Package and method for producing a package

Abstract

The invention relates to a package (1) made from a packaging base (2) for receiving a product (P) and from a lid part (3) that is glued to opposite side walls (4a, 4b) of the packaging base (2). The lid part (3) consists of a self-adhesive label (6) peeled off from a carrier tape (14), the underside (U) of which is provided with an adhesive (K) exclusively in areas (7a, 7b) that are glued to the opposite side walls (4a, 4b) of the packaging base (2). The invention further relates to a method for producing a package (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a package according to claim 1 and to a method for producing a package according to independent method claim 12.

[0002] EP 2 666 728 B1 discloses a thermoforming packaging machine with a labeler. The labeler is arranged downstream of a sealing station of the thermoforming packaging machine in the production direction and is configured to apply a label to each packaging tray emerging from the sealing station, which is sealed with a top film. The respective labels are separated from a carrier layer and adhered to the lid part formed by the top film.

[0003] While in EP 2 666 728 B1 the upper film fed to the sealing station serves to close the packaging trays, the labels applied downstream by the labeller following the sealing process have the function of providing the sealed packages with information regarding the product contained therein and therefore have an information function.

[0004] The disadvantage is that such labeled packaging requires a relatively large amount of packaging material. Furthermore, a sealing station is required to produce the packaging.

[0005] In addition, the respective labels are provided with adhesive on their entire underside, in particular over their entire surface, to ensure secure attachment to the top film. Accordingly, to allow the respective labels to be removed from a carrier tape of a label roll, the carrier tape is coated over its entire surface, for example, with a thin silicone layer or a lacquer layer. As a result, the proportion of coating material on the carrier tape, in particular the silicone portion of the carrier tape, can be relatively high, in particular higher than 20% of the total carrier material. As a result, the carrier tape remaining after the labeling process, which consists of approximately equal amounts of material, is difficult to recycle.

[0006] Furthermore, label rolls are known in practice that do not require a carrier layer, i.e. consist solely of a label strip. To prevent the wound label strip from sticking together, it is provided with an adhesive, for example an adhesive strip, on its underside and with a corresponding coating, for example a layer of varnish or silicone strips, on its top side, so that the adhesive on the underside covers the coating on the top side when wound up. In particular, the adhesive strips on the underside lie directly on the silicone strips along the top side, so that the label roll does not require a separate carrier layer. This allows packaging to be produced with reduced packaging material requirements. The disadvantage, however, is that separating or separating the labels is difficult.Cutting labels from such a label roll can only be done directly on a labeling machine, and only with specific tools, e.g., using a cutting blade installed on the machine. However, this only allows the production of straight-cut labels. Another disadvantage is that packaging made from this material has labels with a coating on the top surface, particularly traces of silicone.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing, against the background of the prior art described above, a cost-effective, sustainable packaging and a corresponding method for producing a packaging.

[0008] This object is achieved by means of a packaging according to claim 1 and by means of a method according to claim 12.

[0009] Advantageous further developments of the invention are given by the respective subclaims.

[0010] The invention relates to a package consisting of a packaging base for containing a product and a lid portion that is adhered to opposite side walls of the packaging base. The invention provides that the lid portion consists of a self-adhesive label peeled from a carrier tape, the underside of which is provided with an adhesive exclusively in areas adhered to the opposite side walls of the packaging base. Limited to these areas, the adhesive content of the self-adhesive label is relatively low.

[0011] Because the self-adhesive label itself is used as a lid part for closing the packaging and adhesive is only used in areas between the self-adhesive label and the side walls of the packaging base, in particular only partially in these areas, the packaging as a whole can be produced cost-effectively with a reduced material requirement.

[0012] Furthermore, self-adhesive labels with partial adhesive are easier to recycle. This also has the positive effect that the carrier tape for the self-adhesive labels can be manufactured with a correspondingly reduced coating, particularly with a very low silicone content, which can be less than 10%, possibly even less than 5% of the total carrier tape material, making the carrier tape itself more easily recyclable. A paper carrier tape could therefore be recycled as paper despite the silicone strips provided due to their negligible material content.

