EP2589545B1 - Bundle with carrying handle, method and device for producing such bundles - Google Patents

Bundle with carrying handle, method and device for producing such bundles Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2589545B1
EP2589545B1 EP12189797.9A EP12189797A EP2589545B1 EP 2589545 B1 EP2589545 B1 EP 2589545B1 EP 12189797 A EP12189797 A EP 12189797A EP 2589545 B1 EP2589545 B1 EP 2589545B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
film
outer packaging
carrying handle
articles
contact points
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.)
Active
Application number
EP12189797.9A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2589545A1 (en
Inventor
Kurt Perl
Stefan Elsperger
Christian Dresch
Manfred Kieslinger
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.)
Krones AG
Original Assignee
Krones AG
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 Krones AG filed Critical Krones AG
Priority to SI201231211T priority Critical patent/SI2589545T1/en
Priority to EP17197027.0A priority patent/EP3287389B1/en
Publication of EP2589545A1 publication Critical patent/EP2589545A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2589545B1 publication Critical patent/EP2589545B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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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
    • B65B53/00—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging
    • B65B53/02—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat
    • 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
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/12—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
    • B65D71/14—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls
    • B65D71/28—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls characterised by the handles
    • 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
    • B65B11/00—Wrapping, e.g. partially or wholly enclosing, articles or quantities of material, in strips, sheets or blanks, of flexible material
    • B65B11/06—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths
    • B65B11/08—Wrapping articles, or quantities of material, by conveying wrapper and contents in common defined paths in a single straight path
    • 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
    • B65B21/00—Packaging or unpacking of bottles
    • B65B21/24—Enclosing bottles in wrappers
    • B65B21/245—Enclosing bottles in wrappers in flexible wrappers, e.g. foils
    • 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
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/14—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for incorporating, or forming and incorporating, handles or suspension means in packages
    • 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
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/08—Wrappers shrunk by heat or under tension, e.g. stretch films or films tensioned by compressed articles
    • 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
    • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
    • B65D75/52—Details
    • B65D75/54—Cards, coupons, or other inserts or accessories
    • B65D75/56—Handles or other suspension means
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
    • B65D2571/00493—Handles or suspending means attached to the wrapper

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a container with handle with the features of claim 1, a method for producing such containers with the features of method claim 6 and an apparatus for producing containers with handle with the features of claim 10.
  • beverage containers are usually summarized in handy containers with four, six or more containers, the containers in these containers, for example. Wrapped with shrink film and can be held together.
  • containers with such so-called disposable secondary packaging made of PE shrink film or the like often carry handles made of flexible material, for example of sufficiently stable film, cardboard, paper, plastics such as PVC or mixed materials, if necessary with a paper and / or cardboard reinforced handle area.
  • the carrying handle strips can be fixed with their ends to the side surfaces of the container, for example by welding or gluing.
  • the ends of the carrying handle may optionally have self-adhesive areas.
  • the carrying handle must have the required load capacity, but also the connection points to the container and its envelope to which the carrying handle is fixed. That is, the enveloping shrink film must have sufficient tensile strength and tear, so when handling the container by means of the carrying handle, the packaging film can not be overstretched and / or tear. Since with increasing measures to reduce costs and in the interest of resource conservation in practice ever thinner packaging films with film thicknesses of 25 microns or less are used, the mechanical strength of the films enters critical areas. To tear the carrying handles in containers with a total of six PET beverage containers á 1.5 ltr. To prevent reliable, film thicknesses of at least 40 microns are usually required.
  • the DE 693 11 338 T2 discloses a multi-pack for containers, in particular for beverage containers in a single group, in which the containers are held together by means of a plastic band.
  • a flexible carrying handle is fixed to the outer sides of the multi-pack, wherein the connecting points each form and cover a region in which the carrying handle ends are fixed to both the band and the container shell surfaces.
  • the WO 98/07635 discloses a container assembly having two, three or more containers or bottles held together by a label that acts as a tether.
  • the band may have a handle formed so that the container can be worn.
  • the thickness of the band is given as a range between 8 and 100 ⁇ m.
  • the shrink film consists of two layers, which are stapled together at several points transverse to the longitudinal direction, that in each case six or more tubular sections are formed, in which the beverage cans can be inserted. Subsequently, the film sections are separated from each other, so that containers are formed, which are then passed through a shrink oven, whereby the cans are firmly fixed together.
  • a variant of the container provides an upwardly projecting handle portion, which is part of the film sections, so that an adhesive or welded connection is eliminated.
  • the container comprises at least two interconnected PET containers, which are held together with a strapping strapped horizontally around an outer side of the PET container.
  • a carrying handle attached to the containers spans an upper side of the container.
  • the carrying handle is fixed to outer lateral surfaces of two opposite, adjacent or adjacent arranged PET containers.
  • the joints between the handle and the respective PET container are at least partially disposed within the strapping.
  • the carrying device comprises two fastening elements, which has a plurality of cutouts. Form through the cutouts on the fasteners Strips, which can be attached to the products.
  • the strips can be fixed to the products by means of a shrink film, which shrink film surrounds the products.
  • adhesive bonding of the strips to the products is possible.
  • a process for packaging loose objects, particularly bottles, a machine for carrying out such a process and a transportable package made with such a process will be described.
  • a two-part existing first outer packaging is provided.
  • An upper strip and a lower strip of the first outer packaging are assembled and placed in vertical alignment around the objects.
  • the upper strip can be, for example, a thin, stable or flexible plastic film, and the lower strip can be an adhesive strip.
  • a second outer packaging is wrapped around the objects in a horizontal orientation so that the first outer packaging is attached to the objects.
  • the second outer package may be a thin, stretchable plastic film. From the upper strip of the first outer packaging may be a carrying handle.
  • FIG. 1 shows a container with handle, comprising at least two articles which are at least partially wrapped and held together by means of an outer packaging, the outer packaging adhesive and tensile force transmitting at contact points with the handle and with the lateral surfaces of the at least two different Article is connected, which occurs when carrying the container on the carrying handle tensile forces largely from the handle on the contact surfaces on the lateral surfaces of the at least two different items.
  • the US 2007/0215505 A1 shows a shrink wrap with integrated reinforced handle.
  • a plastic element which has receiving areas for containers.
  • the plastic element has a handle loop.
  • the handle loop of the plastic element can in this case be used in conjunction with a, another handle forming opening in a shrink wrap, which shrink wrap surrounds the container.
  • a carrier pack is formed for example from combined by means of a shrink film beverage bottles.
  • the carrying packs are provided with a self-adhesive carrying handle.
  • JP 2004315031 A a packaging for articles is described, which has a carrying handle.
  • the articles are assembled by means of a shrink wrap to form a container.
  • the carrying handle should be attached at both ends to the shrink wrap of the container.
  • a primary object of the invention is to provide a container with handle with several held together by a film or outer packaging articles and a method and apparatus for producing such containers are available, in which / despite the use of a thin film or outer packaging as possible sufficient mechanical stability can be ensured in connection with the fixation of the handle ends on the container outside.
  • the invention proposes a container with a carrying handle as defined in claim 1.
  • the contact points can optionally be formed by splices between the lateral surfaces of the article and the carrying handle, wherein the carrying handle ends are fixed to the articles, so that a suitable for gripping the container loop towers above the container.
  • the contact points can also be formed by welds between the lateral surfaces of the article and the carrying handle or the two handle ends.
  • the contact points ie the connection points between the handle and the container are designed in such a way that the outer packaging in the Contact points each having recesses, wherein the recesses may correspond substantially with the dimensions of the contact surfaces.
  • the adhesive or welds can reach through the recesses and touch the edges of the recess at least partially.
  • Typical containers of this type can, for example, have four or six beverage containers, which are held together by means of shrinkable film or by means of other outer packages, such as tubular casings, and combined to form a transportable container.
  • the contact points can be essentially limited to the recesses, so that they only touch the outer packaging line-like and thus extend only slightly into the edges of the recess.
  • the outer package, foil, shrink film o.
  • the like Extensively free of tensile loads when the container is lifted on the carrying handle.
  • the contact points extend at least partially into the outer packaging or into the edges of their recesses, so that the contact points comprise the edges of the recesses or overlap at least partially with the edges of the recesses.
  • the contact or adhesive and / or welds can be formed over the entire surface or comprise multiple gluing or welding points per contact point.
  • the recesses may correspond substantially to the dimensions of the contact surfaces or may be slightly smaller than these, so that the fixed regions of the carrying handle extend at the edges of the recesses into the outer packaging.
  • the recesses are significantly larger than the contact points or contact surfaces, so that the recesses can, for example, each form a so-called.
  • Foil eye which has arisen by wrapping the grouped into a container article about a horizontal transverse axis.
  • the reinforcement and stabilization of weak points in wrapped with thin film containers which are provided with a carrying handle, in the foreground.
  • adhesive dots or spot welds between film and container - in the area of the handle adhesive surface - can be applied.
  • the adhesion points may be formed by any suitable adhesive such as hot melt adhesive, liquid adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape or by welding - e.g. by means of ultrasonic welding - are produced. It is also possible to connect all three components (container, outer packaging film and handle) with each other, both in the case of welding and in the case of an adhesive joint.
  • the number, size and position of the gluing or welding points depend on the respective requirements. In this context, it is not crucial whether the adhesive is applied before the film wrapping or subsequently on the finished container (with or without glued handle), as long as the processing time of the adhesive fits the application.
  • the adhesive or welded connection from the shrink film to the containers directs the force curve when lifting the container on the handle, resulting from the weight of the container, over the handle on the container, without the film being overly stretched and thereby possibly destroyed.
  • the invention further comprises a method for producing containers with a carrying handle as defined in claim 6.
  • the film or the outer packaging may have, for example, so-called film eyes which leave parts of the articles free, so that the carrying handle ends can be fixed or glued to the exposed article lateral surfaces which simultaneously form the side surfaces of the container.
  • the film or outer packaging may be provided with recesses. These recesses can be introduced, for example, immediately after the unwinding of the film from an endless supply and before the wrapping of the articles, for example by a mechanical or optical punching process such as, for example, a laser cutting process.
  • the carrying handle can be applied with its ends over the recesses introduced into the film with at least partial covering or covering of the recesses on the film or outer packaging, after which the articles are then wrapped with the film or outer packaging.
  • the carrying handle adheres to the prepunched foil, so that the fixation or gluing and / or welding of the carrying handle subsequently extends through the punched-out portions to the article casing surface.
  • a pre-cut film can be unwound from the film supply, which already has the provided recesses.
  • the film or outer packaging can also be initially provided with recesses, for example by laser or punching, after which the articles are wrapped with the film or outer packaging and then the carrying handle by contacting the recesses on the lateral surfaces of the articles, i. on the wrapped container, is applied.
  • a pre-cut film can be unwound from the film supply, which already has the recesses provided.
  • a third variant of the method according to the invention provides that the articles are first wrapped with the film or outer packaging, after which the outer packaging is provided with recesses, which can be done, for example, by mechanical punching or laser after applying the film. Subsequently, the carrying handle can be applied by contacting the recesses on the lateral surfaces of the article, ie on the finished container.
  • shrink wrap is used as the outer packaging, then it may already have the required recesses prior to the wrapping of the articles.
  • wrapping the articles is usually the shrinking of the film under the action of heat, after which the carrying handle can be applied, for example, in the region of the remaining film eye to the article jacket surfaces.
  • the articles can, for example, be enveloped by means of a film wrapping module in the conveying direction in the conveying direction with a film made available from an endless supply, so that containers are formed with recesses arranged laterally in the conveying direction on opposite outer sides.
  • the containers can be rotated by about 90 ° or 270 ° about a vertical axis or at an angle of 90 or 270 ° transversely to the conveying direction, so that the carrying handle under contact with the recessed, in the conveying direction front and can be applied on the back arranged container outside.
  • this process variant can be used as wrapping for example shrink film, adhesive film or a thin and stretchy, well-adherent film web as a wrapper for the article to form film packs as outer packaging.
  • the handle can be symmetrically applied outside of the middle containers or bottles.
  • the handle can also run diagonally.
  • the present invention comprises an apparatus for carrying out a method for producing containers with carrying handles according to one of the previously described embodiments.
  • the device according to the invention has the features of claim 10.
  • the power flow during lifting of the container does not extend from the carrying handle over the foil to the container, but directly between the handle and container.
  • the handle strength is thus independent of the film strength with this arrangement, so that optionally even very thin film can be used.
  • the material used on film or secondary packaging can thus be significantly reduced.
  • the carrying capacity of the handle is also significantly increased.
  • the containers can be manufactured and processed with conventional machines without significant conversion.
  • connection technique according to the invention between handle and container has the advantage that all types of imprints, images, structuring, etc., which are located on the outer packaging or the shrink film and may be aligned and positioned with respect to the wrapped articles or beverage containers and possibly , during handling of the container can not be affected, since the outer packaging or the film do not move when lifting the container on the carrying handle against the articles, but remain in their intended original position.
  • FIG. 1a and the Fig. 1b show a first variant of a container 10 according to the invention with handle 12.
  • the container 10 comprises in the embodiment shown a total of six articles 14 in the form of PET beverage containers 16, which are grouped in a so-called. Rectangular arrangement and with a wrapping disposable outer packaging 18 in the form of a Shrink film 20, in particular a PE shrink film 20 are held together.
  • the carrying handle 12 is defined at Contact points 22 on outer sides of at least two oppositely arranged articles 14 and beverage containers 16 of the container 10 fixed.
  • contact points 22 coincide according to the present invention at least partially with recesses 24 in the outer packaging 18 or film 20, so that the contact points 22 in the embodiment shown pass through the recesses 24 and the edges 26 of the recess 24 at least partially touch, as the enlarged view of the Fig. 3a clarified.
  • the film surface 32 and thus the area of the outer packaging 18 or shrink film 20 surrounding the contact point 22 is relieved of tensile forces when carrying the container 10, since the relatively small contact surface outside the edge 26 does not have any appreciable tensile forces F in the outer packaging 18 or film 20 initiate.
  • the contact point 22 can also be configured in such a way that the adhesive connection 34 or welded connection 35 is limited to the area or the area extent of the recess 24, whereas the edge area 26 and the area outside this edge 26 are not adhesive , whereby the film 20 or outer package 18 are kept entirely by tensile forces F, which are applied over the carrying handle 12.
  • FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment variant of the container 10 according to the invention with carrying handle 12, which forms a handle loop 13 located above the top of the container for carrying the container 10.
  • the container 10 also includes in this variant a total of six articles 14 in the form of PET beverage containers 16, which are grouped in a so-called. Rectangular arrangement and held together with a wrapping disposable outer packaging 18 in the form of a shrink film 20, in particular a PE shrink film.
  • the carrying handle 12 is on defined contact points 22 in the region of outer sides of at least two oppositely arranged articles 14 and beverage container 16 of the container 10 is fixed.
  • contact points 22 include the outer packaging 18 so that the carrying handle ends 30 are applied to the outside of the outer packaging 18.
  • the carrying handle 12 is first applied to the film 20 or outer package 18 in this variant, even if the carrying handle ends 30 are adhesively applied to the container jacket surfaces 28 by means of suitable joining techniques with penetration of the film 20 or outer packaging 18.
  • the film surface 32 and thus the area of the outer packaging 18 or shrink film 20 surrounding the contact point 22 is relieved of tensile forces when carrying the container 10, since the relatively small contact surface outside the edge 26 does not have any appreciable tensile forces F in the outer packaging 18 or film 20 initiate.
  • the contact point 22 can also be configured in such a way that the adhesive connection 34 or welded connection 35 is limited to the region of the recess 24, whereas the edge region 26 and the region outside this edge 26 have no adhesive or not are welded together, whereby the film 20 and outer packaging 18 are kept entirely of tensile forces F, which are applied over the handle 12.
  • FIG. 3b shows a variant in which the contact point 22 has a plurality of recesses 24 which are arranged vertically in a row one above the other. These recesses 24 in each case form the adhesive connections 34 or welded connections 35 to the lateral surfaces 28 of the articles 14 or beverage containers 16, the adhesive connections 34 or welded connections 35 optionally being able to extend into the carrying handle end 30 resting on the film surface 32 in the area outside the edges 26 or these Areas of adhesive can be kept free.
  • the recesses 24 may optionally be much smaller than in the Fig. 3b indicated and, for example, be formed only by welding or adhesive dots 34, 35 which penetrate the outer package 18 or film 20 punctually and on a small area (see. Fig. 5 ).
  • not inventive third container variant of the carrying handle 12 is not fixed in a matched to the size of its contact points 22 to the handle ends 30 recess, as in the in Fig. 1 the embodiment shown is the case, but arranged in the region of a so-called.
  • Folienauges 33 which leaves a relatively large area of the vertical front and back sides of the container 10 of film 20 uncovered and the heat shrinking of the shrink film 20 tends to be even greater than after wrapping The grouped article 14 or beverage container 16 with the film 20.
  • the film eye 33 may, for example, take a share of about 50% of the front and back of the container 10, but optionally also a much smaller or larger proportion.
  • the contact points 22 with the adhesive connections 34 or welded joints 35 which fix the carrying handle ends 30 of the carrying handle 12 to the areas of the lateral surfaces 28 of the two centrally arranged beverage containers 16 of the container 10, which faces the outer sides of the container 10, are not in adhesive contact with the outer packaging 18 or shrink film 20, but preferably have a small distance to the upper edge of the film eye 33.
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of a way of bonding the handle end 30 of the carrying handle 12 on the outside of the container 10.
  • the needle 38 may also be integrated in the nipple 36, so that when sucked the film 20 pulls into the nipple 36 and is thereby pierced by the needle 38 placed there.
  • the thickness of the shrink film 20 can thus be reduced so far that the strength is still sufficient to hold the remaining container together without the outer container 16 when lifting the container 10 on the handle 12 does not sag unreasonably far.
  • the carrying handle 12 or handle is fixed in such a way over the contact points 22 on the container 10 that tensile forces occurring on the carrying handle 12 when carrying the container 10 largely depend on the carrying handle 12 via the contact points 22 on the container jacket surfaces 28 be led by at least two different articles 14.
  • the carrying handle 12 is fixed at the contact points 22 on the outer sides of the outer packaging 18 or the film 20 so that the outer packaging 18 or the film 20 is adhesively and traction-transmitting connected to the outer lateral surfaces 28 of at least two different articles 14 is.
  • the contact points 22 may, for example, by splices 34 and / or welds 35 between the lateral surfaces 28 of the article 14 and the handle 12 may be formed, these splices 34 and / or welds 35, the outer packaging 18 traction transmitting with the handle 12 and with the Connect lateral surfaces 28 of Article 14.
  • the outer package 18 or film 20 need not necessarily be broken at the contact points 22, unlike the invention, but may be suitably adhesively bonded both to the carrying handle ends 30 and to the outer circumferential surfaces 28 of the articles 14 or containers , It is essential here that the tensile forces when picking up the container 10 on the carrying handle 12 run in such a way that when the container 10 is carried, no appreciable or at most slight forces act on the enveloping packaging 18 or 20. The force curve is thus always on the direct path from the adhesive or weld 34, 35 of the handle 12 and 30 on the article 14 on.
  • FIGS. 6 to 9 each show in schematic views four different variants of an apparatus for producing containers 10 according to the invention.
  • the methods that can be used for producing the containers 10 are also described with reference to FIGS FIGS. 6 to 9 explained.
  • the packaging machines 40 shown there have in common that in a transport direction 42 each grouped article 14 or container 16 on horizontal conveyors 44 first pass through a film packer 46 and then a shrink oven 48, after which they are fed via a container transport section 50 further, not shown here, packaging and / or processing stations, so for example.
  • a Palettier issued o. The like.
  • a shrink film 20 unrolled from an endless film supply 52 is made available for packaging the grouped articles 14 or container 16 and fed via a film separating station 54 to a film wrapping module 56, which groups the articles 14 or containers 16 with the film Shrink wrap 20 wrapped.
  • FIGS. 6 to 9 Now different variants of the method for producing the container 10 according to the invention with handle 12 are illustrated. Common to all the variants of the method shown is that the articles 14 or containers 16 in the region of the film packer 46 are respectively enveloped and held together with the shrink film 20 or outer packaging 18.
  • the carrying handle 12 is fixed to the intended contact points on the outer sides of the article 14, wherein these contact points can correspond at least partially with recesses in the outer packaging or film wrapping (see, for example. Fig. 5 ).
  • the shrink film 20 may be provided in the region of the film packer 46, between the film supply 52 and the film separating station 54, with suitable recesses. These recesses can be introduced by means of a punching device 58 o. The like. Immediately after unwinding of the film 20 from its endless supply 52 and before the wrapping of the articles 14, for example. By a mechanical or optical punching process such as, a laser cutting process. During further film transport, the carrying handle 12 can be applied with its ends over the recesses introduced into the film 20 with at least partial covering or covering of the recesses on the film 20 or outer packaging (gluing or welding), after which the articles with the film 20 or outer packaging are wrapped. For this purpose, the punching device 58 is followed by a suitable application device 60 for fixing the carrying handles on the not yet separated into sections film 20 before the film 20 then passes through the film separating station 54.
  • a punching device 58 is followed by a suitable application device 60 for fixing the carrying handles on the not yet separated into sections film 20 before the film 20 then passes through
  • the carrying handle 12 adheres to the prepunched film 20, so that the fixation by gluing or welding of the carrying handle 12 then extends through the punched holes to the article casing surface.
  • a pre-cut film can be unwound from the film supply 52 be, which already has the provided recesses, so that in this case can be dispensed with the downstream of the film supply 52 punching device 58.
  • the film wrapping module 56 then ensures the wrapping of the grouped articles 14 with the suitably cut-to-length film sections, which in each case already have the suitably positioned carrying handle, before the further transport takes place through the shrink oven 48 and the container transport section 50.
  • the film 20 or outer packaging can first be unwound from the film supply 52, pass through the film-separating station 54 and be wound around the grouped articles 14 by means of the film wrapping module 56 in the film packer 46. Subsequently, the film bundles 10 are conveyed in the intended transport direction 42 via the horizontal conveyor 44 through the shrink oven 48 to the downstream container transport section 50, which in the embodiment shown both a punching device 58 for introducing the required recesses in the film packaging as well as a punching device 58 downstream application device 60 assigned is where the carrying handles are applied.
  • a prepunched film 20 can be unwound from the film supply 52 in this variant, which already has the recesses provided, so that the punching device 58 in the container transport section 50 may possibly also be omitted.
  • the in the schematic representation of Fig. 8 shown third variant of the method according to the invention differs substantially from the first and second variants by the different or separate arrangements of the punching device 58 of the application device 60. While in this third variant, the punching device 58 is associated with the film packer 46 and between the film supply 52 and the film separating station 54 can be located, as well as the first variant ( Fig. 6 ), the application device 60 as in the second variant (FIG. Fig. 7 ) are in the region of the container transport section 50.
  • One in the schematic representation of Fig. 9 shown fourth variant of a method not according to the invention provides that the articles 14 are initially wrapped in a manner with the film 20 or outer packaging, that in the transport direction 42 laterally located longitudinal sides of the container 10 each have.
  • the containers 10 are first rotated by a suitable handling device 62 by about 90 ° or 270 ° about a vertical axis or at an angle of 90 or 270 ° transverse to the conveying direction 42, so that the carrying handle by means of Downstream application device 60 can be applied by contacting the provided with the recesses in the form of the film 33 eyes, in the conveying direction 42 front and rear side of the container arranged outside.
  • the container 10 can, for example, be rotated by 90 or 270 degrees about their vertical axis.

