U.S. patent application number 13/926016 was filed with the patent office on 2014-04-10 for process for producing a packaing unit.
The applicant listed for this patent is KHS GmbH. Invention is credited to Wolfgang Buchkremer, Hajo Friesen, Gernot Keil, Franz Mader, Werner Oster, Norbert Pastoors.
Application Number | 20140096486 13/926016 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49753762 |
Filed Date | 2014-04-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140096486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Buchkremer; Wolfgang ; et
al. |
April 10, 2014 |
PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A PACKAING UNIT
Abstract
A method for producing a packaging unit includes combining
individual products into a product formation, providing a
shrink-wrap film having a perforation area that is susceptible to
contact-free activation, and using the shrink-wrap film, securing
the individual products to each other.
Inventors: |
Buchkremer; Wolfgang;
(Grevenbroich, DE) ; Keil; Gernot; (Braunweiler,
DE) ; Mader; Franz; (Haar, DE) ; Oster;
Werner; (Kleve, DE) ; Friesen; Hajo; (Worms,
DE) ; Pastoors; Norbert; (Kleve, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KHS GmbH |
Dortmund |
|
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
49753762 |
Appl. No.: |
13/926016 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/442 ;
53/557 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 71/08 20130101;
B65B 61/00 20130101; B65B 53/02 20130101; B65D 75/5833 20130101;
B65B 9/073 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/442 ;
53/557 |
International
Class: |
B65B 9/073 20060101
B65B009/073 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 25, 2012 |
DE |
10 2012 012 407.4 |
Claims
1-11. (canceled)
12. A method for producing a packaging unit, said method comprising
combining individual products into a product formation, providing a
shrink-wrap film having a perforation area that is susceptible to
contact-free activation, and using said shrink-wrap film, securing
said individual products to each other.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising causing
contact-activation of said film at said perforation area using an
energy source, thereby reducing film strength at said perforation
area.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein reducing film strength
comprises reducing film strength by more than 5% in said
perforation area after contact-free activation thereof.
15. The method of claim 12, further comprising furnishing said
shrink-wrap film with a perforation coating, and causing
contact-free activation of said perforation coating.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein furnishing said shrink-wrap
film with a perforation coating comprises applying said perforation
coating on an upper film surface of said film.
17. The method of claim 15, wherein furnishing said film with a
perforation coating comprises printing a coating on said film.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein printing a coating on said film
is carried out after securing said individual products to each
other.
19. The method of claim 15, wherein furnishing said film with a
perforation coating comprises furnishing a perforation coating that
absorbs a selected form of energy.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising heating said film by
providing said selected form of energy to be absorbed by said
film.
21. The method of claim 15, furnishing said film with a perforation
coating comprises furnishing a perforation coating that engages in
a chemical reaction in response to a selected form of energy.
22. The method of claim 13, wherein causing contact-activation of
said film at said perforation area using an energy source comprises
causing contact-free activation using electromagnetic
radiation.
23. The method of claim 13, wherein causing contact-activation of
said film at said perforation area using an energy source comprises
causing contact-activation using inductively-stored energy.
24. The method of claim 13, wherein causing contact-activation of
said film at said perforation area using an energy source comprises
causing contact-activation using capacitively-stored energy.
25. A manufacture comprising a packaging unit comprising individual
products, and a shrink-wrap film, wherein said shrink-wrap film is
furnished with a perforation area, wherein said individual products
are combined into a product formation, wherein said products are
secured to each other by said shrink-wrap film, and wherein said
perforation area is susceptible to contact-free activation.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the priority date of
German application DE 10 2012 012 407.4, filed on Jun. 25, 2012 the
contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] The invention concerns a method for producing a packaging
unit according to which individual products are combined into a
product formation and are secured to each other by means of a
shrink-wrap film. Also the subject of the invention is one of
individual products combined into a product formation, the products
being secured to each other by shrink-wrap film.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In producing packaging units, as described by the
type-defining prior art according to DE 10 2008 052 633 A1, the
shrink-wrap film or shrink film is wrapped around and then shrunk
onto the product formation, with the formation of at least one
lateral opening. In the area of this lateral opening, the
shrink-wrap film is arranged with a closed surface in the form of a
closure with overlapping fold areas. This reduces costs and leaves
functionality unchanged.
