EP0251945B1 - Procedure for closing packing containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Specific automatic closing system for packages used as containers, principally for compressible or elastic materials, but also for inert equipment or articles which may require the same system, for practical or economic reasons, in any field whatever. The system relates especially to the pressure fitting of a cover (1) equipped with foldable rims (2), which is guided and forcibly pushed inside the container (3) with the aid of a piston. This container is provided on its periphery and in its top part with a pleat (4), or profile, disposed in the opposite direction to that of the rim of the cover. The assembly is locked, after ascent of the pushing piston, by means of the phenomenon whereby the compressed materials assume their initial volume, or, in the absence of this phenomenon, by means of the addition and fastening under the cover of an elastic material, in the case of a packaging containing a material, an article or an inert item of equipment. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a particular method of automatically closing packages which are used as containers for a material, product, or material.

• - le corps de conteneur comporte des rabats dirigés vers l'intérieur du conteneur ;
• - la base comprend des replis dirigés vers l'extérieur du conteneur ;
• - les replis de la base étant destinés à s'insérer dans l'espace délimite par les bords du conteneur et les rabats de telle sorte que lorsque la base a tendance à s'abaisser (sous l'effet de la pression du contenu), les replis s'enfonce complètement dans l'espace jusqu'à ce qu'il se produise une butée, soit du repli au fond de l'espace, soit du repli sur le dessous de la base, Soit les deux, ce dispositif comprenant en outre les replis internes du conteneur qui sont continus dans les angles et discontinus entre les angles.

A document WO-A-81/01398 is known from the prior art, which describes a packaging closure device comprising a container body and a base, so that the joining of these parts is carried out as follows:

• - The container body has flaps directed towards the inside of the container;
• - The base includes folds directed towards the outside of the container;
• - the folds of the base being intended to be inserted in the space delimited by the edges of the container and the flaps so that when the base tends to lower (under the effect of the pressure of the contents), the folds sink completely into the space until a stop occurs, either of the fold at the bottom of the space, or the fold on the underside of the base, Either, this device comprising in addition to the internal folds of the container which are continuous in the corners and discontinuous between the corners.

The device also comprises the basic folds which are cut in the corners in order to allow the penetration of said folds under the container flaps and more particularly in the corners of the container, which have no flexibility due to the folding of the folds and their continuity in this location.

We also know from French document FR-A-1,579,675 a device for packaging elastic products.

This device comprises a piston which compresses the product to be packaged via an upper plate in an American box. At the end of the compression of the product, the latter is retained by rods which pass right through the body. This allows the upper flaps to be fixed with adhesive strips. Finally, it suffices to remove the retaining rods so that the upper plate rises under the action of the compressed product until contact with the flaps.

The improvements which are the subject of the present invention make it possible to remedy the drawbacks of known packaging, that is to say to simplify the structure of the container according to WO / US 80 01398 and to eliminate the retaining needles and the gluing of the flaps. superiors of document FR-A-1,579,675.

• - à placer une matière compressible à l'intérieur du conteneur ;
• - à pousser le couvercle ainsi que la matière compressible dans le conteneur, afin que les replis du couvercle, prévus entaillés dans les coins d'un angle supérieur à 90°, dépassent les rabats ou trottoirs du conteneur qui sont continus dans les angles et discontinus entre les angles, en vue de faire plaquer élastiquement lesdits replis contre la paroi interne dudit conteneur ;
• - et à laisser la matière comprimée reprendre naturellement du volume pour repousser le couvercle vers le haut, afin que ses replis viennent se verrouiller de manière définitive sous les rabats ou trottoirs du conteneur.

To this end, the packaging method according to the invention consists:

• - placing a compressible material inside the container;
• - push the cover and the compressible material into the container, so that the folds of the cover, provided notched in the corners of an angle greater than 90 °, exceed the flaps or sidewalks of the container which are continuous in the corners and discontinuous between the angles, in order to elastically press said folds against the internal wall of said container;
• - And to let the compressed material naturally regain volume to push the cover upwards, so that its folds come to lock definitively under the flaps or sidewalks of the container.

