EP1323642A1

EP1323642A1 - Cushioning packaging method, cushioning package body, and cushioning package bag

Info

Publication number: EP1323642A1
Application number: EP00962816A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Shuichi Goto
Original assignee: Idemitsu Petrochemical Co Ltd
Current assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-09-25
Filing date: 2000-09-25
Publication date: 2003-07-02
Also published as: WO2002026590A1; CN1399608A

Abstract

Provided is an efficient, shock-absorbable packaging method for packaging and packing pieces of tableware, precision instruments and others so as to protect them from being cracked or broken. The method does not require so many packing materials, and ensures good working environment. In the method, articles to be packaged are wrapped in a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, and the thus-wrapped articles are sealed up and degassed whereby the sheet is hermetically adhered to the articles. If desired, the articles may be put on a substrate. A shock-absorbable packaging bag having a fastener disposed at its opening, and an adhesive member disposed inside below the fastener, and equipped with a degassing unit may be used for packaging articles therein.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shock-absorbable packaging method for packaging articles, to shock-absorbable packages, and to shock-absorbable packaging bags for the packaging.

BACKGROUND ART

When tableware such as glass, ceramic or porcelain tableware, electric appliances, parts of electric appliances, precision instruments, and parts of precision instruments are transported, various methods are employed for protecting them from being broken while they are transported. For example, in house-moving, pieces of tableware are individually wrapped up by hand in a wrapping material such as crepe paper, honey paper or foamed resin sheets so as to protect them from being cracked or broken, and the thus-wrapped pieces are directly packed in corrugated carton, or are put into fabric bags set in a corrugated carton. When tableware, precision instruments and parts of precision instruments are shipped from factories where they are produced, they are also individually wrapped, and individually packaged in paper cases, and a plurality of the packages are packed in a corrugated carton. Basically, therefore, they are individually packaged, and the packaging efficiency is poor, as the work of packaging and unpackaging them takes a lot of time. For packaging them for transportation, various packaging materials must be ensured and, after used, they are discarded. This means a waste of natural resources, and requires high labor costs. Accordingly, the conventional packaging system for transportation is problematic in point of the increase in total packaging costs.

To solve the problem, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 338274/1998 discloses a packing system for transporting articles and a method of using the packing system for packing articles therein for transportation. The packing system disclosed comprises a transparent bag capable of being sealed up and capable of being transformed under pressure, partition plates disposed in the bag, and a degassing unit fitted to the bag for degassing the bag. The packing method disclosed comprises packing articles in the bag of the packing system followed by degassing the bag to thereby make the articles hermetically adhere to nearly the entire surface of the bag.

According to the method, a plurality of articles to be transported can be packed all in one bag, and the method is excellent as it saves the work of packing. In addition, the method does not require so many packing materials, and does not bring about so many wastes, and therefore it is friendly to the environment. However, the method is problematic in some points. According to the method, the articles such as tableware to be transported can be all packed in one bag for primary packaging, but the thus-packaged articles must be packed in a corrugated carton along with a shock-absorbing material such as plastic foams or plastic balls in order to protect them from being cracked or broken while they are transported. The shock-absorbing material has an extremely low apparent density and is therefore bulky. Storing and transporting it results in inefficiency, and the shock-absorbing material is, after used, generally disposed of and discarded. Accordingly, a better packaging method is desired for saving resources and for protecting the environment.

The present invention is to provide an efficient packaging method for packaging and packing pieces of tableware, precision instruments and others so as to protect them from being cracked or broken, and to provide a packaging bag efficiently used in the method. The packaging method of the invention does not require so many packaging materials, and is therefore friendly to the environment.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Given that situation, we, the present inventors have found that, when articles to be protected from being cracked or broken are wrapped or packaged in a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of small air-cushion hills, and are hermetically adhered to the sheet by degassing the wrapped or packaged articles, then the articles can be more stably fixed to the sheet, and that the thus-wrapped or packaged articles are well protected from being cracked or broken owing to the shock-absorbing action of the sheet. On the basis of these findings, we have completed the present invention.

