MULTIPACK AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING A MULTIPACK

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application claims priority to International Application PCT/EP2022/079742, filed Oct. 25, 2022, which in turn claims priority to German Application DE 10 2021 129 507.6, filed Nov. 12, 2021, which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multipack and to a method for producing a multipack.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For packaging drink containers, the drink containers or bottles or cans can be grouped on horizontal conveying devices and combined into groups with a defined number of containers via a packaging means. For example, strapping which is applied to a group of drink containers and holds the drink containers of a particular group is known. Packaging means are also known which consist of thermoplastic material and are shrunk onto a group of drink containers. Such packaging materials referred to as shrink film are applied to the particular group of articles and subsequently shrunk onto the particular group of articles before a temperature application.

Because, in practice, the consumption of packaging material is to be kept low if possible, containers are also known in which multiple drink containers are held together with a flat packaging blank which forms multiple openings. A particular drink container passes through each of the opening with its upper section. Via such a packaging blank, the drink containers are held next to one another in an interlocking and friction-locking manner and form a particular multipack. For example, multipacks are known which comprise four, six or eight drink containers.

A multipack in which the drink containers are held together with such a packaging blank is disclosed, for example, by EP 0 456 357 A1. In the production of the multipack disclosed in the EP application, drink containers are divided into multiple rows via guide rails. Furthermore, a retaining element is brought into contact with a foremost drink container of a particular group, and a further retaining element is brought into contact with a drink container of a particular group. The drink containers of a particular group are brought into a defined alignment with one another via the guide rails and the retaining elements, so that subsequently a packaging blank can be placed onto the drink containers via its multiple openings.

When openings are introduced into a packaging blank, an undesired scrap of material is created, which has not been used further in practice until now. Methods or devices with which scrap of material can be reduced during production of a particular multipack are therefore desirable. In addition, practice has shown that drink containers can be soiled during transport, so that, in order to improve hygiene, multipacks are desirable which have such a contamination at least to a reduced extent.

Additional packaging elements, which are intended to counteract contamination of drink containers in practice, require a further material requirement and are often glued to the respective drink containers of a particular bundle or fastened in some other way to the drink containers. Accordingly, there is a need according to which drink containers of a particular bundle can be protected from contamination in a material-saving and resource-saving manner.

For this reason, an object of the invention can be seen in providing a possibility with which the production of multipacks can be improved in an ecological manner. In addition, a particular multipack produced should additionally be characterized by improvements with regard to hygienic aspects and have sufficient stability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The above objects are achieved by the subject matter which comprises the features in the independent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described by the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a method for producing a multipack. In a first step of the method, multiple drink containers are provided in grouped arrangement via at least one horizontal conveyor. For example, it may be the case that a dividing device forms groups of drink containers and then transfers them to the at least one horizontal conveyor. For example, a handling device can be provided which receives drink containers moved in parallel rows from a feed and places them on the at least one horizontal conveyor as a group.

Furthermore, a flat packaging blank is applied to the multiple drink containers provided in a grouped arrangement, for which purpose the flat packaging blank is pressed onto the drink containers provided in the grouped arrangement via at least one manipulator and a portion of the flat packaging blank is dislocated, and thereby separated from the rest of the flat packaging blank, at predetermined breaking points. The at least one manipulator can remove a particular flat packaging blank from a magazine and then move it in the direction of the particular group and align it above the particular group. The at least one manipulator can then take the flat packaging blank aligned above the particular group and lower it in the vertical direction, wherein the particular flat packaging blank is pressed onto the respective drink containers provided as a grouped arrangement.

The dislocation or separation at the predetermined breaking points produces covers, which remain connected to the rest of the flat packaging blank, and which covers in the multipack covers or tops an upper side of a particular drink container at least in regions. Advantageously, the drink containers of the multipack are protected from contamination via the associated covers without additional material being required to protect the drink containers or an upper side of the drink containers from impurities.

Furthermore, the drink containers provided in a grouped arrangement are inserted into openings during the pressing-on operation, which openings are created by separating the flat packaging blank at the desired breaking points, so that after insertion into the openings the drink containers are interlockingly held next to one another with the flat packaging blank. The openings can in each instance be designed to be at least approximately circular. It has also proven useful if a cross-sectional diameter of a particular opening is greater or slightly greater than the particular cross-sectional diameter of a particular drink container formed as a beverage can in the region of an upper flanged rim.

