PRIMARY PACKAGING FOR RECEIVING AT LEAST ONE PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR A FOOD PRODUCT

Abstract

The invention is based on a primary packaging, in particular a primary paper packaging, for receiving at least one product (12), in particular a food product, with at least one enveloping unit (14), which in particular comes into contact with the product (12) directly, in particular a tubular bag; the enveloping unit (14), in particular the tubular bag, comprising at least one barrier layer (16) for a protection of the received product (12), in particular from humidity, and comprising at least one carrier layer (18), in particular paper layer, which is connected with the barrier layer (16), in particular by substance-to-substance bond.

It is proposed that the primary packaging comprises at least one functional unit (20), which is in particular embodied in a one-part implementation with the enveloping unit (14), for a protection of the enveloping unit (14) and/or of the received product (12) from damages.

Claims

1.-6. (canceled)

7. A packaging machine for production and/or for transport of a primary paper packaging for receiving at least one product, wherein the primary paper packaging comprises at least one enveloping unit and at least one functional unit for protection of the enveloping unit and/or the received product from damage, wherein the enveloping unit comprising at least one barrier layer for protection of the received product and comprising at least one carrier layer, which is connected with the barrier layer, wherein the packaging machine comprises at least one transport unit, which is configured such that during a transport, the primary paper packaging is supported at least in a region of a fold triangle of the enveloping unit and/or a fin of the enveloping unit is bent, arched and/or folded around at least one axis, wherein the transport unit includes a gripper unit, which is configured, by a form-fit and/or force-fit connection, to lift the primary paper packaging from a product feeding unit of the packaging machine and to convey the primary paper packaging to a secondary packaging.

8. A method for production and/or for transport of the primary paper packaging by the packaging machine according to claim 7, characterized in that in at least one method step, during a transport, the primary paper packaging is supported, at least in the region of a fold triangle of the enveloping unit, and/or the fin of the enveloping unit is bent, arched and/or folded around at least one axis.

9. (canceled)

10. A method for production and/or for transport of the primary paper packaging by the packaging machine according to claim 8, characterized in that in at least one method step, during a laying-in into a secondary packaging, the fin of the enveloping unit of the primary paper packaging is bent, arched and/or folded around an axis as a result from a contact with an inner wall of the secondary packaging and, a pivoting movement of the primary paper packaging is effected, in which a further fin of the enveloping unit of the primary paper packaging is bent, arched and/or folded around a further axis.

11. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that in at least one method step, during a laying-in into a secondary packaging, the fin of the enveloping unit of the primary paper packaging is bent, arched and/or folded around an axis as a result from a contact with an inner wall of the secondary packaging and, a folding of an outer wall of the secondary packaging is effected in which a further fin of the enveloping unit of the primary paper packaging is bent, arched and/or folded around a further axis.

12. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that in at least one method step the primary paper packaging and at least one further primary paper packaging are arranged in a secondary packaging in a shingled or cross-wise manner in such a way that fins of the primary paper packaging and of the further primary paper packaging are arranged essentially overlap-free or contact-free.

13. A method for production and/or for transport of the primary paper packaging by the packaging machine according to claim 7, characterized in that in at least one method step, during a laying-in into a secondary packaging, the fin of the enveloping unit of the primary paper packaging is bent, arched and/or folded around an axis as a result from a contact with an inner wall of the secondary packaging and, a folding of an outer wall of the secondary packaging is effected in which a further fin of the enveloping unit of the primary paper packaging is bent, arched and/or folded around a further axis.

14. The packaging machine of claim 7, wherein the packaging machine is a tubular bag packaging machine.

15. The packaging machine of claim 7, wherein the transport unit transports the primary paper packaging into a secondary packaging.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] It is shown in:

[0029] FIG. 1 a sectional view of a primary packaging according to the invention in a schematic representation,

[0030] FIG. 2 a packaging machine according to the invention for a production and/or for a transport of primary packagings according to the invention, in a schematic representation,

[0031] FIG. 3 a transport unit of the packaging machine according to the invention for a transport of the primary packaging according to the invention, in a schematic representation,

[0032] FIG. 4 a flow chart of a method according to the invention for a production and/or a transport of primary packagings according to the invention,

[0033] FIG. 5 a side view of the primary packaging according to the invention in a state when arranged in a secondary packaging, in a schematic representation,

[0034] FIG. 6 a perspective view of a plurality of primary packagings according to the invention in a state when arranged in the secondary packaging, in a schematic representation, and

