FR3069235A1 - ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING AT LEAST ONE ARTICLE, AND INSTALLATION FOR IMPLEMENTING SUCH AN ASSEMBLY - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly for packaging one or more objects comprising a rigid or semi-rigid packaging (12) and a packing material (13) for wedging the one or more objects in said packaging (12), as well as a method of filling said package (12). According to the invention, said packing material (13) is constituted (or comprises) of balls and / or pieces and / or chips of cork, said packing material (13) providing at least partial thermal insulation of said one or more objects when this or these are packaged in said set.

Description

Assembly and method for packaging at least one article, and installation for implementing such an assembly

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the general field of packaging objects, and more specifically to the wedging and protection of containers such as wine bottles, packaged in packages, in particular cases, boxes or cases.

It also relates to an installation for packaging such objects.

Technological background

Π is known, for shipping bottles containing a liquid food such as wine, to condition these bottles in packaging, inside which are placed separating elements such as braces, in order to keep the bottles apart other.

For example, it is customary for the transport of so-called premium bottles, to package them in raw wooden cases, the aesthetics of which enhance their content. Decorative accessories such as leather or metals can underline the refinement and prestige of their content.

The bottles which are generally lying inside these cases are typically separated by wooden guillotines. The latter also insulate the bottles from the walls forming the bottom and the lid of each box.

However, it can be seen that these bottles are not securely held in position in such cases.

This can result from slight deviations during the manufacture of guillotines or during the assembly of cases or even slight variations between each bottle, even when the latter have the same traditional shape (Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, ... ).

It is therefore observed that the bottom of at least some of these bottles can come into contact with the side wall of the box in which they are packaged.

However, during the shipment of these boxes, each of them is subject to numerous manipulations and transfers, which can lead to contact with other objects or various shocks.

The bottles being in contact or very close to the side wall of their container are then subjected to forces related to these contacts or shocks and transmitted by the side wall without the latter having sufficiently absorbed the energy.

As a bottle is a fragile item, this results in damage, which can go as far as the loss of the liquid contained in the bottle when the bottle is broken.

The sender then exposes himself to complaints, delays in delivery and significant additional costs to replace or compensate his customers.

In addition, we see that a wooden case insufficiently protects, the food liquids contained in the containers it conditions, from external conditions to which it is exposed during its shipment (s).

However, some of these fragile and expensive food liquids can be altered by such exposures, for example, during extreme temperature variations.

There is therefore a pressing need for a packaging assembly of one or more more efficient containers, overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of current packaging.

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to an assembly for packaging one or more objects, simple in its design and in its operating mode, economical and reliable, offering effective protection to this or these objects at the same time against blows, shocks and falls during transport and handling.

An object also of the present invention is such an assembly providing improved protection to food liquids contained in containers stored in such an assembly, against the surrounding conditions of temperature and / or humidity.

Another object of the present invention is a simple, economical and rapid method of packaging at least one object such as a container, adapting to variations in the dimensions of this object.

Another object of the present invention is an installation for the implementation of such a packaging assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates to an assembly for the packaging of one or more objects comprising a rigid or semi-rigid packaging and a filling material for wedging the said object or objects in said packaging.

According to the invention, said filling material consists (or comprises) of balls and / or pieces and / or cork chips, said filling material ensuring at least partial thermal insulation of said object (s) when the latter are packed in said set.

Purely by way of illustration of rigid packaging, there will be a case or a case made of wood or made of hard plastic.

As a purely illustrative example of a semi-rigid packaging, there may be mentioned a cardboard box or case.

Advantageously, the cork lining material is an excellent non-toxic insulation material, since it practically does not allow heat or cold to pass through.

It is also flame retardant, waterproof, rot-proof and recyclable. It does not transmit vibrations and constitutes a sound insulator.

The addition of a cork-based packing material also makes sure that the latter infiltrates all the empty spaces to protect the contents of the packaging in the event of the latter falling. Tests carried out on cases of wine have demonstrated the increased protection provided by cork, the latter effectively absorbing the forces resulting from impacts suffered by these cases.

