Process of digital design and digital manufacturing of custom packaging for an object, the means enabling its implementation, as well as the packaging obtained.

Abstract

Title: Process for digital design and digital manufacturing of a custom-made packaging of an object, the means enabling its implementation, as well as the packaging obtained The process for digital design and digital manufacturing of a custom-made packaging of an object consists of carrying out the following operations: recognition of the object, automatic determination of the family of objects to which the object belongs, automatic determination of a sub-family of belonging, according to the morphology of the object, evaluation of the dimensions of the object, determination of the packaging model whose internal volumetric space is capable of containing the object, identification, location, definition and quantification of preferential wedging zones, 3D digital design of the packaging as well as its preferential wedging zones, digital decomposition of the packaging and its preferential wedging zones,by digital slicing into different complementary elementary layers, reproduction of said different layers by cutting operations in a suitable material packaged in plates, in order to obtain layers, then superimposing and / or juxtaposing, positioning, assembling and securing said different layers to construct said packaging. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 2C,

Description

Title of the invention: Method for digital design and digital manufacturing of custom packaging for an object, the means enabling its implementation, as well as the packaging obtained.

[0001] The present invention relates to the digital design and manufacture of tailor-made packaging for an object, and in an automatic manner.

[0002] We are currently observing a rapid development in the shipping of objects, in particular due to the existence of mail order platforms, for the resale of second-hand objects for example.

[0003] Generally speaking, the transport of an object is preferably, or sometimes even obligatorily, carried out in packaging. In the transport of objects, it is necessary to distinguish essentially two families: that of new objects and that of objects which are not.

[0004] As for new items, they are packaged in their original packaging, which was designed specifically for the item in question, and can therefore meet the transport requirements.

[0005] For other objects, and sometimes also for new objects, if the original packaging has not been kept, or as is sometimes the case, if there was no original packaging or no individual packaging, sending by carrier requires packaging the objects.

[0006] In practice, a box is sought that is large enough to contain the object placed in it, then the empty spaces are filled with a filler and / or padding product such as loose particles, which can be various materials such as polystyrene, paper, cardboard, or even inflated bags.

[0007] When the object is large and the voids to be filled are significant, this may require a significant quantity of filler and / or padding, which represents an additional cost and, above all, for some, a questionable ecological balance sheet, which today may be prohibitive.

[0008] To illustrate the problems posed, we can cite, without limitation, the example of sending a bicycle, whether to deliver a used bicycle to a buyer, or sending one's own bicycle to a holiday location for example, or to a competition.

[0009] Firstly, when purchased new, a bicycle is not packaged, so there is no original packaging. Secondly, packing a bicycle in a box requires, on the one hand, a large box, but not too large to remain within the standards required by the carrier, and on the other hand, a significant quantity of filler and / or padding to fill the void.

[0010] Another example is the sending of large tools that do not have original packaging, such as, but not limited to, a lawnmower, a brush cutter, a chainsaw, etc., and which need to be packaged for transport.

[0011] The aim of the present invention is to propose a method for digital design and manufacturing of custom-made packaging as well as the means for its implementation and the packaging obtained, allowing the creation of safe packaging of the object to be packaged, which can be carried out automatically for most objects likely to be transported, while avoiding the use of filling and / or padding products, while minimizing the material used.

[0012] The method of digital design and digital manufacturing of packaging for an object according to the invention is characterized in that it consists of carrying out the following operations: - recognition of the object to be packaged, - automatic determination of the family of objects to which the said object belongs, - automatic determination of a subfamily of belonging, based on the morphology of said object - assessment of the dimensions of said object, - determination of the packaging model whose internal volumetric space is capable of containing said object, - identification, location, definition and quantification of preferential wedging zones, - 3D digital design of said packaging as well as its preferred wedging areas, - digital decomposition of said packaging and its preferential wedging zones, by digital slicing into different complementary elementary layers, - reproduction of said different layers by cutting operations in a suitable material packaged in plates, in order to obtain strata, - then superimpose and / or juxtapose, position, assemble and secure said different layers to construct said packaging.

[0013] The method according to the invention allows for tailor-made digital packaging, both the wrapping and the packing, from material packaged in sheets, without size limits, so as to avoid having to build up stocks of boxes of multiple formats.

[0014] According to an additional characteristic of the digital design method according to the invention, the determination of the sub-family of belonging as a function of the mor phology of the object, consists of identifying the common points and the singularities, and comparing them with a morphological classification carried out previously.

[0015] According to another additional characteristic of the method according to the invention, the layers are distributed in an optimized manner in a panoply on one or more plates.

[0016] The panoplying allows an optimization of the material to the exact amount necessary with a minimum of waste.

