WO2019016466A1

WO2019016466A1 - Assembly and method for packaging at least one article

Info

Publication number: WO2019016466A1
Application number: PCT/FR2018/051817
Authority: WO
Inventors: Elodie KOPP; Louis Morel; Jean-Luc BAROU; Thomas HEBRARD
Original assignee: U'wine
Priority date: 2017-07-18
Filing date: 2018-07-17
Publication date: 2019-01-24
Also published as: FR3069235B1; FR3069235A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an assembly for packaging one or more objects, comprising a rigid or semi-rigid packaging unit (12) and a lining material (13) for wedging said object(s) in said packaging unit (12), and also to a method for filling said packaging unit (12). According to the invention, said lining material (13) is made of (or comprises) balls and/or pieces and/or chips of cork, said lining material (13) thermally insulating said object(s) at least partially when the latter are packaged in said assembly.

Description

Package and method for packaging

at least one article

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the general field of object packaging, and more specifically to the setting and protection of containers such as wine bottles, packaged in packaging, including cases, boxes or crates.

It also relates to an installation for packaging such objects.

Technological background

It is known, for shipping bottles containing a liquid food such as wine, to package these bottles in packages, inside which are placed separating elements such as braces, to maintain spaced bottles of the other.

By way of example, it is customary for the transport of so-called premium bottles, to be packaged in raw wooden crates whose aesthetic enhances their content. Decorative accessories such as leather or metals, can come to underline the refinement and the prestige of their contents.

The bottles that are usually lying inside these crates, are typically separated by wooden guillotines. The latter also ensure isolation of the bottles relative to the walls forming the bottom and the lid of each box.

However, it is found that these bottles are not firmly held in position in such boxes. This can result from slight variations in the manufacture of guillotines or when assembling crates or even slight variations between each bottle, even when they have the same traditional form (Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, ...). ) ■

It is observed, therefore, 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 shipping of these boxes, each of them is the object of many manipulations and transfers, which can lead to contact with other objects or 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 has sufficiently absorbed energy.

A bottle being a fragile article, it results in damage, which can go as far as the loss of the liquid contained in the bottle when the bottle is broken.

The shipper is then exposed to claims, delays in delivery and significant additional costs to replace or compensate its customers.

In addition, it is noted that a wooden box insufficiently protects, the food liquids contained in the containers it conditions, external conditions to which it is exposed during his or her expeditions.

However, some of these food liquids, fragile and expensive, 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 containers more effective, overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks of current packaging.

Object of the invention

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

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

Another object of the present invention is a method of simple, economical and fast packaging of at least one object such as a container, adapting to variations in the dimensions of this object. Yet another object of the present invention is an installation for the implementation of such a packaging assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

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

According to the invention, said packing material consists of balls and / or chips and / or cork chips, said packing material providing at least partial thermal insulation of said one or more objects when said one or more of said articles are packed in said together.

Preferably, these cork balls are full.

Preferably, this packing material consists of beads and / or pieces and / or individual cork chips that are free, that is to say not linked together or not aggregated.

As a purely illustrative example of a rigid package, there is a case or a case made of wood or made of a hard plastic material.

As purely illustrative of a semi-rigid package, there will be mentioned a box or a cardboard case.

Advantageously, the cork lining material is an excellent non-toxic insulating material because it virtually does not allow heat or cold to pass.

It is also flame retardant, impermeable, rotproof and recyclable. It does not transmit vibrations and is a sound insulator.

The addition of a cork lining material also ensures that it creeps into all empty spaces to protect the contents of the package in the event of a drop. Tests on wine crates have demonstrated the increased protection provided by cork, the latter effectively absorbing the forces resulting from shocks to these crates.

Thus, the packaging assembly according to the invention manages to isolate each bottle of each wall of the package satisfactorily. Of course, such an assembly may be in the form of a kit with its elements (A) and (B) arranged in isolation, wherein (A) is a package and (B) is a packing material. The latter can then be arranged in bulk.

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

Different particular embodiments of this packaging set are conceivable, each having its particular advantages and likely to have many possible technical combinations:

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

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

This packing material can thus be made of cork microbeads.

- This set includes a protective overwrap intended to surround said package, said overpack being configured to absorb at least partly a shock or a blow.

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

Such overwrap effectively enhances the protection of each object packaged throughout the invention.

- This set for packaging comprises a fully flexible bag configured to receive all the packing material.

Advantageously, this bag thus makes it possible to store the packing material after opening the package. This avoids part of the packing material is scattered at the opening of the package.

Preferably, this bag is stored folded in the package, and even better, is placed directly under the lid of the package when the latter is a box.

- This package being a box having a volume of packaging and each object being positioned in a supine position in said box, said assembly comprises half-walls each provided with cutouts for defining 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 vis-à-vis this body also have vertical grooves placed facing pairwise to receive interior walls of the packing box. These inner walls are each formed of two half-walls provided with orifices. In known manner, these inner walls, also called guillotines, serve to keep the bottles extending through these openings in the packing box 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 packaging with a packing material, said packaging defining an interior volume in which said object or objects are packaged, said packaging being closed.

