EP3710378B1

EP3710378B1 - Package for stacked articles and method for its manufacture

Info

Publication number: EP3710378B1
Application number: EP18804140.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mauro Cattani
Original assignee: TMC SpA
Current assignee: TMC SpA
Priority date: 2017-11-14
Filing date: 2018-11-09
Publication date: 2022-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2038-11-09
Also published as: EP3710378A1; WO2019097371A1; US20210086982A1

Description

Technical field

This invention relates to a package for containing and picking up stacked articles and a method for producing the package, which make it possible to reduce the production costs of the package and, in any case, obtain a package which is sufficiently rigid to keep the shape of the above-mentioned package.

Background art

Known in the prior art is a first type of package for the containing and picking up of stacked articles. The first type comprises a carton which defines a space inside the carton for positioning a stack of the articles. Such packages are provided with an opening made in one of the portions of the carton, from which it is possible to pick up the articles of the stack. Such packages allow the shape of the space to be maintained, and therefore, in general, the shape of the package, even as the number of articles picked up increases (and hence the number left in the package decreases), thanks to the stiffness of the carton. The need to make this carton with material, such as cardboard, which must give this stiffness makes this type of package extremely expensive and complex to be produced. In effect, the carton must completely wrap around the stack, so a large quantity of the material is required.
Known in the prior art is also a second type of package for the containing and picking up of stacked articles. The second type is made with a flexible film which completely wraps around the stack of articles and which has a cut on a portion of the film, from which it is possible to pick up the articles of the stack. The second type of package, even though extremely economical, has the problem of losing its shape as the package gradually empties.
Patent Application US2003/0146231 discloses a package of the second type, which has the features of the preamble of appended claim 1.
Patent Application EP2368811 discloses a third type of package. This third type includes a supporting insert extending along the side faces of the package, but it is not adequately stiffened on the upper face of the package, due to the presence, in the supporting insert, of a large aperture for allowing the picking up of the article, which extends from one side to the other of the upper face and also partly on the same lateral faces.

Disclosure of the invention

The aim of this disclosure is to provide a package for the containing and picking up of stacked articles, which allows an excellent rigidity of the package to be obtained in terms of keeping the shape of the package and which can be made with costs lower than the packages which currently involve the presence of a carton.
This aim is achieved by means of a package having the characteristics described in any of the appended claims intended to protect the package.
A further aim of this disclosure is to provide a method for producing a package for the containing and picking up of stacked articles, which allows a package to be obtained which has excellent rigidity of the package in terms of keeping the shape of the package and which can be carried out with costs lower than the methods which are currently used for producing the packages which currently involve the presence of a carton.
This further aim is achieved by means of a method having the features of the appended claim intended to protect the method.
The features of a package according to this invention and of a method according to this invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of respective embodiments of the package according to this disclosure and of the method according to this disclosure, given by way of non-limiting examples of the concepts claimed.

Brief description of drawings

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stack of articles which can be contained in a possible embodiment of a package according to this disclosure;
Figure 2 is a front view of the stack of articles of Figure 1 ;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the stack and of an internal component of a first possible embodiment of the package, whilst the internal component adopts an operating position relative to the stack of articles;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the stack and of an internal component of a second possible embodiment of the package, whilst the internal component adopts an operating position relative to the stack of articles;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the first possible embodiment, in which is also shown an external component which adopts an operating position relative to the stack of articles and internal component;
Figure 6 is a transversal cross section of the first embodiment of the package or of the second embodiment of the package.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

