EP2829486B1 - Packaging comprising a semi-rigid material and a heat-shrinkable film, blank and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a package with an element made of a semi-rigid material, such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard and a heat-shrinkable film.

Various packaging devices are known, in particular made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, having within their internal volume a heat-shrinkable film, to allow stalling of the products to be shipped, after retraction of the film by heating. Indeed, in these types of packaging, a heat-shrinkable film covers all the products arranged inside the package. The application of heat allows the shrinkage of the film and the maintenance of the products against each other.

The patent application EP 1 473 238 A1 discloses a product packaging system with shrink film packaging, which covers all of the products arranged inside the package, said film comprising sheets of heat-shrinkable material, comprising parts that can be folded on the outer surfaces a side belt, and an additional sheet brought to the level of the upper part of the belt and joined by welding to the other sheets.

The patent application EP 0 225 208 A discloses a wedging device comprising two cardboard side walls and two heat-shrinkable plastic type sheets, each sheet being fixed on one side and the other of the corresponding wall. This system is consumer of cardboard by the existence of the returns for fixation of the film and the useful length of the packaging is amputated thicknesses of these two elements. The need to insert the ends of the films between two thicknesses of cartons and to maintain them by gluing complicates the manufacturing equipment of this package.

Other packaging devices, in particular those developed by the applicant, are obtained from blanks provided with two superimposed heat-shrinkable films whose two extreme edges are welded: a "lower" film is glued on the inner, bottom and side walls. , from the cardboard packaging. The "superior" film is provided with a central pre-cut line.

After placing the carton in volume, the operator separates the upper film into two parts, according to the precut line, and places the edge portions thus obtained outside the packaging so as not to hinder the filling. After filling the packaging with products, the operator covers the products with the films, and the assembly then briefly passes through an oven, an operation intended for welding the two films to their heat shrink, which makes it possible to protect the goods and avoid any movement due to handling. However, such an arrangement has the disadvantage of requiring manipulation, and the edges of the films on the outer walls being floating, they can be removed inadvertently and possibly torn off by rollers of a conveyor. This would be all the more critical if mechanization was considered. The welding of the films at their ends during the manufacture of the packaging is also energy consuming.

The document FR2762586A1 discloses a package corresponding to the preamble of claim 1. The heat-shrinkable film is secured when the cardboard element is already in volume.

1. a) un élément en matériau semi rigide tel que le carton ou le carton ondulé, d'une seule pièce, venu d'un flan et comprenant une partie de fond et, de part et d'autre de cette partie de fond, au moins deux parois dressées par rapport à la partie de fond, la partie de fond et les au moins deux parois définissant un espace intérieur pour recevoir un contenu, et
2. b) un film thermorétractable, d'une part, solidarisé à la partie de fond, sur un côté intérieur, et, d'autre part, solidarisé de façon amovible à au moins l'une des parois sur un côté extérieur, ledit film étant destiné à recouvrir le contenu, la solidarisation du film étant mise en oeuvre lorsque l'élément en matériau semi-rigide est à l'état d'un flan, tandis que le film forme une pièce d'un seul tenant ou est formé d'au moins deux feuilles qui sont solidarisées au fond et à une paroi respective sur le côté extérieur.

There is therefore a need to produce a package provided with a heat-shrinkable film, easier to make and / or to handle, ready to use, allowing maintenance and wedging of increased products. The invention proposes a package, comprising:

1. a) a semi-rigid material element such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, in one piece, coming from a blank and comprising a bottom part and, on either side of this bottom part, at least two walls erected relative to the bottom portion, the bottom portion and the at least two walls defining an interior space for receiving a content, and
2. b) a heat-shrinkable film, on the one hand, secured to the bottom portion, on an inner side, and, on the other hand, removably secured to at least one of the walls on an outer side, said film being intended to cover the contents, the fastening of the film being implemented when the semi-rigid material element is in the form of a blank, while the film forms a single piece or is formed of at least two leaves that are secured to the bottom and to a respective wall on the outer side.

It is possible to produce a package provided with a heat-shrinkable film on an element of semi-rigid material having the following advantages.

