EP1370476A1

EP1370476A1 - Packaging with buffer means and method for the production thereof

Info

Publication number: EP1370476A1
Application number: EP02707336A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Roland Edwin Van Der Werf
Original assignee: Huhtamaki Protective Packaging BV
Current assignee: Huhtamaki Protective Packaging BV
Priority date: 2001-03-23
Filing date: 2002-03-21
Publication date: 2003-12-17
Also published as: MY139025A; WO2002076848A1; NL1017682C2

Abstract

Packaging consisting of a folded or non-folded blank cardboard material (2) provided with openings in which conical parts (3, 4, 5) are inserted. These conical parts consist of moulded fibre material. The conical parts serve as a buffer for the articles to be packed. Assembly of the conical parts and the cardboard material can be carried out at the packing location.

Description

PACKAGING WITH BUFFER MEANS AND METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION THEREOF

The present invention relates to a packaging according to the preamble of claim 1. Such a packaging is known from US 5755331. This document discloses end pieces for a product such as a box shaped product to be packaged. The end pieces comprise sheet material having protrusions extending therefrom in the direction away from the product to be packaged. These protrusions comprise a stiffly resilient material preferably moulded of expanded beads of polypropylene or other suitable plastic materials. Production of the protrusions or protruberances is by a dual moulding step. Another method known in the art for packaging articles is the use of moulded fibre.

This is an environmental friendly system and gives no waste. However, for large complex packaging it is not possible to obtain the desired products using the fibre moulding technique. After all, with such packaging it is always necessary that the product made of moulded fibre has good self-releasing properties and the costs increase appreciably as the size of a package becomes greater. The moulded fibre products technique is mainly of interest for the production of very large series of products, such as in the case of the abovementioned egg trays.

The aim of the present invention is to provide packaging with which it is no longer necessary to make use of environmentally unfriendly plastic material. It is a further aim of the invention to realise relative complex and large packagings at reasonable costs even with small series.

This aim is realised with the packaging as described above having the characterising features of claim 1.

According to the invention the second parts, which preferably are constructed as a buffer, are of relatively simple construction and are joined to one another by the sheet of material that, for example, can be a cardboard material. The second part comprises according to the invention a moulded fibre material, the shock absorbing properties of moulded fibre material are completely different from resilient plastic material. Resilience of moulded fibre material is generally somewhat lower than plastic material but shock absorbing properties are fastly improved over thin walled plastic material. Wall thickness is substantial compared to plastic material buffers. The first said part or sheet material can be either a co-supporting part of a packaging or can function exclusively for positioning the second parts. Packaging obtained in this way can enclose a product in some way or other and surprisingly is found to give particularly good protection.

Packaging of this type is simple to produce. After all, the second parts are of relatively simple construction and can be produced with the aid of conventional shaping techniques for paper fibre material. By varying the first parts, that is to say by using different parts of cardboard material, various types of packaging can be produced with identical second parts. Consequently, large series of second parts can be produced which are universally applicable for the production of many different types of packaging. The higher costs that are associated with making up the first parts, such as cardboard material, into different shapes do not constitute a problem. Fixing of the first parts to the second parts can be carried out in some way known in the state of the art. It is possible to provide the second parts with a flange or other edge and to stick these to the first part, for example using glue or the like. Snap-fitting through openings in the first part is also possible. If the first part serves exclusively for positioning the second part, fixing of the parts to one another is of minor importance. This applies in particular if there is an outer packaging. The packaging described above can be used for packing relatively large and relatively heavy articles such as video recorders, television sets, monitors, computers and the like. It has been found that, if the various parts of the packaging are appropriately sized, in a drop test shock-absorbent values can be obtained that are equal to, or even better than, those achieved with plastic foam material. According to a preferred embodiment the second parts are provided such relative to the first part or sheet that they protrude inwardly relative to the article to be packaged. I.e. the article to be packaged is supported by the free end faces of the second parts whilst the sheet or other first part is spaced from the article to be packaged. This means that the article to be packaged is spaced from the first part which means that there is no possibility of contacting the product to be packaged directly through the first part.

If an embodiment is used having flanges on the second part such flanges will preferably be present on the side of the first part being directed away from the product to be packaged.

