BUNDLE OF CONTAINERS, IN PARTICULAR BOTTLES, CANS, OR THE LIKE, AND PROCESS FOR MAKING SUCH A BUNDLE

Abstract

The present invention concerns a bundle (1) of containers (3), in particular bottles, cans or the like, and a process for making such a bundle comprising a packaging film (2) wrapped around a set of containers (3). The film (2) defines a bottom portion (2a) for resting the containers (3), at least one pair of side opposite portions (2b) extending from the bottom portion (2a) for laterally engaging the containers (3) and a covering portion (2c) extending between the side portions (2b) from an opposite part with respect to the bottom portion (2a). The bundle (1) also comprises a handle (4) having a central portion (4a) arranged at the covering portion (2c) of the film (2) and a pair of opposite joining adhesive portions (4b), extending from the central portion (4a) each arranged at least at a respective side portion (2b) of the film (2). Each of the joining adhesive portions (4b) of the handle (4) engages the respective side portion (2b) of the packaging film (2) from the covering portion (2c) to the bottom portion (2a) and has a respective end (4c) that engages the bottom portion (2a) of the film (2).

Claims

1. Process for producing bundles (1) of containers (3), in particular bottles, cans or the like, comprising the steps of: supplying a plurality of gripping handles (4) in form of a continuous tape cut into sections, each gripping handle (4) being provided with a central gripping portion (4a) and with a pair of opposite joining adhesive portions (4b) extending from said central gripping portion (4a); supplying a plurality of packaging films (2) in form of a continuous tape to be subsequently cut into sections; applying a gripping handle (4) on each packaging film (2) being supplied; wrapping each packaging film (2) provided with a respective gripping handle (4) around a respective predetermined set of containers (3), so as to define a bottom portion (2a) for resting said containers (3), at least one pair of side portions (4b) engaging, laterally from opposite parts, said containers (3) and a covering portion (2c) opposite to said bottom portion (2a); characterised in that the step of applying each gripping handle (4) on each packaging film (2) comprises applying a gripping handle (4) having an overall length (LM) not shorter than 7/10 the overall length (LP) of the respective packaging film (2), preferably not shorter than 9/10 the overall length (LP) of the respective packaging film (2), whereby the step of wrapping each packaging film (2) around a respective set of containers (3) results in the central gripping portion (4a) of the respective gripping handle (4) being positioned at the covering portion (2c) of the respective packaging film (2) and each joining adhesive portion (4b) of the respective gripping handle (4) being positioned at a respective side portion (2b) of the corresponding packaging film (2), from the covering portion (2c) to the bottom portion (2a).

2. Process according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying each gripping handle (4) on each packaging film (2) comprises applying a gripping handle (4) having an overall length (LM) sufficient for an end (4c) of each of the joining adhesive portions (4b) of the gripping handle (4) be arranged at the bottom portion (2a) of the respective packaging film (2) wrapped around the containers (3).

3. Process according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying a gripping handle (4) to each packaging film (2) is carried out by swinging the advancement velocity of said continuous tape of the packaging films (2) from a minimum advancement velocity to a maximum advancement velocity, said minimum and maximum advancement velocities being calculated on the basis of the lengths (LM, LP) of the gripping handles (4) and/or of the packaging films (2) and/or of the advancement and/or acceleration and/or deceleration time periods of the continuous tape and/or of the advancement average velocity (VM) of this latter.

4. Process according to claim 3, wherein the step of applying a gripping handle (4) to each packaging film (2) being supplied comprises the steps of: advancing said continuous tape of said packaging films (2) at a first advancement velocity (V1); maintaining the first advancement velocity (V1) until that the entire gripping handle (4) will overlap a respective packaging film (2); accelerating said continuous tape until reaching a second advancement velocity (V2), higher than the first advancement velocity (V1), after having applied said gripping handle (4); maintaining said second advancement velocity (V2) for a predetermined time period (T), corresponding to a tail section of the packaging film (2) provided with said gripping handle (4) applied and to a lead section of the next packaging film (2), lacking the gripping handle (4); decelerating said continuous tape until reaching a first advancement velocity (V1) before the adhesion of the corresponding gripping handle (4).

5. Process according to claim 3, wherein the step of applying a gripping handle (4) to each packaging film (2) being supplied comprises the steps of: advancing said continuous tape of said packaging films (2) at a first advancement velocity (V1); maintaining the first advancement velocity (V1) for a first time period (T1) sufficient for applying the end (4c) of a first joining adhesive portion (4b) of a gripping handle (4) being applied on a respective packaging film (2); accelerating said continuous tape until reaching a second advancement velocity (V2), faster than the first advancement velocity (V1); maintaining the second advancement velocity (V2) for a second predetermined time period (T2), sufficient for approaching the end (4c) of a second joining adhesive portion (4b) of said gripping handle (4) being applied; decelerating said continuous tape from the second advancement velocity (V2) to the first advancement velocity (V1) near the end (4c) of the second joining adhesive portion (4b) of the gripping handle (4) being applied; maintaining the first advancement velocity (V11) for a third time period (T3) sufficient for applying the end (4c) of the second joining adhesive portion (4b) of the gripping handle (4) being applied; accelerating again said continuous tape until reaching a third advancement velocity (V3), faster than the first advancement velocity (V1), corresponding to a tail section of the packaging film (2) free from the gripping handle (4) applied, optionally said third advancement velocity (V3) being slower or equal to the second advancement velocity (V2); subsequently decelerating said continuous tape until reaching the first advancement velocity (V1) corresponding to a lead section of the subsequent packaging film (2), lacking the gripping handle (4).

