Improved packaging device for group packaging of at least two containers

Abstract

The invention relates to a packaging device (1) for the group packaging of at least two containers (2), such as bottles having a bottom (3), a body (4) and a shoulder (5) connecting the body (4) to a neck (6), or cylindrical cans, comprising at least one sheet (8) made of a semi-rigid or rigid material, the sheet is provided with at least two apertures (9) for receiving the neck (6) of the container (2); the packaging device is characterised in that the sheet (8) has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises at least two parallel rows of cups (15), the inner walls of which can bear against the shoulders (5) of the containers (2) and the tops of which are each provided with an aperture (9) capable of receiving the neck (6) of a container (2).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of group packaging of containers, and more particularly to a device for group packaging of at least two containers. Background Art

[0002] In the context of the present invention, the container is a flask or bottle consisting of a bottom, a body and a shoulder connecting the body to the neck. Such a container is intended to contain (in a non-exhaustive manner) fluids, liquids, powders or granules, in particular of the agri-food or cosmetic type.

[0003] For their transport, these finished containers are typically packaged in groups. Each group thus comprises a plurality of containers, for example, arranged in a matrix along columns and rows. The matrix arrangement generally has a roughly parallelepiped shape, typically a cube or a cuboid. For example, a typical group comprises six containers arranged in two rows and three columns.

[0004] Once the grouping of containers is completed, it is necessary to proceed to the so-called bundling step, which consists in covering each grouping of containers with a generally heat-shrinkable film in order to facilitate the handling of the group of containers thus obtained.

[0005] This bundling step results in a large amount of energy consumption. Furthermore, the use of films made of plastic materials is harmful to the environment, as nearly half of the plastic waste found in the oceans is single-use plastics.

[0006] Currently, many plastics are so-called "recyclable," but this approach is generally inadequate and unsatisfactory. In fact, the use of shrinkable plastic film has many negative environmental impacts: high energy consumption, single-use, low recycling rates, and the export of large amounts of plastic waste to countries with limited recycling infrastructure. Furthermore, the composition of the film, which is only partially recyclable, complicates the process, and in the vast majority of cases, the waste generated cannot be reused.

[0007] Furthermore, the use of plastic film covering the product makes it impossible to separate one of the containers from the group without causing the group to fall apart completely or partially.

[0008] There is therefore a growing need to find an alternative to the use of this material, which generates a lot of waste and has high energy costs, while ensuring its robustness and allowing its handling.

[0009] In this regard, a known alternative to using shrinkable plastic film to form groups of products is to use plastic bands or hoops that are placed around the containers to hold the products together. This solution is unsatisfactory because, in addition to the plastic it requires, it also typically requires additional means of sealing the group, such as adhesives, and can result in the complete disintegration of the group if a container is removed or the band breaks.

[0010] To overcome these drawbacks, packaging solutions using cardboard have been envisaged, notably in documents US 2008 / 0257763 and WO 2013 / 185898.

[0011] Document US2008 / 0257763 describes a solution that uses a cardboard tray to support the product at its base. More specifically, it describes a system for packaging bottles having neck portions. The system includes a plate with a base on which a plurality of bottles are placed in a series of rows. The system also includes a bridge having a planar central portion and a plurality of arcuate recesses extending around the periphery of the planar central portion. Each recess is sized to receive a portion of the neck of one of the bottles. A connecting device is provided for connecting the bottles together, wherein the connecting device generates an inward force acting on the bottles. The bridge resists this inward force, thereby maintaining the bottles in an upright position on the base.

[0012] This solution does not require the use of additional means such as glue. However, in this configuration, it is not possible to lift the entire group in an easy manner, nor is it possible to transport the entire group in an easy manner. It is also no longer possible to easily transport a subgroup of products in the group.

[0013] Another solution, described in document WO 2013 / 185898, is to use a rigid plate made of cardboard or plastic that allows the containers to be held at their limits in the container body. More precisely, this document describes a support element made of cardboard, for example corrugated cardboard, cardboard with increased rigidity or plastic material with increased rigidity, intended to collect a plurality of containers in a combined package. The support element comprises a main support having: a region for the containers, which is horizontal in the position of use and has seats for the containers (6), these seats being realized in the form of U-shaped cutouts with a rounded bottom and U-shaped branches serving as retaining legs; and a handle region. An external support can be connected to the region for the containers, the external support being realized in the form of a strip element with a number of opposite seats corresponding to the number of seats for the containers, said opposite seats being realized in a corresponding manner in the form of U-shaped cutouts with a rounded bottom and U-shaped branches serving as retaining legs.

