EP1200323B1 - Packaging made from flat cut-outs and method for filling said packaging automatically - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging unit that is produced from essentially flat cut-outs, consisting of a lid (1), a base part (3) with recesses (15), and segments (15) for subdividing the base part into compartments (14) for holding round or egg-shaped packaged goods. The invention also relates to a method for separating the packaging units and filling them with the packaged goods.

Description

The invention relates to packaging made essentially from flat-lying Cut to size, consisting of a lid, a base part with cutouts and Ridges for dividing the bottom part into receiving cells for receiving round ones or egg-shaped packaging goods and a method for separating and loading of packaging with packaging goods.

Conventional packaging for eggs mostly consist of pouring cardboard or plastic, which are manufactured with a defined shape and as stacked units, consisting of a large number of identical packaging.

This type of packaging has the disadvantage that it can also be stacked is relatively bulky and therefore, due to the poor volume filling, causes significant transportation costs.

Furthermore, the packaging has surfaces that are either not or because of their porous rough surface only with poor and less appealing Have quality printed immediately. Hence the application of printed labels for consumer information has become common. The application of these labels is, due to the price of the label and the additional adhesive step required, but not very advantageous for cost reasons.

Another disadvantage of packaging made of cast cardboard is - compared to Corrugated cardboard - unfavorable material price and the high sensitivity of the cast cardboard against moisture. For example, air humidity has a greater influence on the surface area of the material than is the case for corrugated cardboard. Constant dimensions of the packaging units are important for the machine's ability to work. If most egg packaging machines also allow relatively high tolerances, too large fluctuations lead to errors in the operational sequence.

In the Federal Republic of Germany, more than 100 million egg packages are produced every year manufactured and sold. Even slight differences in the manufacturing price guarantee per packaging including printing or labeling therefore, in view of the number of units, a sales advantage that should not be underestimated.

Since there are six or ten packs in the Federal Republic of Germany developed from cast cardboard to the "quasi-standard" for egg packaging, it is important for a newly developed packaging that this without modification of the conventional egg packaging machines must be used for these machines.

From WO 96/38355 a packaging for eggs is known which consists of one Molded cardboard base made to hold the eggs and a cardboard box existing top, which e.g. over adhesive strips with the lower part is articulated. The cardboard cover is printable.

Packaging is known from DE 32 33 511-A1, WO 98/43897 and US 4,934,533 known that can be produced from flat corrugated cardboard by folding and gluing. However, these cannot be stacked in the open state and are therefore conventional Packaging machines cannot be used. Especially the packaging after the US 4,934,533 also show an insufficient in the closed state Stability that prevents filled packs from stacking up safely.

From US 4,462,537 a package according to the preamble of claim 1 is known, the upper and lower part of Flat cardboard are made and a plastic or cast cardboard insert Includes packaging goods, the lower part has recesses, to hold the upstanding elements of the plastic or pouring cardboard Insert that serve under the top box stacked bottom box.

According to a further embodiment of US 4,462,537, the side walls Recesses on and the webs that form the bottom part of the packaging in receiving cells subdivide, are either attached by several individual ones on the floor surface pyramid-shaped elements or through to the long side of the packaging parallel folds formed. Such packaging has the disadvantage open, not or less easily stackable and more expensive when opened to be in the making.

The object of the invention is to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art described above Overcoming technology and inexpensive and machine-compatible packaging provide. For machine-compatible packaging, it is necessary that this to stacks that serve the packaging machines as a supply on the input side, Allow to be piled up and then machine separated.

This object is achieved according to the invention by packaging with the characterizing features of claim 1.

Preferred embodiments are given in the subclaims.

As a rule, the packaging has a plurality of webs, preferably at least 2 webs, to create the subdivisions of the packaging so that several rows, preferably at least 3 rows of recording cells.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the receiving cells are designed that they are used to hold spherical or egg-shaped objects. Therefor the webs are preferably designed so that they are away from the bottom surface upwards in the surface, preferably circular or arcuate, at least along rejuvenate a section. According to a further preferred embodiment, it expands the web surface of the web goes up as soon as the web contacts with in the middle its largest area - in relation to one to the floor area parallel cutting surface - having round or egg-shaped, in the receiving cell lost packaging item,

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the bridge upper, lateral and / or lower retaining tabs, which are caused by incisions and possibly by folding the Web-forming web surfaces can be formed and connected to them in an articulated manner are. These retaining tabs should at least be under pressure or force have points of contact with the objects located in the receiving cells and yield under resilient pressure. Each web preferably has two holding tabs.

