EP0493743A2 - Mehrfach-Kappenanordnung zum Verpacken einer Gruppe von Behältern, z.B. Blechdosen - Google Patents

Mehrfach-Kappenanordnung zum Verpacken einer Gruppe von Behältern, z.B. Blechdosen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0493743A2
EP0493743A2 EP91121648A EP91121648A EP0493743A2 EP 0493743 A2 EP0493743 A2 EP 0493743A2 EP 91121648 A EP91121648 A EP 91121648A EP 91121648 A EP91121648 A EP 91121648A EP 0493743 A2 EP0493743 A2 EP 0493743A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
cans
caps
machine according
cap
pathway
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP91121648A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0493743A3 (en
Inventor
Donatella Pedrotti
Chiara Pedrotti
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from IT6329190U external-priority patent/IT222822Z2/it
Priority claimed from ITVR910059A external-priority patent/IT1249203B/it
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0493743A2 publication Critical patent/EP0493743A2/de
Publication of EP0493743A3 publication Critical patent/EP0493743A3/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B17/00—Other machines, apparatus, or methods for packaging articles or materials
    • B65B17/02—Joining articles, e.g. cans, directly to each other for convenience of storage, transport, or handling
    • B65B17/025—Joining articles, e.g. cans, directly to each other for convenience of storage, transport, or handling the articles being joined by a top carrier element
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
    • B65B7/2807—Feeding closures
    • B65B7/2814—Feeding closures the closures being interconnected
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/50—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed otherwise than by folding a blank