[0004] To guarantee the stability of the aforesaid packaging units,
manufacturers fall back not only on special closures as described
in DE 10 2008 052 633 A1, but in practice, stabilization means are
often used as a supplement or in addition. These could be cardboard
bases, so-called pads or trays on which products, for example, are
placed and combined into the product formation. After looping the
packaging unit made in this way with the shrink film or shrink-wrap
film, the necessary stability is indeed largely achieved. But this
result is linked to the disadvantage that the packaging is not of a
single type.
[0005] The products to be packed can be, for example, containers
such as cans, bottles, tubes etc. Other products too, such as
glasses with a screw closure, goods packages for foods etc., can
form the relevant packaging unit. To now make the individual
products accessible, it is necessary to undo the shrunk-on film, at
least partially, for example to cut it or tear it etc. This often
requires a level of force and is regarded by consumers as being
inconvenient. For this reason, producers of such packaging units
provide perforations already made in the film, to facilitate the
tearing of the film and to allow easy access to the combined
products. These perforations are mostly made mechanically with the
help of, for example, blades during film production.
[0006] The known approach has a number of disadvantages. For
example, the mechanical perforations can typically only be made in
the film in the so-called rolling direction. This means that the
strip of film transported in a longitudinal direction for the
subsequent production of a length of film for wrapping around a
product formation can typically only be given perforations in this
longitudinal direction in a simple way and manner. Insofar as one
may also want perforations in a crosswise direction or diagonally,
the strip of film must be halted and/or moved at a reduced
production speed. This increases production costs. In addition, in
the subsequent shrink process in, for example, a shrink tunnel, the
previously made perforations mechanically weaken the resulting
packaging unit. This means that there is a danger that, during the
subsequent transportation, the packaging unit made in this way
tears unintentionally in the perforation area or in the area of the
previously made perforations.
SUMMARY
[0007] The invention is intended to provide a remedy to the
foregoing difficulties by providing a method and an associated
device for producing a packaging unit by means of which the
packaging unit can be produced with a high level of strength and at
the same time, only a simple manipulation is required during
opening.
[0008] A solution to this technical problem is a generic method for
producing a packaging unit in which the film is furnished with at
least one perforation area that can be activated in a contactless
manner.
[0009] The perforation area is generally defined by a perforation
coating applied to the film. The perforation coating can be
specifically made brittle or made weaker by an energy source. In
fact, the invention opens up the possibility of reducing the
strength of the film in the perforation area by more than 5% after
activation with an energy source working in a contactless manner.
Strength in the context of the invention means the tensile strength
and/or tear strength of the shrunk-on shrink-wrap film.
[0010] Some embodiments include furnishing the film in a first step
with the previously mentioned perforation coating. The perforation
coating can then be activated in a second downstream step. This
second step can directly follow the film shrinking operation. The
first step can, in contrast, be carried out before the shrinking of
the film or only after it. It is however also possible to carry out
the activation of the perforation coating only much later, for
example only after the transportation of the packaging unit to its
destination. This means that the energy source regularly needed and
working in a contactless manner to activate the perforation coating
is, in a first variant, arranged for example behind or even
immediately behind a shrink area or a shrink tunnel. In this case,
the packaging unit leaves the device for its production with the
film shrunk on and the perforation area defined on the film or with
the desired perforations.
[0011] The last of these variants mentioned however corresponds to
the energy source as a component of the device for producing the
packaging unit being arranged physically under certain
circumstances at a large distance from the actual shrink tunnel or
the shrink area. In fact, the energy source can be provided at the
place of processing of the packaging unit. In this case, the
perforation coating is only activated immediately before the
further processing of the packaging unit.
[0012] In this way, for example, during the transport of the
packaging unit, the unchanged strength of the film is provided and
is weakened specifically in the perforation area only immediately
upon opening the packaging unit. Moreover, the opening of the
packaging unit can be carried out generally by for example
warehouse personnel to remove the products from the packaging unit
and to place them, for example, on a shop shelf. Then, the
destroyed length of film can be collected as a single material type
and recycled.