[0035] FIG. 7 a perspective view of a plurality of alternative primary packagings according to the invention in a state when arranged in an alternative secondary packaging, in a schematic representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a primary packaging 10a for receiving at least one product 12a, in particular a food product. The primary packaging 10a is preferably embodied as a primary paper packaging. The primary packaging 10a comprises at least one enveloping unit 14a, which in particular comes into contact with the product 12a directly, in particular a tubular paper bag. The enveloping unit 14a preferably comprises several layers. The enveloping unit 14a comprises at least one barrier layer 16a for a protection of the received product 12a, against humidity and/or oxygen, and at least one carrier layer 18a, in particular paper layer, which is connected with the barrier layer 16a, in particular by substance-to-substance bond. The carrier layer 18a is preferably implemented as a paper layer. Preferentially the barrier layer 16a is implemented as a transparent PET layer. The barrier layer 16a is preferably configured as a barrier against oxygen. It is however also conceivable that the barrier layer 16a is implemented as a different layer deemed to be expedient by someone skilled in the art, which is configured as a barrier against oxygen, as a barrier against water vapor, as a barrier against condensate, as a lipid barrier, as a humidity barrier, or as another barrier that is deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art. Preferentially the enveloping unit 14a comprises, in addition to the barrier layer 16a and to the carrier layer 18a, a sealing and structure layer 64a, in particular a sealing and structure layer 64a which is already known to someone skilled in the art and is usable for a transverse sealing seam and/or for a longitudinal sealing seam.

[0037] Furthermore, the primary packaging 10a comprises at least one functional unit 20a, which is in particular embodied in a one-part implementation with the enveloping unit 14a, in particular a damping and/or stiffening unit, for a protection of the enveloping unit 14a and/or the received product 12a from damages. The functional unit 20a is formed at least partly by at least one fin 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a, in particular by at least one fin 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a created as a result of a fin seam sealing of the enveloping unit 14a. The fin 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a preferably forms an end of the enveloping unit 14a. In particular, a separating edge and/or a rip-open edge of the enveloping unit 14a is arranged on the fin 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a. Preferably the fin 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a is a region of the enveloping unit 14a in which two partial regions of an inner side of the enveloping unit 14a are directly connected, in particular glued, with each other after a transverse sealing. Preferentially the enveloping unit 14a comprises a fin 22a, 24a on each end. Preferably the enveloping unit 14a comprises at least two, in particular precisely two, fins 22a, 24a. Preferentially the fins 22a, 24a are arranged on ends of the enveloping unit 14a that face away from one another. Preferably the fin 22a, 24a or fins 22a, 24a is/are configured to act as a damper/as dampers following a deformation and/or a movement of the fin 22a, 24a or fins 22a, 24a, in particular in case of an impact of a force, along an axis extending at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis 66a of the enveloping unit 14a, onto the fin 22a, 24a or the fins 22a, 24a. The longitudinal axis 66a of the enveloping unit 14a preferentially extends at least substantially parallel to a longitudinal extension of a longitudinal sealing seam of the enveloping unit 14a.

[0038] The functional unit 20a is formed at least partly by a fold triangle 26a, 28a of the enveloping unit 14a, in particular by at least one fold triangle 26a, 28a of the enveloping unit 14a that has been generated as a result of a fin seam sealing of the enveloping unit 14a. The fold triangle 26a, 28a of the enveloping unit 14a is preferably formed, in a manner already known to someone skilled in the art, as a result of an introduction of a transverse sealing seam. Preferentially the fold triangle 26a, 28a is arranged in a region of the enveloping unit 14a that extends between the fins 22a, 24a and the received product 12a. The fold triangle 26a, 28a is preferably formed by a partial region of the enveloping unit 14a which tapers from the received product 12a toward the fin 22a, 24a. Preferentially the enveloping unit 14a comprises a fold triangle 26a, 28a on each side that faces towards the respective fin 22a, 24a. Preferably the enveloping unit 14a comprises at least two, in particular precisely two, fold triangles 26a, 28a. Preferentially the fold triangles 26a, 28a are arranged on sides of the enveloping unit 14a which face away from one another. Preferably the fold triangle 26a, 28a, in particular each fold triangle 26a, 28a, is arranged between, in particular spatially between, the fin 22a, 24a and an, in particular rectangular-cuboid-shaped, receiving region 68a of the enveloping unit 14a, which the received product 12a is arranged in. Preferentially the fold triangle 26a, 28a or the fold triangles 26a, 28a forms/form a stiffening structure of the enveloping unit 14a which, in particular in case of a force acting onto the fin 22a, 24a or fins 22a, 24a along the axis extending at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 66a of the enveloping unit 14a, counteracts a deformation of the entire enveloping unit 14a, and preferably counteracts a contact between the fin 22a, 24a or fins 22a, 24a and the received product 12a.

