Cushioning packaging material

Abstract

A cushioning packaging material (10; 56; 58) for cushioning an object (12) in a container (14) has more than one functional portions (16, 18). According to the invention, a first functional portion (16) is a cushioning portion (50) for cushioning at least one object (12), in particular for wrapping around same, and a second functional portion (18) is a filling portion (52) for at least partly filling an empty volume (54) in the container (14). The cushioning portion (50) differs from the filling portion (52) by virtue of at least one structural feature, in particular the thickness (48), bending stiffness, and / or compressibility in the thickness direction (38).

Description

[0001] Applicant:

[0002] Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH

[0003] Untere Rietstraße 30

[0004] 72555 Metzingen

[0005] General Power of Attorney: 514560.2

[0006] 35020919WO 02.03.2026

[0007] KNA / MAY

[0008] Title: Packaging cushioning material

[0009] Description

[0010] The invention relates to a packaging cushioning material for cushioning an object in a container and to a method for cushioning an object to be packaged in a container.

[0011] In practice, various types of cushioning materials are known to protect an object against external forces, such as bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, or foam. Cushioning material can protect an object, particularly during handling and / or transport, from scratches, dents, and / or other damage.

[0012] US 9,340,311 B2 discloses a device and a method for manufacturing air-filled cushions that can, among other things, serve as padding material. US 11,338,981 B1 discloses a padded envelope. The envelope has a [missing information] on its inside.

[0013] An air cushion film is applied, which improves the rigidity of the envelope in a transverse direction. The air cushion film is designed in such a way that the base material layer with the air cells on it can be folded to form the envelope. An object can then be placed inside the envelope.

[0014] The object of the invention is to provide a packaging cushioning material with which an object can be efficiently packaged in a container and effectively protected from external forces.

[0015] The problem is solved by a packaging cushioning material for cushioning an object in a container and a method for cushioning an object to be packaged in a container with the features of the dependent claims. Advantageous embodiments are mentioned in the sub-claims.

[0016] The packaging cushioning material according to the invention has the advantage that several functions are fulfilled simultaneously with a single piece of cushioning material, for which different and separate cushioning materials with often different shapes, sizes, and / or materials were previously required. This reduces material consumption, manufacturing costs, and handling costs when packaging and arranging the item in the container, making the process efficient and economical. The functionally distinct sections allow for flexible adaptation of the cushioning material to different requirements. The item is directly protected against external forces by the cushioning section.Additionally, the object inside the container cannot shift, or can only shift minimally, during handling, as the empty volume of the container is reduced or completely filled by the filling section. The filling section also protects the object against external forces. Overall, this ensures effective protection of the object.

[0017] Specifically, this is achieved by a one-piece packaging cushioning material for cushioning an item in a container, wherein the packaging cushioning material has more than one functional section.

[0018] A functional section of the packaging cushioning material fulfills at least one specific function assigned to that section, which is essentially different from that of another functional section. The packaging cushioning material can protect one or more items. The packaging cushioning material can be formed into a web before being used with an item to be cushioned.

[0019] The container mentioned above can typically be one that protects the item(s) from external influences such as impacts, moisture, or dirt during transport or storage, and / or one that facilitates transport and handling, especially when dealing with multiple items or individual packages that need to be grouped together and securely packed. The container can also, for example, serve as outer packaging.

[0020] According to the invention, a first functional section is a cushioning section for cushioning, in particular wrapping, at least one object, optionally also several objects or individually packaged objects. A second functional section is a filling section for at least partially filling an empty volume in the container.

[0021] In practice, wrapping an item means that the packaging cushioning material encloses the item at least partially, preferably completely, in a circumferential direction. However, it is also possible for an item to be placed between the cushioning sections of two packaging cushioning materials or between two cushioning sections of a single packaging cushioning material.

[0022] The empty volume is any residual volume within the container that is not filled by the object or by the padding section. Such an empty volume can exist, for example, between a wall of the container and the object placed in the container and wrapped with the padding section, and / or between at least two objects placed in the container and wrapped with padding sections.

