WO2005037674A1

WO2005037674A1 - Packaging for packing at least one product, and the according packaging method

Info

Publication number: WO2005037674A1
Application number: PCT/IB2004/003382
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ronaldus Josephus Marie Linssen
Original assignee: Ligra Bv
Priority date: 2003-10-17
Filing date: 2004-10-16
Publication date: 2005-04-28
Also published as: NL1024566C2

Abstract

Packaging (1) for packing at least one product, which is provided with a minimum of two connectable plates (3, 4), of which at least one plate is provided with a transformable plastic part (11, 12, 13), into which a product can be positioned. One of the plates is at least partially transparent. The plates can be bonded by means of glue. At the least the plate that is provided with a transformable part is made of a material, that prior to the transforming process, is partially or fully printed with any desired image and provided with all the desired outer contours.

Description

"PACKAGING FOR PACKING AT LEAST ONE PROUDCT, AND THE ACCORDING PACKAGING METHOD"

The invention relates to a packaging for packing at least one product and the according packaging method. The packaging consists of a minimum of two connectable plates, of which at least one plate is provided with a transformable plastic part, in which a product can be positioned.

With a package of this type as known from the Dutch patent 1010822, the package is provided with a first plate that incorporates an aperture and a separate plastic part that covers the aperture and is positioned near the sides of the aperture on the inside of the first plate. The plastic part is transformed by pressing in the product to be packed, after which a second plate is connected to the first plate. In this way the product to be packed is enclosed between the second plate, the first plate and the transformable plastic part.

With this known packaging method, the plates are for instance manufactured of paper board whereas the transformable part is manufactured from plastic. The use of two different materials for blister packaging is undesirable from an environmental point of view. Also combining the plastic part with the first plate that incorporates an aperture requires handling operations that make such a package relatively expensive.

On top of that it is necessary to transform the plastic part with the product to be packed, which causes the product always to be in direct contact with the plastic. This is not always desirable. In case the product itself contains sharp edges there is a certain risk that these sharp edges will damage the plastic part.

Furthermore said packaging is only suitable if the product to be packed is ridged and stiff and, on top of that, the plastic part connected to the first plate is thin and flexible, which is in most cases not practical.

The focus of the invention is on providing a packaging method that simplifies the packing of a product into a blister packaging.

By manufacturing the blister packaging according to the invention this target is achieved by using at least one plate that is provided with a transformable part, made of a material, that prior to the transforming process, is partially or fully printed with any desired image and provided with all the desired outer contours.

In this method, the entire plate is made of the same material which is transformable by means of the thermoforming process. By partially or fully printing this material with any desired image prior to the transforming process, it is possible to do the printing process on a flat, not transformed plate. Furthermore, prior to the thermoforming process, the plate is provided with all the desired outer contours in such a way that, after thermoforming no further changes have to be made to the plate. After the thermoforming of a specific part of the plate, the product to be packed is positioned in the part of the plate that is transformed, after which another plate is connected to the transformable plate, in order to get a product packed in a blister-a-like type of packaging.

A number of plates with a partial or full printed image, made of material that can be transformed in the thermoforming process, and provided with the desired outer contours can easily be piled and stored prior to the moment that blister packages have to be produced with these plates.

By using flat, unformed plates prior to the packaging process the transport and storage volume is as compact as possible and as a result, relatively small. Relatively small as well as relative large batches of packaging can easily be processed.

A further embodiment of the packaging according to the invention is characterized in that the plate made of transformable material is at least partially transparent.

At least a part of the transformable plate is transparent, through which the product, after thermoforming this particular part, is clearly visible in the packaging.

Another embodiment of the packaging according to the invention is characterized in that, prior to the transforming process, at least the plate made of transformable material is provided with an open section, that stretches throughout the plate, within the outer contours of the plate. This opening can for instance be used for hanging the package on a hook or in a display.

