Abstract
There is illustrated and described a bundle (14) comprising packaging sleeves (10) and an outer packaging (15), comprising: a plurality of packaging sleeves (10) of a composite material, and an outer packaging (15) which surrounds the packaging sleeves (10), wherein each packaging sleeve (10) has a front side (12) and a rear side (13), wherein the front side (12) and the rear side (13) of each packaging sleeve (10) are separated from each other by means of folding edges (F), along which the packaging sleeve (10) is folded flat, wherein each packaging sleeve (10) has two openings which are arranged on opposite sides of the packaging sleeve (10), and wherein each packaging sleeve (10) has a longitudinal seam (11) which connects two edges of the composite material to form a circumferential packaging sleeve (10). In order to enable a space-saving, cost-effective and reliable transport of packaging sleeves (10), it is proposed that the outer packaging (15) be produced from a plastics material film (17).
Claims
1. A bundle comprising packaging sleeves and an outer packaging, comprising: a plurality of packaging sleeves of a composite material, and an outer packaging which surrounds the packaging sleeves, wherein each packaging sleeve has a front side and a rear side, wherein the front side and the rear side of each packaging sleeve are separated from each other by means of folding edges, along which the packaging sleeve is folded flat, wherein each packaging sleeve has two openings which are arranged on opposite sides of the packaging sleeve, and wherein each packaging sleeve has a longitudinal seam which connects two edges of the composite material to form a circumferential packaging sleeve, characterised in that the outer packaging is produced from a plastics material film and that the plastics material film has at least one weld seam which extends substantially in a stacking direction.
2. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the outer packaging assembles the packaging sleeves in such a manner that in the stacking direction at least 4.0 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 4.5 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 5.0 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 5.5 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 6.0 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 6.5 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 6.75 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 7.0 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 7.25 packaging sleeves per cm or at least 7.5 packaging sleeves per cm are arranged.
3. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging sleeves are arranged in the outer packaging in such a manner that the longitudinal seams of all the packaging sleeves extend parallel with each other.
4. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging sleeves are arranged in the outer packaging in such a manner that the longitudinal seams of all the packaging sleeves are arranged in a common plane which extends in the stacking direction.
5. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging sleeves are arranged in the outer packaging in such a manner that the front sides of all the packaging sleeves face in the same direction and the rear sides of all the packaging sleeves face in the same direction.
6. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging sleeves are folded flat along both folding edges through an angle of approximately 180.
7. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the two folding edges extend parallel with each other.
8. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging sleeves are folded exclusively along the two folding edges.
9. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging sleeves have base faces and gable faces which are arranged at opposite sides of the two side faces, the front face and the rear face.
10. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the composite material of the packaging sleeves has a strength in the range between 150 g/m.sup.2 and 500 g/m.sup.2, in particular between 200 g/m.sup.2 and 350 g/m.sup.2.
11. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the composite material of the packaging sleeves has a thickness in the range between 0.25 mm and 0.75 mm. in particular between 0.3 mm and 0.6 mm.
12. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the composite material has at least one layer of paper, card or cardboard which is covered at the edge of the longitudinal seam extending inside the packaging sleeve.
13. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the composite material is peeled in the region of the longitudinal seam.
14. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised by a material weakening in the packaging sleeves, in particular in an overcoated hole, for securing a pouring element.
15. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the plastics material film has a thickness in the range between 10 m and 50 m, in particular between 15 m and 40 m.
16. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the plastics material film is multi-layered.
17. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the plastics material film has stretch properties and/or shrinking properties.
18. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the plastics material film surrounds the packaging sleeves in an undulating manner at least in the region of the folding edges.
19. (canceled)
20. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the plastics material film has at least one welded end which is preferably arranged at one of the end sides of the Bundle.
21. The bundle according to claim 1, characterised in that the plastics material film comprises a printing.
Description
[0036] The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to just one preferred embodiment. In the drawings:
[0037] FIG. 1A shows a blank known from the prior art for folding a packaging sleeve,
[0038] FIG. 1B: shows a packaging sleeve which is known from the prior art and which is formed from the blank shown in FIG. 1A, in the folded-flat state,
[0039] FIG. 2A: shows a first bundle known from the prior art comprising an outer packaging and a plurality of packaging sleeves,
[0040] FIG. 2B: shows a second bundle known from the prior art comprising an outer packaging and a plurality of packaging sleeves,
[0041] FIG. 3A: shows a first embodiment of a packaging sleeve assembly having an outer packaging,
[0042] FIG. 3B: shows a first embodiment of a bundle according to the invention,
[0043] FIG. 4A: shows a second embodiment of a packaging sleeve assembly having an outer packaging,
[0044] FIG. 4B: shows a second embodiment of a bundle according to the invention,
[0045] FIG. 5A: shows a third embodiment of a packaging sleeve assembly having an outer packaging,
[0046] FIG. 5B: shows a third embodiment of a bundle according to the invention,
[0047] FIG. 6: is a plan view of a bundle according to the invention comprising an outer packaging and a plurality of packaging sleeves, and
[0048] FIG. 7: shows a plurality of bundles according to the invention which are stacked on a pallet.
