DE9321240U1 - Packaging element - Google Patents

Description

KSB Aktiengesellschaft

Description Packaging element Technical area

The innovation concerns a packaging element for protecting an object in a rigid or semi-rigid container with a polygonal cross-section against impacts.

Due to the rethinking of packaging due to ecological considerations, a new solution must be found for the packaging designs that have been used up to now. The transport of relatively compact, heavy objects with a complicated external geometry, such as fittings equipped with connecting flanges and actuating devices, requires special precautions to protect the objects against mechanical damage caused by impacts. Impacts caused by a straight or oblique fall are particularly dangerous.

The object must also be protected against slipping in the packaging, otherwise it may assume non-predetermined positions that were not taken into account when the packaging was designed.

State of the art

Until now, objects of the above-mentioned type have been packaged in rigid or semi-rigid containers, which were then filled with, for example, foam flakes. In addition, a packaging method is used in which the object is placed in a negative mold, e.g. made of foam, before it is packed into the container.

The continued use of such technologies is countered by concerns about environmental impact and the desire for recycling. If materials that have been used up to now are abandoned, new solutions must therefore be sought.

It is also common to fix the position of the object in the container by placing spacers, e.g. multi-layered cardboard blocks, between the object and the wall of the container. However, the elasticity of these spacers is usually very low and an impact can only be cushioned to a small extent. If the spacers deform under the load, their recovery is usually inadequate. If there is another impact, the object is then exposed to increased acceleration forces. These spacers cannot therefore be used for objects that are susceptible to impact. In addition, a large number of appropriate spacers must be kept available for different sizes of an object.

Another type of packaging involves stuffing the space between the object and the wall of the container with crumpled paper. This creates a certain elasticity, but it is very costly. The crumpled paper must also have special technical properties that affect the costs. For example, the paper must be moisture-repellent so that it does not become soft and lose tension after long periods of storage. The adaptation to different sizes of the object takes place when the spaces are stuffed. This results in high material consumption for small objects that are packed in containers that are standardized for several sizes.

Presentation of the innovation

The aim of the innovation is to create a packaging element for protecting an object in a rigid or semi-rigid container with a polygonal cross-section against impacts, which avoids the disadvantages mentioned above.

The problem is solved with the teaching described in claim 1. The subclaims name advantageous embodiments of the teaching according to the innovation.

The packaging element formed from a template folded several times according to claim 1 has an elasticity that depends on the material and the type of folding. The spring travel provided by the compression of the spring parts reduces the abrupt deceleration of the object during impact. The acceleration forces to which the object is exposed are therefore reduced. The packaging element is capable of regeneration and therefore provides protection for more than just a one-time period.

Adaptation to different gaps is easily possible by folding the packaging element in several ways, since the spring parts are folded several times. The choice of material is mainly based on the forces that occur during transport. Folding should preferably be done by hand, but simple technical aids can also be used. The material can be sheet metal, paper or paper-like material, e.g. cardboard, corrugated cardboard or laminated materials.

The packaging element can be used to cushion shocks with a vertical component as well as to cushion shocks with a horizontal component.

A packaging element according to claim 2 is preferably used to cushion vertical impacts. For this purpose, it is inserted between the object and the top of the container. To cushion impacts with a horizontal component, it can be inserted between the object and a side wall of the container.

The development according to claim 3 discloses a packaging element for special protection against horizontal impacts with two spring elements that surround the object at the side. Both spring elements spring in the same direction. By arranging two packaging elements crosswise, horizontal all-round protection of the object is provided. The packaging element can also work together with a packaging element for vertical protection.

The packaging element according to claim 4 combines the vertical protection with the protection in a horizontal direction by the design of three spring elements. Two spring elements enclose the object laterally and one is arranged above.

Claims 5 to 7 describe template forms for producing the claimed packaging elements. The further development according to claim 5 uses a strip-shaped template for producing a packaging element with vertical protection.

A packaging element according to claim 6 can be folded from an H-shaped template, whereby each of the four legs of the H forms an initially vertical spring part. The two spring parts on each long side of the H form a spring element, which are folded over and enclose an object laterally.

A packaging element according to claim 7 for achieving horizontal and vertical protection can be produced from a single template. The template has the shape of an H, but a fifth and sixth leg is attached between the two long sides, each with two legs. The four outer legs are folded and bent over to form horizontally acting spring parts; the two middle spring parts are folded to form vertically acting spring parts. This creates three spring elements.

With the development according to claim 8, a residual cushioning effect is achieved through the elasticity of the material itself. After folding the spring element, the corrugated cardboard continues to spring together, which further reduces the acceleration forces. Folding the strip perpendicular to the corrugation direction increases the rigidity of the spring parts. Pre-formed folds on the strip make folding easier.

