FR3010706A1 - PACKAGING IN CARDBOARD OR SEMI-RIGID MATERIAL. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging for the protection of objects comprising: - a blank (1) of cardboard or semi-rigid material comprising folding lines (100, 101, 102, 103, 104) defining a plurality of segments (10 to 21), the blank (1) can pass from a flat position to a volume setting position in which the blank (1) forms a box (4) for receiving the objects; - A flexible tube (2) consisting of at least one sheet of flexible material said tube (2) being secured to at least one of the segments (10 to 21) of the blank (1) and resting within the box (4) once the blank (1) folded, the tube (2) being intended to hold in place the objects to be packaged. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a flexible tube.

Description

The invention relates to a packaging made of cardboard or semi-rigid material, pre-cut and grooved, intended, after assembly, to form a box for the protection of objects. The invention relates more particularly to such a package having means for wedging the objects in the interior volume of the box. Such means prevent objects from deteriorating during transport. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a flexible tube, intended to wedge and hold the objects within a rigid or semi-rigid container, such as a box.

It is known in the state of the art a package comprising a cardboard blank on which is glued a flexible sheet for holding the objects in place once the box formed. Such a device is for example known from WO 2011/042707 which describes a package comprising a cardboard blank, grooved, having several segments defining a bottom wall, side walls, and flaps. This package also comprises means for wedging the objects constituted by a sheet of flexible material. This flexible sheet is adhered to all the side walls of the carton blank. Such packaging is intended to be stored flat. The blank is intended to be folded with the sheet, so as to form a box. Once the box formed, this sheet forms a tubular element, of unclosed section, and can be provided protruding from the upper opening of the box. This tubular element is intended to receive within it the objects to wedge. The flexible sheet is then folded back on itself at the upper part of the tubular element to wedge the objects in the box. The flexible sheet may have for this purpose self-sealing parts which are folded together during the wedging of objects to firmly hold the objects in the container. Such a package requires the bonding of the flexible sheet to all side walls of the blank forming the package, the flexible sheet being oriented longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the carton blank. For this purpose and according to the installation illustrated in Figure 7 of WO 2011/042707 a roll of flexible sheet is unwound and the flexible sheet of film is glued along the length of the cardboard blank. According to the findings of the inventor, the width of a reel of sheet of flexible material, in particular self-sealing, currently available is 1200 mm maximum, which limits the application of this method of manufacturing boxes whose height n is not too important.

Another disadvantage of such a manufacturing method is that the installation illustrated in FIG. 7 is hardly compatible with a conventional folder / gluer used to fold and automatically form a box, successively in the manufacture of the package in that such an installation, with a lower production rate, is not able to supply the folder gluer with sufficient speed. Conventionally, in such folder / gluer, the longitudinal axis of each carton blank is disposed transversely to the direction of movement of the conveyor of the folder gluer. In such a folder gluer, the cardboard blanks are moved in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the carton blank. In contrast, and in the manufacturing facility of the package illustrated in Figure 7 of WO 2011/042707, the cardboard blanks are moved in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cardboard blanks. Yet another disadvantage of such a package, according to this state of the art, is that the tubular element formed by the flexible sheet is of non-closed section. In the case of small objects, these are likely to escape between the two longitudinal ends of the flexible sheet, even when the upper free part of the tubular element is folded on itself in order to wedge the objects in the box.

The invention particularly aims to overcome all or parts of the various disadvantages of these known techniques. More specifically, an object of the invention is, at least in a particular embodiment, to provide a package to meet the needs of the market demanding packaging of all sizes.

