EP0665808B1 - A multiple pack of individually packaged items, method and apparatus for producing same - Google Patents

A multiple pack of individually packaged items, method and apparatus for producing same Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0665808B1
EP0665808B1 EP93924138A EP93924138A EP0665808B1 EP 0665808 B1 EP0665808 B1 EP 0665808B1 EP 93924138 A EP93924138 A EP 93924138A EP 93924138 A EP93924138 A EP 93924138A EP 0665808 B1 EP0665808 B1 EP 0665808B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
array
packages
sheet material
planar
adhesive
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP93924138A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0665808A1 (en
Inventor
Peter Arnold Compton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Wrigley Candy UK
Original Assignee
Mars UK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Mars UK Ltd filed Critical Mars UK Ltd
Publication of EP0665808A1 publication Critical patent/EP0665808A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0665808B1 publication Critical patent/EP0665808B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B17/00—Other machines, apparatus, or methods for packaging articles or materials
    • B65B17/02—Joining articles, e.g. cans, directly to each other for convenience of storage, transport, or handling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D73/00—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs
    • B65D73/0007—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being attached to the plane surface of a single card
    • B65D73/0028—Packages comprising articles attached to cards, sheets or webs the articles being attached to the plane surface of a single card by means of adhesive, heat-seal or the like

Definitions

  • This invention relates to packaging and more particularly to packaging of the type for producing a "carry-home" pack of a number of filled containers of for example, beverage or food.
  • Packages have for example, been assembled by shrink wrapping in a sleeve of, for example, polyethylene.
  • Hi-Cone The so called "Hi-Cone” system has also been used. This comprises an apertured sheet of polyethylene. The top parts of the cans are placed into circular apertures in the film which then gripsthe cans below their upper rim. More recently a further form of packaging, particular for cans of drink has been developed which completely covers the top of the can and comprises a sheet of polyester film which on application is moulded around the top of an assembly of cans to grip the individual cans around their top rim.
  • All round or partial wrap round cardboard packaging is also known from DE-A-2 931 118, for example.
  • a multiple pack of individually packaged items is produced by assembling an array of individual packages in a desired orientation, applying to each package of the said array a foamed adhesive material and adhering to the packages over one face only of the array by means of the foamed adhesive, a planar sheet material such that the assembly is sufficiently strongly held together to allow carriage but the individual packages can be readily pulled off the sheet for use.
  • the adhesive bond may be such as to allow rupture at the interface either with the package or with the sheet material but, in order to obtain adequate bond strength will normally be such that the act of removing a package from the sheet material will result in removal also of a portion of the sheet material.
  • the invention is primarily applicable to canned products but it can also be applied to any other packaged products. It may be, for example, used for the production of multiple packs of product in disposable bottles or jars or even for products in cardboard packaging.
  • the planar sheet material is preferably a cellulose based material, especially cardboard and, more preferably, corrugated cardboard, primarily because this material is cheap and easy to dispose of and when used in the method of the invention does not require any special coating or strengthening treatment. Moreover, a far smaller amount of material is used compared with wrap round packs.
  • the surface of the sheet material may carry bar coded information, promotional material or any other message, if desired and the invention provides an extremely cost effective way of providing the dual functions of collation of a multiple pack and delivery of promotional messages.
  • planar material may be provided with cut-outs, apertures or other features to facilitate carrying.
  • the adhesive may be applied in any desired orientation or position. For some packages it may be desirable to have a single large area of adhesive on each package while for others it may be necessary or desirable to have a plurality of smaller areas of adhesive.
  • Adhesives that have been foamed, e.g. by gaseous injection, are used, which is particularly advantageous when the adhesive is to be applied on an irregular surface, e.g. a recessed surface, since the expansion of the adhesive will fill any voids in a cost effective manner with minimum use of adhesive.
  • a unique advantage of foamed adhesive in the invention is that when in the foamed state the set is delayed because of the insulating nature of the foam but when the foam has been collapsed by application of the sheet material setting is substantially instantaneous.
  • multiple packs of, for example, canned foods and/or drinks are normally fours or sixes it is possible according to the invention, even when wishing to assemble multiple packs of this size, to apply a large sheet over a very much larger array of packages with subsequent splitting up of the larger array into individually multipack units. This is not generally possible with other methods of producing multipacks.
  • Such a method of operation makes it possible to operate in a continuous manner by feeding continuous sheet material to a continuously advancing array of packages to which adhesive has been applied, with consequent splitting into smaller units of desired size. Continuous operation is again not generally possible with other methods of producing multipacks.
  • the invention also provides a multipack of individually packaged items commprising an array of individual packages, said array being held together by a planar sheet material adhered to each package of the array.
  • the invention further provides apparatus for producing multiple packs of individually packaged items comprising means for collating an array of individual packages in a desired configuration, means for applying to each of said individual packages a foamed adhesive material in an identical position or positions on each package means for supplying planar sheet material of such area as to cover the entire adhesive area of the array of packages and for bringing said planar material into contact with the adhesive on the individual packages.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Container Filling Or Packaging Operations (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
  • Making Paper Articles (AREA)

