WO2017060810A1

WO2017060810A1 - Packaging for plate-shaped elements, particularly for tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass

Info

Publication number: WO2017060810A1
Application number: PCT/IB2016/055920
Authority: WO
Inventors: Fabio RUINI
Original assignee: Simac Tech S.R.L.
Priority date: 2015-10-05
Filing date: 2016-10-04
Publication date: 2017-04-13
Also published as: ITUB20154098A1

Abstract

The packaging (1) for plate-shaped elements, particularly for tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass, comprises a pair of blanks (2) in packaging material folded on a pack of plate- shaped elements (3) to be packaged, wherein each of blanks (2) is placed in a packaging configuration wherein the second and the flap (11, 15) of each of blanks (2) are arranged to partly and respectively cover the lower face (5) and the upper face (4), the sixth and the seventh flap (19, 21) of one of blanks (2) are arranged to entirely cover the first side (6), and the sixth and the seventh flap (19, 21) of the other of blanks (2) are arranged to entirely cover the third side (8), the third flaps (13) of each of blanks (2) are arranged to partly cover the second side (7), the first and the fifth flap (10, 17) of each of blanks (2) are arranged to partly cover the fourth side (9), all the flaps (10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27) of a blank (2) are spaced apart from all the flaps (10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27) of the other blank (2).

Description

PACKAGING FOR PLATE-SHAPED ELEMENTS, PARTICULARLY FOR TILES IN CERAMIC MATERIAL, STONE, WOOD AND/OR GLASS

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a packaging for plate-shaped elements, particularly for tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass.

Background Art

In the field of packaging of plate-shaped elements, in particular articles for the building sector such as tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass, packaging is known generally made of packaging material blanks, of the type of corrugated cardboard of a more or less variable thickness depending on the stiffness required for the packaging itself and the desired degree of protection. In this field two types of packaging are known: a first type, in which the packaging material completely covers any surface of the plate- shaped element, and a second type, in which the packaging material partially covers the surfaces of the plate-shaped element, particularly leaving the decorated face exposed. Generally, the plate- shaped elements have a substantially rectangular or quadrangular shape and comprise an upper face, a lower face opposite the upper face and four opposite sides which are perpendicular in twos.

In the first type of packaging, the plate-shaped elements comprise a central surface of quadrangular or rectangular shape substantially coincident with the upper and lower face of the plate- shaped element.

Each side of the central surface comprises a respective lateral surface connected to it by means of a respective folding line.

The central surface receives in support the lower or upper face of the plate- shaped element, whereas the lateral surfaces are suitably folded along the folding lines to wrap the sides of the plate- shaped element so that they are completely covered and protected from any shocks that would cause damage and/or breakage.

This first type of packaging has drawbacks mainly related to the large amount of material used for the total coverage of the upper and lower face and of the sides of the plate- shaped elements. Storing warehouses are also required for the packaging material, divided according to the size of the plate- shaped elements to be packed.

In the second type of packaging, on the other hand, the plate-shaped elements comprise a lateral surface which in turn comprises two lateral bands connected to the central surface by means of respective folding lines.

The folding of such packaging on the plate- shaped elements creates packs which have a substantially C shape covering both the sides, corners and vertices of the plate-shaped elements themselves, leaving partially uncovered portions of the lower and upper central surfaces.

A first example of the above-mentioned second type of packaging for plate- shaped elements is shown in patent document EP2029445 in which the packaging is made up of a blank in a packaging material with a substantially polygonal shape arranged on the lower or upper face of the plate- shaped element.

Such packaging also comprises a plurality of contiguous lateral portions of packaging material arranged on each side of the plate- shaped element for the protection of the surfaces, corners and vertices of the plate-shaped element. In the overlapping areas of the contiguous lateral portions are arranged bonding material portions in order to provide greater rigidity and strength to the packaging.

The packaging shown in patent document EP2029445 is achievable both for a single plate- shaped element and for a plurality of plate- shaped elements stacked one on top of the other.

This packaging is not without drawbacks, in fact, following the opening they are unusable as the blanks are torn off.

Another drawback is linked to the fact that such packaging has overlapping areas of the lateral portions which involve waste of packaging material and request for gluing material of the overlapped lateral portions along the sides of the plate- shaped element.

