Method and apparatus for producing a multipack with several beverage containers

1. A method ( 100 ) for producing a multipack ( 4 ) having a plurality of beverage containers ( 2 ), comprising:

placing a plurality of groupings ( 3 ), each comprising a plurality of beverage containers ( 2 ), on a horizontal conveying device ( 5 ) with at least one handling apparatus ( 15 ), wherein the plurality of beverage containers ( 2 ) are aligned with respect to one another upon placement of the beverage containers ( 2 ) on the horizontal conveying device ( 5 ) and are ready to have a packaging blank ( 41 ) applied to each of the plurality of groupings ( 3 )

applying a packaging blank ( 41 ) to the plurality of aligned beverage containers ( 2 ) of a grouping ( 3 ) such that the plurality of aligned beverage containers ( 2 ) pass through one or more openings ( 42 ) of the packaging blank ( 41 ), and the plurality of aligned beverage containers ( 2 ) are subsequently held together by the packaging blank ( 41 ), wherein the applying step comprises moving the plurality of aligned beverage containers ( 2 ) on a horizontal conveying device ( 5 ) without lateral surface areas of the plurality of aligned beverage containers ( 2 ) bearing against any retaining element or guiding element.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the plurality of aligned beverage containers ( 2 ) without interruption via the horizontal conveying apparatus ( 5 ) during the applying step.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising applying a packaging blank ( 41 ) to a grouping ( 3 ) via at least one application head ( 26 ), wherein the at least one application head ( 26 ) performs a lowering movement toward the groupings ( 3 ).

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising picking up at least one packaging blank ( 41 ), with the application head ( 26 ), from a stack, wherein the stack is positioned laterally beside the horizontal conveying device ( 5 ) and comprises a plurality of packaging blanks ( 41 ), then positioning the at least one packaging blank ( 41 ) above at least one grouping ( 3 ), and then executing the lowering movement.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein, after executing the lowering movement, applying a plurality of packaging blanks ( 41 ) to a plurality of different groupings ( 3 ).

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising applying a plurality of packaging blanks ( 41 ) to a plurality of different groupings ( 3 ) with a time delay.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one application head ( 26 ) comprises at least one centering device, wherein the centering device restores an alignment of the plurality of beverage containers ( 2 ) of a grouping ( 3 ) with respect to one another.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the beverage containers ( 2 ) are cans.

9. The method of claim 2 , further comprising moving the aligned beverage containers ( 2 ) at an at least approximately constant transport speed.

10. An apparatus ( 1 ) for producing a multipack ( 4 ) having a plurality of beverage containers ( 2 ), comprising:

a horizontal conveying device ( 5 ) for moving groupings ( 3 ), each grouping ( 3 ) comprising a plurality of beverage containers ( 2 );

at least one working device ( 25 ), wherein the at least one working device ( 25 ) applies a packaging blank ( 41 ) to a grouping ( 3 ), so that the beverage containers ( 2 ) of a grouping ( 3 ) pass through openings ( 42 ) of the packaging blank ( 41 ) and are held together via the packaging blank ( 41 );

at least one handling apparatus ( 15 ) for placing the beverage containers ( 2 ) of a grouping ( 3 ) on the horizontal conveying device ( 5 ) wherein the beverage containers ( 2 ) of a grouping ( 3 ) are aligned with respect to one another upon placement of the beverage containers ( 2 ) on the horizontal conveying device ( 5 ) and are ready to have a packaging blank ( 41 ) applied to each of the plurality of groupings ( 3 ),

wherein the groupings ( 3 ) are continuously moved via the horizontal conveying device ( 5 ) without surface contact of lateral surface areas of the beverage containers ( 2 ) to any retaining elements or guiding elements.

11. The apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 10 , wherein the at least one handling apparatus ( 15 ) is formed by or comprises at least one multi-axis robot.

12. The apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 11 , further comprising a control or regulating device (S) connected to the horizontal conveying device ( 5 ).

13. The apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 12 , wherein the working device ( 25 ) comprises at least one application head ( 26 ), wherein the at least one application head ( 26 ) can execute a lowering movement toward groupings ( 3 ) for applying packaging blanks ( 41 ) to the groupings ( 3 ).

14. The apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 13 , wherein the at least one application head ( 26 ) is movable back and forth between the horizontal conveying device ( 5 ) and a stack of packaging blanks ( 41 ) positioned laterally beside the horizontal conveying device ( 5 ).

15. The apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 14 , wherein the at least one application head ( 26 ) can apply a plurality of packaging blanks ( 41 ) to a plurality of groupings ( 3 ) with a time delay after the lowering movement.

16. The apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 15 , wherein the at least one application head ( 26 ) comprises at least one centering device, wherein the centering device restores an alignment of the plurality of beverage containers ( 2 ) of a grouping ( 3 ) with respect to one another.

17. The apparatus ( 1 ) of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of beverage containers ( 2 ) are cans.