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Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein Gebinde mit Tragegriff mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1, ein Verfahren zur Herstellung solcher Gebinde mit den Merkmalen des Verfahrensanspruchs 6 sowie eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von Gebinden mit Tragegriff mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 10. Zum Zwecke des Transports werden Getränkebehälter meist in handlichen Gebinden mit vier, sechs oder mehr Behältern zusammengefasst, wobei die Behälter in diesen Gebinden bspw. mit Schrumpffolie umhüllt und zusammengehalten sein können. Zur leichteren Handhabung weisen Gebinde mit solchen sog. Einweg-Sekundärverpackungen aus PE-Schrumpffolie o. dgl. oftmals Tragegriffe aus flexiblem Material auf, bspw. aus ausreichend stabiler Folie, Karton, Papier, Kunststoffen wie PVC oder Mischwerkstoffe, ggf. mit einem papier- und/oder kartonverstärktem Griffbereich. Die Tragegriffstreifen können mit ihren Enden an den Seitenflächen des Gebindes fixiert sein, bspw. durch Verschweißen oder Verkleben. Hierzu können die Enden des Tragegriffs ggf. selbstklebende Bereiche aufweisen.The present invention relates to a container with handle with the features of claim 1, a method for producing such containers with the features of method claim 6 and an apparatus for producing containers with handle with the features of claim 10. For the purpose of transport beverage containers are usually summarized in handy containers with four, six or more containers, the containers in these containers, for example. Wrapped with shrink film and can be held together. For ease of handling, containers with such so-called disposable secondary packaging made of PE shrink film or the like often carry handles made of flexible material, for example of sufficiently stable film, cardboard, paper, plastics such as PVC or mixed materials, if necessary with a paper and / or cardboard reinforced handle area. The carrying handle strips can be fixed with their ends to the side surfaces of the container, for example by welding or gluing. For this purpose, the ends of the carrying handle may optionally have self-adhesive areas.

Damit eine solche Anordnung eine ausreichende mechanische Stabilität bei der manuellen Handhabung der Gebinde aufweist, muss nicht nur der Tragegriff über die erforderliche Belastbarkeit verfügen, sondern auch die Verbindungsstellen zum Gebinde und dessen Umhüllung, an der der Tragegriff fixiert ist. D.h., die umhüllende Schrumpffolie muss über eine ausreichende Dehn- und Reißfestigkeit verfügen, damit bei Handhabung des Gebindes mittels des Tragegriffs nicht die Verpackungsfolie überdehnt werden und/oder ausreißen kann. Da mit zunehmenden Maßnahmen zur Kostenreduzierung und im Interesse einer Ressourcenschonung in der Praxis immer dünnere Verpackungsfolien mit Folienstärken von 25 µm oder weniger zum Einsatz kommen, gelangt die mechanische Belastbarkeit der Folien in kritische Bereiche. Um das Ausreißen der Tragegriffe bei Gebinden mit insgesamt sechs PET-Getränkebehältern á 1,5 Itr. zuverlässig zu verhindern, sind in der Regel Folienstärken von wenigstens 40 µm erforderlich. Aus einer solchen Verstärkungsmaßnahme resultiert jedoch ein Mehreinsatz an Folienmaterial von ca. 60 Gewichtsprozent, der ausschließlich dadurch bedingt ist, dass die Folie an den und im Umgebungsbereich der Verbindungsstellen zum Tragegriff über eine ausreichende mechanische Stabilität für die Handhabung der Gebinde verfügt.For such an arrangement to have sufficient mechanical stability in the manual handling of the container, not only the carrying handle must have the required load capacity, but also the connection points to the container and its envelope to which the carrying handle is fixed. That is, the enveloping shrink film must have sufficient tensile strength and tear, so when handling the container by means of the carrying handle, the packaging film can not be overstretched and / or tear. Since with increasing measures to reduce costs and in the interest of resource conservation in practice ever thinner packaging films with film thicknesses of 25 microns or less are used, the mechanical strength of the films enters critical areas. To tear the carrying handles in containers with a total of six PET beverage containers á 1.5 ltr. To prevent reliable, film thicknesses of at least 40 microns are usually required. From such a reinforcing measure, however, results in a multiple use of film material of about 60 percent by weight, which is solely due to the fact that the film has at and in the vicinity of the connection points to the handle over a sufficient mechanical stability for the handling of the container.