This request for material results in related costs that in turn affect the retail prices, making the products less attractive to customers.

A second example of the second type of packaging for plate- shaped elements is shown in the patent document IT 1406305 in which the packaging comprises a pair of blanks in a packaging material in turn comprising a central portion and two lateral portions, in which the two lateral portions are arranged partially on two opposite sides of the plate-shaped element.

The central portion and the two lateral portions comprise an upper and lower flap that are positioned on the edges of the lower and upper face, respectively of the plate- shaped element.

The lateral portions of each blank, once folded, are partially overlapped with each other and define two overlapping areas.

The fixing of the pair of blanks occurs by means of bands closed in a loop and wrapped on two opposite sides of the plate-shaped element at the overlapping areas of the lateral portions.

Similarly to the packaging shown in patent document EP2029445, also the packaging in the patent document IT 1406305 is achievable both for a single plate- shaped element and for a plurality of plate- shaped elements stacked one on top of the other.

Even the packaging according to the patent document IT 1406305 has some drawbacks.

A first drawback is related to the fact that this example of packaging requires a considerable amount of packaging material because, despite the fact that the upper and lower face of the plate- shaped element is partly covered, on the other hand, the sides are fully covered by the packaging material.

Another drawback is the fact that, in the event of a plurality of packaging being stacked one on top of the other, the overlapping areas of the lateral portions jeopardize the stability and proper contact between one packaging and the other, with the consequent risk of falling and breakage of the plate- shaped elements. Furthermore, these overlapping areas represent a strong limit for the packaging since the manufacturer is obliged to pack the packs of plate- shaped elements always in the same manner while, depending on the type of plate- shaped element to be packed, it could be advantageous to have higher ductility and versatility in the realization of the packaging.

A packaging method according to the patent document IT 1406305 is shown in patent document EP2712347 in which the packaging is obtained by conveying a single plate- shaped element, or a plurality of plate- shaped elements stacked one on top of the other, to two separate packaging stations.

In the first station the first blank is applied to a first side of the plate- shaped element, while in the second station the second blank is applied to a second side, opposite the first side, of the plate-shaped element itself.

This packaging method, however, shows a further drawback of the packaging according to patent document IT 1406305, namely the fact that their realization requires for long and impractical work processes that are executed in two next operations/stations.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to provide a packaging for plate- shaped elements, particularly for tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass which allows to fix the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular to reduce the amount of packaging material required for the realization of the packaging, while covering and therefore protecting in particular each vertex and each corner of the plate- shaped elements.

One object of the present invention is to simplify and facilitate the packaging operations of the packs of plate- shaped elements and to make the packaging more stable and stronger.

Another object of the present invention is to obtain packaging for plate-shaped elements whose realization is unrelated to the size of the plate-shaped elements themselves to be packed, so as to reduce the waste of blanks cut to special measures not usable for the packaging of plate- shaped elements which have different dimensions.

A further object of the present invention is to make blanks from substantially rectangular cardboard sheets in order to facilitate the packaging operations and reduce any interruption of the operation of the punch-cutting machines for the realization of the blanks, caused e.g. by residues of waste material that can clog the machine during operation due to a missing or incorrect disposal.

Furthermore, this contouring allows speeding up the operations for the realization of the blank. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging for plate- shaped elements which allows simplifying the jobs of folding and covering the sides of the plate-shaped elements themselves, while maintaining the top decorated surface partially exposed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging for plate- shaped elements that allows increasing, and therefore improving, the degree of protection of the plate- shaped elements, covering and enveloping each corner and each vertex plate- shaped element itself.

Yet another object of the present invention is to obtain a packaging, the realization of which is unrelated to the size of the blanks, so as to limit the need for dividing the storing warehouses according to the dimensions of the blanks contained in them.

Another object of the present invention consists in the reduction of the time required for the packaging of plate-shaped elements, while maximizing the level of productivity.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a packaging for plate- shaped elements, particularly for tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass which allows to overcome the mentioned drawbacks of the prior art within the ambit of a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and affordable solution. The above mentioned objects are achieved by the present packaging for plate- shaped elements, particularly for tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass, having the characteristics of claim 1.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more evident from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a packaging for plate-shaped elements, particularly for tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass, illustrated by way of an indicative, but non-limiting, example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded view of a first embodiment of the packaging according to the invention in the flat starting configuration;

Figure 2 is a first axonometric view that shows the realization of the packaging of Figure 1 ; Figure 3 is a second axonometric view that shows the realization of the packaging of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is an axonometric view of the packaging of Figure 1 in the packaging configuration;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of several packaging according to the invention in the packaging configuration.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to such figures, globally indicated with 1 is a packaging for plate-shaped elements, particularly for tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass.

