Arrangement of a plurality of swabs in a packaging container and method for producing the arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement of a plurality of swabs (10) for hygienic, cosmetic and / or medical use within a packaging container (30), wherein: each swab (10) has a stick part (14) which is elongate in a longitudinal direction (12) and differently designed longitudinal ends (16, 18); one longitudinal end or both longitudinal ends have a care head (20, 22), in particular based on cotton, foam, rubber or silicone; the swabs (10) are inserted into the packaging container (30) in mutually parallel layers (32); the swabs (10) of a particular layer (32) are oriented in the same direction, i.e. such that their correspondingly identical longitudinal ends (16, 18) point towards the same side; the number of layers (32) in the packaging container (30) is at least 4; and at least 40% of the plurality of swabs (10) are arranged in a first orientation (1) and, complementarily thereto, at most 60% of the plurality of swabs (10) are arranged in a second orientation (2) opposite to the first orientation.

Description

[0001] Title: Arrangement of a plurality of care sticks in a packaging container and method for producing the arrangement

[0002] Description

[0003] The invention relates to an arrangement of a plurality of care sticks for hygienic, cosmetic and / or medical use within a packaging container, wherein each care stick has a rod part extending in a longitudinal direction and longitudinal ends of differently shaped forms, wherein one longitudinal end or both longitudinal ends is / are formed with a care head, in particular based on cotton, foam, rubber or silicone. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing such an arrangement.

[0004] Care swabs within the meaning of the present application are often also referred to as cotton swabs, cosmetic swabs, ear swabs, nasal swabs or medical cotton swabs, which are thus also covered by the subject matter of the present application, the term "care swab" being used hereinafter as an example.

[0005] Care sticks with only one care head and therefore with an opposite end are just as known as care sticks with two opposite, differently designed care heads. The present application relates to both embodiments, i.e., to care sticks with differently designed longitudinal ends, wherein one longitudinal end or both longitudinal ends are formed with a care head.

[0006] Care sticks of the type in question are typically presented in outer packaging, in particular a packaging container, with a uniform, i.e. identical, orientation with regard to their differently shaped longitudinal ends. Due to the different design of the longitudinal ends, this generally results in a different space filling volume of one longitudinal end of the care stick compared to the other longitudinal end of the care stick, which then adds up accordingly in a package with a large number of care sticks, so that as a result a larger packaging volume is required in the area of ​​one longitudinal end of the large number of care sticks than in the area of ​​the opposite longitudinal end. This leads to manufacturing difficulties and in any case to expense in the design, filling and presentation of the care sticks in a packaging container.Optimizing the available packaging volume overall, particularly with regard to the provision or storage of a large number of filled packaging containers, is therefore complex. However, this unidirectional arrangement also makes it difficult to grasp and remove care sticks from the packaging container. Hooking and unintentional pulling out of more than one care stick is common.

[0007] US Pat. No. 6,277,090 B1 discloses an arrangement of a plurality of care sticks of the type mentioned above, in which a stick part can be combined with a selectable care head. In one embodiment, a layer of care sticks extending parallel to one another with differently shaped longitudinal ends is oriented alternately in opposite directions, i.e., every second stick in the layer is oriented in the same direction. The packaging appears to contain only a single layer of these oppositely oriented care sticks.

[0008] FR 2 591 081 A shows care sticks with differently shaped longitudinal ends. US 2010 / 108550 A1 or EP 1 288 134 A1 each show arrangements of a plurality of care sticks with identically shaped longitudinal ends. The arrangement of care sticks in a stack with horizontal alignment of the care sticks is described, for example, in EP 1 288 134 A1 or US 2010 / 108550 A1.The present invention is based on the object of designing an arrangement of a plurality of care sticks of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that, with regard to the volume-optimized design of the packaging container and with regard to the process of compactly arranging the plurality of care sticks in the packaging container, manufacturing and logistical advantages are achieved and, in particular, the arrangement of the plurality of care sticks in the packaging container provides the end user with a clean appearance when opening the packaging container.

[0009] This object is achieved according to the invention by an arrangement having the features of claim 1. Thus, according to the invention, an arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset is proposed, wherein the care sticks are introduced into the packaging container in mutually parallel layers, wherein the care sticks of a respective layer are oriented in the same direction, i.e. such that their correspondingly identically designed longitudinal ends point to the same side, and wherein the number of layers in the packaging container is at least 4, in particular at least 5, in particular at least 6, in particular at least 7, in particular at least 8 and in particular at most 20, in particular at most 18, in particular at most 16, in particular at most 14, in particular at most 13, in particular at most 12, in particular at most 11, in particular at most 10, and wherein at least 40% of the plurality of care sticks, in particular at least 42%,in particular at least 44%, in particular at least 46%, in particular at least 48% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in a first orientation and, correspondingly complementary thereto, at most 60%, in particular at most 58%, in particular at most 56%, in particular at most 54%, in particular at most 52% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in a second orientation opposite thereto, i.e. in such a way that their correspondingly identically designed longitudinal ends point to opposite sides, i.e. are oriented 180° opposite to one another.

