Packing material

Abstract

To provide a deaeration type packaging material excellent in durability and article holding property even in a form used by bending.SOLUTION: A packing material 1 is a deaeration type packing material including a gas impermeable bag body 2 having an adjusting valve 9, and a cushion body 3 built in the gas impermeable bag body 2, and the cushion body 3 includes a plurality of cushion parts 4, 5 in which foamed beads are filled in the gas permeable bag body, and a connection part 8 for connecting the cushion parts 4, 5 to each other, the packing material 1 holds the article by deaerating air in the gas impermeable bag body 2 through the adjusting valve 9 in a state that the article is held between the cushion parts 4, 5 by folding the cushion body 3 at the connecting part 8.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging material for packaging items for transportation or the like. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, with the spread of e-commerce sites, the number of consumers purchasing goods over the Internet has increased. These purchased goods, as well as various other products such as electronic devices and electronic components (hereinafter collectively referred to as "goods"), are transported day and night by trucks and other vehicles to be delivered to homes, various businesses, factories, etc. When transporting these goods, packaging materials are used to protect the goods from vibrations and shocks during transport.

[0003] Generally, packaging materials with many air bubbles between polyethylene films (bubble cushioning) are widely used. By wrapping bubble cushioning around an item, cushioning properties can be easily achieved, making it a familiar packaging material. Meanwhile, electrical appliances and industrial products are often transported in foam molded articles tailored to their shape to better protect them from vibrations and other factors. However, this requires preparing various foam molded articles tailored to the shape of the item, which can lead to increased effort and costs.

[0004] Degassing-type packaging materials have been proposed as packaging materials that can be adapted to the shape of each item. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a packaging mat consisting of an outer bag, an inner bag, and cushioning beads. In this packaging mat, the cushioning beads are filled in a substantially fixed amount in each compartment connecting multiple joints within the inner bag. As a result, even if part of the packaging mat is folded during packaging, the cushioning beads filled in the mat are not displaced within the inner bag. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-79537 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The above-mentioned degassing packaging material can be deformed to fit the shape of an item by degassing and inflating it before each transport, allowing the item to be stably held. It can also be reused, making it highly resource-efficient. Meanwhile, in some cases, the packaging material is folded to encase the entire item. However, in the case of a packing mat such as that described in Patent Document 1, the folded portion of the inner bag is prone to stress, which can damage the inner bag and other parts with repeated use, potentially leading to the scattering of cushioning beads.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a degassing type packaging material that is excellent in durability and article retention even when used in a folded form. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The packaging material of the present invention is an evacuable packaging material comprising a gas-impermeable bag body having a gas supply / de-aeration section and a cushion body built into the gas-impermeable bag body, wherein the cushion body has a plurality of cushion sections filled with foam beads inside the gas-permeable bag body and connecting sections that connect these cushion sections to each other, and the packaging material is characterized in that the cushion body is folded at the connecting sections to sandwich an item between the cushion sections, and the air inside the gas-impermeable bag body is evacuated via the gas supply / de-aeration section to hold the item.

[0009] Each of the cushion sections is characterized in that the interior of the gas-permeable bag body is divided into a plurality of filling chambers arranged in parallel so as to extend in one direction, and the filling chambers are filled with the foam beads.

[0010] Among the cushion sections, a pair of cushion sections that are bent to face each other are characterized in that the filling chambers extend in directions different from each other in each cushion section.

[0011] Each of the cushion sections is divided into a plurality of filling chambers, which are filled with the foam beads, and a pair of cushion sections that are folded to face each other are characterized in that at least one of the filling amount, filling ratio, and average particle size of the foam beads in each cushion section is different.

[0012] The foam beads are made of a polystyrene resin, a polyolefin resin, or a composite resin thereof, and the gas-permeable bag is made of a polyester resin.

[0013] The connecting portion is characterized in that a cutout portion is formed inside the connecting portion in a plan view, and a pair of opposing sheets of the gas-impermeable bag body are joined together via the cutout portion.

