GB2377686A

GB2377686A - Packaging articles

Info

Publication number: GB2377686A
Application number: GB0117622A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Edward Thomas Burr
Original assignee: SCA Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: SCA Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 2001-07-19
Filing date: 2001-07-19
Publication date: 2003-01-22
Anticipated expiration: 2021-07-19
Also published as: GB0117622D0; GB2377686B

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of packaging articles. The method comprises the steps of providing an open topped tote box 10 and locating a packing board 8 in the tote box. At least one article to be packed 2 is placed on the packing board within the tote box and the packing board is then removed from the tote box with the article positioned thereon. One or more sheets of shrink-wrap material 18 are then wrapped around the packing board and the article. The method further comprises shrinking the shrink-wrap material to locate the article on the packing board and inserting the packing board and article attached thereto into a packing container.

Description

PACKAGING The present invention relates to packaging and in particular to a method of packaging articles such as books, CDs and DVDs.

With the expansion of the Internet, on-line shopping for books, CD's and so on is becoming ever more popular. A user places an order which is processed and despatched centrally. The order may simply be packed in a box using loose fill material or air bags. In an alternative arrangement, however, the items ordered, which may include items of different shapes and sizes, are packed in specialised containers.

These containers, which come in a range of standard sizes to accommodate different order sizes, comprise a base tray, an open topped and bottomed sleeve arranged on the tray, and a lid. One or more sheets of shrink wrap material are trapped between the tray and the sleeve so as to extend into the sleeve. These sheets are pulled up through the sleeve and folded back over the top of the sleeve during packing. When packing is complete, the sheets of shrink wrap are folded over the packed items and then shrunk in order to fix the items in the package. The lid is then secured in position to close the sleeve.

Whilst proving generally satisfactory, there are certain drawbacks with this type of package. In particular, the appropriately sized container for packing articles of a given size or shape must be selected and this selection process is dependent on the judgement of the person performing the packing. If an inappropriately sized container is chosen, then either the items may not fit at all into the container or they may not be adequately retained inside the container during transportation.

The present invention seeks to alleviate some of

the problems associated with the above packaging and viewed from a first aspect provides a method of packaging articles comprising the steps of providing an open topped tote box, locating a packing board in the tote box; placing on the packing board within the tote box at least one article to be packed; removing the packing board from the tote box with said article positioned thereon; wrapping one or more sheets of shrink-wrap material around the packing board and the article; shrinking said shrink-wrap material to locate the article on the packing board; and inserting the packing board and article attached thereto, into a packing container.

Thus, the method according to the present invention facilitates the use of a standard carton to receive a packing board having an article or articles shrink wrapped thereto. The use of the tote box provides a helpful guide for the initial packing and, because the packing board and article are removed from the tote box before inserting them into the packing container, shrink wrapping is facilitated, providing better location of the articles during transit. The tote box also provides protection for articles as they are moved through the packing facility.

The tote box may comprise a plurality of compartments to receive one or more packing boards side by side to allow the packing of a plurality of containers to be performed in tandem. Preferably, however, it has a single compartment to receive a single packing board.

Preferably the tote box has substantially the same internal dimensions as those of the packing container to enable the person packing the tote box to gauge accurately whether the article or articles will fit into the packing container.

The wrapping of the shrink-wrap material around the article is preferably performed after the article and

the packing board are removed from the tote box, and the shrink-wrap material may be placed under the packing board either before it is inserted into the tote box or after it is removed from the tote box.

The tote box is preferably made of a durable plastics material to allow it to be re-used. The tote box may have a closed or an open bottom or a flange arranged around its base to receive the packing board.

To minimise disturbance of the articles positioned on the packing board, the tote box is preferably lifted from, or more preferably dropped away from, the packing board in order to remove the packing board and article (s) therefrom.

Preferably the tote boxes are carried on a circulating belt or the like so that after use they may be returned to the top of the line for re-use.

The packing board is preferably made of corrugated cardboard, or other lightweight cardboard, paperboard or plastics sheet material.

Preferably it is shaped such that it substantially matches the internal cross-section of the packing container whereby it will be located laterally within the packing container, so as to reduce lateral movement of the packing board in the packing container.

Preferably retaining means is provided for preventing or reducing vertical movement of the packing board in the packing container.