Abstract

A multiple pack of individually packaged items comprises an array of individual packages in a desired configuration which array is held in said configuration by a planar sheet material adhered to each package of the array. The planar sheet material is preferably a sheet of corrugated cardboard. The invention also comprises a method of forming the multiple pack and apparatus for use in the method.

Description

  • This invention relates to packaging and more particularly to packaging of the type for producing a "carry-home" pack of a number of filled containers of for example, beverage or food.
  • In recent years for ease of carriage and/or for promotional purposes it has become the custom to package containers, for example of drink and/or food in multiples, frequently in fours or sixes, although the number is immaterial.
  • Numerous methods are known for assembling such packages.
  • Packages, have for example, been assembled by shrink wrapping in a sleeve of, for example, polyethylene.
  • The so called "Hi-Cone" system has also been used. This comprises an apertured sheet of polyethylene. The top parts of the cans are placed into circular apertures in the film which then gripsthe cans below their upper rim. More recently a further form of packaging, particular for cans of drink has been developed which completely covers the top of the can and comprises a sheet of polyester film which on application is moulded around the top of an assembly of cans to grip the individual cans around their top rim.
  • All round or partial wrap round cardboard packaging is also known from DE-A-2 931 118, for example.
  • All of these forms of packaging are effective in their own way but most are expensive, particularly when the packaging is intended to convey promotional messages.
  • According to the invention a multiple pack of individually packaged items is produced by assembling an array of individual packages in a desired orientation, applying to each package of the said array a foamed adhesive material and adhering to the packages over one face only of the array by means of the foamed adhesive, a planar sheet material such that the assembly is sufficiently strongly held together to allow carriage but the individual packages can be readily pulled off the sheet for use.
  • The adhesive bond may be such as to allow rupture at the interface either with the package or with the sheet material but, in order to obtain adequate bond strength will normally be such that the act of removing a package from the sheet material will result in removal also of a portion of the sheet material.
  • The invention is primarily applicable to canned products but it can also be applied to any other packaged products. It may be, for example, used for the production of multiple packs of product in disposable bottles or jars or even for products in cardboard packaging.
  • The planar sheet material is preferably a cellulose based material, especially cardboard and, more preferably, corrugated cardboard, primarily because this material is cheap and easy to dispose of and when used in the method of the invention does not require any special coating or strengthening treatment. Moreover, a far smaller amount of material is used compared with wrap round packs.
  • The surface of the sheet material may carry bar coded information, promotional material or any other message, if desired and the invention provides an extremely cost effective way of providing the dual functions of collation of a multiple pack and delivery of promotional messages.
  • The planar material may be provided with cut-outs, apertures or other features to facilitate carrying.
  • Depending on the shape of the individual packages, the adhesive may be applied in any desired orientation or position. For some packages it may be desirable to have a single large area of adhesive on each package while for others it may be necessary or desirable to have a plurality of smaller areas of adhesive.
  • Adhesives that have been foamed, e.g. by gaseous injection, are used, which is particularly advantageous when the adhesive is to be applied on an irregular surface, e.g. a recessed surface, since the expansion of the adhesive will fill any voids in a cost effective manner with minimum use of adhesive. A unique advantage of foamed adhesive in the invention is that when in the foamed state the set is delayed because of the insulating nature of the foam but when the foam has been collapsed by application of the sheet material setting is substantially instantaneous.
  • Although, as mentioned above multiple packs of, for example, canned foods and/or drinks are normally fours or sixes it is possible according to the invention, even when wishing to assemble multiple packs of this size, to apply a large sheet over a very much larger array of packages with subsequent splitting up of the larger array into individually multipack units. This is not generally possible with other methods of producing multipacks.
  • Such a method of operation makes it possible to operate in a continuous manner by feeding continuous sheet material to a continuously advancing array of packages to which adhesive has been applied, with consequent splitting into smaller units of desired size. Continuous operation is again not generally possible with other methods of producing multipacks.
  • The invention also provides a multipack of individually packaged items commprising an array of individual packages, said array being held together by a planar sheet material adhered to each package of the array.
  • The invention further provides apparatus for producing multiple packs of individually packaged items comprising means for collating an array of individual packages in a desired configuration, means for applying to each of said individual packages a foamed adhesive material in an identical position or positions on each package means for supplying planar sheet material of such area as to cover the entire adhesive area of the array of packages and for bringing said planar material into contact with the adhesive on the individual packages.