The packaging 1 comprises a pair of blanks 2 in packaging material folded partly on a pack of plate- shaped elements 3 to be packed.

The pack of plate-shaped elements 3 can be composed both of a single plate- shaped element and of a plurality of plate- shaped elements stacked one on top of the other.

The pack of plate- shaped elements 3 comprises an upper face 4, a lower face 5, a first side 6, a second side 7, a third side 8 and a fourth side 9.

More in detail, the upper face 4 is opposite to the lower face 5, the first side 6 is opposite to the third side 8 and the second side 7 is opposite to the fourth side 9. The pack of plate- shaped elements 3 also comprises twelve corners and eight vertices.

In this specification, the term corner means the junction between two faces positioned orthogonally to each other.

The term vertex, instead, means the point in which three faces and three corners join together of the pack of plate- shaped elements 3, in which the three faces are orthogonal in twos.

In the event of the pack of plate-shaped elements 3 comprising a single plate- shaped element, the upper face, the lower face and the sides of the plate- shaped element coincide with the upper face 4, the lower face 5 and the sides 6, 7, 8, 9 of the pack of the plate-shaped elements 3.

In the event, on the other hand, of the pack of plate- shaped elements 3 comprising a plurality of plate- shaped elements stacked one on top of other, the upper face 4 of the pack of plate-shaped elements 3 coincides with the upper face of the plate- shaped element arranged above, the lower face 5 of the pack of plate- shaped elements 3 coincides with the lower face of the plate- shaped element arranged below, the sides 6, 7, 8, 9 of the pack of plate-shaped elements 3 coincide with the set of sides of the plate- shaped elements stacked one on top of the other.

Generally, the blanks 2 are made of packaging material of the type of corrugated cardboard.

More in detail, each blank 2 can be defined as a single piece of suitably contoured packaging material depending on the sizes of the pack of plate- shaped elements 3, or each blank 2 can be defined as a plurality of pieces of packaging material joined together by means of suitable bonding elements to obtain the contour corresponding to the sizes of the pack of plate- shaped elements 3 to be packed.

The dimensions of the packs of plate- shaped elements 3, and therefore of the blanks 2 most available on the market are variable between e.g. the small formats of 10x10 cm type, the larger formats of 60x60 cm type, 100x100 cm and more, and particular formats of the type of elongated strips, such as 10x120 cm strips and the like.

Each blank 2 comprises a plurality of flaps 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 each of which having a substantially rectangular shape and a base side coinciding with the length of each individual flap 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, and a side orthogonal to the base side coinciding with the width of each individual flap 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27.

More in detail, each flap 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 comprises a pair of opposite base sides and a pair of opposite orthogonal sides.

Even more in detail, each base side is contiguous to each orthogonal side.

Within the present discussion, by the term opposite is meant two congruent segments, i.e. having the same length, and parallel to each other, while by the term contiguous is meant two segments having one extreme in common.

Figure 1 shows a starting configuration in which the pack of plate-shaped elements 3 is arranged substantially horizontal and, more particularly, the upper face 4 and the lower face 5 lie on substantially horizontal and parallel planes. In the starting configuration the blanks 2 are arranged flat, i.e. are lying and lie on substantially horizontal planes.

More in detail, in the starting configuration, the flaps 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 of each blank 2 are coplanar to a substantially horizontal reference plane and are arranged adjacent to one another.

