WO1998028196A1

WO1998028196A1 - Tray

Info

Publication number: WO1998028196A1
Application number: PCT/EP1997/007182
Authority: WO
Inventors: André LINKE
Original assignee: Südzucker AG Mannheim/Ochsenfurt
Priority date: 1996-12-20
Filing date: 1997-12-19
Publication date: 1998-07-02
Also published as: AU5761898A; EP0892740A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a tray made of a flexible, even material and is characterized in that the tray consists of paper and/or plastic, that its border areas (areas 4, 6) are raised substantially perpendicular to a base surface (area 10), that at least one end of the border areas (areas 2, 8) is folded towards the base surface, that the folded end is glued to neighbouring border areas (area 12) in such a way that it forms a closed, surrounding border, and that there is at least one border area (areas 4, 6) which is folded once and/or several times.

Description

Tray

description

The invention relates to a tray according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for its production according to the preamble of claim 8.

The term "tray" is used here to designate packaging which has a base and a preferably peripheral edge. Trays of the type mentioned here are known. They have the disadvantage, particularly if high stability is desired, that they are expensive to produce and dispose of.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a tray and a method for its production which do not have these disadvantages.

To solve this problem, a tray with the features mentioned in claim 1 is proposed. The tray is distinguished by the fact that it is made of paper and is therefore very light, that its edge areas are set up substantially perpendicularly to a footprint, and in addition that at least one or several folded-over first edge area is provided. At least one end of this edge area is folded over into the footprint. It serves as an adhesive flap and is used to form one

CONFIRMATION COPY circumferential, closed edge glued to adjacent second edge areas. The term "glued" generally addresses the possibilities here of connecting one or more bent ends to associated edge areas, be it by means of conventional hot or cold glue or by means of welding or (sealing) sealing technology. Trays of this type are simple and therefore inexpensive to manufacture and dispose of. Highly stable and tear-resistant can be achieved without any problems thanks to the folded-over edge areas. The opposite longitudinal or end edges of the tray are addressed here with the first and second edge regions of the tray.

A tray is preferred which is characterized in that reinforcement strips are applied to edge regions. These are preferably provided in the area of the longitudinal edges in order to ensure stabilization of the tray. Trays of this type can be made from a relatively thin and light material without being unstable. Rather, they are characterized by high stability and further improved tear resistance.

Also preferred is an embodiment of the tray which is characterized in that the reinforcing strips on the longitudinal edge regions have a length which corresponds to the length of the footprint delimited by the longitudinal edges. The reinforcement therefore extends over the entire length of the footprint. Since the length of the reinforcement kungsstreifen but is limited to the size of the footprint, material for the reinforcement strips can be saved, whereby the amount of material incurred during disposal is reduced to a minimum.

Further configurations result from the remaining subclaims.

The object is also achieved by a method which has the features mentioned in claim 8. The process is characterized in that cuts are made in the edge or edge areas of the flat starting material, that fold lines are provided and first edge areas (longitudinal edges) of the starting material are folded up by approximately 90 ° in order to limit a later footprint. In a further step, ends of these edge areas are folded in to form adhesive tabs. Then adjacent edge areas of the starting material (side edges) are folded up and glued to the adhesive tabs. Here, too, "bonding" refers generally to a connection technique in which both adhesives can be used and materials can be welded or sealed. The method is simple and inexpensive to implement.

A method is particularly preferred which is characterized in that the starting material is withdrawn from a roll. Such processing of the starting material is particularly simple and inexpensive to carry out. An embodiment of the method is particularly preferred, in which the filling material is only completed after the edge regions have been completely erected and bonded in order to tension the peripheral edges or the edge of the tray. The filling material applied to the shelf of the tray is held firmly together so that additional safety measures are not required.

Further embodiments result from the remaining subclaims.

The tray and the process for its production are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. The single figure shows a plan view of the flat starting material for a tray T.

Light crepe paper, kraft sack paper, semiclupak, full clupak, duplex paper or other papers can be used as the starting material. White, brown, colored and / or coated papers can easily be used, the basis weight of which can be selected within a wide range. Are particularly preferred, depending on the contents and weight basis weights of, for example 40g / m ² to 235g / m ^2. It is therefore possible to produce the trays from relatively light paper, plastic film or from a composite material (coated paper) and thus to dispense with conventional, heavy materials.