Die DE 693 11 338 T2 offenbart eine Mehrfachpackung für Behälter, insbesondere für Getränkebehälter in einer einheitlichen Gruppe, bei der die Behälter mittels einer Banderole aus Kunststoff zusammengehalten sind. Ein flexibler Tragegriff ist an den Außenseiten der Mehrfachpackung fixiert, wobei die Verbindungsstellen jeweils einen Bereich bilden und überdecken, in dem die Tragegriffenden sowohl an der Banderole als auch an den Behältermantelflächen fixiert sind.The DE 693 11 338 T2 discloses a multi-pack for containers, in particular for beverage containers in a single group, in which the containers are held together by means of a plastic band. A flexible carrying handle is fixed to the outer sides of the multi-pack, wherein the connecting points each form and cover a region in which the carrying handle ends are fixed to both the band and the container shell surfaces.

Die WO 98/07635 offenbart eine Gebindeanordnung mit zwei, drei oder mehr mittels eines als Halteband fungierenden Etiketts zusammengehaltenen Behältern oder Flaschen. Das Band kann einen Handgriff ausgebildet haben, so dass das Gebinde getragen werden kann. Als Stärke des Bandes wird ein Bereich zwischen 8 und 100 µm angegeben.The WO 98/07635 discloses a container assembly having two, three or more containers or bottles held together by a label that acts as a tether. The band may have a handle formed so that the container can be worn. The thickness of the band is given as a range between 8 and 100 μm.

Eine weitere Gebindeanordnung mit sechs oder mehr durch Schrumpffolie zusammengehaltenen Getränkedosen geht aus der WO 2008/052211 A2 hervor. Die Schrumpffolie besteht aus zwei Lagen, die an mehreren Stellen quer zur Längsrichtung zusammengeheftet sind, dass jeweils sechs oder mehr schlauchförmige Abschnitte gebildet sind, in welche die Getränkedosen eingeschoben werden können. Anschließend werden die Folienabschnitte voneinander getrennt, so dass Gebinde entstehen, die danach durch einen Schrumpfofen geführt werden, wodurch die Dosen fest aneinander fixiert werden. Eine Variante des Gebindes sieht einen nach oben ragenden Handgriffabschnitt vor, der Teil der Folienabschnitte ist, so dass eine Klebe- oder Schweißverbindung entfällt.Another container arrangement with six or more held together by shrink film beverage cans goes out of the WO 2008/052211 A2 out. The shrink film consists of two layers, which are stapled together at several points transverse to the longitudinal direction, that in each case six or more tubular sections are formed, in which the beverage cans can be inserted. Subsequently, the film sections are separated from each other, so that containers are formed, which are then passed through a shrink oven, whereby the cans are firmly fixed together. A variant of the container provides an upwardly projecting handle portion, which is part of the film sections, so that an adhesive or welded connection is eliminated.

Aus der EP 2 311 750 A1 ist ein Gebinde mit mehreren Behältern sowie ein Verfahren zur Herstellung eines solchen Gebindes bekannt. Hierbei umfasst das Gebinde mindestens zwei miteinander verbundene PET-Behälter, welche mit einer horizontal um eine Außenseite der PET-Behälter gespannten Umreifung zusammengehalten sind. Ein an den Behältern befestigter Tragegriff überspannt eine Oberseite des Gebindes. Der Tragegriff ist an Außenmantelflächen von zwei gegenüberliegend, nebeneinander bzw. benachbart angeordneten PET-Behältern fixiert. Die Verbindungsstellen zwischen dem Tragegriff und dem jeweiligen PET-Behälter sind zumindest teilweise innerhalb der Umreifung angeordnet.From the EP 2 311 750 A1 a container with several containers and a method for producing such a container is known. Here, the container comprises at least two interconnected PET containers, which are held together with a strapping strapped horizontally around an outer side of the PET container. A carrying handle attached to the containers spans an upper side of the container. The carrying handle is fixed to outer lateral surfaces of two opposite, adjacent or adjacent arranged PET containers. The joints between the handle and the respective PET container are at least partially disposed within the strapping.

Das Dokument US 2007/0141208 A1 zeigt eine Tragevorrichtung für Produkte. Hierzu umfasst die Tragevorrichtung zwei Befestigungselemente, welche eine Mehrzahl an Ausschnitten aufweist. Durch die Ausschnitte an den Befestigungselementen bilden sich Streifen, welche an den Produkten befestigt werden können. Die Streifen können beispielsweise anhand einer Schrumpffolie an den Produkten fixiert werden, welche Schrumpffolie die Produkte umgibt. Zudem ist eine Klebeanbindung der Streifen an den Produkten möglich.The document US 2007/0141208 A1 shows a carrying device for products. For this purpose, the carrying device comprises two fastening elements, which has a plurality of cutouts. Form through the cutouts on the fasteners Strips, which can be attached to the products. For example, the strips can be fixed to the products by means of a shrink film, which shrink film surrounds the products. In addition, adhesive bonding of the strips to the products is possible.

Durch die EP 0 442 111 A2 wird ein Prozess zur Verpackung loser Objekte, insbesondere Flaschen, eine Maschine zur Ausführung eines derartigen Prozesses sowie eine transportable Verpackung, welche mit einem derartigen Prozess hergestellt ist, beschrieben. Hierbei wird eine aus zwei Bestandteilen bestehende erste Umverpackung vorgesehen. Ein oberer Streifen sowie ein unterer Streifen der ersten Umverpackung werden dabei zusammengefügt und in vertikaler Ausrichtung um die Objekte gelegt. Bei dem oberen Streifen kann es sich beispielsweise um eine dünne, stabile bzw. flexible Kunststofffolie handeln, bei dem unteren Streifen um einen Klebestreifen. Eine zweite Umverpackung wird in horizontaler Ausrichtung um die Objekte gewickelt, sodass die erste Umverpackung an den Objekten befestigt wird. Bei der zweiten Umverpackung kann es sich um eine dünne, dehnbare Kunststofffolie handeln. Aus dem oberen Streifen der ersten Umverpackung kann ein Tragegriff entstehen. Die EP 0 442 111 A2 zeigt somit in Übereinstimmung mit einigen Merkmalen des Anspruchs 1 ein Gebinde mit Tragegriff, umfassend wenigstens zwei Artikel, die mittels einer Umverpackung zumindest teilweise umhüllt und zusammengehalten sind, wobei die Umverpackung haftend und zugkraftübertragend an Kontaktstellen mit dem Tragegriff sowie mit den Mantelflächen der wenigstens zwei unterschiedlichen Artikel verbunden ist, wodurch beim Tragen des Gebindes am Tragegriff auftretende Zugkräfte weitestgehend vom Tragegriff über die Kontaktstellen auf die Mantelflächen der wenigstens zwei unterschiedlichen Artikel geleitet werden.By the EP 0 442 111 A2 For example, a process for packaging loose objects, particularly bottles, a machine for carrying out such a process and a transportable package made with such a process will be described. Here, a two-part existing first outer packaging is provided. An upper strip and a lower strip of the first outer packaging are assembled and placed in vertical alignment around the objects. The upper strip can be, for example, a thin, stable or flexible plastic film, and the lower strip can be an adhesive strip. A second outer packaging is wrapped around the objects in a horizontal orientation so that the first outer packaging is attached to the objects. The second outer package may be a thin, stretchable plastic film. From the upper strip of the first outer packaging may be a carrying handle. The EP 0 442 111 A2 Thus, in accordance with some features of claim 1 shows a container with handle, comprising at least two articles which are at least partially wrapped and held together by means of an outer packaging, the outer packaging adhesive and tensile force transmitting at contact points with the handle and with the lateral surfaces of the at least two different Article is connected, which occurs when carrying the container on the carrying handle tensile forces largely from the handle on the contact surfaces on the lateral surfaces of the at least two different items.

Die US 2007/0215505 A1 zeigt eine Schrumpfverpackung mit integriertem verstärktem Tragegriff. Hierbei ist ein Kunststoffelement vorgesehen, welches Aufnahmebereiche für Behälter aufweist. Das Kunststoffelement weist eine Griffschlaufe auf. Die Griffschlaufe des Kunststoffelements kann hierbei in Verbindung mit einer, einen weiteren Handgriff ausbildenden Öffnung in einer Schrumpfverpackung verwendet werden, welche Schrumpfverpackung die Behälter umgibt.The US 2007/0215505 A1 shows a shrink wrap with integrated reinforced handle. Here, a plastic element is provided which has receiving areas for containers. The plastic element has a handle loop. The handle loop of the plastic element can in this case be used in conjunction with a, another handle forming opening in a shrink wrap, which shrink wrap surrounds the container.

Aus der DE 102 11 996 A1 ist eine Vorrichtung zum Anbringen eines Tragegriffs bekannt. Eine Tragepackung ist beispielsweise aus mittels einer Schrumpffolie zusammengefassten Getränkeflaschen gebildet. Anhand einer Appliziervorrichtung werden die Tragepackungen mit einem selbstklebenden Tragegriff versehen.From the DE 102 11 996 A1 a device for attaching a carrying handle is known. A carrier pack is formed for example from combined by means of a shrink film beverage bottles. By means of an applicator, the carrying packs are provided with a self-adhesive carrying handle.

Durch die JP 2004315031 A wird eine Verpackung für Artikel beschrieben, welche einen Tragegriff aufweist. Die Artikel sind dabei mittels einer Schrumpfverpackung zu einem Gebinde zusammengefügt. Der Tragegriff soll an beiden Enden an der Schrumpfverpackung des Gebindes angefügt werden.By the JP 2004315031 A a packaging for articles is described, which has a carrying handle. The articles are assembled by means of a shrink wrap to form a container. The carrying handle should be attached at both ends to the shrink wrap of the container.

Ein vorrangiges Ziel der Erfindung wird darin gesehen, ein Gebinde mit Tragegriff mit mehreren mittels einer Folie oder Umverpackung zusammengehaltenen Artikeln sowie ein Verfahren und eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung solcher Gebinde zur Verfügung zu stellen, bei dem/denen trotz Verwendung einer möglichst dünnen Folie oder Umverpackung eine ausreichende mechanische Stabilität im Zusammenhang mit der Fixierung der Tragegriffenden an den Gebindeaußenseiten gewährleistet werden kann.A primary object of the invention is to provide a container with handle with several held together by a film or outer packaging articles and a method and apparatus for producing such containers are available, in which / despite the use of a thin film or outer packaging as possible sufficient mechanical stability can be ensured in connection with the fixation of the handle ends on the container outside.

Das genannte Ziel der Erfindung wird mit den Gegenständen der unabhängigen Ansprüche erreicht. Merkmale vorteilhafter Weiterbildungen der Erfindung ergeben sich aus den jeweiligen abhängigen Ansprüchen. So schlägt die Erfindung zur Erreichung des genannten Ziels ein Gebinde mit Tragegriff wie in Anspruch 1 definiert vor. Die Kontaktstellen können wahlweise durch Klebestellen zwischen den Mantelflächen der Artikel und dem Tragegriff gebildet sein, wobei die Tragegriffenden an den Artikeln fixiert sind, so dass eine zum Greifen des Gebindes geeignete Schlaufe das Gebinde nach oben überragt. Wahlweise können die Kontaktstellen auch durch Schweißstellen zwischen den Mantelflächen der Artikel und dem Tragegriff bzw. den beiden Tragegriffenden gebildet sein.Said object of the invention is achieved with the objects of the independent claims. Features of advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the respective dependent claims. Thus, in order to achieve the stated aim, the invention proposes a container with a carrying handle as defined in claim 1. The contact points can optionally be formed by splices between the lateral surfaces of the article and the carrying handle, wherein the carrying handle ends are fixed to the articles, so that a suitable for gripping the container loop towers above the container. Optionally, the contact points can also be formed by welds between the lateral surfaces of the article and the carrying handle or the two handle ends.

Die Kontaktstellen, d.h. die Verbindungsstellen zwischen dem Tragegriff und dem Gebinde sind in einer Weise ausgestaltet, dass die Umverpackung im Bereich der Kontaktstellen jeweils Aussparungen aufweist, wobei die Aussparungen im Wesentlichen mit den Dimensionen der Kontaktflächen korrespondieren können. Die Klebe- oder Schweißstellen können dabei durch die Aussparungen hindurchgreifen und die Ränder der Aussparung zumindest teilweise berühren. Mit einer solchen Fixierung des Tragegriffs an den Artikeln wird die umhüllende Umverpackung von Zugkräften entlastet bzw. völlig befreit, die beim Tragen des Gebindes am Tragegriff auf das Gebinde übertragen werden und bei einem an der Umverpackung verankerten Tragegriff zu hohen punktuellen Belastungen führen würden, die zu einem Bruch, Einreißen oder allgemein zu einem Versagen oder Teilversagen der umhüllenden Folie oder Umverpackung führen könnte.The contact points, ie the connection points between the handle and the container are designed in such a way that the outer packaging in the Contact points each having recesses, wherein the recesses may correspond substantially with the dimensions of the contact surfaces. The adhesive or welds can reach through the recesses and touch the edges of the recess at least partially. With such a fixation of the handle on the articles, the wrapping outer packaging is relieved of tensile forces and completely freed, which are transmitted to the handle when carrying the container on the handle and would lead to a high point loads in an anchored to the outer handle carrying handles to the point breakage, tearing or general failure or partial failure of the wrapping film or outer packaging.