[0023] Partial filling of the empty volume means that the empty volume does not necessarily have to be completely filled by the filling section, but rather that the filling section only fills the empty volume to the extent that the item is adequately protected against external force and / or slippage. It is also conceivable that the packaging cushioning material is tailored to the item and the container in such a way that the empty volume is essentially completely filled by the filling section, thus ensuring that the item(s) can be arranged securely within the container. This can also reduce or prevent the container from being dented by external force.

[0024] The cushioning section of the packaging cushioning material differs from the filling section by at least one structural feature, in particular a thickness, a bending stiffness and / or an at least substantially elastic compressibility in a thickness direction.

[0025] Stiffness, also known as flexural stiffness, can be understood here as the resistance of the packaging cushioning material, or the filling section or padding section, to deformation under load or force. It is thus a measure of how much force is required to elastically deform the packaging cushioning material and therefore, to a certain extent, also reflects the stability of the packaging cushioning material. Flexural stiffness indicates the resistance to bending stress. A stiffer padding section and / or filling section offers more support and additional stability and can, for example, also reduce the risk of the container being crushed.

[0026] The compressibility of the packaging cushioning material, which is at least essentially elastic in one direction of thickness, influences its shock absorption. Shock absorption can be understood here as the ability to elastically absorb energy in the form of an external force. High shock absorption means that the cushioning section is elastically compressed by a comparatively large distance when an external force is applied.

[0027] The thickness, and especially the length and / or width, of the cushioning section and / or the filling section can be tailored to the item being cushioned and the container. Because the cushioning section differs from the filling section, these sections can be assigned different properties. This also allows the packaging cushioning material to be adapted to the item and the container.

[0028] The padding section can be designed, for example, to be wrapped around an object and exhibit high compressibility in the thickness direction. In other words, the padding section has a comparatively low bending stiffness and is therefore sufficiently flexible to accommodate or be wrapped around the object, while simultaneously providing good cushioning against external forces, such as impacts. A particularly adaptable padding section with comparatively low bending stiffness may be necessary for irregularly shaped objects. For heavier objects, the padding section can be made relatively stiff so that, for example, the object's own weight does not completely crush the padding section, and the object's pressure is distributed over a larger area and absorbed by it.

[0029] The filling section, on the other hand, can have, for example, higher flexural stiffness and / or overall greater stiffness, enabling it to counteract or absorb high forces, such as for a heavy and fragile object, to prevent it from slipping and to provide additional stabilization of the container. It is also conceivable that the filling section is thicker than the padding section. However, other designs for the padding and filling sections are also possible.

[0030] In a further development, the cushioning section can be formed by a first, particularly central, section of the packaging cushioning material, and the filling section can be formed by at least a second, adjacent lateral section of the packaging cushioning material. For example, the object can be positioned on the cushioning section between the two filling sections, so that the filling sections can provide protection on both sides of the object. The packaging cushioning material can thus alternate between a filling section and a cushioning section. Several objects can therefore be held and protected by the packaging cushioning material, particularly spaced apart and in a row. The filling sections arranged between the cushioning sections prevent the objects from striking each other.In a further development, the filling section can be stiffer in a longitudinal direction than in a transverse direction, or vice versa. This allows the filling section to withstand a higher force in a preferred direction, particularly a higher bending stress along that preferred direction, before it yields. Furthermore, the filling section can be designed to be formable in a defined way, for example, coilable or foldable.

[0031] The padding section can also have a higher stiffness in a preferred direction, for example in a longitudinal direction or a transverse direction of the padding section.

[0032] In a further development, either the cushioning section or the filling section of the packaging cushioning material, or one of these sections, can include formed sections that are transformed from an initial state to achieve their cushioning or filling properties. These formed sections are, in particular, air-filled air chambers or, more specifically, embossed bulges. The formed sections can be designed in such a way as to influence the stiffness and / or shock absorption. Thus, the cushioning properties and / or the stability of the packaging cushioning material can be improved by the formed sections. The packaging cushioning material can, for example, comprise an air-cushioned bubble wrap film, particularly made of plastic, or an embossed paper or cardboard material.It is particularly preferred if the cushioning section has a comparatively large number of relatively small and preferably more or less symmetrical air chambers (similar to an air cushion film), whereas the filling section has a comparatively small number of relatively large and preferably elongated air chambers (similar to known air bags for filling a void). The air chambers of the cushioning section can be created, for example, by corrugated boundary lines that are arranged as mirror images of each other.

