EP0375513A1 - Packaging for fragile articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The packaging for fragile articles (10) is characterised in that it comprises, on the one hand, a rigid base (20) which is surrounded by a rim (21), the height H of which is slightly greater than the thickness (h) of the articles (10), which are arranged flat and edge to edge, and the internal dimensions (L1) and (l1) of which are a little greater than the external dimensions (L2) and (l2) of the set of articles (10) arranged side by side on the base (20), and, on the other hand, a flexible and impervious envelope (30), advantageously transparent, which contains the base (20) and the articles (10) as well as a gas according to a volume and under a pressure such that the envelope (30) can exert on the articles (10) a holding effect perpendicularly to the plane of the base (20) but without pressure. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to packaging which reconciles contradictory requirements relating to the nature of the articles in question and the technical constraints of their transport.

It is known that the efficient transport and storage of articles presupposes confining them and keeping them as intimate as possible. Even when the articles consist of bulk products, means must be used to keep them as immobile as possible to avoid movements relative to the container and thus prevent efforts which would tend to rupture the container.

When the articles are fragile, the problem becomes complicated and one can no longer envisage their packaging in bulk. Generally, each item is isolated from the others and sometimes, even, is packaged individually. In some cases, the articles are no longer isolated individually but in groups.

The fragile nature of the articles prohibits, in particular, vacuum packaging because it does have a particularly energetic immobilization effect on the articles but at the cost of pressure and friction efforts which would cause deterioration, or even destruction, of the articles. articles.

There are different types of containers suitable for packaging such fragile items. Sometimes each item is placed in a cup, for example in pleated paper (chocolate bites and petit fours for example) and all of the items are then placed in a rigid box. Sometimes we use a compartmentalized tray consisting of a sheet of suitably formed synthetic material and then the whole is placed in a rigid box. Sometimes a thick and soft sheet is placed between the articles and the cover of the box to elastically block the articles and absorb any shocks between them and the cover during transport.

Whichever solution is chosen, the container always has, on the one hand, a relatively thin, flexible and fragile internal wedging and, on the other hand, a more rigid, more solid external "surround" capable of being used several times. This is the case, for example, of the containers used for the appetizer menus that are served with the aperitif: a light shell contains the articles themselves and the whole is placed in a cardboard box. if all the articles are not consumed, the shell is replaced in the box until a new use. Finally, the shell and the box are eliminated at the same time when all the articles are consumed.

Another solution is also known, generally used for smoked fish such as salmon, which consists of placing the articles (here thin slices of fish) on a relatively rigid plate, usually made of cardboard, and then wrapping the whole with a sheet of synthetic material.

However, this solution is unusable for fragile articles because it supposes that a vacuum is made in the envelope in order to strongly apply the fish slices against the plate. These fish slices, in fact, are not really fragile since they can without damage undergo the significant pressure due to the fact that the envelope applies them very strongly to the plate, the latter being intended only to maintain the slices spread flat while resisting lateral tightening of the envelope. In other words, the articles are held only in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the plate and are immobilized parallel to this plane only by their natural bonding increased by the pressure of the envelope.

To illustrate the state of the art, mention may be made of document DE-A-82 36 703.5 which describes a display unit comprising a cell base in each of which a confectionery article is placed so that it rests on two walls of the cell at the same time: by its bottom and by one of its sides. The articles are therefore not in contact with each other but each isolated in a cell. This arrangement makes it possible to give the whole a flattering aspect since each article is presented individually and they are all oriented in the presentation position. The articles are therefore not arranged side by side and immobilized together, in a group, but circumscribed one by one by means of cells formed in the base.

It is noted that all of these known solutions deal only very poorly with the problem which immediately follows that of transport and which is the presentation to the user who must collect the articles.

Out of habit, it is often enough, especially for chocolate bites, to present the box itself although it is, ultimately, just a simple package. To improve this presentation, the decor of the box is sometimes treated to excess: cardboard cover sheathed in leather, covered with a tapestry, provided with objects in relief, etc.