First, the handling of the package is optimized because the film is secured temporarily on the outside of the at least one of the walls of the package, which limits or even avoids the presence of parts "Floating" external, thus ensuring a good flow of packaging for example on a conveyor. Also, the filling of the packaging is simplified and facilitated because the user is no longer bothered by film parts likely to obstruct the filling area of the package. Once the filling of the packaging is completed, the user can separate the parts of the film temporarily fixed on the outside of at least one of the walls, so that these film portions can be housed in the interior space, or internal volume, of said package. The inner faces or surfaces of the walls define the inner side of the package, and the outer surfaces of the walls define the outer side of the package.

In addition, the products stored in the package, covered by the heat-shrinkable film not only in the upper part but also in the lower lateral parts, situated in the vicinity of the bottom part of the package, can be maintained very stably between them and at the bottom part, after the action of heat.

Finally, such an arrangement may allow a greater freedom of design than in the prior art. In particular, the heat-shrinkable film may extend in a transverse direction (with respect to the direction separating the two walls) over a larger width than in the prior art.

In particular, in the case of a package as marketed by the applicant, with two superimposed films and transverse walls each obtained by gluing of several flaps, the width of this superposition of films is relatively small, because a width too high would lead to jamming the film overlay between two flaps during the setting volume and prevent to fully open the top film along the precut line. During heat shrinking, the width of the film decreases further, by almost 20%, so that small objects may come out of the thermoplastic setting element. These small objects are then likely to be stolen.

With the packaging as described above, it does not matter that the film comes to hang between two side flaps. On the contrary, such a blockage would be an additional anchor point for the heat-shrinkable wedging element. The content is therefore maintained more than in the prior art.

The invention is in no way limited to a particular form of the element made of semi-rigid material provided that this element comprises at least two walls, called first walls, which can be raised with respect to the bottom part, which first walls can face each other.

These at least two first walls can respectively be articulated by two respective fold lines to this bottom part, be fixed by gluing, or by any other means.

The package may be shaped to form "American" boxes, containers, presentation trays or the like.

The package may further comprise two second walls, transverse, capable of being erected relative to the bottom portion. In the case of a rectangular bottom, the second walls occupy the sides of the bottom left free by the first walls.

A length of the bottom portion can be defined as a distance separating the two first walls, and a width as a distance separating the two second walls facing one another.

These second walls may be in one piece each, for example articulated at the bottom by two respective fold lines, or not.

In particular, at least two free ends of these first walls, not articulated to the bottom portion, may advantageously comprise flaps intended to form at least a second wall. Preferably, the flaps may be articulated to the free sides adjacent and perpendicular to the side of the first hinged wall at the bottom portion. Thus, when the first walls are erected relative to the bottom portion, a flap of one of the first walls can come into contact with a flap of the other of the first walls by overlap and thus form a second wall. It can thus be provided two second walls, facing one another, arranged substantially perpendicular to the first walls.

The bottom portion may advantageously have a rectangular or substantially rectangular shape, with two sides of large dimension, square, triangular, or with more than four sides, for example hexagonal. By substantially perpendicular is meant an acceptable deviation from the right angle of ± 20 °.

At least one of the sides of the bottom portion, not secured to the first wall, may advantageously be provided with fastening tabs arranged to immovably hold between them two flaps forming a second wall, for example by bonding or by a mechanical means, such as staples.

Alternatively, at the free end of the first wall opposite to that hinged to the bottom portion, may also be hinged a first additional wall, which first walls may be separated from each other by fold lines.

In the context of the invention, the heat-shrinkable film is secured to the inner side of the bottom portion. This joining can be implemented by adhesive means, such as glue, or mechanical means, such as staple type. These may be dots or dashes of glue.

The heat-shrinkable film may be based on polyethylene, polypropylene or polyalkylene, the chemical nature being in no way limited.

The film may be able to cover at least partially the outer side of at least one wall of the package. The film can therefore extend beyond the inner side of one of said first walls.

The film may advantageously have a sufficient overlap length to cover the outer side of at least one of the walls, preferably to cover the contents adequately, which avoids an additional sheet as in the document EP 1 473 238 A1 . This covering length may advantageously represent at least one third of the height of a wall, preferably half a height, in particular at least 60%, at least 70%, or even at least 80%, in particular between 30% and 100%, advantageously between 50% and 100% of the height of at least one of the walls.

It may be preferred that the overlap length may be defined relative to the length of the bottom portion. In order to optimize the covering of the content by the film, the overlap length of at least one of the walls may be greater than or equal to at least one third of the length of the bottom portion, preferably half a length of the bottom part, greater than or equal to at least 70%, 80% or even between 50% and 100% of the length of the part of background. It can thus have a length at least sufficient for the recovery at least total content in the package.