[0014] The connecting portion is also filled with the foam beads, and the amount or filling ratio of the foam beads filled in the connecting portion is smaller than that of the foam beads filled in the cushion portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0015] The packaging material of the present invention is a degassing type packaging material comprising a gas-impermeable bag body and a built-in cushion body, the cushion body having a plurality of cushion sections filled with foam beads inside the gas-permeable bag body and connecting sections connecting these cushion sections to each other, the cushion body is folded at the connecting sections to sandwich an article between the cushion sections and the air inside the gas-impermeable bag body is evacuated to hold the article, so even when used in a folded form, since it is folded at the connecting sections distinct from the cushion sections, stress is not applied to the folding points and the packaging material has excellent durability.Furthermore, the cushion body is folded at the connecting sections to sandwich an article between the cushion sections and the air inside the gas-impermeable bag body is evacuated to encase the entire article, and the packaging material also has excellent article retention properties.

[0016] In addition, each cushion section is divided into multiple filling chambers arranged in parallel so that the interior of the gas-permeable bag extends in one direction, and these filling chambers are filled with foam beads.Furthermore, a pair of cushion sections are folded to face each other, and the filling chambers extend in different directions in each cushion section.As a result, the shapes of the cushion sections that deform and adhere to each other after degassing are different on the bottom and top sides of the item, resulting in more stable holding of the item.

[0017] Each cushion section is divided into multiple filling chambers, which are filled with foam beads. A pair of cushion sections are folded to face each other, and at least one of the foam bead filling amount, filling ratio and average particle size in each cushion section is different. For example, by using the cushion section with a smaller amount of foam bead filling as the top side of an item and the cushion section with a larger amount of filling as the bottom side of the item, the bottom side can be held stably while the cushion section on the top side can be more easily deformed to fit the shape of the item, resulting in more stable holding of the item.

[0018] The foam beads are made of polystyrene resin, polyolefin resin, or a composite resin of these, and the gas-permeable bag is made of polyester resin, so the generation of static electricity can be suppressed even in an environment where different materials rub against each other, making it suitable for packaging electrical appliances and other products that are easily affected by static electricity.

[0019] The connecting portions are also filled with foam beads, and the amount or filling ratio of the foam beads filled in the connecting portions is smaller than that of the foam beads filled in the cushion portion, so the foam beads in the connecting portions can adhere and solidify in the folded state while ensuring bendability, which makes it easier for the packaging material to maintain its folded state and leads to more stable holding. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0020] [Figure 1] 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of a packaging material of the present invention. [Figure 2] 10 is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the cushion body in the packaging material of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state when the packaging material of FIG. 1 is folded. FIG. [Figure 4] 10 is a schematic plan view showing another embodiment of the cushion body in the packaging material of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 5] 10A to 10C are schematic plan views showing other forms of cushion bodies in the packaging material of the present invention. [Figure 6] 10A to 10C are schematic plan views showing other forms of cushion bodies in the packaging material of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] An example of the packaging material of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the internal structure of the packaging material. As shown in FIG. 1, the external shape of the packaging material 1 is a rectangular parallelepiped with a certain thickness before degassing. The overall size may be any size that can encase and hold an item to be transported. In FIG. 1, the plan view is rectangular, with the longitudinal direction being the X-axis direction and the lateral direction being the Y-axis direction, but the shape in plan view is not limited to this and may be a square, a circle, or another polygonal shape.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging material 1 comprises a gas-impermeable bag 2 and a cushion 3 (shown by a broken line) housed inside the gas-impermeable bag 2. The gas-impermeable bag 2 has a through-hole that passes through the interior and exterior of the bag, and a tube having an adjustment valve (gas supply / degassing section) 9 is attached to the through-hole. The packaging material 1 is a degassing type packaging material, and gas supply and degassing are performed via the adjustment valve 9. The gas-impermeable bag 2 has flexibility that allows it to deform according to the shape of the item and gas impermeability that keeps the gas inside the bag airtight. The gas-impermeable bag 2 may have any shape as long as it can accommodate the cushion 3 inside. Preferably, the shape is slightly larger than the cushion 3 and similar to that of the cushion 3. The periphery of the gas-impermeable bag 2 is sealed.