The present invention deviates from all known solutions and makes it possible to carefully pack fragile articles, thus to preserve them from the vagaries of transport, to present them by direct observation to the customers and, finally, to present the articles to user in a practical and elegant way.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a packaging for fragile articles characterized in that it comprises on the one hand a rigid base which is surrounded by an edge of height slightly greater than the thickness of the articles placed flat, edge to edge, and the internal dimensions of which are slightly greater than the external dimensions of all the articles placed side by side on the base, and on the other hand a flexible and waterproof envelope, advantageously transparent, containing the base and the articles as well as a gas according to a volume and under a pressure such that the envelope can exert on the articles a holding effect perpendicular to the plane of the base but without pressure.

According to other characteristics of the invention:
- the internal dimensions of the base and the external dimensions of all the articles placed side by side are different by a value such that there can remain between three contiguous articles two spaces just sufficient to place the end of two fingers for the gripping of an article located between two others;
- The packaging comprises means for keeping at least some of the articles located on the periphery of the assembly at a distance from the edges of the base sufficient to place the end of a finger therein for gripping an article located on the periphery of the whole;
the articles having in a plane parallel to that of the base a polygonal contour, in particular a quadrangular one, and the base being substantially quadrilateral, the means for holding at least some of the articles situated on the periphery of the assembly are constituted by internal fractions edges which are concave according to a radius of curvature such that they have an arc whose point intersecting with each concave fraction is situated substantially at the desired distance for said articles from the edges of the base;
- The base is constituted by a tray intended for the presentation of the articles as they are, after removal of the envelope;
- The packaging includes a decorative sheet placed against the base and receiving the articles;
- The gas is of a nature adapted to that of the articles, in particular with a view to good preservation thereof, and the minimum volume of gas required, at a given temperature, dictating the dimensions of the envelope in the three directions of the space, said envelope has either a length or a width which most closely surrounds the base and the articles while either the width or the length is independent of the corresponding dimension of the base and of the objects to provide the volume with gas minimum required.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'un conditionnement conforme à l'invention tel qu'il apparaît lors du transport, du stockage et de la mise en vente dans un magasin.
• La figure 2 est une vue schématique en plan d'un conditionnement conforme à l'invention tel qu'il apparaît lors de la présentation des articles à un usager devant en prélever à l'unité.
• La figure 3 est une vue schématique partielle illustrant un mode de réalisation de l'invention permettant de maintenir un jeu correct entre les articles emballés et le bord de la base.
• La figure 4 est une vue schématique en coupe de deux conditionnements conformes à l'invention superposés selon une première variante.
• La figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective de conditionnements conformes à l'invention superposés selon une deuxième variante.
• La figure 6 est une vue schématique partielle illustrant le maintien modéré des articles par l'enveloppe, même quand le conditionnement est vertical.

The invention will be better understood from the detailed description below made with reference to the accompanying drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given only by way of an indicative and nonlimiting example.

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging according to the invention as it appears during transport, storage and sale in a store.
• Figure 2 is a schematic plan view of a packaging according to the invention as it appears during the presentation of the articles to a user having to collect the unit.
• Figure 3 is a partial schematic view illustrating an embodiment of the invention for maintaining a correct clearance between the packaged articles and the edge of the base.
• Figure 4 is a schematic sectional view of two packages according to the invention superimposed according to a first variant.
• Figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of packages according to the invention superimposed according to a second variant.
• Figure 6 is a partial schematic view illustrating the moderate maintenance of the articles by the envelope, even when the packaging is vertical.

Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that a packaging in accordance with the invention is intended for the packaging and presentation of fragile articles which have been represented here in the form of "sofas" 10 each composed of a small slice of bread and a more or less delicate garnish but, in any case, to be protected as well as possible.

The sofas 10 are quadrangular and more particularly rectangular, practically square.

They are placed side by side, without any overlap because of their lining, on a rigid quadrilateral base 20 surrounded at its periphery by a continuous edge 21 whose height H measured on the inner side is slightly greater than that h of the sofas 10.

The internal length L1 of the base 20 measured between two short sides 22 of the opposite edge 21 is greater than the external length L2 of the set of sofas 10 supposed to be contiguous so that a longitudinal play remains.

The internal width l 1 of the base 20 measured between two large sides 23 of the opposite edge 21 is greater than the external width l 2 of the set of sofas 10 supposed to be contiguous so that there remains a transverse play.

The existence of these respectively longitudinal and transverse games is possible with the sofas 10 because their sides located face to face are not fragile: it is bread crumbs. The usefulness of these games will be explained later. If the articles to be packaged are also fragile by their facing sides, the clearances should be reduced as much as possible.