Specifically, the invention provides the following:

(1) A shock-absorbable packaging method, which comprises wrapping or packaging an article in a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, then sealing the article in the sheet, and degassing the thus-sealed article to thereby make the article hermetically adhere to the sheet.

(2) A shock-absorbable packaging method, which comprises packing an article in a shock-absorbable packaging bag of a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, then sealing the article in the bag, and degassing the thus-sealed article to thereby make the article hermetically adhere to the sheet of the bag, and in which the bag has a fastener disposed at its opening, and an adhesive member disposed inside below the fastener, and is equipped with a degassing unit.

(3) The shock-absorbable packaging method of above (1) or (2), wherein the article is so packaged that it faces the small air-cushion hills of the thermoplastic resin sheet.

(4) The shock-absorbable packaging method of any of above (1) to (3), wherein the article to be packaged is mounted on a substrate.

(5) A shock-absorbable package of an article in a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, in which the article is hermetically adhered to the inner surface of the sheet by degassing the package.

(6) The shock-absorbable package of above (5), wherein the article faces the small air-cushion hills of the thermoplastic resin sheet.

(7) The shock-absorbable package of above (5) or (6), wherein the article is mounted on a substrate.

(8) A shock-absorbable packaging bag of a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, which has a fastener disposed at its opening, and an adhesive member disposed inside below the fastener, and is equipped with a degassing unit.

(9) The shock-absorbable packaging bag of above (8), wherein the small air-cushion hills of the thermoplastic resin sheet face inside the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1(A) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention, in which the outer periphery of the packaging sheet has been heat-sealed except its degassing mouth. This is not degassed as yet.

Fig. 1(B) is after degassed in vacuum, in which the articles are hermetically packaged in the shock-absorbing sheet.

Fig. 1(C) shows another embodiment of the invention, in which the articles to be packaged are mounted on a substrate.

Fig. 2 is to schematically show the shock-absorbable packaging bag of the invention, which has a fastener disposed at its opening, and an adhesive member disposed inside below the fastener, and is equipped with a degassing unit. (A) is a plan view; and (B) is a cross-sectional view.

Fig. 3(A) and Fig. 3(B) are enlarged cross-sectional views showing the opening of the shock-absorbable bag of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an intermittent automatic packaging system for the shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of Fig. 4.

In Fig. 1, the numeral reference 1 indicates a shock-absorbable package; 2 indicates a thermoplastic resin sheet (shock-absorbing sheet) having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills; 3 indicates a small air-cushion hill; 4 indicates an ordinary thermoplastic resin film; 5 indicates a degassing unit; 6 indicates an article to be packaged; 7 indicates a heat-sealed part; 8 indicates a sealed part of the shock-absorbing sheet; and 9 indicates a substrate.

In Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, the numeral reference 11 indicates a shock-absorbable packaging bag with a fastener; 12 indicates an opening of the bag; 13 indicates a shock-absorbing sheet; 14 indicates a small air-cushion hill; 15 indicates a heat-sealed part; 16 indicates a fastener; 17 indicates an adhesive member; 18 indicates a bonding member of adhesive resin; and 19 indicates a degassing unit.

In Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the numeral reference 22 indicates a shock-absorbing sheet; 24 indicates a thermoplastic resin film; 25 indicates a degassing device; 26 indicates an article to be packaged; 27 indicates a heat-sealed periphery; 29 indicates a substrate; 30 indicates a belt conveyor; 31 indicates a heat sealer for heat-sealing the periphery of each package; 32 indicates a heat sealer for heat-sealing the degassing mouth; and 33 indicates a cutter.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are described below.

In the shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention, used is a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills (this will be hereinafter referred to as a shock-absorbing sheet). The sheet is prepared by processing a thermoplastic resin film to thereby make it have a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills.

For preparing the thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, for example, a thermoplastic resin film is applied to a drum having a large number of small recesses on its periphery, and processed thereon in a mode of thermal vacuum forming or pressure forming to thereby make it have a large number of small recesses. With that, the thus-processed film is laminated and integrated with a base film (back film) to thereby seal up the recesses between the laminated two films.

