DE60309920T2 - PACKAGING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

A product containerisation system comprising a solid item having at least one hollow containing a secondary composition retained in said at least one hollow by a water soluble or water-dispersible polymeric film sealed to the solid item around the rim of said at least one hollow.

Description

The The invention relates to a new packaging system for a product which comprises simplified packaging process, greater protection against mechanical damage in transit, advantages in the exhibition and a relief when issued by a user.

• • Die Tabletten werden fließverpackt (flow-wrapped). Die Fließverpackung ist die Primärverpackung, welche die Tablette gegen die Aufnahme von Feuchtigkeit schützt und einen begrenzten Schutz gegen mechanische Beschädigungen bietet. Bis die Primärverpackung geöffnet wurde, ist der Benutzer vor einem physischen Kontakt mit dem Produkt geschützt, was dann von Bedeutung ist, wenn das Produkt gefährlich ist, beispielsweise die Haut reizen kann.
• • Die fließverpackten Tabletten brauchen nun eine Sekundärverpackung in einer Art von Verkaufspackung. Typischerweise besteht die Sekundärverpackung aus einem bedruckten Karton, welcher aus Pappe oder Wellpappe hergestellt ist.
• • Die Verkaufskartons werden dann in einem aus Wellpappe bestehenden Versandkarton, d.h. der Tertiärverpackung verpackt.

The packaging of many products requires more than one packaging step. These are described as primary packaging, secondary packaging, tertiary packaging, etc., and can be explained, for example, in the packaging of tablets which must be protected against mechanical damage and environmental damage, ie against breakage or exposure to the humidity of the environment. To meet these needs, tablets are packaged as follows:

• • The tablets are flow wrapped. The flow wrap is the primary wrapper that protects the tablet against moisture absorption and provides limited protection against mechanical damage. Until the primary package is opened, the user is protected from physical contact with the product, which is important if the product is dangerous, such as irritating the skin.
• • The flow wrap tablets now need a secondary packaging in a sort of sales pack. Typically, the secondary packaging consists of a printed carton, which is made of cardboard or corrugated cardboard.
• • The sales boxes are then packed in a corrugated shipping box, ie the tertiary packaging.

This Example explained the number of packaging processes that are required necessary protection of the tablets between their manufacture and their use. Needed in this example the tablet is a primary packaging (the flow wrapper), a secondary packaging (the sales box) and a tertiary packaging (the shipping or Shipping box). Despite experiencing these three levels of packaging the flow packed Tablets only a limited protection against mechanical damage. Because the flow wrapped Tablets are packed loose in the sales box, every movement, especially stronger movement, in the flow wrap cause the tablets to come into contact with each other, what possibly leads to damage. if irritate or for a tablet the user is otherwise dangerous, the user, before removing the tablet, remove the flow wrap material, which makes him or her a possible one Risk exposes. Furthermore, the flow wrap material is now waste and must be disposed of.

packaging systems for products have been developed that involve a product or products on one Page, hereafter called the top, attached to a flat board will, which subsequently is folded into a package. This means that a number can be combined by packaging steps, resulting in at least a packaging process is avoided and at the same time a higher degree of protection for the Products against mechanical attachment and increased convenience for the Consumer is achieved.

The US-A-4411364 describes a product packaging system for a liquid or liquid semi-solid product contained in a sealed bag is, wherein the bag on a substrate made of cardboard through a plastic skin is attached. The bag will be on the substrate immobilized by the skin to the possibility that the bag leaking or because of "wave effect" of the product due to of movement or punches during shipping and distribution rips. The bag forms the primary packaging of the product and the plastic skin forms the secondary packaging. The skin can be destroyed so as to remove the bag undamaged with the product sealed therein can be torn and then the bag can be torn to the Release product.

Declaration of invention

According to the invention is a Packaging system for a product according to claim 1 suggested.

film packaging is a term used by the person skilled in the art to which the description pertains applies, and provides a method for producing a Foil of polymeric material over objects which is on a reinforcement sheet or Cardboard are arranged.