[0033] All air chambers of the packaging cushioning material are preferably fluidically interconnected. This allows the packaging cushioning material to be supplied in an uninflated state as a continuous, web-like material with individual material sections that can be separated from each other, for example by perforations, and which are then inflated on-site in a single operation to form the one-piece packaging cushioning material.

[0034] Furthermore, the air chambers of the filling section can have a maximum extent, for example, a length, that is at least three times the maximum extent of a more or less symmetrical air chamber of the cushioning section. Alternatively or additionally, an air chamber of the filling section, when fully inflated, can have a volume that is at least five times, preferably at least ten times, the volume of a more or less symmetrical air chamber of the cushioning section when fully inflated. In a further development, the forming sections of the cushioning section can have a different shape than the forming sections of the filling section and / or the forming sections can be elongated, and the longitudinal extents of the forming sections of the cushioning section can be oriented differently from the longitudinal extents of the forming sections of the filling section.The shape and orientation of the forming sections in the cushioning and filling sections can determine the stiffness, particularly in a preferred direction, and influence the shock absorption. In particular, different properties can be assigned to the cushioning and filling sections in this way. For example, the cushioning section can be designed, through the shape and orientation of the forming sections, to wrap around the object to be contained. Furthermore, the filling section can be designed to fill as much of the void volume as possible.

[0035] In further development, the forming sections can be elongated, and the longitudinal extents of the forming sections of the different functional sections can be at least substantially parallel, and in particular run in the longitudinal direction of the packaging cushioning material. This allows high stiffness to be achieved in one direction, especially in the longitudinal direction of the packaging cushioning material.

[0036] In further development, the formed sections of the cushioning section can have smaller dimensions than the formed sections of the filling section, whereby the formed sections of the cushioning section have a smaller thickness and / or a smaller width perpendicular to their longitudinal extent, and / or the longitudinal extent of the formed sections of the cushioning section is smaller than that of the formed sections of the filling section. Alternatively or additionally, the filling section can also have one or more smaller dimensions than the cushioning section. Simple configuration of the packaging cushioning material to a product to be cushioned, a container, and thus also to an existing empty volume is possible.

[0037] In a further development, the filling section can comprise elongated and essentially straight forming sections, and / or the cushioning section can comprise corrugated, spherical, or cylindrical forming sections. Elongated, especially straight, forming sections are easy to manufacture and exhibit increased bending stiffness along the longitudinal direction and high stiffness in their longitudinal direction. Corrugated forming sections, when arranged next to each other, can allow the cushioning section to deform in several directions, enabling it to accommodate an object as closely as possible to its contour. Spherical and cylindrical forming sections exhibit good stability in the thickness direction.

[0038] In a further development process, the packaging cushioning material can be produced from a length section of a continuous material, which has a multitude of length sections with the same pattern of functional segments. This allows the packaging cushioning material to be provided on demand. For example, the patterns can be formed by formed sections. A packaging cushioning material with a defined length and number of functional segments can be separated from the continuous material, for example, using a perforation line. The provided packaging cushioning material can then be wrapped around the item, either automatically or manually, and placed in the container. If the formed sections are designed as air chambers, a desired number of functional segments can be filled with air before separation.

[0039] It would also be conceivable that the continuous material is a starting material made of a multi-layered, especially double-layered, plastic film and is provided with the pattern in a first device. This can be done, for example, by selectively and linearly welding the plastic films to form individual air chambers, which are then filled with air before a packaging cushion material is cut from the continuous material.

[0040] Alternatively, the continuous material can comprise a flat paper or cardboard material that is or will be embossed with the patterns of the functional sections.