[0014] However, although this solution allows the entire group to be lifted, it is very limited since it is only suitable for certain shapes of containers. Furthermore, the stability of the entire group cannot be guaranteed, especially when packaging large-format containers.

[0015] All these solutions are therefore unsatisfactory. In fact, they are either always made of plastic material or, even if they are provided with gripping means, they do not guarantee the integrity of the entire set when it is being carried. Summary of the Invention

[0016] One of the objects of the present invention is therefore to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a packaging device for packaging at least two containers in groups, which packaging device is simple in design and low in cost, guarantees the integrity of the group of containers during its handling, and is advantageously obtained from recyclable materials, without containing plastic materials.

[0017] To this end, according to the present invention, a packaging device is proposed for packaging at least two containers in groups, wherein the containers are, for example, bottles having a bottom, a body and a shoulder connecting the body to the neck, or cylindrical cans, the packaging device comprising at least one sheet of semi-rigid or rigid material, which is provided with at least two openings for accommodating the necks of the containers; the packaging device is characterized in that the sheet is roughly rectangular in shape and comprises at least two parallel rows of cup-shaped bodies, which are roughly truncated cones, hemispheres, truncated pyramids or similar shapes, the inner walls of the cup-shaped bodies being able to bear against the shoulders of the containers, and the tops of the cup-shaped bodies are each provided with an opening capable of receiving the neck of a container.

[0018] Preferably, the cup is shaped so that at least 5% to 30% of the surface of the shoulder of the container bears against the inner wall of the cup.

[0019] The cups are connected two by beams called longitudinal beams and transverse beams.

[0020] The beam has a straight cross section in an inverted U-shape or an inverted V-shape.

[0021] Furthermore, each orifice includes a tongue extending in a coronal manner towards the interior of each orifice.

[0022] The tongue is obtained by making a radial slit from the inner edge of an orifice having a diameter smaller than that of the container neck.

[0023] Advantageously, the packaging device according to the invention comprises frangible opening means for opening each orifice.

[0024] The breakable opening means consists of two parallel pre-cut lines made in the cup-shaped body and extending radially from the edge of the orifice.

[0025] According to one variant embodiment, the breakable opening means are constituted by two parallel weakening lines of reduced thickness made in the cup-shaped body and extending radially from the edge of the orifice.

[0026] The pre-cut line and / or the line of weakness of the breakable opening device extends perpendicularly to the longitudinal edges of the sheet.

[0027] Preferably, the packaging device comprises two rows of cups, each row comprising three cups, the cups being connected two by two by a central cross member, two side cross members and longitudinal members.

[0028] Furthermore, the packaging device comprises two central walls, which extend on either side of the central crossbeam, each extending between two pairs of beams, namely a pair of crossbeams and a pair of longitudinal beams.

[0029] Each central wall slopes from top to bottom from the central cross member towards the side cross members, ie towards the transverse edges of the sheet.

[0030] Advantageously, each central wall comprises a gripping hole or a breakable flap capable of forming a gripping hole.

[0031] Each gripping hole has a circular, elliptical or oval shape. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Further advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of several embodiments of the container packaging device according to the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] [ Figure 1 ] is a perspective view of a packaging device according to the present invention;

[0034] [ Figure 2 ]yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a sheet of packaging device according to the present invention is shown;

[0035] [ Figure 3 ] is a top view of a sheet of a packaging device according to the present invention;

[0036] [ Figure 4 ] is a front view of a sheet of a packaging device according to the present invention;

[0037] [ Figure 5 ] is a side view of a sheet of a packaging device according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In the following description of the container packaging device according to the present invention, the same reference numerals denote the same elements, and the different views are not necessarily drawn to scale.

[0039] Reference Figure 1In the following, a packaging device 1 according to the invention will be described for packaging at least two containers 2 in groups, said containers 2 being bottles having a bottom 3, a generally cylindrical body 4 and a shoulder 5 connecting the body 4 to a neck 6, said neck receiving a cap 7. The packaging device 1 comprises at least one sheet 8 of semi-rigid or rigid material, described in more detail below, provided with at least two orifices 9 for receiving the necks 6 of the containers 2.