According to non-preferred embodiments, when the element of semi-rigid material is likely to have a length of bottom portion substantially greater than the height of the walls, it is preferable in this case that the film covering length of the outer side can be at least that of the height of the first wall considered, or even higher. This arrangement may require in this case additional removable attachment for example on the film or the bottom portion of the outer side.

In addition, the film may be arranged so that the width of the film, defined by the width of a first wall and / or the bottom portion, regardless of the length or not, occupies at least partially the entire width of the film. at least one first wall and / or the bottom portion, preferably at least 80%, or 90% or 100% of said width.

According to advantageous embodiments, the film may extend beyond the width of a first wall and / or the bottom portion to also partially occupy the inner surface of the second walls. Such an arrangement makes it possible to increase the dimensions of the film for a more complete covering of the products, after filling the package, which can lead to an even more efficient maintenance of the stored products. For example, the film may cover at least 10% of the inner surface of the flaps and tabs for forming second walls.

For reasons of simplicity of implementation, the film covering the bottom portion may usually have sizes and dimensions identical to the parts of the film covering the first walls.

The heat-shrinkable film is releasably secured to the outer sides of two respective walls.

According to this embodiment, the film may extend on the outer sides of two first walls. Such an arrangement makes it possible to optimize the volume of recovery of the products.

As a variant, the overlap length may be different for each of the first two walls, in particular depending on the shapes described above, provided that the total overlap length is able to cover all the contents.

The heat-shrinkable film may alternatively be releasably secured to the outer side of a single wall among the at least two walls considered.

According to this embodiment, the film may also be shaped to have a sufficient length of content overlap. Such a covering length may be that indicated above, but it is preferable that this length may be at least equal to the height of the first wall and / or the length of the bottom portion. According to arrangements of the element of semi-rigid material, the overlap length may even be greater than that of the length of the bottom portion, so that the overlap length is likely to be greater than the height of the first part. wall and thus require a possible removable attachment for example on the film or on the outside of the bottom portion.

In the context of the invention, the film naturally covers the inner side of the first two walls.

The removable attachment can be performed by glue dots, glue lines or by any other physical means authorizing it.

According to embodiments, the heat-shrinkable film may be formed of at least two sheets, each sheet being securable to the bottom portion and to a respective wall on the outer side of said first wall.

According to this embodiment, each sheet may be distinct from one another or may be secured to another. One of the sheets or each constituent film sheet may cover at least partially the bottom portion, or, alternatively, the entire bottom portion. Alternatively, one sheet may at least partially cover the other sheet, or even completely, at the bottom portion.

According to advantageous embodiments of the invention, the heat-shrinkable film can form a single piece.

According to this arrangement, the heat-shrinkable film may advantageously form an inner casing, adapted to cover the bottom portion on the inner side, and at least one of the first walls on the outer side, as previously described. This offers the advantage, in addition to those described above, to have a simplified handling film and more practical to implement at the industrial level, which allows to reduce costs and increase productivity. In this case, the film may have a shape of a rectangular band.

1. a) un élément d'emballage en matériau semi rigide, tel que le carton ou le carton ondulé, d'une seule pièce comprenant une partie de fond et de part et d'autre de cette partie de fond, au moins deux parois solidarisées à la partie de fond et destinées à être dressées par rapport à la partie de fond, et
2. b) un film thermorétractable, d'une part, solidarisé à la partie de fond, sur un côté intérieur, et, d'autre part, solidarisé de façon amovible à au moins l'une des parois sur un côté extérieur, ledit film étant destiné à recouvrir le contenu. Grâce à un tel dispositif de flan, où l'élément d'emballage est sous la forme d'un flan, il est possible de réaliser, après mise en volume, un emballage pourvu d'un film thermorétractable, tel que par exemple décrit précédemment.

The invention also relates to a blank device comprising:

1. a) a packing element of semi-rigid material, such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, in one piece comprising a bottom portion and on either side of this bottom portion, at least two walls secured to the bottom portion and intended to be erected with respect to the bottom portion, and
2. b) a heat-shrinkable film, on the one hand, secured to the bottom portion, on an inner side, and, on the other hand, removably secured to at least one of the walls on an outer side, said film being intended to cover the content. With such a blank device, where the packaging element is in the form of a blank, it is possible to produce, after setting volume, a package provided with a heat-shrinkable film, such as for example previously described. .

