U.S. patent application number 10/471229 was filed with the patent office on 2004-06-17 for packaging insert for product separation and protection.
Invention is credited to Davidsson, Stefan.
Application Number | 20040112947 10/471229 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 20283256 |
Filed Date | 2004-06-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040112947 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Davidsson, Stefan |
June 17, 2004 |
Packaging insert for product separation and protection
Abstract
Manufacturers of extruded profiles have two major problems with
the present packaging material, i.e. a too low stability and the
fact that the profiles are not separated in the package. Extruded
profiles are often manufactured in short series, which puts high
demands on short turnaround times, also when packaging the
profiles. Another demand is that the products should be packed so
as to take up the smallest volume possible. The present invention
solves this problem by folding a sheet to form partition walls (B)
on which a second insert is resting, so that each profile is
completely separated from the others and each layer is only
carrying its own weight. The sheet may be folded so that the
compartments assume different height and width, both within a layer
and between different layers. The stability is obtained by
attaching, preferably by gluing, the partition walls, or,
alternatively, the folded sheet, on a base plate (A) which may
consist of the same material as the partition walls. The packaging
insert is manufactured using an apparatus in which the dimensions
of the insert are continuously adjustable, so that products with
different dimensions may be packed in the same package.
Inventors: |
Davidsson, Stefan;
(US) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SWIDLER BERLIN SHEREFF FRIEDMAN, LLP
3000 K STREET, NW
BOX IP
WASHINGTON
DC
20007
US
|
Family ID: |
20283256 |
Appl. No.: |
10/471229 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
December 21, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/SE01/02873 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/120.38 ;
217/26; 53/444 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 5/48024 20130101;
B65D 2571/00043 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/120.38 ;
053/444; 217/026 |
International
Class: |
B65D 025/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 9, 2001 |
SE |
0100784-8 |
Claims
1. Packaging insert comprising at least one comb-construction,
wherein said comb construction comprises a base plate (A) with
thereon attached longitudinal, parallel partition walls (B),
characterized in that the partition walls consists of a dubble
folded sheet which is shaped so that a part of the sheet is forming
a T-flange which is attached to the base plate so that the
partition wall is forming a 90 degree, or approximately 90 degree,
angle to the base plate.
2. Packaging insert according to claim 1, characterized in that the
partition walls are attached by gluing.
3. Packaging insert comprising several comb constructions,
according to any of claims 1 or 2, in successive layers.
4. Packaging insert according to claim 3, characterized in that the
height of the partition walls in the individual layers is not the
same.
5. Packaging insert according to any of claims 3 or 4,
characterized in that the distance between the partition walls in
the individual layers is not the same.
6. Packaging insert according to any of claims 3 or 4,
characterized in that the distances between the partition walls
within one individual layer are not the same.
7. Packaging insert according to any of claims 1-6, characterized
in that it is manufactured by a natural fibre material.
8. Packaging insert according to claims 7, characterized in that
the natural fiber material is carton, paper, solid board or
paperboard.
9. Packaging insert according to any of claims 7 or 8,
characterized in that the the material has a basis weight of
200-600 g/M.sup.2.
10. Packaging insert according to any of claims 1-6, characterized
in that it is made of plastics or is a laminate.
11. Packaging insert according to any of claims 1-10, characterized
in that the base plate has a width of 50-500 mm.
12. Method of manufacturing a packaging insert according to any of
claims 1-11, characterized in that longitudinal, parallel partition
walls (B) are attached on at least one side of the base plate
(A).
13. Method of manufacturing a packaging insert according to claim
12, characterized in that the partition walls are formed by dubble
folding a sheet so that a part of the sheet is forming a
T-flange.
14. Method of manufacturing a packaging insert according to any of
claims 12 or 13, characterized in that the partition walls are
attached to the base plate by gluing.
15. Method of manufacturing a packaging insert according to any of
claims 12-14, characterized in that, after packaging of objects in
the formed compartments, at least one more comb construction is
placed on top of the first one.
16. Method of manufacturing a packaging insert according to any of
claims 12-15, characterized in that several layers of comb
constructions are placed on top of each other so that longitudinal
compartments are formed and that the partition walls of the
compartments are higher than the objects to be packed.
17. Method of manufacturing a packaging insert according to any of
claims 12-16, characterized in that the comb construction is put in
a fixture.
18. Method of manufacturing a packaging insert according to any of
claims 12-17, characterized in that the comb construction is put in
a wrapping.
19. Use of a packaging insert according to any of claims 1-12 for
the packaging of longitudinal objects.
20. Use of a packaging insert according to claim 19, in which the
longitudinal objects are extruded aluminium profiles.
21. Apparatus for manufacturing packaging inserts comprising a feed
unit (1) for the material for a base plate and a feed unit (2) for
the material for the partition walls, characterized in that the
feed direction of the base plate runs in parallel to the feed
direction for the partition walls.
22. Apparatus for manufacturing packaging inserts according to
claim 21, characterized in that a cutting tool for the cutting of a
sheets aimed to become partition walls is located at the end of
feeder band 2.
23. Apparatus for manufacturing packaging inserts according to
claim 21-22, characterized in that the width of the feed unit for
the partition wall material is continuously adjustable.
24. Apparatus for manufacturing packaging inserts according to
claim 21-23, characterized in that the longitudinal feed adjustment
of the feed unit for the base plate is continuously adjustable.