In Figure 5 the numeral 1 denotes a first possible embodiment of a package according to this description. The package 1 is for containing and distributing a plurality of articles. The plurality of articles is shown by itself in Figures 1 and 2. Only some of the articles of the plurality are indicated with A.
The articles A may be, for example, made of paper. These articles A may be, for example, tissues. In general, these articles A could be of the "soft tissue" type.
The articles A are stacked in such a way as to form a stack P. The stack P defines an outer surface of the stack P. The outer surface comprises at least an upper face FS. The upper face FS is transversal and/or at right angles to the stacking direction of the articles A. The upper face FS is defined by an upper article, which is labelled A1. The outer surface comprises at least a lower face FI. The lower face FI is transversal and/or at right angles to the stacking direction of the articles A. The lower face FI is located on the opposite side of the upper face FS. The stacking direction of the articles A of the stack P is from the upper face FS to the lower face FI or vice versa.
Those upper face FS and lower face FI are directed by and/or towards mutually opposite sides of the stack, respectively.
The outer surface of the stack P comprises a lateral surface. The lateral surface is positioned around the stacking direction of the articles A. The lateral surface comprises a first lateral face FL1 and a second lateral face FL2. The first lateral face FL1 and the second lateral face FL2 are mutually opposite. Those first lateral face FL1 and second lateral face FL2 are directed by and/or towards mutually opposite sides of the stack, respectively. Those first lateral face FL1 and second lateral face FL2 are disposed transversely and /or perpendicularly with respect to the upper face FS and/or the lower face FI.
The package 1 comprising a stiffening structure 11. The structure 11 is shown in perspective in Figure 3. The package 1 comprises a piece of film 12. The film may be plastic film. The piece 12 surrounds the stack P and the structure 11. This piece 12 surrounds the stack P and the structure 11 in such a way as to close the package 1. The piece 12 is visible in Figure 5 in a perspective view and in Figure 6 in a transversal cross section. The piece 12 surrounds practically completely the stiffening structure 11 and the stack P. In Figure 5 the structure 11 is visible through the piece 12. The stiffening structure 11 could be considered a stiffening core of the package 1.
The stiffening structure 11 might comprise a sheet. The sheet could comprise, for example, cardboard, or in any case a material such as to impart to the stiffening structure 11 a certain stiffness for the purposes which will be described in detail below.
The stiffening structure 11 comprises a covering portion 110. The covering portion 110 is positioned to cover at least partly the upper face FS of the stack P. The structure 11 comprises at least a first sealing portion 111 and a second sealing portion 112. The first sealing portion 111 is positioned to cover at least partly the first lateral face FL1 of the outer surface of the stack P. The first sealing portion 111 is preferably positioned adjacent to the first lateral face FL1 of the stack P. The second sealing portion 112 is positioned to cover at least partly the second lateral face FL2 of the stack P. The second sealing portion 112 preferably is positioned adjacent to the second lateral face FL2 of the stack P.
Those first sealing portion 111 and second sealing portion 112 are disposed transversely and /or perpendicularly with respect to the covering portion 110.
The piece 12 comprises a first portion 121 of the film 12 and a second portion 122 of the piece 12. The first portion 121 of the piece 12 is at least partly superposed on the covering portion 110. The first portion 121 of the piece 12 is positioned preferably adjacent to the covering portion 110 and/or in contact with the covering portion 110. The second portion 122 of the piece 12 is positioned to cover the lower face FI of the stack P. The second portion 122 of the piece 12 is positioned preferably adjacent to the lower face FI of the stack P and/or contact with the lower face FI of the stack P. The first portion 121 of the piece 12 and the covering portion 110 belonging to the stiffening structure 11 are positioned so that the stack P, along the stacking direction of the articles A in the stack P, is positioned between the second portion 122 of the piece 12 and the covering portion 110.
The first portion of the piece 121 and the covering portion 110 belonging to the structure 11 are mutually superposed in such a way as to define an upper wall of the package 1.
The second portion 122 defines a lower wall of the package 1.
The lower wall is opposite the upper wall.
The stacking direction is arranged from the lower wall to the upper wall or vice versa.
The piece 12, in cooperation at least partly with the sealing portions 111 and 112 of the structure 11, also defines the other walls of the package 1. In effect, the piece 12 completely wraps around the structure 11 in such a way as to also cover the sealing portions 111 and 112.
The first sealing portion 111 extends starting from the covering portion 110. The second sealing portion 112 extends starting from the covering portion 110 and on the opposite side of the first sealing portion 111. The first sealing portion 111 and the second sealing portion 112 extend, starting from this covering portion 110, towards the second portion 122 of the piece 12. The first sealing portion 111 and the second sealing portion 112 extend starting from the covering portion 110 and, along a direction parallel to the direction of stacking, towards the lower face FI of the stack P. In this way, the second portion 122 of the piece 12 and the structure 11 define between them an inner space V of the package 1. The stack P is positioned in this space V. The space V is defined between the covering portion 110 belonging to the structure 11, the first sealing portion 111 belonging to the structure, the second sealing portion 112 belonging to the structure 11, and the second portion 122 of the piece 12.