[0017] According to another additional characteristic of the digital design method according to the invention, the calibration zones consist of independent elements.

[0018] According to another additional characteristic of the digital design method according to the invention, before the 3D digital design operation of the packaging, an additional step of identification, location and definition of one or more protection zones of the object to be packaged is carried out.

[0019] According to another additional characteristic of the method according to the invention, the phase of determining the packaging model is associated with an operation of choosing the packaging model from a selection resulting from a typological study.

[0020] According to another additional characteristic of the digital design method according to the invention, after the operation of choosing the packaging model, an operation of identifying possible areas of lower resistance of said packaging is incorporated, followed by an operation of modeling reinforcements of said packaging making it possible to correct said possible areas of lower resistance, then an operation of digital decomposition of said reinforcements by digital slicing into different complementary elementary layers, so as to integrate the manufacture of said reinforcements into that of said packaging.

[0021] According to another additional characteristic of the digital design method according to the invention, before the cutting operation, each of the layers is identified, and an assembly instruction manual is established.

[0022] Such an operation facilitates the assembly of the packaging, knowing that the different parts which constitute the latter can be numerous and come from several plates.

[0023] The packaging data can also be recorded electronically, for example for the purpose of transmission from the design site to the assembly site, which can be considered remote. It is also possible to envisage the storage of data for reuse when an identical object to be packaged is detected, knowing that this stored data can always be modified as part of an evolution of the object.

[0024] According to another additional characteristic of the digital design method according to the invention, the suitable material consists of cardboard, or other bio-sourced, recyclable plate materials.

[0025] According to another additional characteristic of the digital design method according to the invention, the joining of the different layers is obtained by a gluing and / or nesting and / or blocking operation using a locking key.

[0026] According to another additional characteristic of the digital design method according to the invention, during the cutting operation, openings are created to facilitate the carrying of the packaging.

[0027] Such cutouts can thus be created in the walls of the packaging to allow a hand to pass through.

[0028] According to another additional characteristic of the digital design method according to the invention, during the cutting operation, means for securing the different elements are created.

[0029] It is indeed possible, for example, to provide tenon / mortise type systems by cutting into the plates, or locking by locking key, also allowing easy disassembly.

[0030] It will be noted that, in the case in particular of large packaging, it is planned to finalize the manufacture of the packaging by strapping, whether with one or more straps or adhesive tape, possibly by filming.

[0031] The present invention also relates to the means allowing the implementation of the digital design method according to the invention, which consist of means for detecting and recognizing the object to be packaged, means for taking measurements of said object, computer means associated with one or more software programs for designing said packaging and for digitally decomposing said packaging by digital slicing into different complementary elementary layers, means of transmission to means for cutting plates with a view to creating a panoply.

[0032] According to an additional characteristic, the means for implementing the method also comprise automatic assembly means.

[0033] All the means implemented can of course be managed by an automaton.

[0034] Even if we can consider that the assembly of the packaging as well as the installation of the object to be packaged are carried out automatically, robotically, these operations are carried out manually for obvious cost reasons.

[0035] It is however conceivable that certain operations can be carried out in a mechanized manner, such as for example the assembly of the layers intended to form the wedging and / or reinforcement means.

[0036] The advantages and characteristics of the digital design method and of the device according to the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the appended drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

[0037] The following description relates, without limitation, to the creation of a package for a bicycle, and can of course be applied to the creation of packaging for other objects.

[0038] In the attached drawing:

[0039] [Fig-1] represents a schematic perspective view of the modeling of a bicycle which it is desired to package according to the digital design method according to the invention,

[0040] [Fig.2] represents views A, B and C, schematic and in perspective of successive steps packaging modeling sessions to be carried out,

[0041] [Fig.3] represents a schematic perspective view of a manufacturing step of packaging, in particular for displaying in a panoply,

[0042] [Fig.4] represents a schematic perspective view of a following step of construction of the packaging,

[0043] [Fig.5] represents a schematic perspective view of the bicycle being packaged.

[0044] [Fig.6] represents a schematic perspective view of the packaging produced.

[0045] With reference to [Fig. 1], we can see the schematic representation of a bicycle for which we wish to produce packaging, using the digital design process according to the invention.

[0046] Prior to this modeling, preliminary operations will have been carried out, namely the recognition of the object to be packaged, the determination of the family of objects to which said object belongs, and identification in said family of the sub-family in which said object can be classified. Indeed, since the method is suitable for all types of objects, it is necessary to first reduce the possibilities. Thus, after recognizing a bicycle and therefore limiting the search to the family of bicycles, it is necessary to automatically determine the sub-family by a morphological study, namely for example, but not limited to, a racing bicycle, an all-terrain bicycle or a city bicycle. After this, the dimensions of said bicycle can be evaluated. This operation is done after the sub-family search operation, because certain measurements may be more important than others.