[0039] Alternatively or additionally the functional unit 20a is realized at least partly by at least the fin 22a, 24a, in particular the fins 22a, 24a, of the enveloping unit 14a, in particular by the fins 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a created as a result of the fin seam sealing of the enveloping unit 14a, wherein the fin 22a, 24a, in particular the fins 22a, 24a, comprises, in particular comprise, a stiffening structure 30a, 32a, in particular in addition to a sealing structure (see FIG. 6, in which the stiffening structure 30a, 32a is indicated by a dashed line).

[0040] The functional unit 20a is implemented at least partly by a stiffness parameter of the carrier layer 18a, which is in particular embodied as a paper layer, in particular by a paper stiffness parameter of the paper layer. Preferably the functional unit 20a is implemented at least partly by the material-specific stiffness parameter of the carrier layer 18a and by a geometrical arrangement, in particular by the implementation of the fold triangle 26a, 28a and by the fins 22a, 24a. The stiffness parameter of the carrier layer 18a, which is in particular embodied as a paper layer, is preferably greater than the stiffness parameter of a carrier layer that is formed of a synthetic foil or aluminum foil and is already known to someone skilled in the art.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a packaging machine 38a for a production and/or for a transport of a primary packaging 10a shown in FIG. 1. The packaging machine 38a is preferably implemented as a tubular-bag machine. Preferentially the packaging machine 38a comprises a forming device 70a with at least one, in particular roll-free, forming unit 72a, in particular a forming collar, which is configured for shaping a packaging material 74a, in particular a paper web and/or a foil web, for a realization of the enveloping unit 14a. In particular, the forming device 70a is configured for guiding a packaging material 74a along a horizontal transport direction 78a, in particular along a horizontal transport direction 78a extending at least substantially perpendicularly to an effective gravity direction 76a.

[0042] Preferentially the forming device 70a is configured at least for a shaping and/or guiding of the packaging material 74a. Preferably the packaging machine 38a comprises at least one packaging material wind-off unit 80a, which is configured for receiving the packaging material 74a. Preferentially the packaging material wind-off unit 80a is configured for off-winding the packaging material 74a, in particular for feeding the packaging material 74a to a packaging material feeding unit 82a of the packaging machine 38a. The packaging material feeding unit 82a is in particular configured to feed the packaging material 74a to the forming device 70a. The packaging material feeding unit 82a may comprise a plurality of components, in particular components known to someone skilled in the art, like for example at least one oscillating lever, at least one centering feeler, at least one web edge controlling and/or at least one printing unit for imprinting the packaging material 74a. Preferably the packaging machine 38a comprises at least one product feeding unit 84a, in particular a conveyor belt, a pick-up chain, or the like, which is configured to transport the products 12a which are to be packaged into a region of the forming device 70a for an enveloping by the packaging material 74a, respectively by the enveloping unit 14a.

[0043] The packaging machine 38a preferably comprises at least one longitudinal sealing unit 86a, which is configured to create a longitudinal sealing seam of the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a, which in particular extends at least substantially parallel to the transport direction 78a, in particular by a pressure onto the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a, and/or by introducing heat into the packaging material 74a respectively the enveloping unit 14a. The longitudinal sealing unit 86a is arranged along the transport direction 78a after the forming device 70a, in particular after a shape-guiding unit 88a of the forming device 70a. In particular, the longitudinal sealing unit 86a comprises at least one pair of sealing rolls (not shown here), which are in particular heatable, profiled and/or subjectable to pressure, and which are configured to transport the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a, in particular by a rotation. Preferably the longitudinal sealing unit 86a comprises a plurality of pairs of sealing rolls, wherein at least a first pair of sealing rolls, which is arranged along the transport direction 78a after the forming device 70a, is implemented to be heating-free, in particular for a heating-free transport of the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a.

