PACKAGING SYSTEM FOR COMPONENTS

Abstract

A packaging system for packaging components includes a plurality of frames arranged on top of one another. A laminar structure is fixed to each of the frames. At least one component is arranged and held between two laminar structures—one laminar structure is fixed to one frame—supported by two frames, which forms a holding component of the packaging system.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A packaging system for packaging components comprising: a plurality of frames arranged on top of one another; and a plurality of laminar structures fixed to the frames and configured to support at least one component between two laminar structures; wherein one laminar structure each is fixed to only one frame each, such that one frame each forms a holding component each of the packaging system with the one laminar structure each and the holding components are arranged on top of one another.

17. The packaging system according to claim 16, wherein for each of the plurality of frames only one laminar structure is affixed thereto in permanent manner.

18. The packaging system according to claim 17, wherein an edge area of the laminar structure is surrounded by frame so that the edge area is fixed to the frame in a bonded manner.

19. The packaging system according to claim 18, wherein the edge area comprising a circumferential edge area of the laminar structure enclosed by the frame.

20. The packaging system according to claim 18, wherein the laminar structure is under a tensile pre-loading without an arrangement of the at least one component thereon.

21. The packaging system according to claim 16, further comprising a constriction member securing the holding components in a stacked arrangement.

22. The packaging system according to claim 16, wherein the constriction is selected from the group consisting of a tie, a strap and a box.

23. The packaging system according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of frames comprises a substantially rectangular frame.

24. The packaging system according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of frames comprises a plastic frame.

25. The packaging system according to claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of laminar structures comprise a flexible panel.

26. The packaging system according to claim 25, wherein the flexible panel is selected from the group consisting of a fabric, a woven fabric, a felt, a latex sheet, a leather sheet, a rubber sheet or a combination thereof.

27. The packaging system according to claim 25, wherein the flexible sheet comprises a foil.

28. A packaging system for packaging components comprising: a first holding component including a first plastic frame having a first interior opening and a first flexible panel fixed to the first frame under a tensile pre-loading and extending in the first interior opening; a second holding component including a second plastic frame having a second interior opening and a second flexible panel fixed to the second frame under a tensile pre-loading and extending in the second interior opening; wherein the first and second holding components are arranged in a stacked configuration to define a packaging space between the first and second laminar structures and circumscribed by the first and second frames.

29. The packaging system according to claim 28, further comprising a constriction member securing the holding components in a stacked arrangement.

30. The packaging system according to claim 29, wherein the constriction member is selected from the group consisting of a tie, a strap and a box.

31. The packaging system according to claim 28, further comprising: a third holding component including a third plastic frame having a third interior opening and a third flexible panel fixed to the third frame under a tensile pre-loading and extending in the third interior opening; wherein the second and third holding components are arranged in a stacked configuration on top of the first holding component to define a second packaging space between the second and third flexible panels and circumscribed by the second and third frames.

32. A method for producing a frame having a laminar structure fixed thereto as a holding component for a packaging system comprising: providing a laminar structure; placing an edge of the laminar structure into a molding tool; inserting plastic into the molding tool; over molding the edge area of the laminar structure with plastic; hardening the plastic such that the edge area of the laminar structure is fixed to the plastic in a permanent manner; opening the molding tool; and removing the frame with the laminar structure fixed thereto.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising pre-tensioning the laminar structure when the edge of the laminar structure is placed into the molding tool.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein providing a laminar structure comprises providing a flexible panel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a holding component including a frame and a laminar structure fixed to the frame;

[0022] FIG. 2 shows a longitudinal section of the holding component according to FIG. 1;

[0023] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal section of a packaging system including a plurality of holding components arranged on top of one another; and

[0024] FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of an injection molding tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background of the invention or the following detailed description.

[0026] A packaging system 1 illustrated in FIG. 3 serves the purpose of packaging components 10. The components 10 are components, which a supplier delivers to the manufacturers of a motor vehicle, and the manufacturer of the motor vehicle uses these components 10, for example motor vehicle parts and/or machine elements, to join and manufacture a motor vehicle (not illustrated). The components 10 are thus packaged in the packaging system 1 during the transport from the supplier to the manufacturer of the motor vehicle.

[0027] With reference now to FIGS. 1-4, the packaging system 1 includes a plurality of holding components 7 configured to be arranged or placed on top of one another, respectively, and stacked. Each holding component 7 includes a rectangular frame 5 of plastic and a laminar structure 2 such as a textile 3, in particular a fabric 4. Aside from cotton, the fabric 4 also includes elastane and is thus flexible and elastic. The laminar structure 2 is fixed to the frame 5 in a bonded and permanent manner. For this purpose, an edge area 6 of the laminar structure 2 is enclosed by the frame 5 and the edge area 6 is thereby enclosed by the frame 5 in a completely circumferential manner.