[0013] Because the lid part of the packaging according to the invention consists of a self-adhesive label peeled from a carrier tape, it is possible to produce a lid part without a coating, in particular without a silicone strip on its upper side. It is also possible to produce self-adhesive labels with any desired contours or self-adhesive labels in any desired shapes on the carrier tape.

[0014] Preferably, the self-adhesive label is completely separated from the material from which the carrier tape is made. In other words, the cover part consists only of the self-adhesive label. This means that after the self-adhesive labels have been removed, the carrier tape forms a continuous strip, meaning no portion of the carrier tape remains on the respective undersides of the removed self-adhesive labels. Thus, a clean separation of the material occurs as soon as the self-adhesive labels are removed from the carrier tape.

[0015] One variant provides for the underside to be coated with adhesive only in opposing edge regions, preferably up to the outer edges of the self-adhesive label. A significant portion of the underside, i.e., an area between the opposing edge regions coated with adhesive, is adhesive-free and can thus face the product without any neutralization measures.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the adhesive is formed in the form of strips on the underside of the self-adhesive label. These strips can be easily produced on the underside of the self-adhesive label. Accordingly, the carrier tape can be provided with silicone strips.

[0017] In particular, the self-adhesive label can be made of a plastic, especially PP, paper, or cardboard. The adhesive content of the material from which the self-adhesive label is made is in particular less than 5%, so that the self-adhesive label can be recycled as plastic or paper.

[0018] According to a preferred variant, the top side of the self-adhesive label facing away from the product is free of silicone. This results in a visually appealing label top surface. Without silicone (or silicone strips) on the top side of the lid, the resulting packaging can also be stacked more easily because unsightly silicone marks are avoided on the top side of the lid.

[0019] The packaging base is preferably a cardboard tray or a plastic tray. The material of the packaging base is preferably the same as the lid, i.e., the material of the self-adhesive label. This results in a sustainably produced package.

[0020] Preferably, the self-adhesive label is adhered to the outer sides of the opposing side walls of the packaging base. This allows opposing edges of the self-adhesive label to be folded along the tray edge of the packaging base, resulting in a stable attachment of the lid parts made from the self-adhesive label to withstand tensile and compressive loads. Furthermore, the lid part made from the self-adhesive label can be firmly pressed onto the outer sides of the opposing side walls using partial adhesive. This allows even heavy products, such as products with a high water content, such as fruit or vegetables, to be packaged with high sealing force.

[0021] One variant provides for adhesive-free (contact) areas between the underside of the self-adhesive label and the opposite side walls above the areas where the self-adhesive label is adhered. This creates adhesive-free zones so that the products contained in the bottom part of the packaging, especially food products, have sufficient distance from the adhesive areas created between the lid part and the bottom part of the packaging.

[0022] In particular, adhesive-free (contact) areas are formed on the opposite side walls below the areas where the self-adhesive label is adhered. This creates tear tabs on the packaging. Such a tear tab can also be formed on only one side of the lid part below an adhesive-coated zone.

[0023] According to one embodiment, the self-adhesive label is formed with a plurality of holes. The holes are distributed in such a way that they create windows through which the products contained in the packaging can be viewed from the outside.

[0024] It is conceivable that the self-adhesive label could be printed with a motif on its top side, for example, a motif depicting the packaged product. Alternatively or additionally, a code containing information relating to the packaged product, such as a barcode, could also be used as a motif.

[0025] It would be conceivable for the self-adhesive label to have cutouts along its circumference, particularly opposing, rounded cutouts. These circumferential cutouts create a larger viewing area. If the self-adhesive label itself is not made of a transparent material, the cutouts can help ensure that the product contained in the packaging can be seen from the outside.