[0023] The cushion body 3 has a plurality of cushion sections 4, 5 formed by filling foam beads inside a gas-permeable bag body, and a connecting section 8 that connects these cushion sections 4, 5 to each other. In FIG. 1, the packaging material 1 includes a unit U corresponding to the cushion section 4. A and a unit U corresponding to the cushion part 5. B In FIG. 1, the connecting portion 8 is made of a sheet-like fabric, and both ends in the X-axis direction are joined to the cushion portions 4 and 5 by sewing them together. The sewn portions may be reinforced by applying a separate piece of fabric. The connecting portion 8 may be made of a gas-permeable bag fabric or a resin sheet, which will be described later. In FIG. 1, the adjusting valve 9 is connected to one of the units U A It is provided on the side.

[0024] In the state where the article is packed, the packing material 1 is a unit (for example, unit U A ) is located on the bottom side of the article, and the other unit (e.g., unit U B ) is located on the upper side of the article. In other words, the packaging material 1 is folded at the connecting portion 8 of the cushion body 3 to sandwich the article between the cushion portion 4 and the cushion portion 5, and the air in the gas-impermeable bag body 2 is evacuated via the adjustment valve 9 to hold the article. In FIG. 1, the cushion portion 4, the connecting portion 8, and the cushion portion 5 are aligned in the X-axis direction, which is also the folding direction.

[0025] The cushion portion 4 has a gas-permeable pouch made of woven or knitted fabric. The gas-permeable pouch is, for example, two pieces of fabric 4a, 4b integrated together by quilting. In the cushion portion 4, the peripheral edge 4d of the gas-permeable pouch is closed, forming a sealed, quilted pouch. Note that the peripheral edge 4d of the cushion portion 4 only needs to be closed to the extent that the filled foam beads do not dissipate during use. The peripheral edge 4d connects the edges of the two pieces of fabric and is preferably reinforced by a hem made of a separate fabric. The hem can prevent the fabric from fraying.

[0026] In the cushion portion 4, the interior of the gas-permeable bag is divided into multiple filling chambers 4e by joints 4c, and the filling chambers 4e are filled with foam beads 6 (see FIG. 3). The joints 4c are arranged linearly along the Y-axis direction, parallel to one side of the peripheral edge 4d, without intersecting each other. As a result, the filling chambers 4e are arranged in parallel to each other and extend in the Y-axis direction. This configuration, which is a simple parallel arrangement, makes it easy to fill each filling chamber with foam beads, and is excellent in filling workability during manufacturing.

[0027] The cushion section 5 has a gas-permeable pouch made of woven or knitted fabric, and the configuration of the peripheral edge is the same as that of the cushion section 4. In the cushion section 5, the interior of the gas-permeable pouch is divided into multiple filling chambers 5e by joints 5c, and the filling chambers 5e are filled with foam beads 7 (see FIG. 3). A plurality of joints 5c are provided linearly along the X-axis direction, parallel to one side of the peripheral edge, without intersecting each other. As a result, the filling chambers 5e are arranged in parallel to each other and extend in the X-axis direction.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 1, in the packaging material 1, the cushion sections 4 and 5 are folded to face each other, and the extending directions of the filling chambers 4e and 5e in each cushion section are different from each other, specifically, they are in a crossing (particularly perpendicular) relationship. In this configuration, since the extending directions of the filling chambers in the cushion section located on the bottom side of the article and the cushion section located on the top side are different, for example, in the unit U A On the side, it becomes easier to adhere along the shape of the X-axis of the article, and unit U B On the bottom side, the material adheres more closely to the shape of the article in the Y-axis direction. As a result, the bottom side of the article tends to have improved holding ability in the X-axis direction, and the top side of the article tends to have improved holding ability in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, when the article is packed, the entire packaging material tends to hold the article stably.

