FR2803833A1 - ENVELOPE FOR THE PACKAGING OF A SIDE-HANDLE BOTTLE OF THE TYPE CONSISTING OF A THERMORETRACTABLE PLASTIC SLEEVE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a wrapper (100) for the packaging of a bottle with a side handle, comprising a sleeve made from a heat-shrinkable plastic. According to the invention, the wrapper (100) essentially comprises a sleeve (101) with two cut-outs (103), the shape of which correspond to the handle opening. Each cut-out has a reinforcing element (104) around the periphery thereof and mounted on the wall of the sleeve. Said reinforcing elements are to maintain the form of the cut-outs (103) during the retraction of the sleeve surrounding the bottle and the handle thereof.

Description

The present invention relates to the packaging of objects, and in particular the packaging of consumer products such as food, chemical, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical products, which generally require consumer or user information, or other purely commercial information.

More specifically, the invention relates to an envelope for packaging a bottle with a side handle, of the type consisting of a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve adapted to closely surround the bottle after retraction of said sleeve.

Shrinkage techniques of shrink sleeves on an object are now perfectly mastered, but problems still arise for some objects whose geometry complicates retraction. This is particularly the case for bottles with side handle, because the protruding handle disrupts the natural retraction of a heat-shrinkable sleeve on the body of the bottle. It is for this reason that the technique using shrink sleeves has so far never been considered in the case of such flasks with lateral handle protruding.

It is known to make heat-shrinkable plastic films, whose memory is organized to produce a high degree of shrinkage in the transverse direction, with a small longitudinal shrinkage. For this purpose, mono-oriented films whose composition is perfectly controlled are used. Therefore, it is possible to achieve the retraction of a cylindrical sleeve on a side handle bottle, but the walls of the film defining two substantially parallel facets at the passage opening of the handle prohibit the use of this handle for grasping the object. One could naturally consider making two cuts on the sleeve after retraction thereof on the bottle, but this would require to provide a recovery operation completely incompatible with a production on an industrial scale.

Attempts have been made by making two cuts on the sleeve before the introduction of it, cuts whose profile corresponds to the gripping opening of the handle. However, it has been found that the forces exerted circumferentially during the transverse retraction of the sleeve cause tears at the cutouts and / or the ligament delimited by these two cutouts and which pass on the outer face of the handle. The forces exerted circumferentially during the retraction are in fact very high, and any presence of slit or a fortiori large sizing opening irremediably affects the mechanical integrity of the cut areas during retraction of the sleeve on the object.

The invention aims precisely to solve this problem, by designing a heat-shrinkable envelope for packaging a bottle with side handle, which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks or limitations.

This problem is solved in accordance with the invention by means of an envelope intended for the packaging of a side-handle bottle, of the type constituted by a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve capable of closely surrounding the bottle after retraction of said sleeve, envelope in which the sleeve has two cutouts whose profile corresponds to the passage opening of the handle, each cutout being provided on its peripheral zone with a reinforcement insert attached to the wall of the sleeve, said elements being intended to preserve the integrity the area of the cuts in vis-à-vis during the retraction of the sleeve surrounding the bottle and its handle. Thus, thanks to these added reinforcement elements, the profile of the cuts is perfectly preserved during the retraction, to the final position of the sleeve which adheres to the outer wall of the bottle, even in the case of large cuts. .

According to a first embodiment, the reinforcement insert associated with each cut is a flat collar sealed to the wall of the sleeve, whose inner profile corresponds to the profile of the cut. The aforementioned flat collar may be unique for each cut, being sealed on the inner or outer face of the wall of the sleeve, or alternatively be in duplicate, with a collar on the inner face and another collar on the outer face of the wall.

Preferably, each flat reinforcing collar is of substantially non-retractable material at the retraction temperature of the wall of the sleeve. This makes it possible to guarantee the stability of the peripheral zone surrounding each cut.

According to another embodiment of réalsiation, the reinforcement insert associated with each cut is a seal closing the cut and adhering by its periphery to the peripheral zone of said cut.

As previously for the flat collar, the reinforcement operculum can be unique for each cut, by adhering to the inner or outer face of. the wall of the sleeve, or alternatively be in duplicate, with a cap on the inner face and another cap on the outer face of the wall of the sleeve.

