ASSEMBLY OF A CARRYING DEVICE AND A PLURALITY OF INTERMEDIATE PACKAGING MEMBERS, CARRYING DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR PACKAGING A PRODUCT

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an assembly of a carrying device and a plurality of intermediate packaging members made from plastic film, wherein each intermediate packaging member comprises a packaging portion for packaging a product, as well as a mounting portion mounted on the carrying device, wherein the mounting portion has at least two holes, wherein the carrying device engages said holes, wherein the packaging portion is arranged to be separated from the mounting portion, so that a product packaged in the packaging portion can be removed while the mounting portion remains mounted on the carrying device.

[0002] An assembly of the above type is known from practice. The known assembly is to be mounted into a machine for carrying out a packaging method in which potted plants are each enclosed into a packaging sleeve made of plastic film.

[0003] A similar assembly is known from US 5 524 762.

[0004] A packaging sleeve 120 to be used in the above described method is shown in Figure 1.

[0005] The packaging sleeve 120 is formed as an expandable flat film product of substantially trapezoidal shape, comprising a front sheet 121 and a back sheet 122. The two sheets 121, 122 are mutually connected by welds extending along the edges 123 at the inclined sides of the trapezoid. At each of the top and bottom edges 124, 125, the front sheet 121 and the back sheet 122 are free from each other so as to allow the packaging sleeve 120 to expand to form a conical envelope enclosing a space 126 for accommodating a plant.

[0006] The packaging sleeve 120 is provided to a packaging machine as part of an intermediate packaging member 100 as illustrated in Figure 2. Apart from the sleeve portion 120, the intermediate packaging member 100 comprises a mounting tab 110.

[0007] The mounting tab 110 is formed as an elongate portion of film extending along the top edge 124 of the back sheet 122 of the sleeve portion 120. To allow the sleeve portion 120 to be disconnected from the mounting tab 110, the back sheet 122 is connected to the mounting tab 110 via a line of perforation 130 extending along the top edge 124 of said sheet 122. In order to be mounted on a carrying device, the mounting tab 110 is provided with a pair of mounting holes 111.

[0008] According to the state of the art, a stack 200 of intermediate packaging members 100 is mounted on a metal carrying rod 2. Such an assembly is illustrated in Figure 3.

[0009] The stack 200 typically comprises 50 intermediate packaging members 100. In the stack 200, the stacked tabs 110 form a tab stack 210. The stacked tabs 110 are all mutually connected by a pair of welds 212, each weld 212 extending along the inner surface of a hole provided in the tab stack 210. The stacked tabs 110 have their respective mounting holes 111 aligned, to define channels 211 extending through the tab stack 210. The carrying rod 2 extends through said channels 211. A portion of the carrying rod 2 extends at each side of the stack 200.

[0010] The assembly of the carrying rod 2 and the stack 200 is mounted in the packaging machine at the end of a lane for supplying potted plants. Each time a plant passes through the lane, an intermediate packaging member 100 is selected from the stack 200, and the sleeve portion 120 of the selected member 100 is expanded so as to receive the plant in the accommodating space 126. The packaged plant is then moved away from the carrying rod 2 together with the enclosing sleeve portion 120 such that the sleeve portion 120 is torn free from the corresponding mounting tab 110. After all sleeve portions 120 have been removed, the carrying rod 2 is removed from the packaging machine together with the remaining tab stack 210 mounted thereon.

[0011] The tab stack 210 then needs to be removed from the carrying rod 2 in order to allow for its base material to be recycled into new plastic products. Such a step requires effort from a person operating the packaging machine. Further, mounting the relatively expensive metal rod 2 to a new stack 200 is rather cumbersome and time-consuming.

[0012] It is an objective of the present invention to alleviate the above drawbacks.

[0013] The above objective is achieved by an assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2.

[0014] With an assembly according to the invention, the tab stack remaining on the carrying device after a packaging process can be recycled into new plastic products without removing the stack from the carrying device. In the recycling process, the tab stack and the carrying device can be reground together, after which the grounded material comprising base material of both the carrying device and the mounting tabs can be reused.

[0015] Preferably, the carrying device and the intermediate packaging members each consist of a monomaterial, wherein the monomaterial of the carrying device is similar to the monomaterial of the intermediate packaging members. Thus, in the recycling process, the two monomaterials can be mixed to form a polymer blend consisting mainly of a single type of polymer.

[0016] In a practical embodiment, the carrying device and the intermediate packaging members each consist of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP). These materials are highly suited for manufacturing packaging films.

[0017] The present invention further relates to a carrying device to be used in an assembly according to claim 3 or claim 4.

[0018] The folding member is formed as an elongated strip, wherein each side wing is formed as a part of the strip extending in the longitudinal direction. Such side wings are highly suited to limit the displacement of a mounting tab while the corresponding packaging portion is separated from the tab.

[0019] Other advantageous embodiments of the described carrying device are defined in the dependent claims.

