HEAT-SHRINKABLE PACKAGING

Abstract

The present invention relates to a heat-shrinkable packaging intended for wrapping a series of containers, comprising a lower portion, an upper portion and lateral portions and having a reinforcement strip arranged transversely to the rows of containers, the packaging according to the present invention comprising at least two perforation lines. The present invention also relates to a method for packaging containers by means of a packaging and to a packaging blank.

Claims

1. Shrinkable packaging (1) intended for wrapping a series of containers (2), comprising: a lower portion (3) corresponding to a base, an upper portion (4), opposite said lower portion (3) and corresponding to a covering of said containers (2) which are arranged in parallel rows with respect to each other, said upper portion (4) comprising a central area (5) and a peripheral area (6), lateral portions (7) connecting the lower portion (3) to the upper portion (4), said packaging (1) having a reinforcement strip (8) arranged transversely to the parallel rows of containers (2), characterised in that it comprises at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) which, in the central area (5) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), are arranged in parallel to each other on both sides of the reinforcement strip (8), and which, in the peripheral area (6) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), each progressively diverge from the reinforcement strip (8).

2. Packaging (1) according to claim 1, wherein said reinforcement strip (8) comprises a tackifier by which it is attached to an inner surface of said shrinkable packaging (1) wrapping the series of containers (2).

3. Packaging (1) according to claim 1, wherein said packaging (1) and said reinforcement strip (8) are at least 80%, preferably at least 85%, preferably at least 90%, most preferably at least 95% a similar material.

4. Packaging (1) according to claim 1, wherein said at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) are each interrupted by at least one imperforate gap (10) having a predetermined length.

5. Packaging (1) according to claim 4, wherein said at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) have perforations (11) spaced apart from each other by at least one space (12) having a predetermined length, and wherein said at least one imperforate gap (10) is at least 1.5 times longer than said gap (12) between perforations (11), preferably at least 2 times longer, and preferably at least 2.5 times longer than that gap (12) between perforations (11).

6. Packaging (1) according to claim 1, wherein said containers (2) are selected from the group consisting of bottles, tins, jars, cans for liquids, cartons and cans.

7. Packaging (1) according to claim 1, wherein a row of containers (2) contains two, three or four containers (2).

8. Method for packaging containers (2) by means of a packaging (1) according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: feeding a shrinkable film (15) onto at least one conveyor belt (16) along a determined direction of movement, arranging said containers (2) on said at least one conveyor belt (16) provided with said shrinkable film (15), said containers (2) being arranged in rows in parallel to one another, said rows being arranged perpendicularly to said direction of movement of the film, shrink wrapping (17) said containers (2) with said shrinkable film (15) forming a shrinkable film packaging (15) around said containers (2), and heat-shrinking (18) said shrinkable film (15) containing said containers (2), to hold said containers (2) tightly together, positioning a reinforcement strip (8) on said shrinkable film (15), in parallel to said film feeding direction of movement, characterised in that it further comprises a step of incising in said shrinkable film (15) at least two perforation lines (9a, 9b) which, in the central area (5) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), are arranged in parallel to each other, on both sides of the reinforcement strip (8) and which, in the peripheral area (6) of the upper portion (4) of the packaging (1), each progressively diverge from the reinforcement strip (8).

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the feeding comprises unwinding the shrinkable film (15) from a feed roll (22) and the positioning of the reinforcement strip (8) occurs on the shrinkable film (15) before said feeding step, on a surface of the film that forms an inner surface of said packaging after shrink wrapping.

10. Method according to claim 9, further comprising at least one step of cutting the shrinkable film which occurs after said positioning of the reinforcement strip (8) and before said feeding step.

11. Method according to claim 8, wherein said incising step occurs before feeding said shrinkable film (15) onto said conveyor belt (16).

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein said incision step occurs before said unwinding of the shrinkable film (15) from said feed roll (22).

13. Method according to claim 8, further comprising at least one step of printing at least one pattern on said film before and/or after said feeding step.

14. Shrinkable packaging (1) blank (21) for shrink wrapping a series of containers (2), based on a rectangular shrinkable film (15) having two short sides in width and two long sides in length, characterised in that it has a reinforcement strip (8) which extends between the two short sides halfway between the two long sides and also, at the centre of the blank (21), at least two perforation lines which are arranged in parallel to each other on both sides of the reinforcement strip, and which, at each end thereof, progressively diverge from the reinforcement strip.

Description

[0068] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is non-limiting and refers to the appended drawings.

[0069] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shrinkable packaging according to the invention comprising 6 bottles.

[0070] FIG. 2 is a top view of the shrinkable packaging of FIG. 1.