Preferably, the webs are designed so that they with the bottom surface between contact two folded edges. The cut-out bridge points upwards preferably support surfaces on which the packaging item in the amount of the edition spaced from the floor surface. The webs are preferably made of one piece can be erected with a flat cut.

The webs preferably protrude from the bottom surface to the underside of the lid surface. This makes a good one for stacking the filled packages Stability created. This must be away from the inner floor surface extending webs do not necessarily extend in one piece to the cover plate, but can also be closed on the cover plate the existing webs contact - in addition to the side walls - another To form a connection between the inner cover surface and the base surface.

The bottom surface has recesses for receiving the web (s) one under the opened packaging stacked on like second packaging. The cutouts preferably run in the transverse direction and have also preferred an approximately rectangular shape, with the longer leg of the recess parallel is aligned with the shorter side wall. Each recess is preferably under arranged an upstanding web. The remaining inner floor area provides support for the underside of the webs. The webs are preferably on the bottom surface attached by gluing.

It is also possible that the packaging items through one or more in the Receiving cells, i.e. e.g. between the bridge and the side wall, laid or possibly additional glued, soft, yielding packaging materials, such as crepe paper or foamed plastic film, are protected.

The side walls are preferably formed in two or more parts, the Side parts are separated from each other by cut edges and / or folded edges. Preferably shows the packaging - in relation to a side wall - a lower and a upper side part. According to a further embodiment, the dividing line is between upper and lower side part, preferably each side part, longer than the edge, forms the side part and bottom surface or side part and cover surface. Farther advantageously have the upper and lower side part of a side wall essentially same heights. The lower side parts preferably have no recesses on.

Of the side parts that abut one another at an angle preferably points at least one each on a tab, which in the erected state the side part with the at an angle to this abutting side part of the other side wall, preferably through Glue, connect. The tabs are preferably triangular and have with the side part with which they are articulated when lying flat, a folded edge.

The lid and base are, preferably by a folded edge in one of the side walls, hinged together. The folded edge can be made by applying Glue reinforced.

Furthermore, the opposite other side part has one or more devices to close the lid. The devices for closing the lid are preferably designed so that they bulges on the one hand and on the other hand Have openings that serve to accommodate the bulges. One of the two parts of this holding device is in each case on one or more, in closed state of the packaging under the side part of the bottom part or the Cover gripping, locking tabs attached.

The bulges are advantageously due to incisions and outward folding of the incised edges. On the inside of the fold an adhesive point can be attached for stabilization.

Suitable materials for producing the flat blanks can be: cardboard blanks, like single or multi-layer cardboard materials. such as homogeneous cardboard, duplex cardboard or triplex cardboard, cardboard with synthetic fiber or plastic content. Suitable are also blanks from composite materials or other bendable and foldable Plastic materials, these chemically modified natural raw materials like Can include cellulose. Corrugated cardboard or one of the above is particularly suitable mentioned materials containing corrugated cardboard or corrugated layers. Important is, that the material is bendable and foldable. All of the above materials may coated - for example with polyethylene - and should be for printing suitable. The printing can e.g. using letterpress, offset or gravure printing respectively.

Suitable packaging goods are fragile bulk goods such as Eggs, sensitive to shock Chocolate products or fruits.

The packaging according to the invention can be opened in the storage container be stacked by egg packaging machines. These take in the Rule the bottom carton from the stack, gripping usually by means of puncture needles, turn it and insert the opened box into a Position to take the eggs. Then the box is closed mechanically, it is important that the locking tab grips under the closing lid, to allow the bulges to be locked in the locking holes. Therefor the locking tab is raised slightly while the lid is being closed.

At the same time, the packaging according to the invention has the advantage that it can be transported in the form of flat blanks and only before use erected by a folding machine, possibly using adhesive such as hot glue become.

The packaging according to the invention also has the advantage that it can be printed on all sides and the recesses in the base plate Allow checking of the condition of the packaged goods. For example, Barcodes for Reading by cash register scanner advantageous on the bottom underside of the packaging be applied. Furthermore, the invention allows packaging from a few, advantageously two to produce blanks, one blank for the upper and lower part the packaging unit and a cut for the web surface.