[0029] In FIG. 1, the filling chambers 4e, 5e are arranged in four parallel rows in each of the cushion portions 4, 5, but the number of filling chambers 4e, 5e is not particularly limited and may be further subdivided to about 5 to 10. The number of filling chambers may be different between the cushion portion 4 and the cushion portion 5. For example, by making the number of filling chambers in the cushion portion 5 greater than the number of filling chambers in the cushion portion 4, it is possible to achieve a configuration that emphasizes stability in the cushion portion on the bottom surface of the article and adhesion in the cushion portion on the top surface of the article.

[0030] 1, the volumes of the filling chambers 4e, 5e are approximately the same in the cushion portions 4, 5. For example, since the filling chambers 4e have the same length in the Y-axis direction, the volumes can be made approximately the same by making the lengths in the X-axis direction (the widths of the respective spaces) approximately the same.

[0031] The configuration of the pair of opposing cushion parts is not limited to the example shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 shows a schematic plan view of another embodiment. For convenience, Fig. 2 (and Figs. 4 to 6) only shows the cushion bodies.

[0032] 2(a), the joint 12A of the cushion portion 11A and the joint 12B of the cushion portion 11B extend linearly in parallel, and the extension direction of the filling chamber in each cushion portion is the same in the Y-axis direction. In other words, in this case, the cushion portions are connected by a connecting portion so that the extension directions of the filling chambers in each cushion portion are parallel.

[0033] In FIG. 2(b), the joints 14A of the cushion portion 13A extend linearly along the Y-axis direction, while the joints 14B of the cushion portion 13B are arranged in a plurality of islands. The joints 14B may be spaced apart at intervals sufficient to prevent the foam beads filled therein from moving. The island-like joints 14B are preferably arranged in a geometric pattern with a predetermined repetition. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the joints 14B may be arranged in a staggered pattern, with their positions offset vertically and horizontally in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, or they may be aligned vertically and horizontally.

[0034] In addition, in FIG. 2(c), the cushion portions 15A and 15B each have a plurality of bonding portions 16A and 16B formed in an island shape.

[0035] Any of the configurations shown in Fig. 2 can exhibit sufficient article retention. In this way, a pair of opposing cushion sections may have the same configuration (see Figs. 2(a) and (c)), or may have different configurations by varying the arrangement of the joints (see Figs. 1 and 2(b)). If they have the same configuration, there is no need to manufacture cushion sections with different configurations, which simplifies the manufacturing process. On the other hand, if they have different configurations, it is possible to respond by taking into account the functionality required on the bottom and top sides of the article, for example.

[0036] As a different configuration, for example, a pair of cushion parts may differ in at least one of the filling amount, filling ratio, and average particle size of the foam beads in each cushion part. For example, the filling amount is the amount of foam beads filled in the entire cushion part. For example, the filling amount of the cushion part located on the bottom side of the article may be relatively large to stabilize the bottom side, and the filling amount of the cushion part located on the top side may be small to facilitate flexible deformation along the shape of the article, which tends to lead to more stable holding.

[0037] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the packaging material of FIG. 1 when folded. As shown in FIG. 3, one unit U A With the item P placed on the cushion part 4 side, the other unit U B The packaging material 1 is folded at the sheet-like connecting portion 8 that is separate from the cushion portions 4 and 5, so that the air-permeable bag body that constitutes the cushion portions 4 and 5 is less likely to be subjected to stress and can withstand repeated use. In addition, the folding operation is easier.