[0040] In this particular embodiment, sheet 8 has a generally rectangular shape and includes at least two parallel rows of cups 15, each of which is generally truncated conical, hemispherical, truncated pyramidal, or similar in shape. The inner walls of the cups are capable of bearing against the shoulders 5 of the containers 2, while the tops of the cups are each provided with an orifice 9 capable of receiving the neck 6 of the container 2. It should be noted that the tops of these cups 15 extend in the same plane, which is considered horizontal because the containers 2 are packaged in a group in a generally vertical position. It will be appreciated that the fact that the shoulders 5 of the containers bear against the inner walls of the cups 15 ensures that the containers 2 are better retained on sheet 8, preventing the necks 6 of the containers 2 from rotating in the orifices 9, and keeping the containers close to each other, preventing them from becoming separated during handling, transporting, etc. of the group.

[0041] Obviously, the cup 15 will have a shape that corresponds to that of the container shoulder, without departing from the scope of the invention. In fact, the container 2, in this case a bottle, may comprise a shoulder that is in particular substantially hemispherical, frustoconical or frustopyramidal, the body of the bottle having a cross section that is circular, oval, square, etc.

[0042] Furthermore, preferably, the cup-shaped body 15 has a shape such that at least 5% to 30% of the surface of the shoulder 5 of the container 2 bears against the inner wall of the cup-shaped body 15 .

[0043] These cups 15 are connected two by two by beams called longitudinal beams 16 and transverse beams 17. These beams 16, 17 extend in the same horizontal plane, extending below the level of the opening 9, and have a straight cross-section in the shape of an inverted U or V, with the concave side of the beam pointing downwards. These beams 16, 17 strengthen the sheet 8 and prevent the entire group from falling apart.

[0044] Obviously, these beams 16 , 17 may have any shape and / or may be solid, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0045] Each opening 9 for receiving the neck 6 of the container includes a tab 10 extending in a corolla-like manner toward the interior of each opening 9. These tabs 10 are formed by forming radial slits 11 in the inner edge of the opening 10, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the neck 6 of the container 2. After the neck 6 of the container 2 is introduced into the opening 9, the free end of the tab 10 will be located below the lower end of the cap, extending between the neck 6 and the lower end of the cap, thereby preventing the container 2 from falling out of the opening 9. To remove the container 2, it is sufficient to grasp the container 2 by its body 4 and apply a downward pulling force and / or an outward rotational force to cause the tab 10 to flip over or tear off.

[0046] It should be noted that in this particular embodiment, before the neck 6 of the container 2 is inserted into the orifices 9, the tongues 10 extend parallel to the center of each orifice 9 and in the same plane as the orifices 9. However, it is clear that before the neck 6 of the container 2 is inserted into the orifices 9, the tongues 10 may form an angle with the plane containing the orifices 9, for example, between 5° and 30°, so that the tongues 10 form a truncated cone protruding from above each orifice 9, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0047] Advantageously, to facilitate removal of the container 2 from the sheet 8, the packaging device 1 according to the invention comprises a frangible opening device 12 for opening each orifice 9. The frangible opening device 12 is constituted by two parallel pre-cut lines 13 extending radially from the edge of the orifice 9. The pre-cut lines 13 of the frangible opening device 12 extend perpendicularly to the longitudinal edges of the sheet 8.

[0048] According to an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, the pre-cut lines 13 of the breakable opening means 12 can be replaced by parallel weakening lines characterized by a smaller thickness of the cup-shaped body 15 at these weakening lines.

[0049] Obviously, the pre-cut line 13 of the breakable opening device 12 can be replaced by any other equivalent means known to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0050] Furthermore, in this particular embodiment, the packaging device 1 according to the invention comprises two rows of cups 15, three cups in each row, these cups 15 being connected two by two by a central crossbar 17a, two side crossbars 17b and a number of longitudinal beams 16. The packaging device also comprises two so-called central walls 18, which extend on either side of the central crossbar 17a, between two pairs of beams, i.e. a pair of crossbars 17 and a pair of longitudinal beams 16. Each central wall 18 is preferably flat and slopes downwards from the central crossbar 17a towards a side crossbar 17b, i.e. towards a transverse edge of the sheet 8. Each central wall 18 forms an angle of between 5° and 30° with the horizontal plane containing the orifice 9. It will be noted that the central walls 18 can advantageously receive a label, not shown in the figures.