Regarding their shape, the small air-cushion hills may have any form of columns, pillars, oval columns, semi-spheres, or a combination of such shapes. Regarding their size, the small air-cushion hills may have, for example, a diameter of from 2 to 20 mm, preferably from 3 to 10 mm; and a height of from 2 to 30 mm, preferably from 3 to 20 mm. The film thickness of the small air-cushion hills may fall between 5 and 100 µm, preferably between 10 and 50 µm. In general, the small air-cushion hills are regularly distributed in the shock-absorbing sheet, which, however, may partly have a flat area with no air-cushion hills therein.

The thermoplastic resin film to be processed to form such small recesses is not specifically defined. For this, however, preferred are polyolefin resins such as polyethylene resins and polypropylene resins, in view of their processability to form small recesses, their sealability with base film (back film), and their flexibility and shock-absorbability. Especially preferred are low-density polyethylene produced in a high-pressure process, linear low-density polyethylene, and polyethylene and ethylene copolymers with α-olefins such as butene-1, hexene-1 or octene-1 produced through (co)polymerization in the presence of a metallocene catalyst.

The polypropylene resins may be low-crystalline soft polypropylene or propylene random copolymers with other olefins. The polyolefin resins may contain ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers and elastomers such as ethylene-α-olefin elastomers. The base film is not specifically defined, and may be any one at least capable of sealing up the small air-cushion hills of the film having the hills. In general, however, the base film forms the essential structure of the shock-absorbing sheet. Therefore, the base film is selected from various types of films, depending on the application and use of shock-absorbable packages. Accordingly, the base film may be any of single-layered polyethylene films that are heat-sealable with the film having small air-cushion hills, multi-layered films formed through coextrusion of such polyethylene resin and other resins, and laminate films of such polyethylene film laminated with other films.

For example, it includes nylon/polyethylene, polyester/polyethylene, vinylidene chloride-coated nylon/polyethylene, vinylidene chloride-coated polyester/polyethylene, polypropylene/ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer/polyethylene, polycarbonate/polyethylene, aluminium foil/polyethylene, paper/polyethylene, and cloth/polyethylene. If desired, these may be multi-layered via an adhesive resin such as maleic anhydride-modified polyolefin resin.

The resin component of these films may contain, if desired, any other resins or elastomers, and various stabilizers, colorants and fillers. In the shock-absorbable packages of the invention, the base film preferably forms the outer surface. Therefore, the base film may be printed in any desired manner, like that in ordinary packaging bags. Accordingly, in the invention, the base film is appropriately selected, depending on the use and the size of the packages and on the articles to be packaged, for which the strength, the heat resistance and the gas-barrier properties of the film shall be taken into consideration. However, for ensuring the vacuum sealing of the packages, preferred are films having gas-barrier properties.

In general, the shock-absorbing sheet is composed of the film having small air-cushion hills and the base film. If desired, however, an additional film may be laminated over the hills-having surface of the film, and the shock-absorbing sheet may have a multi-layered structure. The shock-absorbing sheet with a large number of small air-cushion hills is preferably transparent so that the contents of the articles packaged in the sheet can be seen through the sheet.

In the shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention, articles are packaged, and the inside of the package is degassed to have a reduced pressure. Therefore, in case where a packaging bag is used in the method, it must have an opening through which articles are inserted and housed therein. The opening of the bag must be sealed after the articles have been inserted therethrough. For this, the opening may be heat-sealed, which, however, requires an additional unit or tool. To omit it, a fastener and an adhesive member may be disposed at the opening of the bag, by which the opening of the bag may be sealed.

One preferred method of forming a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills into a bag having such a fastener and an adhesive member is described. A thermoplastic resin film is processed to form a large number of small recesses, then this is laminated on a base film to thereby seal up the small recesses between the laminated two films. In that manner, formed is a shock-absorbing sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills. Simultaneously with, or before or after the lamination of the two films to form the shock-absorbing sheet, a fastener is attached to a part of the sheet not having the small air-cushion hills, preferably on the hills-having side of the sheet (that is, on the side opposite to the base film). Such an in-line process of forming the small air-cushion hills in the sheet and attaching the fastener to the sheet solves the problem of difficulty in handling the bulky sheet, which, however, is inevitable if the two steps are carried out independently in different processes.