[0047] The automatic determination of the subfamily sought by the morphological study is important, because it makes it possible to avoid taking a large number of measurements. Indeed, identifying a subfamily makes it possible to be satisfied with a few measurements mainly at the level of the frame and / or sensitive technical parts.

[0048] According to [Fig. 1], a bicycle 1 is modeled and the two rear wheels 10 and front 11, the saddle 12, the handlebars 13, the crankset 14, the derailleur 15 if there is one and the front fork 16 can be seen. According to the invention, it is provided, in the case of a bicycle, that it is, at least in part, dismantled, in this case the front wheel 11 is dismantled.

[0049] All these elements are represented by volumes that are supposed to be able to contain them, in so that the free space can be used for wedging.

[0050] It will be noted that the frame of the bicycle is not modeled, knowing that it is necessarily of smaller dimensions than those of the wheels, and that its small thickness is negligible compared, for example, to the transverse dimension of the crankset.

[0051] The next step, shown diagrammatically in [Fig.2A], consists of modeling the bike's wedging zones, based on the known data of the subfamily and measurements taken. In this case, this essentially consists of creating a base 2, having a certain thickness, and comprising a groove 20 for receiving the rear wheel 10, a groove 21 for receiving the disassembled front wheel 11, as well as a recess 22 for receiving the free end of the fork 16 of the bike.

[0052] It will be noted that the base 2 also has structural elements, suitable for stiffening the packaging, and which consist of spacers 23, intended to be arranged transversely to serve as support for the side walls, not shown, of the packaging.

[0053] An element 3 is also created, intended for clamping the saddle 12, and which in this case comprises a groove 30 for receiving the rod, not shown, of the saddle 12, which may optionally comprise grooves for receiving at least one wheel, for example the front wheel 11, and which has a dimension in the transverse direction, capable of bracing the side walls, not shown, of the packaging, in order to prevent the latter from being crushed.

[0054] The next step, shown diagrammatically in [Fig.2B], consists of modeling a side wall 4 as well as transverse bracing elements 40, distributed around the periphery. These transverse elements 40 make it possible, in association with the spacers 23 and the element 3, to constitute anti-crushing means in the transverse direction.

[0055] The next step, shown diagrammatically in [Fig.2C], consists of modeling a peripheral wall 5, attached to the wall 4, and more precisely the sides 50 which must compose it, while the next step, not shown, consists of creating the second lateral wall, which in this case can be identical to the lateral wall 4.

[0056] During these different modelings, the location and number of openings 41 in the wall 4 and 51 in the wall 5 are also determined, intended to form carrying handles for the packaging.

[0057] We note that with a view to easy and rapid assembly, the wall 4, as well as the one facing it, can include slot-type openings, into which tabs 52 arranged at the edge of the sides 50 are capable of being inserted as can be seen in [Fig.2C], to allow assembly by interlocking.

[0058] After modeling the entire packaging, the different parts to be produced are digitized, namely on the one hand the flat parts such as the walls, and on the other hand the parts having a certain volume, the wedging zones such as the base 3 and the element 30. If the digitization of flat parts consists of determining their outline, the volume parts are decomposed by digital slicing into different complementary elementary layers, so as to be able to reproduce these volume parts by stacking these complementary elementary layers.

[0059] After this digital decomposition of the packaging, the different parts are ordered into one or more sets, with the aim of optimizing and making the material used profitable.

[0060] This material is essentially cardboard, packaged in plates 6, as can be seen in [Fig. 3]. In this figure, one can see such a plate or sheet 6 of cardboard, arranged on a cutting table 7, equipped with a multi-axis cutting means, which makes it possible to trace and cut the plate or sheet 6 of cardboard according to a panoply 60, to create flat elements 61 intended to be assembled.

[0061] Of course, the process is not limited to the use of cardboard plates; it is perfectly possible to choose other materials that can be packaged into plates, and preferably, but not limited to, bio-sourced and / or recyclable.

[0062] It should be noted that it is possible to carry out, prior to or simultaneously with this cutting operation, a marking, by printing for example, of the different parts of the panoply 60 for the purpose of identifying the elements 61 during assembly.

[0063] Furthermore, the cutting table 7 is supplied with plates 6, stored in a rack, allowing continuous manufacturing.

[0064] Referring now to [Fig. 4], one can see schematically the operation which consists of superimposing elements 61 forming the layers of a voluminous part of the packaging, these elements being assembled and secured by an operation for example, non-limitingly, of gluing.