Furthermore, the packaging according to the invention has the advantage of being very narrow Space to be stackable. Advantageously, at least 2/3, preferably at least 70%, the amount of an opened package from the one stacked underneath Packing unit added. At least 1 m stack height, preferably at least 90 or particularly preferably at least 110 opened packages stacked on top of each other. When using the invention Packaging for packaging eggs can be opened about 125 boxes Stack condition to one meter. Here, the bottom part and lid have a Height of about 3.5 cm each.

The cut edges can be roughened or to avoid the risk of injury jagged, i.e. provided with small teeth.

The packaging according to the invention has shown in practical tests that this are particularly suitable for protecting fragile goods from impact and pressure protect. This was e.g. tested in field trials on eggs, the inventive Packaging stacked several times on top of each other, filled with eggs several hundred kilometers were transported in automobiles.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, 2 or more packaging units form a unit in which they e.g. via webs on the side walls, the may be perforated for easier separation, are connected. It is here the base body of one of two or more packaging units is also possible unit formed from a blank. Such units are for Egg packaging under the term "double sixes" or "double tens" known.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained by the drawings.

Figure 1 shows a blank for the lid and bottom part of an inventive Packaging. Fold lines are dashed, cut lines are shown as solid lines.

Figure 2 shows a web surface, which after erection and locking in the package 3 can form receiving cells and webs in the bottom part. With the reference symbol (16) holding tabs are identified, which on one of the Upper part of the web facing the lid surface through a perforated folded edge are attached and are designed to swing freely downwards.

FIG. 3 shows an overall view of the packaging as used for packaging 10 Eggs is used, using the blank according to Figure 1 and the web surface according to FIG. 2.

Figure 4 shows another embodiment of a land surface.

In the following, an embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 becomes an example described.

Lid (1), bottom part (3) and side walls (6) form the outer surfaces of the packaging. The bottom part (3) has a bottom surface (4) with recesses or cutouts and lower side parts (8). The recesses (5) in the base part (3) serve to accommodate the webs (15) of a stacked under the opened packaging Similar second opened packaging (not shown).

The recesses (5) preferably run in the transverse direction and have an in approximately rectangular shape, with the longer leg of the recess parallel to the shorter Side wall (transverse side wall, 11) is aligned. Each recess (5) is in each case arranged under an upstanding web (15). The remaining inner Bottom surface (4) between the recesses (5) offers the webs as an adhesive surface (15) Stop.

Tabs (21) connect the side parts (7 or 8) of the transverse side wall (11) with those of the longitudinal side wall (9) at an angle. The tabs are triangular and have the side part of the long side wall, with which they are articulated, a folded edge.

The side walls (9, 11) are each formed by an upper and lower side part, only the rear upper and lower side part (7,8) of the long side wall (9) is connected to each other by a folded edge and thus the lid and base part are connected to each other articulatedly connects.

The dividing line between the upper and lower side part is longer than the edge, form the side part (8) and bottom surface (4) or side part (7) and cover surface. When erected, the upper and lower side part of a side wall essentially the same height.

The lower side part (8) of the longitudinal side wall (9) is articulated by a Folded edge with a closure flap with folded out through cut and Folded edges formed bulges (18) connected. The locking tab will when closing under the front upper side part (8) of the longitudinal side wall (9) of the Cover pushed, the bulges (18) in openings (17) of the front upper side part (7) of the longitudinal side wall (9) of the cover (1) and lock the bottom part (3) and cover (1).

FIG. 2 shows the web surface from the four webs projecting upwards by erection (15) for dividing the base part (3) into several rows of receiving cells (14) be formed. The webs (15) have an upper folded edge (22) and two each lower fold edges aligned parallel to the transverse side wall (11) of the packaging are on. The lower one is formed by the curved cutting edge (23) forms upright part of the web surface facing the longitudinal side walls (9) a lower support surface (24) for the packaged goods.

The webs (15) are designed so that they are in from the bottom surface up narrow the surface in an arc (23) and widen upwards again as soon as the web is the contact with the largest area in the middle - in relation to a cut surface parallel to the floor surface - having round or egg-shaped packaging object located in the receiving cell (14) loses.