1. a) prévoir un élément d'une seule pièce en matériau semi rigide tel que le carton ou le carton ondulé comprenant une partie de fond et de part et d'autre de cette partie de fond, au moins deux parois aptes à être dressées par rapport à la partie de fond, de sorte que la partie de fond et les au moins deux parois définissent un espace intérieur pour recevoir un contenu, et
2. b) prévoir un film thermorétractable pour recouvrir le contenu, et
3. c) solidariser, d'une part, ledit film thermorétractable à la partie de fond, sur un côté intérieur, et, d'autre part, de façon amovible, à au moins l'une des parois sur le côté extérieur,
   l'étape c) de solidarisation étant mise en oeuvre lorsque l'élément en matériau semi rigide est à l'état de flan. Ceci présente l'avantage de mettre à disposition d'un utilisateur un élément à l'état de flan pourvu du film thermorétractable prêt à l'emploi, d'une manipulation simplifiée et optimisée aboutissant à des gains de production et temps de remplissage, une fois le dispositif de flan monté.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a package, as defined above, comprising the steps of:

1. a) providing a one-piece element of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard comprising a bottom part and on either side of this bottom part, at least two walls capable of being erected relative to each other; at the bottom portion, so that the bottom portion and the at least two walls define an interior space for receiving a content, and
2. b) providing a heat-shrinkable film for covering the contents, and
3. c) securing, on the one hand, said heat-shrinkable film to the bottom portion, on an inner side, and, secondly, removably, to at least one of the walls on the outer side,
   the c) securing step being implemented when the element of semi-rigid material is in the blank state. This has the advantage of providing a user with a blank element provided with the heat-shrinkable film ready for use. the use of a simplified and optimized manipulation resulting in production gains and filling time, once the blank device mounted.

The element made of semi-rigid material can therefore be shaped, in particular mechanically, for example on an assembly line, then the heat-shrinkable film is fixed immovably on the bottom part on the inner side and removably on the outer side of the at least one wall.

• la figure 1 montre un exemple de flan selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente un vue en perspective d'un emballage comportant un élément en matériau semi rigide muni d'un film thermorétractable, selon un exemple de réalisation.

The invention is now described with reference to the appended non-limiting drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 shows an example of a blank according to one embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 2 represents a perspective view of a package comprising a semi-rigid material element provided with a heat-shrinkable film, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Analogous or similar parts may be indicated by the same numerical references.

A blank device 1 comprises a blank defined by a packaging member comprising a rectangular bottom portion and two first walls 20,30, each first wall having a rectangular band shape, and being secured to each large side of the blank. this bottom portion 10 by two respective fold lines 21,31.

Two free ends of these first walls 20,30, not articulated to the bottom portion 10, respectively comprise two flaps 22,23 and 32,33 arranged to form, after assembly, a second wall, obtained by joining and folding two flaps respective 22,32 and 23,33 through respective fold lines 26,36. Thus, when the first walls 20,30 are erected longitudinally, a flap of each first wall comes into contact with another flap by mutual overlap and thus form two second walls 22,32 and 23,33 respectively, opposite the one of the other, disposed substantially perpendicular to the first walls, after mounting.

The blank device 1 is further provided, on the sides of the bottom portion 10 left free, two fastening tabs 11,12 flaps 22,32 and 23,33, intended to maintain, irremovably between them the two flaps 22,23 and 32,33 of the second wall by gluing, which tongues 11,12 are hinged to the bottom portion 10 by the fold lines 26,36.

The blank device 1 is further provided with a heat-shrinkable film 40, indicated here by hatched portions, forming a single piece, having the shape of an envelope whose width covers, on the inner side, the entire bottom portion 10 and the first two walls 20,30 and which, in addition, partially overlaps the securing tongues 11,12 and the flaps 22,23,33,34. The film 40 has a sufficient overlap length to extend beyond the inner side of the first two walls 20,30 and to be releasably attached to the outer side of the two walls 20,30, by portions of the occupying film here about 60% of the height of each first wall 20,30, on the outside. This overlap of the outer side of the first walls 20,30 is represented by hatched dotted lines and delimited by the braces 24,25,34,35.