It is also possible, prior to the transforming process, to provide the transformable -plate with crease lines, score lines, and perforation lines.

A further embodiment of the packaging according to the invention is characterized in that both plates are made of a material that can be transformed by means of thermoforming in such a way that both plates are, prior to the thermoforming, at least partially printed and provided with the final outer contours.

In this way it is possible to provide the packaging with a transformed part on the opposite sides of both plates in which the product is positioned. In this way a very attractive double side shaped blister packaging can be manufactured in a relative easy way.

The invention also relates to a method of packing a product, which method is characterized in such that at least one plate, made of a material that can be transformed by means of thermoforming technology, which first plate is, prior to the thermoforming, at least partially provided with any desired image and that is provided with the desired outer contours, after which a part of the first plate is partially transformed into a desired shape. Subsequently the product to be packed is positioned in the first plate with the desired shape, after which the second plate is bonded with the first plate in such a way that the product is positioned between the first and the second plate.

In this way it is relatively easy to make a blister packaging of for instance only one material that can be transformed by means of thermoforming, which is relatively easy to recycle. Furthermore, the packing method according to the invention is suitable for producing relatively small and relatively large batches of blister packaging from a pile of flat plates, provided with the desired printed image and provided with the desired outer contours, in such a way that only short before packing the product, a particular part of the plate is transformed by means of thermoforming into a shape that fits the product to be packed. Prior to thermoforming a particular part of the plate made of material that can be transformed, only that particular part is partially heated by means of contact heating (120 °C - 150 °C) while at the same time the part of the plate that is not transformed is cooled by means of contact cooling (5°C - 30 °C). Thereafter the part of the plate that is partially heated is vacuum formed into any desired shape.

Prior to thermoforming, the plate can be provided with any desired outer contour and also with folding lines, perforation lines, hang holes and other apertures.

During the process of packing of a product no waste material will be generated because all the waste material is removed during the production of the printed and die-cutting of the plates. This is very desirable for any packer. All the waste material that comes from the production process of manufacturing the plates will be centrally collected and thereafter re-used.

The invention will be explained in more detail hereafter with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 a perspective front view of a random embodiment of a packaging according to the invention in a stadium where the fiat plate is printed, provided with outer contours folding line and hang holes,

Fig. 2 a perspective front view of the packaging as displayed in fig. 1, in a stage where the partially printed plate, provided with outer contours, folding line and hang holes is partially transformed into a particular shape,

Fig. 3 a perspective front view of the packaging as displayed in fig. 2, in a partially folded stage,

Fig. 4 a perspective front view of the packaging as displayed in fig. 3, in a stage where the two folded plates are being bonded together. Like parts are numbered alike in the figures.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective front view of a random embodiment of a packaging 1 according to the invention which is provided with two, by meaning of a folding line 2, connected plates 3, 4 which are made of a material that can be transformed in thermoforming, such as PNC, A-PET, G-PET, PP or other materials that can be thermoformed.

By means of die-cutting, the plates 3, 4 are provided with the desired outer contours and apertures 5, 6 that after manufacturing the packaging 1 can be used to hang the packaging 1 on a pin or display. The plates 3, 4 are each provided with a transparent part 7, 8 which are surrounded by a printed part 9, 10. For anyone familiar with printing techniques it is obvious that the printed part can any combination colour, text and images in such a way that the printed area can cover either a part, or the full surface of the plates 3, 4.

Fig. 2 shows the packaging as displayed in fig 1, where the printed sides are the non visible sides of the plates 3, 4. The area PI is contact heated, either on the printed side only, or both, on the printed side and as well as the non printed side, while at the same time the printed part 9, 10 is contact cooled. After contact heating, the areas PI, the areas 11, 12, 13 of the plates 3, 4 can be transformed by means of either positive or negative vacuum thennoforming with a thermoforming mold (not displayed) that is positioned either below the plates 3, 4 (negative forming) or above the plates 3, 4 (positive forming). The transformed parts 11, 12 are almost completely transformed from the transparent area 7, 8. The transformed part 13, is a printed area of plate 4.