25. Apparatus for manufacturing packaging inserts according to
claim 21-24, characterized in that a cutting tool for the base
plate is located above feeder band 1.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging insert for
packaging of elongated objects, such as extruded profiles, as well
as a process for producing said packaging insert. The invention
also relates to an apparatus for producing the packaging insert.
The packaging insert has a high stability and is adjusted to the
size of the objects.
[0002] Manufacturers of extruded profiles have two major problems
with the present packaging materials, e g a too low stability and
the fact that the profiles are not separated in the package. This
leads to deformation and damage to the surfaces of the
profiles.
[0003] Extruded profiles are often manufactured in short series,
which puts high demands on short turnaround times, also when
packaging the profiles. Another demand is that the products should
be packed so as to take up the smallest volume possible.
[0004] In FR-1521839 a packaging inlay for bottles is manufactured
by folding a cardboard blank to receive compartments of conical
shape. The height of compartments in one layer and the volume of
individual compartments are constant.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 3,263,894 describes a shipping container made
from corrugated paper board for the packaging fruit. The
compartments may have different heights in different layers. This
construction has only got the required stability due to one or
several vertical dividers positioned across the folded partition
panels.
[0006] None of the above document provides a rigid construction
with parallel partition walls and individually relieved layers of
packaging goods. It is also not disclosed how variable sizes of the
compartments are to be achieved.
[0007] The present invention solves the above problem by the use of
an insert where the compartments assume different heights and
widths, both within a single layer and between the different
layers. To achieve this a blank is folded to form a partition
wall.
[0008] The wall is attached to a base plate, which is fed from a
manufacturing unit for producing the said insert. When the
packaging inlay is provided with the desired number of partition
walls/have the desired length the base plate is cut and the insert
is put in a fixture. When the insert has been charged with material
in all compartments a second insert is placed on top of the
previous one. The procedure is repeated until the preferred number
of layers is obtained. Consequently, each profile is completely
separated from the others and each layer in the insert carries its
own weight.
[0009] The material used in the partition wall and in the base
plate may be organic, e g polymeric, a laminate, or may be based on
natural fibers, e g paper, cartoon, solid paper, board, or a
similar material. The rigidity is achieved be attaching the
partition walls onto a base plate that may consist of the same
material as the partition walls or of another material. The
partition walls may be attached by gluing, clenching, snapping or
by any other method.
[0010] The invention is also concerned with an apparatus for
manufacturing the said packaging insert, comprising a feed unit for
the base plate (1) and a feed unit for the partition walls (2). The
direction of transportation of the base plate material is parallel
with the direction of transportation for the partition walls. The
width of the feed unit should be continuously adjustable, whereby
partition walls of different heights may be obtained.
[0011] When sufficient length of the material for a partition wall
has been fed, and the material hits the prefixed holding-up tool,
the material is cut in a cutting tool. Glue is applied to the back
of the blank, which is then folded in half and flaps of the blank
is folded in opposite directions, where after the flaps are glued
onto the base plate.
[0012] Also the feed unit for the base plate is continuously
adjustable, which provides for an insert with different distances
between the partition walls.
[0013] When the packaging insert has the intended length the
material is cut with a cutting tool between two partition
walls.
[0014] The claimed apparatus is adapted to the manufacturing of
packaging inserts having glued-on individual separators, but may
also be used for sheets that has been folded to form a higher
number of separators and that are later glued onto the base plate.
The speed for feeding the material for the partition walls may be
regulated to vary the height of the partition wall and cutting of
the material takes place only when the folded sheet has assumed the
desired length, corresponding to the full length of the base
plate.
[0015] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment where a comb construction has
been manufactured by attaching separate partition walls (B) onto a
base plate (A).
[0016] In FIG. 2 several layers of the comb construction in FIG. 1
are used.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows an apparatus for the manufacturing of the
packaging insert.
[0018] Preferably the material of the inlay is made from cardboard
with a basis weight of 200-600 g/m.sup.2. The width of the finished
comb construction in the direction of the partition wall is between
50 and 500 mm. Several inlays may be put in an outer wrapping or a
fixture, so that the weight may be partially released along the
objects packed.
EXAMPLE 1
[0019] Strips of melt glue is applied in lines with a mutual
distance of 50,5 mm on a base plate of solid cardboard with a width
of 200 mm and the length 800 mm. Separate partition walls are
manufactured by folding a paper sheet having a width of 71 mm and a
length of 200 mm along the centre line. The partition walls are
then glued along the fold except for the last 5 mm. The non-glued
parts of the sheet is folded outwardly to form a 90 degree angle
against the glued parts, so that a part of the sheet forms a
T-flange. The folded flanges are pressed against the applied glue
and fixed in a position so as to form a packaging insert with
compartments with a width of 50.5 mm and a height of 30.5 mm are
formed. Two of these inserts are then placed in a wrapping with a
distance between the inlays in the direction of the packed objects,
so that weight may be partially released along the objects
packed.
[0020] Aluminium profiles with the dimension 50.times.30.times.200
mm is put in the compartments. Another packaging insert is put on
top of the first one so that the upper layer is resting on the
partition walls of the lower layer. Several layers of the packaging
insert is put on top of the previous one until the desired number
of layers is reached, whereby the outer wrapping is sealed. The
height and width of the packaging inserts may be varied in between
and within the layers and the number of layers may be chosen
freely.
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