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a multiple-cap package particularly for containers, such as cans, cups and the like.
  • a wide variety of packaging structures made of plastic material is currently used to clasp and hold together a plurality of cans, boxes or the like which contain products, either food products, such as beverages and solid or semisolid food, or other kinds of products, such as lubricating oils and/or greases.
  • Packaging structures of plastic material for containers of products to be marketed are generally aimed exclusively at solving strictly packaging-related problems, i.e. at holding together a certain number of containers, which are thus packaged, that is they constitute a single pack or group for handling and transport purposes.
  • packaging-related problems i.e. at holding together a certain number of containers, which are thus packaged, that is they constitute a single pack or group for handling and transport purposes.
  • sheets made of welded polyethylene or the like one resorts sometimes to cellular or honeycomb coverings designed to be placed over, and to engage with the top of cans and the like, so as to hold them packaged together.
  • This type of package is frequently adopted especially for cans of non-alcoholic beverages.
  • the aim of the present invention is to eliminate or substantially reduce the disadvantages described above by providing a multiple-cap packaging structure for containers, such as cans, cups and the like, which protects said packaged cans and/or cups against external agents both during storage and transport and after the removal or separation of each individual can from a packaged pack or group of containers and even after said can and/or carton have been opened.
  • containers such as cans, cups and the like
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging structure which has characteristics of practicality and efficiency features far superior than those of currently used packages and is relatively simple to manufacture at competitive costs.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a packaging machine for automatically applying a multiple-cap structure to groups of cans or of other sealed containers which are sequentially moved stepwise at the operating speed of a filling and packaging apparatus.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a particularly simple and reliable packaging machine, suitable to be included in a plant for filling and packaging cans and can be obtained at low manufacturing costs.
  • a packaging structure particularly for containers such as cans, cups and the like, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of caps which are connected to one another by means of at least two breakable connecting portions and can be applied in a snap-together manner at the top of a respective container, so that the structure is suitable for clasping and holding together a plurality of containers for their transport and storage, whereas said caps can be individually removed by tearing them off the structure together with their respective container and are suitable for acting as removable cover for the top of said container.
  • a packaging machine particularly for cans containing beverages, which comprises a supporting structure, a sliding pathway along which filled and sealed cans are fed and move in sequence so that their opening end is accessible from outside said sliding pathway, pressing means which are intended to act on the side of the opening end of the cans moving along the sliding pathway and arranged to apply in a snap-together manner on each of said cans a respective cap integral with a planar modular web or in a continuous strip fed between the pressing means and the cans on the pathway, so that each portion of web or strip keeps a plurality of cans mutually connected and individually capped and protected.
  • the packaging machine is provided with separator means which are suitable for acting according to a preset timing in order to separate lengths of web or strip, each of which includes a preset number of caps already applied to a respective can.
  • a packaging structure for containers such as cans, cups and the like comprises a plurality of caps 1, each of which is interconnected to adjacent caps by two or more breakable portions 2. Each portion is arranged in a bridge-like manner between a pair of caps 1 and has a weakened area 3 which is affected for example by the presence of at least one notch, hole or similar weakening means which ensures its being torn off.
  • Each cap 1 is constituted by an upper lid-like portion 4 and by a lower collar-shaped portion 5.
  • the lid-like portion is provided with a central planar part 6 which is surrounded by an annular depression 7 which is in turn surrounded by a hollow rim 8 arranged to be seated on a raised peripheral rim of the top of a can or tin to be covered.
  • the rim 8 ends peripherally and downwardly with an inwardly directed portion 9 which acts as a partly undercut abutment element for a good grip against the lateral wall of the can or tin to be covered.
  • the collar-shaped portion 5 constitutes a downward extension of the upper portion and follows a downwardly flared truncated-cone arrangement in its idle position, i.e. when not in engagement with a can, whereas it takes a cylindrical configuration, which adheres tightly to the body of the can or tin in its active position on a can or tin due to the intense clamping action exerted by the inwardly directed portion 9 against the container.
  • Each collar-shaped portion 5 has, as mentioned above, one or more portions 2 at its lower edge which protrude in a cantilever manner and are integral with a respective adjacent cap.
  • each cap allows a more stable stacking of a plurality of units or groups of packaged cans or tins to be obtained, since the lower edge of each can is able to snugly fit in a corresponding depression of an underlying cap.
  • a package structure such as that described above can be applied in a snap-together manner, even automatically, to groups of tins or cans while being shipped after the same have been filled with a liquid, such as cans containing non-alcoholic or alcoholic beverages.
  • the package structure according to the invention besides conveniently protecting against deposition of dirt during long storage periods, to transport and weather exposure in general the upper surface used to sip the beverage from the can, since the outlet of the beverage is provided therein, advantageously it also acts as hygienic protection, even after the seal of said can has been removed, to prevent foreign bodies or contaminants from reaching said beverage in it.
  • Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment of a packaging machine according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral 10, which comprises two parallel pathways 12 and 13 above which a rotatable structure with four arms or with a platform-like structure 14 extends.