The assembly of the base 20 and the sofas 10 is surrounded by a flexible and watertight envelope 30 constituted by a sheath made of advantageously transparent plastic material whose width is coordinated with the dimensions of the base 20, external width and height of the edge 21 , so that there is only a little transverse play between said base 20 and the sheath 30. Thus, the sheath 30 will be almost stretched at height H and there will remain a space E1 between the top of the sofas 10 and the sheath 30 ( figure 3).

Given the nature of the elements present, the description that has just been given should not be taken strictly because the sofas 10 may not all have the exact same height h and, moreover, the tension of the sheath 30 remains approximate. The important factor to remember is that the sheath 30 should not exert any force on the sofas 10, in particular by its weight which must be relieved as much as possible. For this tension, it is also necessary to take into account the concrete requirements of the material packaging operations. It would be ill advised, for example, to risk damaging the sofas 10 during the installation of the sheath 30 on the pretext that the latter must be stretched over them because this could mean that the sheath has a narrowness excessive. Of course, this problem is simplified if the envelope 30 is formed around the base 20 furnished with sofas 10 instead of introducing the assembly 10-20 into a preexisting tubular sheath.

The sheath 30 is closed transversely in a leaktight manner, as is known per se, and therefore has two weld lines 31 and 32 beyond which a margin 33 may remain before the free edge 34 resulting from a cut made by all known means.

The sheath 30 contains a gas which may be air but which is preferably a gas promoting good preservation of the sofas, for example nitrogen, a gas which is substituted for the ambient air when the the sheath 30, as is known per se.

The degree of preservation of food products directly depends on the amount of nitrogen enclosed with them. Here, this quantity is therefore a function of the internal capacity of the sheath 30

However, we have seen above that the width of the sheath 30 is not arbitrary since it must be coordinated with two dimensions of the base 20: overall width and height of the edge 21. The distance D which separates is then calculated the two weld lines 31 and 32 so that the capacity capable of containing the desired volume of gas is obtained.

This volume of gas is calculated taking into account the nature of the food products in question, the transport and storage temperatures, as well as the shelf life considered reasonable.

We see that far from creating a vacuum, we maintain on the contrary a certain internal pressure in the sheath 30, pressure which tends to reduce the forces applied to the sofas 10.

The fact that these efforts are low minimizes the drawbacks that could result from the ability of the base 20 to play longitudinally in the sheath 30. But & to eliminate these drawbacks, the material of the base 20 is chosen (or at least the nature of its external face) and the material constituting the sheath 30 as well as its thickness and its elasticity so that there is the minimum freedom of sliding between the base 20 and the casing 30.

The immobilization of the base 20 in the sheath 30 also depends, of course, on the value of the friction existing between the short sides 22 of the edge 21 and the sheath 30.

This immobilization will be all the more clear as the distance D will be closer to the overall length of the base 20 because this means that then the longitudinal freedom of movement is low, or even zero.

We see that according to the invention, any movement in a direction of the plane (transversely, according to the example above) is prohibited and that in the other direction of the plane (longitudinally, according to the example above) immobilization means compatible with the need to have a sufficient quantity of gas.

The invention makes it possible to keep the base 20 as an element for presenting the articles. This is possible because the base 20 is rigid, unlike known packaging comprising a thin shell, or tray, which is a poor substitute, often eliminated elsewhere, display.

It is possible to eliminate this shell and place the articles in a rigid piece of crockery because the articles, even deemed fragile, support this transfer perfectly: peanuts, olives, small cookies etc. Canapes, glazed chestnuts, petit fours, etc., on the contrary, could not safely endure this displacement.

This is why, according to a characteristic of the invention, the base 20 is constituted by a metal plate having not only an edge 21 but also a rim 24 substantially parallel to the central bottom of the plate itself and having a peripheral bead 25. This structure allows easy and safe gripping of the base 20, after removal of the envelope 30.

Thus, the sofas 10 are offered for consumption without having undergone any transfer and, to increase the attractiveness of this presentation, one can place a decorative sheet 26, for example of paper cut in imitation lace. This sheet 26, known in itself, avoids possible contamination of the tray 20 and prevents the sofas 10 from sticking to the metal of the tray 20, thus facilitating their gripping with a delicate gesture.

