A cluster pack comprises at least two containers connected by a glued joint. One of the containers has a thickened wall region in the region of the glued joint. This region acts as a well reinforcement to reduce the risk of tearing a container during detachment from the cluster pack.

Aspects of the invention relate to an applicator plate (10) for use in an apparatus (80) for attaching a set of frangibly adjoined top engaging clips (110) to a group of articles C. The applicator plate (10) having a generally planar body; and a plurality of apertures (16a-26f) within the body. Each aperture (16a-26f) has a series of internal walls (16i-16x) arranged such that each aperture (16a-26f) has a polygonal shape.

A method for container packaging includes producing a container package that has at least two rows of containers, each row having more than one container. The method forming sub-groups by dispersing a container flow, applying adhesive to the containers, and re-compacting the container flow to adhesively connect the containers together to make the sub-group. This is followed by joining two sub-groups together to make the container group. Within a treatment segment, the containers pass between belt arrangements that move at different speeds for dispersing and re-compacting container flows.

A method for container packaging includes producing a container package that has at least two rows of containers, each row having more than one container. The method forming sub-groups by dispersing a container flow, applying adhesive to the containers, and re-compacting the container flow to adhesively connect the containers together to make the sub-group. This is followed by joining two sub-groups together to make the container group. Within a treatment segment, the containers pass between belt arrangements that move at different speeds for dispersing and re-compacting container flows.

An operating unit adapted to perform a rapid packing of containers such as bottles produces a safe, simple and transportable pack obtained with three straps, of which a first one is applied on the lower half of the body of the bottles, a second one is applied at the neck of the bottles, both the first and the second straps being arranged on planes perpendicular to the vertical axes of the bottles, and a third one, applied loosely and perpendicularly to the other two straps, lies on a vertical plane passing by the center of gravity of the pack, along a plane disposed between two adjacent rows of bottles in contact with each other.

An operating unit adapted to perform a rapid packing of containers such as bottles produces a safe, simple and transportable pack obtained with three straps, of which a first one is applied on the lower half of the body of the bottles, a second one is applied at the neck of the bottles, both the first and the second straps being arranged on planes perpendicular to the vertical axes of the bottles, and a third one, applied loosely and perpendicularly to the other two straps, lies on a vertical plane passing by the center of gravity of the pack, along a plane disposed between two adjacent rows of bottles in contact with each other.

A process for collation shrink wrapping an object that may include a number of individual containers, preferably a number of substantially identical containers. The process may include the steps of (i) obtaining a binding tape that is a film uniaxially oriented in the machine direction (MD) and wrapping the tape around the object, (ii) sealing the ends of the now wrapped binding tape (i.e., to form a loop), (iii) obtaining a collation shrink film that may include a multimodal linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), the film being a stretched film that is uniaxially oriented in the machine direction (MD) in a draw ratio of at least 1:3, (iv) wrapping the collation shrink film around the object of step (ii), (v) heating the wrapped object of step (iv) such that the tape shrinks in its machine direction and the collation shrink film shrinks in its machine direction.

A process for collation shrink wrapping an object that may include a number of individual containers, preferably a number of substantially identical containers. The process may include the steps of (i) obtaining a binding tape that is a film uniaxially oriented in the machine direction (MD) and wrapping the tape around the object, (ii) sealing the ends of the now wrapped binding tape (i.e., to form a loop), (iii) obtaining a collation shrink film that may include a multimodal linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), the film being a stretched film that is uniaxially oriented in the machine direction (MD) in a draw ratio of at least 1:3, (iv) wrapping the collation shrink film around the object of step (ii), (v) heating the wrapped object of step (iv) such that the tape shrinks in its machine direction and the collation shrink film shrinks in its machine direction.

Provided is a method for packing arrangements of piece goods, in which a plurality of piece goods and particularly containers are at least partially interconnected by a first connection device, at least two-piece goods of said plurality of piece goods being directly interconnected by the connection device. According to the embodiments, this plurality of piece goods connected by means of the connection device is packed with a second connection device in the form of a second wrapping element and the plurality of piece goods connected by a first connection device is transported to a packaging device by a transport device and surrounded and particularly wrapped by said packaging device with the second wrapping element.

Provided is a method for packing arrangements of piece goods, in which a plurality of piece goods and particularly containers are at least partially interconnected by a first connection device, at least two-piece goods of said plurality of piece goods being directly interconnected by the connection device. According to the embodiments, this plurality of piece goods connected by means of the connection device is packed with a second connection device in the form of a second wrapping element and the plurality of piece goods connected by a first connection device is transported to a packaging device by a transport device and surrounded and particularly wrapped by said packaging device with the second wrapping element.