PET bottle 2 can be inserted into each container holder 5. Of course, it can also be provided that the container streams are supplied to the main carrier 4. It is essential that in each case a container 2 enters the corresponding container receptacle 5. The container streams can be transported to linear conveyor elements and / or star conveyors in the direction of the merger of the carrier element 1 and the main carrier 4 with the respective containers 2 and 2 bottles. In this case, the container 2 can be transported on the floor rising or floating.

It is, of course, possible to provide contact and contact surfaces of the containers 2 or the PET bottles 2 with an adhesive or adhesive, for which corresponding application stations are provided along the conveying path of the containers 2. It is also helpful if the main carrier is provided with an adhesive or adhesive on its grip region or on contact and contact surfaces of the container with the grip region, as can be seen for example in FIGS. 1 and 2 by means of vertically extending adhesive strips 24 on the grip region 7 ,

If containers 2 are arranged in all container receptacles 5 of the main carrier 4, they can abut against each other at their contact and contact surfaces but also against the contact and contact surfaces of the gripping region 7, wherein due to the adhesive or adhesive on the one hand between the contact and contacting surfaces of the containers with each other and on the other between the contact and contact surfaces of the container 2 to the strip 24 in question a corresponding bond is reached. Sufficient is quite, on the abdominal area 10 and / or on the head region 11 adhesives or adhesives only partially applied, for example in the form of a glue dot or eg as an adhesive strip.

As can be seen in Figures 4 to 6, the outer support 8 rests with its counter-holding webs 22 on the retaining webs 17. In the use position recognizable in FIGS. 4 to 6, the container region 5 is aligned horizontally.

As already stated, the outer support 8 is guided to the container area 5 such that the circular receptacle 23 results, which is penetrated by the container 2. The outer support 8 is connected to the main carrier 4 or to its container region 5.

The outer carrier 8 is connected to the main carrier 4 or to its container area 5 in such a way that a removal of the containers 2 from the carrier element is possible only by means of a destruction of the carrier element 1, preferably a destruction of the outer carrier 8. In Zielführender embodiment, the outer support 8 to this opposite to its counter receiving opening on a predetermined breaking point 22, which is designed as a notch 25, as shown in Figure 1 and 3 gene.

In a first embodiment, the outer support 8 is glued to the container region 5. For this purpose, adhesive or adhesive can be applied at least in regions either on the holding webs 17 or on the counter-holding webs 22. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4, the main carrier 4 or its container region 5 is adhesively bonded to the outer carrier 8. The outer support 8 is exemplary of the container area, wherein the respective retaining web 17 is glued to the respective corresponding counter-retaining web 22 at least partially. It can be seen that the head region 10 of each PET bottle 2 rests with its contact and contact surface against the grip region 7, which optionally has the adhesive strip 24. The abdominal regions 11 are also in contact with their corresponding contact and contact surfaces, adhesives or adhesives also being applied can. The consumer can easily grasp and transport the container 3 with the six PET bottles arranged therein on the gripping region 7. A nesting position of the container 2 is excluded in the manufacturer transport. In a further embodiment, the main carrier 4 and its container portion 5 are punched at least partially with the outer support 8. Such a connection can be seen in FIG. 5 on the basis of the punched connections 26. In this case, the outer supports 8 are punched from above with the main carrier 4 or with its container region 5. It is leading, if the respective retaining web 17 is at least partially punched with the respective corresponding counter-retaining web 22.

A further possible connection of the main carrier 4 or its container region 5 with the outer carrier 8 is shown in Figure 6 in the embodiment as a riveted joint. Also in this embodiment, the outer support 8 rests on the container area 5, wherein only the example of the respective retaining web 17 is connected to the corresponding counter-retaining web 22 by example, each two rivets 27 are driven. It is of course possible to use a single rivet or several rivets.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 support element

2 containers

3 containers

4 main beams

5 container area

6 container receptacles

7 grip area

8 external supports

9 recess in 7

10 head area

11 belly area

12 constriction / waist

13 section

14 opening

15 U-thighs

16 base bar

17 jetty

18 counter recordings

19 section

20 base bar

21 U-thighs

22 counterstay

23 recording

24 adhesive strips

25 desired tear point

26 punched connection

27 rivet

Claims

claims: 1 . Carrier element of cardboard or stiffer plastic material for containers (2), which are combined to form a container (3), characterized by a main carrier (4) which has a container area (5) which is horizontal in a use position and has container receptacles (6) which a shaped cutout (13) with rounded base web (16) and designed as a holding web (17) U-legs are executed, and a handle portion (7), and wherein an outer support (8) with the container portion (5) is connectable, wherein the External support (8) as a strip element to the number of container receptacles (6) corresponding number of counter-receptacles (18) corresponding to a U-shaped cutout (19) with rounded base web (20) and as a counter support web (22) running U-legs (21) are executed. 2. Carrier element according to claim 1, characterized in that the handle region (7) has a recess (9), which is executed slot-like. 3. Carrier element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grip region (7) extends in a vertical direction, wherein in a use position on both sides of the grip region (7), a container region (5) projects perpendicular thereto. 4. Carrier element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least the container receptacles (6) are adapted to a configuration of a constriction (12) of the respective container (2). 5. Carrier element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer support (8) has a predetermined breaking point (25). 6. Carrier element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the handle region (7) at least partially adhesive or adhesive. 7. Carrier element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the handle region (7) adhesive strips (24) are arranged.  8. Carrier element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container region (5) and the outer support (8) connecting elements and corresponding mating connecting elements in the embodiment as a hook and eye, key and lock, latching element and counter-latching element, so that the container area ( 5) is form-fit with the outer support (8) connectable. 9. container comprising a plurality of containers (2), which has a carrier element (1) according to one of the preceding claims. 10. A method for producing a container (3) with a number of containers (2), which container has a carrier element (1) in particular according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the container (2) and a main carrier (5) of the carrier element (1 ) are transported by means of a respective conveyor to a merger, wherein the container (2) in container receptacles (6) of a container portion (5) of the support element (1) are used, and wherein the container portion (5) with an outer support (8) is when the container receptacles (6) of the container area (5) with respective containers (2) are occupied. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein from a wide container flow container (2) are converted into a plurality of single-lane container streams, by separating and merging a predetermined number of containers (2) below each to the container (3) are summarized, wherein at least one of Container (2) of the container (3) an adhesive or adhesive and / or has an adhesive or adhesive application on at least one contact or contact surface, wherein the container (2) is inserted into the relevant container receptacle (6) according to alignment features, wherein the outer carrier (8) with its counter retaining web (22) on the corresponding retaining web ( 17) of the container portion (5) is placed, and only destructibly releasably connected to the main carrier (4).