An example, which is in no way limiting, in the preferred embodiment may be tablets as products, which are arranged exactly in two groups of 8, so that the tablets total 16 tablets per reinforcement arch. The reinforcing sheet, already pre-cut and folded as necessary, with the two groups of 8 tablets each already placed in predetermined positions, is then either manually or automatically placed in a foil packaging machine and a sheet of suitable water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer film preferably a water-soluble one Film consisting essentially of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) is placed over the sheet and the 16 tablets. During the foil packing process is the polymer film is heated and then sucked down onto the tablets by a vacuum created either from below or from the sides or from below and from the sides of the reinforcement sheet. Because of the vacuum, the heated polymer film adheres to the contours of the tablets to form a dense skin which is heat sealed simultaneously with the heat activated coating on the surface of the backing sheet. Particulars of this process are described in the specification of European patent no. EP 0742778 entitled "Skin Package".

Of the The purpose is to enable the user to get the product out of the Reinforcement arch from Remove hand by simply giving a limited force with one Rotational motion is applied so that the product roughly along the Level can be snapped, where the polymer film with the coating connected to the flat arch. After free flipping of the product the user is protected against skin contact with the product since the "skin" formed by the polymer film her place to that part of the product remains, which with the user's hand in touch stands. Once the user releases the last product from the reinforcement sheet has removed, the reinforcing arc Waste and may according to the composition of the polymer film recycled or composted.

Of the Polymer film and the film packaging parameters must be chosen so that a transparent, but deliberately embrittled Film is produced after film wrapping process has been completed. The polymer film is used for easier removal of the products by a number of means brittle. Some polymer films are weak enough to be easily used by the user to be broken and at the same time strong enough to create a pack which resists their life. If a special embrittlement or weakening of the polymer film for A special application is required, this can be done by a Combination of film choice (polymer type, quality and thickness) the drawing depth of the polymer film the product and the time, temperature and air evacuation parameters of the film wrapping process. The specialist this area is capable of the most appropriate combination of polymer film and process parameters to choose the degree of embrittlement too generate that for the particular application is required. In this context means the degree of required embrittlement required for the particular application is that any user of the product has the power, the product from the flat sheet by simply twisting the product.

The product

at the example described below as a preferred embodiment a tablet was used to illustrate products which can be packaged using the invention. The However, the invention is by no means limited to the packaging of a solid body or one tablet. Any three-dimensional solid product can be advantageously be packaged using the invention, especially those where protection and ease of use are beneficial and which are packaged for sale in multiple units.

The nature of the flat arch

The planar arc may be any material which has the ability to be subsequently folded to form a container. Examples of materials which can be used as a planar sheet are corrugated fibreboard, cardboard, folding carton, a transparent or opaque polymeric sheet, a ribbed polymeric extrusion such as one which is made of polypropylene and marketed under the trade name Correx ^®, or any other Material which is conveniently foldable. It should be understood that these examples of materials that can be used as a planar sheet include both porous and non-porous materials.

at a preferred embodiment the invention, the flat sheet is a foil panel, which for example Made from corrugated cardboard, which is on one or both sides was printed and then with a convenient heat-activated coating on their top was provided. On the top of this slide panel is the product or products to be packaged arranged.

If A folded carton is required, the foil panel on its lower surface printed, folded and cut in such a way that a subsequent one Folding and building optimally possible is.

Prefers the product or products are applied to the flat sheet by means of Film packaging using a water-soluble or water-dispersible Attached polymer film.

One An example of a useful cold water soluble film is that of L330 known, which is sold by Aquafilm Limited.

When the film wrapping is performed, the flat sheet can be made from a variety of materials, some of which are po rosy and some non-porous. It should be noted that the term non-porous in this context describes materials that do not permit the passage of air when one side of the material is exposed to negative pressure with respect to the other side. Regardless of whether porous or non-porous, in the case of film packaging, the flat sheet is referred to here as a film panel.

