DE102007018358A1 - Relief overmolding - Google Patents

Abstract

A box 1 made of plastic, which is preferably used as a beverage crate, has a box bottom and four circumferentially arranged side walls 2. The box is made of at least a first 2b and a second plastic material 2a, 2c with different colors by injection molding and has on the outside of the side walls 2 at least one elevation 10 or recess, which is made of a different plastic material than the surrounding side wall.

Description

The The invention relates to a box made of plastic, in particular a Bottle crate, according to the preamble of the claim 1 and a method according to the preamble of Claim 0 for producing a corresponding box.

Boxes, especially crates are usually injection molded from plastic and have four side surfaces, which are also used as advertising space with product references and manufacturer information. These areas are either printed. From the registration DE 10 2007 002 368.7 is also known that by means of in-mold labeling a printed plastic film can be materially connected to the material of the box. In this process, the film is placed in the injection mold, the back and encapsulated at the edges, creating a secure connection with the plastic is created. A problem of in-mold labeling is that the plastic film inserted is usually very thin and can easily be damaged by scratches when transporting the boxes. It is also difficult in Inmouldfolien engraving, so increase or depressions in the film to provide so as to express a lettering or a logo of the beverage manufacturer three-dimensional lifted. Likewise, it is hardly possible, around the lateral edges of the side surfaces of the box around, so around the corners of the box around, insert an inmould film circumferentially. In this case, compressions or strains in the material of the film would occur at the edge regions. For this reason, a separate film is usually inserted per side wall of the box, which is encapsulated at the edges of the box in color of the in-mold film, so as to give the impression of a circulating belt around the box. As the in-mold foils are partially laminated with another plastic deviating from the plastic of the box, problems of pure recycling result.

task invention, it is a box, in particular bottle crate, especially on the outside of his Sidewalls is multicolored and so are areas for display of text, characters or logos, with the outsides a high resistance to damage such as To have scratches and the box simple and inexpensive to be finished.

These The object is achieved by the claim 1 and claim 0 mentioned features, with expedient Further developments of the invention by the features of the subclaims Marked are.

To According to the invention is a box made of plastic, in particular a bottle box made of a box bottom and four revolving arranged side walls, wherein the box of at least a first and a second plastic material different Coloring is made by injection molding. advantageously, is formed in the interior of the box, a structure of ribs, which serve as a receptacle for the individual bottles. On the outsides of the side walls are elevations or recesses arranged, wherein a transition from the first to the second plastic material in the region of the elevations or depressions. This way can be done on the sidewalls of the box reaches a structure of, for example, two levels be, with a farther outward level in a first Plastic and a level further back from a second Plastic is made. Due to the different colors of the two plastics mentioned is a clear contrast of the two Levels visible. In this way, for example, the manufacturer name, his symbol or other information in the side walls of the box. Of course that is Invention is not limited to two levels, but there are also several Layers, or transitions or rounded structures like trapezoidal structures or hemispheres or other geometries conceivable. In the prior art, a three-dimensional structure be produced by a thermoformed inmouldfolie. As this slide usually has a small thickness of 50-300 microns, can The film will be destroyed very quickly by scratches locally. Here is an advantage of the increases, which are full-volume made of a single plastic, as no scoring or scratches be perceived as disturbing.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention is the transition from the first to the second plastic material at the foot the raises. It should be mentioned that no systematic difference between elevations or depressions is present, but that by a shift of the reference plane the Elevations and depressions can also be defined differently can.

In an advantageous embodiment, the area of the elevations or depressions is spaced from the upper edges and / or lower edges of the side walls. Instead, for example, on a central region of the side walls, a lower-lying region may be arranged, from which relief-like elevations are arranged, which form the said structures. Advantageously, the ridges or depressions extend to the side edges of the side walls and pass directly and without a step into corresponding structures of the adjacent side wall. This makes it possible, a continuous, the box encircling To obtain band of a first plastic material, which is surrounded above and below by a band of a second plastic material. The area of the elevations and depressions is advantageously spaced from the grip areas. The grip areas are often made of special materials, with an elastic material (TPE) in contact with the hand and surrounds a harder material, which provides the necessary mechanical strength. In the area of the grip areas, the contour of the surface that is as level as possible is desired so as to avoid an unpleasant step for the user.

