EP2107009B1 - Palette made of packages and method for paletting packages - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a range of containers. In particular, the invention relates to a pallet comprising a plurality of layers. Each layer has a plurality of containers, each container comprising an upper side, a lower side and a lateral surface.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for palletizing containers.

The German patent application DE 35 38 119 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for securing a block of individual packages formed on a pallet. The block to be secured consists of several individual packages such as boxes, trays and the like, which are to be secured against falling or slipping of the individual packages from the pallet. To secure the individual packages are effective fasteners to the. Applied outside of the block. These connecting elements are designed in the form of bonding sites. Bonding points are only applied via an existing butt joint between directly adjacent individual packagings. This prior art, it is not possible to secure uneven individual packaging elements, such as shrink wrap from separate containers.

The Japanese patent application JP 2006 069 655 A discloses a transport safety device for individual bottles, which are arranged on a pallet. The individual bottles are arranged in several layers on the pallet. Between the individual layers, an intermediate layer is present, which consists of a adhering to the individual layers of the bottles film. This transport safety device for the individual bottles is only suitable for empty bottles, as also stated in the patent application.

The U.S. Patent 5,895,540 discloses a pallet according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method with which a plurality of regular containers are combined into a unitary article of transport. Adhesive tapes with double-sided splices are used to hold the containers together in the different layers. The U.S. Patent 4,365,710 discloses a pallet suitable for uniform handling. The cartons have at least on one side surface a means which prevents the passage of the cartons among themselves. The agent is an adhesive applied in a particular pattern on a side surface of the carton.

The U.S. Patent 7,048,817 discloses a method of manufacturing a composite carton composed of two or more individual cartons. So that the individual boxes adhere to each other, an adhesive is applied at predetermined locations of the cardboard surfaces.

The European patent application EP 0 335 730 A2 shows a system for storing, transporting and / or exhibiting goods, which are designed as a liquid container. The Liquid containers are arranged in several layers one above the other. Between the individual layers there is a stabilizing intermediate layer. The intermediate layer has formed on both sides recordings that fix the liquid container in the position. The invention has for its object to provide a pallet with containers, which forms a sufficient transport security of the individual containers on the pallet, while a minimum amount of components to be recycled claimed.

This object is achieved by a pallet with containers of liquid containers, comprising the features of claim 1.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of palletizing containers which minimizes the consumption of raw materials to be recycled.

The above object is achieved by a method comprising the features of claim 5.

The pallet according to the invention consists of a plurality of layers, wherein each layer is composed of several containers. The containers consist of several liquid containers, which are held together by a shrink film. Each of the containers is a three-dimensional body having a top, a bottom and a lateral surface. The lateral surface comprises at least three individual surfaces. The top of each package has formed several raised locations. Likewise, the several individual surfaces of the lateral surface of the Collect at least one survey. At the top and / or on the lateral surface of several containers of a layer, an adhesive is applied. This adhesive acts with at least one partial surface of the lateral surface of a further container within the layer and / or with at least one Underside of the container an overlying layer on the pallet releasably together. The adhesive is applied to the top of several raised areas or on at least one survey on one of the several individual surfaces of the lateral surface.

The interaction of the adhesive on a container with at least one other container increases the stability of several containers of the pallet. The interaction of the adhesive on the top of a container with the bottom of another container prevents the individual layers can move against each other. The interaction of the adhesive on the lateral surfaces of the container stability within the individual layers is increased. Due to this increase in stability, it is no longer possible for the containers to slip within one layer.

The containers are three-dimensional bodies which comprise an upper side, a lower side and a lateral surface. The lateral surface consists of at least three individual surfaces. In most cases, however, containers with four individual surfaces, such as beverage six-packs, will find application.

The containers can comprise several configurations. One possibility is that the containers consist of a box that holds together the individual liquid containers of a container. Another option is to assemble the packages using a shrink wrap that holds the contents of the packages together.

The packages, which are held together by a shrink film, comprise liquid containers in most cases. In the embodiments described herein, liquid containers are described, which are provided for the storage of drinks. In the preferred embodiment, bottles are used as liquid containers.

It will be clear to those skilled in the art that any other type of liquid container, such as beverage cans, oil cans or the like, may be assembled into containers. Furthermore, it is clear that other items, such as coffee packs, tea packs, noodles, rice or sugar packs to containers, such as with cardboard or with a shrink wrap can be zusammengefast.

A container made of bottles, which is held together with a shrink film, also represents a three-dimensional body in the context of the invention.