[0013] However, it is equally possible for only the final consumer
to break open the packaging unit or to open the shrink-wrap film in
the area of the perforations, in order then to remove the products.
It is furthermore feasible for the end consumer to have, for
example, a mobile energy source. In this case too, the destroyed
length of film can be recycled as a single material type as,
because of the increased strength present during the transport,
additional stabilisation means are as a rule unnecessary.
[0014] In this connection, it is guaranteed in any case that the
products combined into the product formation do not experience any
damage from, for example, blades or other splitting devices in the
opening step of the shrunk-on film. This means that the products
are available at the desired quality and with undamaged packaging.
Moreover, no product damage is observed during transportation as
the packaging unit produced according to the invention cannot be
opened unintentionally. Instead, the activation of the perforation
coating can be set for a defined time and optionally specified.
[0015] To carry out the activation in detail, various options are
provided in the context of the invention. Thus, the perforation
coating can be made absorbent in terms of the energy source. Due to
the absorption of the energy emitted by the energy source, the
perforation coating is generally heated in the course of its
activation. This heating can be confined to local areas, which
represent the previously defined embrittlement areas, within which
the shrunk-on film can be easily opened.
[0016] Alternatively to this so to speak thermal activation of the
perforation coating by energy introduced contactlessly, it is
possible as an alternative or in addition, to start a chemical
reaction between the perforation coating and the film by means of
the energy. For example, the perforation coating can be made to be
oxidising, whereby the start of a corresponding oxidation process
of the perforation coating occurs by means of the energy source.
The oxidation and the usually associated emergence of (oxygen)
radicals now results in the film experiencing the desired specific
weakening at least in the area of this perforation coating. This
can occur in detail in such a way that the perforation coating
contains hydrogen peroxide that is activated by, for example,
specifically introduced heat by an infra-red source or generally a
heat source as the energy source. The hydrogen peroxide activated
in this way decomposes and the radicals thereby forming ensure that
the film is specifically weakened in the area of the perforation
coating.
[0017] In general, the energy source used is an electromagnetic
radiation source. Moreover, this can be a UV radiation source, a
microwave radiation source, an X-ray source or particularly
preferred a laser radiation source. The perforation coating is in
this case in each case made so that the relevant rays are absorbed
and converted into heat energy. For example, the perforation
coating can be furnished with constituents that absorb the
infra-red radiation of an infra-red laser and in this way are
heated. Feasible in this connection are, for example, carbon
particles, metal particles etc.
[0018] Alternatively or additionally, it is however also possible
for the energy source to work inductively and/or capacitively. In
this case, the perforation coating is as a rule made to be
conductive, whereby at this point, for example, transparent
conducting oxides (TCO) can be used. A conducting coating of this
kind is, for example, heated by inductively or capacitively coupled
energy, so that once again the film is embrittled in the desired
way and manner in places or in the area of the perforation coating.
Examples of such transparent conducting oxides are inter alia
indium tin oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) or indeed
aluminium zinc oxide (AZO) and antimony tin oxide (ATO).
[0019] In any case, the construction in the context of the
invention can occur and be undertaken so that the strength of the
film in the perforation area is reduced by more than 5% after
activation. Categorically, the strength of the film can also
experience a specific reduction by 10% or even more. Moreover, the
perforation coating is generally applied on an upper film surface.
In general, this upper film surface is moreover furnished with an
overprint, such as an advertising overprint, product information
etc. In this way, an associated printed image can be produced in
one operation by means of an associated print station. This printed
image contains both information about the individual products and
also the perforation coating, which can be activated after the
shrink operation. This means that the perforation coating can be
designed as a printed coating. As already explained, the activation
can be carried out immediately after the shrinking-on of the
associated film strip around the product formation or
chronologically shortly before the handover of the packaging unit
to the recipient of the goods.
[0020] In this connection, it is clear that the printed image in
its entirety comprising the advertising message and/or production
information and/or the perforation coating is produced on the film
by an electronic control by means of the print station or at least
one print unit. In most cases, the printed image is applied on a
continuous strip of film, whereby the strip of film is then
generally cut in a crosswise direction into individual lengths of
film and then looped around the product formation and shrunk
on.