The heat-shrinkable film 40 is secured in a relatively irremovable manner on the bottom portion 10 by glue points (not shown).

Removable fixing points (not shown) of the film 40 are provided on the inner surface of each first wall 20, 30, for example points of removable glue, in order to increase ease of handling by avoiding floating portions of the film. .

The figure 2 is a perspective view of a package 100 provided with a heat-shrinkable film 40 which can be obtained by mounting the blank device 1.

Identical references have been used from one figure to another to designate identical or similar elements.

The package 100 has two first walls 20,30 erected relative to the bottom portion through fold lines 21. Each of the second two walls 22,32 and 23,33 is obtained by joining two flaps hinged to the part by the fold lines 26. The fastening tabs 11, 12 make it possible to reinforce the binding of the flaps, especially by gluing. The second walls 22,32 and 23,33 are perpendicular to the first two walls 20,30.

The heat-shrinkable film 40 is here in the form of a single band, of given length and width.

The heat-shrinkable film 40 has a covering length occupying the entire height of the first walls 20, 30 on the inner sides, and covering the bottom portion 10. In addition, the film 40 extends over a length sufficient to cover almost the entire height of the first walls 20,30 on the outer sides.

The film has a width greater than the width of the walls 20, 30, so that the corners of the package are clearly covered by the film 40. The securing tabs 11, 12 partially cover the film 40, which contributes to the maintaining the contents, once the film shrinks.

The film is removably attached by glue points (not shown) to the outer side of the first walls 20,30 and the inner side of the first walls 20,30, and relatively irremovable manner on the inner side of the walls 20,30.

Once the package 100 is filled with a content, a user separates the parts of the film 40 fixed by temporary links on the outer side of the first two walls 20,30, then covers the contents by these parts, and all is conveyed in an oven in order to heat-shrink the film 40 located both in the upper part of the packing 100 (filling) and on the inner surfaces of the first two walls 20,30 and the bottom part 10.

Claims (6)

1. Packaging (100) comprising:

   a) an element made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, said element being in one piece, produced from a cutout and comprising a bottom part (10) and, on either side of this bottom part, at least two walls (20, 30) which are raised with respect to the bottom part, the bottom part (10) and the at least two walls (20, 30) defining an interior space for receiving contents, and

   b) a heat-shrinkable film (40) which is designed to cover the contents and is secured on one hand to the interior side of the bottom part (10), the packaging being characterized in that the heat-shrinkable film is, on the other hand, removably secured to the outside of at least one of the walls (20, 30), said film (40) being secured when the element made of semi-rigid material is in the state of a cutout, and the heat-shrinkable film (40):

   - is either formed of at least two sheets, each sheet being secured to the bottom part (10) and to the outside of a respective wall (20, 30),

   - or forms a single part.
2. Packaging according to Claim 1, in which the heat-shrinkable film (40) is removably secured to the outside of two respective walls (20, 30).
3. Packaging according to either of Claims 1 and 2, in which said film has sufficient covering length to cover the outside of at least one of the walls over at least one third of the height of said first wall (20, 30).
4. Packaging according to Claim 3, in which the covering length represents half, in particular at least 60%, at least 70% or at least 80%, in particular between 30% and 100% of the height of a wall (20, 30).
5. Cutout device (1) comprising:

   a) an element made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, in one piece, comprising a bottom part (10) and, on either side of this bottom part, at least two walls (20, 30) which are secured to the bottom part and are designed to be raised with respect to the bottom part, and

   b) a heat-shrinkable film secured on one hand to the inside of the bottom part (10) and, on the other hand, removably secured to the outside of at least one of the walls (20, 30), said film being designed to cover the contents.
6. Method for manufacturing packaging such as according to one of Claims 1 to 4, comprising the steps of:

   a) providing an element made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, in one piece, comprising a bottom part (10) and, on either side of this bottom part, at least two walls (20, 30) which are able to be raised with respect to the bottom part such that the bottom part and the at least two walls define an interior space for receiving contents, and

   b) providing a heat-shrinkable film (40) for covering the contents, and

   c) securing said heat-shrinkable film on one hand to the inside of the bottom part and, on the other hand, removably securing the film to the outside of at least one of the walls, this step of securing said film (40) being implemented when the element made of semi-rigid material is in the state of a cutout.

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