Device for forming multi-row packing units

Abstract

An apparatus for producing container packs from containers in a container stream or a plurality of transport lines includes guide elements, entraining elements, applicator elements, and a compartmentalizing and/or compressing unit configured for compartmentalizing and compressing a predetermined number of containers that are combined to form a container pack. The applicator elements apply an adhesive agent by spraying or sprinkling such that a bottle in the pack has adhesive a contact-or-touching surface thereof. The linear transporter transports containers that are to form a subsequent pack from an inlet to an outlet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for producing container packs from containers in a container stream or a plurality of transport lines, said apparatus comprising a linear transporter, entraining elements, applicator elements, and a compartmentalizing and/or compressing unit comprising guide elements, wherein said compartmentalizing and/or compressing unit is configured for compartmentalizing and/or compressing a predetermined number of containers that are combined to form a container pack, wherein said applicator elements are configured to apply an adhesive such that at least one container in said container pack has an application of adhesive at least on a contact-or-touching surface thereof, wherein said linear transporter is configured to transport a group of containers that are to form a subsequent pack from an inlet side to an outlet side, wherein said applicator elements are configured for applying at least one of a liquid and free-flowing adhesive by a technique selected from the group consisting of spraying and sprinkling, wherein said applicator elements are provided in a region of said linear transporter, wherein said guide elements are each provided at a side of said linear transporter, and wherein said entraining elements are each assigned to a pack, wherein said guide elements are further configured to cause containers to draw nearer to one another, thereby promoting an extent of an adhesive bond between said containers, and wherein said applicator elements comprise applicator elements that are disposed above said linear transporter, below said linear transporter, and on a side of said linear transporter, wherein said applicator elements on said side are vertically offset from each other.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said applicator elements are configured to move in a direction along said linear transporter while applying an adhesive to said pack.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide elements comprise static guide elements.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide elements comprise movable guide elements.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said linear transporter comprises a plurality of transport surfaces on which said containers stand arranged in rows, wherein said plurality of transport surfaces comprises a first transport surface and a second transport surface, wherein said first and second transport surfaces are adjacent to each other, and wherein a gap is disposed between said first and second transport surfaces.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said applicator elements are configured to apply an adhesive to a contact-and-touching surface that is arranged on a head-end roll-off ring.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said applicator elements are configured to apply an adhesive to it contact-and-touching surface that is arranged on a foot-end roll-off ring.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide elements are configured to be travelling.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide elements are configured to be rigid.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide elements are configured to laterally guide said pack.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide elements are configured to compress said pack.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said guide elements are configured to impart a transverse force to said pack.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said entraining elements are connected to said guide elements.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said entraining elements are rigidly attached to said guide elements, and wherein said entraining elements push said packs.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first one of said entraining elements is assigned to a first pack and a second one of said entraining elements is assigned to a second pack.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in detail below through the use of embodiment examples with reference to the figures. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows, in perspective view, a partial section of a device for producing a pack having six articles or containers,

(3) FIG. 2 shows, in side view, the partial section of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detail of the partial section of FIG. 1 to represent the applicator elements

(5) FIG. 4 shows, in plan view, the partial section of FIG. 1, and

(6) FIG. 5 shows, in plan view, a partial section of a device for producing a pack having six articles or containers in a row arrangement that is different from that depicted in FIG. 1.

(7) In the different figures, the same reference character in each case identifies identical parts, which is why they are generally described only once. Bottles, cans, etc. are referred to generically as containers hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) FIG. 1 shows a partial section of a device 1 for producing packs 2 of containers 3. The compressed or formed container groups are first formed by separating and bringing together a predetermined number of containers 3, for example six containers 3, from a container stream. While on the container stream, the containers 3 have an arbitrary orientation. This means, for example, that their container features and/or configuration features can be facing in any direction. When combined in a pack 2, at least one of containers 3 in the pack 2, and preferably each container 3, has bonding or adhesive agent applied on at least one contact-and-touching surface of the container. The contact-and-touching surfaces are clearly shown in the figures by the contact of containers 3 against one another. However, the contact-and-touching surfaces are not provided with a reference number.

(9) A linear transporter 4 transports containers 3 or formed packs 2 from an inlet side 5 towards an outlet side 6. Applicator elements 7 are provided to apply bonding or adhesive agent at the inlet side of the transporter 4. Guide elements 8 are provided on either side of transporter 4. Entraining elements 9 are each assigned to a pack 2. An arrow 10 indicates a transport direction from the inlet side 5 towards the outlet side 6.

(10) When seen in transport direction 10, a pack 2 can be configured to have a plurality of rows, i.e. for example two rows, as shown in FIG. 4, or three rows, as shown in FIG. 5, with a corresponding number of container rows each being disposed square to transport direction 10.

(11) It is possible for linear transporter 4 to have a support surface that extends square to transport direction 10 and that corresponds to the total width of the container row concerned.

(12) In a preferred embodiment, linear transporter 4 comprises a transport surface 11 for each container row concerned. The linear transporter 4 may thus have two transport surfaces 11, as shown in FIG. 4, or three transport surfaces 11, as shown in FIG. 5. When looking square to the transport direction 10, these transport surfaces 11 are spaced apart from one another, i.e. they have gaps 12 between each other.