The fields of application and use are innumerable, especially in all sectors where packaging is necessary. One can cite for example all the activities where one wishes to package and isolate compressible or elastic materials (waste of any kind, foam, wadding, sponges, etc.) which allow the cover to lock on its own. It is also possible to widen the field of application of the system to the packaging of products, materials, or equipment which, unlike the previous ones, are inert and therefore do not allow the lid of the packaging to lock. This entirely relative drawback is easily overcome by adding and fixing under the cover an elastic material (plastic foam or other) which plays the role and actively replaces the phenomenon of elasticity produced naturally by other materials or products. .

In order to allow a good understanding and definition of the product as well as its numerous advantages on all levels (economic, simple, practical, etc.) a particular example chosen from numerous applications will be presented below. The example chosen is that of compacting hospital waste, and this above all because of the particular problems it poses and the difficulties raised by hospital requirements in terms of hygiene.

The example described below emerged from a diagram in fig. 2 which aims to show, in a functional manner, a compactor of hospital waste seen from the side.

This compactor currently receives, and as drawn in fig. 2, a container 7 of conventional waste of the "American box" type.

As shown in fig. 2, the technique used is that of the waste container case 7 fig. 2 in corrugated cardboard with upper and lower flaps. This box closed in its lower part using a self-adhesive strip is introduced into the compactor by a large main door 9 fig. 2 articulated laterally and on a vertical axis. In order to introduce this waste container, the upper flaps must be folded out of the box 7 fig. 2. It then suffices to close the large main door 9 fig. 2. The apparatus being thus ready for use, the loading of the waste can be carried out by the small loading door 10 fig. 3. The latter is tiltable by about 60 ° towards the outside of the device and articulated in its lower part on a horizontal axis. To load the waste, it suffices to introduce the waste or collection bags through the rectangular orifice left by the door opening and giving direct access to the compression zone 8 fig. 2. The simple fact of closing the loading door automatically starts the compaction cycle, which causes the pressure piston to descend 11 fig. 2. This piston of parallelepipedal shape going down pushes and compresses the waste previously introduced inside the container 7 fig. 2. This loading operation is repeated until, according to a certain number of parameters defined in advance, the compactor decides that the container is "full" and that the operator must no longer introduce additional waste. This "full container" phase is signaled to the operator by a flashing light located on the front of the device. At this time, it is necessary to remove the full container from the appliance by opening the large main door 9 fig. 2, then fold the upper flaps of the packaging on themselves, apply a self-adhesive strip to the joint of the flaps to close and isolate the compacted waste from the environment.

The disadvantages of the system currently in use are numerous, and will not be listed on a case-by-case basis. However, it seems necessary to stress the most important all the same, since it is very closely linked to the application of the system which is the subject of the request. Indeed, the main shift in the compaction technique in the hospital sector is above all to limit the risks of secondary infection of the ambient environment by isolating it, and this as close as possible to the place of production of the compacted waste. However, if during the loading cycles the isolation is ensured by a slight atmospheric depression of the compacting chamber, the need to open the main door in order to extract the container from the enclosure of the device causes violent turbulence at the time of this extraction, all the more dangerous for the ambient environment as the container is at this precise moment entirely open in its upper part and that the waste which has just been compacted is in direct contact with the ambient environment .

In addition, and in order to close this packaging definitively, the 4 flaps which constitute the lid of the packaging have to be folded back on themselves. To do this, the person responsible for this operation must necessarily look at unpleasant waste. , which give off often intolerable aromas.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to permanently close the waste container packaging without having to take it out of the enclosure of the device. To do this, the system essentially rests on a cover which is forced into a waste container specially adapted for receiving this cover and no longer allows it to be reopened. The packaging in its simplest form is shown in fig 1, before use and after filling and closing.