[0010] It is therefore proposed according to the invention to refrain from a completely uniform arrangement of the care sticks within a packaging container and instead to introduce the care sticks in the form of mutually parallel layers with all care sticks within a respective layer aligned in the same direction in a stack of layers or layer by layer into the packaging container, but with opposite orientation of the layers in the claimed manner, i.e. with layers of care sticks in the first orientation and with layers of care sticks in the second orientation, i.e. oriented by 180° opposite to one another.The number of layers within the packaging container is at least 4 and in particular at most 20, and the number and orientation of the layers, each with the same-orientation care sticks, is such that at least 40% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in a first orientation and, correspondingly complementary to this, at most 60% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in a second orientation opposite thereto. However, an equal number of layers with care sticks in the first and with care sticks in the second orientation is preferred, so that, assuming an equal number of care sticks per layer within the packaging container, exactly the same number of care sticks are in the first and second orientations, respectively.In the case of arrangements with an odd number of layers, this is naturally not possible, but this is acceptable within the scope of the claimed percentage shares and nevertheless, due to the homogenisation of the required and available packaging volume brought about by the invention via the three-dimensional arrangement of the care sticks, brings with it manufacturing and logistical advantages as a result of the achieved compactness and also offers the end user an orderly, regular appearance when opening the packaging container.

[0011] The total number of care sticks within a claimed arrangement is variable. Advantageously, the arrangement comprises a plurality of at least 40 care sticks, in particular at least 50, in particular at least 60, in particular at least 70, in particular at least 80, and further in particular at most 500, in particular at most 400, in particular at most 300, in particular at most 200, in particular at most 180, in particular at most 160, in particular at most 140 care sticks.

[0012] It also proves to be advantageous if each layer comprises at least 8 care sticks, in particular at least 10, in particular at most 26, in particular at most 24, in particular at most 22, in particular at most 20, in particular at most 18, in particular at most 16, in particular at most 14 care sticks. The layered arrangement of care sticks according to the invention can advantageously be designed so that the care sticks of adjacent layers are oriented in opposite directions (1-2-), iethe care sticks of one layer are all aligned in a first orientation (1) and the care sticks of the adjacent layer are all aligned in a second orientation (2) opposite to the first orientation (1), and / or that the care sticks of two adjacent first layers are oriented in the same direction and the care sticks of an adjoining second layer or of two adjoining second layers are oriented in the opposite direction to the orientation of the care sticks of the first layers (1-1-2, 1-1-2-2), and / or that the care sticks of three adjacent first layers are oriented in the same direction and the care sticks of an adjoining second layer (1—1—1—2) or of two adjoining (1—1—1—2—2) or three (1-1-1-2-2-2) adjacent second layers are oriented in the opposite direction to the orientation of the care sticks of the first layers.

[0013] If the care sticks of adjacent layers are oriented in opposite directions, the care sticks of one layer have a first orientation designated (1) and the care sticks of the adjacent layer have a second orientation designated (2). If the care sticks of all adjacent layers are oriented in opposite directions, this results in a (1 — 2 — 1 — 2 — 1 — ...) orientation. It would also be conceivable that two layers with the same

[0014] Orientation adjacent to each other, so that an exemplary layer sequence with orientations 1- 1-2-2 ... can be realized.

[0015] It would also be conceivable that three layers with the same orientation are adjacent to each other, so that an exemplary layer sequence with orientations 1- 1- 1-2-2-2 ... can be realized.

[0016] However, it is not impossible that several of the above-mentioned sequences of layers may be present within one packaging container.

[0017] It is also possible that different layer sequences can be realized or combined within a layer stack, as long as in total in the packaging container at least 40% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in the first orientation and correspondingly complementary to this at most 60% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in the opposite second orientation.

