EP1209090A1 - Packaging for transporting and delivering articles, and process for packaging and distributing these articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging for the transport and distribution of articles, comprising a blank (1) on which has been fixed a sheet (9) of heat-shrinkable material, characterized in that the blank has a central part (4) and two flaps (5) with handles (7) extending beyond the fold lines so that they can be folded down giving the blank a U-shaped section, the sheet of thermoplastic film (9) being fixed to said central zone (4) and overflowing the blank to completely wrap the articles, this packaging being associated with a plastic rotation bin of corresponding dimensions ensuring horizontal and vertical support. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging for transportation and distribution of items. She has also relates to a method for packaging these articles as well as to distribute them.

The development of distance selling of articles of all kinds, in particular by telematic commands, for example by minitel or internet, including for private delivery, poses packaging problems items for shipping and delivery. He is in necessary effect of being able to pack and unpack very quickly items using packaging particularly suitable for transport and intended for receive all kinds of items, including assortments of disparate items arranged in a packaging.

We have already planned, for this purpose, to make blanks of cardboard or similar cellular sheets, for example example in plastic, on which we stuck a sheet of heat-shrinkable film, these blanks can be folded to form an internally lined box by the film which free sides can cover the items, which are placed inside the box thus produced, the assembly then being heated to heat shrink the film and thus maintain fixes the items in the checkout.

Such advanced packaging is described, for example, in French patent application 0013025 of the Applicant, filed on October 11, 2000, the content is incorporated here by reference.

The object of the present invention is to simplify packaging of articles, decrease the use of lost materials, including blank plates and improve handling and transport conditions and distribution.

The subject of the invention is a packaging for the transport and distribution of items, including a initially flat and foldable blank, on which was fixed a sheet of heat-shrinkable material, characterized in what the blank has a specific central part by two free edges of the blank and two fold lines perpendicular to said free edges, and two flaps extending beyond the fold lines to be able to be folded down giving the blank a U-shaped section, the said flaps ending, at their free end, with a gripping area, for example forming a handle, the sheet of thermoplastic film being fixed, by example by gluing, on said central area and having dimensions extending beyond the blank but preferably without cover the gripping areas of the two flaps, to have dimensions to completely wrap the articles arranged on the base of the blank and the hold by heat shrink. The sheet overflows the central part of the blank on all sides, allowing completely wrap the article.

Preferably, the gripping areas, which protrude from the thermo-plastic sheet, have a oblong hole to form a handle.

In one embodiment, the flaps can have an intermediate fold line, parallel to the fold fold line, so that after having folded the flap at right angles to the part blank center, fold inwards the extension of the flap which presents the gripping area.

In a preferred embodiment, the blank is provided with one or, preferably, several zones, such as nicks or notches, tear initiation allowing the recipient of the goods transported to quickly tear the blank into pieces of a size low enough to be thrown into a ordinary household trash.

The heat-shrinkable sheet can also be fixed at the flaps by fasteners easily peel off, for example with glue dots, which easily folds the sheet when folding the flap, after which the sheath or sheet can optionally be separated from the flap to completely cover the goods.

For the delivery of flat packaging, you can advantageously fold the parts protruding from the heat shrinkable sheet substantially along the edges free from the blank, the two parts overlapping one, the other, so that the bulk does not exceed not, or only slightly, the bulk of the blank itself.

For use, put the articles on the central part of the blank, then cover the items with the sheet, the flaps being folded at 90 ° by compared to the blanks, then we proceed to heat shrink of the film on the articles by passage in a usual heating device.

To transport and deliver the goods fixed by heat shrinkage on the blank, in accordance with a particularly advantageous development of the invention to use a container of cubic shape in which we will deposit the blank, holding it by its two gripping zones with its goods fixed by heat shrink film.

In accordance with one embodiment particularly preferred of the invention, this container has dimensions corresponding precisely to the base or central part of the blank and a height corresponding to the height of the blank flaps, so that the blank cannot move horizontally in the container and it is prevented from moving vertically when the container has received its lid because the flaps in their vertical position occupy the entire internal height of the container.

If the flaps have a fold line intermediate, the height of the container will be equal to the distance between fold line and line through a flap.

Particularly preferably, the container can be a rotating plastic container, with a cover closing the tray. By rotation tank is meant a tank which will be open at the place of destination and outside of which will be able to extract the packaging, the delivery person then recovering Baccalaureat.