As soon as the base 20 is used as a display element in addition to its packaging role, it must firstly be able to correctly maintain the sofas 10 during transport and storage and secondly allow easy removal sofas 10 one by one and effortlessly.

These requirements are contradictory and there is no solution to this problem in the elements known from the state of the art.

According to the invention, the envelope 30 is used as a "soft" holding element for the sofas 10, so that a small clearance can be provided between the sofas 10.

This is obtained by providing that the differences between the lengths L1 and L2 on the one hand and between the widths l 1 and l 2 on the other hand determine a clearance such that there can remain between three contiguous sofas 11, 12 and 13 by example, two spaces E2 and E3 (Figure 2) sufficient for a user to insert the end of the thumb and forefinger in order to easily take the sofa from the center 12.

Furthermore, as is known, the sofas are often made up of an assortment of different varieties and the first consumer can choose between any of the sofas 10, including one of those located at the periphery of the whole.

It is therefore necessary to authorize this entirely free choice, without losing sight of the need for correct maintenance.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by providing means so that at least some of the articles of the periphery of the assembly are retained at a small distance from the edge 21. They may be shims, for example, at provided that they have no negative effect on the packaged items.

The solution adopted here to illustrate the invention consists in providing a particular geometry of the edge 21.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the sofas 10 being of substantially square shape, the edge 21 of the base 20 is inscribed in a rectangle but has concave parts 27 which connect the short sides 22 to the long sides 23.

The concave parts 27 have a radius of curvature such that s§ rope C has an arrow F whose arc A intersects the edge 21 at a point M which is located at a distance D1 from the edge 21, both vis-à-vis the short sides 22 as long sides 23, equal to the desired clearance for the sofa 14 located at the corner of all the sofas 10. The edge 21 can be slightly inclined, the real point of intersection of the arc A is located in an exact but not very precise way compared to the above explanations, especially if we take into account the fact that the articles are more or less flexible, the sofas 10 bread crumbs being precisely very flexible

Indeed, when the sofas 10 are put in place, the four corner sofas of the assembly will necessarily have an angle located in the middle M and their sides will be at the distance D1 calculated so that a user can insert the end d '' a finger between one of the two outer edges of the sofa and the closest edge 21, thus allowing the user to take between this thumb and forefinger this sofa since against its inner edges is a space E2-E3 allowing the user to insert the end of another finger.

It should be noted that the edge 21 does not necessarily have to be rectilinear between the fractions 27 because, for aesthetic reasons, it is on the contrary preferable for the small sides 22 and large 23 to have a slight curve. The sofa 14 located at the corner of the assembly can all the more easily tilt so as to tend to occupy the position indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 3. But in this case, the reduction in the distance D1 towards the large side 23 has as a corollary an increase in the distance D1 towards the small side 22 and, ultimately, this does not result in any discomfort for the user since it is not a question here of precision mechanics but of convenience of handling.

The curved shape of the small 22 and large 23 sides of the edge 21 promotes the movement of the sofas 10 when the envelope 30 is removed but not before because it exerts a sufficient brake effect to avoid friction between it and the top of the sofas 10. After its removal, the easy separation of the sofas 10 is an appreciable advantage since it makes it possible to effortlessly create a space E2-E3 between two sofas 10 which would lie one against the other.

The choice of the decorative sheet 26 is not absolutely indifferent because for the implementation of the invention, it is good that the sofas 10 can slide easily on its surface, as soon as the maintenance due to the envelope 30 which ceases , at this time, is withdrawn.

The envelope 30 containing a gas under slight pressure, it is possible to superimpose packages of equal dimensions (for example for their transport, for their storage or for their presentation for sale) without causing the canapes 10 to be crushed, but it is obviously safer to exploit the difference between the height of the sofas 10 and the height of the edge 21 to ensure that the superimposed packages rest on the rim 24 rather than on the center of the assembly, directly above the sofas 10.

Several means available to those skilled in the art exist for solving this problem and two very simple ones will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 shows a variant according to which the trays 20 have dimensions such that their bottom rests on the rim 24 of the immediately lower packaging, so that the bottom of the upper packaging cannot touch the top of the sofas 10 located in the lower packaging.

This structure assumes that the perimeter of the bottom is more extensive than that of the rim 24 or at least of different shape.

