DE29508475U1 - Packaging insert - Google Patents

Description

Packaging insert

Description

The invention relates to a packaging insert which can be produced from a cut piece of flat material by folding along predetermined fold lines.

&ogr; Various methods are commonly used in packaging technology to cushion the impacts that sensitive large devices experience during transport. For example, empty spaces between a package and a device are lined with one or more foamed polystyrene packaging aids that are adapted to the shape of the package and the device, or the remaining hollow space is filled with different materials such as foam pellets, corrugated cardboard waste, straw-filled bags, etc. The disadvantage of the polystyrene packaging aids described is that they have to be precisely adapted to the existing device geometry. If a slightly modified device has to be packaged, a new polystyrene packaging aid is required. With bulk materials that can be placed in the packaging, the problem is that after opening the packaging, the material must first be partially removed in order to fully unpack the device. Accessories are often loose in the packaging between the bulk material, which can damage them or the device during transport. Furthermore, a smaller device cannot be packed inside a larger package with this bulk material as a cushion against impacts, as this could cause the bulk material and thus the device to slip inside the packaging, thus potentially damaging the device.

The object of the invention is to create a packaging insert that can be used for large devices of two different widths, in order to limit the variety of packaging.

This problem is solved by the characterizing part of claim 1.

The invention relates to a blank made of flat material, preferably corrugated cardboard, which can be folded into packaging inserts of different shapes by folding in different ways. These can be inserted from above into a commercially available wrapping, e.g. a corrugated cardboard box, or placed on top of a large device, filling the remaining hollow space between the box and the device and thus cushioning the device against shifting within the packaging and any impact loads that may occur. The packaging insert also contains a space for device accessories such as connecting elements, data storage media and &ogr; manuals.

The packaging insert can therefore be used for devices whose geometry essentially corresponds to the packaging size, as well as for those that are significantly narrower 5 or even shorter than this packaging.

The cut is essentially rectangular and consists of a base, an upper and lower side wing, two side surfaces and two cutouts in the side surfaces. The folding options are provided by various folding lines that are already specified in the cut.

In a first embodiment, the packaging insert 5 is provided as an unfolded, one-piece cut and is only folded into the required shape by the employees of the packaging department.

Advantageously, in a second embodiment, the packaging insert is delivered as a partially pre-folded cut, i.e. the side surfaces are already pre-folded as a cuboid. The top and bottom of the cuboids lie flat, however, by moving the side surfaces outwards. The employees in the packaging department now only have to fold the side wings of the folded side surfaces upwards or downwards, depending on the device used. The cuboids straighten themselves up through the folding process and the subsequent fitting into the packaging. To increase stability and to keep the shape constant, the outermost parts of the side surfaces are connected to the surfaces that are in the cuboid-shaped folded state, preferably by clamping or gluing.

Further details, advantages and features emerge from the description of the following embodiment, which is shown in the drawings and explained below.

Here, Fig. 1 shows a material cut of a

Packaging use in

5 Top view,

Fig. 2 a packaging insert for small devices in perspective view,

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Fig. 3 a packaging insert for large devices in perspective view,

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Fig. 4 Packaging units with devices of different widths in exploded view.

As shown in Fig. 1, a blank consists of a base surface 1, an upper and lower side wing 2 and 3, which are cut free from the base surface 1 over part of their length, and side surfaces 4 with rectangular cutouts 6 in the side surfaces. The right and left sides of the blank are designed symmetrically to a center line Z. Therefore, only one side will be discussed. Furthermore, essentially semicircular recesses 10 are formed on the upper and lower edges of the base surface 1 and the side surfaces 4. Two diametrically opposed slots 2a and 3a are punched out of the material on the inner edges of the side wing 2 and the outer edges of the side wing 3.

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The cut has a large number of fold lines. Between the side wings 2, 3 and the base area 1 there are fold lines A and B running parallel to each other in continuation of the cutouts. At right angles to these 5 fold lines A and B, at the ends of the cutouts, there are fold lines C, D in the side wings. At the line of contact between the side surfaces 4 and the base area 1 there are fold lines G running parallel to each other, to which fold lines I running through the cutouts 6 and parallel to the fold lines G are connected. The areas enclosed by the fold lines I, G are designated 41.

Parallel to the fold lines I and with respect to the center line 5 Z at a distance from these, the fold lines K now follow. From the fold lines I, K, the surface sections 42

enclosed. The fold lines M are located at the end of the cutouts 6 remote from the center line Z. The areas 44 enclosed by the fold lines K, M have the same width as the areas 41. The fold lines 0 delimiting the areas 43 are also arranged parallel to the center line Z. The areas 42 have the same width as the areas 43. The areas enclosed by the end edges 4a of the side areas 4 and the fold lines 0 have the same dimensions as the areas 41.
&ogr;

The folding of the blank into a first embodiment of the packaging insert is described below with reference to Fig. 2.

5 The upper 2 and lower side wings 3 are bent upwards along the fold lines A and B at right angles to the base area 1. The cut-out sections of the side wings 2 and 3 are then bent at right angles to each other along the fold lines C and D. By subsequently hooking the slots 2a punched out in the side wings 2 and 3 with 3a, a rectangular receiving space 8 is created.

By bending the side surfaces 4 downwards at a right angle relative to the base surface 1 along the fold lines G and then bending the surface parts that protrude beyond the fold lines I at a right angle relative to the surface 41 in the direction of the center line Z along the fold lines I, the surfaces 42, which form foot surfaces in this embodiment of the packaging insert, come to lie parallel to the base surface 1, but offset laterally and downwards relative to it. The remaining part of the side surfaces 4 are then folded upwards at a right angle relative to the foot surfaces 42 along the fold lines K. By folding further at a right angle along the fold lines M, the surfaces 43 come to lie under the part of the base surface 1 that protrudes laterally beyond the bent ends of the side wings 2,3. Bends

If the surfaces formed along the fold lines 0 are bent downwards at right angles, they will be located behind the surfaces 41. As already described above, these surfaces can be connected to one another. Preferably, they are stapled or glued to one another.