[0020] The present invention furthermore relates to a method for packaging a product according to claim 9.

[0021] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the figures, wherein like numbers denote like parts, and wherein:

• Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an expanded packaging sleeve for packaging a potted plant;
• Figure 2 shows a frontal view of the packaging sleeve of Figure 1 in an unexpanded position;
• Figure 3 shows a stack of intermediate packaging members mounted on a carrying rod according to the state of the art;
• Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a carrying device according to the invention in an unfolded position;
• Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the carrying device of Figure 4 in a partly folded position, wherein a stack of intermediate packaging members is mounted on the device;
• Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the assembly of Figure 5, wherein the carrying device in a completely folded position;
• Figure 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a carrying device having improved rigidity;
• Figure 8 shows a perspective view of a relatively simple embodiment of a carrying device.

[0022] With reference to Figure 4, a carrying device 1 for carrying a plurality of intermediate packaging members is formed as an integral body manufactured by injection molding. In Figure 4, the carrying device 1 is shown in an orientation in which the device is released from the mold after the injection molding process. The shown orientation is bottom-side-up with respect to the orientation in which the device 1 is to be mounted in a packaging machine.

[0023] The carrying device 1 comprises a folding member 10 formed as an elongated strip. The folding member 10 comprises a central portion 11 and two side wings 12, 13 located on opposite sides of the central portion 11. The central portion 11 and the side wings 12, 13 extend in parallel with respect to each other in the longitudinal direction of the folding member 10. The folding member 10 is further provided with a pair of folding lines 14, each folding line 14 being formed as a local indentation in the top surface of the folding member 10 extending along a border between a respective side wing 12, 13 and the central portion 11. Thanks to the folding lines 14, the folding member 10 can be folded such as to orient each side wing 12, 13 under an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the central portion 11. In such folded condition, illustrated in Figure 6, the side wings 12 and 13 extend in parallel at a mutual distance determined by the width of the central portion 11.

[0024] For the purpose of being mounted in a packaging machine, the carrying device 1 is provided with a pair of mounting elements 20. The mounting elements 20 are provided at opposite ends of the folding member 10. The mounting elements 20 each comprise a rod portion 21, which rod portions 21 extend in line with each other in the longitudinal direction of the folding member 10. Each rod portion 21 is connected to the central portion 11 of the folding member 10 by a connecting element 22 extending away from a top surface of the folding member 10 such that each rod portion 21 is positioned at a certain distance above that surface. Each rod portion 21 has a cylindrical cross section, enabling the carrying device 1 to be positioned inside a packaging machine configured to receive known carrying devices formed as a cylindrical rod.

[0025] In order for the carrying device 1 to hold a tab stack 210, the device 1 comprises a plurality of hooking members 30, having a position and size corresponding to that of the channels 211. Each hooking member 30 comprises a cylindrical wall 31 enclosing an inner space 32. The hooking members 30 are mounted on a top surface of a first side wing 13 of the folding member 10 with the central axis of their cylindrical wall 31 oriented perpendicular to said surface.

[0026] For the purpose of locking a tab stack 210 on the hooking members 30, the carrying device 1 comprises coupling elements 40 provided on the opposite side wing 12. Each coupling element 40 is adapted to be received inside a respective hooking member's inner space 32 when the folding member 10 is folded. The shape of the coupling elements 40 is such that, when an element 40 is positioned in said inner space 32, it engages the wall 31 of the hooking member 30 such as to prevent the element 40 from being released from the hooking member 30.

[0027] In Figure 5, the folding member 10 is shown in a partially folded position, in which the first side wing 13 of the folding member 10 has been folded about the corresponding folding line 14 such that it is oriented under an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the central portion 11. The figure further shows the stack 200, of which the tab stack 210 is placed on the first wing 13 with the hooking members 30 in the channels 211 and the free top edge 214 of the tab stack 210 aligned with and abutting the central portion 11, although this is not essential. By also folding the other side wing 12 with respect to the central portion 11, the coupling members 40 will engage the hooking members 30 to confine the tab stack 210.
In Figure 6, the folding member 10 is completely folded such that, as compared to the situation of Figure 5, the coupling members 40 engage the hooking members 30. The side wings 12, 13 are thus locked with respect to each other, preventing the folding member 10 from being unfolded. The tab stack 210 is thereby locked on the carrying device 1.

[0028] In the configuration shown in Figure 6, the assembly of the carrying device 1 and a stack of intermediate packaging members 100 will be mounted in a machine (not shown) for packaging a number of potted plants. In order for the carrying device 1 to be mounted in the machine, the machine comprises a seat in which the rod portions 21 of the mounting elements 20 are received.