Preferably, each reinforcing seal is of substantially non-retractable material at the shrinkage temperature of the wall of the sleeve.

It may further be provided that each reinforcing lid is adhesive to the wall of the sleeve so as to be peelable, preferably with a gripping tab.

In a variant, each reinforcing lid may be adhesively bonded to the wall of the sleeve so as to be non-peelable. According to another variant, each reinforcing seal has a pre-cut line whose profile corresponds to the grip of the bottle by its handle. In particular, it can be provided that the central zone of the reinforcing lid which is inside the precut line is a detachable remittance coupon.

It may also be provided that the reinforcing lids provide a premium retaining function or objects arranged in the receptacle that they define with the handle of the bottle.

According to another characteristic, at least one of the reinforcing lids is at least partially printed.

In the traditional techniques of laying sleeves on moving objects, the sleeves are detached or cut from a continuous jacket wound flat. In this case, it will be advantageous to provide that the two cuts are arranged symmetrically on either side of a fold that has the sleeve in its non-retracted state.

In the case of a bottle with a side handle projecting from the body of the bottle, it is possible to provide another variant of the envelope according to the invention, according to which the sleeve has a single cutout whose profile corresponds to the passage of the protruding handle. the cutout being provided on its peripheral zone with a flat reinforcing insert collar sealed to the wall of the sleeve and whose inner profile corresponds to the profile of said cutout, said collar being intended to preserve the integrity of the cutout zone during retraction of the sleeve surrounding the bottle by letting the protruding handle. In this variant, the sleeve straddles the handle that passes through the opening defined by the cut, unlike the previous embodiment where the retracted sleeve remained in contact with the outer facet of the handle of the bottle.

As previously, the flat collar may be single, being sealed on the inner or outer face of the wall of the sleeve, or alternatively be in duplicate, with a collar on the inner face and another collar on the outer face of the wall of the sleeve. It may also be provided that the or each flat collar is substantially non-retractable material at the shrinkage temperature of the wall of the sleeve.

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly in the light of the following description and the attached drawing, relating to particular embodiments, with reference to the figures in which - Figure 1 illustrates a bottle with side handle and an envelope according to a first embodiment of the invention, which is in the non-retracted state, - Figure 2 illustrates the aforementioned bottle coated with its retracted envelope, - Figure 3 is a section III-III of the heat-shrinkable sleeve of FIG. 1, illustrating three possible arrangements of the flat collar constituting the reinforcing insert at each cut, FIG. 4 illustrates a side-handle bottle with an envelope made according to a second embodiment of FIG. the invention, according to which, in place of the reinforcing collar, a cap is used closing off each cutout, FIG. 5 illustrates the aforementioned object coated with its envelope retracted on it, - Figure 6 is a section along VI-VI of the envelope of Figure 4, illustrating as in Figure 3, different arrangements of closure caps - Figure 7 illustrates an additional function provided by the caps, which is the retention of premiums or objects arranged in the receptacle they define with the handle of the bottle, the caps being in this case peelable, - Figure 8 illustrates another variant in which the lids are not peelable, but have a precut line constituting in addition here a detachable remittance coupon, - Figure 9 illustrates another type of side handle bottle projecting, and the envelope for the envelope being made in accordance with another embodiment of the invention in which the sleeve has a single cutout allowing 'the handle to sail' 10 illustrates the aforesaid object coated with its envelope retracted on it, - Figure 11 is a section along XI-XI of Figure 9, illustrating various arrangements of the reinforcing collar associated with the unique cut of the sleeve.

In Figure 1, there is a bottle 1 whose body 2 has a side handle 3 which connects to the outer contour of the bottle body. The opening of passage of the handle is denoted 4. To make the packaging of such a side-handle bottle, by using a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve technique able to tightly surround the bottle after retraction of said sleeve, a envelope 100 which is shown in Figure 1 in the unretracted state.

The envelope 100 essentially consists of a sleeve 101 whose walls are closed on themselves along a sealing line 102 as is conventional in the field concerned.

