Method and apparatus for fitting carrying handles on packs or multipacks

Abstract

A method for fitting carrying handles to packages includes, prior to receiving a package at a first carrying-handle applicator, drawing off and severing a length of carrying-strap material, retaining the strap's ends, causing the band to guide the carrying strap along the carrying-strap conveying stretch such that the carrying-strap forms a closed loop that extends over a movement path of the packages along the conveyor and that surrounds the movement path on at least three sides, and, when the package reaches a position under the conveying band, securing the to corresponding first and second attachment points on the package, the attachment points being regions facing corresponding first and second sides of the conveyor.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method for fitting carrying handles to packages selected from the group consisting of pack groups and packs, said packages being arranged on a conveyor that moves said packages in a conveying direction towards a first carrying-handle applicator, said method comprising, prior to receiving a package at a first carrying-handle applicator that comprises pressing elements for securing a carrying strap against said package, and a conveying band that forms a carrying-strap conveying-stretch for guiding said carrying-strap during formation of a carrying handle, drawing off a length of carrying-strap material, severing said carrying-strap material, thereby forming a carrying strap extending between first and second ends thereof, said first and second ends being separated by said length, retaining said first and second ends, causing said conveying band to guide said carrying strap along said carrying-strap conveying stretch such that said carrying-strap forms a closed loop that extends over a movement path of said packages along said conveyor and that surrounds said movement path on at least three sides thereof, and when said package reaches a position under said conveying band, securing said first and second ends of said carrying-strap to corresponding first and second attachment points on said package, said attachment points being at first and second regions of said package, said first and second regions facing corresponding first and second sides of said conveyor. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing said first and second ends comprises using said pressing elements to apply corresponding first and second forces in directions transverse to said conveying direction. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising securing two carrying strap parts to said package by said first end and connecting said strap parts to each other by said second end. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising, before connecting said carrying handle to said package, pre-forming said carrying strap into a carrying loop for forming said carrying handle and pre-positioning said carrying loop with said first and second ends of said carrying strap disposed opposite one another. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising retaining said pre-formed carrying loop in a waiting position until at least one of said first and second ends has been secured to said package. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing occurs without relative movement between said first carrying-handle applicator and said package while said package is being conveyed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing occurs without relative movement between said pressing elements and said package while said package is being conveyed. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing said first end occurs simultaneously with securing said second end. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing said first and second ends comprises securing said first end, and, after having secured said first end, securing said second end, thereby causing a temporal offset between securing said first end and securing said second end. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing comprises pressing said ends against said package to cause a contact adhesive on said carrying strap to engage said package. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing comprises welding said ends to said package. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein securing comprises illuminating said ends and said package with ultrasonic radiation. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein causing a package to move along a conveying direction comprises causing said package to engage in pulsatile movement, wherein said pulsatile movement comprises a movement interval and a standing interval, wherein during said movement interval said package moves, wherein during said standing interval said package is standing still, and wherein securing said first and second ends occurs during said standing interval. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein causing a package to move along a conveying direction comprises causing said package to move continuously, and wherein securing said first and second ends occurs while said package is moving. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising using a second carrying-handle applicator that has the same structure and operation as said first carrying-handle applicator, wherein each of said first and second carrying-handle applicators applies a carrying handle to only part of said package, wherein said first and second carrying-handle applicators cooperate to apply a carrying handle to said package. 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus for fitting carrying handles to a package selected from the group consisting of a pack group and a pack, said apparatus comprising a carrying-handle applicator disposed along a conveyor to receive packages that are conveyed by said conveyor, said carrying-handle applicator being configured to, while a package is approaching said carrying-handle applicator, draw off a length of carrying-strap material and to sever said carrying-strap material, thereby forming a carrying strap extending between first and second ends thereof, said first and second ends being retained by said carrying-handle applicator and separated from each other by said length, wherein said first carrying-handle applicator comprises pressing elements, and a first conveying band, wherein said first conveying band forms a closed loop, and a carrying-strap conveying stretch for guiding said carrying-strap such that said carrying-strap forms a closed loop that extends over a movement path of said packages along said conveyor and that surrounds said movement path on at least three sides, and wherein, when said conveyor conveys said package to a position under said conveying band, said pressing elements secure said first and second ends to corresponding first and second attachment points on said package, said first and second attachment points being disposed at first and second regions of said package that face corresponding first and second sides of said conveyor. 
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , wherein said carrying-strap conveyor comprises a second conveyor band having a structure that is identical to said first conveyor band, and wherein said second conveyor band forms a second closed loop.