6. Process according to claim 2, wherein the step of applying a gripping handle (4) to each packaging film (2) is carried out by swinging the advancement velocity of said continuous tape of the packaging films (2) from a minimum advancement velocity to a maximum advancement velocity, said minimum and maximum advancement velocities being calculated on the basis of the lengths (LM, LP) of the gripping handles (4) and/or of the packaging films (2) and/or of the advancement and/or acceleration and/or deceleration time periods of the continuous tape and/or of the advancement average velocity (VM) of this latter.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The description shall be carried out hereafter with reference to the attached drawings, provided only as an indication and therefore not for limiting purposes, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is a front view of a bundle of containers, in particular bottles, cans and/or the like, in accordance with the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 2 is a side view of the bundle according to FIG. 1;

[0026] FIG. 3 is a schematic view from above of a respective packaging film provided with a respective gripping handle for making the bundle according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

[0027] FIG. 4 is a representation of a first graph relative to the velocity variations of a continuous tape of packaging films during a first kind of application of the respective gripping handles;

[0028] FIG. 5 is a representation of a second graph relative to the velocity variations of a continuous tape of packaging films during a second kind of application of the respective gripping handles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 wholly indicates a bundle of containers, in particular bottles, cans or the like, in accordance with the present invention.

[0030] As visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, the bundle 1 comprises at least one packaging film 2 wrapped around a predetermined set of containers 3. Subsequently to the winding of the packaging film 2 around the respective set of containers 3, the packaging film 2 defines a bottom portion 2a, obtained for example by overlapping the respective lead and tail edges of the packaging film itself, for resting the containers 3, at least one pair of opposite side portions 2b extending from the bottom portion 2a for laterally engaging the containers 3 and the covering portion 2c that extends between the side portions 2b from an opposite part with respect to the bottom portion 2a.

[0031] Again with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bundle 1 also comprises a gripping handle 4, preferably having a substantially tape-shaped design, having a central gripping portion 4a that is arranged at the covering portion 2c of the packaging film 2 and a pair of opposite joining adhesive portions 4b, extending from the central gripping portion 4a, each arranged at least at a respective side portion 2b of the packaging film 2.

[0032] Advantageously, each one of the junction adhesive portions 4b of the gripping handle 4 engages with the respective side portion 2b of the packaging film 2 from the covering portion 2c to the bottom portion 2a.

[0033] According to a further advantageous aspect of the present invention, each joining adhesive portion 4b of the gripping handle 4 has a respective end 4c that engages the bottom portion 4a of the packaging film 2.

[0034] The ends 4c of the joining adhesive portions 4b of the gripping handle 4 connect to the bottom portion 2a of the packaging film 2 giving the structure formed by the latter and by the gripping handle high resistance to the stresses that are generated during the handling, lifting and/or the transportation of the bundle 1.

[0035] Going further into detail, the central gripping portion 4a of the gripping handle 4 develops substantially according to the width of the covering portion 2c of the packaging film 2 and comprises at least one cardboard strip, that does not adhere to the film of packaging 2. The gripping portion 4a of the gripping handle 4 defines with the covering portion 2c of the packaging film 2 a gripping space 5 (FIG. 1) for inserting at least a hand's fingers.

[0036] Each joining adhesive portion 4b preferably develops according to a size that is greater than the height H of the bundle itself, which can be measured from the bottom portion 2a to the covering portion 2c of the packaging film 2, so that the respective end 4c engages both the bottom portion 2a, and the corresponding corner 2e.

[0037] Advantageously, the end 4c of each of the joining adhesive portions 4b of the gripping handle 4 engages a portion A of the bottom portion 2a of the packaging film 2 that has a length that is not smaller than 20 mm, preferably not greater than the diameter of a respective container 3 of the bundle 1, even more preferably ranging from 20 mm and the half of the width B of the bundle 1, optionally substantially equal to 25 mm.

[0038] Advantageously, the packaging film 2 is made of a heat-shrinkable material that has a thickness that is not greater than 40 m, preferably comprised between 25 m and 40 m.

[0039] The formation of the aforementioned bundle 1 is carried out by means of the actuation of a process that comprises a step for supplying a plurality of gripping handles 4 in the form of a continuous tape that is suitably cut into sections and a step for feeding a plurality of packaging films 2 in the form of a continuous tape, also subsequently cut into sections.

[0040] Each gripping handle 4 is applied onto a respective packaging film 2, being supplied, which is subsequently wrapped around a respective predetermined set of containers 3.

[0041] Advantageously, on each packaging film 2 a gripping handle 4 is applied having an overall length LM that is not smaller than 7/10 of the overall length LP of the respective packaging film 2.

