EP3658471B1 - Cushioning material for packaging purposes, and method for cushioning an object - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a cushioning material for packaging purposes, as well as a method for cushioning an object according to the preambles of the respective independent claims.

It is known from the market (see U.S. 3,288,353 A ) To protect objects that are to be transported or shipped from impacts or other harmful external influences by wrapping these objects with a cushioning material. Such a cushioning material can be, for example, a plastic bubble wrap, or another one three-dimensional cushioning material, which has bulges similar to an egg carton, for example.

However, a problem with the known material is that it is time consuming to handle. If the object is wrapped with the cushioning material, measures must be taken to prevent the wrapping from loosening. For example, adhesive strips or cords or the like are used for this. As an alternative or in addition, the object must be wrapped several times in order to prevent the winding from loosening. This is complex and requires additional elements to be handled.

The present invention has the object of providing a cushioning material and a method which is particularly easily suitable for protecting an object to be packaged.

This object is achieved by a cushioning material with the features of claim 1 and a method with the features of the independent claim. Advantageous further developments of the invention are mentioned in the subclaims. In addition, further features essential to the invention can also be found in the following description and in the drawing. These features can be essential to the invention both on their own and in different combinations, without explicit reference to this being made again.

The cushioning material according to the invention for packaging purposes comprises at least one flat element which has at least one edge section and one cushion section. It is not absolutely necessary here for the cushion section to have a different configuration from the edge section. Rather, the cushion section can of course extend to the edge of the edge section. The two sections differ only in their primary function, in that the cushion section is primarily upholstered, whereas the edge section primarily delimits the flat element. Furthermore, it should be pointed out at this point that a flat element does not have to be flat and planar, but of course can have one or more curvatures and a relevant thickness. "Flat" in this context only means that the thickness is smaller than each of the other two Cartesian dimensions.

The cushion portion provides a desired property for protecting an article to be packaged. On at least one edge section, an adhesive system is applied at least in some areas, which is designed for a connection to another section of another that can be detached again without aids, for example without special heat and without special tools, and non-destructively, i.e. without damaging the cushioning material or the object flat element or the same flat element.

The method according to the invention comprises the following steps: wrapping the object with a flat element or several contiguous flat elements;
Fastening at least one edge section of the planar element or the planar elements by means of the releasable adhesive system, in particular to another edge section of the planar element or another planar element.

Thanks to the invention, the person who packs an object to be protected with the cushioning material according to the invention does not have to handle any additional elements, such as dispensers for adhesive strips, cords, etc., in order to securely fix the cushioning material. Instead, the cushioning material itself has an adhesive system which makes it possible to reliably connect an edge section of the planar element of the cushioning material to another section of the same planar element or to a section of another planar element. As a result, multiple wrapping of the object to be protected can be dispensed with, which saves padding material. This protects the environment and lowers costs.

The adhesive system is designed in such a way that the edge section can be detached from the other section at any time without tools and in a non-destructive manner. In this way, for example, a repositioning of the Edge portion of the flat element possible in order to optimize the protection of the object. In addition, the recipient of the object, for example, can remove the cushioning material at any time without the need for an aid. Overall, this significantly increases the efficiency when packing an object.

In a first development, it is proposed that the releasable adhesive system is designed so that it can be used at least one more time for a new connection after releasing, in particular that the releasable adhesive system has an adhesive layer with an adhesive note adhesive effect, for example à la Post-it®. Thus, the cushioning material can be easily removed on the way of the object from the sender to the recipient, for example for testing purposes, without the cushioning material being damaged. After the padding material has been removed, the same padding material can be reattached to the item. This also simplifies handling and lowers costs. In addition, the storage and provision of the cushioning material is simplified, since the cushioning material can be rolled up on a roll, for example, with a zigzag fold or simply as a stack of individual flat elements in a container in a storage state, without the adhesive system having a separate Cover needed. This, too, facilitates handling, accelerates application and lowers manufacturing and processing costs.

It is also possible that the adhesive system comprises a continuous adhesive strip extending along the edge section. This creates maximum flexibility in handling the cushioning material, since a relatively large adhesive surface is provided. It goes without saying that the adhesive strip, viewed over its length, can have a constant width, but also a, preferably periodically, variable width. In this way, a desired adhesive force can be set.