In such starting configuration, the length of each flap 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 has an extension substantially parallel to the first side 6 and to the third side 8 and the width of each flap 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 has an extension substantially parallel to the second side 7 and to the fourth side 9. According to the invention, each of the blanks 2 comprises:

a first flap 10;

a second flap 11 connected to the first flap 10 by means of a first folding line 12;

- a third flap 13 connected to the second flap 11 by means of a second folding line 14 opposite to the first folding line 12;

a fourth flap 15 connected to the third flap 13 by means of a third folding line 16 opposite to the second folding line 14;

a fifth flap 17 connected to the fourth flap 15 by means of a fourth folding line 18 opposite to the third folding line 16;

a sixth flap 19 connected to the second flap 11 by means of a fifth folding line 20 contiguous and orthogonal to the first and to the second folding line 12, 14;

a seventh flap 21 connected to the fourth flap 15 by means of a sixth folding line 22 contiguous and orthogonal to the third and to the fourth folding line 16, 18.

The blanks 2 are intended to be placed in a packaging configuration in which the second and the fourth flap 11, 15 of each blank 2 are arranged to partially and respectively cover the lower face 5 and the upper face 4, the sixth and seventh flap 19, 21 of one of the blanks 2 are arranged to fully cover the first side 6 and the sixth and seventh flap 19, 21 of the other of the blanks 2 are arranged to fully cover the third side 8, the third flap 13 of each of the blanks 2 is arranged to partially cover the second side 7, the first and fifth flap 10, 17 of each blank 2 are arranged to partially cover the fourth side 9, all the flaps 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 , 23, 25, 27 of a blank 2 are spaced apart from all the flaps 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 of the other blank 2.

In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, each blank 2 further comprises:

an eighth flap 23 connected to the sixth flap 19 by means of a seventh folding line 24 contiguous and orthogonal to the fifth folding line 20, in the packaging configuration the eighth flap 23 of each blank 2 being arranged to partially cover the fourth side 9;

a ninth flap 25 connected to the third flap 13 by means of an eighth folding line 26 contiguous and orthogonal to the second and third folding line 14, 16, in the packaging configuration the ninth flap 25 of a blank 2 being arranged to partially cover the first side 6 and the ninth flap 25 of the other blank 2 being arranged to partially cover the third side 8;

a tenth flap 27 connected to the fifth flap 17 by means of a ninth folding line 28 contiguous and orthogonal to the fourth folding line 18, in the packaging configuration the tenth flap 27 of a blank 2 being arranged to partially cover the first side 6 on the opposite side with respect to the ninth flap 25 of the relative blank 2, while the tenth flap 27 of the other blank 2 is arranged to partially cover the third side 8 on the opposite side with respect to the ninth flap 25 of the relative blank 2.

In particular, in the starting configuration of Figure 1, all the flaps 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 of each blank 2 have the same width coinciding with the height of each side 6, 7, 8, 9, the first, third, fifth, eighth, ninth and tenth flaps 10, 13, 17, 23, 25, 27 of each blank 2 having the same length and the second, fourth, sixth and seventh flaps 11, 15, 19, 21 of each blank 2 having the same length.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which, for example, the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth flaps 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 of each blank 2 have a width coinciding with the height of each side 6, 7, 8, 9, while the first, second, third, fourth and fifth flaps 10, 11, 13, 15, 17 are larger or narrower than the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, tenth flaps 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 of the same blank 2.

Other embodiments cannot also be ruled out in which the flaps 10, 11, 13, 15,

17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 have different widths.

It is pointed out, however, that the particular embodiment shown in the figures is very advantageous since it is possible to obtain the blanks 2 from a sheet of packaging material which, in the starting configuration, is substantially rectangular, allowing minimizing the consumption and the waste of material.

In the embodiment shown in the figures:

- the first flap 10 of each blank 2 comprises a first lateral edge 29 contiguous and orthogonal to the first folding line 12, in the packaging configuration the first lateral edges 29 being spaced apart from one another;

the second flap 11 of each blank 2 comprises a second lateral edge 30 opposite to the fifth folding line 20 and contiguous and orthogonal to the first and second folding lines 12, 14, in the packaging configuration the second lateral edges 30 being spaced apart from one another;

the third flap 13 of each blank 2 comprises a third lateral edge 31 opposite to the eighth folding line 26 and contiguous and orthogonal to the second and third folding line 14, 16, in the packaging configuration the third lateral edges 31 being spaced apart from one another;

the fourth flap 15 of each blank 2 comprises a fourth lateral edge 32 opposite to the sixth folding line 22 and contiguous and orthogonal to the third and fourth folding lines 16, 18, in the packaging configuration the fourth lateral edges 32 being spaced apart from one another;

- the fifth flap 17 of each blank 2 comprises a fifth lateral edge 33 contiguous and orthogonal to the fourth folding line 18, in the packaging configuration the fifth lateral edges 33 being spaced apart from one another;

the eighth flap 23 of each blank 2 comprises a sixth lateral edge 34 opposite to the seventh folding line 24, in the packaging configuration the sixth lateral edges 34 being spaced apart from one another.