Thus, by folding the side surfaces 4 several times, cuboid-shaped parts are created, each of which has a receiving cavity 9, the opening of which faces opposite to the opening of the receiving space 8.

The boundaries of the receiving cavities 9 can enclose narrow devices 23 to be packaged and cushion them against tipping over, slipping and lateral loads. When inserted into a commercially available casing 23, for example a packaging box, the packaging insert 21b fills the remaining upper cavity between the device 24 and the casing 23 (Fig. 4b).

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The recesses 10, which are present in the base area 1 and the side areas 4, lie on top of one another due to their arrangement when the blank is folded. In the embodiment just described, they lie 5 in the same plane as the base area 1 and form handle recesses 11 on the upper and lower edges for easier insertion and removal of the packaging insert 21 in a commercially available wrapping 23.

0 In a second embodiment of the packaging insert 21 {Fig. 3), the side wings 2,3 are folded upwards as already described above.

The side surfaces 4 are bent upwards along the fold lines G at right angles to the base surface 1.

By subsequent folding at right angles to the surface 41 in the direction of the center line Z of the blank,

along the fold lines I, the surfaces 42 come to lie parallel to and above the base surface 1. The remaining part of the side surfaces 4 is then folded downwards at right angles along the fold lines K. By subsequently folding at right angles along the fold lines M, the surfaces 43 come to lie parallel to and on the base surface 1. If the ends of the surfaces 4 are now folded open at right angles along the fold lines 0, they come to lie behind the surfaces 41. In this type of folding, the surfaces can also be glued or stapled together, as already described. The cut-out ends of the side wings 2, 3 are now bent towards each other and hooked into each other within the receiving cavity 9 using the slots 2a and 3a.

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By folding the side surfaces 4, cuboid-shaped parts are created, each of which has a receiving cavity 9, with the openings of the receiving cavities 9 pointing in the same direction as the opening of the receiving space 8.

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With this type of folding, the receiving cavities 9 can also be used to accommodate accessories.

5 The recesses 10 again lie on top of one another in the folded state of the blank, whereby in the embodiment just described they also lie in the same plane as the base area 1 and, as already described, represent handle recesses 11 for better handling.

In Fig. 4a and 4b, a complete packaging unit 20a, 20b for sensitive large devices 24a and 24b is shown. This can be used for different device sizes and can be reused after transport or easily recycled.

Large equipment 24 that needs to be packaged and transported is increasingly being placed on a pallet 22 made of wood, corrugated cardboard or plastic to increase stability and facilitate transport. For this purpose, they are equipped with feet, wheels or rollers that enable transport, if necessary with the aid of lifting equipment.

As already described in DE-U-9304350, a cover 23, in this case a standard packaging box, is placed on this pallet with the large device 24 on top and locked to the pallet 22.

The packaging insert 21 is placed into the packaging box 23 from above. In the case of a device 24a, as shown in Fig. 4a, whose width essentially corresponds to the width of the packaging box 23, the blank is folded into a packaging insert 21a as described in the second embodiment and shown in Fig. 3 and placed on the device 24a. The packaging insert 21a thus fills the remaining cavity between the device 24a and the packaging box 23 and protects the device 24a, especially against impact loads occurring from above.

5 In the case of a narrow device 24b, as shown in Fig. 4b, which is significantly smaller than the width dimensions of the packaging box 23, a blank is folded into a packaging insert 21b as described in the first embodiment and is placed onto the device 24b from above with the receiving cavity 9. The packaging insert 21b thus fills the entire remaining upper cavity between the device 24b and the packaging box 23 and securely fixes the device 24b in its position in the packaging box 23. Shock loads that occur on the device 5 24b from above and from the sides are dampened by the packaging insert 21b.

In both embodiments, the storage space 8 is available to store necessary accessories such as data storage media, manuals and the like in an orderly manner. This accessory is also protected against damage during transport by the upright side wings 2 and 3.

1 0 &igr; 5 20 25 30 3 5

Claims (7)

Protection claims 1. Packaging insert which can be produced from a blank of a flat material by folding along predetermined fold lines, characterized in that, depending on the folding direction of the blank, a packaging insert adapted to the dimensions of devices of different sizes can be formed along all fold lines, which packaging insert is intended to support the respective device within a casing. 2. Packaging insert according to claim 1, characterized in that the blank is made in one piece from corrugated cardboard. 3. Packaging insert according to claims 1 and 2, 0 characterized in that the blank is substantially rectangular and comprises a base surface (1), an upper and lower side wing (2 and 3), two side surfaces (4) and a punched-out portion (6) in the side surfaces (4). 25 4. Packaging insert according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the side surfaces (4) can be folded into cuboids which, depending on the folding direction of the cut, come to lie above (Fig. 3) or below (Fig. 2) the parts of the base surface (1) which laterally project beyond the bent ends of the side wings (2, 3). 5 5. Packaging insert according to claim 4, characterized in that the cutouts (6) form a receiving cavity (9) when the cuboid is folded downwards, which is able to enclose narrow devices (24b) and to support them against occurring loads. 6. Packaging insert according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that recesses (10) are provided on the upper and lower edges of the base surface (1) and the side surfaces (4), which come to lie one above the other in the folded state of the blank and form handle recesses (11). 5 7. Packaging insert according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that above the base surface (1) there is formed an upwardly open receiving space (8) for device accessories and the like. 20 5 30 35