[0049] FIG. 1A shows a blank 1 which is known from the prior art and from which a packaging sleeve can be formed. The blank 1 may comprise several layers of different materials, for example, paper, card, cardboard, plastics material or metal, in particular aluminium. The blank 1 has a plurality of folding lines 2 which are intended to facilitate the folding of the blank 1 and which divide the blank 1 into a plurality of faces. The blank 1 may be subdivided into a first side face 3, a second side face 4, a front face 5, a rear face 6, a sealing face 7, base faces 8 and gable faces 9. From the blank 1, a packaging sleeve can be formed by the blank 1 being folded in such a manner that the sealing face 7 can be connected to the front face 5, in particular welded.
[0050] FIG. 1B shows a packaging sleeve 10 known from the prior art in the folded-flat state. The regions of the packaging sleeve already described in relation to FIG. 1A are provided in FIG. 1B with corresponding reference numerals. The packaging sleeve 10 is formed from the blank 1 shown in FIG. 1A. To this end, the blank 1 was folded in such a manner that the sealing face 7 and the front faces are arranged so as to overlap so that the two faces can be welded to each other in a flat manner. As a result, a longitudinal seam 11 is produced. In FIG. 1B, the packaging sleeve 10 is illustrated in a state folded together in a flat manner along two folding edges F. In this state, a side face 4 (concealed in FIG. 1B) is located below the front face 5, whilst the other side face 3 is located on the rear face 6 (concealed in FIG. 1B). The front face 5 and the adjacent side face 3 consequently form a front side 12 of the packaging sleeve 10 and the rear face 6 and the adjacent side face 6 consequently form a rear side 13 of the packaging sleeve 10. In the state folded together flat, a plurality of packaging sleeves 10 can be stacked in a particularly space-saving manner. Therefore, the packaging sleeves 10 are frequently stacked at the location of production and transported in stacks to the filling location. The packaging sleeves 10 are unstacked only at that location and unfolded in order to be able to be filled with contents, for example, with foodstuffs. The filling can be carried out under aseptic conditions. The foodstuffs may contain at least one liquid component.
[0051] FIG. 2A shows a first bundle 14 known from the prior art comprising an outer packaging 15 and a plurality of packaging sleeves 10 and FIG. 2B shows a second bundle 14 known from the prior art comprising an outer packaging 15 and a plurality of packaging sleeves 10. In the bundle 14 shown in FIG. 2A, the outer packaging 15 is formed from corrugated cardboard and is consequently very rigid. The outer packaging 15 from FIG. 2A therefore provides very good mechanical protection for the packaging sleeves 10 stored therein. A disadvantage of the outer packaging 15 involves, however, the very low level of resilience which does not enable the bundle 14 to be compressed and consequently transported in a space-saving manner. In addition, a rigid outer packaging has the disadvantage of having to be disassembled after the removal of the packaging sleeves 10 in order to take up less space. In the bundle 14 shown in FIG. 2B, the outer packaging 15 is formed from paper, the packaging sleeves 10 are thus enclosed like a present in paper. The outer packaging 15 can therefore be simply folded together after the removal of the packaging sleeves 10 and disposed of. However, a disadvantage of the outer packaging 15 is the low level of resilience and low tear resistance of the paper. The bundle 14 therefore cannot take up therein any packaging sleeves 10 which have been compressed in a space-saving manner since the restoring forces would lead to the paper tearing.