The tray is produced from the starting material by means of a folding process, namely from an essentially flat sheet. The tray can do one have a simple edge, which is, however, double-walled at least in an edge or edge region, which is implemented in a simple, inexpensive manner, for example by turning over the starting material. The height of the envelope, which serves to reinforce the edge, can be varied and take up the height of the tray. The strength of the edge and thus of the tray can be increased significantly by simple, and even more so by repeated folding. Even with a very narrow envelope strip, a very substantial increase in the tear resistance and tensile strength of the edge can be achieved. A significant improvement in the tray can thus be achieved with minimal use of material.

Finally, it is also possible to apply a reinforcing material, for example a strip-shaped reinforcing cardboard, to the strips or edge regions of the starting material from which the edge is to be folded. The length of the reinforcement strip can be chosen so that it extends over a longitudinal and / or transverse, or end face / edge of the tray. Increased strength is achieved when the reinforcement strip is guided over the longitudinal edge, which is longer than the transverse or front edge of the tray. It is also conceivable to make the reinforcement strip so long that it spans the longitudinal edges and also at least regions of the transverse or front edge of the later tray. Trays with a combination of double-walled edge areas and reinforcement strips are particularly stable and tear-resistant. The starting material can be in the form of flat individual sheets or can preferably be drawn off from a roll, which further simplifies the production process. The width of the roll from which the starting material is drawn should be calculated according to the following criteria: the width of the area (floor space) on which the individual packs will be placed in the tray, the so-called product width, is increased by twice the height of the edge of the tray . If the edge is to be reinforced by an envelope, the roll width must be increased, for example by twice the envelope height, if a double edge is desired. In the case of a triple margin, double the envelope height must also be added. The width of the roll must be increased when using reinforcement strips, which will be discussed in more detail, because in this case the footprint must be increased by one or more thicknesses of the reinforcement strip.

The material of the roll is wound on a sleeve, the diameter of which should be so large that the starting material for the production of the trays is not too strongly curved, even in the last area of the roll. The full roll should contain enough material so that the roll change interval is as long as possible during manufacture.

Before the trays are manufactured, the starting material can be provided with a print and, if appropriate, also with a pressure control mark, which is, however, only required for printed trays. The arcuate starting material of the tray T has different fields, namely four fields 2/1, 2/2, 2/3, 2/4 lying in the area of the corners of the starting arch. Viewed in the longitudinal direction, a field 4/1 or 4/2 is arranged between the fields 2/1 and 2/3 as well as 2/2 and 2/4. These elongated, rectangular fields 4/1, 4/2 are later in the area of the long edges of the tray T. Inward next to fields 4/1 and 4/2 are fields 6/1 and 6/2. Accordingly, fields 8/1 to 8/4 are located next to fields 2/1 to 2/4. Between the elongated, rectangular fields 6/1 and 6/2 there is a - here rectangular - field 10, which forms a storage area for the filling material and has a length A measured in the vertical direction and width B measured in the horizontal direction. Between the fields 8/1 and 8/2 or 8/3 and 8/4 there are fields 12/1 and 12/2, which run horizontally and form the transverse or end faces, and which extend over the width B of the footprint and have a high C. The fields 4/1, 4/2 and 6/1, 6/2 have the length A. The height C of the fields 12/1, 12/2 gives the front height of the tray T and the width C of the fields 6/1, 6/2 measured transverse to the length A is the height of the long edges of the tray T. The crosswise to the length A measured width D of fields 4/1, 4/2 is at most as large as the width C of fields 6/1, 6/2.

The fields 8/1 to 8/4 are preferably square here. Their width and length correspond to the height of the side and long edges of the tray T, which are the same height here. The illustration shows the Material for a tray or for a package, the longitudinal edges (see fields 4/1, 4/2 and 6/1, 6/2) are folded over once so that fields 4/1 and 4/2 on fields 6 / 1 or 6/2 lie on and there is a double border here. A double edge over the entire height results only if the width C of the fields 6/1, 6/2 and the width D of the fields 4/1, 4/2 are chosen to be the same. The material is then doubled in the area of fields 2/1 to 2/4 and 8/1 to 8/4. A very material-saving embodiment of the tray T is obtained if the width D of the fields 4/1, 4/2 is chosen to be smaller than the width C of the fields 6/1, 6/2. When the fields 4/1, 4/2 are turned over, there is increased longitudinal stability in the area of the longitudinal edges of the tray and, in addition, a very strong increase in tear strength of the double edge or the upper double edge of the tray wall.