If The user intends to make the product into a significant amount aqueous Environment, the polymer film is a water-soluble or water-dispersible film, preferably one based on polyvinyl alcohol. Depending on the properties of the selected film, the water-soluble or water-dispersible film completely at each water temperature between 5 ° C and 95 ° C dissolve or disperse. at such an application needed the tablet is no longer protective Primary packaging, i.e. the polymer film to be removed by the user but there is no need for this because of the water solubility. The Tablet can still be in the whole or part of its primary packaging either in an output device (for example in the case of a dishwasher) or in a situation where the aqueous environment subsequently generates is (for example in the case of a textile washing machine) or directly into a considerably watery Environment (for example, in the case of pesticides, thrown into a water-filled spray tank become). If the product is or contains a compound possibly toxic or harmful or harmful that is in a considerably watery Environment, the soluble film is particularly advantageous since this does not require the user to touch the product before outputting.

Examples of products suitably using the invention can be packed are toilet stones, dyes, pesticides, Cleaning agents, surface care agents, Concrete aggregates, although these examples are in no way exhaustive or restrictive.

Around Practicing the invention, these products are preferred in the form of three-dimensional solids, such as tablets, presented. However, it was found that by hollowing out the surface the three-dimensional solid, around one or more cavities to generate one or more components of such a tablet, one Powder, a liquid or a gel in the cavity or cavities before the foil packaging filled become. For reasons Clarity should be noted that in the case of multiple cavities one with a liquid and another may be filled with a gel, etc. In this embodiment can be the three-dimensional solid or at least its outer surface and consequently the cavities forming surfaces be coated with the same or a different coating, such as the foil panel, with the result that during the film wrap the polymer film around the edge of the or cavities on the sealed three-dimensional solid is in the same way as he to the foil panel the three-dimensional solid is sealed. By this means, in the embodiment, in which the polymer film is water-soluble or water-dispersible, a water-soluble capsule or a series of such Capsules, each containing a tablet, powder, liquid or gel composition contained, within the or the cavities are created. The Capsule or capsules can subsequently be used as Part of a multi-component product consisting of the three-dimensional solid and the one or more in the cavities or arranged capsule or Capsules, as one piece Unit are issued. It is obvious that in this embodiment the method described above for producing a water-soluble Capsule or a series of such capsules are performed can, without necessarily the three-dimensional solid on a level in the same process. If the three-dimensional solid not on a flat surface is attached in the same process, the polymer film can um the circumference of the product are pruned to the capsule or capsules on the three-dimensional solid to be attached.

It is obvious that in the case where the surface of the was excavated in a three-dimensional object to create one or more cavities, each of which can be filled with one or more compositions, the one-piece the water-soluble Capsule or capsules is maintained when the three-dimensional solid is snapped off the foil panel.

Wrinkles and construction

at the preferred embodiment Then, the film panel is covered with those covered by a polymer film Products fed to a carton construction machine, where they become a box is built. The carton can be constructed for use as a sales carton be which for the exhibition is suitable on the shelf of a supermarket or for any other Purpose.

The foil sheet with the foil-coated tablets is thus assembled into a carton in a single on-line process, eliminating the primary and secondary packaging steps of a typical packaging process. The construction and filling of a typical carton is thus avoided according to the invention, with the secondary packaging being carried out in the same process as the primary packaging, which offers the possibility of reducing the manufacturing costs and at the same time facilitating the use of the tablet by the user.

alternative can fold the foil panel with the product attached to it into an open-ended square or rectangular "roll" of products. each Panel of the roll may have at least one product mounted thereon. Dependent on of the size and shape However, the product and the required shape of the roll can be used Panels with alternating panels, products mounted on them have, be arranged.

By these methods, which are not limiting in the context of the invention, Any object can be against mechanical damage due to the fact protected be that the foil-wrapped items are prevented from each other in physical contact while protecting against environmental damage.

