Going RIC-ORD on UA with a 13 hour daytime layover in ORD then ORD-FRA on LH they were unable to keep the bags checked. After speaking to the check in counter in Richmond, the UC in ORD, the United check in counter in ORD and the LH counter at ORD the determination was finally made that if it was over 8 hours they couldn't even generate bag tags to check it in. And of course for security reasons they wouldn't hold the bags at the airport.