Another object of the invention is, at least in a particular embodiment, to provide a package of simple design and at the same time reducing manufacturing costs. Another object of the invention is, at least in a particular embodiment, to provide a package whose production is achievable with the current hardware, and in particular compatible with the conventional folder / gluer available on the market. These objectives, as well as others which will appear more clearly later, are achieved according to the invention with the aid of a packaging intended for the protection of objects, comprising: a blank made of cardboard or semi-rigid material comprising fold lines defining a plurality of segments, the blank being able to move from a flat position to a volume-setting position in which the blank forms a box for receiving the objects; - A flexible tube, said tube being secured to at least one of the segments of the blank and resting within the box once folded blank, the tube being intended to hold in place the objects to be packaged. According to one embodiment, the circumference of the tube may advantageously be formed by the assembly of at least two sheets of flexible material secured together by their edges, said assembly edges, the edges being arranged in the same direction as the axis of the tube. Alternatively for flexible tubes of smaller diameter, the circumference of the tube may consist of a single sheet folded on itself. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the sheet or sheets of flexible material are paper, fabric or cardboard. According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, said sheet or sheets have self-sealing portions, in particular on the outer surface of the tube. Advantageously, the segments define at least four side walls, four flaps for forming the bottom wall and four closure flaps for forming the cover. According to a particularly simple approach, the box comprises an opening intended to be closed by means of the closure flaps and in which the tube is oriented according to the height of the box so that an opening of the tube, intended for the insertion of the objects is located at the opening of the box. Possibly at the other end the tube can be closed by welding, gluing, sewing to the other means. According to an advantageous aspect of the invention, the package, namely the blank and tube assembly can be stored in a flat position.

Preferably, the assembly of said at least two sheets of flexible material is achieved by bonding the edges of said sheets, or by sewing or welding (i.e. thermo welding or ultrasonic welding). According to a particular aspect of the invention, said assembly edges of said sheets are folded towards the inside of said tube. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a flexible tube for setting objects in a rigid or semi-rigid container, comprising the following steps: providing at least two coils of a strip of sheets of material flexible; each strip is unrolled, the strips being spaced from one another and parallel to each other; the longitudinal edges of the strips are secured against each other so as to form a flexible tube; - A portion of the formed tube is cut. The portion of flexible tube thus obtained can be secured, in particular by gluing to a blank of cardboard to obtain a package according to the invention. Of course this flexible tube can be used in any other type of rigid or semi-rigid container for the transport of objects. This flexible tube is secured to the container to maintain and stall objects inside the container, placing the objects within the tube and closing the flexible wall of the tube on objects, preferably under tension. According to optional features of the method, taken alone or in combination: - the longitudinal edges are secured by sewing, welding or gluing; - The longitudinal edges are folded inward, before securing the folded longitudinal edges to form said tube; sheets of self-sealing flexible material are used, the adhesive placed on the outer surface only of the sheets and the folded longitudinal edges of the sheets of self-sealing flexible material being secured to each other by means of the adhesive. one of the ends of the flexible tube is closed.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention, given as a simple illustrative and nonlimiting example, and the appended drawings, among which: - Figure 1 illustrates a blank of the package according to the invention in a flat position; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of a sheet of flexible material of a package according to the invention, two of the edges, said assembly edges, are folded inwardly; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a tube of the package according to the invention; FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate various embodiments of a package according to the invention; - Figure 6 is a perspective view of a packaging according to the invention set volume. - Figure 7 is a schematic view illustrating the method of manufacturing a packaging according to the invention and its integration with a folder / gluer conventional.