According to the invention, the sleeve 101 has two cutouts <B> 103 </ B> whose profile corresponds to the passage opening 4 of the handle of the bottle, and each cutout 103 is provided on its peripheral zone with a reinforcing insert element 104 integral with the wall of the sleeve, said elements being intended to preserve the integrity of the area of the cuts in vis-à-vis during the retraction of the sleeve surrounding the bottle and its handle.

In FIG. 1, the reinforcement insert associated with each cutout 103 is a flat collar 104 which is sealed to the wall of the sleeve 101. The inner profile of the flat collar 104 corresponds to the profile of the cutout 103.

When the sleeve 101 is threaded onto the bottle 1, and that the assembly passes through a retraction tunnel, the wall of the sleeve retracts transversely, and the two cutouts <B> 103 </ B> are placed on the side and side. other of the passage opening 4, thus leaving the free passage for gripping the bottle by its handle. Thanks to the presence of the flat reinforcing collars 104, the integrity of the cutouts area is preserved, that is to say that the profile of the cuts retains its initial geometry, and the peripheral zone of each cut remains flat, without tears or crimps. The result obtained is illustrated in FIG.

As can be seen more clearly in the sections of FIG. 3, there may be several different arrangements for reinforcing the cuts 103 - in a), the flat collars 104 are unique for each cutout 103 and they are sealed on the inner face of the cut. wall of the sleeve 101, - in b), the flat collars 104 are still unique for each cutout 103, but they are sealed on the outer face of the wall of the sleeve 101, - in c), each flat collar 104 is in duplicate, with a collar on the inner face and another collar on the outer face of the wall of the sleeve 101.

Preferably, each flat reinforcing collar 104 will be made of substantially non-retractable material at the retraction temperature of the wall of the sleeve 101. This appears highly desirable for obtaining an optimal reinforcing effect. In general, a plastic material will be used, which is then amorphous so as not to offer the possibility of shrinking under the effect of heat. The attachment of each reinforcing collar 104 to the wall of the sleeve is made by sealing, and this attachment remains invariable during the retraction of the sleeve.

According to an alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, it is possible to provide that the reinforcing insert, instead of being a flat collar whose inner profile corresponds to the profile of the cutout, is constituted by a seal completely seal each cut.

An envelope 200 is thus used, consisting essentially of a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve 201, with its sealing line 202 along a generatrix of the sleeve. The reinforcement insert associated with each of the two cuts 203 is then a seal 204 closing the cut and adhering by its periphery to the peripheral zone of said cut. The reinforcing lid 204, which is secured by its peripheral zone 205 to the wall of the sleeve, then constitutes a closing window completely closing the associated cutout. After retraction, the result illustrated in FIG. 5 is obtained.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the reinforcing lid 204 may be unique for each cut-out 203, and adhere to the internal face as represented in a) or externally as represented in b) of the wall of the sleeve 201. ), there is illustrated the case where the reinforcing lid 204 is in duplicate, with a cap on the inner face and another cap on the outer face of the wall of the sleeve 201.

As before, each reinforcing lid 204 will preferably be made of a substantially non-shrinkable material at the shrinkage temperature of the wall of the sleeve 201. Thus, the periphery of the reinforcing lid 204 performs the same function as the aforementioned flat collar. that is to say, guarantees the integrity of the area of the cuts in vis-à-vis during the retraction of the sleeve surrounding the bottle and its handle.

It may further be provided that each reinforcing lid 204 is adhesively bonded to the wall of the sleeve 201 so as to be peelable or not.

FIG. 7 thus shows a casing 200 whose sleeve is equipped with two reinforcing tabs 204 which are peelable, each reinforcement cap being equipped with a gripping tab 206. Thus, by pulling the gripping tab 206 it is easy to release each reinforcing cap 204, and to release the passage opening of the handle.

As illustrated in Figure 7, it may further be provided that the reinforcing lids 204 provide an additional premium retaining function or objects 51 disposed in the receptacle 50 they define with the handle of the vial.

In Figure 8, there is illustrated another variant, wherein each reinforcing seal 204 is non-peelable, and has a precut line 207 whose profile corresponds to the grip of the bottle by its handle. The clearance of the central zone 208 of the reinforcing seal 204, made on each side of the handle of the bottle, allows to clear the passage opening of the handle.

