DE102020201578A1 - Method of packaging a product - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for packaging a product with a biodegradable film comprises the following process steps: - providing the product to be packaged, - at least partially surrounding the product with a biodegradable film, - welding the film at a temperature in the range from 100 ° C to 140 ° C, shrinkage of the film at a temperature in the range from 80 ° C to 150 ° C.

Description

The invention relates to a method for packaging a product.

Processes of the type in question have been known from practice for years. For example, a product is provided with a shrink film packaging, the shrink film usually consisting of polyethylene or polyolefin. Corresponding materials are characterized by the fact that they are extremely easy to handle and, in particular, are insensitive to welding and shrinking.

The film stored on a roll is placed around the product to be packaged and then separated from the roll. In the next step, the open ends of the film are welded together. The product welded into the film is then subjected to a heat treatment in order to shrink the film onto the product. As already stated above, in the method known from the prior art, a film made of polyethylene or polyolefin is used, since these are sufficiently robust for use as packaging films and can be welded and shrunk particularly easily.

A major disadvantage of the known film packaging is that it contributes to the steadily growing amount of plastic waste. Plastic packaging makes a significant contribution to environmental pollution, namely the so-called litter problem. Since, according to the current state of knowledge, plastic cannot be decomposed by microorganisms, plastic waste does not rot. This means that plastic particles are only crushed more and more by external forces, for example in the world's oceans, but the substance itself does not break down. Corresponding microplastic particles accumulate in fish and other marine life, for example, and thus also find their way into the human food chain.

In the context of sustainable management, however, simply doing without packaging is not an alternative, since the packaging is necessary for a longer shelf life of the packaged products or for their protection.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of designing and developing a method of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that environmentally friendly packaging of products is made possible with structurally simple means.

• - Bereitstellen des zu verpackenden Produkts,
• - zumindest bereichsweises Umgeben des Produkts mit einer biologisch abbaubaren Folie,
• - Schweißen der Folie bei einer Temperatur im Bereich von 100 °C bis 140°C,
• - ggf. Schrumpfen der Folie bei einer Temperatur im Bereich von 80°C bis 150°C.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by the features of claim 1. This specifies a method for packaging a product with a biodegradable film, which has the following method steps:

• - Provision of the product to be packaged,
• - at least partially surrounding the product with a biodegradable film,
• - welding the foil at a temperature in the range from 100 ° C to 140 ° C,
• - if necessary, shrinking of the film at a temperature in the range from 80 ° C to 150 ° C.

In the manner according to the invention, it was first recognized that the underlying object can be achieved in an amazingly simple manner by using a biodegradable film for packaging the product. Contrary to a prejudice of experts, such a film can also be used for packaging the product, namely by adapting the temperature range accordingly during the welding and possibly during the shrinking of the film.

At this point it is first pointed out that the individual steps of the method according to the invention do not necessarily have to be carried out in the order described, the order described being advantageous. Furthermore, it is conceivable that additional method steps are carried out before, between or after the method steps described above.

To carry out the method according to the invention, the product to be packaged is provided. The term product is to be understood in the broadest sense. This can be any object or any goods, in particular building materials, for example plaster profiles, plaster fabrics, etc., drinks containers or food. Furthermore, several products can also be packaged together, with one product being referred to below for the sake of simplicity, but also encompassing a large number of - possibly different - products. Furthermore, the product could be surrounded by a banderole. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the product is provided and is initially surrounded with at least one band before the further process steps are carried out.

The product to be packaged is then at least partially surrounded by a biodegradable film. It is particularly conceivable here that the film is arranged around the product in such a way that the film has the shape of a half-tube. It is also advantageous here if the half-tube surrounds the product at some distance, so that subsequent shrinking-on of the film is made possible.

If the film is provided from a roll, this is cut off, in particular after the film has been arranged around the product. The open areas of the film are then welded, for example at least two film layers are welded to one another. In a particularly advantageous manner, the cutting and welding can be carried out essentially simultaneously by the same device. In other words, the cutting device can be heated at the same time, so that with or immediately after cutting through the film, it is welded. According to the invention, it has been recognized that the film can be welded if this takes place at a temperature in the range from 100.degree. C. to 140.degree. The specified temperature can relate in particular to the temperature of the component or its surface, for example a strip, a bar, a cutting edge or the like that welds the film. Depending on how the film is arranged around the product, it is possible, for example, to apply one weld seam in the longitudinal direction of the product and two weld seams in the transverse direction of the product.