[0044] The packaging machine 38a preferentially comprises at least one transverse sealing unit 90a, which is configured, in particular after one product 12a respectively, to create transverse sealing seams of the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a, which in particular extend at least substantially perpendicularly to the transport direction 78a, in particular by a pressure onto the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a, and/or by introducing heat into the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a. Preferably the transverse sealing unit 90a is configured for singulating the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a, into individual packagings, which in particular enclose one product 12a respectively. The transverse sealing unit 90a is arranged along the transport direction 78a after the longitudinal sealing unit 86a. The forming unit 72a is preferentially configured to deflect the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a. In particular, the packaging material feeding unit 82a is configured to feed the packaging material 74a, respectively the enveloping unit 14a, to the forming unit 72a along a direction, in particular run-in direction, extending transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the transport direction 78a.

[0045] The packaging machine 38a furthermore comprises at least one transport unit 40a, which is implemented in such a way that during a transport, in particular during a transport into a secondary packaging 42a (see FIGS. 5 and 6), the primary packaging 10a is supported at least in a region of the fold triangle 26a, 28a of the enveloping unit 14a and/or the fin 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a is bent, arched and/or folded around at least one axis 44a, 46a. The transport unit 40a is preferably embodied by a gripper unit, which is configured to lift the primary packaging 10a from the product feeding unit 84a, in particular a conveyor belt, a pickup chain or something like that, of the packaging machine 38a and to convey it to the secondary packaging 42a. FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the transport unit 40a. The transport unit 40a preferentially comprises at least one holding element 92a, by means of which the primary packaging 10a can be held for a transport into the secondary packaging 42a. The holding element 92a may, for example, be realized as a negative-pressure holding element, like for example as a suction cup (the holding element realized as a suction cup is depicted in FIG. 3 by a dashed line and has no reference numeral). Preferentially the transport unit 40a comprises, in particular in addition to the holding element 92a, at least one further holding element 94a, by means of which the primary packaging 10a can be held for a transport into the secondary packaging 42a. Preferably the primary packaging 10a can be clamped between the holding element 92a and the further holding element 94a. The holding element 92a and the further holding element 94a are preferably supported translationally movably on a base body 96a of the transport unit 40a. The base body 96a of the transport unit 40a may itself be arranged on a multi-axial robot arm (not shown here in detail) of the transport unit 40a or on another motion mechanism of the transport unit 40a that is deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art. It is however also conceivable that, alternatively or additionally to the translationally movable support, the holding element 92a and the further holding element 94a are supported on the base body 96a in a rotatable or pivotable manner.

[0046] Preferably, in a transport of the primary packaging 10a by the transport unit 40a, the fin 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a is bent, arched and/or folded around the axis 44a, 46a that is allocated to the respective fin 22a, 24a by the holding element 92a, respectively by the further holding element 94a. The axis or the axes 44a, 46a, which the fin or the fins 22a, 24a is/are bent, arched and/or folded around, extends/extend transversely, in particular at least substantially perpendicularly, to the longitudinal axis 66a of the enveloping unit 14a. It is however also conceivable that the fin or the fins 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a is/are bent, arched and/or folded around an axis extending at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 66a of the enveloping unit 14a.

[0047] Preferentially the transport unit 40a comprises at least one support element 98a, which is configured to support the primary packaging 10a during a transport, in particular a transport into the secondary packaging 42a, at least in a region of the fold triangle 26a of the enveloping unit 14a (see FIG. 3). Preferably the transport unit 40a comprises, in particular in addition to the support element 98a, at least one further support element 100a, which is configured to support the primary packaging 10a during a transport, in particular a transport into the secondary packaging 42a, at least in the region of the further fold triangle 28a of the enveloping unit 14a. The support element 98a and the further support element 100a are preferably supported on the base body 96a of the transport unit 40a such that they are translationally movable. It is however, alternatively or additionally, conceivable that the support element 98a and the further support element 100a are supported or arranged on the base body 96a rotatably or pivotally or stationarily. The support element 98a and the further support element 100a are preferentially formed at least partly, in particular at an end that comes into contact with the primary packaging 10a, of an elastic material, like for example a foam material, an elastomer, or the like.

[0048] FIG. 4 shows a schematic flow of a method 48a for a production and/or a transport of the primary packaging 10a. Preferably the primary packaging 10a is manufactured by the packaging machine 38a in at least one method step 102a, wherein the product 12a is received by the enveloping unit 14a and, in particular following a production of the primary packaging 10a and a receiving of the product 12a, the product 12a is transported into the secondary packaging 42a by means of the transport unit 40a of the packaging machine 38a. The secondary packaging 42a is preferably embodied as a cardboard packaging surrounded by a protective sleeve (not shown here in detail), in particular a protective sleeve made of plastic or paper, in a manner that is already known to someone skilled in the art. Preferentially the secondary packaging 42a comprises a U-shaped support unit 104a (see FIGS. 5 and 6), which is in particular already known to someone skilled in the art and on which a plurality of primary packagings 10a are arranged, in particular before the support unit 104a and the primary packagings 10a arranged on the support unit 104a are surrounded with the protective sleeve in a manner already known to someone skilled in the art. It is however also conceivable for the secondary packaging 42a to have a different implementation deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art, like for example an implementation as a box of paper or cardboard or the like, which can in particular be flapped open, and in which a plurality of primary packagings 10a are arranged, in particular stack-wise and/or row-wise.