It is provided that the two-dimensional packaging blank is separated at the predetermined breaking points in such a way that a particular cover remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with at least one particular bridge, which particular at least one bridge has an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack. By such an inclined orientation, the particular at least one bridge can easily absorb forces which arise due to an axial pulling movement of the particular cover.

In addition, by such an inclined orientation, the particular at least one bridge can easily absorb forces which arise due to a rotational movement of the particular cover. The covers are thus securely held on the particular remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with the bridges, wherein the bridges can absorb high forces which act on the covers of the flat packaging blank. Such advantages are further improved if the particular at least one bridge, as will be described below, follows a U-shaped, L-shaped or V-shaped profile.

Embodiments have proven to be useful in which the flat packaging blank is separated at the predetermined breaking points in such a way that a particular cover remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with at least two respective bridges, which at least two respective bridges each have an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack.

In such embodiments, it is conceivable, for example, that the separating of the flat packaging blank at the predetermined breaking points takes place in such a way that a particular cover remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with exactly two bridges, which respective exactly two bridges in each instance have an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and are offset from to one another by at least approximately 180° along the peripheral profile of the particular cover.

It may be the case in particular that a particular cover remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with exactly three bridges, which respective exactly three bridges have an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and are offset from one another by at least approximately 120° along the peripheral profile of the particular cover. Such embodiments are characterized by further improved stability of the multipack.

Furthermore, other embodiments exist in which a particular cover optionally remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with exactly four bridges, which respective exactly four bridges have an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and are offset from one another by at least approximately 90° along the peripheral profile of the particular cover. However, the invention is not limited to multipacks with exactly four bridges each for a particular cover.

Thus, it may be quite possible for more than four bridges to be associated with a particular cover, with which bridges a particular cover remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank and which more than four bridges have in each instance an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and are offset from one another along the peripheral profile of the particular cover.

In practice, embodiments have proven successful in which the separating of the flat packaging blank at the predetermined breaking points takes place in such a way that multiple retaining tabs are formed between two adjacent bridges of a particular cover in the remaining portion of the flat packaging blank, which multiple retaining tabs are interlockingly engaged with the particular drink container of the particular cover by pressing on the flat packaging blank.

It may also be the case that the two-dimensional packaging blank is separated at the predetermined breaking points in such a way that a particular cover remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with at least one particular bridge, which particular at least one bridge has an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and changes its direction by at least one curve in the profile thereof.

It may be the case in particular that the separation of the flat packaging blank at the predetermined breaking points takes place in such a way that a particular cover remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with at least one particular bridge, which particular at least one bridge has an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and, in the profile thereof, changes its direction by at least one curve and thereby describes at least one reverse curl.

Embodiments have proven useful in which the two-dimensional packaging blank is separated at the predetermined breaking points in such a way that a particular cover remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with at least one particular bridge, which particular at least one bridge has an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and follows a U-shaped or L-shaped or V-shaped or W-shaped or Z-shaped profile. In this case, a first leg of the particular at least one bridge runs out into the remaining portion of the flat packaging blank and that a further leg of the particular at least one bridge opens into a particular cover.

It may be the case in particular that a particular cover remains connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with exactly three bridges, which respective exactly three bridges each have an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and are offset from one another by at least approximately 120° along the peripheral profile of the particular cover, wherein the exactly three bridges each follow a U-shaped or L-shaped or V-shaped profile.

The invention also relates to a multipack. Features which have previously already been mentioned for various embodiments of the method can likewise be provided in the embodiments of the multipack described below, and are not mentioned multiple times. Likewise, features described below for various embodiments of the multipack can be provided in the already described embodiments of the method according to the invention without being mentioned again. It may be the case that the method already described comprises a step in which one of the embodiments of the multipack according to the invention described below is produced.

The multipack comprises multiple drink containers which can be formed, for example, by multiple beverage bottles or by multiple beverage cans.

Furthermore, the multipack comprises a flat packaging blank with which the drink containers are interlockingly held next to one another and which has multiple openings into which the drink containers are inserted. Furthermore, the flat packaging blank forms a particular cover for each drink container, which cover covers an upper side of the particular drink container at least in regions.