The recipient of the articles can then, after having extracted the articles from the blank, tearing off the sheet plastic to separate it from the blank itself and fold this sheet to throw it away, the blank can be torn in sufficiently small pieces thanks to the primers or zones for this purpose in matter forming the blank plate.

• réception de la commande et transmission au magasin ;
• prise manuelle ou automatique d'un flan, pliage des rabats et introduction dans le conteneur ou bac plastique ;
• introduction des articles dans le bac sur la partie centrale de flan ;
• pliage des pans libres de la feuille thermo-plastique par-dessus les articles ;
• passage du bac dans un poste de chauffage pour rétraction de la feuille ;
• mise en place ou fermeture du couvercle du conteneur, à moins que ce conteneur ait été fermé avant le passage dans ce poste de chauffage ;
• adressage usuel ;
• expédition et transport du conteneur ;
• extraction du flan avec les articles hors du conteneur et éventuellement retour du conteneur ;
• ouverture de la feuille plastique, extraction des articles et, éventuellement, mise en pièces du flan.

A typical sequence of a distribution process according to the invention then comprises the following steps:

• receipt of the order and transmission to the store;
• manual or automatic taking of a blank, folding of the flaps and introduction into the plastic container or bin;
• introduction of articles into the bin on the central blank part;
• folding the free sides of the thermoplastic sheet over the articles;
• passage of the tray in a heating station for shrinking the sheet;
• fitting or closing of the container lid, unless this container has been closed before passing through this heating station;
• usual addressing;
• container shipping and transportation;
• extracting the blank with the articles from the container and possibly returning the container;
• opening of the plastic sheet, extraction of the articles and, possibly, cutting of the blank.

la figure 1 représente une vue de dessus du flan carton sans la feuille,

la figure 2 représente une vue du dessus du flan avec sa feuille thermo-rétractable,

la figure 3 représente une vue en perspective du flan avec la feuille thermo-rétractée autour des articles supportés par le flan,

la figure 4 représente une vue du flan introduit dans un bac plastique, le bac étant vu en coupe.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given by way of nonlimiting example, and referring to the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 represents a top view of the cardboard blank without the sheet,

FIG. 2 represents a top view of the blank with its heat-shrinkable sheet,

FIG. 3 represents a perspective view of the blank with the sheet heat-shrunk around the articles supported by the blank,

FIG. 4 represents a view of the blank inserted into a plastic container, the container being seen in section.

The packaging according to the invention shown in the Figure 1 has a flat cardboard blank 1 with two lateral edges 2 and generally having a shape rectangular. The blank has two fold lines 3, arranged perpendicular to the edges 2, and which determine between them a central blank part 4 intended to remain in its horizontal state.

On the other side of the fold lines 3 extend two flaps 5 which can be folded down perpendicular to the plane of the area central 4. These flaps are cut to form narrower extensions 6 whose ends form gripping zones 7 produced in the form an oblong slot giving the end of the flap a handle shape. It is understood that, as a variant, the flaps can have a constant width, and therefore a perfectly rectangular shape, instead of having the cutouts forming narrower extensions 6.

In the matter of cardboard we practiced in suitable location, for example on one of the edges and towards the center, tear caps 8 which allow the recipient to rip quickly and simply the blank in several pieces to put them in a household trash can.

With particular reference to Figure 2, the blank, in its flattened state, is covered with a sheet or sheath of heat-shrinkable plastic 9 glued, in its central part, on the central part 4 of the blank by a peripheral bonding zone 10, of so sheet 9 will stay pressed against this central part 4. The sheet 9 is also fixed on the flaps 5 by small dots of glue 11. This sheet largely overflows the blank in all directions, except for the 6 flap ends which are not covered by the sheet, and therefore give off gripping areas 7.

For use outside the container, the whole being in its flattened position, we just ask the items to be wrapped and delivered on the sheet plastic at the level of the central part 4. We mark then the flaps 5 by grasping them by the handles 7, which simultaneously folds the plastic sheet. At need we can have previously folded down the parts of sheet protruding laterally from edge areas 2 on top of the articles, unless this operation be carried out after having drawn up the flaps in their vertical position.

We understand that if, in this position, we bring the whole in a heating zone, we will end up with the sheet 9 heat shrink on items in the position shown in Figure 3.

However, in the most frequent case, where use a container or bin, we prefer to fold the blank to empty, put it in the open container, arrange the items on the central part of the blank, fold down the sheet sides 9 over, heat shrink the sheet, then close the tank cover.