By shrinking the shrink film arise at the top of the container several raised areas. These raised areas are created by shrinking the shrink film in the recesses between the individual liquid containers. The closures of the respective liquid containers in the container then form the raised points at the top of the container.

Furthermore arise when shrinking the liquid container surveys on the individual surfaces of the lateral surface. These elevations are the locations where the liquid containers have their largest cross-sectional area. Depending on how many liquid containers are held together in the container by the shrink film, each individual surface has at least one survey. The elevations, like the raised areas, are created by shrinking the shrink film into the interstices between the liquid containers as it shrinks.

For the packages made with a shrink wrap, the adhesive is applied to at least one raised location and / or at least one elevation.

In a further embodiment of the pallet of containers according to the invention, an intermediate layer is introduced between the individual layers of containers. This intermediate layer is located between the adhesive on the tops of the container of one layer and the undersides of the container of the next higher layer. The intermediate layer is characterized in that it has a high coefficient of friction, whereby slipping of the individual layers is prevented from each other. Because the intermediate layer has a high coefficient of friction, it is not necessary to apply an adhesive between the intermediate layer and the undersides of the containers of the next higher layer. It is advantageous that the individual layers can be easily lifted from the next lower lying position during depalletizing. Preferably, the intermediate layer is made of the same material as the shrink film around the liquid container, as this reduces the effort in disposal. The material used, however, no. Restriction. For the skilled person it is clear that the intermediate layer may consist of other materials. Another object of the liner may be to prevent the debris that has entered the pallet during transport from falling to lower layers.

Preferably, the adhesive is applied in the form of a hot glue on the container. For the application according to the invention, especially the hot glues "Krones-colfix HM 5353" or "Krones-colfix HM 6003" are well suited. The hot glue used is characterized by the fact that they detachably connect the containers together. The containers are thus merely fixed by the hot glue, so that they are no longer positionally variable. When depalletizing the containers are thus easily separated from each other, so that they can be removed from the range without much effort.

• Figur 1 zeigt eine Draufsicht auf die Oberseite eines Gebindes, wobei an der Oberseite und an der Mantelfläche des Gebindes mehrere Stellen mit einem Haftmittel versehen sind.
• Figur 2 zeigt eine Seitenansicht des Gebindes aus Figur 1, wobei ebenfalls auf einigen Stellen auf der Oberseite und an der Mantelfläche des Gebindes ein Haftmittel aufgebracht ist.
• Figur 3 zeigt eine Draufsicht auf eine Lage, die aus mehreren Gebinden von Flüssigkeitsbehältern besteht, die gemäß einem Schema zusammengestellt worden ist.
• Figur 4 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Palette, auf der bereits zwei Lagen aus Gebinden von Flüssigkeitsbehältern abgesetzt sind.
• Figur 5 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Palette, auf der bereits zwei Lagen aus Gebinden von Flüssigkeitsbehältern in Verbindung mit einer Zwischenlage abgesetzt sind.
• Figur 6 zeigt schematisch die Anordnung eines Systems, mit dem das Haftmittel automatisch auf die Oberseite der Gebinde aufgetragen werden kann.
• Figur 7 zeigt schematisch die Anordnung eines Systems, mit dem das Haftmittel automatisch auf die Erhebungen der Gebinde aufgetragen werden kann.
• Figur 8 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Palette, auf der mehrere Lagen aus Gebinden angeordnet sind und die zur Transportsicherung mit einer Folie umwickelt ist.
• Figur 9 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Palette, auf der mehrere Lagen aus Gebinden angeordnet sind und die zur Transportsicherung mit einer Schrumpfhaube überzogen ist.

To additionally secure the pallet for transport, the layers of containers are wrapped on the pallet with a foil. This increases the stability of the containers on the pallet, so that no dirt and / or moisture can penetrate.
Another possibility of transport securing is to cover the pallet with a shrink hood. to cover the pallet with a shrink hood. This shrinkage is similar to how the shrink films for the container, heated and pulls it around the pallet together. Compared to the use of a film wrapping as a transport lock the shrink hood has the advantage that it is closed at the top of the pallet, whereby the pallet is better protected against dirt and moisture. When transporting particularly sensitive goods in the containers on the pallet, a combination of film wrapping and shrink hood can also be selected.
In the following, exemplary embodiments will explain the pallets with containers of liquid containers and the method for palletizing containers from liquid containers and their advantages with reference to the attached figures.

• FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the top of a container, wherein at the top and on the lateral surface of the container several points are provided with an adhesive.
• FIG. 2 shows a side view of the container FIG. 1 , wherein an adhesive is also applied in some places on the top and on the lateral surface of the container.
• FIG. 3 shows a plan view of a layer consisting of several containers of liquid containers, which has been assembled according to a scheme.
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of a pallet on which two layers are already deposited from containers of liquid containers.
• FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a pallet on the already two layers of containers from Liquid containers are sold in conjunction with an intermediate layer.
• FIG. 6 shows schematically the arrangement of a system with which the adhesive can be automatically applied to the top of the container.
• FIG. 7 schematically shows the arrangement of a system with which the adhesive can be automatically applied to the surveys of the container.
• FIG. 8 shows a schematic side view of a pallet on which a plurality of layers of containers are arranged and which is wrapped to secure the transport with a film.
• FIG. 9 shows a schematic side view of a pallet on which a plurality of layers of containers are arranged and which is covered for transport safety with a shrink hood.

For identical or equivalent elements of the invention, identical reference numerals are used. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, only reference symbols are shown in the individual figures, which are required for the description of the respective figure.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a container 10, which summarizes a plurality of liquid container 1 by means of a shrink film 3 to a container 10. In general, the liquid container 1 are formed as bottles. In the embodiment shown here, the container 10 comprises six liquid containers 1, which are held together with the shrink film 3. The container 10 has a plurality of raised points 7 formed on which at least on some of the raised areas 7 an adhesive 50 is applied. Furthermore, the adhesive 50 can be applied to at least one elevation 2 of at least one individual surface 14 ₁ , 14 ₂ , 14 ₃ or 14 _{4 of} the lateral surface 14 of the shrink film 3.

In the in FIG. 1 illustrated embodiment, the container 10 is further connected to a carrying handle 9 and on both sides of the handle 9 interventions 8 are provided. The handle 9 and the interventions 8 thus facilitate the handling of the container 10, or the removal of the container 10 from the pallet 30 in the point of sale. In addition, advantageously in the shrink film 3 in the finished container 10, a perforation 6 may be formed, which facilitates the opening of the shrink wrap for the user.

FIG. 2 shows the schematic side view of the in FIG. 1 The container 10 consists of several liquid containers 1, which are held together with the shrink film 3. How out FIG. 2 can be seen, the shrink film 3 applies tightly to the individual liquid container 1 of the container 10. As a result, an uneven surface is obtained on the upper side 11 of the container 10. Likewise, the container 10 has a bottom 12. The raised portions 7 of the container 10 are formed on the upper side 11 of the container 10 through the liquid container 1. As a rule, the liquid containers 1 are bottles, so that the raised points 7 of the container 10 are formed by the closures of the bottles. On the raised portions 7 of the container 10, the adhesive 50 is applied. The shrink film 3 is very close to the liquid containers 1. In the places; where the liquid container 1 has its largest cross-sectional area on the lateral surface 14 of the container 10 elevations 2. Adhesive 50 is then applied to these elevations 2 also to fix the container 10 to an adjacent container 10 within a layer.
Although in the Figures 1 and 2 the adhesive 50 is applied to four of the raised portions 7 of the containers 10, this should not be construed as limiting the invention. It is also conceivable that the adhesive 50 can be applied to all raised points 7 of a container 10. Furthermore, the number of liquid container 1 in a container 10 should not be construed as limiting the invention. It is conceivable, depending on the size of the liquid container 1, that different numbers of liquid containers 1 can be assembled in a container 10. Furthermore, it is possible that the container 10 of articles (liquid container 1) can also be held together by a cardboard 4. In this embodiment, the shrink film 3 would be replaced by a cardboard 4 with regular individual surfaces.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a plan view of a layer 20, which has been composed of several containers 10 of liquid container 1. This layer 20 can thus be deposited on a pallet 30 with an automatic gripper (not shown). The individual layers 20, which are deposited successively on the pallet 30, are assembled in a composite construction, so that an additional stability of the plurality of layers 20 on the pallet 30 results from the composite construction. The placement of the layers 20 in composite construction on the pallet 30 is not a limitation of the pallet 30 according to the invention. It is clear to those skilled in the art that the containers 10 can be stacked one above the other in a simple construction.