[0021] Instead of the described electronic control of the one or
more print units of the print station to produce the printed image,
in theory, a so-called print mask can be used. In any case, the
upper film surface is regularly furnished complete with the printed
image, which, at the same time, contains the perforation coating at
the desired location. This is ensured by the print unit in
conjunction with a control installation in which the associated
printed image may be deposited. It is clear in this connection
that, by means of the control installation, the printed image can
of course be changed and adapted to actual requirements. Moreover,
in the context of the invention, if necessary in the perforation
area or before application of the perforation coating, a
pre-perforation can be used, which, for example, can be defined
mechanically. By means of the pre-perforation, large perforation
areas can also basically be described.
[0022] As a result, a method for producing a packaging unit is
provided by means of which a stable packaging unit can be defined
which can be opened both easily and conveniently. In contrast to
approaches hitherto, the packaging unit according to the invention
can be furnished with one or more perforation areas that can be
arranged at any location on an associated length of film. This
means that, according to the invention, the perforation area can be
specified and located regardless of the rolling direction of the
associated strip of film. In this way, the flexibility is
considerably increased.
[0023] At the same time, additional stabilization means for the
packaging unit are generally made unnecessary by using a film that
is strong enough to secure the products perfectly to each other in
the shrunk-on state. Any perforations can be activated only at the
place of use. In this way, damage to the packaging unit according
to the invention arising during transportation can be ruled out
from the outset. This is where the main advantages are to be
found.
[0024] In one aspect the invention features a method for producing
a packaging unit. Such a method includes combining individual
products into a product formation, providing a shrink-wrap film
having a perforation area that is susceptible to contact-free
activation, and using the shrink-wrap film, securing the individual
products to each other.
[0025] Some practices also include causing contact-activation of
the film at the perforation area using an energy source, thereby
reducing film strength at the perforation area. Among these are
practices in which reducing film strength includes reducing film
strength by more than 5% in the perforation area after contact-free
activation thereof.
[0026] Other practices further include furnishing the shrink-wrap
film with a perforation coating, and causing contact-free
activation of the perforation coating. Among these are those
practices in which furnishing the shrink-wrap film with a
perforation coating includes applying the perforation coating on an
upper film surface of the film and those other practices in which
furnishing the film with a perforation coating includes printing a
coating on the film. Among these are practices in which printing a
coating on the film is carried out after securing the individual
products to each other.
[0027] Also among these practices are those in which furnishing the
film with a perforation coating includes furnishing a perforation
coating that absorbs a selected form of energy. Among these are
practices that include heating the film by providing the selected
form of energy to be absorbed by the film.
[0028] Yet other practices of the invention include those in which
furnishing the film with a perforation coating includes furnishing
a perforation coating that engages in a chemical reaction in
response to a selected form of energy.22. The method of claim 13,
wherein causing contact-activation of the film at the perforation
area using an energy source includes causing contact-free
activation using electromagnetic radiation.
[0029] Among other practices of the inventive method are those in
which causing contact-activation of the film at the perforation
area using an energy source includes causing contact-activation
using inductively-stored energy, and those in which causing
contact-activation of the film at the perforation area using an
energy source includes causing contact-activation using
capacitively-stored energy.
[0030] In another aspect, the invention features a manufacture
including a packaging unit including individual products, and a
shrink-wrap film. The shrink-wrap film is furnished with a
perforation area. The individual products are combined into a
product formation, wherein the products are secured to each other
by the shrink-wrap film, and wherein the perforation area is
susceptible to contact-free activation.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0031] The invention is explained in more detail below by means of
a drawing illustrating just one example of an embodiment. The
single FIGURE shows one packaging unit that was made by the method
according to the invention and using an associated device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] The FIGURE shows a packaging unit that secures the
individual products 2 combined into a product formation 1 to each
other using a shrink-wrap film 3. In the illustrated embodiment,
the film 3 is furnished with two perforation areas 4.1 and 4.2,
that, in each case are susceptible to contact-free activation and
that are illustrated in the FIGURE. However, in some embodiments,
the film 3 may have only one perforation area.
