Machine and system for applying container carriers to containers

Abstract

A container packaging system for containers applies an apertured plastics film carrier stock to substantially identical containers such as beverage cans having annular chimes, cylindrical side walls, and frusto-conical walls between the chimes and the side walls. The carrier stock has shaped apertures to securely retain drinks cans, food cans, bottles and similar containers, as a multi-pack unit. The carrier stock is rolled onto suitably juxtaposed containers engaging a tabbed aperture edge portion progressively from above to below the upper edge of the respective containers to be multi-packed and assumes a waveform 3D conformation to unitise the containers. The rolling method contrasts prior stretch application methods and enables cheaper and thinner carrier stock to be used.

1 . A machine for applying a container-unitising film to containers by use of a roller, the container-unitising film comprising:
 a plastics sheet material comprising a number of apertures for holding a number of containers together, the apertures extending in at least a first direction;   wherein the apertures have a centre and wherein the edges defining the apertures have a geometry which comprises a plurality of tabs facing the centre, the tabs being defined by innermost edges separated by troughs, the troughs defining a root at a maximum point from the centre;   wherein the innermost edges and the roots lie, respectively, on first and second circumferences relative to the centre, the second circumference being equal to or greater than a beading circumference of a container;   the configuration of the apertures being such that, upon placement about a container, the innermost edges of the tabs engage with said beading of such a container as the troughs are urged downwardly and outwardly and the apertured sheet material elastically forms a three dimensional structure, wherein the machine comprises a conveyor system for the transport of containers; and   the conveyor system being operable to feed the containers to an accumulation position and operable to convey the containers towards an application station comprising said roller for application of the apertured sheet to the containers, the roller in use receiving apertured sheet material from a supply system and urging the apertured sheet material onto the containers such that each container is received in an aperture whereby the sheet material forms the three dimensional structure.   
     
     
         2 . The machine according to  claim 1  wherein the conveyor and roller are positioned and operable such that, as the conveyor moves the containers, the rims of the containers are presented to the stock of apertured plastics, and an inside tab edge of the aperture abuts against an underside edge of a bead of the container, and as the roller continues to move, the side edges of the aperture diverge elastically to surround the sides of the container beading until the inside edge of the aperture opposite the first engaged side of the aperture is adjacent the rim and causes an inside edge of the inside tab edge of the aperture to engage with an underside of the rim, whereby to secure the apertured film upon the can. 
     
     
         3 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the conveyor moves the containers to an accumulation position prior to being presented to the application station. 
     
     
         4 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein there is a cutting apparatus, said cutting apparatus being operable to enable appropriate pack sizes to be produced. 
     
     
         5 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein there is provided a plurality of co-operating sheeting supply mandrels whereby to provide a continuous supply of sheeting to the roller, to enable a seamless connection of separate sheets to provide effective continuous operation of the system. 
     
     
         6 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier film is made from the group comprising polyethylene, polyethylene derivatives and plastics materials with similar mechanical properties. 
     
     
         7 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier film is a plastics film of less than about 350 μm thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier film apertures are dimensioned to fit around cylindrical walled cans. 
     
     
         9 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier film apertures are dimensioned to fit about reduced chime or necked cans. 
     
     
         10 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the carrier film apertures are dimensioned to fit about beading around the neck of a bottle. 
     
     
         11 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the stock comprises a length of single-rank apertured film. 
     
     
         12 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the stock comprises a length of multi-rank apertured film. 
     
     
         13 . A method of unitizing containers, utilizing the machine of  claim 1 , comprising the steps:
 receiving a can;   urging an inside edge of a tab of an aperture toward an under-chime edge of the can;   easing adjacent side tabs of the aperture over the corresponding rim parts of the can until the inside edge of the aperture opposite the first engaged side of the aperture is adjacent the rim; and   causing an inside edge of the last tab to engage with an underside of the rim, whereby to secure the apertured film with the can.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the urging of an inside edge of a tab and easing of adjacent side tabs is realised by use of an application roller of the machine which roller cooperates with the container upper edge to locate and present an inner edge portion of an aperture of the carrier stock sheet film to the upper edge and progressively move that edge portion below the container upper edge until the whole inner aperture edge becomes located below that container upper edge. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled)