The present invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a carrying handle for producing multipacks of rectangular packs, so-called "brick" cartons.

In recent years it has become more and more common to mark different types of products with bar codes which can be read by means of a laser pen. In the retail trade in particular, this has brought about enormous savings with a view to serving time and storage. These bar codes, so-called EAN (European Article Numbering) codes, contain a bar code pattern which provides each product type which a genuine article number. This article number is found in a computer system which provides information such as the price ofthe product. Consequently, it is no longer necessary to mark each individual article with a price ticket, and it is therefore common to put the price information on the shelf space ofthe product in question in the shop or the store room. If the price ofthe product is to be changed, this change in price is entered in the computer system and a corresponding new label is placed on the shelf space ofthe product in question, thus eliminating the need to put new price tickets on each individual article .

It has also become more and more common to sell some products in so-called multipacks. Typical examples of such products are beer, mineral water and milk, which are often sold in the form of units of two or more articles that are fastened together. Several fastening units for multipacks are known from inter alia the applicant's own patents, e.g., NO .

One problem which arises when using multipacks in connection with EAN-coded articles is that the EAN code on the actual article indicates the price of only one article, not the entire multipack. To be able to register the multipack correctly, it is therefore either necessary to enter the price ofthe multipack manually or to put a new EAN coding somewhere on the multipack. This last-mentioned alternative may give rise to additional problems, as the multipack could be provided with several EAN codes, one code for each ofthe article and one code for the multipack itself. One possible solution to this problem would be to blank out or remove the original EAN code on each article and replace these with an EAN code on the actual fastening unit. However, this is not a good solution as the customer will often break open the multipack because he wants a smaller number of articles than are contained in the multipack. If the EAN code on the individual article has been removed or blanked out, the price ofthe article must be entered manually.

Another possibility would be to blank out the EAN code on each individual product by allowing the fastening unit to extend across the EAN code. The EAN code for each individual article would then be accessible if the multipack were broken open.

On the majority of products ofthe type concerned, the EAN code is placed relatively close to the bottom ofthe product. This solution would therefore mean that the fastening units would be inexpediently large, which would give rise to large material consumption and consequently a high price.

The object ofthe present invention is to solve the problems and drawbacks described above in a simple and cost-effective manner.

By using the apparatus, method and carrying handle according to the present invention, a multipack of cartons is obtained, where the EAN code on each carton is concealed so that there is no risk ofthe EAN code of an individual carton being registered instead of the EAN code ofthe multipack.

The multipack is also easy to break open, if the customer would like a smaller number of cartons than are contained in the multipack, and in this case the EAN code on each individual carton will become clearly visible. The present invention also provides a multipack which can be carried easily and securely without any danger of unintentional separation thereof.

This is obtained with an apparatus for the production of multipacks of foodstuff cartons ofthe so-called "brick" type, characterised in that it comprises an infeed device preferably in the form of a conveyor, a side shifter which divides the cartons between two curved conveyors extending at an angle of about 90° relative to the infeed device, which curved conveyors each turn in a different direction, ejectors which push the cartons onto two approximately parallel conveyors, which conveyors at one end thereof are provided with a stop means, additional ejectors provided substantially at right angles to the two conveyors which push the cartons onto a lifting device, at least two magazines for carrying handles, a device for collecting the carrying handles from the magazines, an adhesive applicator which applies adhesive to the carrying handles, a device for positioning the carrying handles between the cartons, a device for pressing the cartons together against the carrying handle, and a device for conveying the formed multipacks out of the apparatus.

The invention also comprises a method for producing multipacks of cartons having bar code marking on one side thereof, which is characterised in that it comprises: providing the cartons in a row, so that the side ofthe cartons bearing the bar code marking faces backwards relative to the feed direction ofthe cartons; dividing the cartons between two curved conveyors which turn the cartons 90° in relation to the feed direction, alternately each in a different direction; conveying the cartons onto two substantially parallel conveyors, so that the sides ofthe cartons bearing the bar code markings face each other; - inserting a carrying handle, onto which adhesive has been applied, between the two rows of cartons; pressing the two rows of cartons against each other and against the carrying handle; conveying the thus produced multipack out of the apparatus.

The invention also comprises a carrying handle for multipacks, which is characterised in that it includes a sheet-shaped blank having an attachment part and at least one handle part which are separated by a folding line, which handle part is provided with at least one punched-out carrying hole..

The invention will be described in more below with reference to the appended drawings.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an apparatus according to the present invention for producing multipacks.

Fig. 2 is a lateral view ofthe apparatus according to the invention.

Fig. 3 is an end view ofthe apparatus according to the invention.

Figs. 4a-f show different steps ofthe method according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a carrying handle according to the invention.

Figures 1 to 3 illustrate one embodiment of an apparatus for producing multipacks. A row of cartons is introduced from a filling station (not shown) where the cartons are filled with their contents and then sealed. The cartons, which enter the apparatus in a row, all have the same orientation, i.e., the EAN code on all the cartons is on the same

side of all the cartons. In the case illustrated the EAN code is placed on the rear short sides of the cartons, seen in the direction of travel ofthe cartons.

