Multi-pack of containers

Abstract

The present invention relates to a multi-pack (1) of containers, comprising a first container (2); a second container (3); an adhesive layer (5) arranged between the first container (2) and the second container (3); wherein the adhesive layer (5) is adhesively connected to the first container (2) at a first surface of the adhesive layer (5); the adhesive layer (5) is adhesively connected to the second container (3) at a second surface of the adhesive layer (5); and the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the first container (2) is greater than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the second container (3).

Description

[0001] Containers from containers

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a container assembly, in particular to a container assembly comprising a first container; a second container; and an adhesive layer disposed between the first container and the second container.

[0004] Background of the invention

[0005] Single-use plastics such as plastic bags, straws, disposable cutlery, and packaging are a significant source of environmental pollution. They contribute to the littering of beaches, oceans, rivers, and landscapes, and endanger wildlife through ingestion or entanglement in plastic debris.

[0006] Many single-use plastics are slow to degrade and can take centuries or even millennia to decompose. This creates a lasting environmental impact and increases the risk of ecological damage.

[0007] To minimize the environmental impact of plastic packaging, EU Directive 2019 / 904 was enacted. Among other things, it stipulates that only beverages in single-use plastic containers with closures that remain attached are permitted. This is intended to significantly reduce the release of plastic container closures and lids into the environment.

[0008] It is desirable that not only closures but also other components of containers and their packaging, including those components necessary for the transport of several containers, such as connecting adhesives, closing packaging, etc., also remain on the container in order to minimize the corresponding entry into the environment.

[0009] EP 3003868 B1 discloses a method for producing packages from containers, in which the containers are individually separated and optionally coated with at least one adhesive, defining at least one adhesive or bonding agent layer on their surface. The containers are then formed into a container group and joined together at their respective adhesive or bonding agents to form the desired package.

[0010] DE 10325 671 A1 discloses a shipping unit consisting of machine elements such as a number of identical needles arranged in a row and aligned in the same way, with the sides of the adjacent needles facing each other.

[0011] DE 10 2014 218 117 A1 discloses a double-sided adhesive element that can be used for the adhesive and releasable connection of at least two articles or containers adhered to one another on their outer sides to form a package with at least two articles or containers adhered to one another. The adhesive element comprises at least one carrier layer and adhesive or bonding layers adjacent to it on both sides to create the adhesive connections to the respective outer sides of the joined articles or containers. A first adhesion force between the article outer sides and the adhesive or bonding layers of the adhesive element at the respective adhesion points is greater than a second adhesion force between the adhesive or bonding layers and the carrier layer.

[0012] US 2008 / 0 060 966 A1 discloses a stack of disposable pet food containers, each container in the stack above the bottommost container in the stack having a bottom surface provided with an adhesive layer. Each container in the stack above the bottommost container in the stack is respectively connected to a container in the stack below it by a layer of adhesive applied to a bottom surface of the container. The containers above the bottommost container in the stack are arranged such that when one of these containers is removed from the stack, the adhesive present on the bottom of the container is exposed and in a ready state to adhere the container to a support surface when the container is placed on the support surface.

[0013] US 3 902 992 A discloses multicontainer package which is self-contained and portable and is portable, free from any handle, holder, tray, strap or wrap, consisting of a plurality of containers arranged side by side and connected by adhesive means consisting of adhesive means consisting of double coated adhesive tape.

[0014] However, the state of the art does not guarantee that the adhesive or bonding agents that connect the containers to one another will remain firmly attached to one of the containers after the containers have been separated. In particular, adhesive or bonding agents known from the state of the art are designed so that their adhesive strength is sufficiently low to ensure easy separation of the containers from one another by the end user. This results in the adhesive or bonding agents not remaining firmly attached to the container.

[0015] On the other hand, increasing the adhesive strength makes it difficult to separate the connected containers and increases the risk of damage to the containers during separation.

[0016] It is therefore the object underlying the invention to provide a package of containers comprising at least one first container; at least one second container; and at least one adhesive layer arranged between the first container and the second container, in which the containers can be easily detached from one another and, on the other hand, it is nevertheless ensured that the adhesive layer remains on one of the containers.

