EP0559718B1 - Low-density element made of corrugated material - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/EP91/02303 Sec. 371 Date Jul. 27, 1993 Sec. 102(e) Date Jul. 27, 1993 PCT Filed Dec. 3, 1991 PCT Pub. No. WO92/09501 PCT Pub. Date Jun. 11, 1992.The present invention relates to a low-density material element for use as protective packaging. The material element consists of a multi-layered body of a corrugated material which is lined on one of its sides. Thus the neighboring corrugated layers lie adjacent one another with a common lining layer without interlocking with one another and without being compressed. The multi-layer body has an extension length (L, E) which is in a direction perpendicular to both the corrugation extension direction and the layering direction. The multi-layer body is characterized in that it is held together with a singly positioned fixation. This singly positioned fixation functions to allow neighboring corrugated layers to lie loosely adjacent one another without being compressed. Furthermore, the singly positioned fixation allows the corrugated layers to be slidable relative to one another in a direction perpendicular to the corrugation extension (S) on being bent in a plane towards the body material.

Description

The invention relates to a material part of low volume weight for packaging, in a packaging container, protected against damage in a packaging container, consisting of a one-sided covered, flexible corrugated material comprising multilayered layers with the same directional wave shape, a circular or oval-shaped circumference, in the adjacent, in the layering direction, with their wave course perpendicular to the circumferential direction, lying on one another without compression, without any interference, with a common cover layer, the circumference of which is a multiple of the layer thickness and which is held together with a singular fixation.

A generic material part is known from DE-U-90 06 005.9. This comprises a spiral body which is rolled up from a corrugated cardboard section without cavities and has corrugated layers which are tightly wound together. The inner section winding edge, which extends with the wave form, simultaneously forms the central body axis and the spiral winding axis. The full wrap formed thereby, given in its shape as a packaging cushion, has a convexly curved surface which is deformable in the direction of the interior of the body with at least partial destruction of the wave structure for shock absorption. In order to form mold cavities or concave profile cushions for angularly protruding packaged goods with unsprayed shaft material that is required for shock absorption, two or more undeformed spiral bodies must be connected to one another, the convexly curved surfaces of unsprayed shafts lying only linearly against the packaged goods and the packaging container. A desired flexible adaptation of the shape to the packaging material to be packaged in containers is not possible or is only possible to a slight extent by considerable pressure on the material body surfaces, in which case the corrugated material layers are compressed and also destroyed. Another packaging molded part of low volume weight (EP-AO 393 804) comprises a dimensionally stable material body constructed from corrugated cardboard, the adjacent corrugated layers of which are connected to one another by adhesive bonding. From the surface of the body, at least one mold cavity adapted to its contour is worked into the body for the form-fitting reception of packaging material. This is formed by an embossing-like compression or compression of the shaft material essentially in the direction of the wave course. Depending on the shape of the packaged goods, the molded packaging part must be manufactured and kept ready. For the rest, plastic packaging materials are known which involve relatively high production and raw material costs, have environmentally harmful properties and are associated with problems in disposal.

The invention has for its object to flexibly design material parts of the type mentioned that they can be brought into a wide variety of cross-sectional shapes having concave or throat-shaped contours are, whereby they should offer a complete substitution possibility for plastic parts.

This object is achieved in connection with the features of the material part mentioned in the introduction in that the material body consists of a closed circular ring body, the inner circumference in relation to the ring width, which is determined by the layer thickness of at least two loosely adjacent shaft layers, is significantly larger, the ring body being held together with the singular fixation such that the loosely lying shaft layers in the Waves perpendicular directions are displaceable relative to each other, so that the ring body is optionally deformable in a variety of cross-sectional shapes without deforming the wave structure. Thus, according to the invention, adjacent shaft positions can be loosely lying against one another in a compression-free manner and can be displaced relative to one another in directions perpendicular to the wave course under a flat curvature directed into the body. The material parts according to the invention can be produced in large numbers and very inexpensively, since they can be separated from semi-finished bodies, which in particular consist entirely of recycled waste paper, in mass production. They can be manufactured in a wide variety of dimensions. Due to their flexibility, they can be used universally for shock-proof packaging of various objects. They form flexible mold nests or cushions, or the like on edge surfaces, corner parts, projections or the like. of the packaged goods nestle flat, taking for example L, U, T, I, S or P-shaped shapes in profile cross-section. A major advantage is that the shaft layers are neither crushed nor destroyed during the shaping, so that the cushioning properties of the shaft material structure can be optimally used and the material parts can also be reused, in which case they can assume other cross-sectional shapes.

