EP3119696B1

EP3119696B1 - Multilayer protective profile

Info

Publication number: EP3119696B1
Application number: EP15736585.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Matthieu BOCQUET
Original assignee: Scybele SAS
Current assignee: Signode France SAS
Priority date: 2014-03-17
Filing date: 2015-03-16
Publication date: 2018-12-26
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-16
Also published as: WO2015140640A2; FR3018508A1; WO2015140640A3; EP3119696A2; ES2716954T3

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a multilayer protective profile such as an angled corner protector according to the preamble of claim 1.

STATE OF THE ART

State of the art includes US-A1-2012/0000815 and US-A1-2005/0087663 which discloses the preamble of claim 1.
The use of protective profiles is known for protecting fragile objects. These items are generally in an L-shaped section and in this case are called corner protectors and serve to protect the angles or corners of objects, to reinforce pallets, crates or stacks, to stabilize pallets, etc.
A protective profile has an elongated shape and comprises two longitudinal flanges each having a first free longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge which is connected by a longitudinal joining portion to the second longitudinal edge of the other flange.
This application relates to the protective profiles of the multilayer type. In the prior art, a multilayered profile comprises an inner core comprising the overlay of layers of the same width and an outer shell of greater width which covers the inner and outer surfaces of the core. In this application, the inner surface is called the face of the profile or the core, which is directed towards the inside of the element and which is for example a concave or hollow surface, and the outer face is called the face of the element or the core which is directed towards the outside of the element and which is for example a convex or embossed surface. If the profile comprises a longitudinal ridge, it is located on its outer face.
This type of profile may be made from different materials. It is thus conceivable to make the layers and the shell of the profile in cellulose material (paper, cardboard, etc.), plastic, or a composite / complex material (for example based on cardboard / paper, plastic and possibly a metal foil such as aluminum foil), etc. The profile may include different types of paper and cardboard.
Making the inner layers of the profile is well known to be made of low quality boxboard such as cardboard and producing its outer paper shell in a better quality boxboard such as wrapping paper or strong shipping cardboard. The mechanical properties, in particular of flexural strength, of the protective profile depend principally on the quality of its superimposed components (layers and shell) and the number of these elements. However, the higher the quality of a component used in the protective profile, the more expensive the item will be. Moreover, the more raw materials the protective profile contains, the more expensive it will be. It is therefore important to find a compromise between these parameters so that the profile will have good mechanical properties without being too expensive to manufacture.
Furthermore, it was found that the outer shell might tear along the free longitudinal edges of its flanges, which is problematic. This is particularly the case when the protective profile is subjected to bending forces, for example when it is held in place on a pallet by means of strapping. In general, the corner protectors must meet the European Standard AFNOR NF EN 13393 of September 2001 concerning the specifications for corner protectors.
The invention provides a simple, efficient and economical solution to at least some of the aforementioned problems.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

