GB1600327A - Wrapping for piece goods - Google Patents

Description

(54) A WRAPPING FOR PIECE GOODS (71) We, AVON PRODUCTS, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, United States of America of 9 West 57th Street, New York, New York, 10019, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: The present invention relates to a wrapping for piece goods.

Whenever a quantity of medium-sized to small piece goods, for example, cosmetic articles, are to be assembled and wrapped to form a consignment lot, there is the problem of finding a wrapping by which the quantity of goods can be uniformly and tightly wrapped since each of the cosmetic items generally differ in size from one another.

One previously proposed attempt has been with foldable cardboard boxes of a certain size which are dimensioned, such that the usual quantity of consignment lot would fit therein. In case of smaller consignment quantities, however, the remaining space of the cardboard box is filled by a suitable filling material so as to keep the goods in position within the box, notwithstanding the box being turned over. Wood fiber, filling paper, pourable polystyrol, or two-component foams have been considered suitable filling materials. Drawbacks are associated with such materials. In case of wood fiber, there is the danger of fire. Moreover, wood fiber is comparatively heavy and causes dust and undue work. Apart from the above, it is sensitive to dampness. Comparatively high costs and undue work are drawbacks which must be taken into account in connection with filling paper.Besides these drawbacks, it provides less than entirely sufficient protection for the packaged products. Although little work is caused by pourable polystyrol, the price thereof is relatively high. The same disadvantage applies with respect to the supporting foam.

Furthermore, all of these filling materials have one common drawback, that is, after receipt of the quantity of goods in a container or package using the same, they have to be removed.

Furthermore, such removal leads to comparatively voluminous waste of material.

Soft and preferably, transparent shrinkable foils have been previously proposed recently to be used in the wrapping technique. Some of such foils are also shrinkable monoaxially, that is, they shrink in one direction only. It has also been proposed to deposit the articles to be wrapped on a rigid carrier sheet, and to enclose such articles and carrier sheet by means of a shrinkable foil and to fix the articles on the carrier sheet by shrinkage of the foil. A packing unit having the above features has been generally described in German application OLS 22 17 186. In such a unit, the articles to be packed are positioned on a rigid carrier sheet which is sealed to the carrier sheet. The foil is shrunk onto the articles wherein opposite side portions of the carrier sheet sealed to the foil are folded over and joined to the side of the carrier sheet remote from the articles.This unit may then be used as an insert in a container, e.g. a cardboard box, to be dispatched. Such packing unit, however, cannot easily be used for a quantity of loosely positioned pieces. This approach, moreover, requires a lot of material since each additional piece of packing material must later be removed as waste. Since the reinforced carrier sheet is constructed as a folding sheet, it serves with its folded over side portions as springy cushions and filling piece within the outer packing container.

According to the present invention there is provided a wrapping for piece goods, comprising a carrier member of relatively stiff material having a base support for receiving the piece goods, and at least one foil sheet of foldable and heat-shrinkable material connected to the carrier member along two zones adjacent the periphery of the base support such that two opposed foil flaps are provided of sufficient size that the flaps can be folded into overlapping relationship with each other, said foil sheet being heat-shrinkable monoaxially in the direction generally towards said zones.

By 'relatively stiff' we mean that the material of the carrier member is stiff in comparison with the foil sheet.

The method of using the wrapping can comprise the steps of placing a quantity of piece goods onto the base support, subsequently folding the shrinkable foil-flaps over the piece goods in an overlapping manner, welding the free edges of the flaps in the overlapping region to one another under concentrated heat, and heating the free surface of the shrinkable foil flaps to a temperature causing shrinkage thereof into engagement with the piece goods.

This method permits rapid and cost-reducing wrapping of different quantities of medium-sized to small piece goods in conveyor-line production. In a further method, welding of the shrinkable foil flaps is carried out in such a manner that the package including the piece goods is passed under one or several nozzles which emit a directed jet of hot air. The free surface of the welded shrinkable foil flaps is heated in order to obtain shrinkage under a wide flow of hot air, under which the package is moved. Accordingly, manual operations are not necessary in conveyor-line production for the welding and shrinkage processes. The filled package merely passes under the noted respective devices.

Welding and shrinkage, i.e., the supply of heat, may, of course, be carried out in any other suitable way. Welding, for example by means of a welding device moved over the overlapping region of the foil flaps or by pressing and heating the edges of the foil flaps can be attained. Shrinking may for example, be obtained by means of an infrared radiator to which the entire surface of the shrinkable foil flaps extending over the quantity of the piece goods, may be exposed.