[0018] With regard to the design of the care sticks, it can be advantageous if at least one of the differently designed longitudinal ends of a respective care stick is more expansive in a direction radial to the longitudinal direction of the stick part than the respective stick part. This can be any radial direction or plane in which the longitudinal end in question is more expansive than the respective stick part. In the case of flattened longitudinal ends or care heads, which are therefore more spatula- or paddle-shaped or at least reminiscent of such, there is such a radial plane in which the spatula or paddle shape extends. However, it is also conceivable for a longitudinal end to be more expansive than the stick part in any radial plane, for example if it is spherical or bulbous or in some other way 3-dimensionally more expansive than the stick part.

[0019] In particular, a longitudinal end of a respective care stick can be designed to be more protruding in a direction radial to the longitudinal direction of the stick part than an opposite longitudinal end.

[0020] In a corresponding manner, a care head of the care sticks can be more protruding in a direction radial to the longitudinal direction of the stick part than the respective stick part.

[0021] Furthermore, it can be provided that when viewing a respective care stick from the front in the longitudinal direction, a viewing surface at one longitudinal end is larger than a viewing surface at the other longitudinal end.

[0022] It can also be provided that both longitudinal ends of the care sticks are formed with a care head, and that the care head at one longitudinal end is more protruding in a direction radial to the longitudinal direction of the stick part than the care head at the opposite longitudinal end.

[0023] Furthermore, it can be provided that both longitudinal ends of the care sticks are formed with a care head, and that when each care stick is viewed from the front in the longitudinal direction, the viewed surface of one care head is larger than the viewed surface of the other care head. In this case, for the majority of the typically and reasonably considered design configurations of the longitudinal ends or care heads of the care sticks, a greater space or room requirement can be assumed in the area of ​​the longitudinal end or care head with the larger viewed surface.

[0024] Further design configurations of the longitudinal ends or the care heads of the care sticks are considered to be advantageous in which, when viewed from the front of a respective care stick in the longitudinal direction, a view surface at one longitudinal end is in particular at least 20%, in particular at least 30%, in particular at least 40%, further in particular at most 1200%, in particular at most 1000%, in particular at most 800%, in particular at most 600%, in particular at most 400%, in particular at most 300%, in particular at most 200% larger than a view surface at the other longitudinal end.

[0025] Furthermore, it may prove advantageous if a care head is configured to project three-dimensionally relative to the rod portion, in particular spherical, bulbous, ellipsoidal, conical, pyramidal, or cuboidal. A care head configured to project three-dimensionally relative to the rod portion is understood here to mean that the care head is more projecting than the rod portion in every radial direction relative to the longitudinal direction.

[0026] Furthermore, it may prove advantageous if a

[0027] The care head is designed to extend in a planar manner relative to the rod part, in particular to be plate-shaped, paddle-shaped, or disc-shaped. In the present case, a care head that extends in a planar manner relative to the rod part means that a greatest extent in a plane is at least twice, in particular at least three times, in particular at least four times the thickness of the care head orthogonal to this plane.

[0028] In particular, an arrangement of care sticks is preferred which are formed at one longitudinal end with a care head which projects three-dimensionally relative to the stick part, in particular a spherical, bulbous, ellipsoidal, conical, pyramidal or cuboid-shaped care head, and are formed at the opposite longitudinal end with a care head which projects in a planar manner relative to the stick part, in particular a platelet-shaped, paddle-shaped or disc-shaped care head.

[0029] The packaging container is preferably a substantially dimensionally stable packaging container, which is in particular cuboid-shaped and furthermore in particular made of paper or cardboard or other substantially dimensionally stable and preferably foldable materials. A substantially dimensionally stable packaging container is understood to mean a packaging container that is in any case not pliable, such as may be provided, for example, by a thin plastic film or a bag made of plastic film. Irrespective of this, a packaging container made of film or foil, i.e., of a pliable material, can also be used.With regard to appropriate and economical packaging logistics and storage as well as transport logistics, it is advantageous if the packaging container has two large flat sides lying opposite one another and four narrow sides lying opposite one another in pairs, with access to the interior of the packaging being formed in one of the two large flat sides.

[0030] It is furthermore advantageous if the packaging container has two large flat sides opposite one another and four narrow sides opposite one another in pairs, wherein a first large flat side lying at the bottom during normal use forms a standing side of the packaging container and wherein an access to the interior of the packaging container is formed in a second large flat side lying at the top during normal use.

[0031] In this case, it may prove advantageous if access to the interior of the packaging container is formed by a section of a wall of the packaging container that can be separated or folded down and is delimited in particular by a predetermined breaking line.