The packaging can be assembled from the first and second parts at the place of manufacture. However, it is also possible to transport these parts to the packing location and to assemble them there. The volume of packaging material can be appreciably restricted as a result. If the first part comprises a cardboard material blank it is possible to fold this at the packing location to give, for example, a corner piece. The same applies for the second parts. If, for example, these are of conical construction, these can be transported nested in one another to the packing location and joined to the first part there.

The second parts can have any shape that can be produced with the technique for moulding paper pulp. According to a preferred embodiment the second parts are of conical construction. In this context these second parts can be in the form of a truncated cone and the end surface can optionally make an angle with the base surface.

If rotationally symmetrical shapes are used, the various shapes can be produced easily using rotary machines. These work rapidly and inexpensively and have a low energy consumption. The second part can be post-compressed. That is to say compaction of the material takes place, as a result of which the buffer undergoes a more uniform deformation process.

Depending on the function of the first part, the strength thereof will be adapted. If cardboard material is used for the sheet material, this is preferably corrugated cardboard material with a thickness of more than 1 mm. Instead of the corrugated cardboard described above, any sheet material can be used for the first part. It is also possible to incorporate moulded fibre material in such a sheet.

It has been found that such packaging has particularly good vibration-damping properties. This is in contrast to certain types of plastic foam which pulverise at certain vibration frequencies. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to an illustrative embodiment shown in the drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows, in perspective, a first variant of the packaging according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows, in perspective, a second variant of the packaging according to the invention; and

Fig. 3 shows further variants of the packaging according to the invention in combination with an article to be packed.

In Fig. 1 a packaging according to the present invention is indicated in its entirety by 1. This packaging consists of a blank part 2, in this case made of corrugated cardboard material. The blank part 2 has been folded to give three faces that are indicated by 10, 11 and 12. In each of the faces there is an opening, which is not indicated in more detail, through which buffers 3, 4 and 5 have been inserted. Each of these buffers, which are of conical construction, is provided with an end flange 6 that is attached to the relevant face by gluing. The free end faces of the conical buffers are indicated by 7, 8 and 9. It can be seen from the drawing that these can have different shapes. It is also possible to make the end faces (partially) open.

A further illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in Fig. 2. This packaging is indicated in its entirety by 21 and the blank part is indicated by 22. The buffers are all indicated by 23, but it is clear that these can have shapes which differ very substantially from one another. A further number of variants of the packaging according to the invention are indicated in Fig. 3. These variants have the reference numerals 31, 32 and 33. It is not shown that after fitting the packaging 31 - 33, an outer packaging is applied. It has been found that with packaging of this type the requirements which the manufacturer of the article 30 to be packed imposes with regard to strength in drop tests are met.

It will be clear that the embodiments described above are merely examples and that further variants are possible. For instance, it is possible for the first part to have more than three faces and it is also possible for this to be curved or the like. Furthermore, the buffers or second parts can have any other shape known in the state of the art and, for example, can be produced as a pair and fixed to the first part. These and similar variants which will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the art on reading the above description fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Packaging (1, 21, 31-33) comprising a first part (2, 22) of sheet material and a second part (3-5, 23) of different material, which first and second parts are joined to one another, wherein a number of second parts is present that are independent of one another and are joined by said first part, said second parts comprising a shock-absorbent buffer, characterised in that, said second part comprises a moulded fiber material.

2. Packaging according to claim 1, wherein said first part comprises a sheet of cardboard material.

3. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said buffer is of conical shape.

4. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said second parts protrude from said first part in the direction to the article to be packaged.

5. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one second part is provided with a flange (6) that is joined to the first part.

6. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said first part comprises at least two faces (10-12) at an angle.

7. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, in combination with claims 3 and 6, wherein a buffer protrudes from each of said faces.

8. Method for the production of packaging, comprising providing a first part of sheet material and a second part of different material and joining at least two second parts to said sheet material, characterised in that, said second parts are produced by moulding paper fibre material.

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein following the production of the first and second parts these are transported to the packing location and assembled there. o

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said second parts are produced on a rotary machine for the production of moulded articles.

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein said second parts are nested in one another.

12. Method according to one of claims 9 - 11, wherein said first part is folded.