[0071] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shrinkable packaging according to the invention comprising 6 bottles, after the perforations located in the central area have been broken.

[0072] FIG. 4 is a top view of the shrinkable packaging of FIG. 3.

[0073] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shrinkable packaging according to the invention comprising 6 bottles, after the perforations located in the central area and the perforations located in the peripheral area have been broken.

[0074] FIG. 6 is a top view of the shrinkable packaging of FIG. 5.

[0075] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a device for carrying out the method according to the present invention.

[0076] FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the device of FIG. 7.

[0077] FIG. 9 is a top view of the packaging blank according to the present invention.

[0078] In the figures, identical or similar elements have the same references. It should also be noted that for ease of drawing, only FIG. 1 shows a packaging with the shrinkable film on the packaged bottles. In the following figures, the representation is more schematic.

[0079] FIG. 1 shows a shrinkable packaging 1 comprising 6 containers 2. The shrinkable packaging 1 comprises a lower portion 3 corresponding to a base and being located in a first plane. The shrinkable packaging 1 comprises an upper portion 4 which is opposite to the lower portion 3, and which corresponds to a covering of the containers 2, which are arranged in rows in parallel to one another.

[0080] The upper portion 4 comprises a central area 5 which is a surface substantially parallel to the lower portion 3 corresponding to a base. Also, the central area 5 is located in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane of the lower portion 3 corresponding to a base.

[0081] The central area 5 of the packaging according to the invention is an area which extends from the centre of the upper portion 4 to the outer ends of the necks, collars, caps and other closures of the containers 2.

[0082] The upper portion 4 of a packaging according to the invention comprises a peripheral area 6 which is a surface of the upper portion 4, which is peripheral and substantially oblique relative to the central area 5. Also, the peripheral area 6 as a whole is located in a third plane intersecting the first and second planes of the base portion 3 and the central area 5, respectively.

[0083] The peripheral area 6 of a packaging according to the invention is therefore an area which extends from the outer end of the necks, collars, caps and other closures of the containers 2 to the body portions of the containers 2. For example, in the example shown, the peripheral area 6 covers the shoulder portions of the bottle-shaped containers 2.

[0084] The shrinkable packaging 1 also comprises lateral portions 7 connecting the lower portion 3 to the upper portion 4. Furthermore, the lateral portions 7 of the packaging 1 cover the body portions of the containers 2.

[0085] Furthermore, the shrinkable packaging 1 comprises a reinforcement strip 8 arranged transversely to the parallel rows of the containers 2. In the example shown, the reinforcement strip 8 comprises a tackifier and is arranged to be attached to an inner surface of the packaging 1 wrapping the containers 2. Thus, the reinforcement strip 8 increases the overall strength of the packaging 1 such that the overall strength is the sum of the strength of the reinforcement strip 8 and the strength of the packaging 1 itself. This allows the packaging 1 to be more resistant to tearing or breaking when moved using the handle.

[0086] In the example shown, the reinforcement strip 8 is provided with a very small percentage of tackifier, it is therefore considered that the reinforcement strip 8 and the packaging 1 are made of a similar material, which makes it possible to take into account recycling constraints and facilitate this by avoiding an additional step of sorting the materials for recycling the packaging 1 according to the invention.

[0087] The reinforcement strip 8 shown has a width of between 2 cm and 6 cm, which makes the packaging 1 more resistant when moved using the handle.

[0088] The shrinkable packaging 1 shown comprises two perforation lines 9a, 9b, shown with a solid line bracket which, in the central area 5 of the upper portion 4 of the packaging 1, are arranged parallel to each other on both sides of the reinforcement strip 8.

[0089] In an unillustrated embodiment of the present invention, the two perforation lines 9a, 9b in the central area 5 of the upper portion 4 of the packaging 1 may comprise at least one initiator portion, thereby facilitating the breaking of the perforation lines 9a and 9b. They are therefore arranged substantially in parallel to each other on both sides of the reinforcement strip 8.

[0090] The two perforation lines 9a and 9b located in the central area 5 of the upper portion 4 of the packaging 1, when broken, create a first opening 13 for the fingers of the user to pass through (see FIGS. 3 and 4). This opening 13 further allows the user to grip the handle formed by the reinforcement strip 8 and the packaging film.

[0091] It has become particularly advantageously apparent that, even after the two perforation lines 9a and 9b have been broken, the shrinkable packaging 1 retains a similar shape and a similar rigidity to the original one, thus limiting the risk of undesirable tearing or deformations.

