Device and method for packaging containers

Abstract

Described is a device for packaging at least two containers in a batch and methods for packaging containers using the device. The containers can be bottles with a neck. The device includes at least one sheet of semi-rigid or rigid material. The sheet has at least two parts, a first support part with at least two orifices for receiving the necks of the containers, and a second reinforcing part with at least one opening. The sheet has at least one fold line separating the first part and the second part, and the opening is able to cover at least one of the orifices of the support part in a covering folding position of the reinforcing part.

1 . A device ( 1 ) for packaging a batch ( 100 ) of at least two containers ( 2 ), said containers ( 2 ) being bottles with a neck ( 20 ), the device comprising:
 at least one sheet ( 3 ) of rigid or semi-rigid material,   
       said packaging device ( 1 ) being characterized in that:
 said at least one sheet ( 3 ) comprises at least two parts, a first part, termed the support part ( 30 ), provided with at least two orifices ( 4 ) to receive the necks ( 20 ) of said containers ( 2 ) and a second part, termed the reinforcing part ( 31 ), provided with at least one opening ( 6 ), said sheet ( 3 ) comprising at least one fold line ( 7 ) separating the first part ( 30 ) and the second part ( 31 ), and in that: 
 
       said at least one opening ( 6 ) is adapted to cap at least one of the orifices ( 4 ) in said support part ( 30 ) in a folded position covering said reinforcing part ( 31 ). 
     
     
         2 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the center ( 60 ) of the opening ( 6 ) is aligned with the center ( 40 ) of one of said orifices ( 4 ) so that the second part ( 31 ) can be folded over the first part ( 30 ), said opening ( 6 ) then capping the neck ( 20 ) of the container ( 2 ) supported by said orifice ( 4 ). 
     
     
         3 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the second part ( 31 ) of the at least one sheet ( 3 ) comprises a holding means ( 5 ). 
     
     
         4 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that the holding means ( 5 ) is a holding opening ( 50 ) that extends along a distal edge of the second part ( 31 ) on the side opposite the first part ( 30 ). 
     
     
         5 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the orifices ( 4 ) in the first part ( 30 ) and the openings ( 6 ) in the second part ( 31 ) of a sheet ( 3 ) are the same shape and have the same dimensions. 
     
     
         6 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that at least the orifices ( 4 ) in the first part ( 30 ) of the sheet ( 3 ) have an oblong or oval shape. 
     
     
         7 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 6 , characterized in that the at least two parts ( 30 ,  31 ) of the sheet ( 3 ) have a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         8 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the orifices ( 4 ) in the first part ( 30 ) of the sheet ( 3 ) are longitudinally aligned in such a manner as to form a row. 
     
     
         9 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the proximal portion ( 310 ) of the second part ( 31 ) of the sheet ( 3 ) is connected to the first part ( 30 ) of said sheet ( 3 ) by two cut edges ( 8 ) extending on respective opposite sides of said second part ( 31 ), said proximal portion ( 310 ) thus having a trapezoidal shape. 
     
     
         10 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the first part ( 30 ) of the sheet ( 3 ) comprises a cutting line ( 9 ) of curvilinear shape tracing out a circular arc behind the orifices ( 4 ), on the side of the second part ( 31 ). 
     
     
         11 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 10 , characterized in that the center ( 90 ) of each cutting line ( 9 ) coincides with the center ( 40 ) of each orifice ( 4 ). 
     
     
         12 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the first part ( 30 ) of the sheet ( 3 ) comprises a main line of weakness ( 10 ) extending along the fold line ( 7 ). 
     
     
         13 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  the preceding claim , characterized in that said first part ( 30 ) of the sheet ( 3 ) comprises secondary lines of weakness ( 11 ) extending transversely between the orifices ( 4 ) from the first main line of weakness ( 10 ) to the borders of the distal edge of said first part ( 30 ). 
     
     
         14 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claim 13 , characterized in that the first part ( 30 ) of the sheet ( 3 ) comprises apertures ( 12 ) at the intersections of the first main line of weakness ( 10 ) and the transverse secondary lines of weakness ( 11 ). 
     
     
         15 . The packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  any one of the preceding claims , characterized in that the at least one sheet ( 3 ) comprises a third part or flap ( 32 ), said flap ( 32 ) being situated on the side opposite the second part ( 31 ), in line with the first part ( 30 ) of said sheet ( 3 ). 
     
     
         16 . A batch ( 100 ) of at least four containers ( 2 ),
 said containers being bottles each having a neck ( 20 ),   said batch ( 100 ) comprising at least one packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  any one of the preceding claims  comprising at least two sheets ( 3 ), characterized in that   a first sheet ( 3 ) of said packaging device ( 1 ) cooperates with at least one second sheet ( 3 ) of said packaging device ( 1 ), each sheet ( 3 ) forming a sub-batch ( 101 ) consisting of at least two containers ( 2 ).   
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging a batch ( 100 ) of at least two containers ( 2 ) by means of a packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 15 , said containers ( 2 ) being bottles each having a neck ( 20 ),
 in which, at least:
 at least two containers ( 2 ) are grouped together, 
   characterized in that it comprises at least the following steps:
 the neck ( 20 ) of each of the containers ( 2 ) is introduced into an orifice ( 4 ) in the first part ( 30 ) of the at least one sheet ( 3 ) of the packaging device ( 1 ), 
 the second part ( 31 ) of said at least one sheet ( 3 ) is folded into a folding position covering the first part ( 30 ) until the neck ( 20 ) of one of the containers ( 2 ) is housed in the at least one opening ( 6 ) in said second part ( 31 ). 
   
     
     
         18 . A method of cutting from a strip ( 300 ) of rigid or semi-rigid material, notably paper or cardboard, at least one packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in any one of  claims 1 to 15 , characterized in that
 the sheets ( 3 ) of said packaging device ( 1 ) are generally T-shaped and are disposed head-to-tail and adjacent to one another.   
     
     
         19 . An installation for packaging at least two containers ( 2 ) in the form of a batch ( 100 ) employing the method as claimed in any one of  claims 16 to 18 , said installation thus producing batches ( 100 ) as claimed in  claim 16 , said installation comprising:
 at least one grouping station ( 14 ),   at least one affixing station ( 15 ) of a packaging device ( 1 ) as claimed in  claims 1 to 15 .