The invention is described, based on the drawings attached hereto. Fig. 1(A) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention, in which the outer periphery of the packaging sheet has been heat-sealed except its degassing mouth. This is not degassed as yet. Fig. 1(B) is after degassed in vacuum, in which the articles are hermetically packaged in the shock-absorbing sheet. Fig. 1(C) shows another embodiment of the invention, in which the articles to be packaged are mounted on a substrate.

In Fig. 1, 1 indicates a shock-absorbable package; 2 indicates a thermoplastic resin sheet (shock-absorbing sheet) having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills; 3 indicates a small air-cushion hill; 4 indicates an ordinary thermoplastic resin film; 5 indicates a degassing unit; 6 indicates an article to be packaged; 7 indicates a heat-sealed part; 8 indicates a sealed part of the shock-absorbing sheet; and 9 indicates a substrate. In the embodiment of the shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention illustrated in Fig. 1(A), two thermoplastic resin sheets (shock-absorbing sheets) 2a and 2b both having a large number of small air-cushion hills 3 are so disposed that their hills 3 all face inside. Between the two shock-absorbing sheets, articles 6 to be packaged are sandwiched. With a degassing unit 5 being ensured in a part between them, the two sheets are heat-sealed at their outer peripheries to form a heat-sealed part 7, by which the space between the two sheets is kept hermetically sealed up. Next, this is degassed in vacuum through the degassing unit 5. Having been thus degassed, the large number of small air-cushion hills of the shock-absorbing sheets hermetically adhere to the articles, and the sheets are partly sealed to form sealed parts 8, as in Fig. 1(B). In that manner, the articles are unmovably fixed at their predetermined positions between the two sheets.

Fig. 1(C) shows another embodiment of the invention. In this, used are a thermoplastic resin sheet (shock-absorbing sheet) 2a having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, and an ordinary thermoplastic resin film 4, and the articles to be packaged are mounted on a substrate 9. Concretely, the substrate 9 is put on the ordinary thermoplastic plastic resin film 4, and the articles to be packaged are disposed on the substrate 9. With that, the articles are packaged in the same manner as above. The substrate 9 may be an ordinary flat plate, but is preferably a shock-resistant one such as a foam sheet of thermoplastic resin. For preventing the packaged articles from moving thereon, the surface of the substrate is preferably roughened. In case where specific articles are to be mounted thereon, the substrate is preferably processed to form recesses corresponding to the shape of the articles.

In the shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention, the mode of packaging articles is not specifically defined, so far as a shock-absorbing sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills is used for packaging articles. Accordingly, the packaging mode itself may be suitably determined, depending on the matter of how to package articles for what purpose. For example, for packages for house-moving or for those for individual transportation, packaging bags made of a shock-absorbing sheet may be used. The form of the shock-absorbable packaging bags suitable for such individual transportation are not specifically defined. For example, after an article has been packed in a shock-absorbable packaging bag of an ordinary form, the opening of the bag may be heat-sealed. However, the bag of the type requires a heat-sealing device and a heat-sealing step, and using it is often troublesome in the field of ordinary packages. To solve the problem, proposed is a shock-absorbable bag having a fastener, not requiring such heat-sealing.

Fig. 2 is to schematically show the shock-absorbable packaging bag of the invention, which has a fastener disposed at its opening, and an adhesive member disposed inside below the fastener, and is equipped with a degassing unit. Fig. 3 shows enlarged cross-sectional views of the opening of the shock-absorbable bag of Fig. 2. Fig. 2(A) is a plan view; and Fig. 2(B) is a cross-sectional view. In Fig. 2 and Fig. 3, 11 indicates a shock-absorbable packaging bag with a fastener; 12 indicates an opening of the bag; 13 indicates a shock-absorbing sheet; 14 indicates a small air-cushion hill; 15 indicates a heat-sealed part; 16 indicates a fastener; 17 indicates an adhesive member; 18 indicates a bonding member of adhesive resin; and 19 indicates a degassing unit. As in Fig. 2, the fastener 16 is provided along the open end of the opening of the shock-absorbable packaging bag 11. This is a tape fastener, composed of a male member 16a and a female member 16b. The two members are separately fused to the base film of each of the shock-absorbing sheets to be combined. The structure of the tape fastener is per-se known. By fastening the two members to each other and detaching them from each other, the opening of the bag can be closed and re-opened.

