Method for producing cluster packs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9617023-B2
Application number	US-201414905126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2014
Priority date	Jul 16, 2013
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

A method for producing a cluster pack forming containers received in a container stream into lanes of single-track container streams, then for each lane, separating containers from neighboring containers by a pre-determined separation distance, for a subset of containers in the lane, applying adhesive to selected regions of the containers, rotating the containers in the subset such that adhesive regions of containers in the subset that are to be joined face each other, dividing off a pre-determined number of containers from the single-track container stream to form a container group. The method then includes pressing the container group against at least one other container group to form the cluster pack. The adhesive is selected such that a container is separable from the cluster pack by hand without damaging the container.

First claim

Having described the invention, and a preferred embodiment thereof, what is claimed as new, and secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A method for producing a cluster pack, said method comprising receiving containers in a disordered container stream, forming said containers into lanes of single-track container streams, for each lane, causing each container in said lane to be separated from neighboring containers in said line by a pre-determined separation distance, for each lane, for a subset of containers in said lane, applying adhesive to selected regions of said containers, rotating said containers in said subset such that adhesive regions of containers in said subset face each other, as a result of which said adhesive regions that face each other are ready to be joined upon being brought into contact with each other, for each lane, dividing off a pre-determined number of containers from said single-track container stream to form a container group, and pressing said container group against at least one other container group to at least partially form said cluster pack, wherein said adhesive that joins containers to each other is selected such that a container is separable from a container to which it is joined by said adhesive by hand without damaging said container, wherein applying adhesive to selected regions of said containers comprises applying adhesive to locations on a first vertical level of said containers and applying adhesive to locations on a second vertical level of only some of said containers.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying adhesive to selected regions of said containers comprises applying adhesive to selected regions of at least two containers simultaneously.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after having applied adhesive to selected regions of said containers, heating said adhesive.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein heating said adhesive comprises exposing said adhesive to laser light.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said containers has a randomly oriented furnishing feature, wherein said method further comprises, for each lane, for each container in said lane, orienting said container such that said furnishing feature is oriented at a pre-defined orientation.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising strapping containers in said container group together with a strap.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said containers comprise corner containers that are to be located at corners of said cluster pack, wherein applying adhesive to locations on a second vertical level comprises leaving at least half of said corner containers free of adhesive on a lower level thereof.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting said adhesive to be a medium that, after curing, is brittle.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting said adhesive to be a medium that, after separation remains on both containers.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said containers has a randomly-oriented alignment feature, wherein said method further comprises rotating a container about an axis thereof to cause said alignment feature to have a predetermined orientation.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein pressing said container group against at least one other container group to form said cluster pack comprises urging said container group in a direction towards a main transport path of said containers.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein rotating said containers comprises rotating said containers independently of each other.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising aligning said containers after having divided off a pre-determined number of containers from said single-track container stream to form a container group.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising bonding a carry handle to said cluster pack.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using an optoelectronic sensor and a processor associated therewith to recognize an orientation feature on a container.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein recognizing an orientation feature comprises recognizing said orientation feature from a direction selected from the group consisting of above said container and below said container.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said containers has a furnishing feature, and wherein said furnishing feature comprises an overlap of a container imprint, said method further comprising using said overlap as an orientation feature.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting said adhesive to be a flowable adhesive fluid.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising applying said adhesive fluid to said containers by spraying.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising applying said adhesive fluid to said containers by pressing.

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting said adhesive to be a hot-melt adhesive.

Assignees

• Khs Gmbh

Inventors

• Zahn Volker
• Nitsch Thomas

Classifications

• B65D21/0205

  joined together by bonding, adhesive or the like (B65D21/0208 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65B27/04

  Bundling groups of cans or bottles · CPC title

• B65B21/06

  Forming groups of bottles · CPC title

• B65B17/02 Primary

  Joining articles, e.g. cans, directly to each other for convenience of storage, transport, or handling · CPC title

• B65B35/30

  Arranging and feeding articles in groups · CPC title