The package 1 defines in use a system for picking up 13 these articles A. The picking up system 13 comprises an opening 131. The opening 131 is made in the stiffening structure 11. The opening 131 is made in the covering portion 110 belonging to the stiffening structure 11. The picking up system 13 comprises a weakening 132. The weakening is made in the piece 12. The weakening is made preferably in the first portion 121 of the piece 12.
The opening 131 is completely made in and through the covering portion 110. The opening 131 is completely delimited by the covering portion 110. The opening 131 is completely located on that covering portion 110. The aperture is completely located on the upper wall of the package.
The piece 12 and the stiffening structure 11 are positioned in such a way that the opening 131 and the weakening 132 allow a progressive passage of the upper article A1 from the space V to an environment outside the package 1. In Figure 6 the upper article A1 can be considered as shown whilst it is subject to the progressive passage. This passage is to be considered through the opening 131 and the weakening 132. This possibility for the passage of the upper article A1 from the inner space V to the outside environment through the opening 131 and the weakening 132 allows a user to pick up the article A1 from the package 1. The package 1 is configured so that, once the user has performed the picking up, the article which, with reference to the stacking direction, was previously beneath the upper article A1, becomes itself the "new" upper article, since this will be the article which will now define the upper face FS.
The stiffening structure 11 and the piece 12 are mutually arranged in such a way that the opening 131 and the weakening 132 are mutually superposed and/or in such a way that the opening 131 and the weakening 132 are in communication with each other, so as to allow the passage.
The weakening 132 is deformable in such a way as to define an open section designed to allow the passage. The open section is created by the deformation of the weakening 132 which is in turn caused by the action of the user aimed at carrying out the picking up. This action may be an action with which the user pulls the upper article A1 from the inner space V towards the environment outside the package 1.
In Figure 6 the weakening 132 is indicated on the edge of the open section.
The opening 131 is indicated in Figures 5 and 6 on its edge.
The weakening 132 preferably comprises a cut. The cut is shown as a line in Figure 5. The package 1 is configured so that the cut 132 can hold in place the upper article A1 in a picking up position. When it adopts the picking up position, the upper article A1 is located through the opening 131 and the weakening 132. When it adopts the picking up position, the upper article A1 protrudes partly into the outside environment, in such a way that the upper article A1 is ready to allow the user to carry out the picking up. In Figure 6 the position of the upper article A1, even though it can be considered to be a position adopted by the upper article A1 during the above-mentioned passage from the inner space V to the outside environment, may be considered also as the picking up position. In effect, in the position of Figure 6, if the user is not performing the picking up by pulling outside the upper article A1, the upper article A1 is maintained in position by a retaining action exerted by the cut 132. It should be noted, however, that the cut 132, in Figure 6, is shown for clarity in a spaced apart configuration, as if it were elastically deformed under the action of the user who pulls upper article A1 outside.
The picking up of the upper article A1 by the user can be carried out, if the upper article A1 protrudes into the outside environment, without the need for insertion of the user's hand in the space V.
The picking up, if the upper article A1 does not protrude into the outside environment, could be performed by inserting the user's hand in the inner space V and through the cut 132 and the opening 131.
The package 1 is configured so that the structure 11 can exert an action opposing the reduction of the above-mentioned space V where the stack P is positioned. This reduction of the space V could otherwise occur, due to the flexibility of the piece 12, following the picking up from the package 1 of the articles A of the stack P. Thus, the structure 11 stiffens the package 1 with regard to maintaining the shape and/or the size of the inner space V where the stack P of the articles A is positioned. This action opposing the reduction of the space V may be considered a stiffening action. The stiffening action in particular opposes a reduction in the space V which could correspond to a potential moving towards each other of the lower wall of the package and the upper wall of the package, which are the walls transversal to and/or at right angles to the stacking direction.
The package 1 is configured so that the first sealing portion 111 and the second sealing portion 112 apply the stiffening action. The sealing portions therefore contribute to maintaining or holding the shape of the space V and/or to oppose the reduction in the space V which could occur following the reduction of the number of articles A.
The package 1 is configured so that the first sealing portion 111 and the second sealing portion 112 apply the stiffening action by means of a contact between the first sealing portion 111 belonging to the structure 11 and the second portion 122 of the piece 12 and a contact between the second sealing portion 112 belonging to the structure 11 and the same second portion 122 of the piece 12. The package 1 is configured so that the stiffening action is parallel to the stacking direction of the articles A thanks to the positioning of the first sealing portion 111 and of the second sealing portion 112 which are positioned laterally relative to the stack P and along a direction parallel to the stacking direction, which extend in a direction from the upper face FS to the lower face FI of the stack P, and which are in contact with the second portion 122 of the piece 12, which is the portion of the piece in contact with the lower face FI of the stack P. The sealing portions 111 and 112 may be considered to be lateral and inner stiffening wings of the package 1, whilst the covering portion 110 may be considered to be an internal stiffening upper face of the package 1.
The aperture 131 is located and /or made completely in the internal stiffening upper face of the package 1. Therefore, the opening 131 is completely delimited by said internal stiffening upper face of the package 1.