FIG. 4 shows the schematic side view of a pallet 30, are already stored on the two layers 20 _x and 20 _{x + 1} of containers 10 from liquid containers. On the basis of the second layer 20 _{x + 1} can be clearly seen that at the raised points 7 of the container 10, the adhesive 50 is applied. Likewise, the adhesive 50 is also on the top 11 of the first layer 20 _x , which is placed directly on the pallet 30, applied. The stacking of the individual layers 20 on the pallet 30 is now such that always the first layer 20 _{x forms} the base for the second layer 20 _{x + 1} . Thus, the adhesive 50 cooperates with the bottom 12 of the second layer 20 _{x + 1} . As a result, a destabilization of the container 10 on the pallet 30 and a lateral breaking of the layers 20 are prevented.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a pallet 30, on the already two layers 20 _x and 20 _{x + 1} from containers 10 of liquid containers in conjunction with intermediate layers 18 are discontinued. The intermediate layer 18 acts on the one hand with the adhesive 50 of the first layer 20 _x and with the bottom 12 of the second layer 20 _{x + 1} together. The intermediate layer 18 is such that the second layer 20 _{x + 1} which has been deposited on the first layer 20 _x can not slip. Because the lower side 12 of the second layer 20 _{x + 1} does not interact directly with the adhesive 50 of the first layer 20 _x , it is easier to lift the second layers 20 _{x + 1} from the first layer 20 _x , for example when depalletizing the pallet 30 ,

FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of the system with which the adhesive 50 can be applied to the raised portions 7 of a container 10. The individual containers 10 are brought by a conveyor 44 to a station 40, in which the adhesive 50 is applied to the raised areas 7 of each container 10. As already explained above, the adhesive 50 does not have to be applied to all of the raised areas 7 of a container 10. In the embodiment shown here, the container 10 comprises six liquid containers 1 and the adhesive 50 is applied to the four liquid containers 1, which form the vertices of the container 10. The transport means 44 moves continuously or intermittently in the direction of the arrow 46. The station 40 for applying the adhesive 50 is provided in the embodiment shown here with two nozzles 42 which apply the adhesive 50 to the corresponding provided raised points 7 of the individual containers 10. Likewise, the station 40 may be provided with a reservoir 43 for the adhesive 50.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the system with which the adhesive 50 can be automatically applied to the elevations 2 of the lateral surface 14 of the container 10. The adhesive 50 is applied by the nozzles 42 on the elevations 2 while the containers 10 are moved on the conveyor 44 in the direction of arrow 46 continuously or intermittently. Depending on how the containers 10 are assigned to the station 40, the adhesive 50 is applied to the elevations 2 of the longitudinal side 47 or to the elevations 2 of the transverse side 48 of the container 10.

Preferably, the station 40 is formed such that the adhesive 50 with a station 40 on both the raised points 7, at the top 11 of Container 10, as well as on the elevations 2 on the lateral surface 14 of the container 10 can be applied.

It is recommended that the adhesive 50 is a hot melt. Possible hot glues which are used in the invention are, for example, "Krones-colfix HM 5353" or "Krones-colfix HM 6003". Likewise, there are several ways in which the hot glue can be applied to the raised areas 7 and / or to the elevations 2 of the individual containers 10. One possibility is that the hot glue is applied to the closures of the bottles forming the individual raised portions 7 of the container 10. The spray application of the hot glue on the corresponding closures of the bottles and / or on the elevations 2 of the container 10 can be done, for example, in the form of a screw or a crawler. These modes of applying the hot glue are preferred embodiments of the adhesive dots 52.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic side view of a pallet 30, on which a plurality of layers 20 are arranged from containers 10, which are wrapped to secure the transport with a film 60. The layers 20 of containers 10 are arranged on the pallet 30, as described in the embodiment of FIG. In addition to the adhesive 50 and / or the intermediate layers 18 (not shown), the entire pallet 30 is wrapped with a film 60. The film 60 is wound around the layers 20 such that all layers 20 are at least partially enclosed by the first layer 20 _x to the last layer 20 _{x + n} .

FIG. 9 shows a schematic side view of a pallet 30, on which a plurality of layers 20 are arranged from containers 10 and for transport protection with a Shrink hood 62 is coated. The Schrumpfhabe 62 which is placed over the entire pallet 30, serves to improve the stability of the pallet 30 during transport and prevents slippage of the layers 20 and the container 10 on the pallet 30. Furthermore, the shrink hood 62 prevents moisture and dirt to the container 10 can get. In order to achieve full stability, the pallet 30 with the shrink hood 62 in a device for shrinking (not shown) exposed to such a temperature increase that the shrink hood 62 contracts and thereby fully rests against the pallet 30 and the container 10.

In the embodiments in the FIGS. 8 and 9 shown camouflage fuses are independent of the type of container 10 which are located on the pallet 30 usable. The two embodiments of the transport lock can also be combined if there are 10 sensitive products in the containers.

