METHOD FOR PRODUCING A BLANK FOR A PACKAGING ITEM, BLANK AND PACKAGING MADE FROM A BLANK

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a blank for a packaging item having a cellulose-containing base material with at least one line from the group of folding, crease, cutting, scored and/or bending lines, wherein the at least one line is defined at least in sections by the application of water and/or of at least one hygroscopic substance to the base material. The invention also relates to a blank for producing a packaging item including a cellulose-containing base material having at least one line from the group of folding, crease, cutting, scored and/or bending lines, wherein the at least one line is defined at least in sections by water and/or by at least one hygroscopic substance applied to the base material. The invention further relates to a method for producing a packaging item from a blank of this type, and to a corresponding packaging item for storing goods.

Claims

1. A method for producing a blank for a packaging item, comprising: a base material containing cellulose with at least one line from the group of folding, crease, cutting, scored and/or bending lines, wherein the at least one line is defined by applying water and/or at least one hygroscopic substance to the base material at least in sections.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one hygroscopic substance is from the group of hygroscopic solids, gels and/or liquids and is applied to the base material.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein at least one inorganic or organic salt, in particular an anhydrous inorganic or organic salt, is used as the at least one hygroscopic substance.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the base material is bonded to at least one further material to a composite material.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the base material is bonded to the at least one further material via an adhesion agent.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water and/or the at least one hygroscopic substance are applied to the base material by at least one printing method, in particular from the group of contactless, direct and/or indirect printing methods, ink jet printing, flexographic printing, transfer printing, screen printing, offset printing, gravure printing, relief printing, planographic printing and digital printing, and/or by an application nozzle.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the base material is impregnated with the water and/or the at least one hygroscopic substance at least in sections.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water and/or the at least one hygroscopic substance are applied to the base material in an amount between 1.0*10.sup.−12 g/cm.sup.2 and 5.0 g/cm.sup.2 and/or with a width between 0.1 mm and 50 mm.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein multiple lines are defined by applying the water and/or the at least one hygroscopic substance to the base material at least in sections.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water and/or the at least one hygroscopic substance are applied to the base material such that at least one continuous or interrupted line and/or multiple lines arranged next to each other and/or at least one straight or curved line and/or a cutting line and at least one further line are defined.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the water and/or the at least one hygroscopic substance are applied to a rear side of the base material and/or over a mechanical deformation in the base material and/or only in areas of the base material, which are reshaped and/or separated in the production of the packaging item from the blank.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the blank is dried after applying the at least one hygroscopic substance.

13. A blank for producing a packaging item comprising: a base material containing cellulose with at least one line from the group of folding, crease, cutting, scored and/or bending lines, wherein the at least one line is defined by water and/or by at least one hygroscopic substance applied to the base material at least in sections.

14. The blank according to claim 13, wherein the at least one line is defined between at least two elements from the group of an adhesive flap, a rear wall element, a sidewall element, a front wall element, a lid wall element, a bottom wall element, an insertion flap, a lid flap, a dust flap and a bottom flap.

15. A method for producing a packaging item from a blank, which is formed according to claim 13, in which the at least one line, which is defined by water and/or by the at least one hygroscopic substance applied to the base material at least in sections, is folded and/or creased and/or cut and/or scored and/or bent.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one hygroscopic substance is wetted before the folding, creasing, cutting, scoring and/or bending step.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one hygroscopic substance is wetted by adjusting ambient air humidity and/or by applying water.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the at least one hygroscopic substance is at least predominantly removed from the base material after the folding, creasing, cutting, scoring and/or bending step.

19. A packaging item for storing goods, in particular cereals and/or rod-shaped goods like cigarettes and the like, wherein the packaging item is at least partially formed from a blank, which is produced by a method according to claim 1.

20. A packaging item for storing goods, in particular cereals and/or rod-shaped goods like cigarettes and the like, wherein the packaging item is at least partially formed from a blank, which is produced by a method according to claim 15.

Description

[0026] Further features of the invention are apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, implementations are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures and explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations. Implementations and feature combinations are also to be considered as disclosed, which thus do not comprise all of the features of an originally formulated independent claim. Moreover, implementations and feature combinations are to be considered as disclosed, in particular by the implementations set out above, which extend beyond or deviate from the feature combinations set out in the relations of the claims. There shows:

[0027] FIG. 1 a schematic representation of a packaging item according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 a schematic representation of the packaging item according to FIG. 1 in partially closed state;

[0029] FIG. 3 a schematic representation of a blank of the packaging item according to the invention according to FIG. 1;

[0030] FIG. 4 a schematic representation of a blank according to the invention according to a further embodiment; and

[0031] FIG. 5 a schematic diagram with examples of differently formed lines.