(13) The linear transporter 4 itself can be driven so as to convey containers 3 from inlet side 5 to outlet side 6.

(14) Applicator elements 7, which are implemented as applicator heads or spray heads, are provided to apply the adhesive agent. The adhesive agent is preferably liquid, i.e. it is preferably a low viscosity adhesive agent. A preferred adhesive agent is a UV-curing adhesive. It is beneficial if applicator elements 7 are provided which at the inlet side are disposed on congruent center-line, i.e. on a line as can best be seen in FIG. 3.

(15) In a preferred embodiment a plurality of applicator elements 7 are provided which can be disposed in such a way that each container 3 is framed with adhesive on its contact-and-touching surfaces. It is advantageous if each gap 12 also has an applicator element 7. FIG. 4 shows six such applicator elements and FIG. 5 shows eight, of which half are hidden.

(16) One, or depending on the number of container rows, two or even more applicator elements 7 are disposed beneath the linear transporter 4. These applicator elements 7 apply the adhesive to the contact-and-touching surfaces of containers 3 from underneath through the gaps 12 between transport surfaces 11. Applicator elements 7 are also provided overhead. The number of such overhead applicator elements 7 is preferably identical to the number of applicator elements 7 positioned underneath. Further applicator elements 7 are provided to the side of linear transporter 4. Applicator elements 7 that are disposed on a common side are spaced apart from one another in the vertical direction of the containers 2, with one applicator element 7 being arranged at the top end of the container and the other at the bottom end of the container.

(17) In the case of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4, one applicator element 7 is provided above and another is provided below. In the case of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5, two applicator elements 7 are provided above and two are provided below. The number of applicator elements 7 can be varied in the same way for a different number of rows or arrangement.

(18) In the depicted embodiment, applicator elements 7 are disposed rigidly, that is, immovably on the device 1. In a further embodiment, it is conceivable for applicator elements 7 to travel with a pack 2 in common or singly at least along a partial section, after which the applicator elements 7 are returned to the initial position so that they can provide a new pack 2 or its containers 3 with adhesive at their contact surfaces.

(19) Guide elements 8 may also be referred to as guide rails that guide or support packs 2 or containers 3 of a pack 2 between them. It is conceivable for guide elements 8 to be rigidly mounted. It is, however, also possible for guide elements 8 to be configured as travelling elements such that containers 3 or packs 2 have no, or an adjustable, speed relative to linear transporter 4. A lateral pressure for compression or adhesively bonding containers 3 of a pack 2 can be generated with laterally disposed guide elements 8.

(20) In other words, guide elements 8 not only have the function of guiding and supporting but also the function of generating a pressure acting on containers 3 which when looked at square to transport direction 10 compresses the containers 3 of a pack 2 and/or draws them nearer to each other, pressing them against one another so as to cause an adequate adhesive bond.

(21) Guide elements 8 that are arranged on either side can be configured as single elements disposed parallel with the linear transporter 4 or as vertically arranged panels. As can be seen from FIG. 1 in conjunction with FIG. 2, a guide element 8 can also be executed with an inner element 13 that is disposed parallel with an outer element 14, it being possible to provide end connections each between inner and outer elements 13 and 14.

(22) In a preferred embodiment, entraining elements 9 are arranged square to the transport direction 10 and fully extend across the linear transporter 4. The entraining elements 9, when seen in transport direction 10, are arranged behind the pack 2 so that entraining elements 9 push the pack 2 along before them. This generates a force that assists an interconnection of the containers when seen in or against transport direction 10, and/or a compression thereof.

(23) In order to improve the bond of containers 3 of pack 2 among one another not only square to transport direction 10 but also in (or against) transport direction 10, entraining elements 9 can impart to containers 3 and/or pack 2 a speed acting relative to linear transporter 4 when seen in transport direction. If the conveying speed of the entraining element or elements 9 is greater than the conveying speed of linear transporter 4, this brings about a pushing or sliding of containers 3 and/or of pack 2 from inlet side 5 towards outlet side 6.

(24) Entraining elements 9 may, in a preferred embodiment, be configured as a bar, preferably as a round bar (FIGS. 1 and 2), i.e. as an entraining bar. The entraining elements 9 may also be themselves driven and/or be in connection with guide elements 8. If the entraining elements 9 are driven, they may glide or roll along on guide elements 8 with gliding or rolling means. Entraining elements 9 may be interconnected by way of pulling means (rope, chain, toothed belt or similar) so as to form continuous entraining elements 9.

(25) If guide elements 8 are driven, i.e. are provided to circulate, it is very much in the interest of the invention to rigidly attach the entraining elements 9 to the guide elements 8, in which case the above mentioned relative speed could be generated by means of the guide element drive.

REFERENCE LIST

(26) 1 Device for producing packs 2 Bundle 3 Container 4 Linear transporter 5 Entry end 6 Discharge end 7 Applicator element 8 Guide element 9 Entraining element 10 Transport direction 11 Transport surface 12 Gap 13 Inner element of 8 14 Outer element of 8