As previously mentioned, the general principle of the invention is therefore based on the use of a packaging intended for the protection of objects, comprising: a blank 1 made of cardboard or semi-rigid material comprising folding lines 100, 101 , 102, 103, 104 defining several segments 10 to 21, the blank 1 can pass from a flat position to a volume setting position in which the blank 1 forms a box 4 for receiving the objects; - A tube 2, flexible, secured to at least one of the segments 10 to 21 of the blank 1 and resting within the box 4 once the blank 1 folded. According to an illustrated embodiment, the circumference of the tube is formed by the assembly of at least two sheets 200, 201 of flexible material secured together by their edges 3, 3 ', said assembly edge, the edges 3, 3 'being arranged in the same direction as the axis A of the tube 2. For smaller diameter tubes, and according to a non-illustrated embodiment, the circumference of the flexible tube can be obtained by a single sheet of material folded on it itself to form the flexible tube 2. For this purpose two of the edges of the flexible sheet are secured by gluing, welding or sewing. The flexible tube 2, closed section, is intended to receive objects to stall. For this purpose, once the objects placed within the tube, is folded on itself the free part of the tube to close the tube on objects. To improve the seal, the lower end of the tube can be closed by welding, gluing, sewing, only the upper end then providing an opening for the insertion of objects. The circumference of the flexible tube may be constituted by the assembly of two flexible sheets, edge to edge, according to an embodiment illustrated in Figure 3. Of course, especially for large packages, it is also possible to use more than two sheets to form the circumference of the tube, such as for example three or more sheets. The packaging of FIG. 6 is obtained by folding the blank assembly 1 and tube 2 illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Such a package comprises a blank 1 made of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated board and a tube 2 consisting for example of two sheets 200,201 of flexible material secured together, preferably by bonding at their assembly edge. The tube 2 is subjected to at least one of the segments 10 to 21 so as to hold it in place during the folding of the blank 1. According to an embodiment shown in a non-limiting manner in FIG. 1, the blank 1 may comprise four side walls formed by the segments 10 to 13, a bottom wall and a closure wall each formed respectively by four flaps 14 to 17 and four flaps 18 to 21, arranged on either side of the four side walls 10 to 13. The flaps 14 to 17 and 18 to 21 are movable around the fold line 101 and the fold line 100, said fold lines 100, 101 preferably being oriented along the longitudinal axis of the cardboard blank. The side walls 10 to 13 are hinged to each other by fold lines 102, 103, 104 disposed at the edges of the side walls, and oriented perpendicularly to the fold lines 100 and 101 of the flaps. The flaps 14 to 17 and 18 to 21 are materialized by blanks D of the cardboard blank extending the fold lines 102, 103 and 104, on either side of the side walls 10 to 13.

According to a particular embodiment, not limited to FIG. 1, at least one of the segments 13 comprises a fastening flap 22, this fastening flap being intended to cooperate with the segment 10 of the lateral wall opposite the segment 13. The fixing flap 22 may for example be glued or stapled so that the blank 1 remains box-shaped 4. The flaps 14 to 17 forming the bottom wall are intended to be fixed. between them, for example by gluing, on the upper face of one of the flaps. The segments 10 to 13 forming the side walls of the box 4 are generally in the rectangular shape, their height being identical and the length may vary depending on the desired size of the package. Furthermore, the height of the flaps 14 to 17 and the flaps 18 to 21 is smaller than that of the segments 10 to 13, generally twice as small.