Thus, the packaging assembly according to the invention manages to isolate each bottle from each wall of the packaging in a satisfactory manner.

Of course, such an assembly can be in the form of a kit with its elements (A) and (B) arranged in isolation, in which (A) is a packaging and (B) is a filling material. The latter can then be arranged in bulk.

Alternatively, this assembly can be in any form at least partially combined. For example, it may be a closed package for packaging at least one object, the interior volume of this package comprising said at least one object, said filling material and possibly one or more elements of separation preferably chosen from a partition, a cross, a guillotine and combinations of these elements. The filling material then advantageously comes to completely fill the free interior space, that is to say the interior space of the packaging left by said at least one object and possibly the separation element or elements.

Different particular embodiments of this packaging unit are conceivable, each having its particular advantages and capable of numerous possible technical combinations:

- said packaging is a packing case, a case or a case, said case, said case or said case being made of wood, cardboard or also made of at least one plastic material, for example plexiglass,

- Said packing material consists of cork balls having an average diameter between 0.5 and 5 mm, preferably between 2 and 4 mm.

This filling material can thus consist of cork microbeads.

- This assembly includes a protective overwrap intended to surround said packaging, said overpack being configured to absorb at least partially a shock or a blow.

Advantageously, this overpack is a foam having a degree of flexibility facilitating the absorption of shocks or blows.

Such an overpack makes it possible to effectively strengthen the protection of each object packaged throughout the invention.

- This packaging being a box having a packaging volume and each object being positioned in the lying position in said box, said assembly comprises half-walls each provided with cutouts intended to define orifices when these half-walls are assembled in pairs by being received in said box, for the passage of a portion of each object.

The side walls placed opposite this box also have vertical grooves placed opposite in pairs to receive the interior walls of the packaging box. These interior walls are each formed of two half-walls provided with orifices. In known manner, these interior walls, also called guillotines, are used to hold the bottles extending through these orifices in the packaging case so that they are wedged in position. Of course, these guillotines can be made of other materials, for example wood of all species, metal, glass, crystal, plastic of any color.

The present invention also relates to a method of filling a package with a filling material, said package defining an interior volume in which said item or items are conditioned, said package being closed.

According to the invention, said filling material consisting of balls and / or pieces and / or cork chips, the following steps are carried out:

a) making at least one orifice in said packaging, each orifice being configured to ensure the passage of said filling material in the interior volume delimited by said packaging, and

b) supplying the free interior volume of said packaging with said filling material through said at least one orifice and closing said at least one orifice.

The interior volume of the packaging being partly occupied by one or more objects, this results in a free interior volume, or space, capable of receiving packing elements to ensure the wedging of this or these objects conditioned in the packaging.

Different particular embodiments of this filling process are conceivable, each having its particular advantages and capable of numerous possible technical combinations:

- in step b), said packing material is injected under pressure into said free interior volume.

Preferably, at least two orifices being produced in step a), said filling material is injected sequentially, orifice by orifice, each orifice thus used to supply said free interior volume being closed before passing to another orifice.

This ensures a better distribution of the packing material around the object or objects packaged in said packaging.

- the free interior volume of said packaging is supplied by means of a feed hopper pressurized by a source of compressed air.

- In step b), said packaging having a longitudinal axis, the free interior volume of said packaging is supplied with said filling material while at least the longitudinal axis of said packaging is inclined relative to a vertical axis, relative to on the ground surface, to promote a uniform distribution of said packing material by gravity.

Advantageously, this packaging is not only inclined relative to its longitudinal axis but also relative to a transverse axis so that the interior free volume of said packaging is placed at an angle to receive the filling material.

Preferably, said object or objects being elongated articles which are lying in the interior volume of said packaging, at least two orifices being produced in step a), said orifices being aligned or substantially aligned, two of which are placed at opposite ends of said packaging, the free volume of said packaging is partially filled through a first end orifice, said packaging being arranged so that said first orifice is placed in the high position relative to the other or to the other orifices during filling, then the said packaging is turned over to place the other end orifice not yet used in the highest position relative to the other or to the other orifices.