[0041] The aforementioned advantages of the packaging cushioning material also apply to the following method according to the invention for cushioning an item to be packaged in a container. The method can be carried out, in particular, using or with the packaging cushioning material according to the invention. The method comprises the following steps:

[0042] Providing a packaging cushioning material with more than one functional section, comprising a cushioning section as a first functional section for cushioning, in particular wrapping, at least one object and a filling section as a second functional section for at least partially filling an empty volume in the container, wherein in particular a central section of the packaging cushioning material forms the cushioning section and wherein in particular lateral sections of the packaging cushioning material adjacent to the central section form filling sections,

[0043] - Cushioning, in particular wrapping, the item with the cushioning section of the packaging cushioning material,

[0044] - Arranging the filling section of the packaging cushioning material in the empty volume of the container when arranging the item in the container.

[0045] In a further development of the process, the dimensions of the first functional section can be adapted to the object to be padded, in particular to be wrapped, and / or the dimensions of the second functional section can be adapted to the empty volume.

[0046] In a further development of the process, the packaging cushioning material can be provided as a finished product, or, in the provision of the packaging cushioning material, it can be produced from a starting material, in particular from a continuous material which has a large number of length sections with the same pattern of functional sections. In a further development of the process, the packaging cushioning material can be provided automatically or on demand.

[0047] The following are explanations of various embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show:

[0048] Figure 1 shows a top view of a packaging cushioning material in a first embodiment;

[0049] Figure 2 shows a sectional view of an object arranged in a container with a packaging cushion material according to Figure 1;

[0050] Figure 3 shows a sectional view of two objects arranged in a container with a packaging cushion material in a second embodiment;

[0051] Figure 4 shows a top view of a packaging cushioning material in a third embodiment;

[0052] Figure 5 shows a sectional view of an object arranged in a container with a packaging cushion material according to Figure 4; and

[0053] Figure 6 shows a flowchart of a process for cushioning an object in a container. In the figures, corresponding elements and areas have the same reference symbols. Not all reference symbols are shown in all figures.

[0054] Figure 1 shows a top view of a first embodiment of a packaging cushioning material 10 (also referred to as first embodiment 10 or packaging cushioning material 10) for cushioning an object 12 in a container 14. The packaging cushioning material 10 is essentially rectangular and web-shaped. In this example, the packaging cushioning material 10 is made of a plastic. Alternatively, the packaging cushioning material 10 could also be made of paper, cardboard, or a composite material made of the aforementioned materials.

[0055] The packaging cushioning material 10 comprises a first functional section 16 and two second functional sections 18. Viewed in a longitudinal direction 20 of the packaging cushioning material 10, the first functional section 16 is formed by a central section 22 of the packaging cushioning material 10, which is arranged between two adjacent lateral sections 24 of the packaging cushioning material 10, forming the second functional sections 18. The packaging cushioning material 10 can be produced from a length section of a continuous material, which has a plurality of length sections with the same pattern of functional sections. Two adjacent length sections of the continuous material can, for example, be separated from each other by a perforation line. The functional sections 16, 18 have formed sections 26.The formed sections 26 are shown here as exemplary air-filled air chambers 28, which, due to the elastic compressibility of air, exhibit good shock absorption. In an embodiment not shown, the formed sections are provided by bulges embossed in a suitable material (e.g., paper or cardboard). For this purpose, the packaging cushioning material 10 comprises at least two plastic films arranged one above the other or parallel to each other, which are welded together along weld lines to form the air chambers 28.

[0056] The air chambers 28 are elongated, and a longitudinal extent 30 of the air chambers 28 (corresponding to the longitudinal extent 30 of the formed sections 26) of the first and second functional sections 16, 18 are, by way of example, aligned at least substantially parallel to each other. In the first embodiment 10, the air chambers 28 extend substantially in the longitudinal direction 20 of the packaging cushioning material 10 continuously through the packaging cushioning material 10, or in other words: air chambers 28 arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction 20 of a packaging cushioning material 10 are fluidically connected to each other. This allows all air chambers 28 to be filled with air from one side.

[0057] In Figure 1, the air chambers 28 of the first functional section 16 have a different shape than the air chambers 28 of the second functional sections 18.

[0058] The air chambers 28 of the second functional section 18 are essentially straight and elongated formed sections 26, which are formed by welds 32 that are partially parallel and extend in the longitudinal direction 20 of the packaging cushioning material 10. Thus, the longitudinal extent 30 of the air chambers 28 of the second functional section 18 is oriented approximately in the longitudinal direction 20. The air chambers 28 of the second functional section 18 are sealed at the left and right lateral edges of the packaging cushioning material 10 by further welds 32.