[0052] FIG. 3A shows a first embodiment of a packaging sleeve assembly 16 having an outer packaging and FIG. 3B shows a first embodiment of a bundle 14 according to the invention which has been produced from it. For better understanding, FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are perspective illustrations. Those regions which have already been described above are provided in FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B with corresponding reference numerals. In FIG. 3A and in FIG. 3B, the outer packaging 15 is formed from a resilient plastics material film 17. The plastics material film may have a weld seam 18 or also a plurality of weld seams 18, for example, two weld seams 18 which are arranged at opposing sides. The protruding ends 19 of the plastics material film 17 may be redirected at both end sides of the packaging sleeve assembly 16 by means of hot air. To this end, at both end sides of the packaging sleeve assembly 16, there are preferably arranged four hot air nozzles 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D of which only the front nozzles are shown. The action on the protruding ends 19 of the plastics material film 17 leads to them resting on the end faces of the packaging sleeve assembly 16 and being able to be welded to each other at that location, as can be seen in FIG. 3B, where a completed bundle 14 with closed ends 19 is illustrated. As a result of the relatively large quantity of material of the welded ends of the plastics material film 17, it has in the central region of the end sides an irregularly formed structure, which, however, is harmless for the function of the outer packaging. It can additionally be seen that, at both sides of the bundle 14, weld seams 18 are placed around the end sides. Preferably, hot air is first supplied to the opposing nozzles 20A and 20B so that the protruding upper and lower ends 19 of the plastics material film 17 are applied to the end side of the packaging sleeve assembly 16 before the nozzles 20C and 20D are then activated so that all the protruding ends 19 are applied in a flat manner and are welded to each other. It is clear that in this instance no welding between the plastics material film 17 and the coating of the outer packaging sleeves 10 of the packaging sleeve assembly 16 is intended to be carried out. Finally, it can be seen clearly in FIG. 3A that the packaging sleeve assembly 16 in the region of the end sides thereof both at the corners and along the edges thereof surround the packaging sleeve assembly 16 in a tight manner, whereby a solid unit, which is inherently stable and consequently easy to transport, is produced. In FIG. 3A and in FIG. 3Band in some following figuresthere is additionally illustrated a loading carrier B whichin the same manner as the packaging sleeves 10is surrounded by the plastics material film 17. The loading carrier B may, for example, be placed on the packaging sleeves 10 and consequently be arranged between the packaging sleeves 10 and the plastics material film 17. The loading carrier B is intended to receive active substances and introduce them into the bundle 14, for example, a sterilisation agent. The loading carrier B may, for example, be constructed as a flat sheet. The loading carrier B is only optional; therefore, a bundle 14 according to the invention may or may not have a loading carrier B.
[0053] FIG. 4A shows a second embodiment of a packaging sleeve assembly 16 with an outer packaging and FIG. 4B shows a second embodiment of a bundle 14 according to the invention which has been produced therefrom. For better understanding, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are perspective illustrations. Those regions which have already been described above are also provided with corresponding reference numerals in FIG. 4A and in FIG. 4B. The difference from FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B is that the width of the plastics material film 17 with respect to the length of the packaging sleeve assembly 16 is shorter so that the protruding ends 19 are shorter. This leads to the end sides of the packaging sleeve assembly 16 not being able to be fully covered with plastics material film when the protruding ends 19 are turned over on the end face and welded to each other. In FIG. 4B, it can instead be seen that a type of window 21 is formed in the centre of the end faces. Such an embodiment of a completed bundle 14 is, for example, desirable when on the end sides no thickening is intended to be carried out by means of plastics material film 17 which is welded together.
[0054] FIG. 5A shows a second embodiment of a packaging sleeve assembly 16 having an outer packaging and FIG. 5B shows a second embodiment of a bundle 14 according to the invention which is produced therefrom. For better understanding, FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B are also perspective illustrations. Those regions which have already been described above are also provided in FIG. 5A and in FIG. 5B with corresponding reference numerals. The difference from FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B and FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B is that the plastics material film 17 has no weld seams. It is, for example, possible to dispense with the lateral weld seams which extend in the stacking direction by the plastics material film 17 already being produced in a tubular manner (for example, by means of extrusion). In addition, there may be provision for the plastics material film 17 to be in the form of a bag so that it is already closed at one end thereof (illustrated at the back in FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B) and only needs to be closed at the front end side.
[0055] FIG. 6 is a plan view of a bundle 14 according to the invention comprising an outer packaging and a plurality of packaging sleeves 10. These regions which have already been described above are also provided in FIG. 6 with corresponding reference numerals. Twenty packaging sleeves 10 are shown which in a tightly stacked state are surrounded by a plastics material film 17 and held together. The stacking direction S is schematically illustrated by a double-headed arrow and extends perpendicularly through the packaging sleeves 10. The plastics material film 17 forms in the region of the lower end face a window 21, as already described in connection with FIG. 4B. It can be seen that each packaging sleeve 10 has three regions with increased thickness: the regions of the two folding edges F and the region of the longitudinal seam 11. This is particularly clear in the enlarged cut-out of FIG. 6 (illustrated at the top). The packaging sleeves 10 have a minimum thickness D.sub.1, which is less than the thickness D.sub.2 in the region of the longitudinal seam 11 and which is also smaller than the thickness D.sub.3 in the region of the folding edges F. The increased thickness D.sub.2 in the region of the longitudinal seam 11 results from the fact that the end region 5 of the front face 5 and the end region 7 of the sealing face 7 in the region of the longitudinal seam 11 form an overlap. In the region of the longitudinal seam 11, the packaging sleeve 10 thus has an at least triple-layered structure in place of a dual-layered structure. The thickness D.sub.1 of the packaging sleeve 10 is, for example, in the range between 0.5 mm and 1.5 mm, whilst the increased thickness D.sub.2 of the packaging sleeve 10 is, for example, in the range between 0.6 mm and 3.0 mm. The transition between the different thicknesses is also referred to as a layer jump. The plastics material film 17 may lie in the region of the folding edges F around the packaging sleeves 10 and may therefore in this region be formed in an undulating manner (can be seen in the enlarged region of FIG. 5). This can be achieved by the resilience of the plastics material film 17 and/or by the use of a shrink film.