The flat packaging blank comprises, for each cover, at least one bridge which connects each at least one bridge to a particular cover with a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank and has an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion.

It may be the case that a particular cover is connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with at least two respective bridges, which at least two respective bridges have an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack.

It may be the case in particular that a particular cover is connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with exactly three bridges, which respective exactly three bridges each have an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and are offset from one another by at least approximately 120° along the peripheral profile of the particular cover.

In the remaining portion of the flat packaging blank, multiple retaining tabs can in each instance be formed between two adjacent bridges of a particular cover, which multiple respective retaining tabs are interlockingly engaged with a particular drink container of a particular cover.

The drink containers can be formed as beverage cans. In this case, it may be that a particular cover at least approximately completely covers a particular upper side of a particular drink container formed as a beverage can. Alternatively or additionally, it may be the case that the respective multiple retaining tabs engage a particular drink container formed as a beverage can from below in the region of a flanged rim.

The flat packaging blank can consist of cellulose-containing material in various embodiments. Alternatively, it may be the case that the flat packaging blank is made of a plastics material.

Embodiments in which the particular at least one bridge forms a profile having at least one curve have also proven to be useful. It may be the case that the particular at least one bridge forms a profile with at least one curve and in this context describes at least one reverse curl. In various embodiments, it may be the case that the particular at least one bridge has a U-shaped, V-shaped, W-shaped, Z-shaped or L-shaped profile.

It may be the case in particular that a particular cover is connected to a remaining portion of the flat packaging blank with exactly three bridges, which respective exactly three bridges have an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface of the remaining portion in the multipack and are offset from one another at least approximately 120° along the peripheral course of the particular cover, wherein the respective exactly three bridges each have a U-shaped, V-shaped or L-shaped profile. In this context, a first leg of a particular bridge can run out into the remaining portion of the flat packaging blank and a further leg of a particular bridge can open into a particular cover.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention and their advantages are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. The proportions of the individual elements relative to one another in the figures do not always correspond to the actual proportions, since some forms are simplified, while other forms are shown enlarged in relation to other elements for better illustration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

It should be expressly mentioned at this point that all aspects and embodiment variants which have been explained in connection with the multipack according to the invention can also relate to, or be, partial aspects of the method according to the invention. Therefore, if the description or the claim definitions pertaining to the multipack according to the invention make mention of certain aspects and/or correlations and/or effects, this applies equally to the method according to the invention. The same applies vice versa, so that all aspects and embodiment variants which have been explained in conjunction with the method according to the invention can also relate to, or be, partial aspects of the multipack according to the invention. Therefore, if the description or the claim definitions pertaining to the method according to the invention make mention of certain aspects and/or correlations and/or effects, this applies equally to the multipack according to the invention.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a multipack according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of a multipack according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a flat packaging blank, as can be provided for various embodiments of a multipack according to the invention.

FIG. 4 shows the flat packaging blank 41 according to FIG. 3, wherein the flat packaging blank was separated at the predetermined breaking points.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a further embodiment of a flat packaging blank, as can be provided for various embodiments of a multipack according to the invention.

FIG. 6 shows individual steps in the flow diagram as can be provided in an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Identical reference numerals are used for identical elements of the invention or those having the same effect. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference signs are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure. The illustrated embodiments are merely examples of how the invention can be designed, and are non-limiting.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a multipack 1 according to the invention. In the present case, the multipack 1 according to the embodiment according to FIG. 1 comprises exactly four drink containers 5, which are each formed as a beverage can 6. The four drink containers 5 or the four beverage cans 6 are interlockingly held next to one another with a flat packaging blank 41, which was previously pressed onto the four drink containers 5 in the direction from above via a manipulator (not shown here).

In further embodiments, the multipack 1 can also have a further number of drink containers 5. For example, embodiments exist in which a multipack 1 comprises exactly six such drink containers 5 or exactly eight such drink containers 5 or a further number of such drink containers 5.

A plan view of the flat packaging blank 41 which interlockingly holds together the drink containers 5 of the multipack 1 according to FIG. 1 is shown in each of FIGS. 3 and 4. As shown in the plan view of the flat packaging blank 41 according to FIG. 3, the flat packaging blank 41 forms predetermined breaking points, of which only a predetermined breaking point is indicated in FIG. 2 for reference with numeral 43.