[0059] The welds 32 can be designed such that the air chambers 28 of the second functional section 18 are spaced apart from one another in a transverse direction 34 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 20 of the packaging cushioning material 10 and are mechanically connected to one another via a connecting section 36. The connecting section 36 is flat in the thickness direction 38 of the packaging cushioning material 10 and without an air chamber 28. The thickness direction 38 is oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction 20 and the transverse direction 34 (thickness direction 38 is shown perpendicular to the plane of the sheet in Figures 1 and 4). The air-filled air chambers 28 of the second functional section 18 have, by way of example, a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0060] The ends 40 of the air chambers 28 of the second functional sections 18 facing the first functional section 16 have air connection channels 42 that fluidly connect the air chambers 28 of the first functional section 16 with the air chambers 28 of the second functional section 18. For this purpose, the weld seams 32 of the cylindrical air chambers 28 of the second functional section 18 converge or run in such a way that several, in particular essentially parallel, air connection channels 42 are formed on each air chamber 28 of the second functional section 18.

[0061] The air chambers 28 of the first functional section 16 connect to the air connection channels 42 and, viewed from above, are bounded by corrugated welds 32. The welds 32 of an air chamber 28 of the first functional section 16 are, in this example, not arranged parallel to each other, but as mirror images of each other. This results in alternating narrower segments 44 and wider segments 46 of the air chambers 28 of the first functional section 16 extending along the longitudinal direction 20 and subsequently in the transverse direction 34. The air chambers 28 of the first functional section 16 exhibit lower bending stiffness at the narrower segments 44 than at the wider segments 46, and are therefore particularly flexible at the narrower segments 44. Overall, the air chambers 28 and 46 exhibit a bending stiffness of 44 and 46 respectively.The formed sections 26 of the first functional section 16 have a smaller thickness 48 in the thickness direction 38 and a smaller width 49 in the transverse direction 34 than the air chambers 28 of the second functional sections 18 (see Figure 1 and Figure 2). The thickness direction 38 is shown in Figures 2 and 3 with reference to the sectional view shown. However, it is understood that, for example, in the case of wrapping, the thickness direction 38 varies with the position of the packaging cushioning material 10.

[0062] In any case, the packaging cushioning material 10 is thinner and the individual air chambers 28 are narrower in the area of ​​the first functional section 16 than in the area of ​​the second functional section 18. Between two air chambers 28 of the first functional section 16 adjacent in the transverse direction 34, which are each mechanically connected to air chambers 28 of the second functional section 18 adjacent in the transverse direction 34, there are also mechanical and easily movable connecting sections 36 in the form of non-inflatable film material.

[0063] Due to the connecting sections 36 in the first and second functional section 16, 18, the packaging cushioning material 10 can also be rolled in the transverse direction 34 when inflated.

[0064] The first functional section 16, due to the relatively large number of comparatively narrow and thin air chambers 28 and the relatively large number of mechanical connection sections 36, is a cushioning section 50 for wrapping an object 12. The second functional section 18, due to the smaller number of comparatively wide and thick air chambers 28 compared to section 16, is a filling section 52 for at least partially filling an empty volume 54 in the container 14. The empty volume 54 is the space in the container 14 that is not occupied by the object 12 wrapped with the cushioning section 50.

[0065] Due to its reduced thickness 48 and the shape of the air chambers 28 of the padding section 50, the bending stiffness of the padding section 50 in the thickness direction 38 is lower than the bending stiffness of the filling section 52. The padding section 50, extending in the longitudinal direction 20, can thus adapt particularly well to the contour of an object 12. Because the padding section 50 can also be wound up in the transverse direction 34, an object 12 can, for example, be completely and closely wrapped. The object 12 is thereby simultaneously padded on the outside.