The figure shows dashed lines, between fields 4/1 and 6/1 or 4/2 and 6/2 and between fields 2/1 and 8/1, 2/2 and (72, 2/3 and 8 / 3 and 2/4 and 8/4 running fold lines F. Between the fields 8/1, 8/2 and 12/1 or 8/3, 8/4 and 12/2 there are cuts or cut lines S. The length of the Cutting lines S here correspond to the height C of fields 12/1 and 12/2. However, it is possible to continue cutting lines S into a region between fields 6/1, 6/2 and 10, so that the tolerance ranges of the filling goods, which are later placed on field 10 that can be compensated. Folding lines F are provided between the fields 6/1, 6/2 and 10 and between the fields 12/1, 12/2 and 10.

Depending on the type of material used, pre-folding between panels 6/1, 6/2 and 10 can be dispensed with, for example with very soft starting material, even if relatively heavy materials are used on panels through panel 10 before the later edge areas are folded up formed footprint are applied. The folding process can be dispensed with in particular if the goods applied to the shelf have a straight outer edge, along which the fields 6/1 and 6/2 can be folded up. In principle, the folding lines F between field 10 and the adjacent fields 12/1 and 12/2 can be dispensed with according to this requirement.

In the tray T shown in the figure, the cut lines S lie in the extension of the fold line F between the fields 10 and 6/1, 6/2. The distance of the cutting lines S measured here in the horizontal direction thus defines the length of the fields 12/1 and 12/2. It is possible to increase the length of the field 12 somewhat by means of a cut offset to the outside, in order to improve the front view, that is to say the view of the end faces or end edges of the finished tray formed by the fields 12/1, 12/2.

The starting material for the trays T is preferably drawn off a roll, the material for two successive trays preferably being rolled off in order to ensure the effectiveness of the production. position to increase. The dotted lines along the section lines S between the fields 12/1 and 8/1 and 8/2 or 8/3 and 8/4 are simultaneously introduced into the two successive trays, the starting material of which is pulled off the roll and cut off. It is only after the cutting lines S have been introduced that the two starting arches for the two trays are separated. Glue points L indicated by circles can then be applied to the fields 8/1 and 8/2. Fields 8 (8/1 to 8/4) may only be provided with glue in areas that will later be covered by the folded fields 2 (2/1 to 2/4). Dispersion or hot melt adhesive is preferably used. When using sealable starting materials or paper coated with such materials, the bond can be replaced by sealing.

If a version of a tray T identified by a reinforcement strip is to be produced, a reinforcement strip is preferably glued onto the fields 4/1 and 4/2 before the later edge of the tray T is folded over. The reinforcement strip made of paper, plastic or preferably cardboard can be stuck on automatically. Then glue points are applied to the fields 4/1, 4/2 or to the reinforcement strips applied there and these are folded over and glued onto the fields 6/1 and 6/2. Glue is preferably applied to the fields 4/1 and 4/2 before turning over, even if no reinforcement strips are used become. This leads to an increase in the tear and tensile strength of the long edges of the tray T formed by the fields 4/1, 4/2.

The width of the reinforcement strips corresponds at most to the width C of the fields 6/1, 6/2, that is to say the height of the long edge areas. It is selected depending on the desired stabilization of the tray T. It is therefore possible to provide only a narrow reinforcement strip in the area of the later upper edge of the tray T, which significantly increases the stability or load-bearing capacity of the tray and the tear resistance of the edge of the tray. The tray remains light. The cost of materials for its manufacture is also relatively low, so that manufacture and disposal are inexpensive.

The figure shows the starting material for a tray T with long edges folded over. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, the height of the envelope, that is to say the width D of the fields 4/1, 4/2, is exactly the same as the height of the later edge of the finished tray T, that is to say the width C of the fields 6/1, 6/2 . A significant improvement in the tearing strength or tensile stability of the tray T is achieved even with an envelope with a much lower height, that is to say with fields 4/1 and 4/2 with a significantly smaller width D. A substantial improvement can therefore be achieved with minimal use of materials.