[0017] Description of the invention

[0018] This task is solved by a package of containers, comprising

[0019] - a first container;

[0020] - a second container;

[0021] - an adhesive layer disposed between the first container and the second container; wherein

[0022] - the adhesive layer is adhesively bonded to the first container on a first surface of the adhesive layer; - the adhesive layer is adhesively bonded to the second container on a second surface of the adhesive layer

[0023] Container is adhesively bonded; and

[0024] - the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer and the first container is greater than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer and the second container, wherein the adhesive layer (5) has a first adhesive sub-layer (6) comprising a first adhesive and a second adhesive sub-layer (7) comprising a second adhesive; wherein

[0025] - the first adhesive sub-layer (6) is arranged between the first container (2) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) and the first adhesive sub-layer (6) is adhesively bonded to the first container (2);

[0026] - the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is arranged between the second container (3) and the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is adhesively bonded to the second container (3); and

[0027] - the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the first container (2) is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sub-layer (7) and the second container (3); or wherein the adhesive layer (5) has a first adhesive sub-layer (6) which is not foamed and a second adhesive sub-layer (7) which is foamed; wherein

[0028] - the first adhesive sub-layer (6) is arranged between the first container (2) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7), and the first adhesive sub-layer (6) is adhesively bonded to the first container (2); - the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is arranged between the second container (3) and the first adhesive sub-layer (6), and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is adhesively bonded to the second container (3); and

[0029] - the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the first container (2) is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sub-layer (7) and the second container (3); or wherein the container (1) is obtainable by a method comprising the steps

[0030] - Providing the first container (2);

[0031] - applying a hot melt adhesive at a temperature Ti to a part of the surface of the first container;

[0032] - Cooling the hot melt adhesive to a temperature T2;

[0033] - bringing the cooled hot melt adhesive into contact with the second container (3); wherein the adhesive strength of the hot melt adhesive at temperature T2 is lower than the adhesive strength of the hot melt adhesive at temperature Ti.

[0034] This object is further achieved by a container comprising

[0035] - a first container;

[0036] - a second container;

[0037] - an adhesive layer disposed between the first container and the second container; wherein - the adhesive layer is adhesively bonded to the first container at a first surface of the adhesive layer;

[0038] - the adhesive layer is adhesively bonded to the second container at a second surface of the adhesive layer; and wherein the cohesion of the adhesive layer is less than the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer and the first container; and the cohesion of the adhesive layer is less than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer and the second container.

[0039] According to the invention, the package can comprise, in addition to the first container and the second container, further containers (a third container, a fourth container, etc.), for example, a package consisting of four to twelve containers, such as four, six, or twelve containers. Where reference is made below to the first and second containers, the corresponding statements also apply to any further container, unless expressly stated otherwise.

[0040] According to the invention, the package can comprise further adhesive layers in addition to the adhesive layer arranged between the first container and the second container. For example, the first container and the second container can also be connected to one another by two or more adhesive layers, each of which has the properties described herein for the adhesive layer. In particular, when the package comprises further containers (a third container, a fourth container, etc.), each of the containers is connected to at least one other container by means of an adhesive layer. The respective adhesive layers each have the same properties, adhesive layer arranged between the first container and the second container, wherein the respective adhesive layers can differ from one another within the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0041] Unless expressly stated otherwise, a feature stated in the singular (a, an...) also includes the plural. If, for example, it is stated that the package according to the invention contains an adhesive layer, a first container, etc., this also includes the case in which the package comprises several adhesive layers, several corresponding containers, etc. It can be provided that the package does not comprise any further elements besides the adhesive layer which serve to connect the containers to one another, in particular no films, such as shrink films, no cardboard packaging, etc. which enclose the containers. In particular, it can be provided that the package comprising containers according to the present invention is a film-free package.

[0042] However, it can be provided that the container comprises at least one holding element, in particular a handle, which is attached to one or more of the containers, preferably glued, whereby this handle does not contribute or does not contribute significantly to connecting the containers.

[0043] A "container" is understood herein to mean a hollow body, for example a bottle or a can for holding a liquid, such as juice, water, soy sauce, or the like. For example, the container can be a beverage bottle or a beverage can. The container can be a plastic container or a glass container, i.e., a container consisting essentially of one plastic or a mixture of two or more plastics, or essentially (in particular, minus a closure) of glass. The plastic is preferably a thermoplastic, particularly preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers have advantages over other containers in terms of recyclability, weight, and production costs. Consumers also prefer the haptic properties of PET over other materials, such as metals or polyolefins.