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a packaging item 10 according to the invention, which in particular serves for the storage and the transport of pourable, powdery and free-flowing foods, for example cereals. The packaging item 10 is composed of cardboard and therein comprises a front wall 12 and a rear wall 14, which are connected via respectively three sidewalls 22, 22′, 22″, 24, 24′, 24″ (see also FIGS. 2 and 3). The sidewalls 22, 22′, 22″, 24, 24′, 24″ constitute the end sides 16, 18 of the packaging item 10. One recognizes that the packaging item 10 is formed in the shape of a prismatic body along a longitudinal axis L and has an octagonal base surface 38. In addition, the packaging item 10 comprises a bottom construction 20, which comprises each one bottom flap 26, 28 hinged to the front and rear walls 12, 14 for bottom-side closure of the packaging item 10 (see also FIG. 3). Furthermore, the packaging item 10 comprises a lid construction 30, wherein the lid construction 30 includes each one lid flap 32, 34 hinged to the front and rear walls 12, 14 for lid-side closure of the packaging item 10. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, both the bottom construction 20 and the lid construction 30 each comprise dust flaps 36 (compare also FIG. 3) hinged to the bottom-side and lid-side ends of the end-side sidewalls 22, 24. One recognizes that the dust flaps 36 are hinged to the central one of the three sidewalls 22, 24 forming the end sides 16, 18.

[0033] Furthermore, one recognizes that the dust flaps 36 each include a first section 40, wherein the first section 40 is hinged to the corresponding end-side sidewall 22, 24. A second section 42 adjoins to the first section 40, wherein lateral locking lugs 44 are respectively arranged in the transitional area between the first section 40 and the second section 42. The locking lugs 44 are formed such that they can lock in the recesses 46 formed in the bottom and lid flaps 26, 28, 32, 34 in a closure position of the dust flap 36 (compare also FIG. 2). Therein, the recesses 46 are respectively formed in the transitional area between the front and rear walls 12, 14 and the corresponding bottom and lid flaps 26, 28, 32, 34.

[0034] FIG. 2 shows the packaging item 10 with a closure position of the dust flaps 36 of the lid construction 30. One recognizes that the dust flaps 36 are formed such that they rest on the sidewalls 22′, 22″, 24′, 24″ in the closure position. The dust flap 36 is not hinged to the sidewalls 22′, 22″, 24′, 24″. Furthermore, it becomes clear that the dust flaps 36 protrude beyond the mentioned sidewalls 22′, 22″, 24′, 24″ in their closure position and thus overall cover the area of the base surface 38 formed by the sidewalls 22, 22′, 22″, 24, 24′, 24″ arranged on the end side of the packaging item 10 formed as a prismatic body. Thereby, secure closure and secure overlap, respectively, of this area of the packaging item 10 are ensured on the one hand. On the other hand, the loading stability of the packaging item 10 in this area considerably increases. The dust flaps 36 of the bottom construction 20 are identically formed.

[0035] In addition, it becomes clear that the locking lugs 44 abut on the bottom and lid flaps 26, 28, 32, 34 in the closure position of the dust flap 36 and lock in the corresponding recesses 46.

[0036] One additionally recognizes that the second section 42 of the dust flaps 36 is respectively formed such that it abuts on the inner sides of the front and rear walls 12, 14 in closure position of the dust flaps 36. By this support of the inner sides of the front and rear walls 12, 14, considerable increase of the shape stability of the packaging item 10 results.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of a blank 48 of the packaging item 10 according to FIG. 1. The blank 48 includes front wall, rear wall and sidewall elements 12, 14, 22, 22′, 22″, 24, 24′, 24″ connected via lines 50, 52, 54, 56, 60, 62, 64 presently formed as bending lines for forming the packaging item 10 as a prismatic shape body in the folded state of the blank 48 (see FIGS. 1 and 2). One recognizes that the blank 48 comprises two lid and bottom flaps 32, 34, 26, 28 hinged to the front and rear wall elements 12, 14. A dust flap 36 is respectively hinged to the respective ends of the sidewalls 22, 24 via bending lines 68, 72, 76, 80. The lid and bottom flaps 32, 34, 26, 28 are connected to the corresponding front and rear wall elements 12, 14 via corresponding bending lines 66, 70, 74, 78. The blank 48 comprises an adhesive flap 58 at the end opposing the sidewall element 22″, which is connected to the rear wall element 14 via a bending line 82.

[0038] Furthermore, one recognizes that a recess 46 is respectively formed in the transitional area between the front and rear wall elements 12, 14 and the corresponding bottom and lid flaps 26, 28, 32, 34.

[0039] The dust flap 36 is formed such that it rests on the sidewall elements 22′, 22″, 24′, 24″, to which it is not hinged, in folded state of the blank 48 and in a closure position (compare also FIG. 2). In particular, the dust flap 36 protrudes beyond the sidewall elements 22′, 22″, 24′, 24″, on which it rests, in folded state of the blank 48 and in a closure position. One recognizes that the dust flaps 36 are respectively composed of a first section 40 and a second section 42 adjoining thereto. The first section 40 is hinged to the corresponding ends of the sidewall elements 22, 24. In addition, the first section 40 is formed such that it covers the area of a base surface 38 of the packaging item 10 formed by the sidewall elements 22, 22′, 22″, 24, 24′, 24″ arranged on the end side in folded state of the blank 48 and in closure position of the dust flap 36. The second section 42 is formed such that it abuts on the inner sides of the front and rear wall elements 12, 14 in folded state of the blank 48 and in closure position of the dust flap 36. Furthermore, one recognizes that a locking lug 44 is respectively laterally formed in the dust flap 36 in the transition between the first section 40 and the second section 42. In the illustrated embodiment, the first section 40 is approximately trapezoidally formed, the second section 42 is rectangularly formed.