The adhesive member 17 may be an adhesive resin layer, but is preferably a bonding member 18 of adhesive resin, as in Fig. 3. It is important that the bonding member 18 is disposed on the inner surface of the bag and below the fastener 16, opposite to the opening of the bag. If the bonding member 18 is disposed above the fastener 16, adjacent to the opening of the bag, it will partly bond while the fastener is fastened up. If so, the bonding member will finally have a non-bonded part, as not well matching with fastened condition of the fastener, and, as a result, the bag could not be stably sealed up. Another problem with the case is that the bonding member requires any manual and intentional external force to be applied to the entire region of the member for bonding it.

The cross-sectional profile of the bonding member of adhesive resin is not specifically defined, and it may be square, semi-circular or trapezoidal. One preferred embodiment of the bonding member is a combination of a convex part and a concave part, as in Fig. 3(A). Formed on the inner surface of each of the shock-absorbing sheets 13a and 13b, the bonding member makes it possible to seal up the opening of the bag and to stabilize the hermetically sealed condition of the bag. The bonding mode of the bonding member is enough so far as the hermetically sealed condition of the bag is kept as it is. Therefore, the function of the bonding member quite differs from that of an ordinary fastener, and the bonding member does not require adhesion strength. The bonding member must not have a female (claw) structure like that of a female member of a fastener.

The function of the bonding member of adhesive resin may be the same as that of the female member of a conventional fastener coated with an adhesive layer. However, the modes of forming them quite differ from each other. Specifically, it is impossible to use a fastener made of an adhesive resin in place of an adhesive-coated fastener (female member). This is because adhesive resin is generally soft and flexible and is not tough. Therefore, a male member could not be pushed into the female member made of such a soft adhesive resin when the two are desired to be fastened under pressure. Even if the male member could be pushed into the female member, the thus-fastened two members could not ensure fastening strength, or that is, a bag having a fastener made of such a soft adhesive resin could not have the intended function of sealing up its opening.

The method of producing the bag with a fastener of the invention is not specifically defined. In general, a resin for the fastener and a resin for the bonding member are co-extruded to form two resin layers integrated for the fastener and the bonding member. The resin for the fastener must be tough in some degree for ensuring the intended fastening strength, and must be heat-sealable with the film of the bag. On the other hand, the adhesive resin for the bonding member may be suitably selected, depending on the type, the thickness and the toughness of the film of the bag.

For improving the coextrusion adhesiveness of the resin for the fastener and the resin for the bonding member, an adhesive resin such as a polyolefin resin modified with an unsaturated carboxylic acid or its derivative may be added to the resin for the fastener. The resin for the bonding member exhibits its adhesiveness on its surface. The resin layer for the bonding member may be formed on the extended part (fused to the base film) of the resin layer for the fastener, and it is easy to co-extrude the two resin layers of that type.

The resin for the fastener is selected in consideration of its fastenability and its fusibility to the inner surface of the film of the bag, and it includes, for example, low-density polyethylene, ethylene-α-olefin copolymers, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymers and polypropylene resins. Preferred examples of the resin for the bonding member are ethylene-polar vinyl copolymers and resins containing such copolymers. The ethylene-polar vinyl copolymers include ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymers and ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymers.

Also usable are various resins containing an adhesive component, such as ethylene-α-olefin copolymers, copolymers of propylene, butene and 1-α-olefins having from 5 to 10 carbon atoms, styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene block copolymers, styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymers, and styrene-isoprene-styrene block copolymers. The polar vinyl content of these adhesive resins is suitably controlled, and the blend ratio of the adhesive resins with other resins and elastomers is also controlled. Of such adhesive resins, suitable one is selected, depending on the properties, the use and the size of the bag.