[0038] The expanded beads 6, 7 filled in the cylindrical filling chambers 4e, 5e of each cushion section are preferably spherical expanded beads with an average particle size of 0.1 mm to 8.0 mm. The expansion ratio is 30 to 90 times, preferably 50 to 90 times. If the average particle size is less than 0.1 mm, the beads tend to disperse from the fabric, while if it exceeds 8.0 mm, the fluidity of the beads decreases, resulting in poor conformability. The average particle size is the particle size at which the cumulative value reaches 50% when the particle size distribution is cumulatively distributed on a volume basis, and is measured by laser diffraction / scattering. The average particle size of the expanded beads is preferably 0.5 mm to 5.0 mm, and may be 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm.

[0039] As described above, the average particle size of the foam beads 6 in the cushion portion 4 may be different from that of the foam beads 7 in the cushion portion 5. For example, the average particle size of the foam beads 6 in the cushion portion 4 may be 3.0 mm or more, and the average particle size of the foam beads 7 in the cushion portion 5 may be less than 3.0 mm. Specifically, the average particle size of the foam beads 6 may be 3.0 mm to 5.0 mm, and the average particle size of the foam beads 7 may be 1.0 mm or more and less than 3.0 mm. By reducing the average particle size of the foam beads 7 in the cushion portion 5 located on the upper surface side of the article P, it becomes easier for the foam beads 7 to flexibly deform along the shape of the article. Furthermore, the foam beads on the bottom side that supports the weight of the article P are relatively large, and the softness of their surface provides excellent cushioning properties. This is because foam beads with a relatively large particle size remain slightly soft on the surface even after degassing.

[0040] The material of the foam beads 6, 7 is preferably a foamable thermoplastic resin. Examples of thermoplastic resins include polystyrene resins; polyolefin resins such as polypropylene resins and polyethylene resins; and polycarbonate resins. These can be used as foam beads made of a single resin or as foam beads made of a composite of multiple resins. Examples of foam beads made of a composite of multiple resins include composite resins of polystyrene resins and polyolefin resins, such as butyl acrylate-styrene polymers. Commercially available composite resins include Empol NEO (registered trademark) manufactured by JSP. Furthermore, known foaming agents (such as propane, butane, and pentane) can be used as the foaming agent.

[0041] Before degassing, the foam beads flow inside the air-permeable bag, coming into contact with and rubbing against the air-permeable bag. This contact and rubbing between the two substances causes electrons to transfer between them, resulting in the electron-releasing side becoming positively charged and the electron-receiving side becoming negatively charged, generating static electricity. There are a variety of products that are packaged and transported in packaging materials, and static electricity can cause problems, especially with electronic devices and electronic components.

[0042] For this reason, it is preferable that the packaging material 1 is not easily charged. From this perspective, it is preferable that the material of the foamed beads 6, 7 is a polystyrene resin, a polyolefin resin, or a composite resin of these, and that the material of the air permeable bag into which the foamed beads 6, 7 are filled is a polyester resin. Although polyester resin is a material that easily becomes negatively charged, the resin of the foamed beads is also easily negatively charged, so the generation of static electricity can be suppressed. Specific examples of polyester resins that can be used include polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, and polylactic acid.

[0043] In particular, it is preferable that the material of the expanded beads 6 and 7 is a polystyrene resin and the material of the air permeable bag is a polyester resin. Expanded polystyrene resin has excellent cushioning properties and is closer to the polyester resin that is the material of the air permeable bag in the triboelectric series, making it more preferable from the viewpoint of preventing static electricity.

[0044] It is also preferable that each cushion portion does not have an opening that can be freely opened or closed, such as a zipper. For example, metal or resin fasteners are generally used, but eliminating a configuration that is a different material from the air-permeable bag body is preferable in terms of preventing static electricity.