[0066] The filling section 52 is relatively inflexible in the longitudinal direction 20 compared to the cushioning section 50 due to its higher bending stiffness (cylindrical air chambers 28) and its higher rigidity in the longitudinal direction 20. The two filling sections 52 therefore have a relatively large and comparatively rigid volume compared to the cushioning section 50. This enables the filling section 52 to hold the object 12, for example, securely in the container 14 in the longitudinal direction 20 of the packaging cushioning material 10.

[0067] Figure 2 schematically shows a sectional view of an object 12 arranged in a container 14 with a packaging cushioning material 10 as shown in Figure 1. In the section, the container 14 has, by way of example, a rectangular cross-section and can, for example, be a cardboard box and / or outer packaging. The object 12 also has, by way of example, a rectangular cross-section.

[0068] The packaging cushioning material 10 can be completely wrapped around the object 12 in its transverse direction 34 by the cushioning section 50, so that the object 12 is arranged within the cushioning section 50 (hatched area of ​​the packaging cushioning material 10). The cushioning section 50 conforms, at least partially, to the contour of the object 12. The filling sections 52 are arranged in the remaining empty volume 54 and, as shown in Figure 2, are supported on the left and right sides from the inside against the container 14. This secures the object 12 within the container 14 against slippage. At the same time, the filling sections 52 increase the stability of the container 14 in the longitudinal direction 20 of the packaging cushioning material 10. It would also be conceivable that the object in Figure 2 is arranged between a lower packaging cushioning material and an upper packaging cushioning material in the area of ​​the cushioning sections.Additional packaging cushioning material may be provided on the sides (on the side facing the viewer and the side facing away from the viewer) so that the object is cushioned on all sides (not shown here).

[0069] Figure 3 is similar to Figure 2. In contrast to Figure 2, here two objects 12 are cushioned in the container 14 with a packaging cushioning material of a second embodiment 56 (also referred to as the second embodiment 56 or as packaging cushioning material 56). The second embodiment of the packaging cushioning material 56, unlike the first embodiment 10, has two cushioning sections 50 in which the objects 12 are arranged. Accordingly, the filling section 52 and the cushioning section 50 alternate along the longitudinal direction 20 of the packaging cushioning material 56. The filling section 52 located between the two objects 12 keeps the objects 12 spaced apart from each other in the container 14, so that they do not collide with each other and become damaged, for example, during transport.Here too, it is conceivable that the packaging cushioning material 56 is wrapped around the items 12 (Figure 3), or at least a lower and an upper packaging cushioning material, in particular additional lateral packaging cushioning materials (on the side facing the viewer and the side facing away from the viewer), are present (not shown).

[0070] A third embodiment of the packaging cushioning material 58 (also referred to as third embodiment 58 or packaging cushioning material 58) is shown in Figure 4. In contrast to the first embodiment of the packaging cushioning material 10 shown in Figure 1, the longitudinal extent 30 of the cylindrical air chambers 28 of the filling section 52 (of the second functional section 18) is oriented in the transverse direction 34, and thus perpendicular to the longitudinal extent 30 of the air chambers 28 of the cushioning section 50. Here, too, air connection channels can be provided between the air chambers 28 of the cushioning section 50 (first functional section) and the air chambers 28 of the filling section 52 (not shown in Figure 4). Furthermore, connection sections 36 can be provided between the air chambers 28 of the filling section (not shown) and the air chambers 28 of the cushioning section 50.

[0071] Because the longitudinal extent 30 of the air chambers 28 of the filling section 52 is oriented in the transverse direction 34, the filling section 52 is designed to be rigid along the transverse direction 34 relative to the thickness direction 38. Furthermore, the filling section 52 exhibits high stiffness and thus stability in the transverse direction 34. In contrast to the first and second embodiments 10, 56, the filling section 52 of the third embodiment 58 is bendable along the longitudinal direction 20, in particular, it is rollable.

[0072] Figure 5 shows a cross-section of an object 12, which is cushioned with a packaging cushioning material of the third embodiment 58 and arranged in a container 14. The cushioning section 50 wraps around the object 12 such that the ends 60 of the cushioning section 50 are bent towards each other and lie on one side. The filling sections 52 are bent back against the cushioning section 50 and lie against the cushioning section 50 from the outside, enclosing it on four sides. The filling section 52 is thus arranged in the empty volume 54 between the cushioning section 50 and the container 14 and therefore supports the cushioning section 50 against the container 14 at the top, bottom, left, and right.