The invention proposes a protective profile, which in particular protects against impacts. This profile has an elongated shape and a section in the shape of an L, U, C, or V. The profile has two longitudinal flanges, which each have a first free longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge which is connected by a longitudinal joining portion to the second longitudinal edge of the other flange. The profile is of a multilayer type and comprises an inner core comprising an overlay of at least two layers and an outer shell of greater width than that of the core. This shell covers one surface of said core and comprises longitudinal end portions which extend at said first free longitudinal edge and which are bent and cover at least a portion of an opposite side of said core, characterized in that at least one of the layers of said core has a greater width than that of the other layer or other layers of the core, the layer(s) of greater width cover one surface of a layer and has longitudinal end portions which extend at said first free longitudinal edge and that are bent and cover at least a portion of an opposite side of either layer of the core.
In this application, we shall understand the term inner core of a profile, to be the inner part of the section which is covered, in part or in whole, by the outer shell of the profile. This core comprises several layers (and for this reason it is of the multilayer type).
The term, outer shell, should be understood as a profile with an outer coating that covers, in whole or in part, the core of the profile. This outer shell may comprise a single profile (and this would be a single layer type).
The invention can significantly enhance the flexural strength of a protective profile by limiting the risk of tearing of the profile at the free longitudinal edges of its flanges. This is made possible by strengthening its longitudinal edges with at least one of the inner layers of the profile. In the prior art, only the outer shell extends at the free longitudinal edges of the profile. According to the invention, the outer shell and at least one of the inner layers extends at the free longitudinal edges of the profile. For this purpose, the inner core of the profile comprises at least two types of layers and in particular, the layers are of at least two different widths. The layer(s) of the smallest width may be similar to the Prior Art and the layer(s) of greater width each comprise, as is the case of the outer shell, the bent longitudinal end portions and covering another layer of the core, namely a layer of smaller width or another layer of greater width. Said longitudinal joining portion may have a rounded cross-section or may form an approximately right angle.
The invention makes it possible to increase the flexural strength of a profile which includes inner layers similar to those of a profile of the Prior Art (in terms of width and density, for example) but in which at least one (the wider one) would be shaped as described above.
Moreover, the invention makes it possible, due to a profile having the same flexural strength as a profile from the Prior Art, to use less raw materials and thus reduce the unit cost of the profile. In fact, it is conceivable to reduce the number of layers of the profile without causing a decrease in its resistance to bending, because of the reinforcement provided by the one or more of the wider layers.
In this application, the term, free longitudinal edge, shall mean a longitudinal edge of the profile that is not connected to another portion of the profile and which thus defines a longitudinal end of the profile.
As indicated in the foregoing, the strip according to the invention generally has section which is roughly L-, U-, C-, or V-shaped. However, it is of course possible to have another similar shape such as W (which is a double V). The longitudinal portion of the profile junction can be of any shape. It is possible that the longitudinal edges of a U-profile are folded so that the profile is roughly in the shape of a Ω. Naturally, other shapes for the profile are possible.
Advantageously, the shell covers all of the core surfaces. Said longitudinal end portions of the shell may overlap each other. They may overlap on an inner surface of the profile, and preferable on an inner surface of a longitudinal flange of the profile.
The or each of the wider layers may comprise a first portion of the folded longitudinal portion and a second part of the folded longitudinal end. Said first or second folded longitudinal portions are approximately of the same width.
Said longitudinal end portions of the wider layer may be folded on an inner or outer surface of a layer.
The or each of the wider layers may have a lower thickness, greater than or equal to that of said other layer(s). The outer shell may be of a thickness which is lower, greater than or equal to that of the core layer(s). The or each of the wider layers may have a thickness lower than the thickness of said other layer or to the combined thickness of said other layers.
For example, the thickness of the wider layer is between 0.05 and 1 mm, and preferably between 0.2 and 0.6mm. That of the layer(s) having the smallest width can be between 0.05 mm and 10mm, and preferably between 0.2 and 0.8mm. That of the shell can be between 0.05 and 1 mm, and preferably between 0.2 and 0.5mm. The core may have a thickness of between 1 and 15 mm and for instance between 2.5 and 3.5 mm.
The core may comprise a single layer having the greatest width.
Said at least one layer of the greatest width may be located at an outer surface of the core and may be completely covered by said outer shell.
The core may include between two and twenty layers and for example between three and eight layers.
The profile can be an angled corner protector.
For example, the density of the material of the widest layer is between 0.1 and 1.1 t/m³ and preferably between 0.5 and 0.9 t/m³. That of the material of the layers having the smallest width may be between 0.1 and 1.1 t/m³ and preferably between 0.5 and 0.9 t/m³. That of the material of the shell may be between 0.1 and 1.1 t/m³ and preferably between 0.5 and 0.9 t/m³.
For example, the gram weight of the or each of the wider layers is between 50 and 600g/m² and preferably between 100 and 350g/m². The gram weight of the or each layer of smaller width may be between 50 and 1500 g/m² and preferably between 200 and 600g/m². The gram weight of the shell may be between 50 and 600 g/m² and preferably between 100 and 350 g/m².
For example, the width of the layer(s) having the smaller width is between 50 and 400 mm and preferably between 60 and 190mm. The width of the widest layer(s) is greater than 10 mm - 50 mm and preferably between 20-25mm, with respect to that of the layers having the smallest width. The width of the shell may be between 100 and 800 mm and preferably between 120 and 380 mm.
The ratio between the width of the widest layer(s) and that of the layer(s) having the smallest width may be between 1.1 and 2 and preferably between 1.1 and 1.5.
This invention also relates to a use of the profile such as that described above for protecting an object (merchandise, pallets, drums, stacks, etc.).