Als Tragegriffmaterial kommen unterschiedliche Kunststoff- und/oder Verbundmaterialien in Frage, bspw. ein PET-Material ausreichender Stärke, das eine Flexibilität und ggf. eine Längselastizität aufweist, die ein komfortables einhändiges Greifen und Tragen des Gebindes am Tragegriff erlaubt. Zudem kann das Tragegriffmaterial eine Papier- oder Kartonverstärkung sowie selbstklebende Flächen an den Tragegriffenden aufweisen. Typische Gebinde solcher Art können bspw. vier oder sechs Getränkebehälter aufweisen, die mittels schrumpfbarer Folie oder mittels anderer Umverpackungen wie bspw. schlauchartigen Umhüllungen zusammengehalten und zu einem transportablen Gebinde zusammengefasst sind. Wahlweise können sich die Kontaktstellen im Wesentlichen auf die Aussparungen beschränken, so dass sie die Umverpackung nur linienartig berühren und damit nur geringfügig in die Ränder der Aussparung hineinreichen. In diesem Fall bleibt die Umverpackung, Folie, Schrumpffolie o. dgl. weitgehend frei von Zugbelastungen, wenn das Gebinde am Tragegriff angehoben wird. Ebenso möglich sind jedoch Varianten, bei der sich die Kontaktstellen zumindest teilweise in die Umverpackung bzw. in die Ränder von deren Aussparungen erstrecken, so dass die Kontaktstellen die Ränder der Aussparungen umfassen oder sich zumindest teilweise mit den Rändern der Aussparungen überdecken.As a handle material different plastic and / or composite materials in question, for example. A PET material of sufficient strength, which has a flexibility and possibly a longitudinal elasticity that allows a comfortable one-handed gripping and carrying the container on the handle. In addition, the handle material may have a paper or cardboard reinforcement and self-adhesive surfaces on the handle ends. Typical containers of this type can, for example, have four or six beverage containers, which are held together by means of shrinkable film or by means of other outer packages, such as tubular casings, and combined to form a transportable container. Optionally, the contact points can be essentially limited to the recesses, so that they only touch the outer packaging line-like and thus extend only slightly into the edges of the recess. In this case, the outer package, foil, shrink film o. The like. Extensively free of tensile loads when the container is lifted on the carrying handle. However, variants are also possible in which the contact points extend at least partially into the outer packaging or into the edges of their recesses, so that the contact points comprise the edges of the recesses or overlap at least partially with the edges of the recesses.

Wahlweise können die Kontakt- bzw. Klebe- und/oder Schweißstellen vollflächig ausgebildet sein oder mehrere Klebe- oder Schweißpunkte je Kontaktstelle umfassen. Zudem können die Aussparungen im Wesentlichen mit den Dimensionen der Kontaktflächen korrespondieren oder etwas kleiner als diese sein, so dass die fixierten Bereiche des Tragegriffs randseitig der Aussparungen in die Umverpackung hineinreichen. Alternativ, jedoch nicht erfindungsgemäß, sind auch Varianten denkbar, bei denen die Aussparungen deutlich größer sind als die Kontaktstellen oder Kontaktflächen, so dass die Aussparungen bspw. jeweils ein sog. Folienauge bilden können, das durch ein Umwickeln der zu einem Gebinde gruppierten Artikel um eine horizontale Querachse entstanden ist.Optionally, the contact or adhesive and / or welds can be formed over the entire surface or comprise multiple gluing or welding points per contact point. In addition, the recesses may correspond substantially to the dimensions of the contact surfaces or may be slightly smaller than these, so that the fixed regions of the carrying handle extend at the edges of the recesses into the outer packaging. Alternatively, but not according to the invention, variants are also conceivable in which the recesses are significantly larger than the contact points or contact surfaces, so that the recesses can, for example, each form a so-called. Foil eye, which has arisen by wrapping the grouped into a container article about a horizontal transverse axis.

Bei der Erfindung steht die Verstärkung und Stabilisierung von Schwachstellen bei mit dünner Folie umhüllten Gebinden, die mit einem Tragegriff versehen sind, im Vordergrund. Zu diesem Zweck können Klebepunkte oder Schweißpunkte zwischen Folie und Behälter - im Bereich der Handgriff-Klebefläche - appliziert werden. Die Haftpunkte können durch beliebige geeignete Kleber wie Heißkleber, Flüssigkleber, doppelseitiges Klebeband oder auch durch Verschweißen - z.B. mittels Ultraschall-Verschweißung - hergestellt werden. Sowohl bei einer Verschweißung als auch bei einer Klebeverbindung ist es zudem möglich, alle drei Komponenten (Behälter, Umverpackungsfolie und Handgriff) miteinander zu verbinden. Die Anzahl, Größe und Lage der Klebe- oder Schweißpunkte richtet sich nach den jeweiligen Anforderungen. In diesem Zusammenhang ist es nicht entscheidend, ob der der Kleber vor dem Folieneinschlag oder nachher an dem fertigen Gebinde (mit oder ohne aufgeklebtem Handgriff) appliziert wird, so lange die Verarbeitungszeit des Klebers zur Anwendung passt.In the invention, the reinforcement and stabilization of weak points in wrapped with thin film containers, which are provided with a carrying handle, in the foreground. For this purpose, adhesive dots or spot welds between film and container - in the area of the handle adhesive surface - can be applied. The adhesion points may be formed by any suitable adhesive such as hot melt adhesive, liquid adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape or by welding - e.g. by means of ultrasonic welding - are produced. It is also possible to connect all three components (container, outer packaging film and handle) with each other, both in the case of welding and in the case of an adhesive joint. The number, size and position of the gluing or welding points depend on the respective requirements. In this context, it is not crucial whether the adhesive is applied before the film wrapping or subsequently on the finished container (with or without glued handle), as long as the processing time of the adhesive fits the application.

Die Klebe- oder Schweißverbindung von der Schrumpffolie zu den Behältern leitet den Kraftverlauf beim Anheben des Gebindes am Handgriff, die aus der Gewichtskraft des Gebindes resultiert, über den Handgriff auf die Behälter, ohne dass die Folie hierbei übermäßig gedehnt und dadurch ggf. zerstört wird.The adhesive or welded connection from the shrink film to the containers directs the force curve when lifting the container on the handle, resulting from the weight of the container, over the handle on the container, without the film being overly stretched and thereby possibly destroyed.

Die Erfindung umfasst weiterhin ein Verfahren zur Herstellung von Gebinden mit einem Tragegriff wie im Anspruch 6 definiert. Die Folie bzw. die Umverpackung kann bspw. sog. Folienaugen aufweisen, die Teile der Artikel freilassen, so dass an die freiliegenden Artikelmantelflächen, die gleichzeitig die Seitenflächen des Gebindes bilden, die Tragegriffenden fixiert bzw. angeklebt werden können.The invention further comprises a method for producing containers with a carrying handle as defined in claim 6. The film or the outer packaging may have, for example, so-called film eyes which leave parts of the articles free, so that the carrying handle ends can be fixed or glued to the exposed article lateral surfaces which simultaneously form the side surfaces of the container.

Bei einer ersten Variante des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens kann die Folie oder Umverpackung mit Aussparungen versehen sein. Diese Aussparungen können bspw. unmittelbar nach dem Abwickeln der Folie von einem Endlosvorrat und vor der Umhüllung der Artikel eingebracht werden, bspw. durch ein mechanisches oder optisches Stanzverfahren wie bspw. einem Laserschneidverfahren. Während des Folientransports kann der Tragegriff mit seinen Enden über die in die Folie eingebrachten Aussparungen unter zumindest teilweiser Überdeckung bzw. Abdeckung der Aussparungen auf die Folie oder Umverpackung appliziert werden, wonach anschließend die Artikel mit der Folie oder Umverpackung umhüllt werden. Bei dieser Variante des Verfahrens haftet der Tragegriff an der vorgestanzten Folie, so dass die Fixierung oder Verklebung und/oder Verschweißung des Tragegriffs anschließend durch die Ausstanzungen hindurch an die Artikelmantelfläche reicht. Wahlweise kann auch eine vorgestanzte Folie von dem Folienvorrat abgewickelt werden, welche die vorgesehenen Aussparungen bereits aufweist.In a first variant of the method according to the invention, the film or outer packaging may be provided with recesses. These recesses can be introduced, for example, immediately after the unwinding of the film from an endless supply and before the wrapping of the articles, for example by a mechanical or optical punching process such as, for example, a laser cutting process. During the film transport, the carrying handle can be applied with its ends over the recesses introduced into the film with at least partial covering or covering of the recesses on the film or outer packaging, after which the articles are then wrapped with the film or outer packaging. In this variant of the method, the carrying handle adheres to the prepunched foil, so that the fixation or gluing and / or welding of the carrying handle subsequently extends through the punched-out portions to the article casing surface. Alternatively, a pre-cut film can be unwound from the film supply, which already has the provided recesses.

Bei einer zweiten Variante des Verfahrens kann die Folie oder Umverpackung ebenfalls zunächst mit Aussparungen versehen werden, bspw. durch Lasern oder Stanzen, wonach die Artikel mit der Folie oder Umverpackung umhüllt werden und anschließend der Tragegriff unter Kontaktierung der Aussparungen auf die Mantelflächen der Artikel, d.h. auf das umhüllte Gebinde, appliziert wird. Wahlweise kann auch hierbei eine vorgestanzte Folie von dem Folienvorrat abgewickelt werden, welche die vorgesehenen Aussparungen bereits aufweist.In a second variant of the method, the film or outer packaging can also be initially provided with recesses, for example by laser or punching, after which the articles are wrapped with the film or outer packaging and then the carrying handle by contacting the recesses on the lateral surfaces of the articles, i. on the wrapped container, is applied. Optionally, in this case too, a pre-cut film can be unwound from the film supply, which already has the recesses provided.

Eine dritte Variante des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens sieht vor, dass die Artikel zunächst mit der Folie oder Umverpackung umhüllt werden, wonach die Umverpackung mit Aussparungen versehen wird, was bspw. durch mechanisches Ausstanzen oder Lasern nach dem Aufbringen der Folie erfolgen kann. Anschließend kann der Tragegriff unter Kontaktierung der Aussparungen auf die Mantelflächen der Artikel, d.h. auf das fertige Gebinde, appliziert werden.A third variant of the method according to the invention provides that the articles are first wrapped with the film or outer packaging, after which the outer packaging is provided with recesses, which can be done, for example, by mechanical punching or laser after applying the film. Subsequently, the carrying handle can be applied by contacting the recesses on the lateral surfaces of the article, ie on the finished container.

Wird als Umverpackung bspw. Schrumpffolie verwendet, so kann diese die erforderlichen Aussparungen bereits vor dem Umhüllen der Artikel aufweisen. Nach dem Umwickeln der Artikel erfolgt normalerweise das Aufschrumpfen der Folie unter Wärmeeinwirkung, wonach der Tragegriff bspw. in den Bereich des verbleibenden Folienauges an die Artikelmantelflächen appliziert werden kann. Bei einer solchen Verfahrensvariante können die Artikel bspw. mittels eines Folieneinschlagmoduls im Bereich einer Transportstrecke in Förderrichtung mit einer von einem Endlosvorrat zur Verfügung gestellten Folie umhüllt werden, so dass Gebinde mit in Förderrichtung seitlich angeordneten Aussparungen an gegenüber liegenden Außenseiten gebildet werden. Während des weiteren Transports können die Gebinde um ca. 90° oder 270° um eine Hochachse bzw. um einen Winkel von 90 oder 270° quer zur Förderrichtung gedreht werden, so dass der Tragegriff unter Kontaktierung der mit Aussparungen versehenen, in Förderrichtung vorder- und rückseitig angeordneten Gebindeaußenseiten appliziert werden kann. Bei dieser Verfahrensvariante kann als Umverpackung bspw. Schrumpffolie, Klebefolie oder eine dünne und dehnbare, gut haftende Folienbahn als Umhüllung für die Artikel zur Ausbildung von Foliengebinden verwendet werden.If, for example, shrink wrap is used as the outer packaging, then it may already have the required recesses prior to the wrapping of the articles. After wrapping the articles is usually the shrinking of the film under the action of heat, after which the carrying handle can be applied, for example, in the region of the remaining film eye to the article jacket surfaces. In such a variant of the method, the articles can, for example, be enveloped by means of a film wrapping module in the conveying direction in the conveying direction with a film made available from an endless supply, so that containers are formed with recesses arranged laterally in the conveying direction on opposite outer sides. During further transport, the containers can be rotated by about 90 ° or 270 ° about a vertical axis or at an angle of 90 or 270 ° transversely to the conveying direction, so that the carrying handle under contact with the recessed, in the conveying direction front and can be applied on the back arranged container outside. In this process variant can be used as wrapping for example shrink film, adhesive film or a thin and stretchy, well-adherent film web as a wrapper for the article to form film packs as outer packaging.