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

a) making at least one orifice in said package, each orifice being configured to ensure the passage of said packing material in the interior volume defined by said package, and

b) feeding the free inner volume of said package with said packing material through said at least one orifice and closing said at least one orifice.

The inner volume of the package being partly occupied by one or more objects, this results in a volume, or space, free interior likely to receive packing elements to ensure the setting of this or these objects packaged in the package.

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

in step b), said lining material is injected under pressure into said free internal volume.

Preferably, at least two orifices being made in step a), said packing material is injected sequentially, orifice by orifice, each orifice thus used for supplying said free internal 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 internal volume of said package is fed by means of a supply hopper pressurized by a source of compressed air.

In step b), said package having a longitudinal axis, the free internal volume of said package is fed with said packing material while at least the longitudinal axis of said package is inclined with respect to a vertical axis, relative to at the surface of the ground, to promote a uniform distribution of said packing material by gravity.

Advantageously, this package is not only inclined with respect to its longitudinal axis but also with respect to a transverse axis so that the internal free volume of said package is placed obliquely to receive the packing material.

Preferably, said object or objects being elongated articles which are lying in the interior volume of said package, at least two orifices being made in step a), said orifices being aligned or substantially aligned, two of which are placed at opposite ends said package, partially fills the free volume of said package through a first end port, said package being arranged such that said first port is placed in the upper position relative to the other or the other ports during filling, then said package is returned to place the other end port not yet used in the highest position relative to the other or the other orifices.

- Prior to step a), the number of objects packaged in said packaging and their positioning are determined.

Preferably, one or more steps of unbalancing said package to achieve its most loaded part, and consequently the positioning of objects when they have one end heavier than the other.

- As this package is rigid, such as a wooden box, step a) consists of drilling said package to achieve said at least one orifice, a stop member being implemented to determine a drilling depth.

Advantageously, this avoids damaging the contents of said packaging.

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

said packing material consists of cork balls having a mean diameter of between 0.5 and 5 mm, preferably of between 2 and 4 mm,

said overpack comprises a protective overwrap intended to surround said package, said overpack being configured to absorb at least part of 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 comprises:

means for providing at least one orifice in said package, each orifice being configured to allow passage therethrough of said packing material,

a feed hopper of filling material, said hopper being connected to a source of pressure for pushing said packing material into the free interior of said package through each orifice, preferably with which it is connected.

Preferably, said packaging having a longitudinal axis, this installation comprises at least one element of inclination of said package with respect to at least its longitudinal axis. By way of example, this installation may comprise at least one tilting element allowing bias positioning of each package in order to fill its free volume with said packing material.

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

The present invention further relates to the use 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 features of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, made for an explanatory and non-limiting purpose, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a partial view of a packaging assembly according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the lid of the box has been omitted for the sake of clarity;

- Figure 2 shows the assembly of FIG. 1 after removing a portion of the packing material to partially discover a portion 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 of it;

- Figure 5 is a partial view in perspective 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 exit of this one;

- Figure 7 is a partial view of a feed hopper filling material of a packaging plant according to another embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the injector of the hopper of FIG.

7;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

First, we note that the figures are not scaled.

Figures 1 and 2 schematically show a packaging assembly according to a particular embodiment of the present invention. This set 10 for the packaging of wine bottles 11 comprises a packing box 12 and a packing material 13 for wedging these bottles in this box 12.

This parallelepiped-shaped packaging box 12 comprises a body body having an upper opening, in particular for inserting and removing the bottles, and a lid (not shown) for sealing this opening. The body body conventionally comprises a bottom and four side walls rising from this bottom wall.

The packing box 10 is rigid and made here of wood. Two of the side walls placed in facing relation comprise cutouts 14 for receiving guillotines 15 making it possible to separate the bottles from each other.

The packing material 13 is made of cork chips that completely fill the free internal volume of the body body, as shown in FIG.

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

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

This installation comprises, as input, a storage area 21 receiving closed packages 22, in which containers are packaged for handling and transport. These containers are here stored in a supine position in their packaging by being placed head to tail to minimize congestion.

These packages 22 are waiting for treatment on the installation 20, during which the free internal volume of each package will be filled with a packing material. The latter is here made of micro-cork balls.

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

Advantageously, this bench comprises 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 the 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 bottle. packaging for the introduction of the packing material.

It also comprises a drill 23 for producing at least one orifice in each package 22. The drilling tool such as a wick (not shown) can advantageously be changed to modify the diameter of the pierced hole in the body of the package 22. This piercing tool is configured such that the diameter of each hole thus formed in the package 22 allows the passage of packing material therethrough.

Advantageously, this drill 23 comprises an abutment element (not shown) to determine a drilling depth and avoid damaging the contents of the packaging 22. This abutment element is preferably adjustable to allow adjusting the drilling depth.

Of course, this installation 20 could be semi- or fully automated so that the drill 23 would be carried by a robot, preferably an articulated arm for moving the latter in a drilling zone, so that the drill 23 is placed in position. vis-à-vis previously established packaging piercing points. In addition, at least one camera could be used to locate targets, or marks, previously assembled to the package 22, for example by gluing, to identify one or more piercing points of the body of the latter. The packages 22 could be conveyed and evacuated by at least one conveyor belt.

