# US 2016/0355285 A1 · Method and device for forming packaging units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0355285 A1 - Document ID: US20160355285A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/114,539 - Filed: 2015-01-21 - Published: 2016-12-08 - Earliest claimed: 2014-01-28 - Assignees: KHS GmbH - Applicants: Khs Ghbh - Inventors: Wilfried Ehmer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160355285A1 ## CPC - B65B 17/02: Joining articles, e.g. cans, directly to each other for convenience of storage, transport, or handling - B65B 7/2835: {applying and rotating preformed threaded caps (for bottles or jars B67B3/20)} - B65B 21/06: Forming groups of bottles - B65B 35/58: Turning articles by positively-acting means, e.g. to present labelled portions in uppermost position - B65B 57/04: and operating to control, or to stop, the feed of such material, containers, or packages - B67B 3/2013: {by carousel-type capping machines} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - B67B: APPLYING CLOSURE MEMBERS TO BOTTLES JARS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; OPENING CLOSED CONTAINERS (opening or closing devices attached to, or incorporated in, containers or container closures B65D) ## Abstract A closure unit includes a closure head that closes a container by applying a closure onto a container opening thereof, a grouper that brings bring closed containers close together to form a bundle of closed containers, and an adhesive applicator that applies adhesive to a circumferential side wall of a container. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-19 (canceled) ### Claim 20 An apparatus comprising a closure unit and a container-delivery element structured and configured to deliver unclosed containers to said closure unit, said closure unit comprising a closure head, a grouper, and an adhesive applicator, each of which is disposed within said closure unit, wherein said closure head is structured and configured to close a container by applying a closure onto a container opening thereof, wherein said grouper is structured and configured to bring closed containers close together to form a bundle of closed containers, and wherein said adhesive applicator is structured and configured to apply adhesive to a circumferential side wall of a container. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said closure unit is configured to cause controlled rotation of said container about a vertically-oriented container axis thereof. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said closure head causes said controlled rotation of said container. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said controlled rotation of said takes place through rotation of a surface with which said container is in contact. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said controlled rotation of said takes place through rotation of a surface upon which said container stands. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a sensor, wherein said sensor is configured to detect an actual rotation position of said container. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The apparatus of claim 25, further comprising a control unit configured for receiving information indicative of said actual rotation position of said container and for controlling said closure unit to cause rotation of said container from said actual rotation position into a desired rotation position. ### Claim 27 (depends on 21) The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising a rotation-angle sensor for determining an extent to which said container has rotated. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said closure unit comprises a transport element for transport of said containers from said container delivery element to a container outlet. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said transport element is configured to rotate continuously. ### Claim 30 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said transport element is configured to rotate intermittently. ### Claim 31 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said transport element comprises a rotor configured to rotate about a vertical machine axis. ### Claim 32 (depends on 28) The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said transport element comprises a linear conveyor. ### Claim 33 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a compacter on which containers are pressed together to promote adhesive connection between said containers. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The apparatus of claim 33, further comprising a hardener disposed at said compacter. ### Claim 35 A method comprising forming a bundle of containers, wherein forming a bundle comprises delivering filled containers to a closure unit, at said closure unit, closing each of said containers with a corresponding closure, applying adhesive onto a circumferential side walls of said containers, bringing said containers together to promote adhesive engagement between said containers after having closed said containers, and compacting said containers to form said bundle. ### Claim 36 (depends on 35) The method of claim 35, further comprising, before applying said adhesive, rotating each of said containers about a vertical axis thereof. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, wherein rotating each of said containers about a vertical axis thereof comprises using a closure head to rotate a container. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, wherein rotating each of said containers about a vertical axis thereof comprises causing said container to contact a surface and rotating said surface. ### Claim 39 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, further comprising detecting an actual rotation position of said container. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, further comprising causing rotating each of said containers about a vertical axis thereof, applying adhesive onto a circumferential side walls of said containers, and closing each of said containers with a corresponding closure all occur in sequence within a transport route inside said closure unit.