The shock-absorbable packaging bag having a fastener of the invention may be used for packaging articles therein, for example, as follows: The particles to be packaged therein are put into the bag, then the opening of the bag is sealed up except a part thereof, a duct of a vacuum cleaner is inserted into the opened part, the vacuum cleaner is driven to degas the sealed bag, and the opened part of the bag is fastened and sealed up while the reduced pressure inside the bag is kept as such. However, a more preferred method for packaging articles in the bag comprises putting articles into the bag, fastening the opening of the bag, inserting a duct of a vacuum cleaner into the degassing unit 19, such as a check valve or a switch valve fitted to the bag, and driving the vacuum cleaner to thereby degas the bag.

According to the method, the bonding member of adhesive resin can be kept non-bonded before the bag is degassed. In other words, fastening the fastener may be effected separately from bonding the bonding member. Therefore, in this method, the shock-absorbing sheets 13a and 13b naturally attract each other in the part opposite to the opening, with the bag being degassed to have a reduced pressure, and, as a result, the bonding member naturally bonds not by any artificial outer force but owing to the action of the degassing unit. Accordingly, the bonding member uniformly and simultaneously bonds in its widthwise direction, and, as a result, the bonding force of the bonding member is greatly enhanced to well ensure the hermetically sealed condition of the bag. For this, the height of the two parts of the bonding member are preferably so controlled that they are not contacted with each other or the films of the bag around them are not contacted with each other when the fastener has been fastened but before the bag is not degassed as yet. The shock-absorbable packaging bag of the invention has a fastener to seal up the bag, and is not heat-sealed for sealing up it. Accordingly, the bag can be re-used repeatedly, which therefore contributes to saving natural resources.

The shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention has been described hereinabove for the case of individual packaging. However, the method is not limited to such individual packaging for house-moving or for home delivery of parcels, but is applicable to packaging of various products and parts, such as glass products, porcelain and ceramic products, machines, machine parts, electric appliances and parts of electric appliances, for their delivery from factories to any other places where they are needed, as so mentioned hereinabove. For these, usable is an automatic or semiautomatic packaging system.

Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an intermittent automatic packaging system for the shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention. Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view of Fig. 4. In Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, 22 indicates a shock-absorbing sheet; 24 indicates a thermoplastic resin film; 25 indicates a degassing device; 26 indicates an article to be packaged; 27 indicates a heat-sealed periphery; 29 indicates a substrate; 30 indicates a belt conveyor; 31 indicates a heat sealer for heat-sealing the periphery of each package; 32 indicates a heat sealer for heat-sealing the degassing mouth; and 33 indicates a cutter.

The shock-absorbable packing method, in which the packaging system illustrated is used, is described. First, a thermoplastic resin film 24 is fed onto the belt conveyor by unwinding the film roll 24a. On the thermoplastic resin film, put is a substrate 29 having thereon articles to be packaged [conveying step (A)]. Next, a shock-absorbing sheet 22 is fed to cover the articles, by unwinding the sheet roll 22a. Having been thus fed, the shock-absorbing sheet is optionally pressed at its right and left sides against the thermoplastic resin film 24. Next, the peripheries of the thermoplastic resin film 24 and the shock-absorbing sheet 22 are heat-sealed by the heat sealer 31, except the part for the degassing device (pipe) [heat-sealing step (B)].

After having been thus heat-sealed, this is degassed in vacuum by the degassing device 25, whereby the shock-absorbing sheet hermetically adheres to the articles [degassing and adhering step (C)]. The degassing pipe is drawn to its halfway, and at the same time, the degassing mouth is heat-sealed by the heat sealer 32 and the intermediate part between the adjacent packages is cut by the cutter 33 [sealing and cutting step (D)]. Through these steps, packaging the articles is finished. According to the shock-absorbable packaging method, the belt conveyor may be intermittently operated in each step, and the articles can be automatically packaged.