[0032] It should also be noted that the care sticks are preferably not individually repackaged and are also not repackaged in layers. They are therefore not additionally blistered, but rather they are arranged in layers as loose care sticks and are introduced into the packaging container and held therein. The care sticks have in particular a total length of at least 40 mm, in particular of at least 50 mm, in particular of at least 60 mm, in particular of at least 70 mm, and further in particular of at most 160 mm, in particular of at most 140 mm, further in particular of at most 120 mm, further in particular of at most 100 mm.

[0033] The care head preferably has a length, measured in the longitudinal direction of the rod part, of at least 6 mm, in particular of at least 8 mm, in particular of at least 10 mm, and further in particular of at most 30 mm, in particular of at most 25 mm, further in particular of at most 20 mm.

[0034] The care head has a maximum extension, measured as maximum diameter, of at least 3 mm, in particular of at least 4 mm, in particular of at least 5 mm, and further in particular of at most 15 mm, in particular of at most 12 mm, further in particular of at most 10 mm in a direction radial to the longitudinal direction of the rod part.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the care stick has a care head based on cotton wool at least at one longitudinal end, in particular at both longitudinal ends.

[0036] If the care stick is designed with a care head based on cotton, the care head preferably comprises fiber material consisting of cotton fibers or comprising cotton fibers. The fiber material of the care head can also comprise mixtures of cotton fibers and synthetic fibers or viscose fibers. The stick part is preferably designed on the basis of paper or at least comprises paper material. It is also conceivable for the stick part to be designed on the basis of wood or at least comprises wood material.

[0037] The rod part preferably has a diameter or a maximum extension, measured in a direction radial to the longitudinal direction of the rod part, of at least 1 mm, in particular of at least 2 mm, further in particular of at most 8 mm, further in particular of at most 6 mm, further in particular of at most 4 mm.

[0038] The invention also relates to a method for producing an arrangement according to the invention. The method is characterized according to the invention in that the care sticks are fed to a packaging station, in particular in the same orientation and parallel to one another, and that a number of care sticks are grasped and arranged parallel to one another and in a first orientation to form a layer of care sticks with a first orientation, and that a number of care sticks are grasped and arranged parallel to one another and in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation to form a layer of care sticks with a second orientation, and that layers of care sticks with a first orientation and layers of care sticks with a second orientation are arranged parallel to one another in the packaging container in such a way that in the packaging container at least 40% of the plurality of care sticks,in particular at least 42%, in particular at least 44%, in particular at least 46%, in particular at least 48% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in the first orientation and, complementarily thereto, at most 60%, in particular at most 58%, in particular at most 56%, in particular at most 54%, in particular at most 52% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in the opposite second orientation.

[0039] According to the invention, it is therefore proposed that a preferably precisely predetermined number of the supplied care sticks are gripped, so that the care sticks of this number of care sticks are arranged parallel to one another and in the said first or second orientation in order to form a layer of care sticks with a first or second orientation. The respective number of care sticks gripped thus forms a layer with the first or second orientation of the care sticks contained therein. The ultimately achieved layer arrangement is then formed as claimed.

[0040] It is conceivable that the layers of care sticks with the first orientation and the layers of care sticks with the second orientation are arranged inside or outside the packaging container to form a stack. In the first case, the layers are stacked in the packaging container either consecutively or in groups.

[0041] In the latter case, the stack of layers is first formed outside the packaging container and then introduced into the packaging container, in particular in the plane direction into a packaging container that is still open on one side, or the packaging container is formed from a flat packaging material around an already existing stack of layers by bending and folding processes that are customary per se.

[0042] To form the layers of care sticks with a first or second orientation, it may prove advantageous if a grasped number of care sticks is rotated about an axis extending orthogonally to a plane of the respective layers.

[0043] For example, it would be conceivable that, to form a layer of care sticks with a first or second orientation, a grasped number of care sticks would be rotated by 180° about an axis extending orthogonally to a plane of the layers. In this case, it would also be conceivable that only the grasped number of care sticks would be rotated by 180° to form a layer with the first or second orientation, while the grasped number of care sticks would remain untwisted to form the layer with the opposite orientation.

[0044] However, it would also be conceivable that the care sticks are fed in such a way that each gripped number of care sticks is rotated, for example some by 90 ° in one direction and the others by 90 ° in the other direction, so that layers with care sticks oriented in opposite directions to one another can be obtained.

[0045] However, it would also be conceivable for the care sticks to be fed in such a way that no twisting or pivoting of the type mentioned immediately above is necessary to achieve the opposite orientation. For this purpose, it can be provided that care sticks are fed to the packaging station parallel to one another and in the first orientation, and that care sticks are fed to the packaging station parallel to one another and in the second orientation, and that the care sticks are then gripped to form a respective layer of care sticks with the first or second orientation, which are then arranged inside or outside a packaging container to form a layer stack.

