Packaging method for a group of packages, a plant for packaging said group and a group thus obtained

Abstract

The present invention refers to a packaging method for grouping two or more packages (10) of a product. The method comprises a step of arranging two or more packages (10) next to each other in a close position to create a group (1) of packages (10), a step of preparing a self-adhesive label (20) having at least one liftable handle (22) and comprising an adhesive surface (24) and a step of applying the self-adhesive label (20') to a first side (2) of the group (1) in such a way that the adhesive surface (24) is placed in contact with external surfaces of the packages (10) in order to keep the packages (10) in the close position due to the adhesion force of the adhesive surface (24).

Description

[0001] PACKAGING METHOD FOR A GROUP OF PACKAGES, A PEANT FOR PACKAGING SAID GROUP AND A GROUP THUS OBTAINED.

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention lies within the scope of product packaging systems in general.

[0004] In particular, the present invention relates to a method for packaging multiple packages of products.

[0005] The invention also relates to a plant for packaging multi-packages that implements this method. The invention also refers to the group of packages obtained by means of said method and / or plant.

[0006] DESCRIPTION OF THE STATE OF THE ART

[0007] The use of packaging techniques adapted to package such products before they are marketed and / or transported is known in various sectors of the production and / or marketing of products in general.

[0008] In particular, the packaging techniques of known type have as a first objective to optimise the various packaging steps of a product in terms of speed and execution costs. The packaging techniques of known type also aim at meeting the needs of the user who must handle / transport the product.

[0009] A particular sector of interest is related to the packaging of multiple packages of products, normally of the same type, which are typically displayed on the shelves of the commercial establishments, such as shops, supermarkets, discount chains, etc.

[0010] Typical examples concern the preparation of a family format made up of several packages of the same product, such as for example packages of nappies, wet wipes, pasta packs, packages of biscuits, snacks, cereals, coffee, chips, chocolate, sweets, etc.

[0011] The product in question therefore comes with its own main package, or main casing, which is used to make the single package and the single packages are then grouped and further packaged to make the multi-package.

[0012] According to a technique of known type, the single packages are grouped and wrapped by a transparent plastic film that keeps them close to each other and allows the user to transport them.

[0013] A drawback of this technique is due to the inconvenience of transport for the user, in particular in the case of bulky and / or heavy packages.

[0014] According to another technique of known type, the single packages are grouped and inserted into an additional outer package of suitable sizes, typically made of transparent plastic, which receives them and which is opened by the user to extract the single packages at the time of use. The outer packaging is possibly provided with a grip / handle zone to facilitate transport thereof.

[0015] A drawback of this technique lies in the times and / or costs of packaging, whether it is done manually or in special automated plants: the single packages must be grouped, handled to be inserted inside the outer casing and then properly closed and sealed. Furthermore, the use of a further outer casing that wraps all the single packages requires the use of a high amount of material, typically plastic material, with consequent production costs.

[0016] In a further technique of known type, a plastic or paper strap is used, which completely wraps the packages.

[0017] A drawback of this technique consists in the use of a high amount of material, in particular in the case of particularly bulky packages, and related costs.

[0018] Another drawback of this technique consists in the complexity of the packaging process, both manual and automated.

[0019] In addition, in the aforementioned techniques, the use of packaging materials, such as plastic films, outer casings or wrapping straps, has a negative impact on disposal operations and separate collection for the user.

[0020] The main object of the present invention is therefore to solve at least in part the drawbacks posed by the known solutions.

[0021] In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a solution that allows to facilitate the packaging operations of multiple packages of a product.

[0022] Another object of the present invention is to propose a solution that allows to reduce the times and / or costs for packaging multiple packages of a product.

[0023] A further object of the present invention is to propose a solution that allows to reduce the environmental impact caused by the packaging of multiple packages of a product compared to the packaging techniques of known type.

[0024] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0025] In a first aspect thereof, the present invention therefore refers to a packaging method for grouping two or more packages of a product, said method comprising a step of arranging said two or more packages next to each other in a close position to create a group of packages, said method further comprising the steps of:

[0026] - preparing a self-adhesive label having at least one liftable handle and comprising an adhesive surface; - applying said self-adhesive label to a first side of said group in such a way that said adhesive surface is placed in contact with external surfaces of said packages in order to keep said packages in said close position due to the adhesion force of said adhesive surface.