Claims (9)

  1. A multiple pack of individually packaged items comprising an array of individual packages in a desired configuration, the array being held in the said configuration by a planar sheet material adhered by a foamed adhesive to each package of the array over one face only of the array.
  2. A method for producing a multiple pack of individually packaged items which comprises:
    assembling an array of individual packages in a desired orientation;
    applying to each package of the array a foamed adhesive material and adhering to the packages over one face only of the array by means of the foamed adhesive, a planar sheet material such that the assembly is sufficiently strongly held together to allow carriage but the individual packages can be readily pulled off the sheet for use.
  3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the adhesive bond is such that removal of a package also removes a portion of the sheet material.
  4. A method according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the planar sheet material is a cellulose based material.
  5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the planar sheet material is corrugated cardboard.
  6. A method according to any of claims 2 to 5 which comprises:
    forming an array of packages larger than is intended for the ultimate multipack;
    applying a single sheet over the whole of the array;
    and subsequently cutting the sheet to provide multipacks of desired number of packages.
  7. A method according to claim 6 which is carried out continuously by applying either large sheets of planar material or continuous planar material to a continuously advancing array of packages.
  8. Apparatus for producing multipacks of individually packaged items comprising means for collating an array of individual packages in a desired configuration, means for applying to each of the individual packages a foamed adhesive material in an identical position or positions on each package, means for supplying planar sheet material of such area as to cover the entire adhesive area of the array of packages and for bringing the planar material into contact with the adhesive on the individual packages.
  9. Apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising means for continuously advancing an array of packages past means for applying planar sheet material either as large sheets or continuous sheets to the packages and means for cutting or otherwise separating the sheet material to divide the assembly into multiple packages of desired size.
EP93924138A 1992-10-30 1993-11-01 A multiple pack of individually packaged items, method and apparatus for producing same Expired - Lifetime EP0665808B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9222829 1992-10-30
GB929222829A GB9222829D0 (en) 1992-10-30 1992-10-30 Improvements in and relating to packaging
PCT/GB1993/002239 WO1994010059A1 (en) 1992-10-30 1993-11-01 A multiple pack of individually packaged items, method and apparatus for producing same

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0665808A1 EP0665808A1 (en) 1995-08-09
EP0665808B1 true EP0665808B1 (en) 1997-02-12

Family

ID=10724319

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP93924138A Expired - Lifetime EP0665808B1 (en) 1992-10-30 1993-11-01 A multiple pack of individually packaged items, method and apparatus for producing same

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0665808B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE148864T1 (en)
AU (1) AU681099B2 (en)
CA (1) CA2148136C (en)
DE (1) DE69308157T2 (en)
GB (1) GB9222829D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1994010059A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3055497A (en) * 1956-10-22 1962-09-25 Rex L Brunsing Multi-can package
CH602431A5 (en) * 1976-04-14 1978-07-31 Constructor Internationale Bau Palletised load handling system
JPS588978B2 (en) * 1978-07-31 1983-02-18 本州製紙株式会社 Manufacturing method for collective packaging boxes
IT1136923B (en) * 1981-03-12 1986-09-03 Gabriella Sommariva PACKAGING FOR MULTIPLE PACKAGING AND PROCEDURE FOR MAKING SUCH MULTIPLE PACKAGING
GB8332687D0 (en) * 1983-12-07 1984-01-11 Allen Davies & Co Ltd Securing items for display

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69308157T2 (en) 1997-08-28
GB9222829D0 (en) 1992-12-09
EP0665808A1 (en) 1995-08-09
DE69308157D1 (en) 1997-03-27
ATE148864T1 (en) 1997-02-15
WO1994010059A1 (en) 1994-05-11
CA2148136A1 (en) 1994-05-11
AU5374394A (en) 1994-05-24
CA2148136C (en) 2005-04-26
AU681099B2 (en) 1997-08-21

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