[0045] Examples of fabrics that form the gas-permeable pouches that make up each cushion section include knitted and woven fabrics. In this case, the knitted and woven fabric becomes a quilted pouch and forms the outer skin of the cushion section. It is mainly formed of a single-layer knitted and woven fabric, but can be multi-layered if necessary. When making a pouch from knitted fabric, the pouch can be made by simultaneously knitting two knitted fabrics, one on the front and one on the back, using a circular knitting machine. There are no particular restrictions on the weaving method of the knitted and woven fabric, and any known weaving method such as plain weave or twill weave can be used. The weave should be such that the foam beads do not dissipate, and it is preferable that the weave has air permeability that allows the compressed gas to pass through when the foam beads are filled.

[0046] In the gas-permeable bag, the two pieces of fabric are joined together at their peripheries and joints. The joining method involves sewing the two pieces of fabric together or knitting them together at the same time. The stitching method involves sewing two pieces of fabric together, while the knitting method involves forming joints during fabric formation. The above methods can also be used as appropriate to join each cushion section to the connecting section.

[0047] Examples of materials for forming the gas-impermeable bag 2 include thermoplastic resin sheets such as thermoplastic polyurethane, polyester, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide, and polyolefins such as polyethylene and polypropylene. Also usable are ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer films, three-layer laminate films having a polyvinylidene chloride film layer, and laminate films having an aluminum layer, all of which have high air impermeability.

[0048] Next, other embodiments of the packaging material of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6. In Figures 4 to 6, the configuration of the connecting portions that connect the cushion portions together in the cushion body will be described in particular.

[0049] Fig. 4 is a schematic plan view showing an enlarged view of the periphery of the connecting portion of the cushion body. As shown in Fig. 4, in cushion body 17, cushion portion 18A and cushion portion 18B are connected by connecting portion 19. Connecting portion 19 is made of, for example, a sheet-like fabric. Connecting portion 19 has cutout portion 19a formed therein in plan view. Cutout portion 19a is formed as a hole penetrating the front and back sides of connecting portion 19. The shape of cutout portion 19a is not particularly limited and may be rectangular, circular, elliptical, or the like.

[0050] In the packaging material incorporating the cushion body 17 shown in FIG. 4, a pair of opposing sheets of the gas-impermeable bag body are joined via the cutout portion 19a of the connecting portion 19. For example, the pair of opposing sheets of the gas-impermeable bag body are joined by heat welding or the like at the shaded portion in FIG. 4. This restricts movement of the cushion body inside the gas-impermeable bag body, prevents the cushion body from being misaligned inside the gas-impermeable bag body, and improves handling. Furthermore, by leaving the pair of opposing sheets of the gas-impermeable bag body unjoined at the connecting portion 19 rather than joining them over the entire Y-axis direction, a path for air to pass during supply and degassing can be ensured. For example, when supplying air via an adjustment valve provided on the cushion portion 18A side, air can be sent to the cushion portion 18B, and when degassing, air can also be sucked out of the cushion portion 18B.

[0051] Next, Fig. 5(a) shows a schematic plan view enlarging the periphery of the connecting portion of another cushion body, and Fig. 5(b) shows a partial cross-sectional view. As shown in Fig. 5(a), in cushion body 21, cushion portion 22A and cushion portion 22B are connected by connecting portion 23. Cushion portion 22A and cushion portion 22B are shown in the form of Fig. 2(a).

[0052] Unlike the forms described above, this cushion body 21 is also filled with foam beads 25 in the connecting portions 23. Specifically, the connecting portions 23 have a sheet-like sheet portion 23a and filling portions 23b, 23b arranged on both sides of the sheet portion 23a, and each filling portion 23b is filled with foam beads 25. Furthermore, each filling portion 23b has a filling chamber 24 defined by a linear joint perpendicular to the folding direction (X-axis direction), and these are arranged in two rows in FIG. 5.

[0053] 5(b), the diameter of filling chamber 23b in connecting portion 23 is smaller than the diameter of filling chamber R in cushion portion 22A and the diameter of filling chamber R in cushion portion 22B. In this case, the amount of foam beads 25 filled in filling chamber 24 is smaller than the amount of foam beads filled in filling chamber R in cushion portion 22A, and is also smaller than the amount of foam beads filled in filling chamber R in cushion portion 22B.