[0044] By "essentially consisting" is meant herein that an object, a material, etc. that "essentially" consists of the specified components, comprises these components in an amount of 90 wt.% or more, approximately 95 wt.% or more, approximately 98 wt.% or more, approximately 99 wt.% or more, approximately 99.5 wt.% or more, in each case based on the total weight of the object, the material, etc., whereby this does not exclude impurities that cannot be prevented by conventional methods and do not influence the properties of the object, the material, etc. According to the present disclosure, the term "comprising" expressly also includes "consisting of", unless expressly stated otherwise. It can be provided that the containers each have a volume of 0.2 to 20 L, approximately a volume of 0.33 to 2.5 L each.

[0045] The containers are not restricted in terms of their shape. In particular, they can be rotationally symmetrical, oval, rectangular, or other shapes.

[0046] The adhesive layer is arranged between the first container and the second container. The adhesive layer is adhesively bonded to the first container on a first surface of the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer is likewise adhesively bonded to the second container on a second surface of the adhesive layer. In other words, the adhesive layer is directly and adhesively bonded to the first container, i.e., to part of the surface of the first container, at one point; and the adhesive layer is directly and adhesively bonded to the second container, i.e., to part of the surface of the second container, at another point. Such an arrangement can be achieved, for example, by first applying an adhesive, which later forms the adhesive layer, to the first container, for example, as an adhesive dot, and then pressing the second container onto the applied adhesive.Alternatively, such an arrangement can also be achieved by applying a part of the adhesive, which later forms the adhesive layer, to the first container, applying the remaining part of the adhesive, which later forms the adhesive layer, to the second container and then connecting the first container and the second container by bringing the applied parts of the adhesive into contact, whereby the adhesive layer is formed.

[0047] The adhesive layer can be arranged in various vertical and / or horizontal positions, for example, closer to the bottom, in the middle, closer to the top, or two or more of these, between the first container and the second container. The adhesive layer can also be applied to the associated container in various radial positions within the package.

[0048] The adhesive layer is not limited in its shape. For example, the adhesive layer may have a roughly cylindrical structure between the first container and the second container, such as when a dot of adhesive is applied to the first container and the second container is pressed onto the applied dot of adhesive.

[0049] It can be provided that the first surface of the adhesive layer and the second surface of the adhesive layer are opposite one another, the part of the surface of the first container to which the first surface of the adhesive layer is adhesively bonded; the first surface of the adhesive layer; the second surface of the adhesive layer; and the part of the surface of the second container to which the second surface of the adhesive layer is adhesively bonded, i.e. share the same axis running perpendicularly through these surfaces.

[0050] It can be provided that the contact area between the first surface of the adhesive layer and the first container is less than 10%, based on the total surface of the first container; and the contact area between the second surface of the adhesive layer and the second container is less than 10%, based on the total surface of the second container. In other words, it can be provided that the part of the surface of the first container to which the first surface of the adhesive layer is adhesively bonded is less than 10%, based on the total surface of the first container; and the part of the surface of the second container to which the second surface of the adhesive layer is adhesively bonded is less than 10%, based on the total surface of the second container.

[0051] The containers combined into the bundle are interconnected by means of adhesive or bonding agents, so that the mechanical stability of the bundle is comparable to that of a film-wrapped bundle. This enables convenient handling and transport of the bundle. The containers can be easily removed from the bundle by the end user without the need for tools (physical force).

[0052] As an adhesive that can be used to form the adhesive layer, i.e. as an adhesive that is comprised in the adhesive layer or of which the adhesive layer essentially consists, a hot melt adhesive or a mixture of two or more hot melt adhesives can preferably be used. Such hot melt adhesives generally refer to a thermally meltable adhesive system which develops cohesion or internal strength after cooling. A hot melt adhesive basically consists of one or more polymers, optionally supplemented by additives. Suitable polymers that can be used include, for example, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyolefins, polyamides (PA), rubber adhesives (e.g. SIS / SBS) and other polymers known from the prior art for use in hot melt adhesives. In addition, additives such as waxes or resins, for example tackifiers, can be added.Such waxes act as thinners and reduce viscosity and adhesion. Tackifiers reduce cohesion while simultaneously increasing stickiness and, consequently, the achievable adhesive strength. Examples of adhesives that can be used in this context are described in DE 1 03 93 236 T5, DE 1 01 1 6 022 A1, DE 197 48 978 A1, and DE 692 18 238 T2.