In the packing configuration shown in Figure 5:

the second, third and fourth flap 11, 13, 15 of each blank 2 are arranged at least partially and respectively on the lower face 5, on the second side 7 and on the upper face 4 in a substantially C-shaped configuration;

the sixth flap 19 of each blank 2 is arranged orthogonal onto the pack of plate-shaped elements 3 with respect to the second flap 11;

- the seventh flap 21 of each blank 2 is arranged orthogonal onto the pack of plate- shaped elements 3 with respect to the fourth flap 15.

In the packing configuration the sixth and seventh flap 19, 21 of each blank 2 are at least partially overlapped with each other in a first overlapping area 35. As can be seen from Figure 3, the ninth flap 25 of each blank 2 is overlapped on the seventh and sixth flap 21, 19 at the first overlapping area 35.

More in detail, the ninth flap 25 of a blank 2 is arranged between the first side 6 and the seventh and sixth flap 21, 19 of the same blank 2, folded one over the other.

Similarly, the ninth flap 25 of the other blank 2 is arranged between the third side 8 and the seventh and sixth flap 21, 19 of the same blank 2, folded one over the other.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which the sixth, the seventh and the ninth flap 19, 21, 25 of each blank 2 are folded one over the other in a different order with respect to the embodiment shown in the illustrations.

Furthermore, as is evident again from Figure 3, the tenth flap 27 of each blank 2 is overlapped on the seventh and sixth flap 21, 19 at the first overlapping area 35.

More in detail, the tenth flap 27 of a blank 2 is arranged between the first side 6 and the seventh and sixth flap 21, 19 of the same blank 2, folded one over the other.

Similarly, the tenth flap 27 of the other blank 2 is arranged between the third side 8 and the seventh and sixth flap 21, 19 of the same blank 2, folded one over the other.

Alternative embodiments cannot however be ruled out in which the sixth, the seventh and the tenth flap 19, 21, 27 of each blank 2 are folded one over the other in a different order with respect to the embodiment shown in the illustrations.

The first and fifth flap 10, 17 of a blank 2 are overlapped on one another in a second overlapping area 36 arranged at a portion of the fourth side 9 adjacent to the first side 6.

Similarly, the first and fifth flap 10, 17 of the other blank 2 are overlapped on one another at the second overlapping area 36 arranged adjacent to the third side 8.

More in detail, the fifth flap 17 of each blank 2 is interposed between the fourth side 9 and the first flap 10.

In the packing configuration shown in the illustrations, the eighth flap 23 of each blank 2, once folded onto the pack of plate-shaped elements 3, is arranged at the second overlapping area 36.

More in detail, the eighth flap 23 of a blank 2, once folded at the second overlapping area 36, is interposed between the fifth flap 17 and the first flap 10. The packaging 1 comprises fixing means 37, 38 adapted to maintain the blanks 2 folded on the pack of plate-shaped elements 3 in the packaging configuration. In particular, the fixing means 37, 38 comprise:

at least one adhesive element 37 arranged at each of the overlapping areas

35, 36;

- at least one strap element 38 wrapped around the pack of plate- shaped elements 3 at the upper face 4, at the lower face 5, at the first side 6 and at the third side 8.

The adhesive element 37 can be of the type of glue or adhesive tape for cardboard packaging material.

The strap element 38 can be of the type of a metal, plastic or vegetable fiber clamp.

Conveniently, the strap elements 38 are wrapped around the packs of plate- shaped elements 3 and are arranged in contact with the sixth flap 19 of each blank 2 at the first side 6 and the third side 8 and at the lower face 5 and the upper face 4.

One or more strap elements 38 can be used to maintain stacked one on top of the other and in a fixed position a plurality of packs of plate-shaped elements 3 each having the relative blanks 2 in the packaging configuration (Figure 6). Other embodiments cannot be ruled out wherein the maintenance of the blanks 2 in the packaging configuration is achieved by means of fixing means of various kinds, e.g. by means of stapling and/or punching of the portions of flaps 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 overlapping each other.