[0026] One variant provides for the self-adhesive label to have at least one perforation between the adhesive-coated areas. This perforation can be produced on the self-adhesive label, in particular, along a side wall of the packaging base, above and along an adhesive-coated area as a tear-off aid. Such perforation can also be present on both sides of the packaging. This makes it possible for the adhesive-coated areas of the self-adhesive label to remain on the packaging base when the self-adhesive label is separated from the packaging base. This offers advantages for recycling, as the separated part of the self-adhesive label is adhesive-free and can therefore be disposed of as pure material, e.g., as cardboard.On the bottom part of the packaging, the adhesive provided on the remaining part of the self-adhesive label forms only a very small proportion relative to the material from which the bottom part of the packaging is made, so that in principle the bottom part of the packaging in this form can also be recycled as pure material, e.g. as cardboard.

[0027] The invention further relates to a method for producing packaging. The method according to the invention provides that a self-adhesive label, which is provided with an adhesive on its underside exclusively in areas where it is to be adhered to opposite side walls of a provided packaging bottom part of the packaging, is separated from a carrier tape of a provided label roll and is adhered as a lid part to the opposite side walls of the provided packaging bottom part.

[0028] Thus, relatively little adhesive is required to produce the packaging. Furthermore, the carrier tape material can be manufactured with a very low lacquer or silicone content, particularly with a silicone content of less than 5% of the total carrier tape material, because silicone areas on the surface of the carrier tape can be reduced in size to match the respective areas partially applied with adhesive on the underside of the self-adhesive label.

[0029] In addition, the self-adhesive label can be easily removed from the backing tape because the adhesive is only partially applied to its underside. This allows for faster labeling—that is, the separation and application of the lid part to the bottom of the packaging.

[0030] Furthermore, the self-adhesive labels provided on the carrier tape, which are themselves used as cover parts according to the invention, can be produced in any desired label shape or with any desired label contour, and are particularly characterized by a silicone-free top surface. Because the self-adhesive labels are separated from the carrier tape, the latter remains as a continuous strip, creating a clean material separation between the self-adhesive label material and the carrier tape material. This also means that prefabrication of the carrier tape is minimally labor-intensive.

[0031] Preferably, by separating the self-adhesive label from the carrier tape, the self-adhesive label is completely separated from the material from which the carrier tape is made. This means that when the self-adhesive label is removed from the carrier tape, no sections of the carrier tape remain attached to the underside of the self-adhesive label, but rather the carrier tape remains as a continuous tape. The lid part thus consists only of the material of the self-adhesive label, resulting in a material-reduced, sustainable packaging.

[0032] When separating the self-adhesive label from the carrier tape, the adhesive-coated areas on the underside of the self-adhesive label are preferably separated from silicone areas produced on the carrier tape that are adapted to the adhesive. This means that only a small amount of silicone is required on the carrier tape. It is conceivable that the silicone content on the carrier tape could be less than 5% of the total carrier material, which would make the carrier tape material more easily recyclable. In particular, a paper carrier tape with a silicone content of less than 5% can be recycled as paper.

[0033] In particular, it can be provided that by separating all self-adhesive labels from the carrier tape of the label roll, a carrier tape material with a silicone content of less than 10%, preferably less than 7%, more preferably less than 5%, remains. Such residual carrier tape material could be easily shredded directly at the packaging production site, for example, using a knife device associated with the labeler, in order to be more suitable for logistical purposes in shredded form.

[0034] The fact that, on the packaging according to the invention, adhesive is applied to the lid part formed from the self-adhesive label only in the areas where the lid part is adhered to the packaging base, and the process according to the invention can accordingly produce packaging with lid parts made from self-adhesive labels with reduced adhesive, results in increased savings potential, since relatively little adhesive is used overall and, furthermore, a correspondingly reduced proportion of varnish or silicone on the carrier tape is possible. This cost-saving potential is also accompanied by advantageous recyclability of the materials used, since overall there is a negligible proportion of adhesive or silicone in the packaging material or in the material of the remaining carrier tape.In addition, the invention provides advantages in the production of contoured label shapes as well as optical advantages of the lid parts made from self-adhesive labels without silicone strips.