After the parts 11, 12, 13 have been transformed into the desired shape, a product can for instance be positioned in part 11, and subsequently, as displayed in fig 3, the plate 4 can be folded over the folding line 2, in the direction indicated by arrow P2 until plate 4 is positioned on top of plate 3. The product is than enclosed in the space limited by the areas 11, 12. As displayed in fig. 4, subsequently the plate 4 can be connected with plate 3 by means of heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing or high frequency welding as indicated by the arrows P3. The blister packaging 1 is now ready for protecting and displaying the product and can be hanged on a pin by means of the apertures 5, 6. The product that is positioned in the blister packaging 1 is clearly visible through the transparent parts 11, 12. The combination of non transformed printed areas 9, 10, the transformed printed part 13, and the transformed transparent parts 11, 12 make the packaging 1 look very attractive.

It is also possible to put. a printing image on a part of the transformed areas 11, 12, however, with the design of the printing image of these areas, the deforming of these areas should always be taken into consideration in order to obtain the desired image in the areas 11, 12.

Because of its flat shape, the blister packaging 1 as displayed in fig. 1 can easily be piled and stored using only a minimum of space. Also the blister packaging 1 as displayed in fig. 1 can, because of its flat shape easily be taken automatically from a card magazine in a packing machine.

It is also possible to manufacture and store the plates 3, 4 separately. It is also possible to provide only one of the plates 3, 4 with a transformed part while the other plate 3, 4 remains in flat shape.

It is also possible to print a number of plates 3, after which the plates 3, are separated, preferably prior to the thermoforming.

It is also possible to provide the plates 3, 4 with any contour other than rectangular, round, oval, or for instance in the shape of an animal.

Claims

WE CLAIM:-

1. Packaging for packing at least one product, which package is provided with a minimum of two connectable plates, of which at least one plate is provided with a transformable plastic part, into which a product can be positioned.

At the least the plate that is provided with a transformable part is made of a material, that prior to the transforming process, is partially or fully printed with any desired image and provided with all the desired outer contours.

2. Packaging according to conclusion 1, characterized in such that the plate provided with a transformable part is at least partially transparent.

3. Packaging according to one of the previous conclusions, characterized in such that, prior to the transforming, the plate can be provided with an aperture.

4. Packaging according to one of the previous conclusions, characterized in such that, the plates can be bonded by means of heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing or high frequent radiation.

5. Packaging according to one of the previous conclusions, characterized in such that, the plates can be bonded by means of glue.

6. Packaging according to one of the previous conclusions, characterized in such that, the plates are connected by a folding line.

7. Packaging according to one of the previous conclusions, characterized in such that, prior to the thermoforming process, both plates are at least partially printed with any desired image.

8. Packaging according to one of the previous conclusions, characterized in such that, prior to the thermoforming process, the plate is provided with the desired outer contours.

9. Packaging according to one of the previous conclusions, characterized in such that, prior to the thermoforming process, the plate is can be provided with folding lines, score lines and perforation lines.

10. Packaging according to one of the previous conclusions, characterized in such that, the material used for manufacturing s ch a packaging is a plastic that can be transformed by means of thermoforming such as PNC, A-PET, G-PET, PP, PS.

11. Method for packing a product in a blister packaging, which blister packaging is provided with at least two plates that can be connected, of which at least one plate is provided with a transformable plastic part in which a product to be packed can be positioned, characterized in such that at least the plate of which a part can be transformed is made of a material that can be thermoformed, which first plate is, prior to the thermoforming, at least partially provided with any desired image and that is provided with the desired outer contours, after which a part of the first plate is partially transformed into a desired shape. Subsequently the product to be packed is positioned in the first plate with the desired shape after which the second plate is bonded with the first plate in such a way that the product is positioned between the first and the second plate.