Fig. 1 und 2

in axonometrischer Ansicht erfindungsgemäße Materialteile, die im Profilquerschnitt S, L bzw. U-artig sich erstreckende Formkonturen aufweisen,

Fig. 3 und 4

im Profilquerschnitt erfindungsgemäße flexible Materialteile, die unter Druck auf die Außenflächen in die verschiedensten Querschnittsformen gebracht werden können,

Fig. 5A bis 6B

im Querschnitt erfindungsgemäße Materialteile mit einer die Krümmungsform vorgebenden, an den Materialteilen angeordneten steifen oder starren Schicht und

Fig. 7A und 7B

ein erfindungsgemäßes Materialteil, das in weitere erfindungsgemäße Materialteile teilbar ist.

Particularly expedient and advantageous forms of training or possibilities of the invention emerge from the subclaims and are described in more detail with reference to the following description of the exemplary embodiments shown in the schematic drawing. Show it

1 and 2

in axonometric view material parts according to the invention, the shape contours extending in profile cross section S, L or U-like exhibit,

3 and 4

in the profile cross-section flexible material parts according to the invention, which can be brought into various cross-sectional shapes under pressure on the outer surfaces,

5A to 6B

in cross section material parts according to the invention with a stiff or rigid layer defining the shape of the curvature and arranged on the material parts and

7A and 7B

a material part according to the invention which can be divided into further material parts according to the invention.

Material parts 1 in FIGS. 1 and 2 are molded parts which are formed from closed ring bodies 10 which form material bodies and which are brought into the profile cross-sectional shapes shown. These shapes result from the fact that the material part is applied to the surfaces of objects to be packaged, which are not shown. The material part fills voids in a packaged object or between it and the walls of a packaging container (not shown). It should therefore be pointed out that the material parts according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are flexible in themselves and can be changed in cross-sectional shape.

The ring body 10 forming the material parts 1 according to FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises three flexible shaft layers 11 covered on one side, adjacent shaft layers 11, each with a common cover layer 12, lying loosely against one another without engagement without compression. The rectified waves extend perpendicular to that Profile cross section in the direction S. In Fig. 1, the shaft positions 11 of the ring body 10 are only shown in detail, while the rest of the material part, as correspondingly also in Fig. 2, is shown schematically in its contour. The line L indicated that the material ring 13 of the ring body 10 lies together in the interior of the material part without a space.

Annular bodies 10 with a circular cross-section, as are provided in their nature for forming the material parts in FIGS. 1 and 2, are shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The ring inner circumference, which extends perpendicular to the wave course and perpendicular to the layering direction, is a multiple of the ring width B. It is readily apparent that the circular ring bodies 10 forming the material parts 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have a substantially larger ring circumference in relation to the Have ring width B than in the ring bodies 10 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 and 4 comprise four or five adjacent shaft layers 11 which determine the ring width B and whose wave shape is perpendicular to the circumferential direction. Such a circular ring body 10 is made from a single section of corrugated material covered on one side, preferably in the form of corrugated cardboard , wound spirally. Only the winding ends parallel to the wave shape are fixed to the outer or inner circumference of the ring body 10 by a glue or other adhesive connection 2. With this singular fixation it is achieved according to the invention that the adjacent shaft positions 11 lie loosely against one another without compression and can be displaced relative to one another in directions perpendicular to the wave course with a flat curvature. It is essential that the outer and inner ring shaft positions are fixed with respect to their circumference, so that these circumferences are fixed. Due to the ring cavity 15 and the ring layers lying loosely adjacent to one another via only one common cover layer 12, the ring cross-sectional shape of the ring body can be decisive under pressure on its outer circumference deform. The shaft positions do not mesh with one another and they are neither crushed nor destroyed. When using very light corrugated material, in particular from recycled waste paper, as is preferably provided for the invention, the material part ring body can already assume oval shapes due to its own weight, as shown in FIGS. 5A, 6A and 7B.

3, the ring body 10 is wound with an outer cover layer 12. It is thereby achieved that the ring layers which come together in the event of a deformation in the interior of the ring interlock with the ridges of the inner shaft position, as is shown in FIG. 1. This interlocking has the effect that the shaft positions can then practically no longer be shifted against one another and the profile cross section is thereby stabilized. However, it should be pointed out that this effect, which may be particularly desirable, only occurs when the material part in the shaped state is in a cavity to be filled, which determines and holds the shape. After removal of the material part according to the invention from such a cavity, it can again be placed in cross-sectional shapes of other intermediate or hollow spaces to be filled.

If, when the material part is formed, no internal toothing of the inner shaft position is desired, an annular body according to FIG. 4 with an inner cover layer 12 in the winding is provided.

It is very important that the material part according to the invention can be used with non-destructive waves with pronounced flat surfaces and concave curvatures directed into the material part, so that it can be placed particularly comfortably around edges and strongly curved projections.