[0046] Further features, details and advantages of the invention emerge from the appended patent claims and from the drawings and subsequent description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0047] The drawing shows:

[0048] Figure 1 ac different views of care sticks;

[0049] Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of care sticks in a packaging volume;

[0050] Figure 3 shows an arrangement of care sticks according to the invention;

[0051] Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of

[0052] Care sticks according to figure 3;

[0053] Figures 5 and different views of a

[0054] Packaging container for the arrangement of care sticks; Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a method according to the invention for producing the arrangement according to the invention and

[0055] Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a method according to the invention for producing the arrangement according to the invention.

[0056] Figures 1a) and 1b) show a care stick for hygienic, cosmetic and / or medical use, designated overall by the reference numeral 10, in two side views tilted by 90° to each other. Figure 1c) shows the care stick 10 in one or the other end view.

[0057] The care stick 10 comprises a stick part 14 extending in a longitudinal direction 12 and longitudinal ends 16 and 18 of differently shaped design.

[0058] The longitudinal end 16 is designed here, for example, to project three-dimensionally and is therefore more projecting in every radial direction 24 than the rod part 14. It is designed here, for example, in the form of a care head 20 which is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal direction 12 and which tapers conically or conically in both views of Figures 1a, 1b). The opposite longitudinal end 18 is designed here, for example, in the form of a plate-shaped or paddle-shaped care head 22 which, on the opposite side to the care head 20, appears flattened and extended in a planar manner since its greatest extent in one plane is at least twice the thickness extent orthogonal to this plane. However, in the case shown as an example, it is also designed somewhat thicker than the rod part 14, as shown in Figure 1b).

[0059] If one considers the end views of the care stick 10 according to Figure 1c), i.e. viewed in the direction of the arrows 23 in Figure 1a) in the longitudinal direction 12, it can be seen that a top view surface 26 of the care head 20 at the longitudinal end 16 is larger than a top view surface 28 of the care head 22 at the other longitudinal end 18. Thus, the space requirement of the care sticks 10 shown here as an example is larger in the area of ​​the three-dimensionally projecting longitudinal ends 16 than in the area of ​​the flatly extended longitudinal ends 18.

[0060] Both care heads 20, 22 can be designed in particular on the basis of cotton, foam, rubber or silicone.

[0061] Both longitudinal ends 16, 18 and care heads 20, 22 are designed to be more expansive in a direction 24 radial to the longitudinal direction 12 than the rod part 14. The longitudinal end 16 or the care head 20 is three-dimensionally expansive compared to the rod part 14 and is therefore more expansive in every radial direction 24 than the rod part 14. The longitudinal end 18 or the care head 22 designed there, due to its plate-shaped or paddle-shaped flattened design, extends over a large area compared to the rod part 14, since its greatest extent in the radial direction is at least twice the thickness extent orthogonal to this plane, wherein it is also designed here, for example, somewhat thicker than the rod part 14.

[0062] The subject of the present application and invention is the improvement of the arrangement of a plurality of such care sticks with differently designed longitudinal ends 16, 18 or care heads 20, 22 in a packaging container 30, which is preferably dimensionally stable or at least dimensionally retaining, for example, from paper or cardboard or other materials suitable for this purpose.

[0063] Figure 2 is intended to illustrate, in a highly schematic form and with a side view of a merely indicated stack of layers within a packaging container, that care sticks with differently shaped longitudinal ends require different amounts of space in the area of ​​the respective longitudinal ends when arranged in a packaging container. The highly schematic representation in Figure 2 shows a similar arrangement of care sticks in a packaging volume that is merely indicated schematically. It can be seen that the storage space available within a packaging container is not being used optimally.

[0064] Figure 3, on the other hand, illustrates an arrangement according to the invention of a plurality of care sticks 10 of the type described above in a plurality of mutually parallel layers 32 which, as a result of the parallel arrangement, form a layer stack 34. The illustration in Figure 3 is designed to be somewhat exploded for clarity. The orientation of the care sticks 10 in each layer 32 is the same, whereas the orientation of the care sticks 10 in adjacent layers 32 is opposite. For example, all of the care sticks 10 in the upper layer 32 in Figure 3 point with their respective pointed longitudinal end 16 or care head 20 in the same direction, namely to the right in Figure 3. They thus form a layer 32 of care sticks with a first orientation (1). Care sticks 10 of a layer 32 adjacent thereto below are all oriented in the opposite direction, ieTheir pointed or conical longitudinal ends 16 or care heads 20 point to the left side in Figure 3. Thus, these care sticks 10 form a layer 32 of care sticks with a second orientation (2) which is opposite to the first orientation (1).