The invention has been described in consideration of preferred embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims (12)

1. A pallet (30), consisting of a plurality of layers (20), each layer (20) comprising a plurality of multipacks (10) consisting of containers for liquids, and each multipack (10) being a three-dimensional body, which has a top (11), a bottom (12) and a circumferential surface (14), the circumferential surface (14) comprising at least three individual surfaces (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄), the top (11) of the multipack (10) forming a plurality of raised areats (7) or the plurality of individual surfaces (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄) of the circumferential surface (14) of the multipack (10) comprising at least one raised portion (2), characterised in that a plurality of multipacks (10) of a layer (20) have an adhesive (50) applied to the top (11) and/or to the circumferential surface (14), the adhesive (50) being applied to the top (11) at a plurality of raised areas (7) and/or to at least one raised portion (2) on one of the plurality of individual surfaces (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄) of the circumferential surface (14) and in that the adhesive (50) interacts detachably with at least one circumferential surface (14) of a further multipack (10) within the layer (20_x) and/or with at least one bottom (12) of the multipacks (10) of a layer (20_x+1) arranged thereover on the pallet (30).
2. A pallet (30) according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive (50) is applied as at least one adhesive spot (52) to the raised areas (7) on the top (11) and/or to at least one raised portion (2) on at least one individual surface (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄) of the circumferential surface (14).
3. A pallet (30) according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the raised areas (7) at the top (11) of the multipacks (10) are caps of the respective liquid containers (1) of the multipack (10) and/or in that the raised portions (2) on the respective individual surface (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄) of the circumferential surface (14) of the multipack (10) are the areas of greatest cross-sectional area of the respective liquid container (1) of the multipack (10).
4. A pallet (30) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an interlayer (18) is inserted between the adhesive (50) on the raised areas (7) at the tops (11) of the multipacks (10) of a layer (20_x) and the bottoms (12) of the multipacks (10) of a next higher layer (20_x+1).
5. A method of palletising multipacks (10) consisting of containers for liquids, the multipacks (10) being three-dimensional bodies, which comprise a top (11), a bottom (12) and a circumferential surface (14), the circumferential surface consisting of at least three individual surfaces (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄), the top (11) of the multipack (10) forming a plurality of raised areas (7) or the plurality of individual surfaces (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄) of the circumferential surface (14) of the multipack (10) comprising at least one raised portion (2),
   characterised by the following steps:

   • at a station (40) an adhesive (50) is applied to at least one of the raised areas (7) at the top (11) and/or to at least one raised portion (2) on at least one individual surface (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄) of the circumferential surface (14) of the multipacks (10);

   • the multipacks (10) are assembled into a layer (20_x), which forms a base for a further layer (20_x+1) ;

   • the further layer (20_x+1) of multipacks (10) is placed on the layer (20_x) acting as a base in such a way that the adhesive (50) at the raised areas (7) interacts detachably with the bottom (12) of each multipack (10) of the further layer (20_x+1); and

   • the multipacks (10) of a layer (20) interact, by way of the applied adhesive (50) on at least one raised portion (2) of an individual surface (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄) of the circumferential surface (14) of a multipack (10) with at least one raised portion (2) of an individual surface (14₁, 14₂, 14₃, 14₄) of the circumferential surface (14) of a further multipack (10) within the layer (20).
6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the adhesive (50) is applied to the multipacks (10) at the station (40) as adhesive spots (52) on the at least one raised areat (7) and/or on the at least one raised portion (2) of each multipack (10).
7. A method according to one of claims 5 to 6, characterised in that the multipacks (10) are assembled into layers (20) with the applied adhesive (50) on the at least one raised area (7) and/or on the at least one raised portion (2) of the multipack (10) and then placed layer (20) by layer (20) on the pallet (30).
8. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein an interlayer (18) is placed onto the adhesive (50) at the raised areas (7) on the tops (11) of the multipacks (10), on which interlayer the next higher layer (20_x+1) is placed with the bottoms (12) of the multipacks (10).
9. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the liquid containers (1) of a multipack (10) are bottles, which are held together by a shrink film (3) applied tightly against the multipack (10), wherein the caps of the liquid containers (1) are the raised areas (7) at the top of the multipack and wherein the raised portions (2) are formed by the greatest cross-sectional area at the circumferential surface (14), wherein adhesive (50) is applied to the raised areas (7) and/or to the raised portions (2).
10. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 9, wherein the adhesive (50) is applied in the form of a hot-setting adhesive at the station (40).
11. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the layers (20_x, 20_x+1 - 20_x+n) of the multipacks (10) on the pallet (30) are wrapped in a film (60) to secure them during transport.
12. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the layers (20_x, 20_x+1 - 20_x+n) of the multipacks (10) on the pallet (30) are provided with a shrink cover (62) to secure them during transport.

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