EP3640156B1 - Coil-shaped cushioning product for packaging purposes - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a reel-shaped upholstery product for packaging purposes according to the preamble of claim 1.

Basically, it is known to transform a web-like, flat and essentially two-dimensional starting material, for example a flat rolled paper web, into an essentially three-dimensional, elongated cushioning material by machine crumpling or compressing in the longitudinal direction of the web. A corresponding device is, for example, from DE 10 2012 218 679 A1 known. It is also known to roll up this crumpled elongated cushioning material into a coil-shaped or spiral-shaped cushioning product. This coil-shaped upholstery product has the ability to carry comparatively heavy objects. To produce the reel-shaped upholstery product, the elongated upholstery material is usually wound or rolled up on a rotating reel, which is removed again after being rolled up. An example of this is in the EP 1 027 214 B1 specified. In the not yet published DE 10 2017 113 532 describes a method and a device by means of which a coil-shaped upholstery product can also be produced without a reel.

Furthermore, the US 2008/0098699 A1 a paper strip shaped as a helical spiral in the shape of a corkscrew, which can be filled from above into a container already filled with objects in order to fill the empty space there. The U.S. 2,947,459 discloses a rolled corrugated cardboard cushion. The GB 917 678 describes a container with spirals disposed therein for cushioning an object disposed in the container. The U.S. 5,688,578 A describes an upholstery product which is made from a paper with a plurality of staggered slots and which is expanded in a direction transverse to the extension of the slots. It is also disclosed to spirally wrap such papers.

The present invention has the task of creating a coil-shaped upholstery product which can be used particularly efficiently.

The stated object is achieved by a coil-shaped upholstery product for packaging purposes with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The coil-shaped upholstery product according to the invention for packaging purposes comprises a three-dimensional and elongated cushioning material that is rolled up or wound up in the form of a coil. "Three-dimensional" means here, that, unlike a flat and even paper web or a film, compared to its width it has a decisive and physically effective, for example elastically or plastically deformable thickness. The upholstery product has a central area in which there is no cushioning material, as is present outside of the central area by being rolled up or rolled up. This can mean that there is an empty space in this central area, but it can also mean that another material is present in this central area.

According to the invention, it is proposed that the central region of the coil-shaped upholstery product has a width dimension which corresponds to at least approximately three times the thickness of the sheet-shaped cushioning material or at least approximately 25% of an outer diameter of the upholstery product. To put it more colloquially, this means that the upholstery product has a clear hole in its center, in which there is no upholstery material, as is present outside of the central area when it is rolled up. This saves material, thereby reducing costs. In addition, more coil-shaped upholstery products can be produced from a supply of web-shaped and still two-dimensional or already elongated three-dimensional cushioning material, whereby the efficiency is increased. The weight of a coil-shaped upholstery product is also reduced, which makes it easier to handle.

All of this is made possible without the primary purpose of the cushioning product, namely the cushioned storage of an object on the cushioning product, being impaired. Surprisingly, it was found that many objects which are arranged on the upholstery product and are to be stored by it do not rest or not substantially rest in the center of the upholstery product, i.e. are not stored there either, or at least not substantially cushioned. Instead, it was found that it is more the radially outer edge regions of the upholstery product that carry the object placed on the upholstery product.

In that the cushioning material comprises crumpled paper, preferably made of crumpled paper, it is inexpensive and environmentally friendly, since recycled paper can be used and the cushioning product can also be recycled after use. Since the cushioning material comprises a paper crumpled in its longitudinal direction, it has particularly good cushioning properties, which in turn leads to very good cushioning properties of the coil-shaped cushioning product.

A further development of the invention provides that the cushioning material has an overall at least approximately rectangular cross section with a thickness or height that is significantly less than a width. A coil made from such a cushioning material has a comparatively flat surface, which makes it easier to use.

A further development of the invention provides that the cushioning material has a tubular cross section. Such a cushioning material has a comparatively low density, as a result of which the weight of the coil-shaped cushioning product is reduced, which in turn facilitates handling.