[0028] An injection molding tool or a rigid foam EPP injection molding tool, hereinafter referred to as a molding tool 19, may be used to produce the holding component 7. The molding tool 19 includes a first half 20 and a second half 21. FIG. 4 illustrates an open illustration of the molding tool in a longitudinal section prior to closing the two halves 20, 21. After the closing of the two halves 20, 21 of the molding tool 19, the edge area 6 of the laminar structure 2 is located inside the molding tool 19. The molding tool 19 additionally includes a non-illustrated slide, so that frames 5 including a different thickness can also be produced for use in the packaging system 1 in a simple manner with low production costs by the molding tool 19.

[0029] After the closing of the molding tool 19, thermoplastic plastic is introduced into an injection molding tool or EPP is introduced into the rigid foam EPP injection molding tool. The edge area 6 of the laminar structure 2 is thus fastened to the hardened plastic in a bonded manner after the hardening of the plastic. EPP is processed by a rigid foam EPP injection molding tool and other, non-EPP thermoplastic plastic is processed by an injection molding tool. At least one laminar structure 2 is fixed to only one frame 5 each, i.e., only one laminar structure 2 each is fixed to only one frame each or a plurality of laminar structures 2 (not illustrated) is fixed to only one frame each, respectively. One holding component 7 includes only one frame 5 each. No two frames 5 are fixed to only one laminar structure 2.

[0030] To transport the components 10 from the supplier to the manufacturer of the motor vehicle, a plurality of holding components 7 is placed on top of one another. The lowermost holding component 7 is thereby applied to a support 11, in particular a pallet 12. After the application of this lowermost holding component 7, the large components 10 are applied to a top side 8 of the laminar structure 2 of the lowermost holding component 7. A second holding component 7 is subsequently applied to this first holding component 7, when viewed from the bottom, and the two frames 5 are thereby located on top of one another according to the illustration in FIG. 3. On the underside, the large components 10 thus bear on the top side 8 of the laminar structure 2 and, on the top, on a bottom side 9 of another laminar structure 2 located thereabove. In a vertical direction 8, the vertical expansion of the large components 10 is larger than the vertical distance between the laminar structure 2 on the first and second holding component 7 without an arrangement of the large components 10, so that the laminar structures 2 thus bear on the large components 10 under a vertically oriented pressure. As a result, the laminar structures 2 are simultaneously also fixed to the frames 5 in horizontal direction under a tensile stress. In an advantageous manner, the components 10 are thus held between the two laminar structures 2 in a frictional manner, so that the large components 10 can thus not slip in horizontal direction. After the application of this second holding component 7, further smaller components 10 are applied to the laminar structure 2 again at this second holding component 7 and a further holding component 7 is applied subsequently.

[0031] Components 10 are thus in each case arranged and held between two laminar structures 2 directly abutting one another. This process is repeated, until a plurality of holding components 7 is arranged on top of one another and the components 10 are in each case arranged and held between two holding components 7, which are arranged on top of one another. Contrary to this, it is also possible to apply at least one component to only every second holding component 7, applied on top of one another, so that the components 10 are thus arranged only between every second pair of laminar structures 2, which are arranged on top of one another.

[0032] After all of the holding components 7 have been placed on top of one another and the components 10 are arranged and held between the laminar structures 2, a tie 17 or a constriction 17, respectively, is placed around the packaging system 1 and preferably also around the support 11, so that the constriction 17 or the tie 17, respectively, thus applies a force, which is directly vertically downwards, to the uppermost holding component 7. The holding components 7 are thus secured against a slipping relative to one another in a frictional manner. Optionally, corresponding positive locking geometries can additionally be embodied on the frames 5, so that two frames 5, which are located directly on top of one another, are held in a positive manner against a horizontal slipping of the two frames 5, which are located on top of one another. The packaging system 1 is furthermore also arranged inside an optional box 13. The box 13, as a transport box 13, includes a bottom wall 16, four side walls 15 and a cover 14 or a top wall 14, respectively. The geometry of the box 13 is thereby preferably also embodied to the effect that the top wall 14 applies a force, which is directed vertically downwards, onto the frame 5 of the uppermost holding component 7, and the frames 5, which are located on top of one another, are thus additionally secured in a positive manner against a horizontal slipping.

[0033] Taken as a whole, the packaging system 1 according to the present disclosure and the method according to the present disclosure for producing the frame 5 including the laminar structure 2 fixed to the frame 5 as the holding component 7 has significant advantages. The holding components 7 can be produced in a simple and inexpensive manner using the laminar structure 2 as the fabric 4 and the frame 5 of plastic, which is produced in an inexpensive manner by injection molding. The components 10 can be packaged in a secure and reliable manner between the holding components 7, which are stacked on top of one another, for the transport from the supplier to the manufacturer of the motor vehicle. The identical holding components 7 can also be used for components 10 including a different shape or geometry. In the case of a required packaging of components 10 of very different heights, frames 5 of a different thickness or vertical expansion, respectively, can be produced in an inexpensive manner by the molding tool 19. On the one hand, the packaging system 1 is thus highly flexible in the use for packaging components 10 of a different geometry and, on the other hand, the production is particularly inexpensive. The packaging system 1 can also be used in many other technical fields outside of the automobile industry, for example in electrical engineering, construction and mechanical engineering, for packaging components 10 of different shapes.

[0034] While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.