In a modified method of packing a quantity of piece goods when the carrier member, in the form of a blank, is an elongate rectangle of relatively stiff material such as cardboard having two fold lines extending transverse to the long sides of the rectangle to define cover flaps laterally of the central base support the relatively stiff material and shrinkable foil flaps fixed thereto are first inserted in a hollow template, in particular a basket. The template supports the piece goods sufficiently through welding the shrinking of the foil flaps and up to closing the cover flaps of the carrier member while passing along the passage for wrapping. After removal of the closed wrapped package, the hollow template may be used for a new cycle of operation.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure I shows a wrapping comprising a carrier member in the form of a rectangular cardboard box; Figure 2 shows the wrapping of Figure 1 in a condition partly filled with piece goods after the shrinkable foil has been closed and shrunk; Figure 3 shows the wrapping of Figures 1 and 2 in completely closed position; Figure 4 shows another embodiment similar to Figure 1; Figure 5 shows a wrapping using a carrier member in the form of an elongated rectangular cardboard portion; Figure 6 shows the wrapping of Figure 5 with foil being closed over the piece goods; Figure 7 shows a completely closed wrapping in accordance with Figures 5 and 6; Figure 8 shows another embodiment similar to Figure 5;; Figure 9 shows schematically the steps of a method for using a wrapping in accordance with Figures 1 to 4; and Figure 10 shows schematically the steps of a method for using a wrapping in accordance with Figures 5 to 8.

In the wrapping in accordance with Figure 1, the carrier member of relatively stiff material comprises a generally erect rectangular folding cardboard box 1. The box 1 has a base support or bottom portion 2 for receiving the piece goods, an opposed pair of narrow side walls 3, an opposed pair of longitudinal side walls 4 the side walls 3, 4 extending upwardly from the edge 7 of the portion 2 and an opposed pair of lid members or cover flaps 5 and a further opposed pair of lid members or cover flaps 6 each cover flap being integral with a side wall and foldably connected to the top edge thereof. Two separate shrinkable foil flaps 8 are secured to the side walls 4 along zones 9 adjacent the edge 7 of bottom portion 2. The foil flaps may be glued or welded to the side walls at zones 9, for example.

The shrinkable foil flaps 8 are heat-shrinkable monoaxially in the direction generally towards the zones 9 and are wider than the length of said side walls 4, so that lateral protective portions 10 are formed, which, as is apparent in Figure 2, may be tucked in between the narrow side walls 3 and the piece goods, as shown by arrow 11.

After a certain quantity of piece goods have been filled in and the goods distributed, as evenly as possible, within cardboard box 1, the shrinkable foil flaps 8 will be folded over the filled in piece goods with the free ends in overlapping relationship. The overlapped region is welded together as at 12. Shrinkage of the foil flaps 8 is subsequently carried out by means of heat influence. The heat may be applied from over the entire opening of the cardboard box 1, so that said piece goods (not shown) are fixedly secured in said cardboard box 1.

Since the foil flaps 8 are comprised of monoaxial shrinkable foils, such shrinkage will occur in the direction of the narrow side walls 3 so that the piece goods will remain fully covered in the direction of the longitudinal side walls 4 even after the foil has shrunk.

As may be seen from Figure 3, the cover flaps 5 and 6 of cardboard box 1 are closed and the package can be dispatched. It will be understood that the piece goods are safely and fixedly secured within the cardboard box 1, even if the box is not fully filled by the quantity of piece goods, and without any filling material being necessary. Accordingly, for instance, even if cardboard box 1 is turned over, such goods will remain in their wrapped position.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, identical parts have been provided with identical reference numerals, as Figure 3. The foil flaps are, in this embodiment, merely formed by portions of a continuous foil sheet 13. The sheet 13 extends over bottom portion 2 of the cardboard box 1 and is connected to the longitudinal side walls 4 of the cardboard box at zones 9. The connection between foil sheet 13 and cardboard box 1 can equally be obtained in the bottom portion 2; however, it is also advisable to obtain such connection always in the region adjacent the bottom edges 7.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 8, the carrier member is in the form of a blank 21 which is rectangular and made of cardboard. The cardboard rectangle 21 is shown with two groups of parallel transverse fold lines 24, 24 between which is defined a base support or bottom portion 22 and outwardly of which are cover flaps 23, respectively. Shrinkable foil flaps 28 are secured along zones 29 in the vicinity of longitudinal side edges 27 of bottom portion 22. The foil flaps 28 are broader than corresponding longitudinal side edges 27.