Once pierced, the package 22 is conveyed to a filling station. This filling station comprises a feed hopper 24 for filling material, this hopper 24 being connected via a control member to a source of compressed air (not shown) to push the packing material towards the free inside of the package 22 through each hole previously made.

In order to fill the internal volume of each package 22, this installation comprises two elements 25, 26 of inclination allowing a positioning of the opposite bias of the corresponding packaging during its progressive filling with the filling material through each orifice and this, to ensure a uniform filling of its free volume.

We will seek, in fact, to obtain the best rate of compactness to ensure a good protection of the contents of the package. Free fall tests of such packages were conducted from a height of about two meters fifty (2m50) to show the good results obtained with the method of the invention. The contents of any packaging were found to be damaged by such a fall.

In the installation 20 illustrated in FIG. 3, three orifices 27 being made in the body of the package 22, 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 it through a first end port on a first inclination member, said package 22 being arranged such that during filling, this first end port is placed in the upper position relative to the two other holes, then we turn over and switch this package 22 to place the other end port not yet used in the highest position relative to the other ports on the second element 26 inclination.

In order to minimize the losses of packing material, after introducing packing material through an orifice 27, the latter is closed again. A wooden pellet may for example be stuck in each orifice 27, filling the orifice and making sure 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 aesthetic.

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

At the outlet of the installation is placed a storage area 29 of the packages 22 before shipment.

Figures 7 and 8 show partial views of a feed hopper 13 lining material connected to a source of pressurized fluid in a packaging plant according to another embodiment.

More specifically, this hopper 30 comprises a reservoir 31 for receiving bulk packing material, this tank 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 orifice of the base of the reservoir 27 so as to receive by gravity of the material 13 lining.

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 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 made in the body of a package 22, the material 13 of packing is then projected inside this package 22 for the purpose of filling its interior volume.

Claims

An assembly for the packaging of one or more objects comprising a rigid or semi-rigid package (12) and a stuffing material (13) for wedging the one or more objects in said package (12), characterized in that said material (13) packing consists of solid beads and / or pieces and / or cork chips that are unbound, said material (13) lining providing at least partial thermal insulation of said object or objects when the latter or these are packaged in said set.

2. An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said package (12) is a packing box (12) or a case, said case or said case being made of wood, cardboard or made of at least one plastic material for example in plexiglass.

3. An assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said filling material (13) is made of cork balls having an average diameter of 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 a protective overpack (12) 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 package (12) being a box having a packaging volume and each object being positioned in a supine position in said box, said set comprises half walls (15) each provided with cutouts for defining orifices when these half-walls are assembled in pairs being received in said box, for the passage of a portion of each object.

6. A method of filling a package (12) with a packing material (13), said package (12) defining an interior volume in which said one or more objects are packaged, said package (12) being closed, characterized in that when said packing material (13) consists of balls and / or pieces and / or cork shavings, the following steps are carried out:

a) making at least one orifice in said package (12), each orifice being configured to ensure the passage of said material (13) of lining in the interior volume delimited by said package (12),

b) feeding the free inner volume of said package (12) with said material (13) lining 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 filling material (13) is injected under pressure into said free internal volume.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that at least two orifices being made in step a), injecting said material (13) lining sequentially orifice per orifice, each orifice thus used to supply said volume free interior being closed before passing to another orifice.

9. The method of claim 7 or 8, characterized in that feeds the free internal volume of said package (12) by means of a feed hopper (24) pressurized 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, it feeds the free inner volume of said package (12) with said material (13) while at least the longitudinal axis of said package (12) is inclined with respect to a vertical axis with respect to the ground surface to promote uniform distribution of said gravity packing material (13).

11. The method of claim 10, characterized in that said object or objects being elongate articles which are lying in said package (12), at least two holes being made in step a), said orifices being aligned or substantially aligned. , two of which are at opposite ends of said package (12), the free volume of said package (12) is partially filled through a first end port, said package (12) being arranged such that said first orifice is placed in the upper position relative to the other or the other orifices during filling, then said package (12) is returned to place the other end orifice not yet used in the highest position relative to the other or the other orifices.

12. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 11, characterized in that prior to step a), one determines the number of objects packaged in said package (12) and their positioning.

13. A method according to any one of claims 6 to 12, characterized in that said package (12) being rigid, step a) consists of drilling said package (12) to make said at least one orifice, an element abutment being implemented to determine a drilling depth and avoid damaging the contents of said package (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 providing at least one orifice (27) in said package (12), each orifice (27) being configured to allow passage of said lining material (13) therethrough,

a feed hopper (24) for filling material (13), said hopper (24) being connected to a source of pressure for pushing said filling material (13) inwardly from said package (12) through each orifice (27).

15. Installation according to claim 14, characterized in that said package (12) having a longitudinal axis, it comprises at least one tilting element (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 fluid under pressure to control the transport of said material (13) of packing in a flow of pressurized fluid.