[0027] Preferably, the method further comprises the steps of:

[0028] - preparing a further self-adhesive label preferably having at least one liftable handle and comprising an adhesive surface;

[0029] - applying said further self-adhesive label to a second side of the group in such a way that the adhesive surface of said further self-adhesive label is placed in contact with external surfaces of the packages in order to keep the packages in the close position due to the adhesive force of the adhesive surface of said further self- adhesive label.

[0030] In another aspect thereof, the present invention refers to a packaging plant for grouping two or more packages of a product, said plant comprising:

[0031] - a first grouping unit adapted to arrange said two or more packages next to each other in a close position to create a group of packages;

[0032] - a second unit adapted to prepare a self-adhesive label, with a liftable handle, with an adhesive surface ready to be applied, and said second unit being adapted to apply said self-adhesive label to a first side of said group in such a way that said adhesive surface is placed in contact with external surfaces of said packages in order to keep said packages in said close position due to the adhesion force of said adhesive surface.

[0033] Preferably, the plant comprises:

[0034] - a third unit adapted to prepare a further self-adhesive label, preferably with at least one liftable handle, with an adhesive surface ready to be applied;

[0035] - a fourth unit adapted to apply said further self-adhesive label to a second side of the group in such a way that the adhesive surface of the further self-adhesive label is placed in contact with external surfaces of the packages in order to keep the packages in the close position due to the adhesive force of the adhesive surface of the further self-adhesive label.

[0036] In a further aspect thereof, the present invention refers to a self-adhesive label that can be used in the above-described method or plant wherein the self-adhesive label comprises at least one liftable handle and at least one adhesive surface.

[0037] In another aspect thereof, the present invention refers to a group of packages comprising two or more packages of a product arranged in a close position, said group comprising a self-adhesive label, having at least one liftable handle, applied to one side of said group in such a way as to keep said packages in said close position due to the adhesion force of an adhesive surface of said self-adhesive label.

[0038] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] Further advantages, objects and features as well as embodiments of the present invention are defined in the claims and will be elucidated hereinafter by means of the following description, in which reference is made to the attached drawing tables; in the drawings, features and / or corresponding or equivalent component parts of the present invention can be identified by the same reference numerals. In particular, in the figures:

[0040] - figure 1 shows an axonometric view of a group of packages obtained by means of a method and / or a plant according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0041] - figure 2 shows a self-adhesive label used to make the group of packages of figure 1;

[0042] - figure 3 shows the preparation steps of the self-adhesive label of figure 2;

[0043] - figure 4 shows the steps of the method of making the group of figure 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0044] - figure 5 shows the steps of the method of making a group of packages according to a preferred embodiment variant of the invention;

[0045] - figure 6 shows a plant for making the group of figure 1 and which implements the method illustrated in figure 4.

[0046] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION

[0047] While some particular embodiments of the present invention will be set forth in the following description relating to the figures, it is clear that the present invention is not limited to such particular embodiments but, rather, the particular embodiments described below clarify various aspects of the present invention, the scope and extent of which are defined by the claims.

[0048] The preferred embodiments of the packaging method of the invention described below find particular application in the realization of a group of packages of a product consisting of a hygiene product, such as wet wipes or nappies.

[0049] It should however be noted that the packaging method according to the present invention finds application in the realization of a group of packages of any type of product, such as for example pasta packs, packages of biscuits, snacks, cereals, coffee, chips, chocolate, sweets, etc.

[0050] A non-limiting example of embodiment of a group of packages 1 subject-matter of the present invention is represented in figure 1.

[0051] The group of packages 1 according to the present invention, hereinafter also simply referred to as the group, comprises a plurality of packages 10.

[0052] According to the preferred embodiment described and illustrated in the figures, the packages 10 are preferably three in number and are preferably equal to each other. The packages 10 may consist, as mentioned, of packages of a hygiene product, such as wet wipes or nappies.