Zum Applizieren von Klebepunkten am fertigen Gebinde ist es z.B. denkbar, dass ein Vakuum-Sauger die Folie - u.U. auch den bereits aufgeklebten Handgriff - von den Behältern abhebt und der Kleber seitlich mit einer Nadel durch die Folie eingebracht wird. Es könnte die Nadel auch im Sauger integriert sein, so dass sich beim Ansaugen die Folie in den Sauger zieht und dadurch von der dort platzierten Nadel durchstoßen wird. Die Dicke der Schrumpffolie kann somit soweit reduziert werden, dass die Festigkeit noch ausreichend ist, um das Restgebinde zusammenzuhalten und dass die äußeren Behälter beim Anheben des Gebindes am Handgriff nicht unzumutbar weit absacken.For applying adhesive dots to the finished container it is e.g. conceivable that a vacuum sucker the film - u.U. Even the already glued handle - lifts off the containers and the adhesive is laterally introduced with a needle through the film. The needle could also be integrated in the nipple, so that the film pulls into the nipple during suction and is thereby punctured by the needle placed there. The thickness of the shrink film can thus be reduced so far that the strength is still sufficient to hold the remaining container together and that the outer container does not sag unreasonably far when lifting the container on the handle.

Bei ungeraden Reihen Behältern nebeneinander wie bspw. bei 3x2-Sixpacks kann der Handgriff symmetrisch außerhalb der mittleren Behälter oder Flaschen aufgebracht werden. Bei geraden Zahlen von Behältern nebeneinander wie bspw. bei 4x4-Gebinden kann der Handgriff auch diagonal verlaufen.With odd rows of containers side by side, such as with 3x2 six-packs, the handle can be symmetrically applied outside of the middle containers or bottles. For even numbers of containers next to each other such as. For 4x4 containers, the handle can also run diagonally.

Schließlich umfasst die vorliegende Erfindung eine Vorrichtung zur Durchführung eines Verfahrens zur Herstellung von Gebinden mit Tragegriffen gemäß einer der zuvor beschriebenen Ausführungsvarianten. Die Vorrichtung hat erfindungsgemäß die Merkmale des Anspruchs 10. Durch ein teilweises oder vollständiges Verkleben oder Verschweißen des Tragegriffes mit den Behältern selbst anstelle der umhüllenden Folie verläuft der Kraftfluss beim Anheben des Gebindes nicht vom Tragegriff über die Folie zum Behälter, sondern direkt zwischen Griff und Behälter. Die Henkelfestigkeit wird mit dieser Anordnung somit unabhängig von der Folienfestigkeit, so dass wahlweise auch sehr dünne Folie zum Einsatz kommen kann. Bei gleicher Funktion kann somit der Materialeinsatz an Folie bzw. Sekundärverpackung deutlich reduziert werden. Die Tragfähigkeit des Tragegriffs wird gleichzeitig deutlich erhöht. Die Gebinde können mit herkömmlichen Maschinen ohne nennenswerten Umrüstaufwand hergestellt und verarbeitet werden. In Belastungsversuchen hat sich herausgestellt, dass solcherart hergestellte Gebinde mit Schrumpffolien-Sekundärverpackungen auch mit Folienstärken von 25 µm mit einer hohen Anzahl von Lastzyklen zu beaufschlagen waren, ohne dass es zu einem Versagen der Verbindung und/oder der Folie gekommen wäre, während bei herkömmlichen Verbindungssystemen kaum ein Anheben des Gebindes ohne Ausreißen der Folie zu realisieren war.Finally, the present invention comprises an apparatus for carrying out a method for producing containers with carrying handles according to one of the previously described embodiments. The device according to the invention has the features of claim 10. By partially or completely bonding or welding the carrying handle to the containers themselves instead of the enveloping film, the power flow during lifting of the container does not extend from the carrying handle over the foil to the container, but directly between the handle and container. The handle strength is thus independent of the film strength with this arrangement, so that optionally even very thin film can be used. With the same function, the material used on film or secondary packaging can thus be significantly reduced. The carrying capacity of the handle is also significantly increased. The containers can be manufactured and processed with conventional machines without significant conversion. In load tests, it has been found that packages made in such a way with shrink film secondary packaging were also to be loaded with film thicknesses of 25 μm with a high number of load cycles without the compound and / or film failing, whereas in conventional connection systems hardly a lifting of the container without tearing of the film was to be realized.

Weiterhin hat die erfindungsgemäße Verbindungstechnik zwischen Tragegriff und Gebinde den Vorteil, dass alle Arten von Bedruckungen, Bildern, Strukturierungen etc., die sich auf der Umverpackung bzw. der Schrumpffolie befinden und ggf. in Bezug auf die umhüllten Artikel oder Getränkebehälter ausgerichtet und positioniert sein können, während der Handhabung der Gebinde nicht beeinträchtigt werden können, da sich die Umverpackung oder die Folie auch beim Anheben der Gebinde am Tragegriff nicht gegenüber den Artikeln verschieben, sondern an ihrer vorgesehenen ursprünglichen Position verbleiben.Furthermore, the connection technique according to the invention between handle and container has the advantage that all types of imprints, images, structuring, etc., which are located on the outer packaging or the shrink film and may be aligned and positioned with respect to the wrapped articles or beverage containers and possibly , during handling of the container can not be affected, since the outer packaging or the film do not move when lifting the container on the carrying handle against the articles, but remain in their intended original position.

Nachfolgend verdeutlichen Ausführungsbeispiele die Erfindung und ihre Vorteile anhand der beigefügten Zeichnungen. Die Größenverhältnisse der einzelnen Elemente zueinander in den Figuren entsprechen nicht immer den realen Größenverhältnissen, da einige Formen vereinfacht und andere Formen zur besseren Veranschaulichung vergrößert im Verhältnis zu anderen Elementen dargestellt sind.

  • Fig. 1 zeigt in zwei schematischen Ansichten eine erste Variante eines erfindungsgemäßen Gebindes mit Tragegriff.
  • Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Perspektivansicht einer Ausführungsvariante eines erfindungsgemäßen Gebindes mit Tragegriff.
  • Fig. 3 zeigt in zwei schematischen Detailansichten eine Kontaktstelle eines mit dem Gebinde verklebten oder verschweißten Tragegriffes.
  • Fig. 4 zeigt in zwei schematischen Ansichten eine nicht erfindungsgemäße Variante eines Gebindes mit Tragegriff.
  • Fig. 5 zeigt in einer schematischen Perspektivdarstellung einen Verfahrensschritt beim Herstellen einer Klebestelle zwischen einem Tragegriffende und dem Gebinde.
  • Fig. 6 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer ersten Variante einer Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von erfindungsgemäßen Gebinden.
  • Fig. 7 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer zweiten Variante der Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von erfindungsgemäßen Gebinden.
  • Fig. 8 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer dritten Variante der Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von erfindungsgemäßen Gebinden.
  • Fig. 9 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Variante der Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von nicht erfindungsgemäßen Gebinden.
Hereinafter, embodiments illustrate the invention and its advantages with reference to the accompanying drawings. The proportions of the individual elements to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual size ratios, since some shapes are simplified and other shapes are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.
  • Fig. 1 shows in two schematic views a first variant of a container according to the invention with handle.
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a container according to the invention with handle.
  • Fig. 3 shows in two schematic detail views a contact point of a glued or welded to the container handle.
  • Fig. 4 shows in two schematic views of a non-inventive variant of a container with handle.
  • Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a method step in producing a splice between a handle end and the container.
  • Fig. 6 shows a schematic view of a first variant of an apparatus for producing containers according to the invention.
  • Fig. 7 shows a schematic view of a second variant of the apparatus for producing containers according to the invention.
  • Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of a third variant of the apparatus for producing containers according to the invention.
  • Fig. 9 shows a schematic view of a variant of the apparatus for producing containers not according to the invention.

Gleiche oder gleich wirkende Elemente der Erfindung sind jeweils mit gleichen Bezugsziffern bezeichnet. Meist werden der Übersicht halber nur Bezugszeichen in den einzelnen Figuren dargestellt, die für die Beschreibung der jeweiligen Figur erforderlich sind. Die dargestellten Ausführungsformen stellen lediglich Beispiele dar, wie die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung oder das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren ausgestaltet sein können und stellen keine abschließende Begrenzung dar.Identical or equivalent elements of the invention are designated by the same reference numerals. For the sake of clarity, only reference symbols in the individual figures which are required for the description of the respective figure are usually shown. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the device or method of the invention may be configured and are not an exhaustive limitation.

Die schematischen Ansichten der Fig. 1a und der Fig. 1b zeigen eine erste Variante eines erfindungsgemäßen Gebindes 10 mit Tragegriff 12. Das Gebinde 10 umfasst in der gezeigten Ausführungsvariante insgesamt sechs Artikel 14 in Form von PET-Getränkebehältern 16, die in einer sog. Rechteckanordnung gruppiert und mit einer umhüllenden Einweg-Umverpackung 18 in Gestalt einer Schrumpffolie 20, insbesondere einer PE-Schrumpffolie 20 zusammengehalten sind. Der Tragegriff 12 ist an definierten Kontaktstellen 22 an Außenseiten von wenigstens zwei gegenüber liegend angeordneten Artikeln 14 bzw. Getränkebehältern 16 des Gebindes 10 fixiert. Diese Kontaktstellen 22 decken sich gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung zumindest teilweise mit Aussparungen 24 in der Umverpackung 18 bzw. Folie 20, so dass die Kontaktstellen 22 im gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel durch die Aussparungen 24 hindurchgreifen und die Ränder 26 der Aussparung 24 zumindest teilweise berühren, wie dies die vergrößerte Darstellung der Fig. 3a verdeutlicht.The schematic views of Fig. 1a and the Fig. 1b show a first variant of a container 10 according to the invention with handle 12. The container 10 comprises in the embodiment shown a total of six articles 14 in the form of PET beverage containers 16, which are grouped in a so-called. Rectangular arrangement and with a wrapping disposable outer packaging 18 in the form of a Shrink film 20, in particular a PE shrink film 20 are held together. The carrying handle 12 is defined at Contact points 22 on outer sides of at least two oppositely arranged articles 14 and beverage containers 16 of the container 10 fixed. These contact points 22 coincide according to the present invention at least partially with recesses 24 in the outer packaging 18 or film 20, so that the contact points 22 in the embodiment shown pass through the recesses 24 and the edges 26 of the recess 24 at least partially touch, as the enlarged view of the Fig. 3a clarified.

Das an der Kontaktstelle 22 haftende, rechteckförmige und sich länglich in vertikaler Richtung entlang der Mantelfläche 28 des Behälters 16 bzw. des Artikels 14 erstreckende Tragegriffende 30 überdeckt hierbei nicht nur die ebenfalls längliche Aussparung 24, sondern auch deren Randbereich 26 sowie einen Teil der den Rand 26 umgebenden Folienoberfläche 32, wobei jedoch aufgrund der sich in der Aussparung 24 konzentrierenden, eine Klebeverbindung 34 oder Schweißverbindung 35 aufweisenden Kontaktstelle 22 weitgehend der gesamte Kraftfluss direkt vom Tragegriff 12 durch die Aussparung 24 hindurch auf die Mantelfläche 28 des kontaktierten Artikels 14 bzw. Behälters 16 stattfindet. Gleichzeitig wird die Folienoberfläche 32 und damit der die Kontaktstelle 22 umgebende Bereich der Umverpackung 18 bzw. Schrumpffolie 20 von Zugkräften beim Tragen des Gebindes 10 entlastet, da die relativ kleine Kontaktfläche außerhalb des Randes 26 keine nennenswerten Zugkräfte F in die Umverpackung 18 bzw. Folie 20 einleiten.The adhering to the contact point 22, rectangular and elongated in the vertical direction along the lateral surface 28 of the container 16 and the article 14 extending handle end 30 covers not only the also elongated recess 24, but also its edge region 26 and a part of the edge However, due to the concentrating in the recess 24, an adhesive connection 34 or weld 35 having contact point 22 largely the entire force flow directly from the handle 12 through the recess 24 through the lateral surface 28 of the contacted article 14 or container 16 takes place. At the same time, the film surface 32 and thus the area of the outer packaging 18 or shrink film 20 surrounding the contact point 22 is relieved of tensile forces when carrying the container 10, since the relatively small contact surface outside the edge 26 does not have any appreciable tensile forces F in the outer packaging 18 or film 20 initiate.

Wahlweise, jedoch nicht erfindungsgemäß, kann die Kontaktstelle 22 auch auf eine Weise ausgestaltet sein, dass sich die Klebeverbindung 34 oder Schweißverbindung 35 auf den Bereich bzw. die Flächenausdehnung der Aussparung 24 beschränkt, wogegen der Randbereich 26 und der Bereich außerhalb dieses Randes 26 keinen Klebstoff aufweist, wodurch die Folie 20 bzw. Umverpackung 18 gänzlich von Zugkräften F freigehalten werden, die über den Tragegriff 12 aufgebracht werden.Optionally, but not according to the invention, the contact point 22 can also be configured in such a way that the adhesive connection 34 or welded connection 35 is limited to the area or the area extent of the recess 24, whereas the edge area 26 and the area outside this edge 26 are not adhesive , whereby the film 20 or outer package 18 are kept entirely by tensile forces F, which are applied over the carrying handle 12.

