ES2576527B1 - Modular container - Google Patents

Abstract

Modular container that has several structural components (1, 2, 3, 4) to form a body (10) of the container. One or more of the structural components (1, 2, 3, 4), a digital print (11, 21, 31, 41) and a coating (12, 22, 32, 42) suitable for food contact on the digital print ( 11, 21, 31, 41).

Description

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MODULAR PACK

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a modular container for use in the fruit and vegetable sector.

State of the art

Currently, wooden containers are used to contain fruits or vegetables. These packages are made with MDF boards (medium density wood fiber board) or with plywood boards. These wooden containers use metal elements (staples) to join their different components.

The impression of the components of wooden containers by flexographic machines is known. Optionally a UV varnish is applied on these components that offers a protective layer in addition to giving a greater shine to the pieces on which it is applied.

The use of flexography involves a series of disadvantages / problems in the process of printing / producing the packages. On the one hand, this machinery requires clicks for printing, so there is a fixed cost (clicks) regardless of the number of units to be produced.

In addition, each time the design is changed in the machines, the cliche must be changed and in some occasions to clean some of the machine's bodies if the colors do not match the following impression, so numerous dead times are incurred.

Another problem with known boxes is the inability to make short and customized runs because of the high cost of cliches.

Another possible solution for the inclusion of signs, legends or marks on the packaging is the use of adhesive labels by means of glued paper. However, the cost problems related to the problems of the printed rolls of the coils and the necessary stocks that must be maintained are maintained. Likewise, this type of solution does not behave correctly in scenarios with humidity since the label of the container can be detached.

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On the other hand, the material from which the structural components are constituted also has relevance in the exploitation of the container.

As can be seen, the known packages still present a series of problems that can be solved to provide a container with greater interest for the sector.

Description of the invention

The package of the invention comprises a digital impression directly on the components of the package and a coating on the digital impression, the coating being able to be in contact with food products. This finished product, the package of the invention, allows the boxes to be individually customized, there are no clicks costs, so that the cost of producing the box is substantially lower and in addition it is 100% recyclable.

As can be seen, the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing packages that comprises using a digital printing system to print a previously determined representative sign.

Taking advantage of the perfectly uniform surface of the component of the package on which the digital printing is made, which can be made of wood fiber board, (MDF Medium-Density Fiberboard, HDF High-Density Fiberboard), qualities close to the offset system are achieved.

The advantage of the absence of clicks is added to the quality of the digital impression, which allows to substantially shorten the time between the design and the manufacture of the package and the possibility of making short production series and customizing each of the packages (for example numbering the boxes or putting codes for traceability). The elimination of cliches also means the reduction of downtime in the current manufacturing process, where each change of design involves a change of clicks on the different rollers of the machines.

Another novelty concerns the covering of the printed surface with a varnish suitable for food contact to avoid accidental migrations of inks and a possible contamination of the food contained in the box.

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One of the advantages of the package of the invention is that by not using plastic components or paper adhesive labels, the package can be easily recycled, the structural elements that form the container being recyclable, a determining feature for the subsequent recycling of the container.

On the other hand, in addition to digital printing and printing coating, as a novelty, the corners of the container that make up the walls can be made of fiberboard (MDF), replacing the traditional pine corners. This fiber board material together with the digital printing has a synergistic effect on the quality of the printing on the packaging, since the quality achieved by combining the digital printing technique with the fiber board as the support on which the impression, allows to reach some levels of quality in the impression greater than the expected ones.

The replacement of the pine corners, popularly known as tacos, avoids risks and problems with the possible harmful organisms that can be contained in the raw wood, since the current regulations are very demanding with the use of raw wood for wood packaging

As for the bottom of the container, apart from the union with the glue, in order to withstand the entire weight of the product to be contained in the container, grooves are provided as guides inside the box and approximately 1cm from the edge bottom of the corners, to make the bottom or base piece rest in said grooves. Taking advantage of that free distance in the lower part of a first container, a square is formed in each lower corner of the first container, which can accommodate the upper part of a second container on which the first container can be stacked. With this configuration, a stack of packages is achieved by fitting some packages over others, ensuring a blockage in the stacked containers that facilitates the transport of the stacked containers.

In another possible preferred embodiment, the front and sides may lack said grooves.

A basic embodiment of the modular package of the invention is defined in claim 1. A basic embodiment of the manufacturing method of the modular package is defined in claim 10. The dependent claims define additional features of the invention.

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Description of the figures

Figure 1 is a diagram of the package of the invention where a side has been removed.

Figure 2 is a diagram of the side of the invention removed from Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic of a section of a structural component with digital printing and coating.