In one preferred embodiment, the retaining means may comprise one or more side panels attached to the edge of the packing board, most preferably a pair of side panels arranged on diametrically opposed edges thereof. This also provides some support for the articles as the packing board is being removed from the tote box, while at the same time allowing the shrinkwrap material to be wrapped around the article and the packing board.

Preferably, each side panel is substantially the

same depth as the associated side wall of the packing container such that it substantially prevents vertical movement of the packing board within the packing container when container is closed. It also adds strength to the container, and allows the side walls to be used as a filling guide.

In an alternative embodiment, the retaining means may comprise a retaining member inserted into the packing container above the packing board.

In one embodiment, the retaining member comprises a sleeve whose cross section preferably matches that of the packing container. Most preferably the sleeve has substantially the same depth as the sides of the packing container such that the movement of the packing board in the packing container is substantially prevented.

As an alternative to the sleeve, the retaining member may comprise an inverted"U"-shaped member inserted into the packing container over the packed article (s). The side panels of the retaining member are preferably of generally the same depth as the side walls of the packing container so as substantially to prevent vertical movement of the packing board within the container. If the packing board has one or two side panels, a retaining member of this type may still be used, placed at 90 to the packing board.

Shrink wrapping of the articles on the packing board is preferably achieved by passing the board through a shrink wrap tunnel.

The packing container is preferably made of corrugated cardboard, or similar lightweight paperboard material. The container in one embodiment may be of a standard construction having a plurality of side walls with closure flaps hingedly attached to the upper edge. thereof, whereby the packing board may be introduced into the container from above. However, this is not essential and in other embodiments, the packing board may be slid into a container from the side. In such an

arrangement, the container may be provided with closure flaps on one or more sides, rather than on the top of the container.

The present invention further extends to a packing line on which the above method is formed, so from a second aspect the invention provides a packing line comprising a station at which a packing board is located within a tote box; a station at which articles are located on the packing board; a station at which the packing board is removed from the tote box; a station at which shrink wrap is wrapped around the articles and the packing board; a station at which the shrink wrap is shrunk around the articles and board; a station at which the shrunk wrapped article and board is deposited in a packing container.

One or more of the operations defined above may be carried out at the same station.

The invention also extends to a container packed in accordance with the invention, and from a third aspect provides a container comprising a plurality of articles packed therein, said articles being shrunk wrapped onto a packing board arranged within the container.

The container and its contents may have the preferred features defined above.

Some preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates schematically a packing process and packing line according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows schematically a initial stage of the embodiment of Figure 1 Figure 3 shows, schematically, a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 shows, schematically, a third embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 shows schematically an initial stage of

the embodiment of Figure 4.

A first embodiment of the method of packing a plurality of articles 2, such as books, CDs, DVDs etc., into a cardboard packing container 4 in accordance with the present invention is shown schematically in Figures 1 and 2.

The packing is effected along a packing line 6 with a plurality of stations, illustrated schematically as stations A to F.

As can be seen from Figure 1, the first step in the packing process is to place a generally"U"-shaped packing board 8 into a re-usable tote box 10 at station A.

The tote box 10 is made of a plastics material and has approximately the same internal dimensions as the packing container 4 into which the articles 2 will be packed. The tote box 10 has an open bottom 12 surrounded by a flange 14 for receiving the packing board 8, although the bottom 12 of the tote box 10 may be completely open or completely closed. An open bottomed tote box 10 is preferred as it facilitates the removal of the packing board 8 as will be described below.

The tote box 10 is movable through the stations either manually or by a conveyor 16 as shown in Figure 2 by a series of arrows.

The packing board 8 is made of corrugated cardboard and has a base panel 8a and two side panels 8b. The base panel 8a is sized to fit neatly into the tote box 10, and consequently the packing container 4. The side panels 8b are sized so as the upper edge thereof lies approximately flush with the top of the sides of tote box 10, and consequently the container 2, when the packing board 8 is inserted therein.

As shown schematically in Figure 2, the articles 2 to be packed are selected from stock, either manually or automatically, to satisfy an order which a customer has

previously made and are placed inside the tote box 6, on top of the base panel 8a of the packing board 8 at station B. If any of the articles 2 do not fit, or fit only partially, into the tote box 10, they will not fit into the packing container 4 and these articles should be removed.