Die schematische Perspektivansicht der Fig. 2 zeigt eine weitere Ausführungsvariante des erfindungsgemäßen Gebindes 10 mit Tragegriff 12, der eine oberhalb der Gebindeoberseite befindliche Griffschlaufe 13 zum Tragen des Gebindes 10 ausbildet. Das Gebinde 10 umfasst auch bei dieser Variante insgesamt sechs Artikel 14 in Form von PET-Getränkebehältern 16, die in einer sog. Rechteckanordnung gruppiert und mit einer umhüllenden Einweg-Umverpackung 18 in Gestalt einer Schrumpffolie 20, insbesondere einer PE-Schrumpffolie zusammengehalten sind. Der Tragegriff 12 ist an definierten Kontaktstellen 22 im Bereich von Außenseiten wenigstens zweier gegenüber liegend angeordneter Artikel 14 bzw. Getränkebehälter 16 des Gebindes 10 fixiert.The schematic perspective view of Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment variant of the container 10 according to the invention with carrying handle 12, which forms a handle loop 13 located above the top of the container for carrying the container 10. The container 10 also includes in this variant a total of six articles 14 in the form of PET beverage containers 16, which are grouped in a so-called. Rectangular arrangement and held together with a wrapping disposable outer packaging 18 in the form of a shrink film 20, in particular a PE shrink film. The carrying handle 12 is on defined contact points 22 in the region of outer sides of at least two oppositely arranged articles 14 and beverage container 16 of the container 10 is fixed.

Diese Kontaktstellen 22 beziehen gemäß der Erfindung die Umverpackung 18 mit ein, so dass die Tragegriffenden 30 auf die Außenseite der Umverpackung 18 appliziert sind. Wahlweise können sich die Kontaktstellen 22 jedoch zumindest teilweise mit Aussparungen 24 in der Umverpackung 18 bzw. Folie 20 decken, so dass die Kontaktstellen 22 im gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel durch die Aussparungen 24 hindurchgreifen und die Ränder 26 der Aussparung 24 zumindest teilweise berühren, wie dies die vergrößerte Darstellung der Fig. 3a verdeutlicht. Dennoch sei mit Verweis auf die Fig. 2 darauf hingewiesen, dass der Tragegriff 12 bei dieser Variante zunächst auf die Folie 20 bzw. Umverpackung 18 appliziert ist, auch wenn die Tragegriffenden 30 über geeignete Verbindungstechniken unter Durchdringung der Folie 20 oder Umverpackung 18 haftend an die Behältermantelflächen 28 appliziert werden.These contact points 22 according to the invention include the outer packaging 18 so that the carrying handle ends 30 are applied to the outside of the outer packaging 18. Optionally, the contact points 22, however, at least partially coincide with recesses 24 in the outer packaging 18 or foil 20, so that the contact points 22 in the embodiment shown pass through the recesses 24 and touch the edges 26 of the recess 24 at least partially, as the enlarged presentation of the Fig. 3a clarified. Nevertheless, with reference to the Fig. 2 It should be noted that the carrying handle 12 is first applied to the film 20 or outer package 18 in this variant, even if the carrying handle ends 30 are adhesively applied to the container jacket surfaces 28 by means of suitable joining techniques with penetration of the film 20 or outer packaging 18.

Das an der Kontaktstelle 22 haftende, rechteckförmige und sich länglich in vertikaler Richtung entlang der Mantelfläche 28 des Behälters 16 bzw. des Artikels 14 erstreckende Tragegriffende 30 überdeckt hierbei sowohl vollständig die längliche oder punktuelle Aussparung 24 als auch deren Randbereich 26 sowie einen Teil der den Rand 26 umgebenden Folienoberfläche 32, wobei jedoch aufgrund der sich in der Aussparung 24 konzentrierenden, eine Klebeverbindung 34 und/oder Schweißverbindung 35 aufweisende Kontaktstelle 22 weitgehend der gesamte Kraftfluss direkt vom Tragegriff 12 durch die Aussparung 24 hindurch auf die Mantelfläche 28 des kontaktierten Artikels 14 bzw. Behälters 16 stattfindet. Gleichzeitig wird die Folienoberfläche 32 und damit der die Kontaktstelle 22 umgebende Bereich der Umverpackung 18 bzw. Schrumpffolie 20 von Zugkräften beim Tragen des Gebindes 10 entlastet, da die relativ kleine Kontaktfläche außerhalb des Randes 26 keine nennenswerten Zugkräfte F in die Umverpackung 18 bzw. Folie 20 einleiten.The adhering to the contact point 22, rectangular and elongated in the vertical direction along the lateral surface 28 of the container 16 and the article 14 extending handle end 30 covers both completely the elongated or punctiform recess 24 and its edge region 26 and a part of the edge 26 surrounding film surface 32, but due to the concentrated in the recess 24, an adhesive connection 34 and / or weld 35 having contact point 22 largely the entire power flow directly from the handle 12 through the recess 24 on the lateral surface 28 of the contacted article 14 or Container 16 takes place. At the same time, the film surface 32 and thus the area of the outer packaging 18 or shrink film 20 surrounding the contact point 22 is relieved of tensile forces when carrying the container 10, since the relatively small contact surface outside the edge 26 does not have any appreciable tensile forces F in the outer packaging 18 or film 20 initiate.

Wahlweise, jedoch nicht erfindungsgemäß, kann die Kontaktstelle 22 auch auf eine Weise ausgestaltet sein, dass sich die Klebeverbindung 34 oder Schweißverbindung 35 auf den Bereich der Aussparung 24 beschränkt, wogegen der Randbereich 26 und der Bereich außerhalb dieses Randes 26 keinen Klebstoff aufweisen bzw. nicht mit verschweißt sind, wodurch die Folie 20 bzw. Umverpackung 18 gänzlich von Zugkräften F freigehalten werden, die über den Tragegriff 12 aufgebracht werden.Optionally, but not according to the invention, the contact point 22 can also be configured in such a way that the adhesive connection 34 or welded connection 35 is limited to the region of the recess 24, whereas the edge region 26 and the region outside this edge 26 have no adhesive or not are welded together, whereby the film 20 and outer packaging 18 are kept entirely of tensile forces F, which are applied over the handle 12.

Die schematische Detailansicht der Fig. 3b zeigt eine Variante, bei der die Kontaktstelle 22 mehrere Aussparungen 24 aufweist, die vertikal in einer Reihe übereinander angeordnet sind. Diese Aussparungen 24 bilden jeweils die Klebeverbindungen 34 oder Schweißverbindungen 35 zu den Mantelflächen 28 der Artikel 14 bzw. Getränkebehälter 16, wobei die Klebeverbindungen 34 oder Schweißverbindungen 35 wahlweise in das auf der Folienoberfläche 32 im Bereich außerhalb der Ränder 26 aufliegende Tragegriffende 30 hineinreichen kann oder diese Bereiche von Klebstoff freigehalten sein können.The schematic detail view of Fig. 3b shows a variant in which the contact point 22 has a plurality of recesses 24 which are arranged vertically in a row one above the other. These recesses 24 in each case form the adhesive connections 34 or welded connections 35 to the lateral surfaces 28 of the articles 14 or beverage containers 16, the adhesive connections 34 or welded connections 35 optionally being able to extend into the carrying handle end 30 resting on the film surface 32 in the area outside the edges 26 or these Areas of adhesive can be kept free.

Die Aussparungen 24 können wahlweise auch deutlich kleiner sein als in der Fig. 3b angedeutet und bspw. lediglich durch Schweiß- oder Klebepunkte 34, 35 gebildet sein, welche die Umverpackung 18 oder Folie 20 punktuell und auf kleiner Fläche durchdringen (vgl. Fig. 5).The recesses 24 may optionally be much smaller than in the Fig. 3b indicated and, for example, be formed only by welding or adhesive dots 34, 35 which penetrate the outer package 18 or film 20 punctually and on a small area (see. Fig. 5 ).

Bei der in den Figuren 4a und 4b gezeigten, nicht erfindungsgemäßen dritten Gebindevariante ist der Tragegriff 12 nicht in einer an die Größe seiner Kontaktstellen 22 an den Tragegriffenden 30 angepassten Aussparung fixiert, wie dies bei der in Fig. 1 gezeigten Ausführungsvariante der Fall ist, sondern im Bereich eines sog. Folienauges 33 angeordnet, das einen relativ großen Bereich der vertikalen Front- und Rückseiten des Gebindes 10 von Folie 20 unbedeckt lässt und das beim Wärmeschrumpfen der Schrumpffolie 20 tendenziell noch größer wird als nach dem Umwickeln der gruppierten Artikel 14 bzw. Getränkebehälter 16 mit der Folie 20. Das Folienauge 33 kann bspw. einen Anteil von ca. 50 % der Front- und Rückseite des Gebindes 10 einnehmen, wahlweise jedoch auch einen deutlich kleineren oder größeren Anteil.In the in the FIGS. 4a and 4b shown, not inventive third container variant of the carrying handle 12 is not fixed in a matched to the size of its contact points 22 to the handle ends 30 recess, as in the in Fig. 1 the embodiment shown is the case, but arranged in the region of a so-called. Folienauges 33, which leaves a relatively large area of the vertical front and back sides of the container 10 of film 20 uncovered and the heat shrinking of the shrink film 20 tends to be even greater than after wrapping The grouped article 14 or beverage container 16 with the film 20. The film eye 33 may, for example, take a share of about 50% of the front and back of the container 10, but optionally also a much smaller or larger proportion.

Bei dieser Variante stehen die Kontaktstellen 22 mit den Klebeverbindungen 34 oder Schweißverbindungen 35, welche die Tragegriffenden 30 des Tragegriffs 12 an den zu den Außenseiten des Gebindes 10 weisenden Bereichen der Mantelflächen 28 der beiden mittig angeordneten Getränkebehälter 16 des Gebindes 10 fixieren, nicht in haftendem Kontakt mit der Umverpackung 18 bzw. Schrumpffolie 20, sondern weisen vorzugsweise einen geringen Abstand zum oberen Rand des Folienauges 33 auf.In this variant, the contact points 22 with the adhesive connections 34 or welded joints 35 which fix the carrying handle ends 30 of the carrying handle 12 to the areas of the lateral surfaces 28 of the two centrally arranged beverage containers 16 of the container 10, which faces the outer sides of the container 10, are not in adhesive contact with the outer packaging 18 or shrink film 20, but preferably have a small distance to the upper edge of the film eye 33.

Die schematische Perspektivansicht der Fig. 5 zeigt anhand eines Ausführungsbeispiels eine Möglichkeit der Verklebung des Tragegriffendes 30 des Tragegriffes 12 an der Außenseite des Gebindes 10. So kann bspw. ein Vakuum-Sauger 36 die Folie 20 oder Umverpackung 18, ggf. zusammen mit dem bereits aufgeklebten Tragegriff 12 (hier nicht dargestellt), von den Behältern 16 abheben, wonach der Klebstoff seitlich mit einer Injektionsnadel 38 durch die Umverpackung 18 oder Folie 20 hindurch eingebracht werden kann. Wahlweise kann die Nadel 38 auch im Sauger 36 integriert sein, so dass sich beim Ansaugen die Folie 20 in den Sauger 36 zieht und dadurch von der dort platzierten Nadel 38 durchstoßen wird. Die Dicke der Schrumpffolie 20 kann somit soweit reduziert werden, dass die Festigkeit noch ausreichend ist, um das Restgebinde zusammenzuhalten, ohne dass die äußeren Behälter 16 beim Anheben des Gebindes 10 am Handgriff 12 nicht unzumutbar weit absacken.The schematic perspective view of Fig. 5 shows an example of a way of bonding the handle end 30 of the carrying handle 12 on the outside of the container 10. Thus, for example, a vacuum sucker 36, the film 20 or outer packaging 18, possibly together with the already glued handle 12 (not shown here ), lift off from the containers 16, after which the adhesive can be introduced laterally with an injection needle 38 through the outer package 18 or film 20 therethrough. Optionally, the needle 38 may also be integrated in the nipple 36, so that when sucked the film 20 pulls into the nipple 36 and is thereby pierced by the needle 38 placed there. The thickness of the shrink film 20 can thus be reduced so far that the strength is still sufficient to hold the remaining container together without the outer container 16 when lifting the container 10 on the handle 12 does not sag unreasonably far.