As can be seen in Figures 4 and 5, the sheets 200, 201 of flexible material forming the tube 2 are of rectangular shape. In order to form the tube 2, the sheets 200 and 201 are secured together by their assembly edges 3 and 3 ', the edges possibly being folded inwards in order to facilitate the assembly of the sheets. The joining edges can be secured by gluing, welding (i.e. thermo welding or ultrasonic welding). According to the invention, the sheets 200, 201 may for example be manufactured from paper, fabric or flexible cardboard. According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the sheets 200, 201 may have self-sealing portions. The self-sealing portions have the function of ensuring the manual closure of the tube on objects to stall. For this purpose one wrinkles and folds on itself the upper part of the flexible tube on objects to wedge. The sheets can be made of a self-sealing flexible material. The self-sealing portions may also facilitate the assembly of the sheets during the formation of the tube 2 by joining their assembly edges. Preferably and as can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, said assembly edges 3, 3 'of said sheets 200, 201 are folded towards the inside of said tube 2. Advantageously, only one of the faces, in particular the outer face, each sheet is self-sealing material such that only the assembly edges 3 and 3 'adhere to each other when folded inwardly. In particular the inner surfaces of the tube are devoid of adhesive portion to prevent sticking. In the case of sheets 200,201 non-self-sealing material, other fastening means such as glue, double-sided adhesive, or hot polyethylene, may be provided to connect the assembly edges 3,3 ' between them. According to one embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 4, the height of the tube 2 may be less than the height of the blank. Alternatively according to another embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 5, the height of the tube 2 may be greater than the height of the blank 1. The dimension of the flexible tube, in a flat position, transversely to the axis of the tube may be equal to or slightly less than twice the length of a side wall. According to one embodiment, the flexible tube is secured, for example by gluing to two consecutive side walls of the cardboard blank. According to another embodiment of the invention, not shown, the blank 1 can receive at least two tubes 2, each tube being preferably secured to one of the segments 10 to 13 forming the side walls of the box 4 For example, one can imagine the following scenario: a first tube subjected to the segment 11, for example of height greater than the height of the segment on which it is subjected, and of width (flat) substantially equivalent to the width of the segment 11 so that the tube rests between the vertical fold lines 102 and 103, and - a second tube subject to the segment 12, identical to the first tube and resting between the vertical folding lines 103 and 104. The use two or more tubes and can compartmentalize the interior of the package while providing a reliable solution for holding objects within the package through the tubes. This also avoids cross contaminations between objects held in the various flexible tubes. Of course other arrangements of the tubes and the use of more than two tubes is possible.

According to one embodiment the flexible tube 2 may be larger than the height of the box so as to exceed the upper opening. The free portion of the tube 2, protruding, can be folded to properly maintain the objects within the package.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the assembly of the sheets of flexible material is made by joining the edges 3, 3 'assembly. Of course the assembly of the sheets to form the tube 2 is not limited to two sheets, but may comprise three or more depending on the needs and size of the package, the edges 3, 3 'of assembly 200,201 sheets being preferably folded towards the inside of the tube 2. Once the tube 2 has been formed, the latter is subjected to at least one of the segments of the blank 1, and preferably to one or more of the segments 10 to 13 forming the side walls of the box 4. The axis of the tube is preferably directed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blank 1.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the box 4 comprises an opening 5 to be closed by means of the flaps 18, 19, 20, 21 closing and wherein the tube 2 is oriented according to the height of the box 4 of such so that an opening 6 of the tube 2, allowing the insertion of objects to stall, is located at the upper opening 5 of the box 4. The other opening of the flexible tube, in the bottom of the box can be optionally closed by gluing, welding or other means. In the context of storing the packages produced, the blank 1 and the flexible tube 2 can be stored in a flat position, the blanks being for example stacked on top of one another.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a flexible tube, intended for the setting of objects in a rigid or semi-rigid container, comprising the following steps: - at least two coils 8, 9 of a strip of sheets 200, 201 of flexible material; each strip is unrolled simultaneously, the strips being spaced from each other and parallel to each other; the longitudinal edges of the strips are secured against each other so as to form a flexible tube 2; - Cut a portion of the tube 2 formed.

The portion of tube may be subject to a blank of cardboard or other semi-rigid material to obtain the packaging according to the invention. Once the tube 2 subject to the blank 1, the assembly can be stored flat, or folded directly by means of a folder gluer 7, conventional to form the package.

Advantageously, as shown in FIG. 7, the direction of travel of the tube during its formation can be directed in the working axis of the folder / gluer 7, and more particularly in the axis of movement of the conveyor of the folder gluer. Of course this portion of tube may be subject to any other container to allow stalling objects in the rigid or semi-rigid container. According to one embodiment of the method, the longitudinal edges are secured by sewing, welding or gluing. According to one embodiment the longitudinal edges are folded inwards, before securing the folded longitudinal edges so as to form said tube. According to one embodiment, sheets 200, 201 of self-sealing flexible material are used, the adhesive disposed on the outer face only of the sheets 200, 201 and the folded longitudinal edges are secured by means of the adhesive of the sheets of flexible self-sealing material. Optionally, one of the ends of the flexible tube is closed, in particular by welding, gluing or sewing. Naturally, other embodiments could have been envisaged by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the claims below.