If desired, the heat sealer 31 for heat-sealing the periphery of each package may be provided with a heat-sealing bar 31a by which the center part with no article mounted thereon may be heat-sealed while the periphery of each packages is heat-sealed. Not mounted on the substrate 29, articles may be directly put on a shock-absorbing sheet and not on the thermoplastic resin film 24, and may be packaged in the two shock-absorbing sheets. Depending on its material, the substrate with articles mounted thereon may be put on a shock-absorbing sheet. Needless-to-say, in this case, the articles are packaged in the two shock-absorbing sheets.

The shock-absorbable packaging method, the shock-absorbable packages, and the shock-absorbable packaging bags of the invention are described in detail hereinabove. In the shock-absorbable packing method of the invention, used is a shock-absorbing sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills. In the method, the hills-having surface of the sheet may face either inside or outside the packages formed. In either case, the packages formed can enjoy the shock-absorbing effect. However, the invention is characterized by the additional effect attained by degassing the sealed package so that the shock-absorbing sheet can hermetically adhere to articles to tightly fix them, in addition to the process of simply packaging articles with a shock-absorbing sheet. Accordingly, in the invention, it is desirable that the small air-cushion hills of the shock-absorbing sheet face inside the packages as they are transformable and hermetically adherable to the articles packaged in the sheet.

The shock-absorbable packaging method is characterized by using the shock-absorbing sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, in which the hills have the advantages of shock absorption and heat insulation. The advantages of the shock-absorbable packaging bag having a fastener of the invention are that the bag can be re-used repeatedly by fastening and opening the fastener, that the bag does not require a device for heat sealing, and that articles can be packed and packaged in the bag in any place to form shock-absorbable packages. In the invention, for example, electric and electronic appliances, machines, and their parts, as well as pieces of glass, porcelain and ceramic tableware, and even works of art and various edibles can be hermetically packaged for storage and transportation. In addition, a plurality of dishes can be packaged all at a time, and the volume of the packages can be reduced. It is expected that the application of the invention is much expanded in many fields for storage, transportation and custody of articles.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the shock-absorbable packaging method of the invention, articles can be hermetically packaged in a shock-absorbing sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills by degassing the packages in vacuum, and the sheet hermetically adheres to the articles to tightly fix them in the packages. Accordingly, even a plurality of articles to be packaged can be accurately positioned and spaced from each other in one package, in which the articles packaged are kept not in contact with each other. In addition, since the packages are covered with the shock-absorbing sheet, they do not require any additional shock-absorbing material. Even if needed, the additional material may be reduced. Further, the packages do not require any side material, and the working environment in packaging articles can be kept all the time good.

Claims

A shock-absorbable packaging method, which comprises wrapping or packaging an article in a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, then sealing the article in the sheet, and degassing the thus-sealed article to thereby make the article hermetically adhere to the sheet.
A shock-absorbable packaging method, which comprises packing an article in a shock-absorbable packaging bag of a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, then sealing the article in the bag, and degassing the thus-sealed article to thereby make the article hermetically adhere to the sheet of the bag, and in which the bag has a fastener disposed at its opening, and an adhesive member disposed inside below the fastener, and is equipped with a degassing unit.
The shock-absorbable packaging method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the article is so packaged that it faces the small air-cushion hills of the thermoplastic resin sheet.
The shock-absorbable packaging method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the article to be packaged is mounted on a substrate.
A shock-absorbable package of an article in a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, in which the article is hermetically adhered to the inner surface of the sheet by degassing the package.
The shock-absorbable package as claimed in claim 5, wherein the article faces the small air-cushion hills of the thermoplastic resin sheet.
The shock-absorbable package as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the article is mounted on a substrate.
A shock-absorbable packaging bag of a thermoplastic resin sheet having a large number of independent, small air-cushion hills, which has a fastener disposed at its opening, and an adhesive member disposed inside below the fastener, and is equipped with a degassing unit.
The shock-absorbable packaging bag as claimed in claim 8, wherein the small air-cushion hills of the thermoplastic resin sheet face inside the bag.