The flat packaging blank 41 is separated at the predetermined breaking points 43 when the flat packaging blank 41 is pressed onto the beverage containers 5. An overview of FIG. 1 with FIG. 2 makes it clear here that the predetermined breaking points 43 are positioned in the flat packaging blank 41 such that a particular cover 7 is formed for each drink container 5 of the multipack 1 by separating the flat packaging blank 41 at the predetermined breaking points 43. At a position at which the flat packaging blank 41 has been separated to form a particular cover 7, a particular opening is also created in the flat packaging blank 41, into which opening a particular beverage container 5 is inserted.

Such predetermined breaking points 43 are also formed in the flat packaging blank 41 by which, when the flat packaging blank 41 is separated, retaining tabs 8 are created in the flat packaging blank 41 which interlockingly engage a particular drink container 5 formed as a beverage can 6 from below in the region of a flanged rim. The flat packaging blank 41 is thus interlockingly fixed on the beverage cans 6 with the retaining tabs 8, so that the beverage cans 6 are held next to one another with the flat packaging blank 41.

The covers 7 are provided to keep dirt or impurities away from a particular upper side of the drink containers 5 or beverage cans 6. The drink containers 5 or beverage cans 6 are thus protected from contamination via the covers 7. In order for the covers 7 to remain in the region of an upper side of a particular beverage can 6 without further required connections, such as adhesives, for example, the predetermined breaking points 43 are positioned in the flat packaging blank 41 such that multiple bridges 9 are assigned to each cover 7 when the flat packaging blank 41 is separated.

In the multipack 1, the bridges 9 connect a particular cover 7 to a remaining portion 46 of the flat packaging blank 41. FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 also show that exactly three such bridges 9 are associated with each cover 7 and are offset by 120° from one another along the peripheral profile of a particular cover 7. In addition, multiple respective retaining tabs 8 are positioned between adjacent bridges 9 and interlockingly engage a particular drink container 5 or a particular beverage can 6 from below in the region of its upper flanged rim.

FIG. 1 also shows that a particular bridge 9 has an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface 47 of the flat packaging blank 41. The bridges 9 also each have two legs and are U-shaped. In this case, a particular first leg opens into the cover 7, wherein a particular further leg runs out into the remaining portion 46 of the flat packaging blank 41 or into the upper broad side surface 47 of the flat packaging blank 41.

Embodiments in which the bridges 9 are U-shaped have proven successful in practice in order to absorb forces via the respective bridges 9 in the event of unintentional rotation of a particular cover 7 and to be able to introduce them into the remaining portion 46 of the flat packaging blank 41. The covers 7 can thus be securely held on the remaining portion 46 of the flat packaging blank 41 by bridges 9 which have a U-shaped profile and thereby withstand high forces.

In order to be able to handle the multipack 1 in a simple manner, the flat packaging blank 41 between the covers 7 forms a circular opening 12. The multipack 1 can be gripped and carried at any location via the circular opening 12.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of a multipack 1 according to the invention. The multipack 1 has exactly six drink containers 5, which are each formed as a beverage can 6 and are held next to one another with the flat packaging blank 41. Each drink container 5 or each beverage can 6 is in turn associated with a particular cover 7 which protects a particular upper side of a particular drink container 5 from contamination.

A particular cover 7 and a particular remaining portion 46 of the flat packaging blank 41 are in turn connected to exactly three bridges 9, which in the present case have a U-shaped profile. In the multipack 1 according to FIG. 2, the flat packaging blank 41 forms two openings 12 by which the multipack 1 can be gripped and taken to any location.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a flat packaging blank 41, as can be provided for various embodiments of a multipack 1 according to the invention. Both the bridges 9 and the retaining tabs 8 are formed by punching as predetermined breaking points 43 in the flat packaging blank 41, which are separated when the flat packaging blank 41 is applied. Up to this point, the bridges 9, the retaining tabs 8 and the covers 7 are arranged in a common plane.

In the present case, the flat packaging blank 41 is preferably formed by cellulose-containing material, by suitable cardboard material or the like.

FIG. 3 also shows that the bridges 9 produced with the separation of the flat packaging blank 41 at the predetermined breaking points 43 are positioned offset from one another by 120° along the peripheral profile of a particular cover 7.

