WO2006015437A2

WO2006015437A2 - Packing method and arrangement

Info

Publication number: WO2006015437A2
Application number: PCT/AU2005/001202
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Johnstone
Original assignee: First Green Park Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-08-10
Filing date: 2005-08-10
Publication date: 2006-02-16
Also published as: WO2006015437A8; WO2006015437A3

Abstract

The specification discloses both a method of packing objects and a packing arrangement, the packing arrangement including at least two packing members (10) each having an internal perimeter frame (11) defining an inner space (16) therewithin, and a flexible outer skin (17) having object supporting surfaces (18, 19) on either side at least partially spanning the inner space (16), the at least two such packing members (11) in use overlying one another whereby an object or objects (22) are supported between confronting supporting surfaces (18, 19) from separate packing members (10).

Description

PACKING METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT

The present invention relates to improved methods and arrangements for packaging goods for transport to protect same against possible damage.

Many methods and arrangements already exist in this field typically including providing cardboard boxes or other containers into which goods are packed together with some form of packing material such as a particularised foam packing or perhaps a specially formed (to shape) semi-rigid foam packing such as polystyrene or the like. For irregularly shaped objects, such known arrangements commonly require large volumes of packing material to fill the space in a box or other container of regular shape sufficiently large to accommodate the object being packed. The packing material and often the outer containing box or container is commonly disposed of after only one use. It is also relatively common for one package or container to contain only one object. It is also known when packing fresh vegetables and fruit for transport that they are commonly located in individual pockets of a multi pocket support tray made either of cardboard or plastics material which is then placed in an outer cardboard containing box or the like. Multiple layers of fruit or vegetables supported in their individual pocketed trays are commonly laid one on top of the other such that the fruit or vegetables are effectively supported between layers of formed cardboard or plastics material. The individual fruit / vegetable pieces are still, however, capable of small movements and may still receive weight pressure from other contents and therefore are still potentially subject to possible damage in transport. Again the packing materials are generally not recyclable and are really intended for one use only. The objective of the present invention is to provide an improved method and arrangement for packing objects for transport in an efficient and effective manner to avoid or minimize damage to the objects during transport and preferably to provide such methods and arrangements whereby the packing parts are at least partially recyclable. According to a first aspect of this invention there is provided an arrangement for packing an object or objects for transport, said arrangement including at least one packing member having an inner support frame defining a substantially open space inwardly thereof and an outer flexible skin at least partially enclosing the inner support frame defining an object supporting surface on at least one face of the packing member at least partially spanning said open space, said packing member being positionable with a said object supporting surface facing a second object restraining member whereby one or more said objects is / are supportable therebetween.

Preferred features of the aforementioned arrangement may be as defined in claims 2 to 20 annexed hereto, the subject matter of these claims being hereby included in the disclosure of this specification by this reference thereto.

In accordance with a second aspect of this invention a method is provided for packing objects for transport, the method including the steps of positioning at at least one said object on a first packing member having a first support frame defining a substantially open space inwardly of the first support frame and a flexible outer skin at least partially enclosing the first support frame defining at least one object supporting surface on a face of the first packing member at least partially spanning said open space, providing a second restraining member and positioning said second restraining member relative to said first packing member overlying a said object or objects whereby the object or objects are restrained between said second restraining member and a said object supporting surface of the first packing member, and securing said first packing member and said second restraining member together for transport or storage.

Conveniently each of the flexible outer skins of the or each packing member may be formed at least in part by a plurality of layers of at least one flexible web wound around the first or the second support frames with at least some of the layers being at least partially adhered to another of said layers. Preferred features of the aforesaid method may be as defined in claims 20 to 27 annexed hereto, the subject matter of these claims being hereby included in the disclosure of this specification by this reference thereto.

In a co-pending Australian Patent Application numbered 2004903499 filed on 25 June 2004, there is disclosed various configurations of making panel constructions (albeit intended for a different purpose) that are capable of use as packing members in the performance of the present invention. Accordingly, by this cross-reference, so much of the disclosure of the specification of Australian Patent Application No. 2004903499 is included in the current specification, to understand the possible structures, materials and production methods for making the packing members.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings in which: Fig 1 is a plan view of a packing member according to a first preferred embodiment;

Fig 2 is a side elevation view of the packing member illustrated in Fig 1 ;

Fig 2a is a transverse cross-section of a packing member according to a further preferred embodiment; Fig 2b is a transverse cross-section of a packing member according to a still further preferred embodiment;

Fig 3 is a partial section view of packing members supporting packed objects in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention; and

Fig 4 is a partial section view of packing members supporting packed objects in accordance with a further preferred objective.