- prior to step a), the number of objects packaged in said packaging is determined as well as their positioning.

Preferably, one or more stages of imbalance of said packaging are carried out to determine its most loaded part, and consequently the positioning of the objects when the latter have one end heavier than the other.

- this packaging being rigid, such as a wooden case, step a) consists of drilling said packaging to produce said at least one orifice, a stop element being used to determine a drilling depth.

Advantageously, this avoids damaging the contents of said packaging.

- said packaging is a packaging case or a case, said case or said case being made of wood, cardboard or also made of at least one plastic material, for example plexiglass,

said filling material consists of cork balls having an average diameter of between 0.5 and 5 mm, preferably between 2 and 4 mm,

- Said overpack comprises a protective overwrap intended to surround said packaging, said overpack being configured to absorb at least partially a shock or a blow.

The present invention also relates to a packaging installation for the implementation of said assembly as described above.

According to the invention, this installation includes:

means for making at least one orifice in said packaging, each orifice being configured to allow the passage through said packing material, a hopper for supplying packing material, said hopper being connected to a pressure source for pushing said filling material towards the free interior of said packaging through each orifice, preferably with which it is connected.

Preferably, said packaging having a longitudinal axis, this installation comprises at least one element for tilting said packaging relative to at least its longitudinal axis.

By way of example, this installation may include at least one tilting element allowing bias positioning of each package with a view to filling its free volume with said filling material.

Advantageously, this feed hopper comprises a control member connected to a source of pressurized fluid such as compressed air, to control the transport of said packing material in a flow of pressurized fluid.

The present invention also relates to the reuse of said assembly as described above for the packaging of wine, alcohol or spirits, food product, product for medical or cosmetic use contained in a container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, made, for explanatory purposes and in no way limitative, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure f is a partial view of a packaging assembly according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the cover of the box having been omitted for the sake of clarity;

- Figure 2 shows the assembly of Fig. f after removal of a portion of the filling material to partially discover part of the bottles packaged in this set;

- Figure 3 shows schematically a packaging installation according to a particular embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 4 is a partial and enlarged view of the installation of FIG. 3 at the entrance thereof;

- Figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the installation of FIG. 3 showing a tilting element of a package for filling;

- Figure 6 is a partial and enlarged view of the installation of FIG. 3 at the outlet thereof;

- Figure 7 is a partial view of a hopper for supplying the packing material with a packaging installation according to another embodiment;

- Figure 8 is a sectional view of the hopper injector of Fig. 7;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION First of all, it is noted that the figures are not to scale.

Figures f and 2 schematically represent a packaging assembly according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

This set fO for the packaging of bottles ff of wine comprises a box f2 of packaging and a material f3 of filling for wedging these bottles in this box f 2.

This f2 box of parallelepipedal packaging comprises a body of a box having an upper opening in particular for introducing and removing the bottles as well as a cover (not shown) for closing this opening. The body of the body conventionally comprises a bottom and four side walls rising from this bottom wall.

The iO packing box is rigid and here made of wood. Two of the side walls placed facing each other have cutouts 14 for receiving guillotines 15 making it possible to separate the bottles from one another.

The packing material 13 is made up of cork chips which completely fill the free interior volume of the body of the body, as shown in FIG. 1.

In addition to effective protection of the contents of the box against shocks or falls, these cork chips advantageously provide at least partial thermal insulation of the bottles thus conditioned.

Figures 3 to 6 schematically show a packaging installation 20 according to a particular embodiment of the present invention.

This installation comprises, at the input, a storage zone 21 receiving closed packages 22, in which containers are conditioned for their handling and transport. These containers are stored here in the supine position in their packaging, being placed upside down to minimize bulk.