NOMENCLATURE 1. Flan, 10,11,12,13. Segments forming the side walls, 14,15,16,17. Flaps of the bottom wall, 18,19,20,21. Closure flaps, 100,101. Folding lines (longitudinal), 102,103,104. Folding lines (transverse), 2. Flexible tube, 22. Fixing flap, 200,201. Sheets of flexible material, 3,3 '. Edges of the sheet, 4. Box, 5. Opening box, 6. Opening flexible tube, A. Tube axis, D. Cut-outs, 7. Folder / gluer, 8.9. Bobines.20

Claims (15)

REVENDICATIONS1. Packaging for the protection of objects comprising: - a blank (1) of cardboard or semi-rigid material comprising folding lines (100, 101, 102, 103, 104) defining a plurality of segments (10 to 21), the blank (1) able to move from a flat position to a volume setting position in which the blank (1) forms a box (4) for receiving the objects; - A flexible tube (2) consisting of at least one sheet of flexible material said tube (2) being secured to at least one of the segments (10 to 21) of the blank (1) and resting within the box (4) once the blank (1) folded, the tube (2) being intended to hold in place the objects to be packaged. 2. Packaging according to claim 1 wherein the circumference of the flexible tube is formed by the assembly of at least two sheets (200, 201) of flexible material secured to each other by their edges (3, 3 '), said edges d assembly, the edges (3, 3 ') being arranged in the same direction as the axis (A) of the tube (2). 3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said sheet or sheets (200, 201) of flexible material are paper, fabric or cardboard. 4. Package according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said sheet or sheets (200, 201) have self-sealing portions. 5. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the segments (10 to 21) define at least four side walls (10, 11, 12, 13), four flaps (14, 15, 16, 17) intended forming the bottom wall and four closure flaps (18, 19, 20, 21) for forming the cover. 6. Packaging according to claim 5, wherein the box (4) comprises an opening (5) to be closed by means of the flaps (18, 19, 20, 21) closing and wherein the tube (2) is oriented according to the height of the box (4) so that the opening (6) of the tube (2) corresponds with the opening (5) of the box (4). 7. Packaging according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the blank assembly (1) and flexible tube (2) can be stored in a flat position. 8. Packaging according to claim 2 alone or in combination with one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the assembly of said at least two sheets (200, 201) of flexible material is made by bonding the edges (3, 3 '). said sheets (200, 201), further by sewing, or welding the joining edges. 9. Packaging according to claim 8, wherein said edges (3, 3 ') for assembling said sheets (200, 201) are folded towards the inside of said tube (2). 10. A method of manufacturing a flexible tube, intended for the setting of objects in a rigid or semi-rigid container, comprising the following steps: - at least two coils (8, 9) of a strip of sheets are provided ( 200, 201) of flexible material; each strip is unrolled, the strips being spaced from one another and parallel to each other; the longitudinal edges of the strips are secured against each other in such a way as to form a flexible tube (2); - Cut a portion of the tube (2) formed; 11. The manufacturing method according to claim 10, wherein the longitudinal edges are secured by sewing, welding or gluing. 12. The manufacturing method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the longitudinal edges are folded inwards, before securing the folded longitudinal edges to form said tube. 13. The manufacturing method according to claim 12, wherein sheets (200, 201) of self-sealing flexible material are used, the adhesive disposed on the outer surface only of the sheets (200, 201) and the folded longitudinal edges are secured by means of adhesive sheets of self-sealing flexible material. 14. Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, wherein one of the ends of the flexible tube is closed. 15. Use of the flexible tube of the package according to one of claims 1 to 9 or obtained according to the method of any one of claims 10 to 14, for holding and wedging objects within a rigid or semi-rigid container such as a box, arranging the objects within the tube (2) and closing the flexible wall of the tube on the objects.