[0033] The production of the packaging unit shown in the single
FIGURE occurs in such a way that a strip of film stretched out
along its length is transported in a longitudinal direction by an
associated, and not illustrated, device During this transportation,
the film is furnished with a printed image 4.1, 4.2. This printed
image 4.1, 4.2 comprises, in the example of the embodiment but not
restrictively, two perforation coatings 4.1, 4.2 that, after their
activation, define the perforation areas 4.1, 4.2. In addition, the
printed image generally also includes one or more advertising
overprints and product information that have been left out of the
single FIGURE for reasons of clarity.
[0034] In any case, the printed image 4.1, 4.2 is applied to an
upper film surface by a print station. In some embodiments, the
print station has a print unit. In other embodiments, the print
station is fitted with a plurality of print units, 4.1, 4.2, one of
which is for the perforation coatings and other of which is for
advertising overprints and product information.
[0035] After producing the printed image 4.1, 4.2, the strip of
film is generally cut crosswise into a plurality of lengths of
film. A particular length of film is looped around the production
formation 1 and then shrunk on in a shrink tunnel, which is not
illustrated. Immediately following this shrink tunnel, an energy
source, likewise not illustrated, can be provided in the device, by
means of which the perforation coating 4.1, 4.2 is activated,
thereby causing the perforation area 4.1, 4.2 to arise. It is
however also possible to design the energy source physically
separately from the shrink tunnel, so that the activation of the
perforation coating 4.1, 4.2 occurs, for example, chronologically
shortly before the handover of the illustrated packaging unit to a
recipient of goods. In this connection, even a mobile energy source
is possible.
[0036] The activation of the perforation coating 4.1, 4.2 in the
perforation area 4.1, 4.2 occurs by the previously mentioned and
energy source working in a contactless manner. The energy source in
one example is an infrared laser. The perforation coating 4.1, 4.2
may be embodied in each case as a print coating, and in particular,
as an inkjet-printed coating. The ink applied is one that is
furnished with materials that are absorbent in the infrared. For
example, the ink can contain carbon and/or metal particles that are
heated using the infrared laser as an energy source. This heating
activates the perforation coating 4.1, 4.2. As a result, the film 3
is specifically made brittle in the area of the perforation coating
4.1, 4.2. In this way, the strength of the film 3 is reduced in the
perforation area 4.1, 4.2, for example, by values of more than 5%
compared with the film 3 outside the perforation area 4.1, 4.2.
[0037] In one embodiment, the perforation area or the perforation
coating 4.1, 4.2 is designed as a line or as a linear shape. The
individual line is defined by relevant perforation points that, in
the example, are applied onto the film 3 by an inkjet printer.
Other activation measures are of course also feasible and are
included in the invention, as already described earlier.
[0038] In the course of activation by the infrared laser, the
particular points defining the linear perforation coating 4.1, 4.2
absorb the infrared radiation emitted by the laser. This causes
local heating of the perforation coating 4.1, 4.2 and likewise
causes local embrittlement of the film 3. In this way, after the
activation, the associated perforation area 4.1, 4.2 is provided
and the film 3 can be easily torn along the perforation lines
produced. As the activation of the perforation coating 4.1, 4.2
occurs typically after the transportation of the illustrated
packaging unit, the film 3 has its unrestricted strength during the
transportation, so that there is no fear of damage to the products
2. This also applies when the film 3 is torn along the perforation
lines. In this case too, the products 2 are not subject to any
damage and can be removed from the packaging unit without
difficulty.
[0039] In this way, it is particularly advantageous if the
perforation coating 4.1, 4.2 takes place after the covering of the
containers with the shrink-wrap film (2). The reason for this is
that each material application fundamentally damages and generally
complicates film handling, e.g. by an increased adhesion (tack) of
the films (2) in the area of the coating. This can all be prevented
if the material is made in accordance after the first covering in
the stamping station before the shrink tunnel. The energy source of
the shrink tunnel can then be used for processing steps such as
drying and hardening. Alternatively, the coating can also take
place after the shrink tunnel at a suitable activation or drying
station. Where an application head, which can be moved in the x-y-z
direction is used, e.g. a robot arm, any perforation pattern can
thus be provided on the container.
* * * * *