The webs have retaining tabs (16) which are formed by incisions and above are hinged to the web by a folded edge. Secure these retaining tabs the packaging object located in the receiving cells (14) and secure it at the same time against contact with the packaging object is located in the adjacent receiving cell (14). The webs (15) protrude from the Floor area (4) to the underside of the closed lid (1).

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

cover

2

cover surface

3

the bottom part

4

Floor area (or connection to the floor area)

5

Recess in the floor (recesses)

6

Side wall

7

Upper side part

8th

Lower side part

9

Longitudinal side wall

10

Longitudinal edge (s)

11

Transverse side wall

12

transverse edge

13

closure flap

14

receiving cell

15

web

16

retaining tabs

17

perforations

18

Cams / bulges

19

Fold line / fold edge (perforated if necessary)

20

intersection

21

flap

22

upper edge of the web

23

arcuate tapered cutting edge

24

bearing surface

Claims (12)

1. A packaging unit consisting of a lid (1) and a base portion (3), wherein the base portion (3) includes

   one or more upwardly projecting ridges (15) to divide the base portion into receiving compartments (14) and

   one or more recesses (5) in the base portion (3), and the ridge(s) (15), lid (1) and base portion (3) are made from one or more flat blanks,

   characterized in that

   the ridges (15) are furnished with one or more upper folding edges (22) aligned parallel to the narrow side wall (11) of the packaging unit and one or more lower folding edges aligned parallel to the narrow side wall (11), and

   the recesses (5) are conformed to seat the ridge or ridges (15) of a similar, second open packaging unit stacked beneath the opened packaging unit.
2. The packaging unit according to claim 1, characterized in that either the ridges (15) form an essentially solid joint with the base surface (4), or parts of the ridges (15) themselves form the base panel, and the ridges (15) extend upwardly from the base panel as far as the inner side of the lid surface (2).
3. The packaging unit according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ridges (15) are furnished with one or more retaining tongues (16), which are joined at a top and/or bottom position with the ridges (15) and may be inclined along their intersecting edges towards the ridges (15).
4. The packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recesses (5) in the base panel (4) are rectangular in shape.
5. The packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recesses (5) are designed such that the longer side of the recess is aligned parallel to the shorter side wall (11).
6. The packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recesses (5) that are adjacent the short side wall (11) of base surface (4) are larger than the recesses (5) that are located centrally.
7. The packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid (1), base portion (3) and one or more, preferably all, side parts (7,8,9,11) may be assembled from a single flat blank item.
8. The packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging unit is furnished with middle, lower and upper side edges (10,12,19), wherein the middle side edges are longer than the upper side edges (19) and the side edges (10,12).
9. The packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging unit is furnished with lower and upper side parts (8,7), wherein the surface areas of the lower and upper side parts of a side wall are essentially equal.
10. The packaging unit according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging unit is furnished with at least one aperture (17) on or in an upper or lower side wall, and with a protuberance (18) on or in the lower or upper side wall corresponding thereto, wherein aperture (17) and protuberance (18) engage with each other in the closed state to keep the lid (1) closed, and the protuberance (18) is preferably formed by cutting lines and folding out.
11. A method for separating packaging units by automated means and for filling packaging units with goods for packaging by automated means,
    characterized by the following steps:

    removal of one packaging unit from a stack of packaging units consisting of packaging units stacked in the opened state,

    transporting the open packaging unit to a position for receiving the goods for packaging,

    filling the packaging units with goods for packaging,

    closing the packaging unit, wherein the closing tongue (13) is brought into a position during closing of the lid (1) that enables the closing tongue (13) to be passed into the inside of the packaging unit upon closing, and

    wherein the packaging units each consist of a
    lid (1) and a base portion (3), wherein the base portion (3) includes

    one or more upwardly projecting ridges (15) to divide the base portion (3) into receiving compartments (14), wherein the ridges (15) are furnished with one or more upper folding edges (22) aligned parallel to the narrow side wall (11) of the packaging unit and one or more lower folding edges aligned parallel to the narrow side wall (11) of the packaging unit, and

    one or more recesses (5) in the base portion (3) to seat the ridge or ridges (15) of a similar, second opened packaging unit stacked beneath the opened packaging unit,

    and wherein the ridges, lid (1) and base portion (3) are made from one or more flat blanks, and the lid (1) and/or base portion (3) is/are furnished with one or more closing tongues (13).
12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that a packaging unit according to one of claims 1 to 10 is used.

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