[0053] According to the invention, the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer and the first container is greater than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer and the second container. This ensures that the adhesive layer remains completely attached to the surface of the first container after the first container has been separated from the second container, and that the adhesive layer no longer sticks to the surface of the second container after the first container has been separated from the second container. The adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer and the second container therefore determines the force that must be applied to separate the first container from the second container. The greater adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer and the first container ensures that the adhesive layer remains completely attached to the first container after the containers have been separated.This ensures that the containers can be easily separated from one another, but at the same time ensures that the adhesive layer remains on one of the containers.

[0054] In addition to the other embodiments explicitly described herein, this can also be achieved, for example, by pretreating the surface of the respective container onto which the adhesive layer is applied, for example by applying a release agent to the second container and / or applying an adhesion promoter to the first container. Adhesion describes the ability of two materials to adhere to one another. It is the sum of all attractive forces acting between two different material surfaces. This primarily includes physical interactions (van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds, etc.), and in the case of reactive hot melt adhesives, also chemical bonds to the substrate surface.In other words, adhesion refers to the surface adhesion that occurs at the interface between the adhesive and the adherend as a result of general attractive forces between different materials, with the adherend in this case being the container. For the purposes of the present disclosure, adhesion primarily refers to the adhesive force between a surface of the adhesive layer and a container, i.e., the part of the container's surface that is in contact with the adhesive layer.

[0055] In contrast, cohesion refers to the attractive forces between similar atoms or molecules of one and the same substance. For the purposes of this disclosure, cohesion primarily refers to the forces acting within the adhesive layer.

[0056] It can be provided that the cohesion of the adhesive layer is greater than the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer and the first container; and the cohesion of the adhesive layer is greater than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer and the second container. This prevents the adhesive layer from tearing, i.e., that part of the adhesive layer remains on the first container after the containers are separated, and another part of the adhesive layer remains on the second container.

[0057] In an alternative of the invention, it is provided that the adhesive layer has a first adhesive sub-layer comprising a first adhesive and a second adhesive sub-layer comprising a second adhesive; wherein - the first adhesive sub-layer is arranged between the first container and the second adhesive sub-layer, and the first adhesive sub-layer is adhesively bonded to the first container;

[0058] - the second adhesive sub-layer is arranged between the second container and the first adhesive sub-layer and the second adhesive sub-layer is adhesively bonded to the second container; and

[0059] - the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer and the first container is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sub-layer and the second container.

[0060] In this alternative, the adhesive layer comprises two sub-layers, the first sub-layer being directly and adhesively bonded to the first container, and the second sub-layer being directly and adhesively bonded to the second container. Both sub-layers comprise or essentially consist of two different adhesives. The adhesives can be two different hot melt adhesives. The two different hot melt adhesives differ in their adhesion to the surfaces of the containers. In other words, the two adhesives differ in their adhesive strength. The different adhesive strengths can be achieved, for example, by choosing different polymers in the different hot melt adhesives and / or using suitable amounts of wax in the different hot melt adhesives and / or using suitable amounts of tackifiers in the different hot melt adhesives.This allows for a sufficiently high adhesion between the adhesive layer and the first container, ensuring that the adhesive layer remains completely attached to the first container after separation from the second container. At the same time, a sufficiently low adhesion between the adhesive layer and the second container can be achieved, ensuring that the first container can be easily separated from the second container using physical force and without any tools.

[0061] It can be provided that the first adhesive sublayer is adhesively bonded to the second adhesive sublayer, i.e., that the first adhesive sublayer is directly and adhesively bonded to the second adhesive sublayer. It can be provided that the adhesion between the first adhesive sublayer and the second adhesive sublayer is greater than the adhesion between the first adhesive sublayer and the first container; and the adhesion between the first adhesive sublayer and the second adhesive sublayer is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sublayer and the second container.

[0062] Alternatively, further layers, in particular one or more further adhesive sublayer(s), one or more cardboard layers, for example a cardboard insert, one or more paper layers, one or more plastic layers, for example a plastic insert, or combinations of two or more thereof, can be arranged between the first adhesive sublayer and the second adhesive sublayer, which are each adhesively connected, ie directly and adhesively, to one another and to the first and second adhesive sublayer.