[0073] It can be seen that the cushioning section 50 has a comparatively large number of relatively small and preferably more or less symmetrical air chambers 28a (similar, for example, to an air cushion film for wrapping an object), whereas the filling section 52 has a comparatively small number of relatively large and preferably elongated air chambers 28b (similar, for example, to known air bags for filling a void). In this respect, the packaging cushioning material 10 can form a single-piece combination of air cushion film for wrapping an object and air bags for filling a void. The air chambers 28a of the cushioning section 50 can be created, for example, by corrugated boundary lines, such as the weld seams 32 mentioned above, which are arranged as mirror images of each other.

[0074] All air chambers 28a of the packaging cushioning material 10 are preferably fluidically connected to one another. Thus, the packaging cushioning material 10 can be provided in an uninflated state as a continuous web material with individual material sections that can be separated from one another, for example by perforations, and which are only inflated on-site in a single operation to form the packaging cushioning material 10. For example, the air chambers 28b of the filling section 52 can have a maximum extent, for example a length L, which is at least three times the maximum extent D of a more or less symmetrical air chamber 28a of the cushioning section 50 in plan view.Alternatively or additionally, an air chamber 28b of the filling section 52 in the fully inflated state can have a volume that corresponds to at least five times, more preferably at least ten times, the volume in the fully inflated state of an air chamber 28a of the cushion section 50 that is more or less symmetrical in plan view.

[0075] A method for cushioning an item 12 to be packaged in a container 14 with a packaging cushioning material 10, 56, 58 is shown in Figure 6. The method comprises the following steps:

[0076] Adapting (functional block 62) the dimensions of a first functional section 16 of the packaging cushioning material 10, 56, 58 to the item 12 to be cushioned, in particular to be wrapped, and adapting (functional block 64) the dimensions of a second functional section 18 of the packaging cushioning material 10, 56, 58 to an empty volume 54 in the container 14.

[0077] Provision (functional block 66) of the packaging cushioning material 10, 56, 58 with multiple functional sections automatically or on-demand, wherein the packaging cushioning material 10, 56, 58 is produced (functional block 68) from a starting material, preferably a continuous material, which has a plurality of length sections with the same pattern of functional sections 16, 18. The first functional section 16 is a cushioning section 50 for cushioning, in particular wrapping, at least one item 12, and the second functional section 18 is a filling section 52 for at least partially filling the empty volume 54 in the container 14.

[0078] Cushioning, in particular wrapping, (functional block 70) of the item 12 with the cushioning section 50 of the packaging cushioning material 10, 56, 58 .

[0079] Arranging (function block 72) the filling section 52 of the packaging cushioning material 10, 56, 58 in the empty volume 54 of the container 14 when arranging (function block 74) the item 12 in the container 14.

Claims

26 Patent claims 1. Packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) for cushioning an object (12) in a container (14), wherein the packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) has more than one functional section (16, 18), characterized in that a first functional section (16) is a cushioning section (50) for cushioning, in particular wrapping, at least one object (12), and a second functional section (18) is a filling section (52) for at least partially filling an empty volume (54) in the container (14), wherein the cushioning section (50) differs from the filling section (52) by at least one structural feature, in particular a thickness (48), a bending stiffness, and / or a compressibility in a thickness direction (38).

2. Packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) according to claim 1, characterized in that the cushioning section (50) is formed by a first, in particular middle, section (22) of the packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58), and the filling section (52) is formed by at least a second, attached to the middle Section ( 22 ) is formed by the adjacent lateral section ( 24 ) of the packaging cushioning material ( 10 ; 56 ; 58 ).

3. Packaging cushioning material ( 10 ; 56 ; 58 ) according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the filling section ( 52 ) is stiffer in a longitudinal direction ( 20 ) than in a transverse direction ( 34 ) or that the filling section ( 52 ) is stiffer in the transverse direction (34 ) than in the longitudinal direction (20) .