With the development according to claim 9, the spring travel of the spring elements is increased by folding the spring parts several times, thus reducing acceleration forces on the object. However, not all possible folds have to be made. Rather, it is conceivable to dispense with folds in order to adapt the size to the object, in particular the last fold.

If, according to the further development according to claim 10, the two spring parts touch at least one fold before the spring parts are pressed together flat, this measure stiffens the packaging element. From a physical point of view, this increases the spring rate of the packaging element and the mutual support of the spring parts before they are completely pressed together corresponds to a progressive spring behavior.

In order to expand the application area of the packaging element, it is designed according to the development according to claim 11 so that it can be used in a simple manner for different distances between the object and the wall of the container. In particular, the last section is provided for this purpose, which becomes a rigid element when erected. The erected last section is stabilized by parts folded in from the edge area so that it takes on a U-shaped profile. So that the two folded parts do not bend apart under the load, they engage in recesses on the second to last section. The last section preferably has folds at the edge distance of the slots in the second to last section to make folding easier.

The packaging element according to the further development according to claim completely covers the object in the container and offers additional protection against contamination. The middle part corresponds in length and width to the internal dimensions of the container .

The packaging elements are particularly suitable when arranged above the object in the container. They can therefore be seen as the head part of a multi-part packaging. Due to the deflection under load, they are only suitable as a foot part in special cases, as the object then no longer remains spatially fixed in the container. In order to expand the area of application and to make it suitable as both a head part and a foot part, the developments according to claims 13 to 15 provide solutions for fixing the object in a packaging element.

The development according to claim 13 improves the adaptation of the middle part to curved contact surfaces of the object to be packaged. The middle part has longitudinal cuts which extend beyond the first bending point to the

first fold. This compensates for the increase in length caused by the curvature when the object dips into the middle part. The packaging element must be arranged so that the direction of the longitudinal cuts coincides with the main direction of curvature of the contact surfaces of the object.

In another way, the object is stabilized by a packaging element developed according to the claim. Here, the middle part has recesses into which the object protrudes. This prevents it from slipping sideways.

In the further development according to claim 15, stops can be folded out from the middle part, which restrict the object's freedom of movement and spatially fix it in the container.

Claim 16 describes a packaging element suitable as a base part. For objects with curves, in particular shut-off valves with flange connections, a packaging element is advantageous which adapts to the curve, but nevertheless prevents the object from moving along the curve. Due to the longitudinal cuts in the packaging element, the object partially dips into it and the individual bands rest against the curve. In the surrounding area, however, the packaging element remains unchanged and the remaining bands leave a step which forms an obstacle to movement. As with the packaging element described above, a material such as sheet metal, paper or paper-like material, e.g. cardboard, corrugated cardboard or laminates, is suitable for producing this packaging element. Preferably, corrugated cardboard should be used, whereby this should be folded perpendicular to the direction of the corrugation.

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When the object is compressed into an elastic head part of the packaging, the object lifts off the foot part, but falls back again and is picked up by the foot part again within the cut-out area. The position before and after the impact does not have to be the same. The foot part also fixes the object in another place.

The further development according to claim 17 leads to an improvement in the adaptation of the packaging element to the curvature of the object and stabilizes the object in an advantageous manner.

Short description of the drawing

Examples of the innovation are described in the drawing. It shows the

Fig. 1 is a template for a packaging element according to claim 1, which

Fig. 2 the packaging element in a fold to bridge small gaps, the

Fig. 3 the packaging element in a fold to bridge medium distances, the

Fig. 4 the packaging element in a fold to bridge large distances, the

Fig. 5 is a template for a packaging element according to claim 2, which

Fig. 6 is a template for a packaging element according to claim 3, which

Fig. 7 shows a packaging element folded from the template shown in Fig. 6 in section AA of Fig. 6, the

Fig. 8 is a template for a packaging element according to claim 8, which

Fig. 9 the packaging element folded from the template shown in Fig. 8, the

Fig. 10 the packaging element from Fig. 9 in the load

case, the

Fig. 11 to 14 special developments for fixing the object by the packaging element.

Ways to implement the innovation

In order to avoid, for example, excessive force being exerted on the actuating device in the case of a shut-off valve and to protect the spindle with the spindle nut, a packaging element according to claims 1 to 8 is placed between the shut-off valve and the lid or a wall of the container. Since the deformation path provided by the packaging element, referred to here as the spring path, is large, a reduction in the acceleration forces is achieved. The acceleration forces on the object can thus be reduced to a tenth of the original value.