As an alternative or in addition, it is possible that the adhesive system comprises an adhesive strip extending and interrupted along the edge section and / or individual adhesive points. This makes it possible to reduce the adhesive force compared to a continuous adhesive strip and to lower the costs for the adhesive system. In addition, a desired adhesive force can be set in a simple manner in that the density of the interrupted adhesive strips or the individual adhesive points is selected accordingly.

It is particularly advantageous if the flat element is rectangular in plan view and if the edge section to which the adhesive system is applied is at least one longitudinal edge and / or at least one transverse edge. A rectangular planar element can be used for many purposes, and the adhesive system can be applied to a generally straight edge region of such rectangular planar element can be applied very easily.

Another particularly preferred embodiment of the cushioning material according to the invention is characterized in that the cushioning section is made from a paper or cardboard material in which a plurality of bulges is formed. Such a material is comparatively pleasant and "soft" to handle and an advantageous ecological alternative, for example, to a plastic bubble wrap. The bulges provide a comparatively large three-dimensional volume, which means that the item to be packaged is particularly well protected from impacts and damage. At the same time, the bulges ensure a relatively low density, which saves weight.

In a further development, it is proposed that a bulge on one side of the flat element is adjacent to a bulge on the other side of the flat element. As a result, the three-dimensional volume is increased again and in this way the cushioning capacity is improved without additional weight being generated as a result.

It is also advantageous if the flat element is detachably connected to a further flat element at least in one storage state by means of a tear-off area, in particular a perforation or some other material weakening. This makes the handling easier made considerably easier, and padding materials of very different sizes for very different packaging scenarios can be produced by the user in a simple manner. For example, a cushioning material can be produced which only consists of a single flat element, or a cushioning material can be produced which consists of several flat elements which remain connected to one another via the tear-off area.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine erste Ausführungsform eines Polstermaterials;

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf eine zweite Ausführungsform eines Polstermaterials;

Figur 3

einen Schnitt längs der Linie III-III von Figur 1;

Figur 4

eine Draufsicht auf eine dritte Ausführungsform eines Polstermaterials;

Figur 5

eine Draufsicht auf eine vierte Ausführungsform eines Polstermaterials;

Figur 6

eine Draufsicht auf eine fünfte Ausführungsform eines Polstermaterials;

Figur 7

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch ein Gegenstand, welches mit einem Polstermaterial mit einem einzigen flächigen Element umwickelt ist;

Figur 8

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch ein Gegenstand, welches mit einem Polstermaterial mit mehreren flächigen Elementen umwickelt ist;

Figur 9

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch einen Behälter, in dem ein Polstermaterial gelagert ist;

Figur 10

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch mehrere Behälter, in denen miteinander verbundenes Polstermaterial gelagert ist;

Figur 11

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch ein erstes Benutzungsszenario von Polstermaterial;

Figur 12

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch ein zweites Benutzungsszenario von Polstermaterial; und

Figur 13

eine schematische Schnittansicht durch ein drittes Benutzungsszenario von Polstermaterial.

Embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this show:

Figure 1

a plan view of a first embodiment of a cushioning material;

Figure 2

a plan view of a second embodiment of a cushioning material;

Figure 3

a section along the line III-III of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4

a plan view of a third embodiment of a cushioning material;

Figure 5

a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a cushioning material;

Figure 6

a plan view of a fifth embodiment of a cushioning material;

Figure 7

a schematic sectional view through an object which is wrapped with a cushioning material with a single flat element;

Figure 8

a schematic sectional view through an object which is wrapped with a cushioning material with a plurality of flat elements;

Figure 9

a schematic sectional view through a container in which a cushioning material is stored;

Figure 10

a schematic sectional view through several containers in which interconnected cushioning material is stored;

Figure 11

a schematic sectional view through a first scenario of use of cushioning material;

Figure 12

a schematic sectional view through a second usage scenario of cushioning material; and

Figure 13

a schematic sectional view through a third scenario of use of cushioning material.

In the following, the same reference symbols are used in different embodiments for areas and elements which have equivalent functions. In addition, in the following embodiments, only differences from previous embodiments are discussed.