[0051] Obviously, the packaging device according to the present invention may include two rows of cups 15, the number of cups 15 in the first row being an even number and the number of cups 15 in the second row being an odd number, so that the cups 15 are staggered. Moreover, it is obvious that the packaging device according to the present invention may include more than two rows of cups 15 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0052] Furthermore, to facilitate gripping of the packaging device according to the present invention, the sheet 8 includes two breakable flaps 19 in its central portion, between the rows of apertures 9, which form gripping holes. Thus, the packaging device can be gripped by inserting two fingers, such as the thumb and index finger of one hand, into the gripping holes after depressing the breakable flaps 19. The breakable flaps 19 have a generally oval shape; however, the breakable flaps 19 may have any other shape, such as a rectangular, circular, or oval shape, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0053] Obviously, these frangible tabs 19 could be replaced by gripping holes without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0054] Furthermore, the sheet material is preferably made of cardboard, or a rigid or semi-rigid cellulose material, or a bioplastic; however, it is obvious that the sheet material 8 can be made of any other rigid or semi-rigid material known to those skilled in the art. It should be noted that "bioplastic" refers to polymers, which are mainly thermoplastics and less commonly thermosets, and are divided into two categories: plastics derived from biological resources (derived from biological matter, mainly plants) and / or biodegradable (compostable) plastics, including plastics derived from fossil resources (petrochemical reaction products).

[0055] Finally, it is obvious that the examples just given are only specific illustrations and do not in any way limit the field of application of the invention.

Claims

1. A packaging device (1) for packaging at least two containers (2) in groups, the containers (2) being, for example, bottles having a bottom (3), a body (4) and a shoulder (5) connecting the body (4) to a neck (6), or cylindrical cans, the packaging device comprising at least one sheet (8) made of semi-rigid or rigid material, the sheet being provided with at least two orifices (9) for receiving the necks (6) of the containers (2), characterised in that The sheet (8) is of roughly rectangular shape and comprises at least two parallel rows of cup-shaped bodies (15), which are roughly truncated cones, hemispheres, truncated pyramids or similar shapes. The inner walls of the cups are capable of resting on the shoulders (5) of the container (2), and the tops of the cups are each provided with an orifice (9) capable of receiving the neck (6) of a container (2).

2. The packaging device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that The cup (15) is shaped so that at least 5% to 30% of the surface of the shoulder (5) of the container (2) bears against the inner wall of the cup (15).

3. The packaging device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The cup-shaped bodies (15) are connected two by beams called longitudinal beams (16) and transverse beams (17).

4. The packaging device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that The beams (16, 17) have a straight cross section in an inverted U-shape or an inverted V-shape.

5. The packaging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that Each orifice (9) comprises a tongue (10) extending in a coronal shape towards the interior of each orifice (9).

6. The packaging device (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that The tongue (10) is obtained by making a radial slit (11) from the inner edge of an orifice (9) having a diameter smaller than that of the neck (6) of the container (2).

7. The packaging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that The packaging device comprises a frangible opening device (12) for opening each orifice (9).

8. The packaging device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The breakable opening means (12) consists of two parallel pre-cut lines (13) made in the cup-shaped body (15) and extending radially from the edge of the orifice (9).

9. The packaging device (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that The breakable opening means (12) consists of two parallel lines of weakness of reduced thickness made in the cup-shaped body (15) and extending radially from the edge of the orifice (9).

10. The packaging device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the pre-cut line (13) and / or the weakening line of the breakable opening device (12) extends perpendicular to the longitudinal edge of the sheet (8).

11. The packaging device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that The packaging device comprises two rows of cup-shaped bodies (15), wherein each row comprises three cup-shaped bodies, and the cup-shaped bodies (15) are connected two by two by a central cross beam (17a), two side cross beams (17b) and some longitudinal beams (16).

12. The packaging device (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that The packaging device comprises two central walls (18) on either side of a central crossbeam (17a), each extending between two pairs of beams, namely a pair of crossbeams (17) and a pair of longitudinal beams (16).

13. The packaging device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that Each central wall (18) slopes downwardly from the central cross member (17a) towards the side cross members (17b), ie towards the transverse edge of the sheet (8).

14. The packaging device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that Each central wall (18) includes a gripping aperture (14).

15. The packaging device (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that Each central wall (18) includes a breakable flap (19) capable of forming a gripping aperture.

16. The packaging device (1) according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that Each gripping hole has a circular, elliptical or oval shape.

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