EP0556093A1 - Package for packaging materials composed of a main apparatus and at least one accessory - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for packaging equipment (hardware) consisting of a main apparatus (50) and at least one accessory (70, 71) specific to the place of distribution. The method consists in first packaging the main apparatus (50) in a cardboard box, and in permanently closing it. Secondly, the specific accessories (70, 71) are inserted into the box (1) through an opening (9) provided for this purpose. The invention also relates to packaging for implementing this method, and in particular packaging comprising an inner box (2) isolated from the outer box (1) by spacer elements !&*/49=BJ(20, 21, 22, 23, 24) and covered by an inner lid (25). <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a material packaging method, consisting of a main device and at least one accessory specific to the distribution region.

It is for example a computer device, office automation, or an audiovisual device intended for the general public or for professional use. Such materials are often accompanied by accessories whose characteristics are specific to the region of distribution. These accessories are, for example, made up of a user manual written in the language specific to the region of distribution. They can also be power cords and / or power transformers whose characteristics depend on regional standards.

The main devices are generally produced in series, on a production site equipped with semi-automatic chains, this production site supplying the said main devices to distribution centers sometimes distributed throughout the world.

Adapting packaging to the constraints of a local market, served by a distributor center poses some difficulties. In fact, if the adaptation to the needs of the specific market takes place on the production site, the latter must be able to manage the sales forecasts for each of the distribution centers and must centralize all questions concerning the accessories specific to each. distribution centers. In this mode In operation, the devices are packed with their specific accessories at a distribution center considered, then are shipped, thus conditioned, to the corresponding destination center.

In another operating mode, the devices are sent, before packaging, to the distribution centers, which are responsible for packaging and integrating the accessories specific to their marketing region in a single package. This procedure is not entirely satisfactory since the shipment of unpackaged devices requires special precautions.

The object of the present invention is to remedy these various drawbacks by proposing a packaging process which adapts, both to the constraints of mass production on the production site, and to the adaptation to regional constraints on the distribution center. More generally, the packaging according to the invention makes it possible to add accessories to a previously closed box. To this end, the packaging method according to the invention consists in first carrying out the packaging of the main device in a cardboard box, which is closed definitively before its shipment to the place of distribution where it is introduces, in a second step, the specific accessories inside the already closed box, through an opening provided for this purpose. The method according to the invention makes it possible to carry out all of the packaging operations of the main device on the production site, and to condition the main device in optimal conditions for storage and shipping on the distribution sites. Adaptation to local market needs takes place at the distribution site, through a series of operations simple consisting in introducing inside the box, already closed and containing the main unit, the specific accessories by sliding them through the opening provided for this purpose.

According to a preferred embodiment, the main device is placed in an inner box separated from the outer box by spacer elements. The accessories are introduced into at least one of the spaces provided between the outer box and the inner box, through a closable opening provided on one of the faces of the outer box. This process improves the protection of the device against shocks occurring on the packaging during transport or storage. The spacer elements constitute mechanical shock absorbers and moreover make it possible to define hollow volumes, inside which accessories such as power cord or user manual can be introduced. The invention also relates to a packaging for implementing the method according to the invention. This packaging consists of a box having, on one of its faces, an opening for the introduction of accessories into the already closed box. Advantageously, this opening can be closed by a tongue articulated around one of the edges of the box.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en perspective d'une boîte d'emballage, pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue éclatée du conditionnement d'un appareil selon le procédé de l'invention.

The present invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, referring to the drawings in which:

• FIG. 1 represents a perspective view of a packaging box, for implementing the method according to the invention;
• 2 shows an exploded view of the packaging of an apparatus according to the method of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a packaging box consisting of an outer box (1) and an inner box (2).

This box is formed by folding a pre-cut and pre-grooved side. It includes reinforcing angles (3, 4, 5, 6) improving the rigidity of the box, with a view in particular to allowing stacking of several packages. One of the side faces (7) has, along its upper edge (8), an opening (9) closable by a tongue (10). This tongue (10) is delimited on the lower side and on the lateral sides by a cut made in the lateral face (7). It is articulated around the fold line (11) corresponding to the upper edge (8). The width of the shutter (10) is greater than the spacing e of the two corresponding angles (5, 6). Therefore, when the flap (10) is folded, in the closed position, it rests on the surfaces of the two angles (5, 6), which thus prevent the sinking of this flap inside the box. The inner box (2) is formed by folding a pre-cut and pre-grooved blank. It has lateral spacer elements (20, 21) capable of coming into contact with the interior surfaces of the side walls of the outer box (1). Support elements (22, 23, 24) isolate the bottom of the inner box (2) from the bottom of the outer box (1). An inner cover (25) also produced by cutting from a sheet of pre-grooved corrugated cardboard, makes it possible to cover the device when it is placed in the inner box (2). The inner cover (25) has lateral faces (26), capable of bearing on the complementary lateral face (27) of the inner box (2). The central part (28) of the inner cover (25) also rests on the upper edges (29, 30) of two opposite lateral faces (31, 32) of the inner box (2). The central part (28) is extended, moreover, by two lateral tabs (35, 36) folded one up, and the other down. The side tab (36) folded down releases a hole corresponding to the opening (9) provided on the side face (7) of the outer box (1). The perpendicular side faces (26) are further extended by a tongue (37) cut in the central part (28) and extending downwards when the side tabs (26) are folded up. The side faces (26) and the bottom of the inner cover (25) thus define an additional storage space for accessories. The angles (40 to 43) of the cover (25) are cut, moreover, so as to allow the passage of the angles (3 to 6).

Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the packaging of a printer. The printer (50) is provided with a paper feeder (51) immobilized by a sheet of cardboard (52) occupying the housing for the sheets. A block of expanded polyethylene (53) is introduced into the space inside which the print head moves. The polyethylene block (53) has a cavity (54) inside which the ink ribbon is blocked. The dimensions of the block (53) are determined so that it secures the cover (55) of the printer. A rectangular piece (56), of cellular plastic material ensures the blocking of the print head. The printer is protected by a plastic cover (57).

The printer is positioned in the inner box (2) at the manufacturing site of said printers. When placed in the inner box (2), the inner cover (25) covers the inner box (2). The upper flaps (60, 61, 62, 63) are then folded over the assembly to ensure the closure of the box. The closure of the box is ensured by bonding an adhesive strip or any other means known in the prior art. The closed box can be stored and then shipped to distribution centers.

On the distribution center, specific accessories, such as power cords (70) or user manuals (71) in the usual language of the region served by the distribution center, are introduced into the outer box (1) already closed, through the opening (9). To this end, the folding flap (10) is folded outwards and the accessories (70, 71) are slipped into the packaging. The user manual and the power cable (70) are positioned between the interior cover (25) and the top of the exterior box (1). The larger section connection socket (72) is housed in the cutout (42).

• une couverture extérieure en papier blanc couché de 180 g/m^2.
• une première cannelure en papier recyclé de 120 g/m² avant ondulation ;
• une feuille intermédiaire en vieux papier de 120 g/m² ;
• une deuxième cannelure en papier recyclé de 120 g/m² avant ondulation ;
• une couverture intérieure en papier "kraft liner" de 225 g/m² ;

In an exemplary embodiment of a packaging according to the invention, intended for the packaging of a dot matrix printer weighing approximately 7 kilos, in a box of dimensions mentioned above, the outer box consists of a corrugated cardboard with the following characteristics:

• an outer cover in coated white paper of 180 g / m ^2.
• a first groove in recycled paper of 120 g / m² before waving;
• an intermediate sheet of old paper of 120 g / m²;
• a second groove in recycled paper of 120 g / m² before waving;
• an interior cover in kraft liner paper of 225 g / m²;

• une couverture extérieure en papier "kraft" de 175 g/m^2.
• une première cannelure en papier recyclé de 120 g/m² avant ondulation ;
• une feuille intermédiaire en vieux papier de 120 g/m² ;
• une deuxième cannelure en papier recyclé de 120 g/m² avant ondulation ;
• une couverture intérieure en papier "Test liner" de 225 g/m² ;

The "L" angles consist of:

• an outer cover in 175 g / m ² "kraft" paper ^.
• a first groove in recycled paper of 120 g / m² before waving;
• an intermediate sheet of old paper of 120 g / m²;
• a second groove in recycled paper of 120 g / m² before waving;
• an interior cover in 225 g / m² "Test liner"paper;

• une couverture extérieure en papier "Kraft liner" de 175 g/m^2.
• une première cannelure en papier recyclé de 120 g/m² avant ondulation ;
• une feuille intermédiaire en vieux papier de 120 g/m² ;
• une deuxième cannelure en papier recyclé de 120 g/m² avant ondulation ;
• une couverture intérieure en papier "kraft liner" de 225 g/m² ;

The inner cover consists of:

• an outer cover in 175 g / m ² "Kraft liner" paper ^.
• a first groove in recycled paper of 120 g / m² before waving;
• an intermediate sheet of old paper of 120 g / m²;
• a second groove in recycled paper of 120 g / m² before waving;
• an interior cover in kraft liner paper of 225 g / m²;

• une couverture extérieure en papier "Kraft liner" de 175 g/m^2.
• une première cannelure en papier recyclé de 120 g/m² avant ondulation ;
• une feuille intermédiaire en vieux papier de 120 g/m² ;
• une deuxième cannelure en papier recyclé de 102 g/m² avant ondulation ;
• une couverture intérieure en papier "kraft liner" de 225 g/m² ;

The inner box is made up of:

• an outer cover in 175 g / m ² "Kraft liner" paper ^.
• a first groove in recycled paper of 120 g / m² before waving;
• an intermediate sheet of old paper of 120 g / m²;
• a second groove in recycled paper of 102 g / m² before waving;
• an interior cover in kraft liner paper of 225 g / m²;

• couverture extérieure en papier "Kraft liner" de 175 g/m^2.
• une cannelure en papier recyclé de 120 g/m² avant ondulation ;
• une couverture intérieure en papier "Test liner" de 225 g/m² ;

Optionally, several packages according to the invention are grouped together by a cardboard overpack having the following characteristics:

• outer cover in 175 g / m ² "Kraft liner" paper ^.
• a 120 g / m² recycled paper groove before waving;
• an interior cover in 225 g / m² "Test liner"paper;

The invention is described in the foregoing by way of nonlimiting example, and it is quite obvious that the person skilled in the art will be able to produce different variants, without however departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (2)

1 - Packaging for the packaging of materials constituted by a main appliance (50) is at least one accessory (70, 71) specific to the distribution zone concerned constituted by an external box (1) comprising an opening (9) opening on one of its faces (7) for the introduction of specific accessories (70, 71) after the closing of said outer box (1), characterized in that it includes angles (3, 4, 5, 6) arranged in the corners of the outer box (1), and in that the opening (9) is closable by a flap (10) articulated along one of the upper edges (11). 2 - Packaging for the packaging of materials according to claim 1 characterized in that the width of the shutter (10) is greater than the spacing of the two corresponding angles (5, 6).

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