[0049] In at least one method step 50a the primary packaging 10a is supported during a transport, in particular a transport into a secondary packaging 42a, at least in the region of the fold triangle 26a, 28a of the enveloping unit 14a, and/or the fin 22a, 24a of the enveloping unit 14a is bent, arched and/or folded around at least the axis 44a, 46a. In at least one, in particular alternative or further, method step 52a the fin 22a of the enveloping unit 14a of the primary packaging 10a is bent, arched and/or folded around the axis 44a as a result from a contact with an inner wall 54a (see FIGS. 5 and 6) of the secondary packaging 42a and, in particular directly after this, a pivoting movement of the primary packaging 10a is effected, in particular by means of the transport unit 40a, in which the further fin 24a of the enveloping unit 14a of the primary packaging 10a is bent, arched and/or folded around the further axis 46a. The pivoting movement of the primary packaging 10a is effected preferably around a pivot axis of the transport unit 40a that extends at least substantially parallel to a main support surface 106a of the support unit 104a, in particular toward the support unit 104a.

[0050] In at least one, in particular alternative or further, method step 56a, during a laying-in into the secondary packaging 42a, the fin 22a of the enveloping unit 14a of the primary packaging 10a is bent, arched and/or folded around the axis 44a as a result from a contact with the inner wall 54a of the secondary packaging 42a and, in particular directly after this, a folding of an outer wall 58a (see FIGS. 5 and 6) of the secondary packaging 42a is effected, in which the further fin 24a of the enveloping unit 14a of the primary packaging 10a is bent, arched and/or folded around the further axis 46a.

[0051] When a plurality of primary packagings 10a have been arranged in the secondary packaging 42a according to at least one of the method steps described above, in the arrangements illustrated by way of example in FIGS. 5 and 6, a protective sleeve (not shown in detail) of the secondary packaging 42a is arranged around the support unit 104a and the primary packagings 10a which are arranged thereon by the packaging machine 38a.

[0052] Alternatively to a row-wise arrangement of the primary packagings 10a in the secondary packaging 42a, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is also conceivable that in at least one method step 60a the primary packaging 10a and at least one further primary packaging (not shown here in detail) are arranged in the secondary packaging 42a in a shingled or cross-wise manner in such a way that fins 22a, 24a of the primary packaging 10a and the further primary packaging are arranged essentially overlap-free or contact-free. Further implementations deemed expedient by someone skilled in the art are also conceivable.

[0053] In FIG. 7 a further exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown. The following description and the drawing are essentially limited to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, wherein regarding identically denominated structural components, in particular structural components having the same reference numerals, principally the drawings and/or the description of the other exemplary embodiment, in particular of FIGS. 1 to 6, may be referred to. To distinguish between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a has been added to the reference numerals of FIGS. 1 to 6. In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7 the letter a has been substituted by the letter b.

[0054] FIG. 7 shows an alternative implementation of a primary packaging 10b. The primary packaging 10b illustrated in FIG. 7 has all features of the primary packaging 10a illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 and described accordingly. In contrast to the primary packaging 10a that is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 and is partly described, the primary packaging 10b illustrated in FIG. 7 comprises a functional unit 20b, which is formed, in particular in addition to fins 22b, 24b, at least partially by a fold triangle 26b, 28b, in particular a fold triangle 26b, 28b created as a result of a fin seam sealing of an enveloping unit 14b of the primary packaging 10b, and by a counter-fold triangle 34b, 36b, in particular a gusset, of the enveloping unit 14b. Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 a plurality of primary packagings 10b are arranged in a secondary packaging 42b upon one another in several rows. Regarding further features and functions of the primary packaging 10b illustrated in FIG. 7 and the secondary packaging 42b illustrated in FIG. 7, the description of FIGS. 1 to 6 is referred to, which shall be read analogously onto the primary packaging 10b illustrated in FIG. 7 and onto the secondary packaging 42b illustrated in FIG. 7.