Process and an apparatus for packaging containers in a carrier in two rows of each at least two pieces as well as a blank to be used therein

An apparatus for packaging containers in a carrier in two rows by using first and second blanks, each blank provided with a first rectangular blank section having a first and a second long side and a first and second short side, the first and second short sides having a length substantially equal to a first transverse dimension of a container to be packaged, to which first and second long sides a second and a third rectangular blank section, respectively, are hingedly connected to the first blank section, which second and third blank section, at the location where they are connected to the first blank section, each have a first longitudinal side with a length substantially equal to a second transverse dimension of the container, extending perpendicular to the first transverse dimension, multiplied by the number of containers to be placed in a row, which second blank section has two longitudinal sides perpendicular to the first longitudinal side of the second blank section, each of the two longitudinal sides of the second blank section having a dimension substantially equal to that of one of the short sides of the first blank section plus that of one of the longitudinal sides of the third blank section extending transversely to the first longitudinal side and to which two longitudinal sides of the second blank section are hingedly connected a fourth and a fifth blank section, each having, perpendicular to the hinged connection, a dimension substantially equal to the first transverse dimension of a container to be packaged, the second blank section having cutting lines defining at least one hinged partition flap, characterized by

• means for transporting a first blank horizontally fed in flattened condition, and
• means for erecting and filling the first blank during transport, comprising:
• means for folding into a vertically upward position the second blank section and the portions hingedly connected thereto, excepting the first blank section which remains in a horizontal position,
• means for folding the fourth blank section, each partition flap and the fifth blank section to above the first blank section,
• means for inserting a container between a folded fourth or fifth blank section and an adjoining partition flap as well as between two adjoining partition flaps,
• means for folding the third blank section into a vertically upward position,
• means for connecting the third blank section with the fourth and fifth blank sections,
• means for erecting and filling the second blank during transport,
• means for placing the first and second erected and filled blanks with their second blank sections against each other, and
• means for interconnecting two blanks thus placed against each other.

An apparatus for packaging containers in a carrier in two rows from first and second blanks each defining a first blank section and a second and a third blank section hingedly connected to the first blank section and fourth and fifth blank sections hingedly connected to the second blank section, the apparatus characterized by

• means for transporting the first blank horizontally fed in flattened condition, and
• means for erecting and filling the first blank during transport, comprising:
• means for folding into a vertically upward position the second blank section and the portions hingedly connected thereto, excepting the first blank section which remains in a horizontal position,
• means for folding the fourth blank section and the fifth blank section to above the first blank section,
• means for inserting a container between folded fourth and fifth blank sections,
• means for folding the third blank section into a vertically upward position,
• means for connecting the third blank section with the fourth and fifth blank sections,
• means for erecting and filling the second blank during transport,
• means for placing two erected and filled blanks with their second blank sections against each other, and
• means for interconnecting two blanks thus placed against each other.