[0065] In the layered arrangement shown by way of example in Figure 3, layers 32 of care sticks with a first orientation (1) and layers 32 of care sticks with a second orientation (2) alternate, so that a sequence (1 - 2 - 1 - 2 - 1 ...) of orientations of the care sticks of the adjacent parallel layers 32 is obtained. With an even number of layers 32 of this exemplary arrangement, the number of care sticks in a first orientation (1) corresponds exactly to the number of care sticks in a second orientation (2), assuming that the number of care sticks per layer is identical in each case, which will typically and preferably be the case. If a layer stack 34 comprises an odd number of layers 32, this is naturally not the case.Within the scope of the present invention, however, it is proposed that within a layer stack 34 within a packaging container 30, the layer arrangement is such that at least 40% of the plurality of care sticks, in particular at least 42%, in particular at least 44%, in particular at least 46%, in particular at least 48% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in a first orientation (1) and, correspondingly complementary thereto, at most 60%, in particular at most 58%, in particular at most 56%, in particular at most 54%, in particular at most 52% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in a second orientation (2) opposite thereto.

[0066] Furthermore, Figure 4 illustrates a highly schematic side view of the layer stack 34 seen in the direction of the arrow IV-IV in Figure 3. In this highly schematic view of the layer stack 34, it can be seen that the space required for the care sticks can be evened out within a packaging volume. The available packaging volume can be filled more evenly and, in particular, more compactly with care sticks, which brings with it further logistical advantages of the type discussed at the beginning. In addition, the care sticks stabilize themselves in their opposing layer-by-layer orientation within a packaging container and thus offer the user an attractive, orderly appearance when opening the packaging container.

[0067] Finally, Figures 5a to 5c show perspective views of an exemplary cuboid-shaped packaging container 30 with two opposing large flat sides 42 and 44 and four opposing, smaller narrow sides 46, 48, 50, 52. In the exemplary case shown, a large flat side 44 forms a standing surface for the intended use of the packaging container 30. In the opposite large flat side 42, access to the interior of the packaging container 30 is created by providing a detachable or foldable section 58 of the upper wall or large flat side 42, which is delimited, for example, by a predetermined breaking line 56.It can also be seen from Figure 5a that the detachable or foldable section 58 also extends into the area of ​​the front narrow side 46 shown in Figure 5a, and a separate engagement recess 60 is provided there in the front narrow side 46. The interior of the packaging container 30 is thus also accessible from the front narrow side 46.

[0068] As can be seen from Figure 5d, a plurality of care sticks 10 are accommodated in the interior of the packaging container 30, which are accommodated in the form of a layer stack 34 of the type schematically shown above, wherein the care sticks 10 of a respective layer are oriented in the same direction, but a total of layers with a first orientation (1) of the care sticks and layers with a second orientation (2) of the care sticks opposite to the first orientation (1) are contained, in such a way that a total of at least 40% of the plurality of care sticks are in the first orientation (1) and, correspondingly complementary to this, at most 60% of the plurality of care sticks are in the opposite second orientation (2) within the packaging container 30.The orientation of the care sticks of successive layers can, for example, be alternating, so that, for example, the following sequence of layers of care sticks can be obtained in the first orientation ( 1 ) and in the second orientation ( 2 ): 1-2- 1-2- 1 ... .

[0069] It would also be conceivable that two layers with the same orientation are adjacent to each other, so that an exemplary layer sequence with orientations 1-1-2-2... can be realized.

[0070] It is also possible that different layer sequences can be realized or combined within a layer stack, as long as in total in the packaging container at least 40% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in the first orientation (1) and correspondingly complementary to this at most 60% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in the opposite second orientation (2).

[0071] Figure 6 again schematically illustrates a method according to the invention for producing an arrangement of care sticks according to the invention within a packaging container 30. According to a first method variant according to Figure 6, care sticks 10 are fed to a schematically indicated packaging station 60 in the same orientation and parallel to one another. In the packaging station 60, a number of care sticks are gripped in a method step 62, specifically in such a way that the care sticks are arranged parallel to one another and in a first orientation (1) in order to form a layer 32 of care sticks with a first orientation (1). This layer can be fed to a layer stack 34.According to a further method step 64, another grasped layer 32 with care sticks of a first orientation (1) can be rotated, in particular rotated by 180°, about an axis 68 orthogonal to an indicated plane 66 of the layer 32 and then fed to the layer stack 34. By rotating by 180°, a layer of care sticks with a second orientation (2) opposite to the first orientation (1) can be formed and likewise arranged in the layer stack 34. Depending on the sequence to be achieved of layers with the first or second orientation, the respectively grasped layer 32 is then rotated or not before this layer 32 is arranged in or on the layer stack 34. However, it would also be conceivable to feed the care sticks in such a way that each gripped layer is rotated by approximately 90° in one direction or the other before being fed to the layer stack 34.