[0063] According to a further alternative of the invention, it is provided that the adhesive layer has a first adhesive sub-layer which is less foamed than the second adhesive layer, preferably not foamed, and a second adhesive sub-layer which is foamed; wherein

[0064] - the first adhesive sub-layer is arranged between the first container and the second adhesive sub-layer and the first adhesive sub-layer is adhesively bonded to the first container;

[0065] - the second adhesive sub-layer is arranged between the second container and the first adhesive sub-layer and the second adhesive sub-layer is adhesively bonded to the second container; and

[0066] - the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer and the first container is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sub-layer and the second container.

[0067] The foaming of an adhesive layer leads to a reduction in the adhesive strength of this adhesive layer, i.e. to a reduction in the adhesion between the foamed adhesive layer and a substrate (here the container) to which the adhesive layer is applied, compared to the adhesion between the non-foamed adhesive and the same substrate.

[0068] According to this alternative, it is possible to use only a single adhesive to form the adhesive layer between the first and second containers. This adhesive layer is foamed on one of its surfaces and not (or less) foamed on another of its surfaces. The two surfaces then differ in their adhesive strength. The first container is brought into contact with the surface of the adhesive layer that has the higher adhesive strength, i.e., is less foamed or not foamed at all. The second container is brought into contact with the surface of the adhesive layer that has the lower adhesive strength, i.e., is more foamed.

[0069] For example, an unfoamed adhesive can first be applied to the first container. Then, a partial layer is foamed on and near the surface of the adhesive layer opposite the surface of the first container, taking care not to foam the entire adhesive layer. Partially foaming the adhesive layer creates two partial adhesive layers, each with a different adhesive strength.

[0070] The partial (or non-foaming) of the adhesive layer to obtain a foamed second adhesive layer can be achieved by introducing gas into the liquid adhesive, in particular the liquid hot melt adhesive used to produce the adhesive layer. The foaming of polymers and hot melt adhesives is known from the prior art. Such foaming can be achieved, for example, using a Macro Foam device from Focke Meier Gluing Solutions.

[0071] Partial foaming allows for a sufficiently high adhesion between the adhesive layer and the first container, ensuring that the adhesive layer remains completely attached to the first container after separation from the second container. At the same time, a sufficiently low adhesion between the adhesive layer and the second container can be achieved, ensuring that the first container can be easily separated from the second container using physical force and without any tools.

[0072] It can be provided that the first adhesive sublayer is adhesively bonded to the second adhesive sublayer, i.e., that the first adhesive sublayer is directly and adhesively bonded to the second adhesive sublayer. It can be provided that the adhesion between the first adhesive sublayer and the second adhesive sublayer is greater than the adhesion between the first adhesive sublayer and the first container; and the adhesion between the first adhesive sublayer and the second adhesive sublayer is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sublayer and the second container.

[0073] Alternatively, further layers, in particular one or more further adhesive sublayer(s), can be arranged between the first adhesive sublayer and the second adhesive sublayer, which are each adhesively connected to one another and to the first and second adhesive sublayers, ie directly and adhesively.

[0074] In a further alternative of the invention, the container is obtainable by a method comprising the steps

[0075] - Providing the first container;

[0076] - applying a hot melt adhesive at a temperature Ti to a part of the surface of the first container;

[0077] - Cooling the hot melt adhesive to a temperature T2;

[0078] - bringing the cooled hot melt adhesive into contact with the second container; wherein the adhesive strength of the hot melt adhesive at temperature T2 is lower than the adhesive strength of the hot melt adhesive at temperature Ti.

[0079] Typically, the adhesive strength of a hot melt adhesive is higher at higher temperatures than at lower temperatures. By applying a hot melt adhesive to form an adhesive layer on the first container at a higher temperature Ti and contacting the second container with the hot melt adhesive only after cooling, i.e., at a relatively lower temperature T2, a stronger adhesion is achieved between the adhesive layer and the first container than between the adhesive layer and the second container.

[0080] This allows for a sufficiently high adhesion between the adhesive layer and the first container, ensuring that the adhesive layer remains completely attached to the first container after separation from the second container. At the same time, a sufficiently low adhesion between the adhesive layer and the second container can be achieved, ensuring that the first container can be easily separated from the second container using physical force and without any tools.

[0081] In alternative embodiments, one or more further layers, such as adhesive, cardboard, paper, plastic layers, etc., can also be arranged between individual hot melt adhesive layers, which differ in terms of their temperature when brought into contact.