[0042] In accordance with the solution illustrated in FIGS. from 1 to 3, on each packaging film 2 a gripping handle 4 having an overall length LM that is not shorter than 9/10 of the overall length LP of the respective packaging film 2 is preferably applied so that the winding step of each packaging film 2 around a respective set of containers 3 determines the positioning of the central gripping portion 4a of the respective gripping handle 4 at the covering portion 2c of the respective packaging film 2 and the positioning of each joining adhesive portion 4b of the respective gripping handle 4 at a respective side portion 2b of the corresponding packaging film 2, from the covering portion 2c to the bottom portion 2a.

[0043] In accordance with a further advantageous aspect of the present invention, on each film of packaging 2 a respective gripping handle 4 is applied the overall length LM of which is sufficient so that an end 4c of each of the joining adhesive portions 4b of the gripping handle itself be arranged at the bottom portion 2a of the respective packaging film 2 wrapped around the containers 3.

[0044] Advantageously, the step of applying the gripping handles 4 to the respective packaging films 2 is carried out by swinging the advancement velocity of the continuous tape of the packaging films 2 between a minimum advancement velocity and a maximum advancement velocity.

[0045] Such minimum and maximum velocities can be determined as a function of the lengths (LM, LP) respectively of the gripping handles 4 and of the packaging films 2.

[0046] The minimum and maximum velocities can also be determined as a function of the periods of time for the advancement and/or the acceleration and/or the deceleration of the continuous tape.

[0047] The minimum and maximum velocities can moreover be determined as a function of the average advancing velocity (VM) of the continuous tape of the packaging films that is established.

[0048] Of course, the aforementioned minimum and maximum velocities can be determined both as a function of one of the parameters mentioned above and as a function of the combination of two or more of such parameters.

[0049] As represented in the graph according to FIG. 4, the step of applying each gripping handle 4 to a respective film 2 being supplied is carried out by making the continuous tape of the packaging films 2 to advance at a first advancement velocity V1 which is maintained so as to ensure the entire overlapping of the gripping handle 4 to the respective packaging film 2. Once the gripping handle 4 is applied, the continuous tape is accelerated until reaching a second advancement velocity V2, higher than the first advancement velocity V1, which is maintained for a predetermined time period T, corresponding to a tail section of the film packaging 2 provided with the gripping handle 4 that is applied to an initial section of the subsequent packaging film 2, lacking the gripping handle 4. Subsequently, the continuous tape is decelerated until reaching a first advancement velocity V1 before the adhesion of the corresponding gripping handle 4.

[0050] As an alternative, as represented in the graph according to FIG. 5, the step of applying each gripping handle 4 to a respective packaging film 2 being supplied is advantageously carried out by making the continuous tape of the packaging films 2 advance at a first advancement velocity V1 which is maintained for a first time period T1 that is sufficient for applying the end 4c of the first joining adhesive portion 4b of the gripping handle 4 being applied.

[0051] Subsequently, the continuous tape is accelerated until reaching a second advancement velocity V2, higher than the first advancement velocity V1. The second advancement velocity V2 is maintained for a second predetermined time period T2, that is sufficient for approaching the end 4c of a second joining adhesive portion 4b of the gripping handle 4 being applied. The continuous tape is then decelerated from the second advancement velocity V2 to the first advancement velocity V1 near the end 4c of the second joining adhesive portion 4b of the gripping handle 4 being applied. Such a velocity is maintained for a third time period T3 that is sufficient for applying the end 4c of the second joining adhesive portion 4b of the gripping handle 4 being applied.

[0052] Subsequently, the continuous tape is again accelerated until reaching a third advancement velocity V3, which is faster than the first advancement velocity V1, corresponding to a tail section of the free packaging film 2, from the gripping handle applied, after which it is decelerated until reaching a first advancement velocity V1 corresponding to a lead section of the next packaging film 2, lacking the gripping handle 4.

[0053] Advantageously, the third advancement velocity V3 can be lower than or equal to the second advancement velocity V2.

[0054] The bundle described above and the process for making it overcomes the drawbacks found in the prior art and achieve important advantages.

[0055] Firstly, the application of gripping handles having joining adhesive portions that extend along the entire height of the respective bundles achieved with packaging films with low thickness and grammage gives such bundles high resistance to the stresses that are generated during the management, the lifting and the transportation thereof.

[0056] Consequently, the bundles are no longer subject to being permanently deformed, structurally torn or broken at the joining areas between the packaging films and the gripping handles so that the joining between the latter and the respective packaging films is ensured.

[0057] In addition, the oscillations of the advancement velocity of the continuous tape of the films of packaging during the various operation steps for the application of the gripping handles ensure the structural integrity of the packaging films before forming the bundles. In other words, the films of packaging are no longer subject to be tugged and torn due to the application of the gripping handles at the ends of the corresponding joining adhesive portions so that the packaging films engagingly receive the corresponding gripping handles without undergoing structural alterations. This makes it possible, on one hand to ensure the continuity of the process for forming the bundle since it is no longer necessary to interrupt the process for removing the films that are structurally compromised, on the other hand a considerable cutting down of the overall amount of waste at the end of the process.