[0092] The two perforation lines 9a, 9b of the shrinkable packaging 1, in the peripheral area 6 of the upper portion 4, progressively diverge from the reinforcement strip 8. When broken, this particularly advantageously makes it possible to provide a shrinkable packaging 1 comprising a second opening 14 and therefore a guided and facilitated opening system for the removal of the containers 2 from the packaging 1 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

[0093] In the example shown, the two perforation lines 9a and 9b are each interrupted by at least one imperforate gap 10, shown by a solid line bracket, having a predetermined length. This imperforate gap 10 facilitates the opening in two distinct steps with more resistance between the two steps to avoid accidental complete opening.

[0094] Indeed, the first opening step 13 comprises breaking the two perforation lines 9a and 9b located on the central area 5 of the upper portion 4 of the packaging 1, creating the handle of the packaging 1 for easier movement.

[0095] The second opening step 14 comprises breaking the two perforation lines 9a and 9b located on the peripheral area 6 of the upper portion 4 of the packaging 1, allowing the packaging 1 to be opened and the containers 2 to be easily removed.

[0096] The presence of the imperforate gap 10, located in the embodiment shown at the junction between the central area 5 and the peripheral area 6, makes it possible to create this stop between the two opening steps and avoid accidental complete opening.

[0097] The two perforation lines 9a and 9b have a series of perforations 11 which are spaced apart from each other by at least one space 12 having a predetermined length.

[0098] In the example shown, the length of the imperforate gap 10 is at least 1.5 times longer than the length of the space 12 between perforations 11.

[0099] The shrinkable packaging 1 shown, after the two perforation lines 9a and 9b have been completely broken and said second opening 14 allowing for easier removal of the containers 2 has been created, retains a strength and rigidity allowing movement thereof and avoiding complete breaking or tearing of the packaging 1.

[0100] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a device for carrying out the method for packaging containers by means of a shrinkable packaging 1 according to the present invention.

[0101] The method shown currently comprises feeding a shrinkable film 15 onto at least one conveyor belt 16 along a determined direction of movement and arranging the containers 2 on the conveyor belt 16 provided with the shrinkable film 15, the containers 2 being arranged in rows in parallel to one another and the rows being arranged perpendicularly to the determined direction of movement of the film. The feeding step of the method shown comprises unwinding the shrinkable film 15 from a feed roll 22.

[0102] The method also comprises shrink wrapping 17 the containers 2 with said shrinkable film 15 forming a shrinkable film 15 packaging around the containers 2, and heat-shrinking 18 the shrinkable film 15 containing the containers 2, to hold them tightly together.

[0103] The method according to the invention shown further comprises a step of positioning a reinforcement strip 8 on the shrinkable film 15, in parallel to said film feeding direction of movement.

[0104] The step of positioning the reinforcement strip 8 occurs on the shrinkable film 15 before the feeding step, on the surface of the film which will form the inner surface of the shrinkable film 15.

[0105] In the example shown, a step of incising at least two perforation lines 9a, 9b occurs in the shrinkable film 15. In the central area 5 of the upper portion 4 of the packaging 1, the perforations 11 are arranged in parallel to each other on both sides of the reinforcement strip 8. In the peripheral zone 6 of the upper portion 4 of the packaging 1, the perforation lines 9a, 9b each progressively diverge from the reinforcement strip 8.

[0106] The incising step can be performed by any type of machine for forming perforation lines in a film, for example by the machine described in European Patent EP2954990 which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0107] In the example shown, the incising step of the method occurs before the feeding step of the shrinkable film 15 and preferably before unwinding the shrinkable film from the feed roll 22, this is thus formed from a rolled perforated shrinkable film 15.

[0108] In the example shown, a step of cutting by a cutting element 19 is provided to cut the rolled shrinkable film 15 from the feed roll, such as to form an individual packaging blank 21 (as shown in FIG. 9) intended to form the shrinkable packaging 1. The packaging blank 21 shown also comprises a marker 23, used as an indication for the cutting by the cutting element 19 of the film unwound into the packaging blank 21.

[0109] The cutting step occurs after positioning the reinforcement strip 8 and before the feeding step.

[0110] Furthermore, the method according to the present invention comprises at least one step of printing at least one pattern onto the film 15 before and/or after unwinding the shrinkable film 15.

[0111] The printing step in the method according to the invention occurs before and/or after the step of incising the shrinkable film 15. Furthermore, the device shown comprises at least one support element 20, in order to direct the unwound shrinkable film 15. It also comprises at least one cutting element 19 for cutting the unwound shrinkable film 15, before the shrink wrapping step 17 into an individual packaging blank 21 for forming the shrinkable packaging 1.

[0112] It is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.