These packages 22 are awaiting treatment on the installation 20, during which the free interior volume of each package will be filled with a filling material. The latter consists here of micro-balls of cork.

First of all, each package 22 leaves the storage area 21 to be brought to a bench enabling the positioning of the containers inside the latter to be determined non-invasively.

Advantageously, this bench includes a balance (not shown), which here consists of a flat surface on which is placed a rod of a suitable diameter. The imbalance caused by the arrangement of containers such as bottles, inside the packaging makes it possible to determine, with certainty, the positioning of the bottoms and necks of these bottles, and thus to identify the drilling location (s) of the packaging for the introduction of the filling material.

It also includes a drill 23 to make at least one orifice in each package 22. The drilling tool such as a drill bit (not shown) can advantageously be changed to modify the diameter of the orifice generated by drilling in the body of the package 22. This drilling tool is configured so that the diameter of each orifice thus produced in the package 22 allows the passage through the latter, of the packing material.

Advantageously, this drill 23 includes a stop element (not shown) to determine a drilling depth and avoid damaging the contents of the package 22. This stop element is preferably adjustable to allow adjustment of the drilling depth.

Of course, this installation 20 could be semi or entirely automated so that the drill 23 would be carried by a robot, preferably an articulated arm making it possible to move the latter in a drilling area, so that the drill 23 is placed in vis-à-vis drilling points of the packaging previously established. In addition, at least one camera could make it possible to locate targets, or landmarks, previously assembled to the package 22, for example by gluing, to identify one or more piercing points of the latter's body. The packages 22 could be conveyed and removed by at least one conveyor belt.

Once pierced, the package 22 is conveyed to a filling station. This filling station includes a hopper 24 for supplying packing material, this hopper 24 being connected by means of a control member to a source of compressed air (not shown) for pushing the packing material towards the free interior of the packaging 22 through each orifice previously made.

With a view to filling the interior volume of each package 22, this installation comprises two tilting elements 25, 26 allowing opposite positioning of the corresponding package during its progressive filling with the filling material through each orifice and this, to ensure a uniform filling of its free volume.

We will indeed seek to obtain the best compactness rate to ensure good protection of the contents of the packaging. Free fall tests of such packages were conducted from a height of about two meters and fifty (2m5O) in order to show the good results obtained with the process of the invention. The contents of no packaging were found to be damaged as a result of such a fall.

In the installation 20 illustrated in FIG. 3, three orifices 27 being produced in the body of the package 22, while being aligned or substantially aligned, two of which are placed at opposite ends of the same wall of the body of the package, the volume is partially filled free of the latter through a first end orifice on a first tilting element 25, said packaging 22 being arranged so that during filling, this first end orifice is placed in the high position relative to the two other orifices, then this packaging 22 is turned over and tilted to place the other end orifice not yet used in the highest position relative to the other orifices on the second tilting element 26.

In order to minimize losses of packing material, after having introduced packing material through an orifice 27, the latter is closed. A wooden tablet can for example be stuck in each hole

27, by filling the orifice and ensuring that the external surface of the latter is flush with the rest of the wall of the body of the package 22 so as not to alter its aesthetics.

The installation then comprises a bench 28 for receiving the packaging thus modified and filled with a filling material for its final inspection and / or for receiving additional treatments, such as the external cleaning of the body of the packaging of so as to remove any sign linked only to the filling process, for example marks for the realization of the orifices.

At the outlet of the installation, there is a zone 29 for storing packaging 2 2 before shipment.

Figures 7 and 8 show partial views of a hopper for supplying packing material 13 connected to a source of pressurized fluid in a packaging installation according to another embodiment.

More specifically, this hopper 30 comprises a reservoir 31 for receiving loose packing material, this reservoir 31 being connected by its base to the central part of an injector 32, which comprises a channel 33 opening at its ends and in communication with fluid with the opening of the base of the tank 27 so as to receive gravity 13 of the packing material.

