Method of shrink packaging a series of containers with a perforated shrink film

Abstract

The invention relates to shrink packaging (1) for packing a series of containers (2), said packaging comprising a first zone (3) and, in this zone, at least one incision line including a series of perforations forming at least one partially detachable section (4) arranged to allow the extraction of at least one container (2) in a direction extending substantially from the lower part of the container (2) to the upper part thereof, said partially detachable packaging section (4) being larger than the cross-section of the at least one container (2) to be extracted. Moreover, the partially detachable section (4) is located on the periphery of the first zone (3).

Claims

1. A method for manufacturing a shrink packaging for a series of containers having a lower part and an upper part, comprising the following steps: unwinding a shrink film on a conveyor belt; positioning the containers on said conveyor belt, in parallel rows; bundling the containers using said shrink film comprising at least one first zone confined to a top side of said upper part, covering said upper part of said containers and containing a peripheral area which surrounds a central zone of said at least one first zone, thus forming a shrink film coating around the containers; and heat treating said shrink film in order to keep the containers tight against each other; an incision step along a trajectory corresponding to at least one incision line on said first zone of said shrink film, comprising a series of perforations forming at least one at least partially detachable section arranged to remove at least one of the containers in a direction substantially oriented from the lower part of said at least one of the containers toward the upper part of said at least one of the containers, said at least one at least partially detachable packaging section having a size larger than or equal to the section of said at least one of the containers to be removed, said at least one at least partially detachable section being located on the peripheral area of said at least one first zone such that said central zone of said at least one first zone is free of said at least one at least partially detachable packaging section having a size larger than or equal to the section of said at least one of the containers to be removed and configured to remain on said first zone before and after breaking the incision line, wherein said incision step is performed before said unwinding of the shrink film.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said incision made using a tracing wheel articulated on an arm that can be manipulated to trace said trajectory, using a cutting punch, or by laser.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising printing a pattern on said film before said unwinding said shrink film.

Description

(1) Other features, details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, provided non-limitingly and in reference to the appended drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 is a transparent view of a shrink packaging according to the invention comprising eight bottles.

(3) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative of the shrink packaging according to the invention.

(4) FIG. 3 is a top diagrammatic view of FIG. 1, showing a first zone situated at the opening of the bottles.

(5) FIG. 4 is a top diagrammatic view illustrating a packaging blank according to the invention comprising four incision lines on the periphery.

(6) FIG. 4a is diagram for an embodiment of a method according to the invention.

(7) FIG. 5 is a top diagrammatic view illustrating a packaging comprising twelve cans, several partially detachable packaging sections of which (ten in FIG. 5) are situated on the periphery of a first zone situated at the opening of the cans.

(8) FIG. 6 shows a packaging provided for 24 cans comprising several partially detachable packaging sections (eight in FIG. 6) situated on the periphery of a first zone situated at the opening of the cans.

(9) In the figures, identical or similar elements bear the same references.

(10) FIG. 1 illustrates a shrink packaging 1 comprising eight bottles 2 and a first zone 3 situated at the opening of said bottles. The shrink packaging 1 also comprises, on said first zone 3, four incision lines containing a series of perforations that form a total of four partially detachable packaging sections 4, located on the periphery of said first zone 3.

(11) Within the meaning of the present invention and as previously mentioned, the incision lines comprise a series of incisions with similar or different shapes. The shape of the incisions may be round, oval, etc., or rectangular, in the form of bars, or any combination thereof. Furthermore, the incision lines may also be slots that allow access to said containers.

(12) Perforating a partially detachable packaging section 4 makes it possible to access the bottles 2 easily. Next, the rest of the packaging 1 retains its rigidity, because a small quantity of plastic material has been broken at the ends of said packaging 1, making it possible to carefully preserve the rest of the bottles 2 owing to lateral maintenance.

(13) The placement of the four incision lines on the periphery of said packaging 1 makes it possible to reduce the risks of rupture at said incisions that may occur during manipulation (hooks, nails present on the shelves, shelving, palletization, conveyance, etc.).

(14) FIG. 2 illustrates the same elements as those described in FIG. 1, except that the packaging 1 contains two rows of rectangular incisions with rounded corners containing a series of perforations that delimit a total of two partially detachable packaging sections 4 located on the periphery of said first zone 3.

(15) This figure sheds light on another manner of producing the packaging 1 according to the present invention. In fact, the partially detachable packaging section 4 makes it possible to form an opening larger than that of FIG. 1 because the incision lines pass through two bottles 2.

(16) It is also advisable to use this type of incision line surrounding two containers according to FIG. 2 in order to facilitate the removal of containers, such as cardboard boxes provided to contain milk.

(17) After breaking the incisions containing a perforation series of each partially detachable packaging section 4 (two in FIG. 2), an unbroken packaging zone remains, situated between the two partially detachable packaging sections 4, which gives the packaging sufficient rigidity to manipulate the rest of the containers with ease owing to lateral maintenance of the bottles 2.

(18) FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic top view of FIG. 1, and therefore comprises all of the elements described in FIG. 1. This figure makes it possible to show the zone that will remain on the first zone after breaking the incisions containing a perforation series and making it possible to preserve lateral maintenance of the bottles 2.

(19) FIG. 4 shows a packaging blank according to the invention comprising four incisions comprising a series of perforations forming four partially detachable sections 4 situated on the periphery of a first zone 3.

(20) The manufacture of the packaging blank comprises unwinding a shrink film on a conveyor belt. The shrink film is partially incised beforehand, using a tracing wheel, using a cutting punch, or by laser, four times in order to delimit four partially detachable packaging sections 4 located on the periphery of the first zone 3. Each incision has a size larger than or equal to the section of the container 2. Next, the containers 2 are positioned in parallel rows on the conveyor belt in order to cover them. Said containers may be covered using a bundler that makes it possible to wind said previously perforated shrink film (four incisions according to FIG. 4), thus forming four shrink film sections 4 around said containers on the first zone 3. Lastly, the assembly comprising the packaging and the containers passes through a heating zone, for example a furnace, in order to shrink said film around the containers.

(21) FIG. 5 illustrates a top diagrammatic view of a packaging 1, comprising all of the elements described in FIG. 3 except that the containers are cans 2. The packaging 1 illustrated in FIG. 5 comprises twelve cans 2 in parallel rows. There are 10 partially detachable packaging sections 4. When a can 2 is removed from the packaging 1 in a direction substantially oriented from the lower part toward the upper part of the packaging, the rest of the packaging 1 remains rigid enough to keep the rest of the cans 2 present in the packaging 1 owing to lateral maintenance thereof.

(22) FIG. 6 comprises all of the elements described in FIG. 2 except that the containers are cans 2. FIG. 6 shows a top diagrammatic view of a packaging 1 that comprises twenty-four cans 2 in parallel rows. This embodiment illustrates eight partially detachable packaging sections 4. The shape of the incisions makes it possible to remove a larger quantity of cans.

(23) It is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and that modifications may be made thereto without going beyond the scope of the appended claims.