In Figure 1 a cushioning material for packaging purposes bears the overall reference number 10. It is designed as an elongated strand of paper (for example wrapping paper) with an exemplary density in the range of 40-60 g / m ² and comprises a plurality of flat elements 12, which are shown in FIG shown plan view have a rectangular shape. In principle, however, almost any other shape is also conceivable. For the sake of clarity, in Figure 1 only two flat elements 12 arranged next to one another are provided with a reference number. The flat elements 12 are detachably connected to one another by means of a tear-off area 14, in the present case a linear perforation. As an alternative or in addition to the perforation, the tear-off area could also have some other material weakening, for example a smaller thickness, or it could be made of a material with a lower tear resistance than the rest of the flat element 12.

Each of the flat elements 12 has a central and overall also approximately rectangular cushion section 16, which is formed by a plurality of bulges 18 which are perpendicular to the plane of the drawing of Figure 1 extend is formed. Again, for the sake of clarity, only a single bulge 18 in each case is shown Figure 1 provided with a reference number. As seen from the sectional view of the Figure 3 As can be seen, the bulges 18 are hemispherical. For example, you can have a radius in the range of 0.5-1.5 cm, preferably 1 cm. As also from the sectional view of the Figure 3 As can be seen, a bulge 18 on one side of the flat element 12 is adjacent to a bulge 18 on the other side of the flat element 12. The direction of the bulges 18 thus alternates, so that the cushioning material 10 overall has a thickness which corresponds approximately to twice the radius of the bulges.

In the present embodiment, the bulges 18 are hemispherical in section. It goes without saying, however, that other cross-sections of bulges are also possible, for example rectangular, square, elliptical, spherical, triangular, etc. In addition, the bulges 18 can also be in the form shown in FIG Figure 1 The top view shown have a different shape than the circular shape shown here. Here, too, a triangular, quadrangular, polygonal, elliptical, prismatic basic shape is basically possible. In this way, very different, for example cubic, pyramidal, pointed conical and truncated conical bulges can be produced. Due to the bulges 18, in the direction of the thickness of the cushioning material, in Figure 1 so perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, an elastic compression allows, thereby protecting a Item to be packaged is provided desired property. For example, a packaged object is protected from damage and impacts by this cushioning material. In principle, such a property could also be provided in other ways, for example by means of hermetically sealed air chambers such as are known from air cushion films or air-filled bags, by means of a foam material, crumpling paper, etc.

Each of the flat elements 12 also has a total of four straight edge sections 20a to 20d which surround the cushion section 16 of a flat element 12 and in which, for example, no bulges 18 are present. These 4 edge sections 20a to 20d are shown in FIG Figure 1 again only shown for one flat element 12 for reasons of clarity. At the in Figure 1 The illustrated first embodiment of a cushioning material 10 is only on a single edge portion of a flat element 12, namely that in Figure 1 upper edge portion 20a, an adhesive system 22 applied. Since the two edge sections 20a and 20c form the shorter pair of edge sections of the rectangular planar element 12, these are transverse edge sections. This adhesive system 22 comprises a continuous adhesive strip 24 extending along the edge section 20a.

The adhesive system 22 is designed in such a way that it can be connected to another section, for example the opposite edge portion 20c of the same flat element 12, can be connected, but can be detached from this without the use of an aid and non-destructively. Furthermore, the adhesive system 22 is designed in such a way that it can be used at least one more time for a new connection after it has been released.

Such an adhesive principle is known from those adhesive layers which have a so-called "sticky note adhesive effect", for example from note papers which are known on the market under the brand name "Post-it®". The adhesive used for this is a hardened plastic that consists of tiny spheres with fine hairs. These hairs act like tentacles that hold the note (or in the present case the edge section 20a) on the desired background (or in the present case, for example, on the edge section 20c). The note (or the edge section 20a) can easily be removed again, since the contact area between the note and the substrate is reduced by the small spheres. If the said hairs do not tear off or are soiled with dust, such a note (or in this case the edge section 20a) can be stuck many times to a substrate, detached from it, stuck onto a substrate again and detached again, etc.

With regard to the dimensions, the cushioning material 10 can, for example, in the longitudinal direction of the in Figure 1 The strand shown has a tear-off area 14 approximately every 20 cm exhibit. The length of a longitudinal edge section 20b and 20d can be, for example, approximately 40 cm, the length of a transverse edge section 20a and 20c approximately 20 cm.

At the in Figure 2 The second embodiment of a cushioning material 10 shown is not only present on a transverse edge section 20a, but also has a continuous adhesive strip 24 extending along the respective edge section 20a and 20c on both opposite transverse edge sections 20a and 20c.