[0072] Figure 7 illustrates, by way of example, a method that does not require rotation of gripped layers 32 about an axis extending orthogonally to the respective plane 66 of the layers 32. For this purpose, care sticks 10 are fed to the packaging station 60 in already opposite orientations (1) and (2) from, for example, opposite directions. A number of these supplied care sticks are then gripped in process step 62 and, depending on the layer sequence requirements, arranged into a layer stack 34, which is ultimately arranged or will be arranged in the packaging container 30.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Arrangement of a plurality of care sticks (10) for hygienic, cosmetic and / or medical Use within a packaging container (30), wherein each care stick (10) has a Longitudinally (12) extending rod part (14) and differently shaped Longitudinal ends (16, 18), wherein one longitudinal end or both longitudinal ends are provided with a care head (20, 22), in particular based on cotton, foam, rubber or Silicone, wherein the care sticks (10) are arranged in mutually parallel Layers (32) are introduced into the packaging container (30), wherein the care sticks (10) of a respective layer (32) are oriented in the same direction, i.e. in such a way that their correspondingly similarly formed longitudinal ends (16, point to the same side, and wherein the number of layers (32) in the Packaging container (30) at least 4, in particular at least 5, in particular at least 6, in particular at least 7, in particular at least 8 and in particular at most 20, in particular at most 18, in particular at most 16, in particular at most 14, in particular at most 13, in particular at most 12, in particular at most 11, in particular at most 10, and wherein at least 40% of the plurality of care sticks (10) , in particular at least 42%, in particular at least 44%, in particular at least 46%, in particular at least 48% of the plurality of Care sticks (10) in a first orientation (1) and correspondingly complementary thereto, at most 60%, in particular at most 58%, in particular at most 56%, in particular at most 54%, in particular at most 52% of the plurality of care sticks (10) are arranged in a second orientation (2) opposite thereto.

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the arrangement comprises a plurality of at least 40 care sticks (10), in particular of at least 50, in particular of at least 60, in particular of at least 70, in particular of at least 80, and further in particular of at most 500, in particular of at most 400, in particular of at most 300, in particular of at most 200, in particular of at most 180, in particular of at most 160, in particular of at most 140 care sticks.

3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a respective layer (32) comprises at least 8 care sticks (10), in particular at least 10, in particular at most 26, in particular at most 24, in particular at most 22, in particular at most 20, in particular at most 18, in particular at most 16, in particular at most 14 care sticks (10).

4. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the care sticks (10) of adjacent layers (32) are oriented in opposite directions (1- 2-), and / or that the care sticks (10) of two adjacent first layers are oriented in the same direction and the care sticks (10) of an adjoining second layer or of adjoining two adjacent second layers are oriented in the opposite direction to the orientation of the care sticks of the first layers (1-1-2, 1-1-2-2), and / or that the care sticks (10) of three adjacent first layers are oriented in the same direction and the care sticks of an adjoining second layer (1—1— 1—2) or of adjoining two (1—1— 1—2— 2) or three (1-1-1-2-2-2) adjacent second layers are oriented in the opposite direction to the orientation of the care sticks (10) of the first layers.

5. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the differently designed longitudinal ends (16, 18) of a respective care stick (10) is more protruding in a direction (24) radial to the longitudinal direction (12) of the stick part (14) than the respective stick part (14).

6. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a longitudinal end (16, 18) of a respective care stick (10) is more protruding in a direction (24) radial to the longitudinal direction (12) of the stick part (14) than an opposite longitudinal end (16, 18).

7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when viewing a respective care stick from the end in the longitudinal direction (12), a top view surface (26) at one longitudinal end (16) is larger than a top view surface (28) at the other longitudinal end (18).

8. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both longitudinal ends (16, 18) of the care sticks are formed with a care head (20, 22), and that the care head (20) at one longitudinal end (16) is more protruding in a direction (24) radial to the longitudinal direction (12) of the stick part (14) than the care head (22) at the opposite longitudinal end (18).

9. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both longitudinal ends (16, 18) of the care sticks are formed with a care head (20, 22), and that when a respective care stick is viewed from the front in the longitudinal direction (12), a top view surface (26) of one care head (20) is larger than a top view surface (28) of the other care head (22).

10. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when viewing a respective care stick from the end in the longitudinal direction (12), a top view surface (26) at one longitudinal end (16) is at least 20%, in particular at least 30%, in particular at least 40%, further in particular by at most 1200%, in particular by at most 1000%, in particular by at most 800%, in particular by at most 600%, in particular by at most 400%, in particular by at most 300%, in particular by at most 200% larger than a top view surface (28) at the other longitudinal end (18).

11. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a care head (20) is arranged opposite the Rod part (14) three-dimensionally projecting, in particular spherical, bulbous, ellipsoidal, conical, pyramidal or cuboidal.

12. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a care head (22) extends in a planar manner relative to the rod part (14), in particular is designed in the form of a plate, paddle or disc.

13. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the care sticks (10) are formed at one longitudinal end (16) with a care head (20) projecting three-dimensionally relative to the stick part (14), in particular a spherical, bulbous, ellipsoidal, conical, pyramidal or cuboid-shaped care head (20), and are formed at the opposite longitudinal end (18) with a care head (22) projecting in a planar manner relative to the rod part (14), in particular a platelet-shaped, paddle-shaped or disc-shaped care head.

14. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging container (30) is substantially dimensionally stable, in particular cuboid-shaped, and in particular made of paper or cardboard or another substantially dimensionally stable and preferably foldable material.

15. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging container (30) has two large flat sides (42, 44) lying opposite one another and four narrow sides (46, 48, 50, 52) lying opposite one another in pairs, wherein in a the two large flat sides provide access to the interior of the packaging.

16. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging container (30) has two large flat sides (42, 44) lying opposite one another and four narrow sides (46, 48, 50, 52) lying opposite one another in pairs, wherein a first large flat side (44) lying at the bottom during intended use forms a standing side of the packaging container (30) and wherein an access to the interior of the packaging container (30) is formed in a second large flat side (42) lying at the top during intended use.

17. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that access to the interior of the packaging container (30) is formed by a section (58) of a wall of the packaging container, which section is delimited, in particular, by a predetermined breaking line (56), and which can be separated or folded down.

18. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the care sticks (10) are not individually repackaged and are also not repackaged in layers.

19. Method for producing an arrangement of a plurality of care sticks (10) with longitudinal ends (16, 18) each having a different shape within a packaging container (30) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the care sticks (10), in particular in each the same orientation and parallel to each other, to a packaging station (60), and that a number of care sticks are grasped and parallel to each other and in a first orientation (1) is arranged to form a layer (32) of care sticks with a first orientation (1), and that a number of care sticks (10) are grasped and arranged parallel to one another and in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation (1) (2) is arranged to form a layer (32) of care sticks with a second orientation (2), and that layers (32) of care sticks (10) with a first orientation (1) and layers (32) of care sticks with a second orientation (2) are arranged parallel to one another in the packaging container (30) in such a way that in the packaging container (30) at least 40% of the plurality of care sticks (10), in particular at least 42%, in particular at least 44%, in particular at least 46%, in particular at least 48% of the plurality of care sticks are arranged in the first orientation (1) and correspondingly complementary thereto at most 60%, in particular at most 58%, in particular at most 56%, in particular at most 54%, in particular at most 52% of the plurality of care sticks (10) are arranged in the opposite second orientation (2).

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the layers (32) of care sticks (10) with a first orientation (1) and the layers (32) of care sticks (10) with a second orientation (2) are arranged within or outside the packaging container (30) to a Layer stacks (34) are arranged.

21. Method according to claim 19 or 20, characterized in that, in order to form a layer (32) of care sticks (10) with a first (1) or second (2) orientation, a grasped number of care sticks (10) is rotated about an axis (68) extending orthogonally to a plane (66) of the layers (32).

22. Method according to claim 21, characterized in that, in order to form a layer (32) of care sticks (10) with a first (2) or second (2) orientation, the gripped number of care sticks is rotated by 180° about an axis (68) extending orthogonally to a plane (66) of the layers (32).

23. Method according to one of claims 19 - 20, characterized in that care sticks (10) are fed parallel to one another and in the first orientation (1) of the packaging station (60), and that care sticks (10) are fed parallel to one another and in the second orientation (2) of the packaging station (60), and that the care sticks (10) are then gripped to form a respective layer (32) of care sticks (10) with the first (1) or second (2) orientation, and that the layers (32) of care sticks (10) are arranged as a layer stack (34) in the packaging container (30).

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