  • Said platform 14 can be preset to rotate by steps of a quarter turn each and to lower and raise every time in order to take from a pathway, for example the pathway 12, a web or strip of caps which can have the configuration illustrated in figures 6 and 7, transfer it above the other pathway 13 and force-fit all the caps present in the web or strip onto the opening end of the same number of cans located on the pathway 13 below the platform 14.
  • the platform 14 is provided with grip and retention means, generally designated by the reference numeral 15, for the webs or strips, which are arranged so as to be angularly offset by 90 or 180 degrees with respect to one another below the platform.
  • the grip and retention means can for example comprise a plurality of suckers.
  • a gather station generally designated by a barrier 16 against which the cans gather or pack in an orderly manner before being forwarded below the platform 14 to be capped.
  • Each of the pathways 12 and 13 can, if required, be constituted by a stepping conveyor belt which respectively supplies a web or strip or an ordered pack or group of cans below the platform 14 according to a preset timing which is correlated to the partial rotation steps of said platform.
  • a supporting structure 17 wherein a sliding pathway 13 is supported; said pathway is constituted for example by a belt conveyor.
  • the conveyor belt 13 can slide along a fixed planar bed or on rollers 18 and is designed to supply in sequence a plurality of filled and sealed cans 19 whose opening end is directed for example upward and can be reached from above.
  • An applicator roller 20 is rotatably mounted above the conveyor 13 and its rotation axis is parallel to the lying plane of the belt 13 and perpendicular to the advancement direction of said belt.
  • the roller 20 is supported at such a level that its peripheral surface makes, or almost makes, contact with the opening top or end of the cans 19 passing below it on the conveyor belt 13.
  • One or more, for example three, continuous side-by-side strips 22 are fed between the roller 20 and the cans 19 on the conveyor belt 13, and each strip is formed by an orderly sequence of caps 23 which are arranged mutually side by side and are held together by tapered and weakened portions 24 or 24a.
  • the or each strip 12 by passing between the cans 19 and the roller 20, is pressed against said cans, so that each cap 17 inserts itself in a snap-together manner on the opening top or end of a respective underlying can and thus the strip remains rigidly associated with the cans which in turn are grouped and held together by the strip.
  • the applicator roller 20 can be advantageously mounted on a supporting frame 25 so that it can yield, for example because the frame 25 has an end pivoted at 26 to the supporting structure 17 and its other end rigidly associated (with the possibility of performing small sliding movements) with sleeves 27 which can slide on uprights 28 and are loaded by supporting springs 29, in order to prevent the strip or strips 16 from being damaged in case of failed or incorrect mating or centering between the caps 19 and the cans.
  • the strip 22 can be guided toward the roller 20 by a guiding cylinder 30 which can be an idle roller.
  • a short supporting plane 31 can be advantageously provided at the applicator roller 20 and below the conveyor belt 13 if said conveyor belt runs on rollers 18; said supporting plane can be fixed, for example if the roller 20 is supported in a yielding manner so as to move upwards, or can be supported so that it can resiliently yield downwards.
  • the lateral surface of the applicator roller 20 can be machined and have a plurality of recesses or seats 33 and 34 for temporary accommodation of the caps 23 and of the weakened portions 24, respectively, before and during their application to the cans, so as to ensure a controlled and centered feeding movement of the strip or strips 22.
  • the applicator roller 20 can have a plurality of lateral centering pins 21 which are angularly distributed in a uniform manner at its ends and, if required, in one or more intermediate positions thereof; said pins are designed to engage respective rows of holes in the or each strip 22 for centering and correct traction of said strip (figure 12).
  • a separator unit Downstream of the applicator roller 20 a separator unit, generally designated by the reference numeral 35 (figures 10 to 13) can be provided, which is designed to divide the or each strip 22, once applied and firmly anchored to the cans, into a plurality of "packs" with two or more cans capped by the same number of caps 23 mutually connected by one or more tapered portions 24 which can be broken by tearing.
  • the separator unit 35 can comprise a drum 31 from whose cylindrical surface a plurality of cutting elements 36 protrude which are mutually angularly spaced according to a preset pitch.
  • the cutting elements 36 are intended to press downward and tear or cut tapered portions 34 so as to divide each strip 22 into segments comprising a preset number of caps 23 which, together with the respective cans, form a pack.
  • the drum 35 can also be provided with longitudinal cutting elements (not illustrated), i.e. with cutting elements arranged annularly and/or according to a preset pitch around its peripheral region in order to cut weakened portions 24 like the elements 36.
  • Figure 14 is a view of a specific example of separator drum 35 with cutting elements 37 which can be retracted into the drum, for example because they can be actuated by a respective solenoid 38 which is energized by positioning contacts provided on a fixed internal cylinder 40.
  • the drum 35 is actuated for example by means of a gear actuated by the same source of motion (not illustrated), for example a gearmotor, which causes the belt 10 to move forward and the applicator roller 20 to rotate. Furthermore, the drum 35 can be advantageously supported so that its height can be adjusted (figure 10) by means of handwheels 42 which are designed to actuate a screw-and-nut device 43 for supporting said drum.
  • Detection means can be provided, i.g. microswitches, which can stop the packaging machine in case of jam and redirect the incoming cans elsewhere, or can stop the entire packaging apparatus.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)
EP19910121648 1990-12-19 1991-12-17 Multiple-cap package for a group of containers, e.g. cans Withdrawn EP0493743A3 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT6329190U 1990-12-19
IT6329190U IT222822Z2 (it) 1990-12-19 1990-12-19 Struttura di imballaggio a coperchietti particolarmente per contenitori quali lattine, scatole e simili.
ITVR910059 1991-06-21
ITVR910059A IT1249203B (it) 1991-06-21 1991-06-21 Macchina confezionatrice particolarmente per lattine contenenti bevande