In the preferred embodiment, the sheet containing the film wrapped articles may be manually or automatically folded using conventional construction techniques. This can be done with reference to the 1 and 2 to be discribed.

1 shows the flat shape of the panel, where the items X are already attached to carefully selected points.

• 1. Das Paneel b wird um die Linie 2 auf 90° zum Paneel d gefaltet.
• 2. Das Paneel f wird um die Linie 4 auf 90° zum Paneel d gefaltet.
• 3. Das Paneel i wird um die Linie 14 auf 90° zum Paneel 9 gefaltet.
• 4. Die Lasche cc wird um die Linie 7 auf 90° zum Paneel i gefaltet. Während dieser Bewegung wird sie im Schlitz ccc angeordnet, was das Verriegeln der Lasche cc hinter dem geformten Schlitz ccc ermöglicht und somit das Herausfallen der Lasche cc verhindert.
• 5. Die Lasche ff wird um die Linie 10 auf 90° zum Paneel i gefaltet. Während dieser Bewegung wird sie in ähnlicher Weise im Schlitz fff angeordnet, was zu einem Tablett mit drei geschlossenen Seiten führt.
• 6. Das Paneel h wird um die Linie 13 auf 90° zum Paneel d gefaltet.
• 7. Die Lasche bb wird um die Linie 6 auf 90° zum Paneel h gefaltet und während dieser Bewegung wird sie in dem Schlitz bbb angeordnet, wodurch die Lasche bb am Herausfallen gehindert wird.
• 8. Die Lasche ee wird um die Linie 9 auf 90° zum Paneel h gefaltet und während dieser Bewegung wird sie ähnlich im Schlitz eee angeordnet, was zu einem Tablett mit vier geschlossenen Seiten führt.
• 9. Das Paneel a wird um die Linie 1 auf 90° zum Paneel c gefaltet.
• 10. Das Paneel e wird um die Linie 3 auf 90° zum Paneel c gefaltet.
• 11. Das Paneel g wird um die Linie 11 auf 90° zum Paneel c gefaltet.
• 12. Die Lasche aa wird um die Linie 5 auf 90° zum Paneel g gefaltet und während dieser Bewegung wird sie im Schlitz aaa angeordnet und am Herausfallen gehindert.
• 13. Die Lasche dd wird um die Linie 8 auf 90° zum Paneel g gefaltet und während dieser Bewegung im Schlitz ddd angeordnet und somit am Herausfallen gehindert.
• 14. Dies liefert ein zweites Tablett mit drei geschlossenen Seiten.
• 15. Die Tafel hat nun zwei oben offene Tabletts mit drei geschlossenen Seiten, die in der Mitte durch das Paneel h miteinander verbunden sind.
• 16. Das als Paneel c gezeigte Tablettende wird dann um die Linie 12 auf 90° zum Paneel h gefaltet, wobei die Paneele a und e sich über die Außenseite der Paneele b und f falten, so dass sich die beiden Tabletts schließen, um einen Behälter zu bilden.
• 17. Zum Zeitpunkt des Schließens kann beispielsweise Klebstoff in kleinen Punkten an der Außenseite des Paneels i aufgetragen werden. Alternative Verfahren zum Schließen von Kartons können ebenfalls verwendet werden.
• 18. Wenn die Tabletts zusammengefaltet sind, klebt der Klebstoff sowohl an der Außenseite des Paneels i als auch an der Innenseite des Paneels g und bildet einen zweckdienlichen Verschluss der Verpackung, welche Sicherheit ergibt und verhindert, dass sich die Tabletts öffnen und die verpackten Gegenstände beschädigt werden.

2 shows the same board complete with already attached objects X in a semi-erect state. To facilitate the understanding of the construction process are in 2 the products X not shown.