This can present some drawbacks for the manufacture of the trays 20 and it is then possible to adopt the variant of FIG. 5 according to which the packages are all identical, including the trays 20.

After sealing the envelopes 30, the packages of generally rectangular shape are superimposed one across the other so that all the packages rest along the length of the bottom of the trays on the width of the bottom of the tray immediately below.

The complete stack can be enclosed in a box or case 40 of which only the cross-section has been shown.

Experience shows that it is possible to adopt a plastic material for the envelope 30 which acquires sufficient rigidity transversely, in particular thanks to the harder welding lines 31 and 32, so that each package is immobilized in good position by the vertical faces. from the case or box 40.

However, for greater safety, very cheap wedges can be placed in the spaces 41 which remain at the four corners of the box or box 40.

Referring now to FIG. 6, it can be seen that, thanks to the invention, it is possible both to maintain packaged articles and to have a freedom such that they are not subjected to any permanent pressure due to the envelope .

It is known that articles, such as packaging for sofas 10, intended for sale in supermarkets, are often handled not only by professional staff but also by store customers, if only to allow them to place the object chosen in their cart, then on the conveyor belt of the checkout counter, then in a container to their home.

As a package according to the invention is substantially flat. it is tempting to place it vertically in a basket or in a carton. This arrangement is undesirable here. despite the precautions taken, but it remains tolerable because the tension of the envelope 30 and the value of the space E1 are chosen so that in the vertical position of the assembly (FIG. 6). the sofas 10 tilt towards the envelope 30 while remaining on top of each other.

It would indeed be disastrous. especially for sofas 10, they can overlap because not only their appearance could be deteriorated but there could be mixtures of intolerable tastes.

It appears from the above description that the structure of a packaging according to the invention is a skilful compromise between the needs of a large quantity of gas and a small envelope volume for the containment of the packaged articles and , from there, their correct maintenance.

The performance of the packaging of articles such as food products can be increased by increasing the humidity of the latter, so that they keep well despite a quantity of preservation gas reduced to the minimum possible.

Claims (7)

1- Packaging for fragile articles (10) characterized in that it comprises on the one hand a rigid base (20) which is surrounded by an edge (21) of height (H) slightly greater than the thickness ( h ) articles (10) arranged flat, edge to edge and whose internal dimensions (L1 and l 1) are slightly greater than the external dimensions (L2 and l 2) of all the articles (10) arranged side by side on the base (20), and on the other hand a flexible and waterproof envelope (30), advantageously transparent, containing the base (20) and the articles (10) as well as a gas according to a volume and under a pressure such as l 'envelope (30) can exert on the articles (10) a holding effect perpendicular to the plane of the base (20) but without pressure. 2- Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal dimensions (L1 and l 1) of the base (20) and the external dimensions (L2 and l 2) of all the articles (10) arranged side by side are different in value so that there can remain between three contiguous articles (11, 12 and 13) two spaces (E2 and E3) just sufficient to place the end of two fingers there for the purpose of gripping an article (12) located between two others (11 and 13). 3- Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for maintaining at least some of the articles (10) located on the periphery of the assembly at a distance (D1) from the edges (21) of the base ( 20) sufficient to place the end of a finger therein for gripping an article (10) located on the periphery of the assembly. 4- Packaging according to claim 3, characterized in that the articles (10) having in a plane parallel to that of the base (20) a polygonal contour, in particular quadrangular, and the base (20) being substantially quadrilateral, the means for holding at least some of the articles (10) located at the periphery of the assembly are constituted by internal fractions (27) of the edges (21) which are concave according to a radius of curvature such that they have an arc whose secant point (M) with each concave fraction (37) is located substantially at the distance (D1) desired for said articles (10) from the edges (21) of the base (20). 5- Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (20) is constituted by a tray intended for the presentation of the articles (10) as they are, after removal of the envelope (30). 6- Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a decorative sheet (26) placed against the base (20) and receiving the articles (10). 7- Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the gas is of a nature adapted to that of the articles (10), in particular with a view to good preservation thereof, and the minimum volume of gas required, at a temperature given, dictating the dimensions of the envelope (30) in the three directions of space. said envelope (30) has either a length or a width which most closely surrounds the base (20) and the articles (10) while either the width or the length is independent of the corresponding dimension of the base (30) and articles (10) to provide the gas with the minimum volume required.

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