If tray long edges with more than two layers are required, additional fields must be provided along the long sides or fields 4/1 and 4/2, which are then will hit. The folded-over additional long edge areas do not need to extend over the entire height of the tray edge. This means that material can be saved during production without significantly reducing the stability and tear resistance of the tray.

After completion of the envelope edge by U fold the fields 4/1 and 4/2 onto the fields 6/1 and 6/2, so that the fields 2/1 to 8/1, 8/2 to 2/2, 8/3 on 2/3 and 8/4 on 2/4 and, if necessary, the introduction of the reinforcement strips in the long edge areas, the contents, the content of the tray T, are positioned on the surface 10. Then glue is applied to the later front edges, namely to the fields 12/1, 12/2, which is indicated by circles L. This glue can also be applied before the filling material is applied. The long edges (fields 6/1 and 6/2)) of the tray T are now raised by approx. 90 °. The fields 8/1 to 8/4 and 2/1 to 2/8, which serve as adhesive flaps, and possibly further layers of the long edges are folded inwards in the direction of the filling material by 90 °, tensioning the long edges of the tray T as tight as possible got to. The adhesive tabs now form an angle of 90 ° with the long edges. The fields 12/1 and 12/2 are now glued with the inward-facing adhesive tabs in order to obtain a closed, peripheral edge of the tray. The side edges cover the adhesive tabs.

When the filling material is applied to the shelf 10, a reduced number of objects which are applied, between which at least one variable or adjustable spacer is optionally arranged. After the filling material has been applied, the end edges are glued to the inside-turned adhesive fields 2 and 8, care being taken to ensure that the peripheral and longitudinal edges have a firm circumferential tension. After the bonding, the spacers are removed from the shelf 10 and the last individual packs are placed on the shelves, which may also be somewhat larger than the spacers. As a result, the circumferential edge of the trays is tightened, as a result of which a tension can be generated within the elements or goods applied to the shelf 10, so that a self-supporting tray or a firm pack assembly (collecting container) is created. Additional security measures can thus be omitted. In particular, it is conceivable to compensate for tolerances between the individual packing elements. The edge of the tray is characterized by a very high tear and tensile strength.

This completes the manufacture of the tray. This can now be conveyed to a palletizer or to manual palletizing with the aid of known conveyor tracks.

The adhesive used here must have an open time that is as long as possible and a very short setting time so that the final strength of the tray T is reached quickly. Here, too, the bond can be replaced by a seal. If the tray is made from a sheet material, the process step of removing the material from a roll is omitted. The cuts S between the fields 8 and 12, which, as mentioned above, can also extend into the fold lines between the fields 6 and 10, can also be introduced in advance into the sheets of the starting material.

The length of the reinforcement strips can be varied. It is possible to provide them only with a length A, that is to say with the length of the fields 4 and / or 6. The areas or fields 2 and 8 generally already have sufficient strength due to the envelope. However, it is also possible to provide longer reinforcement strips which also at least partially cover fields 2 and 8, so that after the adhesive flaps have been turned over, reinforcing material is also present in the region of these adhesive flaps and later in the area of the front edges or fields 12/1 and 12/2 is. This results in a further increased strength. In addition, it is conceivable to let the strips also protrude beyond fields 2 and 8 and thus to reinforce the entire front edge (fields 12/1, 12/2) after the tray T has been completed. As a rule, an overlap of the reinforcement strips in the area of the front edges should be avoided in order to ensure smooth, attractive viewing areas.

It also shows that the adhesive tabs can overlap the front edges more or less. If the tray edge height is chosen to be larger than half Tray width, the adhesive tabs overlap each other. Moreover, it is clear that the adhesive tabs can also be provided on the front edges and that an adhesive tab can also be formed on both a longitudinal and an end edge.

Instead of paper, foldable plastic film can also be used as the starting material, such as a flat sheet or pulled off the roll. A paper, cardboard or plastic strip can then be inserted as the reinforcement strip. However, it is also conceivable to combine the plastic starting material with paper, for example to use coated paper, and to use reinforcing strips of the same material or for example of paper or cardboard. Conversely, it is also possible to apply plastic strips to the starting material paper described above for reinforcement. When using sealable materials, the bond can be replaced by sealing.

