PACKAGING METHOD AND TRANSPORT PACKAGING AS WELL AS A DRONE FOR RECEIVING THE PACKAGES

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging method, a transport package, and use of the packaging method for transporting products by means of a drone. According to the invention, a product to be packaged is placed in an open inner wrapping that is pretensioned on elastic traction cables in order to hold the product approximately centrally in an outer package. After insertion, the wrapping is closed and evacuated until it lies tightly against the product, and the traction cables are thereby further tensioned.

Claims

1-6. (canceled)

7. A packaging method, characterized in that a product to be packaged is placed in an open inner wrapping of a package, the wrapping being pretensioned on elastic traction cables or suspendable on the outside using elastic traction cables in order to hold the product approximately centrally in an outer package or in an outer frame, and after the product is inserted, the wrapping is closed and predominantly evacuated until the inner wrapping lies tightly against the product, the evacuation resulting in additional stretching of the traction cables, and the at least predominant evacuation thus further tensioning the traction cables.

8. The packaging method according to claim 7, characterized in that the traction cables are externally suspended in support legs of a drone, the support legs being the exterior of the package.

9. The packaging method according to claim 8, characterized in that after the evacuation, the support legs are further spreadable in order to improve the aerodynamics of the drone during flight, depending on the size and shape of the product.

10. A transport package having an outer container and an evacuable inner wrapping, wherein at least two cables, at least one of which has a reversibly stretchable design, are tensioned between the outer container and the inner wrapping.

11. The transport package according to claim 10, characterized in that a vacuum pump is attached to the inner wrapping, or a vacuum attachment is led through the outer container from the inner wrapping to the outside, and is closable from the outside.

12. A drone for product transport, having a base body, at least one rotor, and at least two support legs, characterized in that a wrapping that is closable in a watertight and gastight manner is tensibly accommodated below the base body, a product being insertable into the wrapping, and the wrapping lying tightly against the product after an evacuation operation.

13. Use of the packaging method according to claim 7 for product transport by means of a drone.

14. Use of a transport package having features of claim 10 for product transport by means of a drone.

15. Use of a transport package for product transport by means of a drone according to claim 12.

Description

[0014] The invention is described below based on exemplary embodiments, with reference to the figures, which show the following:

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a transport package according to the invention that is foldable, according to a first exemplary embodiment,

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a transport package according to the invention having a rigid base body, according to a second exemplary embodiment,

[0017] FIG. 3 shows a transport package according to the invention according to a third exemplary embodiment, after filling an inner shell with a product,

[0018] FIG. 4 shows the transport package from FIG. 3 with the inner shell evacuated around the product, and

[0019] FIG. 5 shows a drone with an integrated package according to the invention.

[0020] FIGS. 1 through 4 show three exemplary embodiments of transport packages according to the invention. FIG. 5 shows a drone according to the invention according to one advantageous exemplary embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows the outside of a folding carton as an outer package or outer container 1, with a horizontal articulated joint in at least two side walls, in each case as a hinge 2 between two side wall halves, to allow the folding carton to be folded or set up in the manner of an accordion. FIG. 1 shows the set-up folding carton with multiple traction cables 6 going from the corners and some side walls toward the center. In the center, an inner wrapping 4 is held against the traction cables 6, and the traction cables 6 pull the wrapping 4 apart. The wrapping is thus held for use of a product, the product 8 to be transported, which in FIGS. 3 and 4 is illustrated as a heart.

[0022] In a further method step, the tensioned inner wrapping 4 is closed and evacuated. In the process, the wrapping 4 due to its shrinkage increasingly draws up against the traction cables 6. The traction cables 6 are thus further tensioned beyond a base tension. The product, which is tight in the wrapping 4 due to the evacuation, is protected from moisture and is held approximately centrally in the folding carton by means of the traction cables 6, so that impacts against the outer walls of the folding carton should not affect the product. However, if the impacts were so severe that the product was damaged, the damage to the folding carton would be clearly visible.

[0023] A vacuum bag having a quick-pull closure is particularly preferably mounted on rubber cables as traction cables 6. The product 8 to be shipped is subsequently introduced. A vacuum is applied with a hand pump 5, which may remain in the carton during transport. The traction cables 6 are increasingly tensioned until the product 8 is centered in a reusable transport package (FIG. 4). To prevent insufficient evacuation, according to one preferred embodiment a spacer, preferably a screen 7 that prevents closure of the suction valve on the inside, for example by overlapping of the wrapping 4 or by contact with the product 8, is situated on an inner side of a suction valve.

[0024] The packaging of a product 8 to be protected is thus carried out more quickly. The overall transport package may be stored in a space-saving manner. Bulky or toxic protective material such as silica gel is not necessary. The product is reliably protected from moisture in the vacuum bag, the inner wrapping 4. Upon unpacking, it is apparent from the package if the vacuum, intended for sufficient negative pressure, has not been maintained. Individual accommodation of various types of products is achieved without having to use costly molded packaging.

[0025] In one preferred embodiment of a transport package according to the invention, the vacuum prevailing in the inner wrapping 4 is monitored by means of a pressure sensor, not illustrated in greater detail, similarly as for known vehicle tire pressure monitoring systems. In this way the vacuum, and thus the integrity, is independently monitorable across a transport chain having multiple service providers.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a drone 10 having a divided base body 18, multiple rotors 14, and at least four support legs 12. According to the invention, in this exemplary embodiment, using the same reference numerals but with provision of an apostrophe, a wrapping 4 that is closable in a watertight and gastight manner is accommodated under tension beneath the base body 18, tensioned with traction cables 6 toward the support legs 12 and the base body 18. A product 8 is placed in the wrapping 4, which is shrunk around the product, thus further tensioning the traction cables 6. The illustrated exemplary embodiment also shows that the drone 10 has articulated joints 19, for example between the support legs 12 and the rotor arms 16, to be able to further spread the support legs 12 so that the overall drone structure may preferably flatten out during flight.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0027] 1 outer container, in particular a folding carton [0028] 2 hinge [0029] 4, 4 inner wrapping, in particular a vacuum bag [0030] 5 hand pump [0031] 6, 6 traction cable, in particular made of rubber [0032] 7 screen [0033] 8, 8 product [0034] 10 drone [0035] 12 support leg [0036] 14 rotor [0037] 16 rotor arm [0038] 18 base body [0039] 19 articulated joint