[0053] In embodiment variants, not illustrated, the number of packages may be different as well as the group may consist of packages of products of different type.

[0054] According to one aspect of the present invention, the group 1 comprises a self- adhesive label 20 applied to one side 2 of the group 1, in the view of the figures coinciding with the upper side 2 of the group 1.

[0055] The self-adhesive label 20, shown in figure 2, consists of a label 20 provided with a handle 22 of the liftable type and having an adhesive surface 24.

[0056] In figure 1 the self-adhesive label 20, which is part of the group 1, is illustrated with the handle 22 in a raised position ready to be grasped by a user.

[0057] A self-adhesive label 20 with handle 22 that can be lifted and used to make the group 1 according to the present invention can be a label known in the sector, preferably a label of the type described in W02018220660A1.

[0058] The contours of the handle 22 are preferably defined by a pre-die-cutting process and the handle 22 is normally in a lowered and non-bulky locked position.

[0059] The handle 22 can be brought into the position of use by pulling it and preferably causing the pre-die-cut contours to break.

[0060] The self-adhesive labels 20 are typically provided in the form of tape 30, as illustrated in figure 3, wherein a plurality of labels 20 are arranged on a support base 26 from which they can be detached when they are used.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the self-adhesive label 20 carries information, such as writing and / or logos, and thus defines a pre-printed label.

[0062] With reference to figure 4, a method according to a preferred embodiment of the group 1 according to the invention is described below.

[0063] In a first step, the single packages 10 are arranged next to each other in the desired close final position, preferably in close contact with each other. A self-adhesive label 20 is then prepared ready for its application, for example starting from a tape 30 as indicated in figure 3. The label 20 is then applied to one side 2 of the group 1, for example to the upper side 2 of the group 1.

[0064] The adhesive surface 24 of the label 20 is placed in contact with the external surfaces of the packages 10, preferably with the upper surfaces of the packages 10. Advantageously, the adhesive force of the adhesive surface 24 of the label 20 allows the packages 10 to be maintained in the desired close position.

[0065] The label 20 is suitably shaped with dimensions such as to involve at least a portion of the external surface of each package 10.

[0066] In addition, the adhesive substance of the adhesive surface 24 of the label 20 is preferably sized to provide a sufficient seal of the label 20 adapted to allow the lifting of the group 1 and prevent detachment. The characteristics of the adhesive substance are preferably chosen based on the expected weight of the group 1 to be supported and / or the type of material used to make the packages 10 to which it must adhere.

[0067] The described method therefore allows to obtain a group 1 of packages 10 in a simple way and with reduced times.

[0068] Furthermore, advantageously, the packaging of the group 1 requires a reduced amount of additional material compared to the single packages 10 constituted by the self-adhesive label 20. This makes it possible to drastically reduce the use of packaging material compared to the systems of known type. This also makes it possible to reduce the environmental impact due to the disposal of the packaging materials after their use.

[0069] In a preferred embodiment, the stability of the group 1 is improved by applying to a second side of the group 1, for example to the lower side 3 thereof, a sealing element involving the packages 10, for example a stretch of adhesive tape or a self- adhesive label.

[0070] In an alternative embodiment variant, the further sealing element may consist of a second self-adhesive label with a liftable handle 20’ of the type described above, as illustrated for example in figure 5 in which a second label 20’ is applied to the lower side 3 of the group 1.

[0071] Advantageously, the second label 20’ in addition to stabilizing the packages 10 of the group 1 improves their handling by providing a second gripping zone constituted by the handle 22 of the second label 20’. The presence of a handle 22 on both sides 2, 3 of the unit 1, moreover, speeds up the storage operations of the group 1 on the shelves since it is not necessary to pay attention to which of the two sides 2, 3 remains exposed upwards to make a handle available to the user who picks up the group 1 from the shelf.

[0072] With reference to figure 6, an embodiment of a plant 100 that realizes the group 1 of the invention according to the method of figure 4 is illustrated.

[0073] The plant 100 is first of all provided with means for transporting 102 the product, preferably a conveyor belt 102.