The cartons are conveyed by means of a suitable conveyor device, e.g., a conveyor belt 1 into the apparatus according to the invention. At the end ofthe conveyor belt 1 , inside the apparatus, there is mounted an article stop having a pneumatic "relief function" (not shown). The cartons run against this stop, which is now in its outer position. When an appropriate number of cartons have been accumulated, e.g., four, against the article stop, a pneumatic stop in the inlet ofthe machine is actuated so that the next carton, in this case carton no. 5, is retained/prevented from entering the apparatus. The "relief function" then allows the four cartons to advance a little and a pneumatic side shifter (switch) 2 divides the cartons between two curved conveyors 3, 4, each of which forms an angle of about 90° in relation to the direction of travel of the cartons into the apparatus. The side shifter 2 can allocate an even number of cartons to each belt, alternating either one carton to each side at time or several cartons at a time. The curved conveyors 3, 4 are, for example, ofthe apron type which each are powered by their own electromotor.

When the cartons have entered the conveyors 3, 4, the short sides ofthe cartons bearing the EAN code will face each other. At the end of each ofthe curved conveyors 3, 4 there is provided an ejector 5, 6, for example, in the form of a pneumatic or hydraulic piston, which pushes the cartons onto one of two parallel conveyors 7, 8, for example, in the form of belt conveyors. At the end of these conveyors 7, 8 there are stop means, for example, in the form of plates, which prevent the further travel ofthe cartons. When a desired number of cartons, for example, four, have been placed in the parallel conveyors 7, 8, two ejectors 9, 10 will push the cartons on the two conveyors 7,8 in towards the centre ofthe apparatus, where a lifting device, for example, in the form of a pneumatically operated lifting table 11, is provided. The lifting table may have space for two or more multipacks. The upper surface ofthe lifting table 11 is designed so that the outer cartons lean a little outwards to each side. This means that a small space is formed between the inner and the outer cartons. When the lifting table 1 1 is filled with the desired number of cartons, for example, eight, (four from each side), it lifts the cartons up a certain distance.

The apparatus is equipped with two or more tower magazines 12, 13 for carrying handles. The carrying handle is shown in more detail in Fig. 5. These magazines 12, 13 are positioned side by side on the top ofthe apparatus and out towards one ofthe long

sides. The carrying handles are collected from the bottom ofthe magazines with the aid of vacuum cups, pneumatic vacuum ejectors and pneumatic cylinders. The carrying handles are held by means of vacuum whilst they are turned 90° from a lying to an upright position and are brought in towards the centre ofthe machine by a pneumatically operated carriage. During this movement adhesive is applied to the lower part ofthe carrying handles by means of three adhesive guns for hot-melt adhesive. These adhesive guns are supplied with heated adhesive under pressure by means of special hoses from an adhesive unit having a pump. The carrying handles with adhesive applied thereon are then placed in the gap between the inner and outer rows of cartons. A combined pneumatic glue press and ejector mechanism then squeeze the cartons against each other so that good contact is obtained between cartons and handle. At the same time, the vacuum cups release the handles and return to a position beneath the magazines 12, 13.

The glue press/ejector mechanism brings the cartons whilst still being squeezed together towards the outlet ofthe apparatus. During this movement a spot of adhesive is applied to the carrying handle on the actual handle part, and this part of the carrying handle is folded down and held flat against the upper side ofthe cartons by means of an inclined pneumatically operated squeeze plate. The glue press/ejector mechansim then withdraws to the side and back into its starting position. The two multipacks can either roll out ofthe apparatus on an inclined unpowered roller conveyor or be brought out by a powered conveyor belt.

Figures 4a-f show in more detail the method according to the invention. The apparatus shown is the same as in Figs. 1 to 3, apart from a number of elements having been omitted to give the figures greater clarity.

In Fig. 4a the cartons 14 are conveyed into the apparatus on a conveyor. The cartons 14 come from a filling and sealing station in a row with the EAN code located on the rear short side ofthe cartons. The side shifter 2 divides the cartons 14 between the two curved conveyors 3, 4 (Fig. 4b) and ejectors 5, 6 push the cartons 14 onto the parallel conveyors 7, 8 (Fig. 4c). The EAN codes on the cartons 14 now face in towards each other. In Fig. 4d the cartons are lifted up and the carrying handles on which adhesive has been applied are inserted between the cartons 14. The cartons 14 are then pressed together and conveyed out ofthe apparatus on a suitable conveyor device (Fig. 4f).

The carrying handles, which are shown in more detail in Fig.5, have a width which is equal to or smaller than the width ofthe number of cartons which the finished multipack is to contain. In the illustrated embodiment multipacks containing four cartons are produced. However, a departure from the number may be made if so desired. One or more mulipacks can be produced at a time by means ofthe apparatus according to the invention. The figures illustrate the production of two multipacks of four cartons at a time.