[0056] In addition to the overlap, one or both end regions 5, 7 may be folded over. A folding-over of the inner end region (in FIG. 6: end region 7) has the advantage that only the innermost layer of the material of the packaging sleeve 10 can come into contact with the content of the packaging which is intended to be produced therefrom. This results in other layers of the material of the packaging sleeve 10, for example, a central layer of paper, card or cardboard, being separated from the content of the packaging. In this manner, both the sealing of the packaging and hygienic requirements are ensured. A complete folding-over of the inner end region 7 would, however, lead to a further increase of the thickness of the packaging sleeve 10 in the region of the longitudinal seam 11. There may therefore be provision for only a few layers of the end region 7, in particular the innermost layer of the end region 7, to be folded over. To this end, the remaining layers are separated or peeled off before the folding-over action.
[0057] As can be seen in FIG. 6, the packaging sleeves 10 may be stacked only as closely as their thickest regions permit. These are in particular the regions of the two folding edges F and the region of the longitudinal seam 11. The density of the stacking of the packaging sleeves 10 can be measured and set out by the number of packaging sleeves 10 per length unit L being set out, wherein the length unit L is measured in the stacking direction S. In order to obtain the most precise possible indication of the stack density, a large number of packaging sleeves 10 should be counted and the number thereof be divided by the length unit L (for example, one hundred packaging sleeves 10). Preferably, the stacking density is at least 4.0 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 4.5 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 5.0 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 5.5 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 6.0 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 6.5 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 6.75 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 7.0 packaging sleeves per cm, in particular at least 7.25 packaging sleeves per cm, or at least 7.5 packaging sleeves per cm.
[0058] FIG. 7 finally shows a conventional pallet 22 which is known per se from the prior art and which is loaded with a large number of bundles 14 according to the invention. To this end, the individual bundles 14 which are formed from a packaging sleeve assembly 16 which has a large number of packaging sleeves 10 and an outer packaging which is formed from a plastics material film 17 are stacked on the pallet 22. Such pallets 22 which are loaded with the bundles 14 according to the invention are provided for the further transport of the packaging sleeves 10, for example, to the location of filling and production of the finished packagings.
[0059] FIG. 7 further shows that the edges of the bundles 14 which are stacked on the pallet 22 are provided with an edge protection 23 which is placed only for transport, for example, of reinforced cardboard. The assembly comprising bundles 14, edge protection 23 and at least the carrier side of the pallet 22 is then surrounded with a plastics material film 24, in particular a shrink film and/or stretch film and where applicable acted on with heat so that it forms a fixed unit which cannot slide when transported by lorry.
[0060] A system which is illustrated in FIG. 7 by way of example has various advantages compared with the systems known from the prior art, for example, the packaging units comprising packaging sleeves which are packed in a surrounding box as an outer packaging. In this instance, the significantly more cost-effective outer packaging of plastics material film should first be mentioned. Furthermore, the weight in contrast to the solutions in the prior art can be reduced. Furthermore, the waste caused by the outer packaging can be reduced and also a packaging unit which is better protected from contaminationfor example, in the form of surrounding casing dustcan be achieved.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0061] 1: Blank
[0062] 2: Folding line
[0063] 3, 4: Side face
[0064] 5: Front face
[0065] 5: End region (of the front face 5)
[0066] 6: Rear face
[0067] 7: Sealing face
[0068] 7: End region (of the sealing face 7)
[0069] 8: Base face
[0070] 9: Gable face
[0071] 10: Packaging sleeve
[0072] 11: Longitudinal seam
[0073] 12: Front side (of the packaging sleeve 10)
[0074] 13: Rear side (of the packaging sleeve 10)
[0075] 14, 14, 14: Bundle
[0076] 15, 15, 15: Outer packaging
[0077] 16: Packaging sleeve assembly
[0078] 17: Plastics material film
[0079] 18: Weld seam
[0080] 19: End (of the plastics material film 16)
[0081] 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D: Hot air nozzle
[0082] 21: Window
[0083] 22: Pallet
[0084] 23: Edge protection
[0085] B: Loading carrier
[0086] D.sub.1: Minimum thickness (of the packaging sleeve 10)
[0087] D.sub.2: Thickness (in the region of the longitudinal seam 11)
[0088] D.sub.3: Thickness (in the region of the folding edges F)
[0089] L: Length unit
[0090] F: Folding edge (of the packaging sleeve 10)
[0091] S: Stacking direction
