Multi-Pack Consisting Of A Dimensionally Stable Receiving Container And A Number Of Deformable Cleaning Agent Sachets, And Method For Providing A Multi-Pack

Abstract

A multi-pack which consists of a dimensionally stable receiving container and a number of deformable cleaning agent sachets that are received in the receiving container, the cleaning agent sachets being arranged in the receiving container in like orientation. The invention also relates to an associated method for providing a multi-pack.

Claims

1. A multi-pack consisting of a dimensionally stable receiving container and a plurality of deformable cleaning agent sachets that are received in the receiving container, wherein the cleaning agent sachets are arranged in the receiving container in like orientation.

2. The multi-pack according to claim 1, wherein the receiving container comprises a base, wherein the cleaning agent sachets have at least one upper face and one lower face opposite the upper face, which faces from the main surfaces of the cleaning agent sachet, wherein the cleaning agent sachetsare aligned in the receiving container such that the upper faces and lower faces are aligned parallel to the base of the receiving container.

3. The multi-pack according to claim 2, wherein the cleaning agent for forming the cleaning agent sachets is received between a first film and a second film, wherein the first film in each case forms the upper face and the second film in each case forms the lower face of the cleaning agent sachets, and wherein the first filmand the second film are in each case interconnected in peripheral edge regionsof the cleaning agent sachets.

4. The multi-pack according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent sachet is formed by at least one water-soluble film.

5. The multi-pack according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning agent sachets are designed as multi-chamber sachets, in which a plurality of components of the cleaning agent are arranged separately from one another in chambers of the cleaning agent sachet.

6. A method for providing a multi-pack according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the following: providing a dimensionally stable receiving container; providing a number of deformable cleaning agent sachets; picking up and stacking the cleaning agent sachets in like orientation in the receiving container in an automated manner.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step of providing a number of deformable cleaning agent sachets comprises encasing a number of cleaning agent portions using at least one common film and subsequently cutting the film to separate the cleaning agent sachets, wherein the automated picking up and stacking of the cleaning agent sachets in the receiving container takes place immediately after the separation of the cleaning agent sachets.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The invention is explained in greater detail below with the aid of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a multi-pack according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cleaning agent sachet for a multi-pack according to an embodiment of the invention; and

[0031] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view of a laser cutting process for separating the cleaning agent sachet according to FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0032] The multi-pack 1 according to FIG. 1 comprises a receiving container 2 which is dimensionally stable. The receiving container 2 is thus substantially not deformable in a non-destructive manner, but has a defined shape. It can be formed in particular of plastics material or cardboard.

[0033] In the shown embodiment, the receiving container 2 has a base 3 and side walls 4. The side walls 4 surround a removal opening 5, which can be closed by means of a lid (not shown).

[0034] Inside the receiving container 2, a number of cleaning agent sachets 6 are stacked on the base 3. The cleaning agent sachets 6 are pillow-shaped in the embodiment shown and each have an upper face 7 and a lower face 8, which is opposite the upper face 7. The cleaning agent sachets 6 are formed by two films, a first film forming the upper face 7 and a second film forming the lower face. In edge regions 9 of the cleaning agent sachets 6, the films are welded, glued, or glued and welded together.

[0035] Within the receiving container 2, the individual cleaning agent sachets 6 are arranged in like orientation, i.e. their upper faces 7 and lower faces 8 are each aligned substantially parallel to one another, all sachet upper faces 7 facing upward toward the removal opening 5 of the receiving container 2. A main plane of the cleaning agent sachets 6 is oriented parallel to the base 3. Furthermore, the sachets 6 are also aligned identically with respect to their lateral edge regions 9, so that in the present exemplary embodiment, the mutually corresponding lateral edge regions 9 of all sachets 6 rest one on top of the other within the receiving container 2.

[0036] For example, product information is imprinted on each of the upper faces 7 of the cleaning agent sachets 6. These imprints are not visible in the illustration in FIG. 1. Since the upper faces 7 of all cleaning agent sachets 6 are oriented toward the removal opening 5 and the sachet side edges are also aligned identically, the imprints are always easily legible.

[0037] FIGS. 2 and 3 show intermediate products of a method for producing the multi-pack 1 having the cleaning agent sachets 6 according to an embodiment of the invention. The cleaning agent sachet 6 has, in the shown embodiment, two separate sachet chambers 10, which can contain, for example, different components of a cleaning agent.

[0038] As can be seen in cross section in FIG. 3, the cleaning agent sachet 6 comprises a second water-soluble film 12 and a first water-soluble film 11 arranged thereon, which films are sealed outside the sachet chambers 10 to form a film composite 14 and encompass a cleaning agent preparation 13 therebetween in the region of the sachet chamber 10.

[0039] In order to detach the cleaning agent sachet 6 from the film composite 14 surrounding it, said sachet is cut out along the contour 15 to form the edge regions 9. The cutting takes place, for example, by means of a laser beam 16, which is directed at the upper face of the film composite 14 and guided along the contour 15. If the laser beam 16 evaporates all the material of the film composite 14 along the contour 15, the cleaning agent sachet 6 is completely cut out of the film composite 14 surrounding it. It can then be picked up by means of a pick-and-place method and be stacked immediately in the receiving container 2 according to FIG. 1.

[0040] Alternatively, the cutting to separate the sachets can take place by means of rotating or axially guided blades or stationary blades. According to a further alternative, the separation of the cleaning agent sachets can also take place by punching.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0041] 1 Multi-pack [0042] 2 Receiving container [0043] 3 Base [0044] 4 Side wall [0045] 5 Removal opening [0046] 6 Cleaning agent sachet [0047] 7 Upper face [0048] 8 Lower face [0049] 9 Edge region [0050] 10 Sachet chamber [0051] 11 First film [0052] 12 Second film [0053] 13 Cleaning agent preparation [0054] 14 Film composite [0055] 15 Contour [0056] 16 Laser beam