The numerical references of the elements of the invention are indicated below: Structural components (1,2, 3, 4)

Water-based paint base (13, 23, 33, 43)

Digital printing (11,21,31,41);

Coating (12, 22, 32, 42)

Four corners or Columns (4)

Two heads (1)

Two sides (2)

Base (3)

Body (10)

Grooved (123)

Singing (3 ’)

Distance (d)

Lower edge (12)

Detailed description of the invention

A first aspect of the invention relates to a modular package comprising:

la) a plurality of structural components (1,2, 3, 4) configured to form a body (10) of the container;

where:

lb) a structural component (1,2, 3, 4) comprises:

1 b1) a digital impression (11,21,31,41);

1b2) a coating (12, 22, 32, 42) on digital printing (11,21,31,41).

Optionally, the structural component of the modular package comprises a water-based paint base (13, 23, 33, 43).

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According to other features of the invention:

2. The body (10) has an open box shape and the structural components (1, 2, 3)

They can understand:

2a) two testeros (1); the heads (1) form a front panel and a back panel of the box;

2b) two sides (2) between the heads (1).

2c) a base (3) connected to the ends (1) and sides (2) to form the bottom of the container.

3. The package may comprise:

3a) a plurality of columns (4) connected with a structural component (1, 2, 3) selected from a tester (1), a side (2), the base (3) and combinations thereof. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the columns (4) are connected with a tester (1), a side (2) and the base (3), each column being in a corner of the container; however, there may be columns (4) in other locations of the package, for example by connecting a tester (1) with a side (2), a tester (1) with the base (3), a side (2) with the base (3).

4. The sides (2) may comprise a groove (123) configured to accommodate a edge (3 ') of the base (3).

5. The heads (1) may comprise a groove (123) configured to accommodate a edge (3 ’) of the base (3).

6. The grooving (123) can be at a distance (d) from a lower edge (12) of the front (1) or lateral (2).

7. A plurality of the structural components (1, 2, 3, 4) can be the same

material. In a usual embodiment the testers (1) and laterals (2) are of the same material.

In other embodiments the testers (1) and lateral (2) and the base (3) are of the same material.

8. A plurality of the structural components (1, 2, 3, 4) can be of a material

selected from wood fiber board, MDF, HDF and combinations thereof.

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9. The structural components (1,2, 3, 4) and the coating (12, 22, 32, 42) may be

configured to be suitable for food contact

10. A second aspect of the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a container

modular as described above comprising:

10a) carry out the application of a water-based paint base (13,23,33,43) on a structural component (1,2, 3, 4);

10b) make a digital impression (11, 21, 31, 41) on the basis of water-based paint (13,23,33,43)

10c) apply a coating suitable for food contact (12, 22, 32, 42) on digital printing (11,21,31,41).

11. The manufacturing method may also include:

11a) assemble the structural components (1, 2, 3, 4) to form a body (10) of the container.

Claims (9)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 1. Modular container comprising a plurality of structural components (1,2, 3, 4) configured to form an open box shaped body (10); and whose structural components (1,2, 3) comprise: - two testers (1) that make up a front panel and a back panel of the box; - two sides (2) between the heads (1), - a base (3) connected to the ends (1) and sides (2) to form the bottom of the container, characterized by: A structural component (1,2, 3, 4) comprises: - a water-based paint base (13, 23, 33, 43), - a digital print (11,21,31,41), - a coating suitable for food contact (12, 22, 32, 42) on digital printing (11,21,31,41). 2. Modular container according to claim 1 characterized in that it comprises a plurality of columns (4) connected with a structural component (1,2, 3) selected from a tester (1), a side (2), the base (3) and combinations thereof. 3. Modular container according to claim 1 characterized in that the sides (2) can comprise a groove (123) configured to accommodate a edge (3 ') of the base (3). 4. Modular container according to claim 1 characterized in that the heads (1) comprise a groove (123) configured to accommodate a edge (3 ') of the base (3). 5. Modular container according to claim 3 and 4 characterized in that the grooving (123) is at a distance (d) from a lower edge (12) of the heads (1) or lateral (2). 6. Modular container according to claim 1 characterized in that a plurality of the structural components (1,2, 3, 4) is of the same material. 7. Modular container according to claim 1 characterized in that a plurality of the structural components (1,2, 3, 4) is of a material selected from wood fiber board, MDF, HDF and combinations thereof. 10 8. Method of manufacturing a modular container according to any of claims 1-7 characterized in that it comprises: - apply a paint base to water (13, 23, 33, 43) on the structural component (1,2, 3, 4) before making a digital impression (11,21,31,41), - make an impression digital (11,21,31,41) on a structural component (1,2, 3. 4); - apply a coating (12, 22, 32, 42) suitable for food contact on digital printing (11,21,31,41). 9. Method of manufacturing a modular container according to claim 8 characterized in that it comprises assembling the structural components (1,2, 3, 4) to form a body (10) of the container.