[0035] It is conceivable that a label roll used for the packaging according to the invention or for the method according to the invention for producing a packaging according to the invention is produced as follows: Providing a material web with a carrier layer and a label layer, which is adhered to the carrier layer by means of spaced-apart adhesive strips, punching or lasering the label layer in order to define self-adhesive labels on the carrier layer with a shape predetermined by the punching or lasering, so that the punched or lasered self-adhesive labels form lid parts, on the underside of which sections of the adhesive strips are produced exclusively in areas that are to be glued to opposite side walls of packaging bottoms, peeling off the punched grid formed by punching or lasering the label layer, so that individual self-adhesive labels with the predetermined shape remain stuck to the carrier layer, winding up the material web prefabricated by punching or lasering to form a label roll with self-adhesive labels, on the underside of which sections of the adhesive strips are produced exclusively in areas,which are to be glued to opposite side walls of packaging bases, are provided with an adhesive.

[0036] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional view of the packaging, Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the Figure 1 shown packaging, Figure 3 the underside of a lid part made from a self-adhesive label of the Figures 1 and 2 shown packaging, Figure 4 a label roll according to a first embodiment in a schematic representation, Figure 5 a label roll according to a second embodiment in a schematic representation, Figure 6 a carrier tape of the Figures 4 and 5 shown label rolls in an isolated representation, and Figure 7 shows a labeler for producing packaging according to the invention.

[0037] Identical components are provided with the same reference numerals throughout the figures.

[0038] Figure 1 shows a package 1 made of a packaging base 2 for holding a product P and a lid part 3. The lid part 3 is glued to opposite side walls 4a, 4b of the packaging base 2.

[0039] According to Figure 1 the cover part 3 consists of a carrier band 14 (see Figure 5 ) peeled off self-adhesive label 6. The self-adhesive label 6 is on its underside U (see Figure 3 ) is provided with an adhesive K exclusively in areas 7a, 7b which are glued to the opposite side walls 4a, 4b of the lower packaging part 2. Between the areas 7a, 7b formed with adhesive K, no further adhesive K is formed on the underside U of the self-adhesive label 6.

[0040] According to Figure 1The self-adhesive label 6 is glued along the outer sides A of the opposite side walls 4a, 4b. Thus, the self-adhesive label 6 is folded above the areas 7a, 7b with adhesive K around a packaging edge 9 of the packaging bottom part 2.

[0041] Figure 2 shows the packaging 1 from Figure 1 in side view. Figure 2 shows that the area 7a of the self-adhesive label 6 provided with adhesive K is in the form of a strip S. Furthermore, Figure 2that on the side wall 4a, above the area 7a in which the self-adhesive label 6 is glued, an adhesive-free area 8a is formed between the underside U of the self-adhesive label 6 and the side wall 4a. A perforation 5 is formed in the area 8a. Furthermore, below the area 7a, a further adhesive-free area 8b is formed between the underside U of the self-adhesive label 6 and the side wall 4a. The adhesive-free area 8a ensures that the adhesive K does not come into contact with the product P accommodated in the packaging base 2. The further adhesive-free area 8b can be used as a tear tab for opening the packaging 1.

[0042] It is conceivable that at the Figure 2In the packaging 1 shown, the area 7a in which the self-adhesive label 6 is glued to the side wall 4a is formed up to an edge R of the self-adhesive label 6, i.e. the self-adhesive label 6 is present without the area 8b, ie is formed without a tear tab.

[0043] Figure 3 shows the self-adhesive label 6 from below in an isolated view. The self-adhesive label 6 has on its underside U the regions 7a, 7b provided with adhesive K. In these regions 7a, 7b, the adhesive K can be formed in a predetermined pattern.

[0044] Areas 7a, 7b are located in Figure 3 each in the form of strips S. The Figure 3 The self-adhesive label 6 shown has holes 10 which serve as viewing holes. Furthermore, the self-adhesive label 6 made of Figure 3 via opposite, rounded recesses 11 along its circumference. Corners 12 of the Figure 3The self-adhesive label 6 shown in isolation is slanted. The slanted corners 12, the holes 10, and the recesses 11 can be produced by means of a punching process or by laser cutting.