[0065] It should also be noted that depending on the packaging to be produced, it may be necessary to carry out one or more creasing operations on certain elements 61 intended to comprise one or more folds.

[0066] [Fig.5] shows a step in the operation of packaging the bicycle 8 to be packaged with packaging 9 resulting from the assembly of the different elements 61 from the set 60.

[0067] From the bicycle 8, we can see the rear wheel 80, the front wheel 81, the saddle 82, the handlebars 83, the crankset 84 and the derailleur 85, as well as the frame 86, the front fork 87 and the seat post 88.

[0068] The packaging 9 takes up the characteristics of the modeled packaging, and one can see in this figure a base 90 which comprises a groove 91 for receiving the rear wheel 80, a groove 92 for receiving the disassembled front wheel 81, as well as a recess 93 for receiving the free end of the fork 87, and which is in the form of a groove parallel to the grooves 91 and 92, so as to maintain the fork 87 in a position turned at 90°, and therefore to orient the handlebar 83 in the longitudinal direction.

[0069] The packaging 9 further comprises a wedging element 94, intended to form a spacer, and comprising a recess 95 engaged astride the saddle 82, which could also comprise a groove engaged on the saddle post 88.

[0070] Referring now to [Fig.6], we can see the finished packaging 9 with its two outer walls 96 and 97, its peripheral wall 98, and carrying handles 99. A final strapping operation with straps, not shown, makes it possible to consolidate the assembly before shipping.

[0071] All the operations described above are of course controlled by dedicated software, and are part of a complete continuous digital chain.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for digitally designing and manufacturing a custom-made packaging (9) for an object (8), characterized in that it consists of carrying out the following operations: - recognition of the object to be packaged (8), - automatic determination of the family of objects to which said object (8) belongs, - automatic determination of a sub-family of belonging, according to the morphology of said object (8), - evaluation of the dimensions of said object, - determination of the packaging model whose internal volumetric space is capable of containing said object, - identification, location, definition and quantification of preferential wedging zones (2, 3), - 3D digital design of said packaging as well as its preferential wedging zones (2, 3), - digital decomposition of said packaging and its preferential wedging zones (2, 3), by digital slicing into different complementary elementary layers,- reproduction of said different layers by cutting operations in a suitable material packaged in plates (6), in order to obtain strata (61), - then superimposing and / or juxtaposing, positioning, assembling and solidifying said different strata (61) to construct said packaging (9).,

2. Digital design and manufacturing method according to claim 1, characterized in that the determination of the sub-family of belonging according to the morphology of the object (8), consists of identifying the common points and the singularities, and comparing them with a morphological classification carried out previously.

3. Digital design and manufacturing method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the layers (61) are distributed in an optimized manner in a panoply (60) on one or more plates (6).

4. A digital design and manufacturing method according to one of any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wedging zones (95) consist of independent elements.

5. Digital design and manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that before the 3D digital design operation of the packaging, an additional step of identification, location and definition of one or more protection zones of the object to be packaged is carried out.

6. Digital design and manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the phase of determining the packaging model is associated with an operation of choosing the packaging model from a selection resulting from a typological study.

7. Digital design and manufacturing method according to claim 6, characterized in that after the operation of choosing the packaging model, an operation of identifying possible areas of lower resistance of said packaging is incorporated, followed by an operation of modeling reinforcements of said packaging making it possible to correct said possible areas of lower resistance, then an operation of digital decomposition of said reinforcements by digital slicing into different complementary elementary layers, so as to integrate the manufacturing of said reinforcements into that of said packaging.

8. Digital design and manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that before the cutting operation, each of the layers (61) is identified, and assembly instructions are established.

9. Design and manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the suitable material consists of cardboard, or other bio-sourced, recyclable materials.

10. Digital design and manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the joining of the different layers is obtained by a gluing and / or nesting and / or locking operation using a locking key.

11. Digital design and manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that during the cutting operation, openings (99) are created to facilitate the carrying of the packaging (9).

12. A digital design and manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that when the cutting operation creates means (52) for securing the different elements.

13. Device for implementing the digital design and manufacturing method according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises means for detecting and recognizing the object to be packaged (9), means for taking measurements of said object (9), computer means associated with one or more software programs for designing said packaging (9) and for digitally decomposing said packaging by digital slicing into different complementary elementary layers, means for transmission to means (7) for cutting plates (6) with a view to creating a panoply (60).

14. Device for implementing the digital design and manufacturing method according to claim 13, characterized in that the means for implementing the method also comprise automatic means for mounting the packaging (9).

15. Packaging (9) characterized in that it is designed and manufactured according to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

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