The cover in this case is rectangular, but can be of various shape (square, hexagonal, octagonal, etc ...) depending on the container in which it is inserted. This cover can be made of different materials depending on the use of the packaging and the intended purpose. In the case shown, it is made of corrugated cardboard covered on the face in contact with the waste with an attached plastic film which can exceed by a few centimeters the edges of this cover or of a treatment ensuring good protection against humidity.

The peculiarity of this cover is that, unlike traditional packaging, the cover which closes the container does not come to cover this container, but comes to be forced inside the latter. This cover 1 fig 7 consists of a base of rectangular or other shape, depending on the shape of the container, the dimensions of which are slightly smaller (a few millimeters for example) than the dimensions of the inlet opening of the container in which it comes enter, and fold 2 fig. 7 of variable height (3 to 5 cm for example) having the function of forming its sides. In addition, this cover is differentiated by the fact that the folds which form its periphery are not interconnected in the corners, but on the contrary are notched in each corner 15 fig. 7 so as to make them independent of each other. The notches 15 made in the corners of the cover may have a variable angle, but preferably a 180 ° cut as in 15 fig. 7 to allow good penetration of the corners of the cover (after folding) in the corners of the flaps or sidewalks of the container. Indeed, if the notch had an angle of 90`, the folds after folding would touch and could not pass under the flaps of the container especially in the corners. These folds can be obtained by marking a trace 14 fig. 7 to manufacture or any other means. The purpose of this marking is to maintain an elasticity to these folds after folding, since it is necessary to be able to fold them perpendicularly to introduce the cover into the enclosure 8 fig. 2. Then these folds 2 must open after passing from the sidewalk 4 of the container to press against the walls of this container so as to be certain that when the cover folds are folded up, they will be introduced under the flaps or sidewalks 4 of the container 3 in the space 20 fig. 9 delimited by the edges of the container and the flaps or sidewalks 4. In addition, another feature, this cover is introduced into the compactor by the loading door 10 fig. 2 but upside down with a normal cover, that is to say with its folds oriented upwards, and this in order to allow a pushing by the pressing piston without risk of catching with the side walls of the compression chamber 8 fig. 2 and also its locking inside the container.

As for the container, it can be made of corrugated cardboard, laminated polyethylene cardboard or other materials, cardboard treated with HOT-MELT, KRAPO, etc., or even in "extra" type packaging (cardboard in which is glued a plastic bag previously welded) and possibly in thermoformed plastic, blown, injected, or any other process which allows to achieve, according to the requirements of use, mechanical resistance or against moisture. This container 3 fig. 1, of parallelepiped shape in the example presented, is provided in its upper part with a trace of folding 13 fig. 6 located at a certain distance from the top of the container 3. These interruptions are either indentations representing a certain angle for example 45 (12 fig. 6) or more simply cuts made at right angles to the height of the flaps or sidewalks 4. They are intended to allow folding of these flaps or sidewalks before the final formation of the container. Indeed, it would be impossible to fold a flap that goes around the compactor without these notches or these cuts. In the invention which is the subject of the present application, it is possible to fold the sidewalks or flaps without damaging them and this in the following manner: 1st phase: The container being delivered flat, it is opened slightly so that it can fold towards the inside the flaps 16 and 17 fig. 8. This operation being carried out as fig. 14 it is enough to spread the angles of the container in order to form the volume (cube, parallelepiped or other) as shown in fig. 10.

2nd phase: Continuing to move away from one another the sidewalks or flaps 16 and 17 already formed, the flaps 18 and 19 are brought face to face fig. 11. This folding operation being completed fig. 12, it suffices to move the flaps 18 and 19 away from each other in order to again form the volume FIG. 13; in this way the four sidewalk elements or flaps 16, 17, 18 and 19 are folded towards the inside of the container and can no longer reopen mainly due to the continuity of these flaps in the corners of the container after formation (fig. 13). In this way, the internal folds of the container thus formed will resist the raising of the cover after its introduction by pressure inside the container. Indeed, the closure using the cover requiring high pressure due either to the importance of the volumes introduced into the container in the case of compaction (the aim being the reduction in volumes), or to the elasticity of the elements added under the cover (foam or polystyrene chips or other) in the case of a completely inert content, said cover 1 will rise after release of the thrust and be stopped in its upward movement by the internal folds formed in the corners of the container by the sidewalks and by the fact that the folds 2 of the cover are at this time trapped under the flaps or sidewalks 4 of the container in the space 20 fig. 9.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 show clearly and precisely, the different phases of the automatic closing of the packaging which is the subject of the request. In fig. 3, the container 3 being in the enclosure of the device is filled with waste 5. The cover 1 whose folds 2 are folded is in place, after having been introduced into the enclosure located below the container full of waste. The pressure piston 6, the base surface of which covers almost the entire surface of the cover, is in the high position.