The fact that the aperture 131 is located and made completely in the covering portion 110, and therefore in said internal stiffening upper face of the package 1, as in the illustrated embodiment, allows for an optimal stiffening effect caused by the stiffening wings 121 and 122, while guaranteeing an efficient use of the picking up system 13.
The first sealing portion 111 extends starting from a first sector 110a of an outer edge of the covering portion 110. The first sealing portion 111 extends starting from the first sector 110a of the edge of the covering portion 110 up to a free edge 111a of the first sealing portion 111. The first sealing portion 111 extends from the first sector 110a of the edge of the covering portion 110 towards the second portion 122 of the piece 12. The second sealing portion 112 extends starting from a second sector 110b of the edge of the covering portion 110. The second sealing portion 112 extends starting from the second sector 110b of the edge of the covering portion 110 up to a free edge 112a of the second sealing portion 112. The first sector 110a of the edge of the covering portion 110 is opposite the second sector 110b of the edge of the covering portion 110. The above-mentioned contact between the first sealing portion 111 and the second portion 122 of the piece 12 is a contact between the free edge 111a of the first sealing portion 111 and the second portion 122 of the piece 12. The above-mentioned contact between the second sealing portion 112 and the second portion 122 of the piece 12 is a contact between the free edge 112a of the second sealing portion 112 and the second portion 122 of the piece 12.
Figure 4 shows a structure 11' which may belong to a second possible embodiment of a package according to this description. The structure 11' is different from the structure 11 since the structure 11' comprises at least one further covering portion 113 positioned to cover at least partly a further outer lateral face FL3 of the stack P. The further portion 113 of the stiffening structure 11 extends starting from the covering portion 110 of the stiffening structure 11 and towards the second portion 122 of the piece 12, in such a way that the space V is also defined by the further portion 113.
The structure 11' could also comprise a pair of further portions, among which the one labelled 113. The further portions are positioned to cover at least partly two outer lateral faces of the stack P, among which the further lateral face FL3.
According to a second aspect, this disclosure relates to a method for producing a package. This method can be used for producing a package according to this disclosure, for example the package 1.
The method comprises a step of preparing the stack P.
The method comprises a step of preparing the stiffening structure 11.
The method comprises a step of preparing the piece 12.
The method comprises a step of obtaining the opening 131.
The method comprises a step of obtaining the weakening 132.
The method comprises a step of positioning the covering portion 110. The step of positioning the covering portion 110 is performed in such a way that the covering portion 110 is positioned to cover at least partly the outer upper face FS of the stack P.
This method comprises a step of positioning the two sealing portions 111 and 112. The step of positioning the sealing portions 111 and 112 is performed in such a way that the sealing portions 111 and 112 are positioned to cover at least partly the two lateral faces FL1 and FL2, respectively.
The step of positioning the sealing portions 111 and 112 is performed by folding the first sealing portion 111 relative to the covering portion 110 and around the above-mentioned first sector 110a of the outer edge of the covering portion 110. The step of positioning the sealing portions 111 and 112 is performed by folding the second sealing portion 112 relative to the covering portion 110 and around the above-mentioned second sector 110b of the outer edge of the covering portion 110.
The method comprises a step of wrapping the piece 12 around the stack P and the structure 11. The step of wrapping the piece 12 is performed in such a way that the piece 12 closes the package 1.
The step of positioning the covering portion 110 and the step of positioning the sealing portions 111, 112 are performed in such a way that the sealing portions 111, 112 extend starting from the covering portion 110, respectively on opposite sides of the covering portion 110. The step of positioning the covering portion 110 and the step of positioning the sealing portions 111, 112 are performed in such a way that the sealing portions 111, 112 extend towards the second portion 122 of the piece 12, so that the second portion 122 of the piece 12 and the structure 11 define between them a space V inside the package 1 and the stack P is positioned in the space V.
The step of wrapping the piece 12 is performed in such a way that a first portion 121 of the piece 12 is positioned superposed on the covering portion 110 of the stiffening structure 11 and a second portion 122 of the piece 12 is positioned to cover the lower outer face FI of the stack.
The steps of positioning the covering portion 110 and wrapping the piece 12 are performed in such a way that the opening 131 and the weakening 132 are positioned in such a way as to allow a progressive passage of the upper article A1 from the space V inside the package 1 to an environment outside the package 1 and through the opening 131 and the weakening 132, in order that a user can pick up the upper article A1 from the package 1.
The step of positioning the covering portion 110, the step of positioning the sealing portions 111 and 112, and the step of wrapping the piece 12 could be performed at least partly simultaneously.
A package according to this disclosure is particularly advantageous for containing and picking up by the user a stack of folded articles. The package is made with an internal semi-rigid component, which is the structure 11, and an external flexible component, which is the piece 12.
In this way, the package according to this disclosure makes it possible to reduce the overall cost of the package and, at the same time, to maintain the shape of the package even when the articles reduce in number due to their gradual picking up.