With the articles 2 positioned on the packing board 8, the packing board 8 is removed from the tote box 10 at station C. This may be achieved by supporting the base panel 8a of the packing board 8, for example on a platform, through the opening 12 in the base of the tote box 10, while the tote box is dropped away from the packing board, or by pushing the packing board 8 up out of the tote box 10. The tote box 10 is then returned to the first station A for reuse.

A sheet 18 of shrink wrap material is then wrapped around the articles 2 and the base panel 8a of the packing board 8 between the side panels 8b.

The packing board 8 with the loosely wrapped articles 2 are then passed through a shrink-wrapping tunnel 20 at station D which blows hot air over the sheet wrap 18 to cause it to shrink and firmly retain the articles 2 in position on the packing board.

Once the articles 2 have been secured to the packing board 5, they may be inserted into the packing container 4 at station E.

The packing container 4 is of conventional construction and has four side walls 22 each of which has a closure flap 24 hingedly attached to the upper edge thereof. The closure flaps 24 are folded inwardly to close the packing container 4.

The container 4 is supplied to the station E preassembled with its closure flaps 24 open. The packing board 8 is dropped into the packing container 4, so that it rests on the base of the packing container 4. As the base panel 8a is a neat fit inside the packing container 4, relative movement therebetween is limited. The

closure flaps 24 on the packing container 4 are then folded inwardly and sealed shut using adhesive tape, or other suitable means at Station F.

It will be appreciated that once the packing container 4 is closed, the movement of the packing board 8 is limited as the side panels 8b extend between the inwardly folded closure flaps 24 and the base of the packing container. Thus, the articles 2 are firmly located within the container 4 and are therefore less likely to be damaged during transit.

To provide additional protection for the articles 2 and to further secure the packing board 8 in position, a "U"-shaped retaining member 26 may be inserted into the packing container 2, after the packing board 8, as shown in Figure 3. The retaining member 26 is offset through 900 relative to the packing board 8 such that it may engage the free ends of the base plate 8a. The packing board 8 and the retaining member 26 effectively provide a protective casing for the articles 2 within the packing container 2.

A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 4 and 5, in which like reference numerals have been used to reference like components of the first embodiment.

The most significant difference in the second embodiment is that the packing board is now formed as a flat board 28, with no upstanding side walls. As for the base panel 8a of the first embodiment, the board 18 has generally the same dimensions as the cross-section of the packing container 4 so that it fits neatly inside the packing container 4.

The packing process utilising the flat board 28 is the same as the process of the first embodiment until the final packing stage. In this embodiment, an open ended sleeve 30 of corrugated board is inserted into the packing container 4 after the wrapped board 28 has been inserted, as shown in Figure 5.

The cross-section of the sleeve 30 generally matches the internal cross-section of the packing container 4 and in position the sleeve 30 extends from the upper surface of the packing board 18 substantially to the upper edge of the container 2 such that the movement of the board 28 is limited by the sleeve 30 once the closure flaps of the packing container 4 are closed over. Thus, the sleeve 20 provides reinforcement for the sides of the packing container 2 and retains the packing board 18, and consequently the articles 1 attached thereto, in position.

The sleeve 30 may be closed at its upper end to provide additional protection for the articles 1 within the container 2.

In the various embodiments above, the packing board, packing container and, where present, the retaining member are preferably made of corrugated cardboard. However they may be made of any other cardboard, paperboard or plastics sheet material.

The skilled person will appreciate that modifications may be made to the methods described herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, to facilitate separation of the tote box from the packing board, it may be completely open at its upper and lower ends such that the packing board when located in the tote box rests on a separate support device.

Furthermore, in the third embodiment described above, the sleeve 30 may be closed at its upper end to provide additional protection for the articles 1 within the container 4. For example the sleeve 30 may be closed by a separate pad placed over the top of the sleeve 30, or it may even be closed by one or more flaps of the container. Furthermore, rather than a sleeve 30, an inverted"U"-shaped piece the same as the retaining member 26 of the second embodiment, could be used to retain the board 28 in position.

The movement of the tote boxes 10 and the wrapped articles 2 may be effected manually or by conveyor.