It may be possible to take advantage of this provision to provide that the central zone 208 of the reinforcing lid 204, which is inside the precut line 207, constitutes a detachable remittance coupon. This coupon may possibly be printed, as was schematized here by the letters A, B, C. In Figure 8, there is illustrated such a detached coupon which can be used as a discount note at the time of the act of purchase . The precut line 207 will naturally be provided with perforations such that, after removal of the central zone 208, the edges of the cut portion, which correspond to the passage of the hand to grip the bottle by its handle, do not present adverse injurious bumps.

At least one of the reinforcing lids 204 may be at least partially printed. In FIG. 8, there is just illustrated the central coupon area 208 which is printed.

Heat-shrink sleeves conventionally used in the field of packaging are generally detached or cut from a continuous jacket wound flat. In this case, the separate sections of the continuous sheath have two folds, which fade during retraction of the sleeve on the object concerned. For the first variant, these folds are referred to as 109, 110, and for the second variant 209, 210. As illustrated here, it is provided that the two cuts 103, 203 are arranged symmetrically on either side of a fold respectively. 110, 210 that has the sleeve 101, 201 in its non-retracted state. With this arrangement, the cuts are facing each other when the sleeve is flat, which greatly facilitates their realization.

When the object to be packaged is a bottle with a side handle projecting from the bottle body, another variant of the heat-shrinkable envelope of the invention may be envisaged. This variant will be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 9 to 11.

In Figure 9, there is a flask 1 ', the body 2' has a side handle 3 'projecting from the body, the passage opening of the handle being denoted 4'. Although it is theoretically possible to use an envelope of the type previously described, it is possible to envisage a variant according to which the envelope 300, consisting essentially of a sleeve 301 with a sealing line 302, has a single cutout 303 whose profile corresponds to the passage of the protruding handle. In this case, the single cutout 303 is provided on its peripheral zone with a flat reinforcing insert collar 304 sealed to the wall of the sleeve and whose inner profile corresponds to the profile of said cutout. As for the flat reinforcing collars 104 described above, the flat collar 304 is intended to preserve the integrity of the area of the single cut during the retraction of the sleeve surrounding the bottle, but here by letting the protruding handle. The result obtained after retraction is illustrated in FIG.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, there are various types of arrangements that can be envisaged for the flat collar 304, with in a) a sealing on the internal face of the wall of the sleeve 301, in b) a sealing on the external face of the wall the sleeve 301, and c) a double arrangement, with a collar on the inner face and another collar on the outer face of the wall of the sleeve 301.

As before, the or each flat collar 304 is preferably made of substantially non-retractable material at the shrinkage temperature of the wall of the sleeve 301.

The single cut 303 is also centered relative to a fold 310 that has the sleeve 301 from a continuous jacket wound flat.

In all cases, it will be advantageous to provide to arrange the bottles coated with their sleeve in an arrangement such that the folds are in the median vertical plane of the retraction tunnel, the bottle with its handle being wedged on this vertical plane. With this arrangement, with a scroll of the bottles having an opening of the handles facing the conveyor scroll, it avoids excessive exposure of the cut area to the action of the heating elements, which are generally infrared elements.

For each of the embodiments that has just been described, the embodiment of the envelopes according to the invention is compatible with an automatic installation. The arrangements with reinforcing collars or sealing caps are adaptable according to the shape of the handle and the shape of the bottle, and also to the different desiderata relating to printing or non-printing.

If a peelable seal is used, the self-adhesive part should use an adhesive with a special glue that withstands the temperature of the retentate without softening, that is, likely to be an adhesive whose softening point is above 140 C.

In general, it will be provided that the rigidity of the structure of the substitute material of the sleeve must be sufficiently rigid to withstand the stresses imposed by the forces developed during the transverse necking.

Although it is interesting to use amorphous plastic materials, not offering the possibility of shrinkage under the effect of heat, it may alternatively consider paper or multilayer base carriers.

Finally, in some cases, when the geometry of the bottle body has a strong taper, provide that the sleeve, once threaded on the bottle, and before retraction, is glued to the base of the bottle. The sleeve, already equipped with its collars, or lids, is then perfectly positioned on the bottle, and then avoids any risk of sliding upwards during the retraction of the sleeve that would be due to the highly curved shape of the bottle.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments that have just been described, but on the contrary covers any variant using, with equivalent means, the essential characteristics mentioned above.