Alternatively, for a possible reduction in adhesive elements 37, the various flaps 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 can be made with a particular toothed contour that allows interlocking the flaps 10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25 with each other, making the packaging 1 even more rigid and sturdy for the protection of the pack of plate-shaped elements 3.

It has in practice been found that the described invention achieves the intended objects and in particular the fact is underlined that the blanks thus made allow facilitating and simplifying the packaging operations thus giving more sturdiness to the obtained packaging.

In addition, the distance between one blank and the other allows reducing the consumption of packaging material and adhesive elements placed at the overlapping areas between one blank and the other.

The packaging thus obtained allows keeping covered, and therefore protected, all the vertices of the pack of plate- shaped elements while leaving uncovered, and therefore exposed, part of the corners of the pack of plate-shaped elements and part of the top decorated surface.

The realization of packaging consisting of blanks which have a rectangular shape allows minimizing the problems linked to the contouring operations carried out by means of punch-cutting machines, in which the waste material derived from the cut needs to be instantly removed in order not to jeopardize the operation of the punch- cutting machine.

In case of special contouring, in which there are many portions of packaging material to be discarded, the malfunctions of the punch-cutting machines are more likely and frequent due to portions of waste material not properly removed from the punch-cutting machines themselves.

Such packaging also has a remarkable versatility of use for the packing of packs of plate-shaped elements since, being the blanks arranged on the opposite side of the pack of plate-shaped elements, they are kept in contact with the pack itself in a fixed position by means of one or more strap elements.

This way the operations are also reduced to obtain the packaging configuration, by reducing, in any way, the consumption of packaging material.

Unlike the known type of packaging, the packaging thus made provides the manufacturer with the possibility of using each packaging in a customized manner depending on the packaging needs and on the different types of packs of plate- shaped elements to be packaged.

To this is added the fact that in the field of ceramic industry, the need is increasingly felt for re-packing, i.e. removing the protection cardboard of a pack of plate- shaped elements (bearing e.g. the trademark of the manufacturer) and replacing with another (bearing e.g. the trademark of the seller).

The packaging according to the invention can fulfill this aim very easily since it is possible to reuse the two blanks once they have been removed from the pack of plate- shaped elements .

In particular, since there are no overlapping areas between one blank and the other, it is unnecessary to interpose adhesive elements to keep them anchored to one another.

This way, each blank can be removed by simply pulling it out from the pack of plate-shaped elements, without the need of tearing it off and therefore making it unusable for future packaging.

The packaging according to the invention therefore allows re-packing in the event of the formats of the new packs to be packaged coinciding with the packaging already made.

Claims

1) Packaging (1) for plate-shaped elements, particularly for tiles in ceramic material, stone, wood and/or glass, comprising a pair of blanks (2) in packaging material folded on a pack of plate- shaped elements (3) to be packaged, said pack of plate-shaped elements (3) comprising a lower face (5) an upper face (4), a first side (6), a second side (7), a third side (8) and a fourth side (9), wherein said upper face (4) is opposite to said lower face (5), said first side (6) is opposite to said third side (8) and said second side (7) is opposite to said fourth side (9), characterized in that each of said blanks (2) comprises:

- a first flap (10);

a second flap (11) connected to said first flap (10) by means of a first folding line (12);

a third flap (13) connected to said second flap (11) by means of a second folding line (14) opposite to said first folding line (12);

- a fourth flap (15) connected to said third flap (13) by means of a third folding line (16) opposite to said second folding line (14);

a fifth flap (17) connected to said fourth flap (15) by means of a fourth folding line (18) opposite to said third folding line (16);

a sixth flap (19) connected to said second flap (11) by means of a fifth folding line (20) consecutive and orthogonal to said first and second folding lines (12, 14);

a seventh flap (21) connected to said fourth flap (15) by means of a sixth folding line (22) consecutive and orthogonal to said third and fourth folding lines (16, 18);

said blanks (2) being placed in a packaging configuration wherein said second and fourth flap (11, 15) of each of said blanks (2) are arranged to partly and respectively cover said lower face (5) and said upper face (4), said sixth and seventh flap (19, 21) of one of said blanks (2) are arranged to entirely cover said first side (6) and said sixth and seventh flap (19, 21) of the other of said blanks (2) are arranged to entirely cover said third side (8), said third flaps (13) of each of said blanks (2) are arranged to partly cover said second side (7), said first and fifth flap (10, 17) of each of said blanks (2) are arranged to partly cover said fourth side (9), all the flaps (10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27) of a blank (2) being spaced apart from all the flaps (10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27) of the other blank (2).