At the proximal end of this injector 32 is connected a control member 34 such as a gun, for controlling the supply of pressurized fluid in the channel 33 of the injector 32. The packing material falling in the channel 33 is thus transported to the other open end 35 of this channel 33 in a flow of pressurized fluid.

This other end 35 being introduced into or placed at the mouth of an orifice 27 produced in the body of a package 22, the lining material 13 is then sprayed inside this package 22 with a view to filling its interior volume.

Claims (16)

1. Assembly for the packaging of one or more objects comprising a rigid or semi-rigid packaging (12) and a packing material (13) for wedging the said object or objects in said packaging (12), characterized in that said material (13) of packing consists (or includes) of balls and / or pieces and / or chips of cork, said packing material (13) ensuring at least partial thermal insulation of said object (s) when they are packed in said set. 2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said packaging (12) is a packaging case (12) or a case, said case or said case being made of wood, cardboard or also made of at least one plastic material. for example in plexiglass. 3. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said lining material (13) consists of cork balls having an average diameter between 0.5 and 5 mm, preferably between 2 and 4 mm. 4. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises an overpack (12) of protection intended to surround said package (12), said overpack (12) being configured to absorb at least in part a shock or a blow. 5. An assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said packaging (12) being a box having a packaging volume and each object being positioned in the supine position in said box, said assembly comprises half-walls (15) each provided with cutouts intended to define orifices when these half-walls are assembled in pairs while being received in said box, for the passage of a portion of each object. 6. Method for filling a package (12) with a packing material (13), said package (12) delimiting an interior volume in which said item (s) are conditioned, said package (12) being closed, characterized in that that said lining material (13) consisting of balls and / or pieces and / or cork chips, the following steps are carried out: a) producing at least one orifice in said packaging (12), each orifice being configured to ensure the passage of said packing material (13) in the interior volume delimited by said packaging (12), b) supplying the free interior volume of said packaging (12) with said packing material (13) through said at least one orifice and closing said at least one orifice. 7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that in step b), said packing material (13) is injected under pressure into said free interior volume. 8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that at least two orifices being produced in step a), injecting said packing material (13) sequentially, orifice by orifice, each orifice thus used to supply said volume free interior being closed before passing to another orifice. 9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it supplies the free interior volume of said package (12) by means of a hopper (24) pressurized supply by a source of compressed air. 10. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that in step b), said package (12) having a longitudinal axis, the free interior volume of said package (12) is supplied with said material (13) of packing while at least the longitudinal axis of said package (12) is inclined relative to a vertical axis relative to the surface of the ground to promote a uniform distribution of said packing material (13) by gravity. 11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that said object or objects being elongated articles which are lying in said packaging (12), at least two orifices being produced in step a), said orifices being aligned or substantially aligned , two of which are placed at opposite ends of said package (12), the free volume of said package (12) is partially filled through a first end orifice, said package (12) being arranged so that said first orifice is placed in the high position relative to the other or to the other orifices during filling, then the said package (12) is turned over to place the other end orifice not yet used in the highest position relative to the 'other or other ports. 12. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that prior to step a), the number of objects packaged in said packaging (12) is determined as well as their positioning. 13. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that said packaging (12) being rigid, step a) consists in drilling said packaging (12) to produce said at least one orifice, an element being used to determine a drilling depth and to avoid damaging the contents of said packaging (12). 14. Packaging installation for the implementation of said assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises: means (23) for producing at least one orifice (27) in said packaging (12), each orifice (27) being configured to allow the passage through said packaging material (13), a hopper (24) supply of packing material (13), 5 said hopper (24) being connected to a pressure source to push said packing material (13) towards the free interior of said packaging (12) through each orifice (27). 15. Installation according to claim 14, characterized in that said packaging (12) having a longitudinal axis, it comprises at least one element 10 of inclination (25, 26) of said package (12) relative to at least its longitudinal axis. 16. Installation according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that said feed hopper (24,30) comprises a control member (34) connected to a source of pressurized fluid to control transport 15 of said packing material (13) in a pressurized fluid flow.