According to another embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the ring body comprises concentrically arranged, closed circular shaft layers, which are fixed to one another at only one circumferential position across the ring width by a glue or other adhesive connection. With this e.g. also achieved the profile shapes shown in Fig. 1 and 2.

Material part ring bodies according to the invention can also be provided with a singular fixation which is formed at a circumferential position but along the ring width B. Even then it is ensured that the layers in the ring can move sufficiently relative to one another for flexible shaping of the material part.

As shown in FIGS. 5A to 6B, it can be particularly expedient that a flat layer 3, which is perpendicular to the wave shape and the profile cross section and is rigid or rigid with respect to the elasticity of the wave positions, is arranged on a peripheral part of an annular body 10. Such a layer can consist of a hardened adhesive material. However, it is also particularly expedient to provide them in the form of a shaft material section with a wave profile directed transversely, in particular perpendicularly to the wave profile of the ring body 10.

In order, for example, to achieve a predetermined V and / or L profile during shaping, the layer 3 according to FIGS. 5A and 5B is attached to the outer circumference of the ring body 10 by a glue or adhesive connection, while according to FIGS. 6A and 6B an in the layer 3 pushed inside the ring is provided. The ring body 10 is loose (without attachment) or possibly only with a singular attachment point 31 around the flat layer 3 (FIG. 6A). The ring body 10 is thus fixed in an oval cross-sectional shape. Using a line of weakness, For example, a notch 30, which is arranged in the center of the ring and extends parallel to the wave shape of the ring body 10, the material part 1 can then be easily brought into the L-shape shown in FIG. 6B and also returned to the flat shape.

Material part ring bodies 10 are preferably bodies separated from an endlessly produced annular winding strand, in particular from a corrugated cardboard ring winding. In particular, the invention provides that perforation lines are provided in the axial distance on the semi-finished product strand and perpendicular to the wave course, so that material parts of desired ring heights H are available in a very simple manner, as is shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.

Claims (13)

1. Element (1) of low density for packaging articles to be packed protected against damage in a packaging container comprising a material body, which has a circular or oval periphery and which includes flexible corrugated material covered on one aide and arranged in a plurality of layers with the corrugations of the layers extending in the same direction and in which corrugated layers (11), which are adjacent in the layering direction and whose corrugation extension direction (S) extends perpendicular to the peripheral direction, lie adjacent one another with a common lining layer (12) without interlocking with one another and without being compressed, the periphery of which is a multiple of the thickness or the layered arrangement and which is held together with a singly positioned fixation, characterised in that the material body comprises a closed circular annular body (10), whose internal periphery is substantially larger than the annular breadth (B), which is determined by the thickness of the layered arrangement of at least two corrugated layers (11) lying loosely adjacent one another, wherein the annular body (10) is so held together with the singly positioned fixation that the corrugated layers lying loosely adjacent one another are movable relatively to one another in directions perpendicular to the corrugation extension direction (S) so that the annular body (10) is selectively deformable into widely different cross-sectional shapes without deformation of the corrugated structure.
2. Element as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the annular body includes at least two separate, concentrically arranged circular annular corrugated layers which are fixed together only at one peripheral position over the annular breadth by means of a glue or other adhesive connection.
3. Element as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the annular body (10) comprises a wound body formed from a single material section with at least two adjacent spiral corrugated layers.
4. Element as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that only the ends of the wound structure extending parallel to the corrugation extension direction are fixed by a glue or other adhesive connection (2) to the outer or inner periphery of the annular body (10).
5. Element as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the spiral corrugated layers of the annular wound body are fixed together only at one peripheral position across the annular breadth by a glue or other adhesive connection.
6. Element as claimed in one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the annular body is a body which has been separated from an endlessly produced tubing of wound web, particularly from an endless corrugated board roll.
7. Element as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the annular body is a body separated from an endlessly produced tubing of wound web by means of lines of perforations disposed spaced apart in the axial direction along the tubing and perpendicular to the corrugation extension direction (Fig. 7A).
8. Element as claimed in one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the annular body (10) has a constant thickness of the layered arrangement.
9. Element as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that disposed on one peripheral portion of the annular body (10) there is a layer (3), which is stiff with respect to the elasticity of curvature of the corrugated layers, particularly flat, and extends perpendicular to its corrugation extension direction.
10. Element as claimed in claim 9, characterised in that the inherently stiff layer (3) is provided with a weakness (30), such as a notch or the like, extending parallel to the corrugation extension direction of the annular body (10).
11. Element as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the stiff layer (3) comprises a corrugated material section with a corrugation extension direction directed transversely, particularly perpendicularly, to the corrugation extension direction of the annular body (10).
12. Element as claimed in one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the corrugated material is corrugated board covered on one side.
13. Element as claimed in one of claims 1 to 12, characterised in that the corrugated material comprises paper, preferably entirely recycled waste paper.

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