Bei einer hier nicht im Detail erkennbaren, jedoch erfindungsgemäßen Variante ist der Tragegriff 12 oder Handgriff derart über die Kontaktstellen 22 am Gebinde 10 fixiert, dass beim Tragen des Gebindes 10 am Tragegriff 12 auftretende Zugkräfte weitestgehend vom Tragegriff 12 über die Kontaktstellen 22 auf die Behältermantelflächen 28 von wenigstens zwei unterschiedlichen Artikeln 14 geleitet werden. Hierbei ist zudem vorgesehen, dass der Tragegriff 12 an den Kontaktstellen 22 an den Außenseiten der Umverpackung 18 bzw. der Folie 20 fixiert ist, so dass die Umverpackung 18 bzw. die Folie 20 haftend und zugkraftübertragend mit den Außenmantelflächen 28 wenigstens zweier unterschiedlicher Artikel 14 verbunden ist. Wie oben erwähnt und anhand der Figuren 1 bis 5 erläutert, können die Kontaktstellen 22 bspw. durch Klebestellen 34 und/oder Schweißstellen 35 zwischen den Mantelflächen 28 der Artikel 14 und dem Tragegriff 12 gebildet sein, wobei diese Klebestellen 34 und/oder Schweißstellen 35 die Umverpackung 18 zugkraftübertragend mit dem Tragegriff 12 sowie mit den Mantelflächen 28 der Artikel 14 verbinden. Die die Umverpackung 18 bzw. Folie 20 muss an den Kontaktstellen 22, anders als von der Erfindung vorgesehen, nicht zwingend durchbrochen sein, sondern kann in geeigneter Weise haftend sowohl mit den Tragegriffenden 30 als auch mit den Außenmantelflächen 28 der Artikel 14 oder Behälter verbunden sein. Wesentlich hierbei ist, dass die Zugkräfte beim Aufnehmen des Gebindes 10 am Tragegriff 12 in einer Weise verlaufen, dass beim Tragen des Gebindes 10 keine nennenswerten oder allenfalls geringe Kräfte auf die umhüllende Verpackung 18 bzw. 20 einwirken. Der Kraftverlauf geht somit immer auf dem direkten Weg von der Klebe- oder Schweißstelle 34, 35 des Tragegriffs 12 bzw. 30 auf die Artikel 14 über.In a variant which can not be seen here in detail but is variant according to the invention, the carrying handle 12 or handle is fixed in such a way over the contact points 22 on the container 10 that tensile forces occurring on the carrying handle 12 when carrying the container 10 largely depend on the carrying handle 12 via the contact points 22 on the container jacket surfaces 28 be led by at least two different articles 14. In this case, it is additionally provided that the carrying handle 12 is fixed at the contact points 22 on the outer sides of the outer packaging 18 or the film 20 so that the outer packaging 18 or the film 20 is adhesively and traction-transmitting connected to the outer lateral surfaces 28 of at least two different articles 14 is. As mentioned above and based on the FIGS. 1 to 5 explained, the contact points 22 may, for example, by splices 34 and / or welds 35 between the lateral surfaces 28 of the article 14 and the handle 12 may be formed, these splices 34 and / or welds 35, the outer packaging 18 traction transmitting with the handle 12 and with the Connect lateral surfaces 28 of Article 14. The outer package 18 or film 20 need not necessarily be broken at the contact points 22, unlike the invention, but may be suitably adhesively bonded both to the carrying handle ends 30 and to the outer circumferential surfaces 28 of the articles 14 or containers , It is essential here that the tensile forces when picking up the container 10 on the carrying handle 12 run in such a way that when the container 10 is carried, no appreciable or at most slight forces act on the enveloping packaging 18 or 20. The force curve is thus always on the direct path from the adhesive or weld 34, 35 of the handle 12 and 30 on the article 14 on.

Die Figuren 6 bis 9 zeigen jeweils in schematischen Ansichten vier unterschiedliche Varianten einer Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von erfindungsgemäßen Gebinden 10. Die damit jeweils durchführbaren Verfahren zur Herstellung der Gebinde 10 werden ebenfalls anhand der Figuren 6 bis 9 erläutert. So haben die dort gezeigten Verpackungsmaschinen 40 gemeinsam, dass in einer Transportrichtung 42 jeweils gruppierte Artikel 14 oder Behälter 16 auf Horizontalfördereinrichtungen 44 zunächst einen Folienpacker 46 und danach einen Schrumpfofen 48 durchlaufen, wonach sie über einen Gebindetransportabschnitt 50 weiteren, hier nicht gezeigten, Verpackungs- und/oder Verarbeitungsstationen zugeführt werden, so bspw. einer Palettiereinrichtung o. dgl.The FIGS. 6 to 9 each show in schematic views four different variants of an apparatus for producing containers 10 according to the invention. The methods that can be used for producing the containers 10 are also described with reference to FIGS FIGS. 6 to 9 explained. Thus, the packaging machines 40 shown there have in common that in a transport direction 42 each grouped article 14 or container 16 on horizontal conveyors 44 first pass through a film packer 46 and then a shrink oven 48, after which they are fed via a container transport section 50 further, not shown here, packaging and / or processing stations, so for example. A Palettiereinrichtung o. The like.

Im Bereich des Folienpackers 46 wird die zur Verpackung der gruppierten Artikel 14 oder Behälter 16 eine von einem Endlos-Folienvorrat 52 abgerollte Schrumpffolie 20 zur Verfügung gestellt und über eine Folientrennstation 54 einem Folieneinschlagmodul 56 zugeführt, das die Gruppierungen der Artikel 14 oder Behälter 16 mit der Schrumpffolie 20 umhüllt. Anhand der Figuren 6 bis 9 werden nun verschiedene Varianten der Verfahren zur Herstellung der erfindungsgemäßen Gebinde 10 mit Tragegriff 12 verdeutlicht. Gemeinsam ist allen gezeigten Verfahrensvarianten, dass die Artikel 14 oder Behälter 16 im Bereich des Folienpackers 46 jeweils mit der Schrumpffolie 20 oder Umverpackung 18 umhüllt und zusammengehalten werden. Zudem wird bei dem Verfahren der Tragegriff 12 an den vorgesehenen Kontaktstellen an den Außenseiten der Artikel 14 fixiert, wobei diese Kontaktstellen zumindest teilweise mit Aussparungen in der Umverpackung oder Folienumhüllung korrespondieren können (vgl. bspw. Fig. 5).In the area of the film packer 46, a shrink film 20 unrolled from an endless film supply 52 is made available for packaging the grouped articles 14 or container 16 and fed via a film separating station 54 to a film wrapping module 56, which groups the articles 14 or containers 16 with the film Shrink wrap 20 wrapped. Based on FIGS. 6 to 9 Now different variants of the method for producing the container 10 according to the invention with handle 12 are illustrated. Common to all the variants of the method shown is that the articles 14 or containers 16 in the region of the film packer 46 are respectively enveloped and held together with the shrink film 20 or outer packaging 18. In addition, in the method, the carrying handle 12 is fixed to the intended contact points on the outer sides of the article 14, wherein these contact points can correspond at least partially with recesses in the outer packaging or film wrapping (see, for example. Fig. 5 ).

Bei der in Fig. 6 gezeigten ersten Variante des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens kann die Schrumpffolie 20 im Bereich des Folienpackers 46, zwischen dem Folienvorrat 52 und der Folientrennstation 54, mit geeigneten Aussparungen versehen werden. Diese Aussparungen können mittels einer Stanzeinrichtung 58 o. dgl. unmittelbar nach dem Abwickeln der Folie 20 von ihrem Endlosvorrat 52 und vor der Umhüllung der Artikel 14 eingebracht werden, bspw. durch ein mechanisches oder optisches Stanzverfahren wie bspw. einem Laserschneidverfahren. Während des weiteren Folientransports kann der Tragegriff 12 mit seinen Enden über die in die Folie 20 eingebrachten Aussparungen unter zumindest teilweiser Überdeckung bzw. Abdeckung der Aussparungen auf die Folie 20 oder Umverpackung appliziert werden (Verkleben oder Verschweißen), wonach anschließend die Artikel mit der Folie 20 oder Umverpackung umhüllt werden. Zu diesem Zweck ist der Stanzeinrichtung 58 eine geeignete Applikationseinrichtung 60 zur Fixierung der Tragegriffe auf die noch nicht in Abschnitte getrennte Folie 20 nachgeordnet, bevor die Folie 20 anschließend die Folientrennstation 54 durchläuft.At the in Fig. 6 shown first variant of the method according to the invention, the shrink film 20 may be provided in the region of the film packer 46, between the film supply 52 and the film separating station 54, with suitable recesses. These recesses can be introduced by means of a punching device 58 o. The like. Immediately after unwinding of the film 20 from its endless supply 52 and before the wrapping of the articles 14, for example. By a mechanical or optical punching process such as, a laser cutting process. During further film transport, the carrying handle 12 can be applied with its ends over the recesses introduced into the film 20 with at least partial covering or covering of the recesses on the film 20 or outer packaging (gluing or welding), after which the articles with the film 20 or outer packaging are wrapped. For this purpose, the punching device 58 is followed by a suitable application device 60 for fixing the carrying handles on the not yet separated into sections film 20 before the film 20 then passes through the film separating station 54.

Bei dieser Variante des Verfahrens haftet der Tragegriff 12 an der vorgestanzten Folie 20, so dass die Fixierung durch Verklebung oder Verschweißen des Tragegriffs 12 anschließend durch die Ausstanzungen hindurch an die Artikelmantelfläche reicht. Wahlweise kann auch eine vorgestanzte Folie von dem Folienvorrat 52 abgewickelt werden, welche die vorgesehenen Aussparungen bereits aufweist, so dass hierbei ggf. auf die dem Folienvorrat 52 nachgeordnete Stanzeinrichtung 58 verzichtet werden kann. Das Folieneinschlagmodul 56 sorgt dann für die Umhüllung der gruppierten Artikel 14 mit den passend abgelängten Folienabschnitten, die jeweils bereits den passend positionierten Tragegriff aufweisen, bevor der weitere Transport durch den Schrumpfofen 48 und den Gebindetransportabschnitt 50 erfolgt.In this variant of the method, the carrying handle 12 adheres to the prepunched film 20, so that the fixation by gluing or welding of the carrying handle 12 then extends through the punched holes to the article casing surface. Optionally, a pre-cut film can be unwound from the film supply 52 be, which already has the provided recesses, so that in this case can be dispensed with the downstream of the film supply 52 punching device 58. The film wrapping module 56 then ensures the wrapping of the grouped articles 14 with the suitably cut-to-length film sections, which in each case already have the suitably positioned carrying handle, before the further transport takes place through the shrink oven 48 and the container transport section 50.

Bei der in Fig. 7 gezeigten zweiten Variante des Verfahrens kann die Folie 20 oder Umverpackung zunächst vom Folienvorrat 52 abgewickelt werden, die Folientrennstation 54 durchlaufen und mittels des Folieneinschlagmoduls 56 im Folienpacker 46 um die gruppierten Artikel 14 gewickelt werden. Anschließend werden die Foliengebinde 10 in der vorgesehenen Transportrichtung 42 über die Horizontalfördereinrichtung 44 durch den Schrumpfofen 48 zum nachgeordneten Gebindetransportabschnitt 50 befördert, dem im gezeigten Ausführungsbeispiel sowohl eine Stanzeinrichtung 58 zur Einbringung der erforderlichen Aussparungen in der Folienverpackung als auch eine dieser Stanzeinrichtung 58 nachgeordnete Applikationseinrichtung 60 zugeordnet ist, in der die Tragegriffe aufgebracht werden. Wahlweise kann auch bei dieser Variante eine vorgestanzte Folie 20 vom Folienvorrat 52 abgewickelt werden, welche die vorgesehenen Aussparungen bereits aufweist, so dass die Stanzeinrichtung 58 im Gebindetransportabschnitt 50 ggf. auch entfallen kann.At the in Fig. 7 2, the film 20 or outer packaging can first be unwound from the film supply 52, pass through the film-separating station 54 and be wound around the grouped articles 14 by means of the film wrapping module 56 in the film packer 46. Subsequently, the film bundles 10 are conveyed in the intended transport direction 42 via the horizontal conveyor 44 through the shrink oven 48 to the downstream container transport section 50, which in the embodiment shown both a punching device 58 for introducing the required recesses in the film packaging as well as a punching device 58 downstream application device 60 assigned is where the carrying handles are applied. Optionally, a prepunched film 20 can be unwound from the film supply 52 in this variant, which already has the recesses provided, so that the punching device 58 in the container transport section 50 may possibly also be omitted.

Die in der schematischen Darstellung der Fig. 8 gezeigte dritte Variante des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens unterscheidet sich im Wesentlichen von den ersten und zweiten Varianten durch die unterschiedlichen oder getrennten Anordnungen der Stanzeineinrichtung 58 von der Applikationseinrichtung 60. Während bei dieser dritten Variante die Stanzeinrichtung 58 dem Folienpacker 46 zugeordnet ist und sich zwischen dem Folienvorrat 52 und der Folientrennstation 54 befinden kann, wie dies auch die erste Variante (Fig. 6) vorsieht, kann die Applikationseinrichtung 60 wie bei der zweiten Variante (Fig. 7) im Bereich des Gebindetransportabschnittes 50 befinden. Eine in der schematischen Darstellung der Fig. 9 gezeigte vierte Variante eines nicht erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens sieht vor, dass die Artikel 14 zunächst in einer Weise mit der Folie 20 oder Umverpackung umhüllt werden, dass die in Transportrichtung 42 seitlich befindlichen Längsseiten der Gebinde 10 jeweils aufweisen. Diese Folienaugen können hierbei als Aussparungen dienen. Nach dem Umwickeln der Artikel 14 erfolgt im Schrumpfofen 48 das Aufschrumpfen der Folie unter Wärmeeinwirkung, wonach der Tragegriff in den Bereichen der verbleibenden Folienaugen an die Artikelmantelflächen appliziert werden kann. Während des weiteren Transports im Gebindetransportabschnitt 50 werden die Gebinde 10 zunächst mittels einer geeigneten Handhabungseinrichtung 62 um ca. 90° oder 270° um eine Hochachse bzw. um einen Winkel von 90 oder 270° quer zur Förderrichtung 42 gedreht, so dass der Tragegriff mittels der nachgeordneten Applikationseinrichtung 60 unter Kontaktierung der mit den Aussparungen in Gestalt der Folienaugen 33 versehenen, in Förderrichtung 42 vorder- und rückseitig angeordneten Gebindeaußenseiten appliziert werden kann. Bei dieser Verfahrensvariante kann als Umverpackung bspw. Schrumpffolie, Klebefolie oder eine dünne und dehnbare, gut haftende Folienbahn als Umhüllung für die Artikel zur Ausbildung von Foliengebinden verwendet werden. Wesentlich bei dieser Variante des Applikationsverfahrens für die Tragegriffe ist die Drehung der Gebinde 10, wodurch das sog. Folienauge in bzw. gegen die Laufrichtung der transportierten Gebinde gerichtet wird, was nach dem Umhüllen mittels des Einschlagmoduls 56 nicht gegeben wäre. Zu diesem Zweck können die Gebinde bspw. um 90 oder 270 Grad um ihre Hochachse gedreht werden.The in the schematic representation of Fig. 8 shown third variant of the method according to the invention differs substantially from the first and second variants by the different or separate arrangements of the punching device 58 of the application device 60. While in this third variant, the punching device 58 is associated with the film packer 46 and between the film supply 52 and the film separating station 54 can be located, as well as the first variant ( Fig. 6 ), the application device 60 as in the second variant (FIG. Fig. 7 ) are in the region of the container transport section 50. One in the schematic representation of Fig. 9 shown fourth variant of a method not according to the invention provides that the articles 14 are initially wrapped in a manner with the film 20 or outer packaging, that in the transport direction 42 laterally located longitudinal sides of the container 10 each have. These foil eyes can serve as recesses. After wrapping the article 14 takes place in the shrinking oven 48, the shrinking of the film under the action of heat, after which the carrying handle in the areas of the remaining Foil eyes can be applied to the article envelope surfaces. During further transport in the container transport section 50, the containers 10 are first rotated by a suitable handling device 62 by about 90 ° or 270 ° about a vertical axis or at an angle of 90 or 270 ° transverse to the conveying direction 42, so that the carrying handle by means of Downstream application device 60 can be applied by contacting the provided with the recesses in the form of the film 33 eyes, in the conveying direction 42 front and rear side of the container arranged outside. In this process variant can be used as wrapping for example shrink film, adhesive film or a thin and stretchy, well-adherent film web as a wrapper for the article to form film packs as outer packaging. Essential in this variant of the application method for the carrying handles is the rotation of the container 10, whereby the so-called. Foil eye is directed in or against the direction of the transported container, which would not be given after wrapping by means of the impact module 56. For this purpose, the containers can, for example, be rotated by 90 or 270 degrees about their vertical axis.