It it is also advantageous that at the elevations curves are formed. These curves can preferably on the protruding edges, which are opposite the base of the box, be molded. So can with the three-dimensional Structure, which may be, for example, a company logo or logo can, on the one hand at a touch by the customer comfortable grip and on the other an impression of a three-dimensional depth can be supported. Furthermore, it is appropriate that the increase not at an angle of 90 ° to the corresponding base, but are executed obliquely. Also through this Geometry improves the visual impression of the structures.

Further can also deepen within an increase be arranged, wherein the visible plastic material of the inner Deepening of which the increase deviates. This occurs, for example. in a letter "A" shown as a raised engraving in his upper half. This can be shaped that the letter "A" from a first plastic material is surrounded, the letter itself is an amount before and is made of a second plastic material and inside the triangle of the upper half of the "A" is back the first plastic material visible. This may cause the letter be well perceived. Advantageously, the said inner material at the same height level of the side surface, as the environment of the sublime structure itself, causing the three-dimensional Effect is emphasized.

The The invention also relates to a process for the preparation a box of plastic with an injection molding process, at in a first injection molding a base body a first plastic and in a subsequent injection molding step a following plastic in a deviating from the first plastic Paint is sprayed over the body. in this connection a transition occurs from the first to the following plastic on the sidewalls in the area of elevations or depressions. Likewise, the procedure may be the use of other plastics, such as the use of TPE as a thermoplastic elastomer in the area of the handles. TPE are non-slip materials that feel rubbery and thus improve the carrying properties of the box. advantageously, the next injection molding step will be in another injection mold performed as the first injection molding step. Known from the prior art are injection molding methods with moving core, in which the core area is withdrawn after the first injection molding step becomes, so that a cavity is formed, in which the second Plastic is injected. Because this process is significant limitation in the shaping of the elevations or depressions, is the resulting in the first injection molding Rohkasten in the second Injection molded in a separate injection mold. In this way it is possible to curves on the protruding shapes to provide and projecting geometries which slopes include, which are not perpendicular to the base material, resulting in a Tool with movable cores is not possible.

following is a preferred embodiment of the invention described with reference to the drawings in which:

1 A bottle crate according to the invention with an increased illustrated letter sequence "ABC"

2 A vertical section through the box wall at the letter "A"

3 A vertical section through the box wall at the intersection "Y" of 1

1 shows a perspective view of a box according to the invention, which is designed as a beverage crate and which four side walls 2 having a substantially vertical upward from a horizontal bottom surface. Here is every side surface 2 in three areas 2a . 2 B . 2c divided, the Ebe ne 2 B by the amount of at least 0.2 mm but at most by 10 mm, against the surfaces 2a and 2c is offset inwardly, with "inside" defined as pointing to the center of the box Typically, the offset is about 1 mm to 3 mm 2 B is made of a first plastic material 12 made and the surfaces 2a and 2c from a second plastic material. Further, on one of the side surfaces 2 a letter sequence "ABC" is shown, which is different from the base area 2 B raised to the outside raises. The letter sequence is made of the second plastic material 13 manufactured.

In the manufacturing process, first a base body made of a first plastic 12 made, wel the geometry of the box in the area of the side surfaces 2 B Are defined. This base body is encapsulated in a second injection molding step, wherein the base body to the structures of the surfaces 2a . 2c and the raises 10 is supplemented. Here it is only a matter of design, whether the bottom of the box and / or the internal structures, in particular the compartment walls which are to receive the bottles in the first injection process, ie from the first plastic, or in the second injection process and thus from the second plastic, to be manufactured. It is also conceivable, first the structure of the box with the surfaces 2a and 2c and the sublime structure 10 made from the second plastic and below the range 2 B to add from the first plastic.

