Bundle of containers, in particular bottles, cans, or the like, and process for making such a bundle

Abstract

The present invention concerns a bundle ( 1 ) of containers ( 3 ), in particular bottles, cans or the like, and a process for making such a bundle comprising a packaging film ( 2 ) wrapped around a set of containers ( 3 ). The film ( 2 ) defines a bottom portion ( 2 a ) for resting the containers ( 3 ), at least one pair of side opposite portions ( 2 b ) extending from the bottom portion ( 2 a ) for laterally engaging the containers ( 3 ) and a covering portion ( 2 c ) extending between the side portions ( 2 b ) from an opposite part with respect to the bottom portion ( 2 a ). The bundle ( 1 ) also comprises a handle ( 4 ) having a central portion ( 4 a ) arranged at the covering portion ( 2 c ) of the film ( 2 ) and a pair of opposite joining adhesive portions ( 4 b ), extending from the central portion ( 4 a ) each arranged at least at a respective side portion ( 2 b ) of the film ( 2 ). Each of the joining adhesive portions ( 4 b ) of the handle ( 4 ) engages the respective side portion ( 2 b ) of the packaging film ( 2 ) from the covering portion ( 2 c ) to the bottom portion ( 2 a ) and has a respective end ( 4 c ) that engages the bottom portion ( 2 a ) of the film ( 2 ).

1 . Process for producing bundles ( 1 ) of containers ( 3 ), in particular bottles, cans or the like, comprising the steps of:
 supplying a plurality of gripping handles ( 4 ) in form of a continuous tape cut into sections, each gripping handle ( 4 ) being provided with a central gripping portion ( 4   a ) and with a pair of opposite joining adhesive portions ( 4   b ) extending from said central gripping portion ( 4   a );   supplying a plurality of packaging films ( 2 ) in form of a continuous tape to be subsequently cut into sections;   applying a gripping handle ( 4 ) on each packaging film ( 2 ) being supplied;   wrapping each packaging film ( 2 ) provided with a respective gripping handle ( 4 ) around a respective predetermined set of containers ( 3 ), so as to define a bottom portion ( 2   a ) for resting said containers ( 3 ), at least one pair of side portions ( 4   b ) engaging, laterally from opposite parts, said containers ( 3 ) and a covering portion ( 2   c ) opposite to said bottom portion ( 2   a );   characterised in that the step of applying each gripping handle ( 4 ) on each packaging film ( 2 ) comprises applying a gripping handle ( 4 ) having an overall length (LM) not shorter than 7/10 the overall length (LP) of the respective packaging film ( 2 ), preferably not shorter than 9/10 the overall length (LP) of the respective packaging film ( 2 ), whereby the step of wrapping each packaging film ( 2 ) around a respective set of containers ( 3 ) results in the central gripping portion ( 4   a ) of the respective gripping handle ( 4 ) being positioned at the covering portion ( 2   c ) of the respective packaging film ( 2 ) and each joining adhesive portion ( 4   b ) of the respective gripping handle ( 4 ) being positioned at a respective side portion ( 2   b ) of the corresponding packaging film ( 2 ), from the covering portion ( 2   c ) to the bottom portion ( 2   a ).   
     
     
         2 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying each gripping handle ( 4 ) on each packaging film ( 2 ) comprises applying a gripping handle ( 4 ) having an overall length (LM) sufficient for an end ( 4   c ) of each of the joining adhesive portions ( 4   b ) of the gripping handle ( 4 ) be arranged at the bottom portion ( 2   a ) of the respective packaging film ( 2 ) wrapped around the containers ( 3 ). 
     
     
         3 . Process according to  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying a gripping handle ( 4 ) to each packaging film ( 2 ) is carried out by swinging the advancement velocity of said continuous tape of the packaging films ( 2 ) from a minimum advancement velocity to a maximum advancement velocity, said minimum and maximum advancement velocities being calculated on the basis of the lengths (LM, LP) of the gripping handles ( 4 ) and/or of the packaging films ( 2 ) and/or of the advancement and/or acceleration and/or deceleration time periods of the continuous tape and/or of the advancement average velocity (VM) of this latter. 
     
     
         4 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of applying a gripping handle ( 4 ) to each packaging film ( 2 ) being supplied comprises the steps of:
 advancing said continuous tape of said packaging films ( 2 ) at a first advancement velocity (V1);   maintaining the first advancement velocity (V1) until that the entire gripping handle ( 4 ) will overlap a respective packaging film ( 2 );   accelerating said continuous tape until reaching a second advancement velocity (V2), higher than the first advancement velocity (V1), after having applied said gripping handle ( 4 );   maintaining said second advancement velocity (V2) for a predetermined time period (T), corresponding to a tail section of the packaging film ( 2 ) provided with said gripping handle ( 4 ) applied and to a lead section of the next packaging film ( 2 ), lacking the gripping handle ( 4 );   decelerating said continuous tape until reaching a first advancement velocity (V1) before the adhesion of the corresponding gripping handle ( 4 ).   
     
     
         5 . Process according to  claim 3 , wherein the step of applying a gripping handle ( 4 ) to each packaging film ( 2 ) being supplied comprises the steps of:
 advancing said continuous tape of said packaging films ( 2 ) at a first advancement velocity (V1);   maintaining the first advancement velocity (V1) for a first time period (T1) sufficient for applying the end ( 4   c ) of a first joining adhesive portion ( 4   b ) of a gripping handle ( 4 ) being applied on a respective packaging film ( 2 );   accelerating said continuous tape until reaching a second advancement velocity (V2), faster than the first advancement velocity (V1);   maintaining the second advancement velocity (V2) for a second predetermined time period (T2), sufficient for approaching the end ( 4   c ) of a second joining adhesive portion ( 4   b ) of said gripping handle ( 4 ) being applied;   decelerating said continuous tape from the second advancement velocity (V2) to the first advancement velocity (V1) near the end ( 4   c ) of the second joining adhesive portion ( 4   b ) of the gripping handle ( 4 ) being applied;   maintaining the first advancement velocity (V1 1 ) for a third time period (T3) sufficient for applying the end ( 4   c ) of the second joining adhesive portion ( 4   b ) of the gripping handle ( 4 ) being applied;   accelerating again said continuous tape until reaching a third advancement velocity (V3), faster than the first advancement velocity (V1), corresponding to a tail section of the packaging film ( 2 ) free from the gripping handle ( 4 ) applied, optionally said third advancement velocity (V3) being slower or equal to the second advancement velocity (V2);   subsequently decelerating said continuous tape until reaching the first advancement velocity (V1) corresponding to a lead section of the subsequent packaging film ( 2 ), lacking the gripping handle ( 4 ).   
     
     
         6 . Process according to  claim 2 , wherein the step of applying a gripping handle ( 4 ) to each packaging film ( 2 ) is carried out by swinging the advancement velocity of said continuous tape of the packaging films ( 2 ) from a minimum advancement velocity to a maximum advancement velocity, said minimum and maximum advancement velocities being calculated on the basis of the lengths (LM, LP) of the gripping handles ( 4 ) and/or of the packaging films ( 2 ) and/or of the advancement and/or acceleration and/or deceleration time periods of the continuous tape and/or of the advancement average velocity (VM) of this latter.