[0045] The Figures 1 to 3 The areas 7a, 7b shown, in which the self-adhesive label 6 is glued to the opposite side walls 4a, 4b of the packaging base 2, can vary in shape depending on the overlap area created between the self-adhesive label 6 and the packaging base 2.

[0046] Figure 4shows a label roll 13a. The label roll 13a has a carrier tape 14 and self-adhesive labels 6 glued thereto. The self-adhesive labels 6 of the label roll 13a are glued to the carrier tape 14 by means of the areas 7a, 7b made of adhesive K formed on their underside U along silicone areas 15a, 15b correspondingly produced on the carrier tape 14. The silicone areas 15a, 15b are thus also present as strips S`. The strips S made of adhesive K produced on the underside U of the self-adhesive labels 6 thus coincide with the silicone strips S` produced along the carrier tape 14. Between the spaced-apart silicone strips S`, the self-adhesive labels 6 are not glued to the carrier tape 14, but lie unconnected on the carrier tape 14 in this area. A motif M is provided on an upper side O of the self-adhesive labels 6.

[0047] In addition, Figure 4a self-adhesive label 6 separated from the carrier tape 14 with strips S of adhesive K formed on its underside U.

[0048] Figure 5 shows another label roll 13b. The Figure 5 Self-adhesive labels 6 stuck on the carrier tape 14 are according to the shape of the Figure 3 shown self-adhesive label 6. These self-adhesive labels 6 are also glued to the carrier tape 14 along areas 15a, 15b produced thereon, i.e. along strips S' of silicone by means of the strips S of adhesive K produced on their underside U.

[0049] In addition, Figure 5 a self-adhesive label 6 separated from the carrier tape 14 with strips S of adhesive K formed on its underside U.

[0050] The respective self-adhesive labels 6, which are produced in accordance with Figures 4 and 5are glued to the respective carrier tape 14, can have any label shape, in particular form a desired lid geometry with regard to the format of a packaging base 2.

[0051] Figure 6shows the carrier tape 14 in an isolated representation, ie without self-adhesive labels 6 glued thereto. It can be seen that the silicone strips S` produced on the carrier tape 14 are produced parallel to one another. A label layer (not shown) can be attached along the silicone strips S` during the production of the self-adhesive labels 6. This label layer can then be cut to size by means of punching or lasering in order to produce self-adhesive labels 6 with a desired self-adhesive label shape on the carrier layer 14. The punched grid formed along the label layer is removed, so that only individual self-adhesive labels 6 remain on the carrier layer 14 after punching or lasering, for example in the form of the Figure 4 and / or Figure 5shown self-adhesive labels 6. Subsequently, the now prefabricated material web consisting of the carrier web 14 and the self-adhesive labels 6 cut to size is wound up to be fed as a label roll 13a, 13b to a labeler 16 (see Figure 7 ) to be used.

[0052] Figure 6 shows that the silicone content on the carrier tape 14 generated by the silicone strips S' only accounts for a small proportion of the total carrier tape material, in particular less than 5% of the total carrier tape material. This means that, for example, a paper carrier tape 14 can be recycled as paper despite the silicone strips S' produced on it. Together with a paper self-adhesive label 6, this forms a particularly sustainable packaging 1.

[0053] Figure 7 shows a labeller 16 with a feeding device 17, which according to Figure 7as a line combiner. By means of the feed device 17, packaging bottom parts 2 loaded with product P, which are not yet provided with a lid part 3, are fed to the labeler 16. Two guide rails 18 are positioned converging towards one another in such a way that at the downstream end of the guide rails 18 in the production direction T, a gap or opening is created for packaging bottom parts 2, which is only slightly wider than the width of the packaging bottom parts 2 themselves.

[0054] This allows the packaging bases 2, which are transported on the feed device 17 by means of a conveyor belt 19 running thereon, to be precisely fed to the labeler 16. This, in turn, enables a self-adhesive label 6 from the label roll 13a, 13b, after being removed from the carrier tape 14, to be precisely adhered to a fed packaging base 2 in order to seal the packaging base 2.