2) Packaging (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each of said blanks (2) comprises an eighth flap (23) connected to said sixth flap (19) by means of a seventh folding line (24) consecutive and orthogonal to said fifth folding line (20), in said packaging configuration said eighth flap (23) being arranged to partly cover said fourth side (9).

3) Packaging (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a ninth flap (25) connected to said third flap

(13) by means of an eighth folding line (26) consecutive and orthogonal to said second and third folding lines (14, 16), in said packaging configuration said ninth flap (25) of one of said blanks (2) being arranged to partly cover said first side (6) and said ninth flap (25) of the other of said blanks (2) being arranged to partly cover said third side (8).

4) Packaging (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a tenth flap (27) connected to said fifth flap (17) by means of a ninth folding line (28) consecutive and orthogonal to said fourth folding line (18), in said packaging configuration said tenth flap (27) of one of said blanks (2) being arranged to partly cover said first side (6) and said tenth flap (27) of the other of said blanks (2) being arranged to partly cover said third side (8).

5) Packaging (1) according to claims 2 to 4, characterized in that:

said first flap (10) of each of said blanks (2) comprises a first lateral edge (29) consecutive and orthogonal to said first folding line (12), in said packaging configuration said first lateral edges (29) being spaced apart from one another;

said second flap (11) of each of said blanks (2) comprises a second lateral edge (30) opposite to said fifth folding line (20) and consecutive and orthogonal to said first and second folding lines (12, 14), in said packaging configuration said second lateral edges (30) being spaced apart from one another; said third flap (13) of each of said blanks (2) comprises a third lateral edge (31) opposite to said eighth folding line (26) and consecutive and orthogonal to said second and third folding lines (14, 16), in said packaging configuration said third lateral edges (31) being spaced apart from one another;

said fourth flap (15) of each of said blanks (2) comprises a fourth lateral edge (32) opposite to said sixth folding line (22) and consecutive and orthogonal to said third and fourth folding lines (16, 18), in said packaging configuration said fourth lateral edges (32) being spaced apart from one another;

said fifth flap (17) of each of said blanks (2) comprises a fifth lateral edge

(33) consecutive and orthogonal to said fourth folding line (18), in said packaging configuration said fifth lateral edges (33) being spaced apart from one another;

- said eighth flap (23) of each of said blanks (2) comprises a sixth lateral edge

(34) opposite to said seventh folding line (24), in said packaging configuration said sixth lateral edges (34) being spaced apart from one another.

6) Packaging (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said flaps (10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27) of each of said blanks (2) are arranged in a planar starting configuration wherein said flaps (10, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27) are coplanar to a reference plane and adjacent to one another.

7) Packaging (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said packaging configuration:

said second, third and fourth flap (11, 13, 15) of each blank (2) are arranged at least partly and respectively on said lower face (5), said second side (7) and said upper face (4) in a substantially C-shaped configuration;

said sixth flap (19) of each blank (2) is arranged orthogonal on said pack of plate-shaped elements (3) with respect to said second flap (11);

said seventh flap (21) of each blank (2) is arranged orthogonal on said pack of plate-shaped elements (3) with respect to said fourth flap (15). 8) Packaging (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said packaging configuration said sixth and seventh flap (19, 21) of each blank (2) are at least partly overlapped with one another in a first overlapping area (35).

9) Packaging (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and fifth flaps (10, 17) of each blank (2) are overlapped with one another in a second overlapping area (36).

10) Packaging (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises fixing means (37, 38) able to maintain said blanks (2) folded on said pack of plate- shaped elements (3) in said packaging configuration, wherein said fixing means (37, 38) comprise:

at least one adhesive element (37) arranged at each of said overlapping areas (35, 36); and

at least one strap element (38) wound around said pack of plate-shaped elements (3) at said upper face (4), said lower face (5), said first side (6) and said third side (8).