In fig. 4, after the operator has closed the loading door of the device, the pressing piston 6 driven by a hydraulic cylinder starts its downward movement, and therefore pushes the cover 1 and the waste inside of the container 3. At this time the folds 2 of the cover having exceeded the flaps 4 of the container 3 open due to their elasticity and come to press against the interior walls of the container.

Fig. 5 represents the ascent of the pressing piston 6. The latter has been engaged using a position switch forcing in the previous phase the piston to descend by a distance defined in advance in order to be certain that the folds of the cover have gone well beyond the container flaps. It is therefore at this point that the cover, pushed upwards by the natural volume recovery of the compressed waste, rises again and the folds 2 of the cover are locked definitively under the flaps or sidewalks 4 forming the periphery of the packaging 3 fig. 5.

When this operation is finished, simply open the main door 9 fig. 2, remove the closed packaging from the enclosure of the appliance and evacuate to its storage or processing site.

The fundamental difference with any other automatic closing mode is essential This is due to the fact that a natural phenomenon is used in this system to close and permanently lock the packaging. This phenomenon is mainly due to the composition of the contents of the packaging, and in particular to the diversity of compacted waste, which has the effect of causing this phenomenon. Thanks to the latter, the locking of the packaging is practically inviolable. The advantage of this system lies above all in the fact that it does not require any technical means traditionally used for this type of closure (bonding, stapling, welding, crimping, etc.).

By this process, the objective aimed by the use of the waste compacting technique in the hospital field is definitively achieved, that is to say compress the waste to reduce the volumes, while isolating it from the ambient environment in an enclosure. close, and this as close as possible to the place of their production.

The optimal advantage of this process remains the fact that one avoids reintroducing into the ambient medium pathogenic germs, and that one eliminates manipulations dangerous for this same medium.

On the basis of the example presented, and of the advantages which flow from the proposed process, it is easy to extrapolate and to think that it can apply this closing technique in all areas where packaging by cardboard, plastic or other container requires the use of expensive and complex closing systems (machine for folding the flaps after filling the container, gluing machine, welding, stapling or applying adhesive tapes to close the container).

In addition, the use of this system can also be applied to the bottom of the packaging which avoids the flaps or other means of closing using a tape, gluing or stapling technique and gives it once the bottom and the cover in place a character of inviolability and an excellent resistance to the load.

Claims (5)

1. Process for automatic closure of a package comprising a container provided with flaps directed towards its interior and a lid provided with folds, characterized in that it consists in:

- placing a compressible material (5) inside the container (3);

- pressing the lid (1), as well as the compressible material (5) in the container (3), so that the folds (2) of the lid, cut at the corners at an angle greater than 90° pass the flaps or rims (4) of the container, which are continuous at the corners and discontinuous between the corners, in order to press said folds (2) elastically against the inside wall of said container;

- and allowing the compressed material (5) to recover its volume naturally to Push the lid (1) back upwards, so that its folds (2) are definitively locked under the flaps or rims (4) of the container (3).

2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the compressible material (5) consists of inert products associated with an elastic material.

3. Process according to claim 2, characterized in that the elastic material is fixed under the lid (1 ).

4. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the dimensions of the lid (1) are slightly smaller than those of the entry opening of the container (3).

5. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the folds (2) are "premarked" to confer on them an elasticity tending to bring them to the same plane as the base of the lid (1).

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