Wenn im Zusammenhang der vorstehenden Beschreibung von Ausstanzungen die Rede ist, die mittels der Stanzeinrichtung 58 in die Folie 20 oder Umverpackung 18 des Gebindes 10 eingebracht wird, so umfasst dies gleichermaßen Einstiche, die mittels der Injektionsnadel 38 entsprechend Fig. 5 und/oder mittels einer im Vakuum-Sauger 36 integrierten Nadel 38 eingebracht werden, um auf diese Weise den jeweiligen Behälteraußenmantel 28 mit Klebstoff zu beaufschlagen, um dort das Handgriffende 30 zu fixieren.If in the context of the above description of punching is mentioned, which is introduced by means of the punching device 58 in the film 20 or outer packaging 18 of the container 10, this equally includes punctures corresponding to the injection needle 38 accordingly Fig. 5 and / or by means of a vacuum 38 integrated in the needle 36 are introduced to apply in this way the respective container outer shell 28 with adhesive, there to fix the handle end 30.

Die Erfindung wurde unter Bezugnahme auf eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform beschrieben. Es ist jedoch für einen Fachmann vorstellbar, dass Abwandlungen oder Änderungen der Erfindung gemacht werden können, ohne dabei den Schutzbereich der nachstehenden Ansprüche zu verlassen.The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications or changes may be made to the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

BezugszeichenlisteLIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1010
Gebindecontainer
1212
Tragegriffhandle
1313
Griffschlaufehandle loop
1414
Artikelitems
1616
Behälter, GetränkebehälterContainer, beverage container
1818
Umverpackungoverpack
2020
Folie, SchrumpffolieFoil, shrink wrap
2222
Kontaktstellecontact point
2424
Aussparungrecess
2626
Rand, RandbereichEdge, edge area
2828
Mantelflächelateral surface
3030
TragegriffendeHandle end
3232
Folienoberflächefilm surface
3333
Folienaugefoil eye
3434
Klebeverbindungadhesive bond
3535
Schweißverbindungwelded joint
3636
Vakuum-SaugerVacuum pad
3838
Nadel, InjektionsnadelNeedle, hypodermic needle
4040
Verpackungsmaschinepackaging machine
4242
Transportrichtungtransport direction
4444
HorizontalfördereinrichtungHorizontal conveyor
4646
Folienpackerfilm packer
4848
Schrumpfofenshrink oven
5050
GebindetransportabschnittContainer transport section
5252
Folienvorrat, Endlos-FolienvorratFoil supply, endless foil stock
5454
FolientrennstationFilm release station
5656
FolieneinschlagmodulFilm wrapping module
5858
Stanzeinrichtungpunch
6060
Applikationseinrichtungapplication device
6262
Handhabungseinrichtunghandling device

Claims (10)

  1. A bundle (10) with a carrying handle (12), comprising at least two articles (14) being at least partly wrapped and held together by means of a shrink film (20), sleeve, or the like outer packaging (18), wherein the carrying handle (12) is fixed at contact points (22) to outer sides of the outer packaging (18) and/or to shell surfaces of at least two different articles (14),
    • with the contact points (22) at least partly coinciding with cut-outs (24) in the outer packaging (18);
    • and with the outer packaging (18) being connected adhesively and in a tensile-force-transmitting manner to the carrying handle (12) as well as to the shell surfaces (28) of the at least two different articles (14) at said contact points (22), which are formed by adhesion points (34) and/or sealing points (35) between shell surfaces (28) of the articles (14) and the carrying handle (12);
    • whereby tensile forces occurring at the carrying handle (12) when the bundle (10) is being carried are to the greatest possible extent directed from the carrying handle (12) by way of the contact points (22) onto the shell surfaces of the at least two different articles (14).
  2. The bundle as recited in claim 1, with the carrying handle (12) being fixed at contact points (22) on outer sides of the outer packaging (18), the outer packaging (18) being connected at said contact points (22) adhesively and in a tensile-force-transmitting manner to shell surfaces of at least two different articles (14).
  3. The bundle as recited in claim 1, with the contact points (22) at least partly penetrating the outer packaging (18) and in each case producing adhesive bonds and/or sealing bonds (34, 35) between ends of the carrying handles (30) and the articles (14) and/or the outer packaging (18).
  4. The bundle as recited in one of the claims 1 to 3, with the adhesion points (34) and/or sealing points (35) of the contact points (22) in each case producing adhesive bonds and/or sealing bonds between the ends of the carrying handles (30), the outer packaging (18) in the region and/or in the surrounding of its cut-outs (24), and the shell surfaces (28) of the articles (14).
  5. The bundle as recited in claim 4, with the adhesive bond and/or sealing bond (34, 35) extending onto and including the outer packaging (18) at least at one of the contact points (22).
  6. A method for producing bundles (10) with carrying handle (12), with at least two articles (14) being at least partly wrapped and held together by means of a shrink film (20), sleeve, or the like outer packaging (18), wherein the carrying handle (12) is fixed to the bundle (10) at contact points (22) by means of adhesive bonds and/or sealing bonds (34, 35),
    • wherein the carrying handle (12) is fixed to outer sides of the outer packaging (18) at contact points (22), which are formed by adhesion points (34) and/or sealing points (35) between shell surfaces (28) of the articles (14) and the carrying handle (12), with the outer packaging (18) being connected at said contact points (22) adhesively and in a tensile-force-transmitting manner to shell surfaces (28) of at least two different articles (14),
    • and wherein the contact points (22) at least partly coincide with cut-outs (24) in the outer packaging (18) and penetrate the outer packaging (18),
    • whereby tensile forces occurring at the carrying handle (12) when the bundle (10) is being carried are to the greatest possible extent directed from the carrying handle (12) by way of the contact points (22) onto the shell surfaces of the at least two different articles (14).
  7. The method as recited in claim 6, with the film (20) or outer packaging (18) being provided with cut-outs (24), the articles (14) then being wrapped in the film (20) or outer packaging (18), and the carrying handle (12) subsequently being applied, under contact with the cut-outs (24), onto the shell surfaces (28) of the articles (14).
  8. The method as recited in claim 6, with the articles (14) being wrapped in the film (20) or outer packaging (18), the outer packaging (18) or film (20) then being provided with cut-outs (24), and the carrying handle (12) subsequently being applied, under contact with the cut-outs (24), onto the shell surfaces (28) of the articles (14).
  9. The method as recited in claim 6 with the articles (14) being wrapped in conveying direction (42) in a film (20) provided from a continuous supply (52) by means of a film wrapping module (56) in the area of a transport path such that bundles (10) are formed with cut-outs (24) disposed laterally in conveying direction (42) at oppositely located outer sides, whereupon the bundles (10) are in each case rotated about a vertical axis by about 90° or 270°, and the carrying handle (12) is applied under contact with the bundle outer sides, which are provided with cut-outs (24) disposed at the front and back side in conveying direction (42).
  10. An apparatus for carrying out the method for producing bundles (10) with carrying handles (12) as recited in one of the claims 6 to 9, comprising a transport path for conveying article groups; a film wrapping module (56) for wrapping the article groups in a stretchable and/or heat-shrinkable film (20) being fed from a film supply (52) for the purpose of forming film bundles, the film (20) of which film bundles is provided with cut-outs (24) on at least two oppositely located lateral surfaces of the bundles (10); and with an application device (60) for applying carrying handles (12) by fixing, by means of adhesive bonds and/or sealing bonds (34, 35), the ends of the carrying handles (30) in the region of the cut-outs (24) by way of penetrating the shrinkable film (20) and/or by way of producing an adhesive connection to the shrinkable film (20).
EP12189797.9A 2011-11-02 2012-10-24 Bundle with carrying handle, method and device for producing such bundles Active EP2589545B1 (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SI201231211T SI2589545T1 (en) 2011-11-02 2012-10-24 Bundle with carrying handle, method and device for producing such bundles
EP17197027.0A EP3287389B1 (en) 2011-11-02 2012-10-24 Method for producing bundles of articles having a handle

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE102011054994A DE102011054994A1 (en) 2011-11-02 2011-11-02 Container with carrying handle, method and apparatus for producing such containers

Related Child Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP17197027.0A Division-Into EP3287389B1 (en) 2011-11-02 2012-10-24 Method for producing bundles of articles having a handle
EP17197027.0A Division EP3287389B1 (en) 2011-11-02 2012-10-24 Method for producing bundles of articles having a handle

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2589545A1 EP2589545A1 (en) 2013-05-08
EP2589545B1 true EP2589545B1 (en) 2017-11-29

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP12189797.9A Active EP2589545B1 (en) 2011-11-02 2012-10-24 Bundle with carrying handle, method and device for producing such bundles
EP17197027.0A Active EP3287389B1 (en) 2011-11-02 2012-10-24 Method for producing bundles of articles having a handle

Family Applications After (1)

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EP17197027.0A Active EP3287389B1 (en) 2011-11-02 2012-10-24 Method for producing bundles of articles having a handle

Country Status (4)

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EP (2) EP2589545B1 (en)
CN (2) CN103086070B (en)
DE (1) DE102011054994A1 (en)
SI (1) SI2589545T1 (en)

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CN107108091B (en) * 2014-12-22 2018-12-25 克朗斯股份公司 Formed by stretched plastic film and be provided with the improved bundling package body being wound of grasping handle
WO2016116791A1 (en) * 2015-01-20 2016-07-28 Cielle Imballaggi Di Tommaso Loreto S.R.L. Process for forming packs with a sheet coated with an anti-slip substance
US11274235B2 (en) 2015-04-24 2022-03-15 3M Innovative Properties Company Acrylic adhesive compositions and acrylic adhesive tapes which enable clean removal from delicate surfaces
DE102016203435A1 (en) * 2016-03-02 2017-09-07 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Section of a packaging line for beverage containers and procedures for handling beverage containers during their transport along a packaging line
DE102016106463A1 (en) * 2016-04-08 2017-10-12 Krones Ag Device for packaging and / or grouping articles with cutting element
CN105730841A (en) * 2016-04-29 2016-07-06 洪帅 Portable lifting handle and manufacturing method of portable lifting handle
DE102016217896A1 (en) 2016-09-19 2018-03-22 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Device and method for the production of containers with carrying handles
DE102017107356A1 (en) 2017-04-05 2018-10-11 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Film, apparatus and process for their preparation and system for the production of containers
DE102017214089A1 (en) * 2017-08-11 2019-02-14 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Method and packaging system for producing containers
IT201700101010A1 (en) * 2017-09-08 2019-03-08 Ocme Srl DEVICE AND PROCEDURE FOR APPLICATION OF GRIPPING HANDLES ON PACKAGING FILMS AS WELL AS A MACHINE MACHINE EQUIPPED WITH THIS DEVICE AND IT CAN ACTUATE THIS PROCEDURE.
CN108500998A (en) * 2018-06-13 2018-09-07 苏州博众机器人有限公司 A kind of delivery machine people
DE102018126839A1 (en) 2018-10-26 2020-04-30 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Foil pack with handle, method for its production and device for producing film pack with handle
DE102018132942A1 (en) 2018-12-19 2020-06-25 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Foil pack with handle, process for its production and device for producing film pack with handle
IT202000001825A1 (en) * 2020-01-30 2021-07-30 Ocme Srl PACKAGING OF PRODUCTS.

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN104760761A (en) 2015-07-08
CN104760761B (en) 2018-06-26
SI2589545T1 (en) 2018-03-30
DE102011054994A1 (en) 2013-05-02
CN103086070B (en) 2015-03-04
EP2589545A1 (en) 2013-05-08
EP3287389B1 (en) 2020-08-05
CN103086070A (en) 2013-05-08
EP3287389A1 (en) 2018-02-28

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