The packaging element shown in Fig. 1 consists of a template folded several times in the form of a strip (1). The width b of the strip (1) corresponds to the width of the container in which an object is to be packed. The strip (1) consists of a middle part (2) of length 1, from whose opposite sides the legs (3 and 4)

The leg (3) consists of four sections (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), as does the leg (4) of the sections (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d), which are separated from each other by dashed fold lines. The first sections (3a, 4a) are longer than half the length 1 and therefore, even before they rest on the middle part, they meet at the edges (3a/3b) and (4a/4b) when folded.

The sections (3b, 3c), as well as the sections (4b, 4c), are either as long as the first sections (3a, 4a) or shorter. The last sections (3d, 4d) are the shortest, as they are intended for different functions. The penultimate sections (3c, 4c) are each provided with two slits (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b), the width of which is greater than the thickness of the template. They extend over a length that corresponds to their distance from the edge of the sections (3c, 4c), from the last fold line parallel to the edge. The last sections (3d, 4d) are cut from the edge along the fold line to the penultimate section (3c, 4c) up to the slits (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b), so that wings (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) are created. In the extension of the slots (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) folding lines are provided which facilitate the folding of the wings (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b).

In Fig. 2, a packaging element is shown in a folded state. Spring parts are created from the sections (3a, 3b, 3c) and the sections (4a, 4b, 4c) by folding them in alternating directions along the fold lines. The two spring parts together form a spring element that extends away from the object to be packaged, starting from the central part (2). The sections (3a, 4a) meet at the folds to form the sections (3b, 4b) and form a first stop of the spring travel when the spring parts compress under load. The last sections (3d, 4d) overlap. This type of folding of the template is the smallest practical version of the packaging element. Other types of folding for

Adaptation of the element to different sized objects or containers is shown in the following Fig. 3 and 4. If the last sections (3d, 4d) are folded over, this means an enlargement of the spring part, i.e. a larger distance between the object and the container can be bridged. The folds between the sections (3c, 3d; 4c, 4d) can also abut one another. A further enlargement is achieved by placing the last sections (3d, 4d) perpendicular to the central part (2). In order to stabilize the sections (3d, 4d) in their position, the wings (7a, 7b, 8a, 8b) are folded in until they can engage in the slots (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b). The sections (3d, 4d) support one another with their backs.

Another packaging element, which consists of the elements described above, is shown in Fig. 5. Here, spring elements (10, 11) are attached to two opposite sides of a rectangular middle part (9). The template for producing this packaging element is designed in the shape of a large H. The spring elements (10, 11) are folded as described above and then bent outwards at the connection to the middle part (9). The middle part (9) is either shorter in its width (b ¹ ) or its length (I ¹ ) than the corresponding size of the container. This is necessary in order to provide a spring path. In terms of width, the packaging element can adapt to the respective container by means of a kink on the middle part (9). The object protrudes into the packaging element with one end and the spring elements (10, 11) secure this end against lateral impacts. If another packaging element is placed crosswise, all-round protection can be achieved.

Horizontal and vertical protection is provided by a packaging element which can be folded from a template shown in Fig. 6 into a shape shown in Fig. 7.

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Based on the template shown in Fig. 5, the middle part (9) is also provided with legs which, when folded together, form a vertically acting spring element (12) in the middle part (9). This packaging element can also be combined with one of the above. This creates a universally usable, recyclable packaging element in the simplest way.

Another packaging element, which is particularly suitable for fittings with flange connections, is shown in Fig. 8 to 10. The template shown in Fig. 8 consists of four sections (14 - 17) which are divided by fold lines. Longitudinal cuts (13a, 13b, 13c) have been made in the middle sections (15, 16), some of which extend into the areas (14, 17). This creates several bands (18, 19, 20). If the template is made from corrugated cardboard, the corrugated bottom layer (21) must run in the specified direction. The folded packaging element has the shape of an M, as shown in Fig. 9. The opening angle of the sections (15, 16) arranged to form sloping surfaces is advantageously more than 90°.

If, as shown in Fig. 10, a cylindrical object is placed on top, the loaded bands (22) are placed against the object, whereas the unloaded bands (23) remain unchanged and form a lateral stop. The bands (18, 19, 20) are lengthened by the longitudinal cuts (13a, 13b, 13c) extending beyond the folds and the object is pushed deeper into the packaging element. After the packaging element is compressed by the accelerated object, the object falls back into the base of the packaging.