At the in Figure 4 In the third embodiment of a cushioning material 10 shown, there is no adhesive strip on the transverse edge sections 20a and 20c; Figure 4 in each case right longitudinal edge section 20b, a continuous adhesive strip 24 extending along the longitudinal edge section 20b is present.

At the in Figure 5 The fourth embodiment of a cushioning material 10 shown is instead of the one shown in FIG Figure 4 Continuous adhesive strip 24 shown, an interrupted adhesive strip 24 is present, which in this respect consists of four elongated and straight segments 24a, 24b and 24c.

At the in Figure 6 The fifth embodiment of a cushioning material 10 shown in FIG Figure 5 elongated segments shown a plurality of point-shaped adhesive points 24a to 24e are present.

In Figure 7 it is shown how an object 26 can be wrapped with the padding material 10, which is only shown schematically and in this respect without the bulges 18. In the present case, a single flat element 12 is used for this purpose, one transverse edge section 20a of which, for example, has an adhesive system 22 with a continuous adhesive strip 24 corresponding to the first embodiment in FIG Figure 1 having. It can be seen that the transverse edge section 20a is connected to the other transverse edge section 20c by means of the adhesive strip 24. It goes without saying, however, that if the object 26 had such dimensions that when the object 26 is wrapped more or less tightly with the flat element 12 of the cushioning material 10, the transverse edge section 20a does not exactly coincide with the other transverse edge section 20c, the adhesive strip 24 of the transverse edge section 20a could also be releasably connected to the cushion section 16 extending between the two transverse edge sections 20a and 20c, even if the contact surface would be smaller due to the bulges 18.

Overall, the procedure is as follows if the object 26 is to be provided with the cushioning material 10: First, the object 26 is wrapped with the flat element 12. Then the edge section 20a of the planar element 12 is connected to the other edge section 20c of the planar element 12 by means of the releasable adhesive system 22.

In Figure 8 is shown how an object 26 with a cushioning material 10 corresponding to the cushioning material 10 of FIG Figure 4 can be wrapped with two flat elements 12. The two flat elements 12 are still connected to one another in the area of the tear-off area 14. In order to prevent the adhesive strip 24 present there from adhering to the object 26, the longitudinal edge 20d of one flat element 12 is folded over in the area of the tear-off area 14 and thus placed between the object 26 and the adhesive strip 24 of the other flat element 12.

How out Figure 9 As can be seen, the cushioning material 10 in a storage state can comprise a plurality of flat elements 12 releasably connected to one another in a zigzag fold, which is preferably present in the area of the tear-off area 14, which are stored in a container 28 in the form of a stack 29 . In order to remove the cushioning material 10, the container 28 is opened at the top, and the necessary amount of contiguous flat elements 12 is removed by tearing it off along the tear-off area 14.

In particular, if the cushioning material 10 is provided by an automated device, as will be explained below, the supply of cushioning material 10 can be increased in that the lower end of a stack 29 of flat elements 12 of a container 28 with the upper end of the stack 29 of flat elements 12 of an adjacent container 28 is connected, as shown in FIG Figure 10 is shown.

In Figure 11 a first usage scenario of the cushioning material 10 described above in its various variants is shown. A container 28 with cushioning material 10 is on a table 31, as is a container 30 with an object 26 to be packaged. A user 32 can remove the desired amount of flat elements 12 of the cushioning material 10 from the container 28, along the tear-off area 14 from which further Separate the remainder of the cushioning material 10 remaining in the container 28, and use it to wrap the object 26, as is, for example, in the Figures 7 and 8 was shown.

To facilitate use, an automated device 34, for example a conveyor device driven by an electric motor, can also be used to provide the cushioning material 10 to the user 32. Such a second usage scenario is in Figure 12 shown. The automated device 34 is also on the table 29. For the most effective operation possible, the automated device 34 has a user interface (not shown) through which the user can operate the automated device 34.

This user interface can, for example, comprise a foot switch which, when actuated, provides a pre-set amount of flat elements 12, in that it is conveyed by an electric motor and automatically separated from the remaining flat elements 12 along a tear-off area 14 after the end of the conveyance. For this purpose, for example, two driven roller pairs arranged one after the other in the conveying direction can be provided in the automated device 34, between which the cushioning material 10 is conveyed, the roller pair located away from the user 32 being briefly stopped to tear off, whereas the roller pair closest to the user 32 continues to be driven will. However, it is also possible to use a cutting device in order to separate the desired amount of flat elements 12 from the flat elements 12 of the stack 29.