Claims

A package (1) for containing and distributing a plurality of stacked articles (A) in such a way as to form a stack (P) surrounded by a piece of plastic film (12), characterized in that the package comprises a stiffening structure (11) and said piece of plastic film (12) surrounds the stack (P) and the structure (11) in such a way as to close the package (1), wherein:
- the stiffening structure (11) comprises a covering portion (110) positioned to cover at least partly an upper outer face (FS) of the stack and two sealing portions (111, 112) positioned to cover at least partly two mutually opposite lateral faces (FL1, FL2) of the stack (P) respectively, the upper face (FS) being defined by at least one upper article (AS) of the stack (P);

- the piece (12) comprises a first portion (121) positioned superposed on the covering portion (110) and a second portion (122) of the piece (12) positioned to cover a lower outer face (FI) of the stack (P);

- the package (1) forms, in use, a system (13) for picking up the articles, the picking up system (13) comprising an opening (131) made in the covering portion (110) and a weakening (132) made in the first portion (121) of the piece (12),
the sealing portions (111, 112) extending from the covering portion (110), respectively on opposite sides of the covering portion (110), and towards the second portion (122) of the piece (12), in such a way that the second portion (122) of the piece (12) and the structure (11) define between them a space (V) inside the package, the stack (P) being positioned in the space (V);
wherein the opening (131) and the weakening (132) are positioned in such a way as to allow a progressive passage of the upper article (A1) from the space (V) to an environment outside the package (1) and through the opening (131) and the weakening (132), in order that a user can pick up the upper article (A1) from the package (1);
- the first portion (121) of the piece (12) and the covering portion (110) belonging to the structure (11) are mutually superposed in such a way as to define an upper wall of the package (1);