In a further advantageous manner, it is possible that after the film has been welded, the film is shrunk at a temperature in the range from 80.degree. C. to 150.degree. With this optional additional process step, shrink film packaging with a biodegradable film can be implemented in the simplest possible way.

To understand the term “cutting” in the broadest sense, it is about any type of cutting through the film, whereby a cutting edge in the mechanical sense does not necessarily have to be used.

In the context of this disclosure, the expression “biodegradable film” describes a film that consists of a material that can be composted or decomposed within a short period of time, for example a few weeks. This decomposition essentially creates biomass and other decomposition products, such as water and carbon dioxide.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the film consists at least partially of polybutylene succinate (PBS). In particular, it is conceivable that the main granulate from which the film is made is based on PBS. A corresponding film has the advantage that it can be composted particularly quickly and in an uncomplicated manner and, furthermore, is sufficiently robust to be used for packaging a product in the manner according to the invention. It is also conceivable that a film is used which is made from a different main granulate, the main granulate being biodegradable and being able to be implemented on the basis of starch.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the method, it is possible that the film is a half film. A film that is folded along its longitudinal direction and then wound up on a roll, for example, is referred to as a half-film. An essential advantage of such a semi-film is that the film is unfolded after unwinding and the product to be packaged and the film are fed to one another in such a way that the product is essentially positioned on and / or at the fold of the film. As a result, a substantial part of the product is already surrounded by the film in a simple manner, so that the packaging process is considerably simplified.

In order to ensure that the film is sufficiently robust and can be processed in the manner according to the invention, it can particularly advantageously have a thickness in the range from 15 μm to 90 μm, in particular from 25 μm to 80 μm.

If the film has a thickness in the range from 25 µm to 80 µm, welding can be carried out at a temperature in the range from 115 ° C to 135 ° C, in particular 120 ° C to 135 ° C, preferably 123 ° C to 130 ° C, respectively. Alternatively or additionally, the film can be welded over a period in the range from 0.20 sec to 0.80 sec, in particular from 0.25 sec to 0.75 sec, preferably from 0.25 sec to 0.70 sec.

In a further advantageous manner, with a thickness of the film in the range from 25 μm to 80 μm, the shrinking can be carried out in a device which enables an upper heat and a lower heat to be set, advantageously an upper heat in the range from 125.degree. C. to 150.degree in particular 130 ° C to 145 ° C, preferably 135 ° C to 140 °, and a bottom heat in the range 100 ° C to 125 ° C, in particular 105 ° C to 120 ° C, preferably 110 ° C to 115 ° C. This ensures that the film shrinks without the film being damaged, for example melting. Alternatively or additionally, the film can be conveyed through a heated area at a speed of 8 m / min to 16 m / min, in particular from 10 m / min to 12 m / min, preferably 12 m / min, to carry out the shrinking.

In the table below, particularly advantageous parameters for the temperatures during welding and shrinking and for the duration of welding and shrinking are given for a given thickness of the biodegradable film. The shrink time indicates the speed at which the product passes through the device used for shrinking. For example, this can be a shrink tunnel, the product being brought through the heated shrink tunnel with a conveyor device, in particular on a conveyor belt. Film thickness Welding temperature Welding time Top heat shrinking Bottom heat shrinking Shrink time [µm] [° C] [sec] [° C] [° C] [m / min] 25th 123 0.25 to 135 110 12th 0.70 30th 123 0.25 to 135 110 12th 0.70 35 123 0.25 to 135 110 12th 0.70 40 123 to 125 0.25 to 135 110 12th 0.70 50 125 to 127 0.25 to 140 115 12th 0.70 60 125 to 127 0.25 to 140 115 12th 0.70 80 127 to 130 0.25 to 140 115 12th 0.70