The plastic container 12 has a bottom 13 which has a slightly larger surface than that of the part blank center 4 and whose side height 14 is substantially equal to the height of the flaps 5. This tray can be closed by a cover 15 and we understand once the lid is closed, the blank properly folded back into container 12 will hardly be able move. It follows that the articles included in the sheet 9 heat-shrunk will remain in their position, the sheet being firmly attached to the bottom 4, even if the tray is placed upside down.

In an improvement of the invention it is possible provide, if the goods have a height sufficiently low, to provide the flaps 5 with a line of intermediate folding 16, which will allow the ends 6, which will again become substantially parallel to the base 4. In this case, the internal height of the tank 12 will be substantially equal to the distance between a line of folding 3 of the intermediate folding line 16 directly consecutive.

In the drawing, the size of the heat-shrinkable sheet has been adapted according to a height of tray corresponding to this variant in which the ends of flaps 6 are themselves folded back the horizontal after introduction of the assembly into the container 12.

It is also conceivable that as a variant, the sheet plastic can overflow the ends 6 and the areas of grip 7, however with the disadvantage that it will less easy to grasp the grip zones 7 for fold down the flaps from the flat position of the blank.

For retraction, we prefer to keep the cover 15 open when passing through the device shrink and we will close this cover at the end of heat shrink.

Tray 12 can then be transported and end up at delivery point. The cover is then opened and remove the blank by its two handles 7, so that the delivery man can take over the rotation tray 12. The recipient can then unpack the goods out of the heat-shrunk sheet 9 and then tear and discard the sheet and the blank.

Claims (14)

Packaging for the transport and distribution of articles, comprising a blank (1), initially flat and foldable, on which has been fixed a sheet (9) of heat-shrinkable material, which has a central part (4) determined by two free edges (2) of the blank and two fold lines (3) perpendicular to said free edges, and two flaps (5) extending beyond the fold lines so that they can be folded down giving the blank a U-shaped section , and a sheet (9) of heat-shrinkable material fixed on said central zone (4), characterized in that said flaps end, at their free end, by a gripping zone (7) and in that the sheet of thermo film -retractable (9) has dimensions extending beyond the central part of the blank to completely wrap the articles arranged on the base of the blank and maintain them by heat-shrinking. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping areas form handles (7). Packaging according to either of Claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the sheet (9) is glued to the said central part (4). Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the dimensions of the sheet (9) do not cover said gripping areas (7). Packaging according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flaps have an intermediate fold line (16), parallel to the flap fold line (3), so that, after having folded the flap at right angle to the central blank part (4), fold in the flap extension (6) which presents the grip zone (7). Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the blank is provided with one or more tear initiation zones (8) allowing the recipient of the transported goods to quickly tear the blank into pieces of a size low enough to be disposed of in an ordinary household trash can. Packaging according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the heat-shrinkable sheet is fixed at the flaps by easily tear-off fasteners (11). Package for articles, characterized in that it comprises a package according to one of Claims 1 to 7, the flaps of which are folded back and a container in which said package is housed. Packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that the container is closed by a lid. Packaging according to one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the container is a rotating container. Packaging according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the container is a plastic container. Packaging according to one of Claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the container (12) has dimensions corresponding precisely to the central part (4) of the blank and a height corresponding to the height of the flap flaps or of the flap height between the central part (4) and an intermediate fold line (16), so that the blank cannot move horizontally in the container and is prevented from moving vertically when the container has received its cover the flaps in their vertical position occupy the entire internal height of the container. Method for packaging articles, characterized in that the articles are placed on the base (4) of the blank according to one of claims 8 to 12, that the articles are covered with the heat-shrinkable sheet (9 ) and that the assembly is heated to heat shrink the sheet on the articles. Method for dispensing articles using a package according to any one of Claims 8 to 12, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: receipt of the order and transmission to the store; manual or automatic taking of a blank, folding of the flaps and introduction into the plastic container or bin; introduction of articles into the bin on the central blank part; folding the free sides of the thermoplastic sheet over the articles; passage of the tray in a heating station for shrinking the sheet; fitting or closing of the container lid, unless this container has been closed before passing through this heating station; usual addressing; container shipping and transportation; extracting the blank with the articles from the container and possibly returning the container; opening of the plastic sheet, extraction of the articles and, if necessary, cutting of the blank.

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