It can be seen that the trays produced by this process are very strong and resistant, and are therefore self-supporting. They can therefore be used instead of corrugated or solid cardboard trays. It is also clear that the basic shape of the tray can be modified and that its manufacturing process can also be used for trays that have more or less than four corners. There are further advantages:

The facing of the packs transported, which is concealed by conventional corrugated cardboard trays, can optionally also be pre-printed in many colors on the outside of the tray according to the invention, so that the goods held together by the tray are easily and completely recognizable.

The freight volume of the trays made of paper or plastic is much lower than that of corrugated cardboard. Compared to corrugated cardboard, this results in material savings of up to 70 to 80%. The trays described here have a significantly reduced transport weight and volume.

The effort involved in unloading transport vehicles when delivering goods is significantly lower.

It is possible to significantly reduce the storage space required for the starting material. The handling effort when transporting the starting material to the packaging machine and when loading the production machine is also considerably less.

The trays described here are characterized by a very reasonable price, which is far below that of conventional corrugated or solid cardboard trays.

The disposal of the starting material of the trays is easy. It has been found that the individual packs lying on the tray have less play, since the inward-facing adhesive tabs apply only little on the inside and so no disturbing free spaces are formed.

The tray described here is quasi designed as a tray-like base for individual packaging. The size can vary from case to case. Depending on the weight of the contents, the long edges and, in some areas, the end faces of the tray can be more or less stabilized. This means that depending on the number of envelopes, more or less firm long edges can be formed with correspondingly stable adhesive tabs. It is also possible to stabilize the longitudinal edges of the tray, as described above, but also the end faces thereof by means of reinforcement strips. During production, it was assumed, purely by way of example, that the longitudinal edges which are formed by the fields 4 and 6 were once turned over, so that here the double thickness of the starting material is given. This also applies to the fields 2 and 8 forming the adhesive tabs, where the double thickness of the starting material is then also present.

In principle, it is also possible to provide reinforcement in addition or only in the area of the end faces or to assign the adhesive tabs which are formed by the fields 2 and 8 to the end faces. In this case, the cutting lines would have to be horizontal between fields 2 and 4 and 8 and 6 run. You could then reach into the fold lines between fields 12 and 10.

Claims

Expectations

1. Tray made of foldable, flat material, characterized in that the tray consists of paper and / or plastic that the edge areas (fields (4, 6)) are set up substantially vertically relative to a footprint (field (10)) that at least one end of the edge areas (fields (2,8)) is folded over to form the footprint, that the folded end is glued to adjacent edge areas (fields (12)) to form a circumferential, closed edge and that at least one one and / or multiple times folded edge area (fields (4,6)) is provided.

2. Tray according to claim 1, characterized in that reinforcement strips are applied to edge regions, preferably to long edge regions (fields (4, 8)).

3. Tray according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that reinforcement strips are applied to end edge areas (fields (12)).

4. Tray according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the reinforcing strips on the longitudinal edge areas have a length which corresponds essentially to the length (A) of the footprint (field (10)) and / or that the reinforcement stripes on the front edge areas have a length that corresponds essentially to the width (B) of the footprint.

5. Tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the longitudinal areas and / or the front edges associated edge areas are assigned adhesive areas, the length of which preferably corresponds to the height of the tray edges and which serve as adhesive tabs.

6. Tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that strips of paper, cardboard and / or plastic can be used as reinforcing strips.

7. Tray according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the paper has a basis weight of 40 g / m to 235 g / m ² .

8. A method for producing a tray from a foldable, flat starting material, in particular a tray according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by the following steps: making cuts in edge areas of the starting material; Introduction of fold lines into the starting material; Folding up the first edge areas (longitudinal edges) by 90 °; Folding in the ends of the edge regions serving as adhesive flaps; Folding up second edge areas (front edges); Glue the adhesive tabs to adjacent edge areas (front edges) of the starting material.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one edge region is turned over at least once.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the starting material is drawn off from a roll and cut off.

11. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the cuts are made at the ends of the end edges, so that the adhesive tabs remain connected to the longitudinal edges.

12. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that before filling the edge areas on a shelf of the tray filling is applied.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that the filling material is only completed after complete erection and bonding of the edges of the tray in order to tension the circumferential edges.