4. Packaging cushioning material ( 10; 56; 58 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cushioning section (50) and the filling section (52 ) of the packaging cushioning material ( 10; 56; 58 ) comprise forming sections (26), wherein the forming sections (26) are in particular air-filled air chambers (28 ) or in particular embossed protrusions .

5. Packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) according to claim 4, characterized in that the formed sections (26) of the cushioning section (50) have a different shape than the formed sections (26) of the filling section (52) and / or that the formed sections (26) are elongated and the longitudinal extensions (30) of the Forming sections (26) of the cushioning section (50) are oriented differently than the longitudinal extensions (30) of the forming sections (26) of the filling section (52).

6. Packaging cushioning material ( 10; 56; 58 ) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the formed sections (26) are elongated and the longitudinal extensions (30) of the formed sections (26) of the different functional sections ( 16, 18 ) are at least substantially parallel, in particular in the longitudinal direction (20) of the packaging cushioning material ( 10; 56; 58 ).

7. Packaging cushioning material ( 10; 56; 58 ) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the formed sections (26) of the cushioning section (50) have smaller dimensions than the formed sections (26) of the filling section (52 ), wherein the formed sections (26) of the cushioning section (50) have a smaller thickness (48 ) and / or a smaller width (49) perpendicular to their longitudinal extent (30) and / or the longitudinal extent (30) of the formed sections (26) of the cushioning section (50) is smaller than that of the formed sections (26) of the filling section (52 ).

8. Packaging cushioning material ( 10; 56; 58 ) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the filling section (52 ) comprises elongated and substantially straight formed sections (26) and / or the cushioning section (50) comprises wave-shaped or, in plan view, at least approximately symmetrical, in particular spherical or cylindrical formed sections (26 ).

9. Packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) according to claim 8, characterized in that the formed sections (26) are designed as air chambers (28a, 28b) and air chambers (28b) of the filling section (52) have a maximum extent, in particular a maximum length (L), which corresponds to at least three times a maximum extent (D) of an air chamber (28a) of the cushioning section (50) that is at least approximately symmetrical in plan view, and / or that an air chamber (28b) of the filling section (52) in the fully inflated state has a volume that is at least five times, more preferably at least ten times, and even more preferably at least twenty times the volume in the fully inflated state.29 The condition of an air chamber ( 28a ) of the cushion section ( 50 ) that is at least approximately symmetrical in plan view corresponds to .

10. Packaging cushioning material ( 10 ; 56 ; 58 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the packaging cushioning material ( 10 ; 56 ; 58 ) is made from a length section of a continuous material which has a plurality of length sections with the same pattern of functional sections .

11. Method for cushioning an item to be packaged ( 12 ) in a container ( 14 ), in particular by means of the packaging cushioning material ( 10 ; 56 ; 58 ) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: Providing (functional block 66) a packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) with more than one functional section (16, 18), comprising a cushioning section (50) as a first functional section (16) for cushioning, in particular wrapping, at least one object (12) and a filling section (52) as a second functional section (18) for at least partially filling an empty volume (54) in the container (14), wherein in particular a central section (22) of the packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) forms the cushioning section (50) and wherein in particular lateral sections (24) of the packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) adjacent to the central section (22) form filling sections (52),30 Cushioning, in particular wrapping (functional block 70) the object ( 12 ) with the cushioning section ( 50 ) of the packaging cushioning material ( 10 ; 56 ; 58 ), Arranging (functional block 72) the filling section (52) of the packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) in the empty volume (54) of the container (14) when arranging (functional block 74) the item (12) in the container (14).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the dimensions of the first functional section ( 16 ) are adapted to the object ( 12 ) to be padded, in particular to be wrapped (functional block 62 ) and / or the dimensions of the second functional section ( 18 ) are adapted to the empty volume ( 54 ) (functional block 64 ).

13. Method according to one of claims 11 or 12, characterized in that the packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58) is provided as a finished product or, in the provision (functional block 66) of the packaging cushioning material (10; 56; 58), it is produced from a starting material, in particular from a continuous material, which has a plurality of length sections with the same pattern of the functional sections (16, 18) (functional block 68).

14. Method according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the packaging cushioning material ( 10 ; 56 ; 58 ) is provided automatically or on-demand (functional block 66 ).

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