[0055] A sensor 20, provided on the labeler 16, can detect a leading edge of a packaging base 2 to be labeled and sealed while the packaging base 2 is being transported along the guide rails 18. The sensor 20 can be designed as a light barrier or proximity sensor and is connected to a controller 21 and transmits the signal, namely the detection of the leading edge of the packaging base 2, to the controller. The controller 21 controls the movement of the self-adhesive label 6 to be dispensed by means of the speed and path of a label roll 13a, 13b attached to the labeler 16 toward and along a dispensing edge 22 in order to detach the self-adhesive label 6 from the label roll 13a, 13b and apply it to the packaging base 2.

[0056] Preferably, the speed of the label roll 13a, 13b during the dispensing process onto the packaging base 2 is identical to the speed of the conveyor belt 19.

[0057] Upstream of the labeler 16, a stopper device 23 is arranged on the feed device 17 in front of the guide rails 18 to stop the packaging bases 2 while the conveyor belt 19 is running. Stopped packaging bases 2 can thus be released piece by piece for the labeling process, ie, for the tray closing process on the labeler 16.

Claims

1. Packaging (1) made of a packaging base (2) for receiving a product (P) and a lid part (3) glued to opposite side walls (4a, 4b) of the packaging base (2), characterized in that the lid part (3) consists of a self-adhesive label (6) peeled off from a carrier tape (14), the underside (U) of which is provided with an adhesive (K) exclusively in areas (7a, 7b) which are glued to the opposite side walls (4a, 4b) of the lower packaging part (2).

2. Packaging according to claim 1, characterized in that the self-adhesive label (6) is completely separated from a material from which the carrier tape (14) is made.

3. Packaging according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the underside (U) is provided with the adhesive (K) exclusively in opposite edge areas, preferably up to the outer edges of the self-adhesive label (6).

4. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive (K) is in the form of strips (S) on the underside (U) of the self-adhesive label (6).

5. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the self-adhesive label (6) is made of a plastic, in particular PP, paper or cardboard.

6. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an upper side (O) of the self-adhesive label (6) facing away from the product (P) is free of silicone.

7. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging base (2) is a cardboard tray or a plastic tray.

8. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the self-adhesive label (6) is glued to the outer sides (A) of the opposite side walls (4a, 4b) of the packaging base (2).

9. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the opposite side walls (4a, 4b) above the areas (7a, 7b) in which the self-adhesive label (6) is glued, adhesive-free contact areas (8a) are formed between the underside (U) of the self-adhesive label (6) and the opposite side walls (4a, 4b).

10. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the self-adhesive label (6) is formed with a plurality of holes (10) and / or is printed with a motif (M) on its upper side (O).

11. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the self-adhesive label (6) has recesses (11) along its circumference, in particular opposite, rounded recesses (11).

12. Method for producing a packaging (1), characterized in thata self-adhesive label (6) which is provided with an adhesive (K) on its underside (U) exclusively in areas (7a, 7b) in which it is to be adhered to opposite side walls (4a, 4b) of a provided packaging lower part (2) of the packaging (1) is separated from a carrier tape (14) of a provided label roll (13a, 13b) and is adhered as a cover part (3) to the opposite side walls (4a, 4b) of the provided packaging lower part (2).

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that by separating the self-adhesive label (6) from the carrier tape (14), the self-adhesive label (6) is completely separated from a material from which the carrier tape is made.

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in thatwhen separating the self-adhesive label (6) from the carrier tape (14), the areas (7a, 7b) provided with the adhesive (K) on the underside (U) of the self-adhesive label (6) are separated from silicone areas (15a, 15b) produced on the carrier tape (14) which are essentially adapted thereto in terms of area.

15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that by separating all self-adhesive labels (6) from the carrier tape (14) of the label roll (13a, 13b), a carrier tape material with a silicone content of less than 10%, preferably less than 7%, more preferably less than 5% remains.

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