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0493743A2 true EP0493743A2 (de) 1992-07-08
EP0493743A3 EP0493743A3 (en) 1992-08-26

Family

ID=26329663

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19910121648 Withdrawn EP0493743A3 (en) 1990-12-19 1991-12-17 Multiple-cap package for a group of containers, e.g. cans

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0493743A3 (de)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2740432A1 (fr) * 1995-10-25 1997-04-30 Pechiney Emballage Alimentaire Assembleur de recipients inviolable et a ouverture facile
EP0894717A1 (de) * 1997-06-30 1999-02-03 Donatella Pedrotti Vorrichtung zum aufeinanderfolgendem Anbringen von Platten von Verschlüssen auf Gruppen von Dosen oder Gefässen
EP0937655A1 (de) * 1998-02-18 1999-08-25 Sandherr Packungen Ag Mehrfachpackung
FR2836459A1 (fr) * 2002-02-25 2003-08-29 Rg Plastiques Dispositif d'assemblage de recipients
WO2009049601A1 (de) * 2007-10-16 2009-04-23 C-A-P Technologies Gmbh Verfahren zum aufbringen von deckeln an verpackungen
WO2010040193A1 (pt) * 2008-10-07 2010-04-15 Cbe - Companhia Brasileira De Embalagens S/A Processo para aplicação de um dispositivo protetivo em recipientes acondicionadores de bebidas, e, recipiente
WO2023237240A1 (de) * 2022-06-09 2023-12-14 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung und verfahren zum manipulieren und fördern von gebinden entlang einer transportstrecke

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3202448A (en) * 1958-05-22 1965-08-24 Jones & Co Inc R A Display carrier
US3032944A (en) * 1959-12-24 1962-05-08 Illinois Tool Works Container and carrier assembling machine
US3302854A (en) * 1961-09-26 1967-02-07 Sweetheart Plastics Cluster of covers
US3350131A (en) * 1965-10-24 1967-10-31 John J Tanzer Combined carrying unit and coaster
GB2170774A (en) * 1985-02-08 1986-08-13 Federal Paper Board Co Inc Container package

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2740432A1 (fr) * 1995-10-25 1997-04-30 Pechiney Emballage Alimentaire Assembleur de recipients inviolable et a ouverture facile
EP0894717A1 (de) * 1997-06-30 1999-02-03 Donatella Pedrotti Vorrichtung zum aufeinanderfolgendem Anbringen von Platten von Verschlüssen auf Gruppen von Dosen oder Gefässen
US6141939A (en) * 1997-06-30 2000-11-07 Pedrotti; Donatella Apparatus for sequentially applying panels of plastic caps to groups of cans or jars
EP0937655A1 (de) * 1998-02-18 1999-08-25 Sandherr Packungen Ag Mehrfachpackung
CH692500A5 (de) * 1998-02-18 2002-07-15 Sandherr Packungen Ag Mehrfachpackung.
FR2836459A1 (fr) * 2002-02-25 2003-08-29 Rg Plastiques Dispositif d'assemblage de recipients
WO2009049601A1 (de) * 2007-10-16 2009-04-23 C-A-P Technologies Gmbh Verfahren zum aufbringen von deckeln an verpackungen
DE102007049754A1 (de) * 2007-10-16 2009-04-23 C-A-P Technologies Gmbh Verfahren zum Aufbringen von Deckeln an Verpackungen
WO2010040193A1 (pt) * 2008-10-07 2010-04-15 Cbe - Companhia Brasileira De Embalagens S/A Processo para aplicação de um dispositivo protetivo em recipientes acondicionadores de bebidas, e, recipiente
WO2023237240A1 (de) * 2022-06-09 2023-12-14 Krones Aktiengesellschaft Vorrichtung und verfahren zum manipulieren und fördern von gebinden entlang einer transportstrecke

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0493743A3 (en) 1992-08-26

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