[0082] The present invention further relates to containers comprising

[0083] - a first container;

[0084] - a second container;

[0085] - an adhesive layer disposed between the first container and the second container; wherein

[0086] - the adhesive layer is adhesively bonded to the first container at a first surface of the adhesive layer;

[0087] - the adhesive layer on a second surface of the adhesive layer with the second

[0088] Container is adhesively bonded; and wherein the cohesion of the adhesive layer is less than the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer and the first container; and the cohesion of the adhesive layer is less than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer and the second container.

[0089] Because the cohesion of the adhesive layer, i.e., the forces acting within the adhesive layer, is smaller than the adhesion between both the adhesive layer and the first container and the second container, a clean break of the adhesive layer is ensured when separating the first container from the second container, with part of the adhesive layer remaining on the first container and the remaining part of the adhesive layer remaining on the second container. This also ensures that the containers can be easily separated from each other without releasing adhesive residue into the environment.

[0090] Detailed description of the invention

[0091] The invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings and / or to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the invention is not limited to these particularly preferred embodiments; individual features of the particularly preferred embodiments, together with other features or features of the preceding general disclosure of the invention, may serve to implement the invention.

[0092] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a container according to the present invention.

[0093] Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a container according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0094] Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of the container of Figure 2 after separating the first container from the second container.

[0095] Fig. 4 shows a schematic side view according to another embodiment of the invention. Fig. 5 shows a schematic side view according to another embodiment of the invention.

[0096] Fig. 6 shows a schematic side view of the container of Figure 5 after separating the first container from the second container.

[0097] Figure 1 shows a package 1 consisting of six containers, comprising a first container 2, a second container 3, and four additional containers. The containers are connected to one another by means of adhesive layers (not shown) arranged between the containers. The package 1 further includes a handle 4, which facilitates transport of the package.

[0098] Figure 2 shows a container 1 comprising a first container 2 and a second container 3. An adhesive layer 5 is arranged between the first container 2 and the second container 3. The adhesive layer 5 connects the first container 2 and the second container 3 with opposing surfaces of the adhesive layer 5. The adhesive layer 5 is shown oversized for illustrative purposes.

[0099] The adhesive layer 5 has a first adhesive sub-layer 6 and a second

[0100] Adhesive sub-layer 7. The first adhesive sub-layer 6 is between the first

[0101] Container 2 and the second adhesive layer 7. The second

[0102] Adhesive layer is between the second container 3 and the first

[0103] Adhesive sublayer 6 is arranged. The first adhesive sublayer 6 is directly connected to the second adhesive sublayer 7.

[0104] The first adhesive sublayer 6 consists of a first hot-melt adhesive. The second adhesive sublayer 7 consists of a second hot-melt adhesive. The first hot-melt adhesive has a higher adhesive strength than the second hot-melt adhesive. The adhesion between the first adhesive sublayer 6 and the first container 2 is therefore greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sublayer 7 and the second container 3.

[0105] Fig. 3 shows the container of Figure 2 after separation of the first container 2 from the second container 3. Since the adhesion between the first adhesive partial layer 6 and the first container 2 is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive partial layer 7 and the second container 3, the adhesive layer 5 remains completely on the surface of the first container 2 after separation of the first container 2 and the second container 3. No part of the adhesive layer 5 remains on the surface of the second container 3.

[0106] Figure 4 shows a container 1 comprising a first container 2 and a second container 3. An adhesive layer 5 is arranged between the first container 2 and the second container 3. The adhesive layer 5 connects the first container 2 and the second container 3 with opposing surfaces of the adhesive layer 5.

[0107] The adhesive layer 5 comprises a first adhesive sublayer 6 and a second adhesive sublayer 7. The first adhesive sublayer 6 is arranged between the first container 2 and the second adhesive sublayer 7. The second adhesive sublayer 7 is arranged between the second container 3 and the first adhesive sublayer 6. The first adhesive sublayer 6 is directly bonded to the second adhesive sublayer 7.

[0108] The first adhesive sublayer 6 is not foamed. The second adhesive sublayer 7 is foamed, whereby its adhesive strength is reduced compared to the adhesive strength of the first adhesive sublayer 6. Therefore, when the first container 2 is separated from the second container 3, analogous to the situation shown in Fig. 3, the adhesive layer 5 remains completely on the surface of the first container 2 after the first container 2 and the second container 3 have been separated. No part of the adhesive layer 5 remains on the surface of the second container 3.