It is also conceivable that the width dimension of the central area is a minimum width. This is particularly important if the central area does not have a symmetrical, for example circular, contour. In this way it is ensured that the central area is sufficiently large to achieve the advantages according to the invention.

A further development of the invention provides that the central area is at least approximately circular. This facilitates handling, since the orientation of the coil-shaped upholstery product does not have to be taken into account during use.

• Figur 1 eine perspektivische Darstellung eines spulenförmigen Polsterungsprodukts;
• Figur 2 eine schematische teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht auf einen Behälter mit dem Polsterungsprodukt von Figur 1 und einem auf diesem gelagerten Gegenstand;
• Figur 3 eine schematische Seitenansicht auf eine Vorrichtung zur Herstellung des Polsterungsprodukts von Figur 1 zu einem ersten Zeitpunkt während der Herstellung;
• Figur 4 eine Darstellung ähnlich zu Figur 3 zu einem zweiten Zeitpunkt während der Herstellung;
• Figur 5 eine Darstellung ähnlich zu Figur 3 zu einem dritten Zeitpunkt während der Herstellung;
• Figur 6 eine Darstellung ähnlich zu Figur 3 zu einem vierten Zeitpunkt während der Herstellung;
• Figur 7 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer ersten Art eines Polstermaterials zur Herstellung des Polsterungsprodukts von Figur 1;
• Figur 8 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer zweiten Art eines Polstermaterials zur Herstellung des Polsterungsprodukts von Figur 1; und
• Figur 9 eine perspektivische Darstellung einer dritten Art eines Polstermaterials zur Herstellung des Polsterungsprodukts von Figur 1.

The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing. In the drawing show:

• Figure 1 a perspective view of a coil-shaped upholstery product;
• Figure 2 a schematic partially sectioned side view of a container with the cushioning product of FIG Figure 1 and an object stored on it;
• Figure 3 a schematic side view of an apparatus for manufacturing the upholstery product of FIG Figure 1 at a first point in time during manufacture;
• Figure 4 a representation similar to Figure 3 at a second point in time during manufacture;
• Figure 5 a representation similar to Figure 3 at a third point in time during manufacture;
• Figure 6 a representation similar to Figure 3 at a fourth point in time during manufacture;
• Figure 7 FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a first type of cushioning material for making the cushioning product of FIG Figure 1 ;
• Figure 8 FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second type of cushioning material for making the cushioning product of FIG Figure 1 ; and
• Figure 9 FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third type of cushioning material for making the cushioning product of FIG Figure 1 .

Functionally equivalent areas and elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

A reel-shaped upholstery product bears the overall reference number 10 in the figures. It has the shape of a flat and on its side worm or coil and comprises a three-dimensional and elongated upholstery material 12 that is rolled up or wound up in the form of a coil, with a roll-up or winding axis 13 is vertical in the operating position shown. The cushioning material 12 has a width or height 14 and a thickness 16. It can be seen from the illustration in FIG Figure 1 that "three-dimensional" means here that the cushioning material 12, unlike a flat and planar paper web or a flat and planar film, has a decisive thickness 16 compared to its width 14. In the direction of the thickness 16, the cushioning material 12 is readily deformable.

As from the Figures 7 and 8 As can be seen, the cushioning material 12 can be made from two flat and planar and centrally connected paper webs 18 which, for example, have been turned over at the edges and then crumpled in a longitudinal direction 20 by continuous upsetting (arrows 22). Such a cushioning material 12 show Figures 7 and 8 , where in Figure 8 the cushioning material 12 after the edges have been turned over before crumpling (arrows 22) in the longitudinal direction 20 is shown. It is off Figure 7 It can be seen that the cushioning material 12 shown there has a cross-section that can still be designated as a whole as rectangular with a thickness 16 that is noticeably smaller than the width or height 14. Figure 9 shows a cushioning material 12, which has a tubular cross section and is also made of paper and was crumpled in the longitudinal direction 20 according to the arrows 22 by upsetting.