[0054] Furthermore, the filling ratio of the foam beads filled in the connecting portions may be reduced as shown in Fig. 6. In the cushion body 26 shown in Fig. 6, the connecting portions 28 are composed of only the filling portions.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 6, in connecting portion 28, filling chambers 29 are partitioned by linear joints perpendicular to the bending direction (X-axis direction), and are arranged in two rows in Fig. 6. In Fig. 6, the diameter of filling chamber 29 in connecting portion 28 is the same as the diameter of filling chamber R of cushion portion 27A and the diameter of filling chamber R of cushion portion 27B, but the amount of foam beads filled is different. As a result, the filling ratio of foam beads in filling chamber 29 is smaller than the filling ratio in filling chamber R of cushion portion 27A, and is also smaller than the filling ratio in filling chamber R of cushion portion 27B. The filling ratio of foam beads refers to the ratio of the volume occupied by foam beads to the volume of the filling chamber.

[0056] 5 and 6, by filling at least a portion of the connecting portion with foam beads, a certain amount of foam beads are present at the folding portion, and when packed, they become densely packed and solidified, allowing the packaging material itself to maintain the folded state. On the other hand, by making the amount and filling ratio of foam beads filled in the connecting portion smaller than in the cushion portion, it is possible to reduce the load on the connecting portion while maintaining bendability.

[0057] The average particle size of the foam beads filled in the connecting portion may be smaller than the average particle size of the foam beads filled in the cushion portion. By using relatively small particles, the folded portion can be firmly fixed without misalignment, and the shape stability of the packaged product can be easily maintained.

[0058] A known method can be used to fill the filling chambers of each cushion section in the packaging material of the present invention with foam beads. For example, a predetermined amount of foam beads is filled through a filling port at one longitudinal end face of the filling chamber, and then the filling port is sewn shut. This process is performed sequentially for each filling chamber until the entire chamber is filled. Since the cushion section is sealed by sewing after the filling port is filled, the foam beads can be sealed without being lost. After obtaining multiple cushion sections, they are connected by sewing or the like using connecting sections. Note that in a configuration in which the connecting sections are also filled with foam beads, the filling chambers are filled with foam beads and then sealed in the same manner. The connecting sections may be made of the fabric or the like that constitutes the outer skin of one or both cushion sections.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 1, the cushion body 3 is inserted into the gas-impermeable bag body 2, and the gas-impermeable bag body 2 is then sealed to obtain the packaging material 1. The gas-impermeable bag body 2 can be sealed by welding, adhesive, or other methods. An adjustment valve 9, which serves as an air supply / deaeration section, is provided at any location on the gas-impermeable bag body 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the tube of the adjustment valve 9 is inserted near the filling chamber at the center of the longitudinal direction of one of the cushion parts 4 of the cushion body 3, thereby providing excellent breathability around the tip of the tube and enabling stable deaeration of the air inside the gas-impermeable bag body 2 to the very end. It is preferable to use a check air valve as the adjustment valve 9.

[0060] The detailed method for producing the packaging material 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be exemplified as follows. First, using the aforementioned resin sheet or the like as the material for the gas-impermeable bag body 2, two of the sheets are welded together with the fronts facing each other, except for one longitudinal edge where the adjustment valve 9 is fixed, and then turned inside out to form a bag. Next, a cushion body 3 filled with foam beads is inserted, and the remaining open edge is welded while sandwiching the tube of the adjustment valve 9, to seal the entire bag. This method prevents the welded parts from protruding around the periphery of the packaging material 1, except for the edge where the adjustment valve 9 is fixed. This not only improves the appearance of the packaging material 1, but also prevents injuries during handling.