[0109] Figure 5 shows a container 1 comprising a first container 2 and a second container 3. An adhesive layer 5 is arranged between the first container 2 and the second container 3. The adhesive layer 5 connects the first container 2 and the second container 3 with opposing surfaces of the adhesive layer 5.

[0110] The adhesive layer 5 has a cohesion that is smaller than the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer 5 and the first container 2 and also smaller than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer 5 and the second container 3. As shown in Fig. 6, after separating the first container 2 from the second container 3 in the package shown in Fig. 5, a first part 8 of the adhesive layer 5 remains on the surface of the first container 2 and a second part 9 of the adhesive layer 5 remains on the second container 3. The features of the invention disclosed in the above description and in the claims can be essential both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention in its various embodiments.

Claims

Claims 1 . A package (1 ) of containers comprising - a first container (2); - a second container (3); - an adhesive layer (5) arranged between the first container (2) and the second container (3); wherein - the adhesive layer (5) is adhesively bonded to the first container (2) at a first surface of the adhesive layer (5); - the adhesive layer (5) is adhesively bonded to the second container (3) at a second surface of the adhesive layer (5); and - the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the first container (2) is greater than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the second container (3); wherein the adhesive layer (5) has a first adhesive sub-layer (6) comprising a first adhesive and a second adhesive sub-layer (7) comprising a second adhesive; wherein - the first adhesive sub-layer (6) is arranged between the first container (2) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) and the first adhesive sub-layer (6) is adhesively connected to the first container (2); - the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is arranged between the second container (3) and the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is adhesively connected to the second container (3); and - the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the first container (2) is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sub-layer (7) and the second container (3); or wherein the adhesive layer (5) has a first adhesive sub-layer (6) which is not foamed and a second adhesive sub-layer (7) which is foamed; wherein - the first adhesive sub-layer (6) is arranged between the first container (2) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) and the first adhesive sub-layer (6) is adhesively connected to the first container (2); - the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is arranged between the second container (3) and the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is adhesively connected to the second container (3); and - the adhesion between the first adhesive layer (6) and the first container (2) is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive layer (7) and the second container (3); or wherein the container (1) is obtainable by a method comprising the steps - Providing the first container (2); - applying a hot melt adhesive at a temperature Ti to a part of the surface of the first container; - Cooling the hot melt adhesive to a temperature T2; - bringing the cooled hot melt adhesive into contact with the second container (3); where the adhesive strength of the hot melt adhesive at temperature T2 is lower than the adhesive strength of the hot melt adhesive at temperature Ti.

2. A package (1) of containers according to claim 1, wherein the first surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the second surface of the adhesive layer (5) are opposite to each other.

3. A package (1) comprising containers according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the contact area between the first surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the first container (2) is less than 10%, based on the total surface of the first container (2), and the contact area between the second surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the second container (2) is less than 10%, based on the total surface of the second container (2).

4. A package (1) comprising containers according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cohesion of the adhesive layer (5) is greater than the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the first container (2); and the cohesion of the adhesive layer (5) is greater than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the second container (3).

5. A package (1) comprising containers according to claim 1, wherein the first adhesive partial layer (6) is adhesively bonded to the second adhesive partial layer (7).

6. A container assembly (1) according to claim 5, wherein the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is greater than the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the first container (2); and the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sub-layer (7) and the second container (3).

7. A package (1) comprising containers according to claim 1, wherein the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is greater than the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the first container (2); and the adhesion between the first adhesive sub-layer (6) and the second adhesive sub-layer (7) is greater than the adhesion between the second adhesive sub-layer (7) and the second container (3).

8. A package (1) of containers, comprising - a first container (2); - a second container (3); - an adhesive layer (5) arranged between the first container (2) and the second container (3); wherein - the adhesive layer (5) is adhesively bonded to the first container (2) at a first surface of the adhesive layer (5); - the adhesive layer (5) is adhesively bonded to the second container (3) at a second surface of the adhesive layer (5); and wherein the cohesion of the adhesive layer (5) is smaller than the adhesion between the first surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the first Container (2); and the cohesion of the adhesive layer (5) is smaller than the adhesion between the second surface of the adhesive layer (5) and the second container (3).

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