Claims (10)

<U> CLAIMS </ U> 1. Envelope (100; 200) for packaging a side-handle bottle, of the type constituted by a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve adapted to closely surround the bottle after retraction of said sleeve, characterized in that the sleeve (10l 201) has two cuts (I03 203) whose profile corresponds to the passage opening of the handle, each cutout (103; 203) being provided on its peripheral zone with a reinforcing insert (104; 204) integral with of the wall of the sleeve, said elements being intended to preserve the integrity of the area of the cuts (103; 203) vis-à-vis during the retraction of the sleeve surrounding the bottle and its handle. 2. Envelope according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing insert element associated with each cutout (103) is a flat collar (104) sealed to the wall of the sleeve (I01), whose inner profile corresponds to the profile of the cut. 3. Envelope according to claim 2, characterized in that the flat collar (104) is unique for each cutout (103), and is sealed on the inner or outer face of the wall of the sleeve (101). 4. Envelope according to claim 2, characterized in that the flat collar (104) is in duplicate, with a collar on the inner face and another collar on the outer face of the wall of the sleeve (101). 5. Envelope according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that each flat reinforcing collar (104) is substantially non-retractable material at the shrinkage temperature of the wall of the sleeve (101). 6. Envelope according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing insert element associated with each cutout (203) is a cap (204) closing the cut and adhering by its periphery to the peripheral zone of said cutout. 7. Envelope according to claim 6, characterized in that the reinforcing lid (204) is unique for each cutout (203), and it adheres to the inner or outer face of the wall of the sleeve (201). 8. Envelope according to claim 6, characterized in that the reinforcing lid (204) is in duplicate, with a cap on the inner face and another cap on the outer face of the wall of the sleeve (201). 9. Envelope according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that each reinforcing seal (204) is substantially non-retractable material at the shrinkage temperature of the wall of the sleeve (201). 10. Envelope according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that each reinforcing seal (204) is adhesively bonded to the wall of the sleeve (201) so as to be peelable, preferably with a gripping tab (206). ). he. Envelope according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that each reinforcing lid (204) is adhesively bonded to the wall of the sleeve (201) so as to be non-peelable. 12. Envelope according to claim 11, characterized in that each reinforcing seal (204) has a precut line (207) whose profile corresponds to the grip of the bottle by its handle. 13. Envelope according to claim 12, characterized in that the central zone (208) of the reinforcing lid (204) which is inside the precut line (207) constitutes a detachable remittance coupon. 14. Envelope according to any one of claims 6 to 13, characterized in that the reinforcing lids (204) provide a premium retaining function or objects arranged in the receptacle they define with the handle of the bottle. 15. Envelope according to any one of claims 6 to 14, characterized in that at least one of the reinforcing lids (204) is at least partially printed. 16. Envelope according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the sleeve is detached or cut from a continuous jacket wound flat, characterized in that the two cuts (103 203) are arranged symmetrically on both sides a fold (110; 210) that has the sleeve (101; 201) in its non-retracted state. 17. Envelope (300) intended for the packaging of a side-handle bottle projecting from the body of the bottle, of the type constituted by a heat-shrinkable plastic sleeve adapted to closely surround the bottle after retraction of the sleeve, characterized in that the sleeve (301) has a single cutout (303) whose profile corresponds to the passage of the protruding handle, the cutout (303) being provided on its peripheral zone with a flat reinforcing insert collar (304) sealed to the wall the sleeve and whose inner profile corresponds to the profile of said cut, said collar being intended to preserve the integrity of the area of the cut during the retraction of the sleeve surrounding the bottle by passing the protruding handle. 18. Envelope according to claim 17, characterized in that the flat collar (304) is single, and it is sealed on the inner or outer face of the wall of the sleeve (301). 19. Envelope according to claim 17, characterized in that the flat collar (304) is in duplicate, with a collar on the inner face and another collar on the outer face of the wall of the sleeve (301). 20. Envelope according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the or each flat collar (304) is of substantially non-retractable material at the retraction temperature of the wall of the sleeve (301).