• 1. The panel b will be around the line 2 folded to 90 ° to the panel d.
• 2. The panel f will be around the line 4 folded to 90 ° to the panel d.
• 3. The panel i will go around the line 14 at 90 ° to the panel 9 folded.
• 4. The tab cc will be around the line 7 folded at 90 ° to the panel i. During this movement, it is placed in the slot ccc, which makes it possible to lock the tab cc behind the shaped slot ccc, thus preventing the tab cc from falling out.
• 5. The tab ff will be around the line 10 folded at 90 ° to the panel i. During this movement, it is similarly placed in slot fff, resulting in a tray with three closed sides.
• 6. The panel h will be around the line 13 folded to 90 ° to the panel d.
• 7. The tab bb gets around the line 6 folded at 90 ° to the panel h and during this movement, it is placed in the slot bbb, whereby the tab bb is prevented from falling out.
• 8. The flap ee is around the line 9 folded at 90 ° to the panel h and during this movement it is similarly placed in the slot eee, resulting in a tray with four sides closed.
• 9. The panel a will be around the line 1 folded to 90 ° to the panel c.
• 10. The panel e will be around the line 3 folded to 90 ° to the panel c.
• 11. The g panel will be around the line 11 folded to 90 ° to the panel c.
• 12. The tab aa is around the line 5 folded at 90 ° to the panel g and during this movement it is placed in the slot aaa and prevented from falling out.
• 13. The tab dd will be around the line 8th folded at 90 ° to the panel g and placed during this movement in the slot ddd and thus prevented from falling out.
• 14. This provides a second tray with three closed sides.
• 15. The board now has two trays open at the top, with three sides closed, joined together in the middle by the panel h.
• 16. The tablet end shown as panel c will then go around the line 12 folded at 90 ° to the panel h, with the panels a and e folding over the outside of the panels b and f so that the two trays close to form a container.
• 17. At the time of closing, for example, adhesive may be applied in small spots on the outside of panel i. Alternative methods of closing cartons may also be used.
• 18. When the trays are collapsed, the adhesive sticks to both the outside of the panel i and the inside of the panel g and forms a convenient closure of the package which provides security and prevents the trays from opening and damaging the packaged items become.

If the consumer wishes to use an article from the closed container, he should break the bond described in step (17) above and open the sales carton by folding it around the line 12 expose. The container can then be closed again to protect its contents.

Another embodiment in which the panel is folded into an open ended "roll" of articles is shown in FIGS 3 and 4 veran shows. Although the 3 and 4 show a square roll of objects, this is in no way limiting and a rectangular roll of objects is equally preferred.

3 shows the flat spread shape of the panel, where the items X are already attached to carefully selected points.

• 1. Das Paneel A wird um die Linie 1 auf 90° zum Paneel B gefaltet.
• 2. Die Paneele A und B werden um die Linie 2 auf 90° zum Paneel C gefaltet.
• 3. Die Paneele A, B und C werden um die Linie 3 auf 90° zum Paneel D gefaltet. Da die Abmessungen der Paneele A, B, C und D identisch sind, führt dies zu einer quadratischen Rolle von Gegenständen.
• 4. Die Paneele A, B, C, D werden um die Linie 4 auf 90° zum Paneel E gefaltet.
• 5. Das Paneel A liegt nun parallel und innerhalb des Paneels E.
• 6. Das Paneel F wird um die Linie 5 auf 90° zum Paneel E gefaltet.
• 7. Das Paneel G wird um die Linie 6 auf 90° zum Paneel F gefaltet.
• 8. Letztlich wird das Paneel H um die Linie 7 auf 90° zum Paneel G gefaltet.
• 9. Dies führt dazu, dass das Paneel H parallel zu und innerhalb des Paneels D liegt.