[0074] The single packages 10 are arranged on the conveyor belt 102 and conveyed to a first grouping unit 110 adapted to arrange next to each other the number of desired packages in order to make the group 1 itself, for example three packages 10 in the illustrated example.

[0075] A second unit 120 is preferably fed with a tape 30 of labels 20 and this unit provides a self-adhesive label 20 ready for use thereof, i.e. with its adhesive surface 24 facing the packages 10.

[0076] The second unit 120 then proceeds with applying the label 20 to the upper side 2 of the group 1, preferably by means of a mechanical / pneumatic pusher device 122 or traditional stripping with detachment blade.

[0077] At the exit of the second unit 120 of the plant 100, the group of packages 1 is completed.

[0078] In a preferred embodiment variant, the plant can be improved in order to apply a further adhesive label to the packages, for example to apply a self-adhesive label also to the lower side 3 of the group 1, as described above with reference to figure 5.

[0079] It has thus been demonstrated by means of the above detailed description of embodiments of the method and of the plant according to the present invention represented in the drawing tables, that the present invention allows to achieve the intended purposes. In particular, the method and the plant according to the present invention make it possible to facilitate the packaging operations of multiple packages of a product.

[0080] Although the present invention has been elucidated above by the detailed description of some embodiments shown in the drawing tables, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawing tables and described above.

[0081] On the contrary, the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Packaging method for grouping two or more packages (10) of a product, said method comprising a step of arranging said two or more packages (10) next to each other in a close position to create a group (1) of packages (10), said method being characterised in that it further comprises the steps of:- preparing a self-adhesive label (20) having at least one liftable handle (22) and comprising an adhesive surface (24);- applying said self-adhesive label (201) to a first side (2) of said group (1) in such a way that said adhesive surface (24) is placed in contact with external surfaces of said packages (10) in order to keep said packages (10) in said close position due to the adhesion force of said adhesive surface (24).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises the steps of:- preparing a further self-adhesive label (201) preferably having at least one liftable handle (22) and comprising an adhesive surface (24);- applying said further self-adhesive label (201) to a second side (3) of said group(1) in such a way that said adhesive surface (24) of said further self-adhesive label (201) is placed in contact with external surfaces of said packages (10) in order to keep said packages (10) in said close position due to the adhesion force of said adhesive surface (24) of said further self-adhesive label (201).

3. Packaging plant (100) for grouping two or more packages (10) of a product, said plant (100) being characterised in that it comprises:- a first grouping unit (110) adapted to arrange said two or more packages (10) next to each other in a close position to create a group (1) of packages (10);- a second unit (120) adapted to prepare a self-adhesive label (20), with a liftable handle (22), with an adhesive surface (24) ready to be applied, and said second unit (120) being adapted to apply said self-adhesive label (20) to a first side(2) of said group (1) in such a way that said adhesive surface (24) is placed in contact with external surfaces of said packages (10) in order to keep said packages (10) in said close position due to the adhesion force of said adhesive surface (24).

4. Plant (100) according to claim 3, characterised in that it comprises:- a third unit adapted to prepare a further self-adhesive label (201), preferably with at least one liftable handle (22), with an adhesive surface (24) ready to be applied;- a fourth unit adapted to apply said further self-adhesive label (201) to a second side (3) of said group (1) in such a way that said adhesive surface (24) of said further self-adhesive label (201) is placed in contact with external surfaces of said packages (10) in order to keep said packages (10) in said close position due to the adhesion force of said adhesive surface (24) of said further self- adhesive label (201).

5. Self-adhesive label (20, 20') that can be used in the method according to claims 1 or 2 or in the plant according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that it comprises at least one liftable handle (22) and at least one adhesive surface (24).

6. Group (1) of packages (10) comprising two or more packages (10) of a product arranged in a close position, said group (1) being characterised in that it comprises a self-adhesive label (20, 20') having at least one liftable handle (22), applied to one side (2, 3) of said group (1) in such a way as to keep said packages (10) in said close position due to the adhesion force of an adhesive surface (24) of said self-adhesive label (20, 20').

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