[0061] As shown in FIG. 3, one unit U of the packaging material 1 B After folding the bag body 2 to encase the article P, the adjustment valve 9 is opened and the air inside the gas-impermeable bag body 2 is evacuated using a vacuum pump or the like, whereby the gas-impermeable bag body 2 and the cushion sections 4 and 5 are tightly attached to each other and the foam beads are fixed inside the cushion sections 4 and 5, so that the article P is stably held in place.

[0062] The packaging material of the present invention is not limited to the examples described above.

[0063] For example, the diameter size of the filling chamber may be different in each cushion portion, and the amount of foam beads filled, the filling ratio, the average particle size, etc. may be different.

[0064] In addition, although the above describes a configuration in which the packaging material has two cushion sections connected by a connecting section that is strip-shaped in plan view, the number of cushion sections is not limited to this. For example, the packaging material may have four cushion sections connected by connecting sections arranged in a cross shape. In this case, the packaging material is folded in four when used.

[0065] Although there are no particular limitations on the type of article to be packaged with the packaging material of the present invention, since the article is folded when used, a relatively thin article, such as a flat plate-shaped article, is preferred. Furthermore, since one form of the packaging material of the present invention is resistant to static electricity, it is suitable for articles that are susceptible to static electricity (for example, electrical appliances and precision instruments). [Industrial Applicability]

[0066] The packaging material of the present invention is a degassing type packaging material that is excellent in durability and article retention even when folded for use, so it can be used to package a variety of articles, and it also has the property of being difficult to become electrically charged, making it highly versatile. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 Packaging materials 2. Air-impermeable bag 3 Cushion body 4 Cushion part 5 Cushion part 6 foam beads 7. Foam beads 8 Connecting part 9. Adjustment valve (air supply / deaeration section) 11A, 11B cushion section 12A, 12B joint 13A, 13B cushion section 14A, 14B joint 15A, 15B cushion section 16A, 16B joint 17 Cushion body 18A, 17B cushion section 19 Connecting part 21 Cushion body 22A, 22B cushion section 23 Connecting part 23a Seat section 23b Filling section 24 Filling chamber 25 foam beads 26 Cushion body 27A, 27B cushion section 28 Connecting part 29 Filling room 30 foam beads

Claims

1. A degassing type packaging material comprising a gas-impermeable bag body having a gas supply / degassing section and a cushion body built into the gas-impermeable bag body, the cushion body has a plurality of cushion sections formed by filling foam beads inside a gas-permeable bag body, and connecting sections that connect these cushion sections to each other, The packaging material is characterized in that the cushion body is folded at the connecting portion to sandwich the item between the cushion portions, and the air inside the gas-impermeable bag body is evacuated through the air supply / evacuation portion to hold the item.

2. The packaging material according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the cushion sections is divided into a plurality of filling chambers arranged in parallel so that the interior of the gas-permeable bag body extends in one direction, and the foam beads are filled in these filling chambers.

3. 3. The packaging material according to claim 2, wherein the cushion portions of a pair of cushion portions that are folded to face each other have filling chambers extending in directions different from each other.

4. The packaging material described in claim 1, characterized in that each of the cushion sections is divided into a plurality of filling chambers, and the foam beads are filled in these filling chambers, and a pair of cushion sections that are folded and facing each other have different at least one of the filling amount, filling ratio, and average particle size of the foam beads in each cushion section.

5. 3. The packaging material according to claim 1, wherein the foam beads are made of a polystyrene resin, a polyolefin resin, or a composite resin thereof, and the gas-permeable bag body is made of a polyester resin.

6. The packaging material according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the connecting portion has a cutout portion formed therein when viewed in a plane, and a pair of opposing sheets of the gas-impermeable bag body are joined through the cutout portion.

7. The packaging material according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the foam beads are also filled in the connecting portion, and the filling amount or filling ratio of the foam beads filled in the connecting portion is smaller than that of the foam beads filled in the cushion portion.

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