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention and other details, features and advantages of the invention will be better understood upon reading the following description given by way of non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section view of a multilayer protective profile according to the Prior Art,
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic cross-section view of a multilayer protective profile according to the invention,
Figures 3, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic cross-section views of variants of the embodiment of the multilayer protective profile in accordance with the invention.
Figure 4 does not show an embodiment of the invention,
Figures 7 to 8 are very partial diagrammatic cross-section views of other variants of the embodiment of the multilayer protective profile in accordance with the invention,
Figure 9 is a very diagrammatic view of a machine for producing a multilayer protective profile,
Figure 10 is a diagrammatic cross-section view of a multilayer protective profile according to the invention in course of manufacture, and,
Figure 11 is a diagrammatic cross-section view in perspective of a multilayer protective profile according to the invention,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a multilayer protective profile 10 with an L-shaped section, i.e., an angled protective corner of a fragile object.
This profile 10 has an elongated shape and comprises two longitudinal flanges 12, 14 each having a first free longitudinal edge 16 and a second longitudinal edge 17 which is connected by a longitudinal joining portion 18 to the second longitudinal edge 17 of the other flange.
The profile 10 comprises essentially two parts: (i) an inner core comprising an overlay of layers 20, here four in number, and (ii) an outer shell 22 that overlaps the core.
The inner layers 20 have the same width L and the outer shell 22 has a width L' greater than that of the layers 20 to enable the overlapping of the core.
The shell 22 here overlaps the entire outer surface of the core and thus defines the outer surface in relief 24 of the profile 10. Because of its greater width L', the shell 22 comprises the longitudinal end portions 26 which are folded and overlap, firstly, the longitudinal edges 16 of the flanges 12, 14 and secondly, the inner surface of core. The outer shell 22 thus defines the hollow inner surface 28 of the profile 10. The longitudinal end portions 26 of the shell overlap in part the inner surface 28 of the profile 10.
The invention makes it possible to either increase the mechanical strength, in particular the flexural strength, of a profile of this type from the same amount of raw material as a profile of the Prior Art, or to decrease the amount of material and thus the unit cost of a profile with similar strength to that of a profile of the Prior Art.
Figure 2 represents a first embodiment of the multilayer protective profile 110 according to the invention.
The profile 110 here is an L-shaped section and is thus an angled protective corner for a fragile object.
As in the aforementioned case, this profile 110 has an elongated shape and comprises two longitudinal flanges 112, 114 each having a first free longitudinal edge 116 and a second longitudinal edge 117 which is connected by a longitudinal joining portion 118 to the second longitudinal edge 117 of the other flange. This joining portion 118 is here in a curved shaped section. Although here the flanges 112, 114 have the same width, it is possible for them to have different widths.
The profile 110 comprises essentially two parts: (i) an inner core comprising an overlay of layers 120, 121, here four in number, and (ii) an outer shell 122 that covers the core.
The inner layers 120, 121 are shown here in two types, a first type of layer 120 with a smaller width L1 and a second type of layer 121 with a greater width L2.
Layers 120 form a unit similar to the core in Figure 1. They are here three in number and are overlapping each other. These will be numbered in the following as the outer layer 120a, the intermediate layer 120b, and the inner layer 120c. The terms, inner and outer, refer respectively to the inner 128 and outer 124 surfaces of the profile 110.
Layer 121 here completely overlaps the outer surface of the outer layer 120a. Layer 121 comprises the longitudinal end portions 130 which are folded, and extend along the longitudinal edges 116 of the flanges 112, 114 and which overlap portion of the inner surface of the inner layer 120c. The width L3 or the transverse dimension of the area 132 of the inner layer 120c covered by a longitudinal end portion 130 of layer 121 is roughly equal to that of the area 132 of the inner layer 120c covered by the other longitudinal end portion 130 of layer 121.
The outer shell 122 has a width L4 at least equal to the width L2 and that is here greater than the latter. The shell 122 here overlaps the entire external surface of the core and thus defines the external surface 124 of the profile 110. It comprises the longitudinal end portions 126 which are folded and first overlap the longitudinal edges 116 of the flanges 112, 114 and second overlap the inner surface of the core. The outer shell 122 thus also defines the inner surface 128 of the profile 110. The longitudinal end portions 126 of the shell here partially overlap the inner surface 128 of the profile 110, here on an inner surface of the flange 114, roughly in the middle. In a variant, the longitudinal end portions of the shell may not overlap.
In the example shown, layer 121 has a thickness smaller than that of layers 120. As an example, the thickness of layer 121 falls between 0.2 and 0.6 mm and that of layers 120 falls between 0.2 and 0.8 mm. Layer 121 preferably has a density greater than that of layers 120. For example, the density of layer 121 is between 0.5 and 0.9 t/m3 and that of layers 120 is between 0.5 and 0.9 t/m3. The thickness of the shell 122 may be lower than or equal to that of layer 121 and is for example between 0.2 and 0.5 mm. The density of the shell 122 may be greater than or equal to that of layer 121 and is for example between 0.5 and 0.9 t/m3.
The different components ( layers 120, 121 and the shell 122) of the profile 110 may each be made of paper, cardboard, plastic, metal, etc. of various kinds. Thus, the profile 110 may comprise layers 120 made from cardboard, layer 121 may be made from cardboard, of paper or of a stronger composite material, and the shell 122 may be made of cardboard, of paper or of a composite material.
The various components of the profile 110 may be assembled using adhesive, such as for example vinyl adhesive. A layer of adhesive may be interposed between each component, i.e., between layers 120, between layer 121 and layers 120 and between the shell 122 of a part of layers 120, 121 of another portion.
The various materials, dimensions and properties of the components described above are applicable to other embodiments of the invention described in the following.
We now refer to Figure 3 which shows a first embodiment variant of the profile 110' of the invention. This profile 110' differs from that of 110 described above on essentially two points: (i) the joining portion 118' of profile 110' is shown here in a right angle shaped section, and(ii) the longitudinal end portions 126' of the shell overlap in part the inner surface 128' of the profile 110', here on an inner surface of the flange 114' and on its second longitudinal edge 117', that is to say in the vicinity of the joining portion 118'.
Figure 4 shows another variant which is not according to the invention. This profile 110" differs from that of 110 described above on essentially two points:

(i) the joint portion 118" of profile 110" is shown here in a right angle shaped section, and
(ii) layer 121" here completely overlaps the outer surface of the outer layer 120a", and comprises the longitudinal end portions 130" which are folded, which extend along the longitudinal edges 116" of the flanges 112", 114" and which overlap the entire inner surface of the inner layer 120c". The width L2" of layer 121 " is thus much greater than that L2 of layer 121 and is here roughly equal to L4 of the shell 122". The width L3 or the transverse dimension of the area 132" of the inner layer 120c" is overlapped by a longitudinal end portion 130" of layer 121" is roughly equal to that of the flanges 112", 114" of the profile. The longitudinal end portions 130" of layer 121" partially overlap the inner surface 128" of the profile 110", here on an inner surface of the inner layer 120c", roughly in the middle.

Figure 5 represents a first embodiment of the multilayer protective profile 210 according to the invention.
The profile 210 here has a U-shaped section. It has an elongated shape and comprises two longitudinal flanges 212, 214 each having a first free longitudinal edge 216 and a second longitudinal edge 217 which is connected by a longitudinal joining portion 218 to the second longitudinal edge 217 of the other flange. This joining portion 218 is here in an elongated rectilinear shaped section. Although the flanges 212, 214 here have the same width, it is possible for them to have different widths.
The profile 210 comprises essentially two parts: (i) an internal core comprising layers 220, 221 which are superimposed, and here four in number, and (ii) an external shell 222 that covers the core.
The inner layers 220, 221 are shown here in two types, a first type of layer 220 with a smaller width L5 and a second type of layer 221 with a greater width L6.
Layers 220 form a unit similar to the core in Figure 1. They are here three in number and are overlapping each other. These will be numbered in the following as the outer layer 220a, the intermediate layer 220b, and the inner layer 220c. The terms, inner and outer, refer respectively to the inner 228 and outer surfaces 224 of the profile 210.
Layer 221 here completely overlaps the outer surface of the outer layer 220a. Layer 221 comprises the longitudinal end portions 230 which are folded, which extend at the longitudinal edges 216 of the flanges 212, 214 and overlapping a portion of the inner surface of the inner layer 220c. The width L7 or the transverse dimension of the area 232 of the inner layer 220c covered by a longitudinal end portion 230 of the layer 221 is roughly equal to that of the area 232 of the inner layer 220c covered by the other longitudinal end portion 230 of layer 221.
The outer shell 222 has a width L8 at least equal to the width L6 and that is here greater than the latter. The shell 222 here overlaps the entire external surface of the core and thus defines the external surface 224 of the profile 210. It comprises the longitudinal end portions 226 which are folded and first overlap the longitudinal edges 216 of the flanges 212, 214 and second overlap the inner surface of the core. More precisely, from the side of the inner surface 228 of the profile 210, it overlaps the longitudinal end portions 230 of layer 221 and only a portion of the inner surface 228 of the inner layer 220c. Width L9 or the transverse dimension of area 234 overlapped by a longitudinal end portion 226 of the shell 222 is greater than L7 and is roughly identical to that of area 234 overlapped by the other longitudinal end portion 226 of the shell 222. The outer shell 222 defines in part the inner surface 228 of the profile 210, the rest of this inner surface 228 is defined by the core and more in particular by the inner layer 220c.