[0040] The lines 50, 52, 54, 56, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82 are respectively defined by water and/or a hygroscopic substance, for example MgCl.sub.2, applied to the rear side of the blank 48 to ensure better bendability and foldability of the cardboard. Therefore, so-called debossing or embossing as well as additional mechanical processings of the lines 50, 52, 54, 56, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82 are not required and can basically be omitted. The application of water and/or one or more hygroscopic substances to the surface of the cardboard can be effected by transfer, imprinting, spraying via nozzles or mechanical and/or digital transfer if necessary, wherein the cardboard or blank 48 can also be impregnated if necessary.

[0041] In case of an airing substance or if a dry, that is water-free or anhydrous, hygroscopic substance is applied for definition of one or more lines 50, 52, 54, 56, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80 and 82, the humidity absorption and the transfer of the humidity into the cardboard, respectively, can be effected only shortly before the production of the packaging item 10 by applying water to the hygroscopic substance and/or by adjusting the air humidity of the ambient air to a sufficiently high value in order that the hygroscopic substance can absorb the desired amount of humidity. For example, this can be effected in an air-conditioned room.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a blank 48 according to the invention according to a further embodiment. The blank 48 includes a sidewall 24, which is connected to two dust flaps 36 via respective lines 50 formed as bending lines. The sidewall is connected to a rear wall 12 via a further line 50. The rear wall 12 is in turn connected to a bottom flap 26 via a line 50, which is connected to an insertion flap 90 via a further line 50 and two lines 92 formed as cutting lines. Lines 92 formed as cutting lines are located between the bottom flap and the laterally adjoining dust flaps 36. Furthermore, the rear wall 12 is connected to a sidewall 22 via a bending line 50, which in turn is connected to two dust flaps 36 via lines 50. The sidewall 22 is connected to a front wall 14 via a further bending line 50, which is connected to an adhesive flap 58 via a line 50. Furthermore, the front wall 14 is connected to a lid flap 32 via a line 50. The lid flap 32 is connected to the dust flap 36 via a cutting line 92 and to an insertion flap 90 via two cutting lines 92 and a bending line 50.

[0043] The dashed drawn bending lines 50 are again defined exclusively by applying water and/or a hygroscopic substance like MgCl.sub.2, while the cutting lines 92 are punched. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the cutting lines 92 are also defined by applying water and/or a hygroscopic substance to facilitate separation of the blank 48 in these sections.

[0044] The embodiments of the packaging items 10 and the blanks 48, respectively, described in the preceding figures serve for clarifying the basic principle of the present invention. In particular, a plurality of differently formed packaging items 10 and blanks 48 is conceivable. Thus, the base surfaces 38 of the packaging item 10 formed as a prismatic body can not only be octaognally, but also triangularly, quadrangularly, pentagonally, hexagonally, decagonally or dodecagonally formed. Other shapes are also possible.

[0045] The preceding described packaging items 10 are formed as folding boxes. Like the associated blanks 48, they are in particular composed of cardboard, paper or comparable cellulose-containing materials. However, composite materials of a cellulose-containing base material and one or more other materials can basically also be provided, for example paper+PET, cardboard+PET, aluminum+cardboard, PE+aluminum+cardboard, PVOH+paperboard etc. with or without adhesion agent between the individual layers. For definition of one or more lines 50, 52, 54, 56, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82 and 92, water and/or a hygroscopic substance are preferably applied to one side of a paper, cardboard and/or paperboard layer, which subsequently is to constitute an inner side of the packaging item 10. Furthermore, it can be provided that after folding the blank 48 and after completion of the corresponding packaging item 10, respectively, the hygroscopic substance is removed from it and optionally regenerated and reused.

[0046] FIG. 5 shows a schematic diagram with examples of differently formed lines, which are all provided with the reference character 50 for the sake of simplicity. However, it is to be emphasized that the lines 50 can basically be identically or differently defined. For example, multiple lines 50 can be defined by applying different hygroscopic substances or substance mixtures. Furthermore, multiple lines 50 can satisfy different functions in producing a packaging item 10 from a correspondingly equipped blank 48 and be formed or used independently of each other as folding, crease, cutting, scored and/or bending lines.

[0047] Multiple lines 50 can for example be defined next to each other by application of water and/or a hygroscopic substance to allow folds with larger radii. Arched, flat, curved, interrupted and generally complexly formed lines 50 can also be defined by applying water and/or a hygroscopic substance in fast, simple and flexible manner without further mechanical processing steps of the base material being required in this respect.

[0048] The parameter values indicated in the documents for the definition of process and measurement conditions for the characterization of specific characteristics of the inventive subject matter are to be considered as encompassed by the scope of the invention also within the scope of deviations—for example due to measurement errors, system errors, weighing errors, DIN tolerances and the like.