Thus, the flaps 28 form lateral protection portions 30. Shrinkable foil flaps 28 are glued or welded to bottom region 22, along zones 29. As may be seen from Figure 6, the quantity of piece goods 31 to be wrapped is stacked on bottom portion 22. Piece goods 31 have been schematically shown by dotted blocks, but, in fact, they comprise a plurality of individual pieces, which are suitably held by a hollow template (not shown) prior to closing foil flaps 28, as shown in Figure 10. As best seen in Figure 6, foil flaps 28 are folded together so that their free side edges are disposed in an overlapping manner and welded together at 32 over the piece goods 31. Protective portions 30 extend laterally beyond the quantity of piece goods 31 and are tucked between the stacked piece goods and cover flaps 23 which are turned-up in the manner shown in Figure 7.Turning up of the flaps 23 and connecting or bonding the same together to form the closed package will be carried out after the foil flaps 28 have been shrunk on the piece goods 31 by heat influence applied from above, as shown, in their position in Figure 6. Since monoaxial shrinking foils 38 are used, the shrinkage is effected only in the direction parallel to the folding lines 24 or generally transversely to side edges 27. In this manner, piece goods 31 remain covered over their entire length by the foil after shrinkage.

In the embodiment of Figure 8, identical parts have been provided with identical reference numerals as in Figure 5. This arrangement is different from the embodiment of Figure 5 since the foil flaps 28 are formed by portions of one single foil sheet 33. Foil sheet 33 is secured to bottom portion 22 at zones 29.

In accordance with Figure 9, packaging of goods 11, shown by dotted lines, in a wrapping in accordance with Figures 1 to 4 may be carried out by means of conveyor-line production.

The open wrapping of Figure 1 is placed on the conveyor line 35 at position (a). Goods 11 are filled into the wrapping at position (b). Foil flaps 8 are subsequently folded, in an overlapping manner, over the quantity of goods 11 and are welded at position (c). A nozzle 36 is provided to this effect above the conveyor line 35. The nozzle emits a jet of hot air of sufficient heat so that the foil flaps 8 will be welded when passing along line 35 under the nozzle 36 as shown in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that several of such nozzles may be used. A tunnel oven shaped hood 37 is provided above the conveyor line 35 at station (d) within which a "hot air shower" 38 is provided so that the shrinkable foils 8 will be shrunk onto the quantity of piece goods 31 contained in cardboard box 1.It will be understood that the components and operation of such a shower are known in this particular art. After leaving the tunnel 37 the wrapping is closed at position (e). This is accomplished by closing the cover flaps 23. Consequently, the package is ready to be dispatched.

Figure 10 schematically shows the package process for a wrapping of the type shown in Figures 5 to 8 being transported on a conveyor 45. The cardboard rectangle 21 with shrinkable foil flaps 28 is first inserted in a basket 48. The basket 48 serves as hollow template as at position (a). After filling the quantity of piece goods 31 thereinto, and closing of the foil flaps 28 at position (b), the wrapping contained in basket 48, passes at position (c) beneath one or several nozzles 46. The nozzle 46 is provoded above the conveyor line 45 and emits a jet of hot air so that the foil flaps 28 are welded along a line, such as line 32 in Figure 6. A tunnel oven-shaped hood 47 is provided at position (d) within which is provided a conventional hot air shower 49 so that the shrinkable foils are shrunk onto the quantity of piece goods 31.The hot air shower 49 may be replaced by an infrared heating device, for example. After leaving the hood 47 at position (e), the wrapping will be removed from the basket 48 by means of flaps 23 of the cardboard rectangle 21. In this fashion, the basket 48 will be free for the next cycle of operation. The wrapping is rendered ready for dispatch at position (f) by folding up flaps 23 and connecting same by for example, gluing. This embodiment of the package will be suitably stacked in an erect position. The cardboard rectangle 21 provided with fold lines 24 and being positioned onthe top and on the bottom of the package serves as cushions for the purposes of reducing the danger of bulging.

By virtue of the above-described embodiments, different quantities of, for example, medium-sized to small piece goods may be equally be packed to a stackable unit at a low cost of material, and may be fixed in a cardboard box without the use of filling material.

The quantity of piece goods will, without the use of filling material or a carrier insert supported at the inner walls of the cardboard box, be safely held in said cardboard box even if the latter turns over. Owing to the transparent shrinkable foil, smaller articles can no longer get lost when unwrapping the goods. With the packing method previously employed, it could happen that smaller articles were erroneously seized and thrown away when removing the filling material.