We now refer to Figure 6 which shows a first embodiment variant of the profile 210' of the invention. This profile 210' differs from that of 210 describe above essentially by the fact that the outer shell 222' has a width L8' greater than width L8 and that is such that the shell 222' here completely overlaps the inner surface of the core and thus defines the inner surface 228' of the profile 210'. Its longitudinal end portions 226' partially overlap the inner surface 228' of the profile 210', here on an inner surface of the joining portion 218', roughly in the middle. Alternatively, the longitudinal end portions of the shell can overlap on the inner surface of a flange.
Figures 7 and 8 show other variant embodiments 310, 310' of the profile according to the invention, only a portion of a flange 312, 312' of each of these profiles being shown here.
In the variant embodiment of Figure 7, the profile 310 comprises two layers 320 with a smaller superimposed width and two layers 321 with a greater superimposed width. Moreover, layers 320, 321 are superimposed upon each other, layers 320 being located on the side of the inner surface (or instead on the outer surface) of the profile, with regard to layers 321.
Layer 321a in contact with the outer layer 320a is similar to layer 121 described in the foregoing with reference to Figure 2. Here, the other layer 321b entirely covers the outer surface of layer 321a and includes the longitudinal end portions 330 which are folded over, which extend along the longitudinal edges 316 of the flange 312 and which cover the folded longitudinal end portion 331 of layer 321a. The shell 322 is similar to layer 122 described in the foregoing in reference to Figure 2.
In the variant embodiment of Figure 8, the profile 310' comprises two layers 320' with a smaller width and one layer 321' with a greater width. Layers 320', 321' are superimposed upon each other, layers 320' being located on the side of the inner surface (or instead on the outer surface) of the profile, with regard to layers 321'.
Here, layer 321' entirely covers the outer surface of outer layer 320a' and includes the longitudinal end portions 330' which are folded over, which extend along the longitudinal edges 316' of the flange 312' and which are interwoven between the inner 320a' and outer layers 320b'. These longitudinal end portions 330' cover thusly a portion of the inner surface of the outer layer 320b' and a portion of the outer surface of the inner layer 320a'. The shell 322' is similar to layer 122 described in the foregoing in reference to Figure 2.
We now refer to Figures 9 to 11 which are a very diagrammatic representation of a manufacturing method for a protective profile according to the invention.
Figure 9 shows a machine for producing this profile, this machine 400 may comprise reels, a gluing system, a folding system for the end portions of the layers having a larger width and of the shell of the profile, as well as a forming system for the profile, and a cutting system to make a profile of a predetermined length. The machine 400 in Figure 9 shows a diagrammatic view of the different components of the profile according to the invention, such as those ( inner layers 120, 121 and outer shell 122) shown in the profile of Figure 2.
The shell 122 and the layer 121 are overlapped on the side of their inner surface by a layer of adhesive 150. Cylinders drag the layers 120, 121 and the shell 122 which are layered upon each other.
Figure 10 shows the profile in the course of manufacturing (in the area 110 outlined by a dotted line in Figure 9), at the time these different components come together to be superimposed upon each other. The differences in width between these components can be observed. Layers 120 have a width L1 (or L5 in the example in Figures 5 and 6) smaller than width L2 (or L2' in the example in Figure 4, or L6 in the example in Figures 5 and 6) of layer 121, which is itself smaller than width L4 (or L8 in the example of Figure 5, or L8' in the example of Figure 6) of the shell 122.
Figure 11 shows the profile before it is cut (in the area I11 outlined by a dotted line in Figure 9), Here, the longitudinal edges (dotted line 152) are shown of the folded end portions of the inner layer 121 so that the longitudinal edges (unbroken line 154 for the exposed edge and in dotted lines 156 for the other side) of the portions of the shell 122 which overlap.