In this embodiment, the panel containing the items X is folded in the following sequence:

• 1. Panel A is going around the line 1 folded at 90 ° to the panel B.
• 2. Panels A and B are around the line 2 folded to 90 ° to the panel C.
• 3. Panels A, B and C will be around the line 3 folded at 90 ° to the panel D. Since the dimensions of the panels A, B, C and D are identical, this results in a square roll of articles.
• 4. Panels A, B, C, D are around the line 4 folded at 90 ° to the panel E.
• 5. The panel A is now parallel and inside the panel E.
• 6. The panel F will be around the line 5 folded at 90 ° to the panel E.
• 7. The panel G will be around the line 6 folded to 90 ° to the panel F.
• 8. Finally, the panel H will be around the line 7 folded at 90 ° to the panel G.
• 9. This results in the panel H lying parallel to and inside the panel D.

The square role of objects becomes then as a pack by usual Attached means, i. For example, latch straps, adhesive or Velcro, in a convenient location between panels D and H.

It It can be seen that the widths of the panels E, F, G and H carefully and chosen consciously were to be sufficiently larger than the transverse dimension of the panels A, B, C and D to be, so that the first square or rectangular "roll" of objects X on can be built into a second square roll of objects X, without being attached to the first square roll of objects objects X the back of touching the second square roll of articles forming panel. If required, the board can over the panel H extends Become more square roles of items in the To include packaging and in any case, the transverse dimension of the four panels must be the following square rollers each sufficiently larger than the previous one be square roll.

A package consisting of a square roll of objects will thus, as in 4 illustrated, wherein the film-coated articles are clearly visible through both ends of the open roll.

5 is a schematic view of the square roll of objects according to 4 , The inner panels A, B, C, D are illustrated in more detail. The polymer film 101 overlays the products X and a page in general 103 flat sheet through a foil wrapping process. A twisting of the product X about the axis 105 across the arch 103 shears the movie 101 around the perimeter 107 of the product near the plane arc. The detail of the polymer film is not illustrated for the remainder of the square roll, however, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that this extends across all illustrated X products.

at all Illustrated examples is the removal of each product from the reinforcement panel, by the product and the above lying film lying around an axis transverse to the reinforcement panel is twisted so that the film is close to the perimeter of the product the board cuts off.

Claims (10)

Packaging system for a product which is created by having at least one product (X) on one side of a flat sheet ( 103 ) is attached by a polymer film ( 101 ) over the product (X) and one side of the flat sheet ( 103 ) is overlaid by a film wrapping process and then the flat bottom ( 103 ) is folded into an erect container or package, characterized in that the polymer film ( 101 ) is water-soluble or dispersible in water and forms the main packaging for the product (X), the polymer film ( 101 ) is selected and arranged such that rotation of the product (X) and the overlying film ( 101 ) about an axis ( 105 ) across the flat arc ( 103 ) the polymer film ( 101 ) in general by the extent ( 107 ) of the product (X) near the flat arc ( 103 ) peels off. Packaging system according to claim 1, wherein the polymer film ( 101 ) is embrittled or otherwise weakened in order to prevent the polymer film from shearing off ( 101 ) for easy removal of the product (X). Packaging system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the polymer film ( 101 ) is essentially made of polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH). Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flat sheet ( 103 ) a fibrous corrugated board, cardboard or foldable cardboard is. Packaging system according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the flat sheet ( 103 ) is non-porous to the passage of air when one side of the plane arc ( 103 ) is exposed to a vacuum. Packaging system according to claim 5, wherein the non-porous sheet ( 103 ) is a polymeric sheet or a ribbed extruded polymeric material. Packaging system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flat sheet ( 103 ) comprises a series of panels (AH) arranged in a row, a plurality of such panels (AD) having at least one product (X) mounted thereon, and wherein each panel (AH) is folded relative to the adjacent panel to form a package in the form of a square or rectangular roll. Packaging system according to claim 7, wherein the flat sheet ( 103 ) comprises at least five panels (AH). A packaging system according to claim 7 or 8, wherein each the row of panels (A-D) has a product (X) mounted thereon. System for the production of a package according to any one of the preceding claims.