The subject matter of this application is also disclosed in the specification of Application No. 20791/78 (Serial No. 1600326) from which the present application has been divided and in co-pending divided Application No. 79.34005 (Serial No. 1600328).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A wrapping for piece goods, comprising a carrier member or relative stiff material having a base support for receiving the piece goods, and at least one foil sheet of foldable and heat-shrinkable material connected to the carrier member along two zones adjacent the periphery of the base support such that two opposed foil flaps are provided of sufficient size that the flaps can be folded into overlapping relationship with each other, said foil sheet being heat-shrinkable monoaxially in the direction generally towards said zones.

2. A wrapping as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier member is in the form of a blank comprising an elongate rectangle of relatively stiff material having at least two fold lines extending transverse to the long sides of the rectangle and spaced apart to define therebetween the said base support, and cover flaps adjoining the fold lines defining, the base support which are of sufficient size as to be foldable into overlapping relationship with each other.

3. A wrapping as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base support is rectangular and said carrier member includes upstanding side walls integral with said base support and lid members integral with said side walls and foldably connected to the top edges thereof whereby the carrier member forms a closable box.

4. A wrapping as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said zones extend along the long sides of the rectangle.

5. A wrapping as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said relatively stiff material is cardboard.

6. A wrapping as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said zones are on the base support.

7. A wrapping as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said foil flaps are formed by a single foil sheet which extends over said base support.

8. A wrapping as claimed in claim 1, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. of the foil flaps 28 at position (b), the wrapping contained in basket 48, passes at position (c) beneath one or several nozzles 46. The nozzle 46 is provoded above the conveyor line 45 and emits a jet of hot air so that the foil flaps 28 are welded along a line, such as line 32 in Figure 6. A tunnel oven-shaped hood 47 is provided at position (d) within which is provided a conventional hot air shower 49 so that the shrinkable foils are shrunk onto the quantity of piece goods 31. The hot air shower 49 may be replaced by an infrared heating device, for example. After leaving the hood 47 at position (e), the wrapping will be removed from the basket 48 by means of flaps 23 of the cardboard rectangle 21. In this fashion, the basket 48 will be free for the next cycle of operation.The wrapping is rendered ready for dispatch at position (f) by folding up flaps 23 and connecting same by for example, gluing. This embodiment of the package will be suitably stacked in an erect position. The cardboard rectangle 21 provided with fold lines 24 and being positioned onthe top and on the bottom of the package serves as cushions for the purposes of reducing the danger of bulging. By virtue of the above-described embodiments, different quantities of, for example, medium-sized to small piece goods may be equally be packed to a stackable unit at a low cost of material, and may be fixed in a cardboard box without the use of filling material. The quantity of piece goods will, without the use of filling material or a carrier insert supported at the inner walls of the cardboard box, be safely held in said cardboard box even if the latter turns over. Owing to the transparent shrinkable foil, smaller articles can no longer get lost when unwrapping the goods. With the packing method previously employed, it could happen that smaller articles were erroneously seized and thrown away when removing the filling material. The subject matter of this application is also disclosed in the specification of Application No. 20791/78 (Serial No. 1600326) from which the present application has been divided and in co-pending divided Application No. 79.34005 (Serial No. 1600328). WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A wrapping for piece goods, comprising a carrier member or relative stiff material having a base support for receiving the piece goods, and at least one foil sheet of foldable and heat-shrinkable material connected to the carrier member along two zones adjacent the periphery of the base support such that two opposed foil flaps are provided of sufficient size that the flaps can be folded into overlapping relationship with each other, said foil sheet being heat-shrinkable monoaxially in the direction generally towards said zones.

2. A wrapping as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier member is in the form of a blank comprising an elongate rectangle of relatively stiff material having at least two fold lines extending transverse to the long sides of the rectangle and spaced apart to define therebetween the said base support, and cover flaps adjoining the fold lines defining, the base support which are of sufficient size as to be foldable into overlapping relationship with each other.

3. A wrapping as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base support is rectangular and said carrier member includes upstanding side walls integral with said base support and lid members integral with said side walls and foldably connected to the top edges thereof whereby the carrier member forms a closable box.

4. A wrapping as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein said zones extend along the long sides of the rectangle.

5. A wrapping as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said relatively stiff material is cardboard.

6. A wrapping as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said zones are on the base support.

7. A wrapping as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said foil flaps are formed by a single foil sheet which extends over said base support.

8. A wrapping as claimed in claim 1, and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.