Claims

Protective profile (110), in particular for protecting against impacts, this profile having an elongate shape and comprising a L-, U-, C- or V-shaped cross section, the profile comprising two longitudinal legs (112, 114) each comprising a first free longitudinal edge (116) and a second longitudinal edge (117) which is connected by a longitudinal junction part (118) to the second longitudinal edge of the other leg, the profile being of the multilayer type and comprising:
an inner core comprising a superposition of one or more first layers (120) and a second layer (121) having a width (L2), the core having an outer surface and an opposing inner surface; and

an outer shell (122) having a width (L4) that is larger than the width (L2) of the second layer (121), wherein the outer shell (122) covers the outer surface of the core and at least part of the inner surface of said core,
characterized in that the width (L2) of the second layer (121) is greater than the widths of the one or more first layers (120) of the core and less than the width (L4) of the outer shell (122) such that the second layer (121) covers an outer surface of one of the one or more first layers (120) and part of an inner surface of one of the one or more first layers (120), such that opposing longitudinal end portions (130) of the second layer (121) do not overlap, and such that ends of the longitudinal end portions (130) of the second layer (121) are offset from ends of the longitudinal end portions (126) of the outer shell (122).
Profile (110) according to Claim 1, characterized in that said longitudinal junction part (118) has in cross section a rounded or right-angled shape.
Profile (110) according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said outer shell (122) covers the entire inner surface of the core.
Profile (110) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the longitudinal end portions (126) of the outer shell (122) overlap one another.
Profile (110) according to Claim 4, characterized in that said longitudinal end portions (126) of the outer shell (122) overlap on an inner face (128) of the profile (110), and preferably on an inner face of the leg (114) of the profile (110).
Profile (110) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal end portions (130) of the second layer (121) have the same width.
Profile (110) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second layer (121) has a thickness less than the thicknesses of said one or more first layers (120).
Profile (110) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer shell (122) has a thickness less than or equal to that of the second layer (121).
Profile (110) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said core comprises a single second layer (121).
Profile (110) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said core comprises between three and eight layers (120, 121).
Profile (110) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ratio of the width (L2) of the second layer (121) to that of the one or more first layers (120) is between 1.1 and 2.
Profile (110) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the profile (110) is a protective angle bracket.
Use of a profile according to one of the preceding claims for the protection, the reinforcement, or the stabilization of an object.