Instead of a foot switch, voice control (microphone), gesture control (image recognition by means of a camera), a touchpad, a classic keyboard, etc. are conceivable as a user interface. In principle, it is also conceivable to use a sensor at the output of the automated device 34 to detect when the user 32 removes or has removed an amount of cushioning material 10, and then automatically providing a new preset amount of cushioning material 10.

Figure 13 FIG. 4 shows a third usage scenario, which corresponds to the second usage scenario from FIG Figure 12 is very similar. It only differs in that the cushioning material 10 is not stored on the table 29, so that the table 29 can be smaller overall. Instead of this In the present case, for example, there are three containers 28 on a pallet 36 on the floor behind the table. The cushioning material in the three containers 28 is connected to one another, as described above in connection with FIG Figure 10 had been explained. It goes without saying that the number of three containers 28 both in Figure 10 as well as in Figure 13 is only exemplary. Of course, a smaller or larger number of containers 28 containing cushioning material 10 is also conceivable, the cushioning material 10 of one container 28 being connected to the cushioning material 10 of the adjacent container 28, so that a very large supply of cushioning material 10 is formed.

Finally, it is basically also conceivable that a flat starting material that does not yet have the bulges is stored in the containers 28, and that the bulges in the flat starting material are only stored when passing through the automated device 34, for example by embossing, heating and / or moistening / drying , etc. can be generated. The tear-off areas 14 can already be present in the starting material, but can likewise also only be generated when passing through the automated device 34. It is also possible to use a cushioning material 10 which does not have any tear-off areas 14 at all and in which the individual flat elements 12 are separated as required, for example by a cutting device. Especially when a flat starting material that does not yet have the bulges is used, the starting material can also be wound on a roll.

Claims (10)

1. Cushioning material (10) for packaging purposes, comprising at least one planar element (12) which has at least one edge portion (20a-d) which delimits the planar element (12), and a cushioning portion (16), the cushioning portion (16) being cushioned and providing a property which is desired for protecting an object (26) to be packaged, and an adhesive system (22) being applied at least in regions to at least one edge portion (20a-d), characterized in that the adhesive system (22) is designed for such a connection to another portion (20a-d) of another planar element (12) or of the same planar element (12), which connection can be released without auxiliary means, i.e. without special heat exposure and without special tools, and non-destructively, i.e. without damaging the cushioning material or the object.
2. Cushioning material (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the releasable adhesive system (22) is designed such that, after release, it can still be used at least one more time for a renewed connection, in particular in that the releasable adhesive system (22) has an adhesive layer having a sticky note adhesive effect, for example a la Post-it®.
3. Cushioning material (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive system (22) comprises a continuous adhesive strip (24) extending along the edge portion (20a-c).
4. Cushioning material (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive system (22) comprises a non-continuous adhesive strip (24a-c) extending along the edge portion (20b) and/or individual adhesive dots (25a-e).
5. Cushioning material (10) according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the planar element (12) is rectangular in plan view, and in that the edge portion, on which the adhesive system (22) is applied, is at least one longitudinal edge portion (20b) and/or at least one transverse edge portion (20a, 20c).
6. Cushioning material (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cushioning portion (16) is made of a paper or cardboard material in which a plurality of bulges (18) is formed.
7. Cushioning material (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that a bulge (18) toward one side of the planar element (12) is adjacent to a bulge (18) toward the other side of the planar element (12).
8. Cushioning material (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the planar element (12) is detachably connected to a further planar element (12), at least in a storage state, by means of a tear-off region (14), in particular a perforation or other material weakening.
9. Cushioning material (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, in a storage state, said material comprises a plurality of planar elements (12) which are detachably connected to one another in a zig-zag fold.
10. Method for cushioning an object (26) with a cushioning material (10) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps:

    a. wrapping the object (26) with a planar element (12) or a plurality of contiguous planar elements (12);

    b. fastening at least one edge portion (20a, 20b) of the planar element (12) or of the planar elements (12) by means of the releasable adhesive system (22), in particular to another edge portion (20c; 20d) of the planar element (12) or of another planar element (12).

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