Referring to the drawings, Figs 1 and 2 illustrate schematically in plan and side elevation views, a packing member 10 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of this invention. The member 10 in this embodiment includes an inner support frame 11 having four interconnecting legs 12, 13, 14 and 15 constructed as a rigid rectangle or square defining an inner space 16. An outer skin 17 is provided covering the inner support frame 11 and providing facing object support surfaces 18, 19 on opposite sides of the inner space 16. The outer skin 17 might conveniently be formed by winding a plastics material film web about the support frame 11 in a plurality of overlapping layers such that adjacent layers adhere to one another, at least partially. Two or more such film webs might be wound in two or more directions conveniently crossing previously wound layers at an acute angle or substantially at 90°. If the inner frame 11 is larger than the available film web width, then the film web might be wound in spiral layers onto the support frame 11. Preferably, the last layer or layers applied to the support frame are wide enough to cover a complete width of the frame with the film web being wound in the longitudinal direction of the support frame 11. In one possible arrangement, an inner support frame 11 that might be square or rectangular in plan view and might be of a size having outer dimensions equivalent to a pallet on which packing members formed therefrom might be stacked. Conveniently such a frame member might be wrapped with a layer or layers formed from two overlapping webs firstly in a longitudinal direction and then secondly in a transverse or cross direction such that strips of overlapping web material cross one another intersecting in the middle of the object supporting surfaces providing effective reinforcing to these surfaces. For example, the pallet size might be 1200 mm x 1200 mm with the inner support frames being similarly sized. Such support frames 11 might then be wrapped with overlapping web material having a width of 750 mm thereby providing reinforcing strips of overlapping material up to 300 mm wide through the centre of the object supporting surfaces and crossing one another in the centre thereof. The plastics material film web is conveniently a cold pre-stretched film web that has been stretched beyond its yield point to increase its length and decrease its width and then at least partially relaxed. Linear low density polyethylene plastics material film is suitable for this invention but other plastics material films could be used.

While Fig 1 illustrates a square configured inner support frame 11 , it will be appreciated that rectangular or in fact other shaped frames could be used although as described below, the members 10 are intended to be used in pairs or multiple number combinations and it is desirable that in each such combination, the inner support frames 11 should all be essentially the same shape and size such that they will in use rest on one another. As is shown in Fig 2b, the support frame 11 might include recessed zones 20 on one side and similarly shaped projections 21 on the other side such that the projections 21 might be received in the recesses zones 20 of an adjacent support frame 11 on which it rests to thereby inhibit lateral movement between the two. Such recessed zones 20 and projections 21 might be located at corners of the frame 11 or along some or all of the legs 12 to 15. Fig 2a illustrates a further possible embodiment where the material forming the support surface 19 is under tension and disposed in a taut manner spanning the space 16 whereas the material forming the support surface 18 has been applied in relaxed manner to provide a slack region over the inner space 16. It will be appreciated that utilizing plastics material web for the outer skin 17, particularly of the pre-stretched type discussed above, means that the skin 17 can resiliently deform around or partially around an object or objects to be packed, and once the object or objects have been removed at their final destination, the skin 17 will recover substantially its original configuration. If this does not occur of if the material becomes slightly worn or damaged in use, then it is a simple matter to remove the original plastics material web and rewind a new skin 17 on the frames 11.

Fig 3 illustrates in cross-section a number of packing members 10 as described above stacked on one another and packing a plurality of objects 22 between confronting support surfaces 19, 18 of the skins 17 of adjacent packing members 10. As will be seen the objects 22 are retained resiliently separate from each other by the skins 17 such that an air gap exists between the layers of objects 22 and between the objects 22 in each layer. It will be recognized that the system described above can be used to pack one object 22 per layer or multiple objects 22 per layer as illustrated. The objects that might be so packed include, but are not limited to, componentry that might be used in automotive manufacture, in white goods manufacture and in any other manufacturing system including computer hardware and parts and accessories therefore, television and other audio and video reproduction systems. It may, in some applications require the use of anti-static film. It is also possible to pack fresh produce including fruit and vegetables in this manner. When fresh produce is packed, it may be desirable to include an array of small apertures through one or both of the skins 17 to promote air flow around the packed produce. This may also be useful when packing other manufactured objects. If desired a stack of packing members 10 might be formed in an outer container (eg cardboard box, metal container or the like) or holding frame work with objects appropriately held between the packing members 10. In an alternative a stack of packing members 10 might be formed with objects held between the members 10 and the assembly thus formed being secured together by an over wrapping of plastics material film 23 about the members 10. In a still further alternative, other securing means could be used including strapping and fastener arrangements including Velcro (registered Trade Mark) type fastener arrangements operating between adjacent packing members or between outermost packing members of a stack of such members. In either case the packed assembly might be supported on a pallet for ease of handling during transport. Fig 4 illustrates a still further possible packing arrangement where packing members 10 are separated by second restraining members 30 that are illustrated as a flat panel member. These might be made from corrugated cardboard sheets, corrugated plastic sheeting and any other suitable material for the object or objects 22 being packed. Although the drawing shows the members 30 as being substantially flat, they may also contain formed object locating pockets when the member is made from a mouldable material such as cardboard plastics or the like. In this case, the objects 22 are restrained between a member 30 and one object supporting face 18 of the outer skin 17 of the packing members 10. While multiple layers are illustrated in Fig 4, it will be appreciated that one layer might also be within the concept of this invention. The packing layers in Fig 4 are shown restrained in a box or container 31 which might be of cardboard, plastics, metal or any other suitable material. Alternatively, other outer restraining arrangements as discussed herein for other embodiments might also be used. Many other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in this art and may be included within the scope of the claims annexed hereto.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An arrangement for packing an object or objects for transport, said arrangement including at least one packing member having an inner support frame defining a substantially open space inwardly thereof and an outer flexible skin at least partially enclosing the inner support frame defining an object supporting surface on at least one face of the packing member at least partially spanning said open space, said packing member being positionable with a said object supporting surface facing a second object restraining member whereby one or more said objects is / are supportable therebetween.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said second object restraining member is a continuous panel formation.