Also, while the invention has been illustrated with reference to embodiments in which the packing board is dropped into the open top of a container, in alternative embodiments the board could be introduced from one side.

In such embodiments, therefore, the container is likely to have closure flaps on its side rather than on its top. Means to prevent movement of the packing board within the packing container may also be provided in such arrangements, as in the first embodiment.

In addition, cushioning materials may be filled into the packing container for example for the protection of particularly fragile contents.

It will also be understood that the invention applies to packaging of articles generally and not just books, etc as described hereinabove.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A method of packaging articles comprising the steps of providing an open topped tote box, locating a packing board in the tote box; placing on the packing board within the tote box at least one article to be packed; removing the packing board from the tote box with said article positioned thereon; wrapping one or more sheets of shrink-wrap material around the packing board and the article; shrinking said shrink-wrap material to locate the article on the packing board; and inserting the packing board and article attached thereto, into a packing container.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tote box comprises a single compartment to receive a single packing board.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the tote box has substantially the same internal dimensions as those of the packing container.
4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the shrink-wrap material is placed under the packing board before it is inserted into the tote box.
5. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the shrink-wrap material is placed under the packing board it is removed from the tote box.
6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tote box made of a durable plastics material.
7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tote box has an opening in the base thereof.

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8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tote box is dropped away from under the packing board in order to remove the packing board and articles therefrom.
9. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the tote boxes are carried on a circulating belt or the like.
10. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the packing board has substantially the same dimensions as the internal cross-section of the packing container.
11. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein retaining means is provided for preventing or reducing vertical movement of the packing board in the packing container.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the packing board comprises a pair of side panels arranged on diametrically opposed edges thereof.
13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein each side panel is substantially the same depth as the associated side wall of the packing container.
14. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein said retaining means comprises a sleeve which is inserted into the packing container above the packing board.
15. A method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sleeve has a cross sectional shape which matches that of the packing container.
16. A method as claimed in claim 14 or 15 wherein the. sleeve has substantially the same depth as the sides of the packing container.

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17. A method as claimed in claim 11 wherein the retaining means comprises an inverted"U"-shaped member which is inserted into the packing container over the packed article (s).
18. A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein the side panels of the"U"-shaped"member are of substantially the same depth as the side walls of the packing
19. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein shrink wrapping of the articles on the packing board is achieved by passing the board through a shrink wrap tunnel.
20. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the packing board is introduced into the packing container through an open top of the container.
21. A method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 19 wherein the packing board is introduced into the packing container through an open side of the container.
22. A packing line comprising a station at which a packing board is located within a tote box; a station at which articles are located on the packing board; a station at which the packing board is removed from the tote box; a station at which shrink wrap is wrapped around the articles and the packing board; a station at which the shrink wrap is shrunk around the articles and board ; a station at which the shrunk wrapped article and board is deposited in a packing container.
23. A packing container comprising a plurality of articles packed therein, said articles being shrink wrapped onto a packing board arranged within the container.

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24. A container as claimed in claim 23 wherein the packing board has substantially the same dimensions as the internal cross-section of the container.
25. A container as claimed in claim 23 or 24 wherein retaining means is provided for preventing or reducing vertical movement of the packing board in the container.
26. A container as claimed in claim 25 wherein the packing board comprises a pair of side panels arranged on diametrically opposed edges thereof.
27. A container as claimed in claim 25 wherein each side panel is substantially the same depth as the associated side wall of the container.
28. A container as claimed in claim 27 wherein said retaining means comprises a sleeve arranged in the container above the packing board.
29. A container as claimed in claim 28 wherein the sleeve has a cross sectional shape which matches that of the container.
30. A container as claimed in claim 28 or 29 wherein the sleeve has substantially the same depth as the sides of the container.
31. A container as claimed in claim 25 wherein the retaining means comprises an inverted"U"-shaped member arranged in the container over the packed article (s).
32. A container as claimed in claim 31 wherein the side panels of the"U"-shaped"member are of substantially the same depth as the side walls of the container.

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33. A container as claimed in any of claims 22 to 32 wherein the packing container has closure flaps on its top.
34. A container as claimed in any of claims 22 to 32 wherein the packing container has closure flaps on its side.