- the sealing portions (111) and (112) are lateral and inner stiffening wings of the package (1), and the covering portion (110) is an internal stiffening upper face of the package (1);

- each of the sealing portions (111; 112) extends from a respective sector (110a; 110b) of an outer edge of the covering portion (110) up to a respective free edge (111a, 112a) of the same sealing portion (111; 112), the respective sector (110a; 110b) being opposite the respective sector (110b; 110a) from which extends the other (112; 111) of the sealing portions (111, 112), and wherein

- the opening (131) is completely made through the covering portion (110), in such a way to be completely delimited by the covering portion (110), so that said opening (131) is located completely on said covering portion (110) and therefore on said upper wall of the package (1).
The package (1) according to claim 1, wherein the weakening (132) is deformable in such a way as to define an open section designed to allow the passage.
The package (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening (131) and the weakening (132) are mutually superposed in such a way as to be in communication to allow the passage.
The package (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the package (1) is configured so that the structure (11) can exert an action opposing the reduction of the space (V) which could otherwise occur, due to the flexibility of the piece (12), following the picking up from the package (1) of the articles (A) of the stack (P).
The package (1) according to claim 4, wherein the respective free edges (111a, 112a) of the sealing portions (111, 112) make contact with the second portion (122) of the piece (12) in such a way as to exert the opposing action.
The package (1) according to claim 5, wherein the structure (11) comprises at least a further portion (113) positioned to cover at least partly a further outer lateral surface (FL3) of the stack (P), the further portion (113) of the stiffening structure (11) extending from the covering portion (110) of the stiffening structure (11) and towards the second portion (122) of the piece (12), in such a way that the space (V) is also defined by the further portion (113).
The package (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weakening (132) comprises a cut, the package (1) being configured so that the cut can hold in position the upper article (A1) in a pick-up position wherein the upper article (A1) is situated through the opening (131) and the weakening (132), to protrude partly in the outside environment, in such a way that the upper article (A1) is ready for this picking up.
The package (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weakening (132) is a cut.
A method for producing a package (1) for containing and distributing a plurality of stacked articles (A) in such a way as to as define a stack (P) of the articles (A) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:
- a step of preparing the stack (P), the stack (P) having at least an upper outer face (FS), a lower outer face (FI) and two mutually opposite lateral outer faces (FL1, FL2), the upper face (FS) being defined by at least one upper article (A1) of the stack (P);

- a step of preparing a stiffening structure (11) comprising a covering portion (110) and two sealing portions (111, 112);

- a step of preparing a piece (12) of plastic film;

- a step of obtaining an opening (131) in the covering portion (111);

- a step of obtaining a weakening (132) in the first portion (121) of the piece (12);

- a step of positioning the covering portion (110) to cover at least partly the upper outer face (FS) of the stack (P);

- a step of positioning the two sealing portions (111, 112) to cover at least partly the two lateral faces (FL1, FL2), respectively;

- a step of wrapping the piece (12) around the stack (P) and the structure (11) so as to close the package (1);
wherein:
- the step of positioning the covering portion (110) and the step of positioning the sealing portions (111, 112) are performed in such a way that the sealing portions (111, 112) extend from the covering portion (110), respectively from opposite sides of the covering portion (110), and towards the second portion (122) of the piece (12), so that the second portion of the piece (12) and the structure (11) define between them a space (V) inside the package (1) and the stack (P) is positioned in the space (V);

- the wrapping step is performed in such a way that a first portion (121) of the piece (12) is positioned superposed on the covering portion (111) of the stiffening structure (11) and a second portion (122) of the piece (12) is positioned to cover a lower outer face (FI) of the stack;

- the steps of positioning the covering portion (110) and wrapping the piece (12) are performed in such a way that the opening (131) and the weakening (132) are positioned in such a way as to allow a progressive passage of the upper article (A1) from a space (V) inside the package (1) to an environment outside the package (1) and through the opening (131) and the weakening (132), in order that a user can pick up the upper article (A1) from the package (1).