3. An arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the second object restraining member is made from cardboard or plastics material including foamed plastics material.

4. An arrangement according to any one of claims 2 or 3 wherein the panel formation includes one or more preformed object locating depressions.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said second object restraining member is a second said packing member whereby said one or more objects is / are supportable between facing object supporting surfaces of the outer skins of said packing members.

6. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein said outer skin of the or each said packing member is formed at least in part by a plurality of layers of at least one flexible web wound about a said inner support frame whereby at least partial adherence occurs between at least some of said layers.

7. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the or each said packing member has a said inner support frame defining a generally rectangular or square shape whereby the inner support frames of the packing members overly one another.

8. An arrangement according to claim 6 or claim 7 when appended to claim 6 wherein each said inner support frame is wrapped by two said flexible webs overlapping in a longitudinal direction and by two said flexible webs overlapping in a transverse direction whereby overlaying strips cross one another centrally to reinforce said object supporting surfaces.

9. An arrangement according to claim 7 or claim 8 when appended to claim 7 wherein each said inner support frame includes at least one recess and at least one projection on opposed sides whereby when two or more said packing members are stacked on one another, at least one said projection and at least one said recess from different but adjacent said packing members interengage to inhibit relative lateral movement between said packing members.

10. An arrangement according to claim 6 or any one of claims 7 to 9 when appended to claim 6 wherein said at least one web is a plastics material film web.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10 wherein the plastics material film web is a pre-stretched plastics film web having been stretched beyond its yield point to increase its length and decrease its thickness and then at least partially relaxed.

12. An arrangement according to claim 10 or claim 11 wherein the plastics material film web is a linear low density polyethylene.

13. An arrangement according to any one of claims 10 to 12 wherein the flexible plastics material film webs are wound in at least two directions disposed at different angles relative to each other.

14. An arrangement according to any one of claims 10 to 13 wherein the plastics material film web, or the finally wound lengths of said film web, are wound in a longitudinal direction of said inner support frame.

15. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein material forming a first said object supporting surface of a said packing member has a first predetermined tension providing a taut but flexible structure overlying the open space and wherein material forming a second said object supporting surface of said packing member has a tension less than said first predetermined tension.

16. An arrangement according to claim 15 wherein the material forming said second object supporting surface is slackly formed within the inner support frame.

17. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein tension in the material forming the first object supporting surface is substantially the same as tension in the material forming the second object supporting surface.

18. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the thickness of each said packing member is substantially the same.

19. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the thickness of at least one said packing member is different to the thickness of other said packing members.

20. An arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein at least one object supporting surface of the outer flexible skin of each said packing member has a plurality of spaced air flow apertures formed therein.

21. A method of packing one or more objects for transport or storage, said method including the steps of positioning at least one said object on a first packing member having a first support frame defining a substantially open space inwardly of the first support frame and a flexible outer skin at least partially enclosing the first support frame defining at least one object supporting surface on a face of the first packing member at least partially spanning said open space, providing a second restraining member and positioning said second restraining member relative to said first packing member overlying a said object or objects whereby the object or objects are restrained between said second restraining member and a said object supporting surface of the first packing member, and securing said first packing member and said second restraining member together for transport or storage.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the second restraining member is a continuous panel formation.

23. A method according to claim 21 wherein the second restraining member is a second packing member having a second support frame defining a substantially open space inwardly of the second support frame and a flexible outer skin at least partially enclosing the second support frame defining object supporting surfaces on opposed sides of the second packing member at least partially spanning the open space within said second support frame.

24. A method according to claim 23 wherein further said packing members are positioned on said first and said second packing members, said further packing members being configured similarly to said first and said second packing members with the objects to be packed being supported between confronting said object supporting surfaces between adjacent said packing members.

25. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 24 wherein said packing members are secured together by over wrapping the assembly with at least one plastics material film web.

26. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 24 wherein said packing members are secured together by strap means or by fastener means including Velcro style fasteners.

27. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 26 wherein the packing members are positioned on a pallet member or within container means.