In a further advantageous manner, the welding of the film can be carried out in an automatic welding machine or the cutting and welding of the film can be carried out in an automatic cutting / welding machine. Alternatively or additionally, the shrinking of the film can take place in a shrink tunnel, preferably a shrink tunnel with separate adjustment of the upper and lower heat. It is conceivable that the heated air is directed around the film to be shrunk in a targeted manner. In this way, the method according to the invention can be carried out at least partially in an automated manner, so that a larger number of products can be packaged in a short time. Furthermore, it can be ensured in this way that the process parameters, for example temperature, duration of the welding process and the shrinking process, etc., are adhered to.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the product can be arranged on a conveyor belt in order to be brought into an automatic welding and cutting machine. There the product can be surrounded with the biodegradable film. The film can then be automatically cut along the product and before and after it and at the same time welded at the appropriate temperature. The film with a thickness of approx. 25 µm to 35 µm is welded here, for example, at approx. 123 ° C and must not have too much play, otherwise the shrinkage will not function optimally. The welded product can then run over a conveyor belt to the shrink tunnel. With this film, the shrink tunnel must be set extremely precisely to a defined temperature, for example to an upper heat of 135 ° C and a lower heat of 110 ° C. If the temperature is too low, the film does not shrink; if the temperature is too high, the film melts together. The packaged product can then be removed from or removed from the shrink tunnel.

• einzige Fig. ein Blockdiagramm zur Beschreibung eines Ausführungsbeispiels des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

There are now various possibilities for designing and developing the teaching of the present invention in an advantageous manner. For this purpose, reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to claim 1 and, on the other hand, to the following explanation of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing. In connection with the explanation of the preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawing, generally preferred configurations and developments of the teaching are also explained. In the drawing shows the

• single figure shows a block diagram for describing an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

The figure shows a block diagram to illustrate the individual method steps of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention.

Then the first step is 1 first the product to be packaged or the products to be packaged are provided. The product or the multiple products can optionally be surrounded by a banderole or combined with a banderole, although this does not necessarily have to be done.

In a second step 2 the product is at least partially surrounded by a biodegradable film. The film can surround the product in such a way that a half-tube is realized which is arranged around the product. If necessary, the film must also be cut off.

In the third method step shown in the single figure 3 the foil is welded. The welding of the foil can take place at the same time as the cutting of the foil, so that the second process step 2 and the third step 3 take place essentially simultaneously or in quick succession. It is also essential that the welding is carried out in a temperature range of 100 ° C to 140 ° C. In particular, it is conceivable that the film surrounding the product is cut and welded along the product and before and after the product. One area at a time can be cut and then welded so that the film is cut and welded three times in succession at different points.

There is also a fourth process step 4th shown, in which the film is shrunk in a temperature range of 80 ° C to 150 ° C, so that the product is provided with a shrink film packaging as a whole.

With regard to further advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention, reference is made to the general part of the description and to the appended claims in order to avoid repetition.

Finally, it should be expressly pointed out that the above-described exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention only serve to explain the teaching claimed, but do not restrict them to the exemplary embodiments.

List of reference symbols

1

first procedural step

2

second procedural step

3

third process step

4th

fourth procedural step

Claims (10)

A method for packaging a product with a biodegradable film, comprising the following process steps: providing the product to be packaged, at least partially surrounding the product with a biodegradable film, welding the film at a temperature in the range from 100 ° C to 140 ° C, - if necessary, shrinking of the film at a temperature in the range from 80 ° C to 150 ° C. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the film consists at least partially of polybutylene succinate (PBS). Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the film is a semi-film. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the film has a thickness in the range from 15 µm to 90 µm, in particular from 25 µm to 80 µm. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 4th , characterized in that with a thickness of the film in the range from 25 µm to 80 µm the welding at a temperature in the range from 115 ° C to 135 ° C, in particular 120 ° C to 135 ° C, preferably 123 ° C to 130 ° C, takes place. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the film is welded over a period in the range from 0.20 sec to 0.80 sec, in particular from 0.25 sec to 0.75 sec, preferably from 0.25 sec to 0.70 sec . Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 6th , characterized in that with a thickness of the film in the range from 25 µm to 80 µm, the shrinkage at top heat in the range from 125 ° C to 150 ° C, in particular 130 ° C to 145 ° C, preferably 135 ° C to 140 ° , and with a bottom heat in the range from 100 ° C to 125 ° C, in particular 105 ° C to 120 ° C, preferably 110 ° C to 115 °. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 7th , characterized in that the film for performing the shrinking is conveyed through a heated area at a speed of 8 m / min to 16 m / min, in particular 10 m / min to 14 m / min, preferably 12 m / min. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 8th , characterized in that the welding of the foil is carried out in an automatic welding machine or that the cutting and welding of the foil is carried out in an automatic cutting / welding machine. Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the shrinking of the film is carried out in a shrink tunnel.

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