The upholstery product 10 comprises an approximately circular central region 24, seen in the present example in the direction of the winding axis 13, in which neither upholstery material 12 nor any other material is present. To this extent, the central area 24 is an empty space or a hole. It has a width dimension - in the present case corresponding approximately to an inner diameter 26 - which in the present example corresponds to approximately 10 times the thickness 16 of the cushioning material 12.

This saves material and weight. This effect occurs with noticeable relevance when the width dimension 26 corresponds to at least approximately three times the thickness 16 of the cushioning material 12. In addition, the width dimension 26 in the present case corresponds, for example, to approximately 35% of an outer diameter 28 of the upholstery product 10. In this regard, too, the above-mentioned effect occurs with noticeable relevance when the width dimension 26 corresponds to at least approximately 25% of the outer diameter 28.

In Figure 2 a usage scenario of the upholstery product 10 is shown schematically. One recognizes a box-shaped container 30 which is rectangular in side view and has a bottom 32 and side walls 34. The container 30 can be, for example, a container 30 made of cardboard or wood. The coil-shaped upholstery product 10 is flat, that is to say with a vertical winding axis 13, placed on the bottom 32 of the container 30. An object 36 to be transported padded in the container 30 is placed on the upholstery product 10. If necessary, the upholstery product 10 can be fixed immovably in the container 30. Further cushioning products, for example in the form of cushioning material 12, can also be present between the object 36 and the side walls 34, which is shown in FIG Figure 2 however, is not shown.

The manufacture of the coil-shaped upholstery product 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS Figures 3-6 explained: a device 38 is used to produce the coil-shaped upholstery product 10. This device comprises a belt 40 which is guided by means of a plurality of rollers (without reference symbols) and which is driven according to an arrow 42. The belt 40 is tensioned by a roller 46 loaded by a weight 44.

The crumpled upholstery material 12, which has the shape, for example, of one of the in the Figures 7-9 may have cushioning materials 12 shown is in a Forming device 48 made of a sheet-like flat paper material (not shown). The forming device 48 guides the cushioning material 12 between the two rollers 50 and 52 against the belt 40 moving in the direction of the arrow 42 ( Figures 3 and 4 ), whereby the band 40 is pressed in and a temporary winding space 54 is formed ( Figure 4 ). A corresponding setting of the three parameters (a) feed speed of the cushioning material 12, (b) the speed of movement of the belt 40 and (c) pretensioning of the belt 40 by the weight 44 ensures that the cushioning material 12 is wound up in the form of a coil in the winding space 54, with however, an empty space remains in the central area 24 of the resulting upholstery product 10 ( Figure 5 ).

Once the desired size (outer diameter 28) of the upholstery product 10 has been reached or one end 56 of the supplied upholstery material 10 reaches the winding space 54, the winding space 54 is opened by shifting rollers 56 so that the finished upholstery product 10 moves downwards (arrow 60) falls. The end 56 of the cushioning material 10 can be secured to the rest of the cushioning material 12 by an adhesive point 62.

Claims (4)

1. Coil-shaped cushioning product (10) for packaging purposes for the purpose of cushioned storage of an object on the coil-shaped cushioning product, comprising a coil-shaped roll of three-dimensional elongate cushioning material (12), wherein the cushioning product (10) comprises a central region (24) in which no cushioning material (12) is present, wherein the central region (24) has a width dimension (26) which corresponds to at least approximately three times the thickness (16) of the cushioning material (12) or at least approximately 25% of an outer diameter (28) of the cushioning product (10), characterized in that the cushioning material (12) comprises a paper crumpled in a longitudinal direction (20) of a paper web (18).
2. Coil-shaped cushioning product (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cushioning material (12) has a cross-section which as a whole is at least approximately rectangular, with a thickness (16) which is smaller than a width (14).
3. Coil-shaped cushioning product (10) according to at least one of claims 1 - 2, characterized in that the cushioning material (12) has a hose-like cross-section.
4. Coil-shaped cushioning product (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central region (24) is at least approximately circular.

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