Special developments of the packaging element shown in Fig. 1 for stabilizing the object through packaging

The position of the holding element in the container is shown in Fig. 11 to 14. In Fig. 11, the middle part is provided with longitudinal cuts (24a, 24b, 24c) which extend beyond the first bend and also to the folds (3a, 4a). In Fig. 12, the middle part (2) is provided with recesses (25a, 25b) into which the object at least partially protrudes. In Figs. 13 and 14, stops (26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d) can be set up from the middle part, which partially enclose the object and prevent it from moving over them. The embodiment shown in Fig. 13 is particularly suitable for elongated contact surfaces of the object, e.g. hand levers on fittings. The hand lever is located between the two stops (26a, 26b) and can therefore only move in the direction of its longitudinal axis. Sideways are prevented by the stops (26a, 26b). The design shown in Fig. 14 is particularly suitable for round contact surfaces, e.g. handwheels or actuators on valves. The handwheel is located between the circularly arranged stops (27a, 27b, 27c, 27d) and is prevented by these from sideways.

Commercial applicability

The packaging elements according to the innovation are suitable for packaging heavy objects, e.g. fittings, actuators or rotary drives in semi-rigid containers, such as cardboard boxes. The packaging elements can be used for objects with different spatial dimensions and can be adapted to the respective requirements.

Claims (17)

Protection claims 1. Packaging element for protecting an object in a rigid or semi-rigid container with a polygonal cross-section against impacts, the packaging element being produced by repeatedly folding a template made of thin material and being arranged between the object and a wall of the container, characterized in that the packaging element has one or more spring elements (10, 11, 12) made of spring parts arranged in pairs, the spring parts being folded from legs (3, 4) connected to a central part (2; 9) and having several folds with their own elasticity. 2. Packaging element according to claim 1, characterized in that the packaging element has a single spring element with a spring effect perpendicular to a central part (2). 3. Packaging element according to claim 1, characterized in that two spring elements (10, 11) arranged on opposite sides with a direction of action parallel to the central part are formed on a central part (9). 4. Packaging element according to claim 1, characterized in that three spring elements (10, 11, 12) are formed on a central part (9), two of which spring elements (10, 11) are arranged on opposite sides of the central part (9) and have a direction of action parallel to the central part and the third spring element (12) consists of two spring parts emerging from the other opposite sides of the central part and has a spring effect perpendicular to the central part (2). 5. Packaging element according to claim 2, characterized in that the packaging element is folded from a template in the form of a strip (1) consisting of the central part (2) and two legs (3, 4) extending on opposite sides of the central part. 6. Packaging element according to claim 3, characterized in that the packaging element is designed from a template in the shape of an H and the spring parts of the spring elements (10, 11) are folded from the two legs of a long side of the H, whereby the spring elements are bent laterally from the middle part (9). 7. Packaging element according to claim 4, characterized in that the packaging element is folded from a template with six legs extending from a central part (9), with three legs being arranged on two opposite sides of the central part (9), from which spring parts are created by folding, with the legs lying opposite each other in pairs forming spring parts, and with the outer spring elements (10, 11) being bent laterally from the central part (9). 8. Packaging element according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the packaging element consists of corrugated cardboard and is folded perpendicular to the corrugation direction. 9. Packaging element according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the spring parts have at least four folds. 10. Packaging element according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the spring parts touch at least one fold in the non-fully loaded state. ΛCl &bgr; ··»» >·· 11. Packaging element according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the penultimate section (3c, 4c) of the sections (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d; 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) created by folding the legs (3, 4) is provided with slits (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) perpendicular to the last fold, the slits (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b) being wider than the thickness of the template and longer than their distance from the edge of the template, and that the last fold is cut from the outside up to the slits (5a, 5b, 6a, 6b). 12. Packaging element according to claim 2 or 5, characterized in that the middle part (2) closes the inside width of the container and is supported against the side walls of the container 13. Packaging element according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the middle part (2) is provided with several longitudinal cuts (24a, 24b, 24c), wherein the longitudinal cuts (24a, 24b, 24c) extend over the first bending point into the first sections (3a, 4a). 14. Packaging element according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the middle part (2) is provided with recesses (25a, 25b) which are designed in their dimensions so that a part of the object to be packaged engages in them. 15. Packaging element according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that stops (26a, -26b; 27a, 27b, 27c, 27d) can be folded out from the middle part (2), whereby recesses are present on the middle part (2) in the erected position. 16. Packaging element for fixing an object with one or more round support surfaces limited in length, characterized in that the packaging element consisting of a template made of thin material and having at least four sections (14, 15, 16, 17) is folded in the shape of an M, the sections (15, 16) arranged to form slanted surfaces being provided with longitudinal cuts (13a, 13b, 13c). 17. Packaging element according to claim 16, characterized in that the longitudinal cuts (13a, 13b, 13c) extend beyond the folds into the sections (14, 17).