The box also has lateral handle openings in the illustrated embodiment 5 on and a center handle located in the box interior 4 , These grip areas are advantageously coated with a thermoplastic elastomer in order to improve the haptic properties. 1 also shows an indentation in the form of an "X" at the lower right-hand corner of the right-hand side surface, which is to be understood as a placeholder for other information which may be represented here. For example. can the type of box like:
20 × 0.5 l be shown at this point. The shape of the X is engraved inwardly, leaving its shape from the second plastic material 13 the area 2a is surrounded. The area of the letter X can be considered a breakthrough through the wall 2a be understood, so that lying behind material of the first plastic material 12 becomes visible. The cut YY the 3 shows a vertical section through the middle of the letter "X." The section shows a visible area 21 of the first plastic material 12 , The first plastic material 12 extends below the visible area 21 in a conveyor channel 22 which is directly connected to the injection point (not shown) of the injection molding tool of the first plastic material. This injection point can be arranged on any position of the box, moreover, several injection points can be provided.

2 shows a section XX through the in 1 represented letter "A." From a basic level 3 Starting from the rise rises 10 of the letter "A" which is made of the second plastic material 13 is made while its surroundings are made of the first plastic material 12 consists. The upper half of the letter "A" (cf. 1 ) comprises an inner surface 12a made of the first plastic 12 Shaped and towards box exterior complete with the second plastic 13 is surrounded. 2 further shows a channel structure 14 , visible from the visible outer surface of the sidewall 2 the box is located and which with an injection point of the second plastic material 13 connected is. Injection molding is via this channel structure 14 the second plastic material 13 to the area of the letter "A." The structure of the inner surface 12a is designed as a bridge, which in the representation of 1 extends to the left and right.

In summary, the in 2 illustrated letter sequence "ABC" relative to the surrounding side surface 2 B above, or increased. The side surface 2 B in turn, is opposite the surfaces 2a and 2c relocated or deepened. So you can say that the location of the surface of the letter sequence is essentially the location of the side surfaces 2a and 2c equivalent. On the other hand, it can also be offset inwards by a certain amount, so that two similar boxes placed next to each other do not occur in the area of the letter sequence but in the area of the side areas 2a and 2c touch. Generally speaking, in addition to representations raises, which are a lettering or a company logo represent, further box geometry-forming elevations (ie surfaces 2a and 2c ) are present on the same side surface which protrude at least as far as to protect the illustrative elevations.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• - DE 102007002368 [0002]

Claims (10)

Box ( 1 ) made of plastic, in particular bottle crate, with a box bottom and four circumferentially arranged side walls ( 2 ), wherein the box of at least a first and a second plastic material ( 12 . 13 ) is manufactured with preferably different colors by injection molding and on the outside of the side walls ( 2 ) at least one increase ( 10 ) or depression ( 25 ), characterized in that, at least one transition from the first to the second plastic material ( 12 . 13 ) in the area of increase ( 10 ) or depression ( 25 ) lies. Box according to claim 1 characterized characterized in that the transition from the first to the second Plastic material at the foot of the increase lies. Box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the increase ( 10 ) or depression ( 25 ) is spaced from the upper edge and / or the lower edge of the sidewalls of the box and / or further from gripping areas. Box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the increase ( 10 ) or depression ( 25 ) is encircling at least one vertical edge of the side walls of the box and in particular a circulating a box of a depression / increase is formed. Box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the increase ( 10 ) an outwardly tapering shape and / or the recess ( 25 ) has an inwardly tapered shape. Box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the projecting edges of the elevation ( 10 ) or depression ( 25 ) are rounded. Box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the increase ( 10 ) or depression ( 25 ) stands out in relief from a corresponding base, that a lettering, a symbol, in particular a logo, or any other perceptible representation is formed. Box according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that within the increase or Deepen at least one more depression or increase is arranged, the plastic material of the surrounding Increase or depression deviates. Method for producing a box ( 1 ) made of plastic, in particular a bottle crate, with a box bottom and four circumferentially arranged side walls ( 2 ), wherein in a first injection molding step, a first plastic material ( 12 ) and in a subsequent injection molding step, a following plastic material ( 13 ) with one of the first plastic material ( 12 ) is used, characterized in that at least one transition from the first to the following plastic material is located on the side walls in the region of an elevation or depression. A method according to claim 9 characterized characterized in that the following injection molding step in another Injection molding tool is performed as the first injection molding step.