The schematic plan view of FIG. 4 shows the flat packaging blank 41 according to FIG. 3, wherein the flat packaging blank 41 was separated at the predetermined breaking points 43. The flat packaging blank 41 according to FIG. 4 was pressed onto drink containers 5 (see FIG. 2) for separating the predetermined breaking points 43 also formed in FIG. 3.

An overview of FIGS. 3 and 4 makes it clear here that the retaining tabs 8 are bent upward after the flat packaging blank 41 has been separated at the predetermined breaking points 43 and interlockingly engage a flanged rim of a particular drink container 5 from below.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a further embodiment of flat packaging blank 41, as can be provided as a component in various embodiments of a multipack 1 according to the invention. Exactly six drink containers 5 can be combined via the flat packaging blank 41 according to FIG. 5. The flat packaging blank 41 was already separated at predetermined breaking points, so that the retaining tabs 8 point upward. In the plan view according to FIG. 5, the flat packaging blank 41 corresponds to the flat packaging blank 41 which, in the embodiment according to FIG. 2, holds multiple drink containers 5 next to one another.

FIG. 6 finally shows in the flow diagram individual steps as can be provided in an embodiment of a method 20 according to the invention. In the first method step 110, multiple drink containers 5, which are formed as beverage cans 6, are moved via a horizontal conveyor in a grouped arrangement into a working region of a manipulator.

If a particular grouped arrangement of drink containers 5 or a particular grouped arrangement of beverage cans 6 has reached the working region of the manipulator, the manipulator transports a flat packaging blank 41 to the grouped arrangement of drink containers 5 brought into its working region or to the grouped arrangement of beverage cans 6 brought into its working region. The flat packaging blank 41 is transported to the grouped arrangement of beverage cans 6 in the subsequent second method step 120.

The manipulator guides a particular flat packaging blank 41 in the direction coming from above against the beverage cans 6 of the grouped arrangement and then moves the flat packaging blank 41 further in the downward direction, so that the flat packaging blank is pressed onto the grouped arrangement of beverage cans 6.

The flat packaging blank 41 has multiple predetermined breaking points 43. The breaking points are each separated when the flat packaging blank 41 is pressed onto the grouped arrangement of beverage cans 6. In this way, covers 7 are produced in the flat packaging blank 41 that cover the upper sides or tops of the beverage cans 6.

In addition, retaining tabs 8 are produced in a flat packaging blank 41 which are positioned by pressing the flat packaging blank onto beverage cans 6 below a particular upper flanged rim of the beverage cans 6 and thus interlockingly fix the respective beverage cans 6 to the flat packaging blank 41 after the flat packaging blank 41 has been pressed on completely.

Furthermore, it is provided for step 120 that the separating of the flat packaging blank 41 at the desired breaking points 43 takes place in such a way that a particular cover 7 remains connected to a remaining portion 46 of the flat packaging blank 41 across multiple bridges 9, which bridges 9 have an inclined orientation relative to an upper broad side surface 47 of the remaining portion 46 in the multipack 1.

As a result, the bridges 9 can easily absorb both high tensile forces acting on the cover 7 in the axial direction and rotational forces acting on the cover 7 and ensure a secure hold of a particular cover 7 in the region of an upper side of a particular beverage can 6.

The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. However, it is conceivable for a person skilled in the art that modifications or changes can be made to the invention without departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Even if in the context of the above description of the figures reference is also generally made to “schematic” representations and views, this in no way means that the figure representations and their description are to be of subordinate importance with regard to the disclosure of the invention. A person skilled in the art is certainly able to derive sufficient information from the schematically and abstractly drawn representations that will make it easier for him to understand the invention without being confused in any way by the drawn and possibly not exactly true-to-scale proportions. The figures thus enable a person skilled in the art as a reader to derive a better understanding of the inventive concept-which has been formulated in a more general and/or abstract manner in the claims and in the general part of the description-on the basis of the more concretely explained implementations.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

• • 1 multipack
  • 5 drink container
  • 6 beverage can
  • 7 cover
  • 8 retaining tab
  • 9 bridge
  • 12 perforated opening, circular perforated opening
  • 20 method
  • 41 packaging blank, flat packaging blank
  • 43 predetermined breaking point
  • 46 remaining portion
  • 47 upper broad side surface
  • 110 first step, first method step
  • 120 second step, second method step