FR2670463A1 - Modular and stackable packaging assembly made of a semi-rigid material - Google Patents

Abstract

This assembly comprises: - a first element or hopper (1) comprising two sections forming enclosures with identical rectangular cross-sections, of which the respective walls (7) are in alignment with each other and are joined in pairs by a concertina fold (10, 11) protruding inward of the enclosures; - a second element or junction element (2), itself consisting of an enclosure with a rectangular cross-section, which is capable of fitting into those of the first element by bearing on the rims formed by the inward-protruding folds of the first element and passing over the enclosure in which it is engaged; - a mobile panel (3) forming a hatch, capable of sliding through a cut-out formed in the wall (7) of one of the enclosures of the first element.

Description

MODULAR AND STACKABLE PACKAGING ASSEMBLY IN ONE
SEMI-RIGID MATERIAL.

 The present invention relates to a modular and stackable assembly for packaging in a semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard. More specifically, it relates to such a modular assembly capable of receiving a determined quantity of various articles to form, with similar modules, a palletizable stack which can be delivered in this form to recipients of the conditioned objects.

 Various assemblies of this type have already been proposed in the art, but they are generally complex and difficult to set up in volume and / or to assemble by the users themselves.

 The present invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing such modular assemblies which are easy to assemble by the users themselves, without special tools, even when they are very large.

To this end, the invention relates to a modular and stackable assembly for packaging in a semi-rigid material, characterized in that it comprises
- A first element or hopper comprising two parts forming belts with identical rectangular sections, the respective walls of which are in line with one another and which are joined together in pairs by an accordion fold projecting inwards from the belts
a second element or junction element, itself consisting of a rectangular section belt capable of fitting into those of the first element by resting on the edges formed by the folds projecting inside the first element and beyond the belt in which he is engaged
a movable plate forming a hatch, capable of sliding through a cut-out in the wall of one of the belts of the first element, resting on the flanges formed by the folds projecting inside this element, to close or release the passage between the two belts through the opening defined by said flanges.

 Advantageously, the first element or hopper element will be produced from a single sheet of cardboard or corrugated card judiciously cut, folded and assembled by gluing.

 Similarly, the second element or joining element will come from a single panel of cardboard or corrugated cardboard judiciously cut, folded and assembled by gluing. Preferably, this second element will include walls doubled externally along substantially their entire surface by a flap, adjoining the associated wall by a fold line perpendicular to the edges of the belt constituting this element and folded against this wall.

 Modular assemblies of this type can be easily assembled to form a vertical stack of large volume by interposing a junction element between the successive elements forming hoppers of the stack, this junction element being engaged in the upper belt of the element forming hopper located below it in the stack and in the lower belt of the hopper element which is superimposed on it.

 To support such a stack and facilitate its handling, the invention also provides for using a pallet on which is fixed a support element of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, comprising a portion forming a belt of rectangular section in which an element can fit junction according to the invention.

 Preferably, the pallet will be devoid of legs in its central part and the support element fixed on this pallet will be devoid of bottom and / or will include a removable bottom constituted by a plate forming a movable hatch, similar to that of the modular elements and mounted sliding in an opening at the base of a side wall of the belt of the support element.

The accompanying drawings, which are not limiting, illustrate an embodiment of the invention. On these drawings
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of various elements of the modular assembly according to the invention
Figure 2 is a perspective view which illustrates their assembly
Figure 3 shows a stack of modular assemblies according to the invention ready for use.

 As can be seen more clearly in FIG. 1, the modular assembly in accordance with the invention comprises an element 1 forming a hopper, a connecting element 2 and a movable plate 3 forming a hatch, capable of closing the hopper 1 transversely. These elements are intended to be assembled to form a stack, as will be seen below, and, at the base of the stack, is arranged a handling pallet 4, on which is fixed a support element 5 of cardboard or corrugated cardboard.

 The element 1 forming a hopper comes from a single panel of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, which has been cut, folded and glued to define an upper belt with a square section, formed by four walls 7 perpendicular to each other, a lower belt with a section square identical to the section of the previous one and formed by four walls 9 perpendicular to each other and situated in the extension of the walls 7. The walls 7 and 9 are connected together by flaps 10 and 11, articulated between them and on the walls by parallel fold lines which fold inwards towards the inside of the element 1, coming to apply one against the other, as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The projecting flanges which are thus formed at the interior of the element y defining a passage 8, which communicates the upper part and the lower part of the element 1. The hatch 3, slidably mounted through an opening 12 formed at the base of one e of the upper walls 7, makes it possible to close or free the passage 8.

 The junction element 2 is also from a single panel of corrugated cardboard, which has been cut, folded and assembled by gluing to form a square section belt defined by four walls 13 perpendicular to each other, hinged together by fold lines such as 14 and doubled externally by flaps 15, articulated along the upper edge of these walls 13 by a fold line perpendicular to the lines 14, and folded against the external face of the walls 13. The flaps 15 are laterally adjoining two by two by tabs 16.

 It is understood that it is thus possible, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, to stack alternately hoppers 1 and connecting elements 2, by engaging the top of each element 2 in the lower belt of the hopper 1 which it is immediately higher in the stack and by engaging its base in the upper belt of the element 2 which it surmounts in the stack.

 The folds formed by the flaps 10 and 11 flatten themselves under the weight of the packaged objects, the packaging then takes the form shown in FIG. 3.

 At the base of the stack will be placed the pallet 4 carrying the support element 5. This comprises walls 18 perpendicular to each other and defining a square section belt in which an element 2 can fit, and flaps 19 adjoining by fold lines on the walls 2 and applied and glued or stapled against the upper face of the pallet 4.

 Advantageously, as shown, the central part of this pallet will be cleared, so as to free a passage corresponding to the opening defined by the flaps 19. A hatch similar to the hatches 3, slidably mounted in an opening 20 formed at the base of the walls 8, will close or release this opening.

 The modular assemblies according to the invention may have large dimensions and will thus make it possible by stacking a plurality of identical assemblies to produce a large volume system for the transport and handling of various objects.

Claims (5)

 1- Modular and stackable packaging unit made of a semi-rigid material, characterized in that it comprises  - A first element or hopper (1) comprising two parts forming belts with identical rectangular sections, the respective walls (7,9) of which are in line with one another and which are joined in pairs by a fold (10,11 ) in accordion protruding towards the inside of the belts  - A second element or junction element (2), itself consisting of a rectangular section belt capable of fitting into those of the first element by resting on the edges formed by the folds projecting inside the first element and beyond the belt in which it is engaged  - A movable plate (3) forming a hatch, capable of sliding through a cutout (12) formed in the wall (7) of one of the belts of the first element, resting on the edges formed by the folds projecting from the inside this element, to close or free the passage between the two belts through the opening defined by said flanges.  2- An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the first element (1) and the second element (2) are produced respectively from a single panel of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, suitably cut, folded and assembled by gluing or stapling.  3- assembly according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the junction element comprises walls (13) doubled externally along substantially their entire surface by a flap (15) adjoining the associated wall by a line of folding perpendicular to the edges of the belt constituting this element and folded against this wall.  4- A packaging device consisting of assemblies according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises a pallet (4) on which is fixed a support element (5) of cardboard or corrugated cardboard, comprising a belt portion with rectangular section into which a junction element (15) can fit.  5- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the central part of the pallet (4) is released, while the support (5) fixed on this pallet is devoid of bottom, a plate forming a hatch possibly being slidably mounted in a opening (20) formed at the base of one of the side walls (18) forming the belt of the support element (5).