[0029] With the assembly installed in the packaging machine, a packaging process can be performed as described earlier. In this process, each potted plant is packaged by enclosing into the sleeve portion 120 of an intermediate packaging member 100, before or after which the sleeve portion 120 is separated from its corresponding mounting tab 110. When all packaging sleeves 120 have been used, the carrying device 1 with the remaining tab stack 210 mounted thereon is removed from the packaging machine. The assembly of the carrying device 1 and the tab stack 210 can then be recycled into a new plastic product, without the need of separating the carrying device 1 and the tab stack 210.

[0030] It will be clear to a person skilled in the art that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the examples discussed in the foregoing, but that several amendments and modifications thereof are possible without deviating from the scope of the invention as defined in the attached claims. For instance, although the invention was described in the context of packaging potted plants, the invention can also be applied in packaging other types of products.

[0031] Furthermore it is noted that the different hooking members need not necessarily be provided on the same side wing. An individual hooking member may be provided on any of the two side wings, as long as the opposite side wing is provided with a corresponding coupling member.

[0032] Also, it will be clear to a person skilled in the art that a monomaterial can by nature also comprise certain contaminations consisting of a material different from said monomaterial. In respect of the present invention, a product consisting of a monomaterial is therefore meant to consist mainly of said certain material, wherein a quantity of any different material comprised by the product is relatively small as compared to the quantity of said monomaterial.

[0033] In order to improve the rigidity of a carrying device according to the invention when assembled with a stack of intermediate packaging members, a carrying device according to the invention may comprise a fixation means for fixating a first side wing with respect to an opposite side wing in addition to an engagement between a hooking member and a coupling member as described earlier.

[0034] The fixation means may comprise a first fixation member provided on a first side wing and a second fixation member provided on a second side wing, the two fixation members being configured to come into mutual engagement when the two side wings are folded towards each other. Preferably, the two fixation members are each positioned at an outer end of a side wing. More preferably, a pair of fixation members is positioned at each outer end of the folding member. Like a hooking member, a first fixation member may have a wall and an inner space, wherein the second fixation member, like a coupling member, is configured to extend through the inner space so as to engage with the wall from inside the inner space.

[0035] Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a carrying device 1' comprising a number of hooking members 30a, 30b positioned in a row on a first side wing 13, which hooking members 30a, 30b are to be coupled to coupling members 40a, 40b positioned in a row on the opposite side wing 12. Spaced apart from the outermost hooking members 30b, the carrying device 1' comprises a pair of first fixation members 50 positioned at opposite ends of the first side wing 13. On the opposite side wing 12, a pair of second fixation members 60 is provided, which fixation members 60 are each configured to be locked inside one of the first fixation members 50. After locking, the engagement between each of the first fixation members 50 and a respective second fixation member 60 prevents the side wings 12, 13 of the folding member 10 from getting separated at the ends of the folding member 10, and thus provides for improved rigidity of the carrying device 1'.

[0036] A further object of the invention is to provide an assembly of a carrying device and a plurality of intermediate packaging members which is relatively easy to manufacture. This object is reached by an assembly in which the carrying device is made out of a synthetic material, wherein the carrying device is thermally welded to the plurality of intermediate packaging members. In a very simple embodiment, the carrying device comprises an elongated member extending along a stack of intermediate packaging members, wherein a connection between the carrying device and the plurality of intermediate packaging members is formed by a thermal weld connecting the elongated member to said stack. The thermal weld may extend through the whole of said stack. The weld may also extend along only a portion of the height of the stack, wherein the plurality of intermediate packaging members comprised in the stack are mutually connected by other means than said thermal weld. The elongated member may comprise a pair of rod portions extending in line with each other in the longitudinal direction of the elongated member, the rod portions enabling the assembly to be hanged inside a packaging machine.

[0037] Figure 8 shows an embodiment of a carrying device 3 suitable to be used in an assembly as described in the last paragraph above. The carrying device 3 is the same as that depicted in Figure 5, except that it lacks hooking members and coupling members provided on the side wings 12, 13. Each of the side wings 12, 13 can be thermally welded to a stack of intermediate packaging members mounted on the device.

[0038] Within the scope of the invention, it is also conceivable that a plurality of intermediate packaging members is mounted on a carrying device by means of a mixture of hooking members and thermal welds. In this respect, each pair of a hooking member and a coupling member as described earlier may be replaced by a thermal weld. Also, the fixation means for preventing the side wings from separating from each other at the ends of a folding member may each be formed by a thermal weld connecting the first side wing to the second side wing. To facilitate thermal welding, each of the intermediate packaging members and the carrying device may comprise a thermoplastic material.

[0039] Instead or in addition to thermal welds and other mounting means such as hooking members, an assembly according to the invention may also comprise an adhesive connecting the plurality of intermediate packaging members to the carrying device.

[0040] It is noted that a method for packaging a product according to the invention in a practical situation will comprise the step of providing multiple assemblies according to the invention, each assembly comprising a carrying device and a plurality of intermediate packaging members. In a first step, a first assembly is positioned inside a packaging machine. In a continuous packaging process, the machine wraps each of a plurality of products to be packaged inside a packaging portion of an intermediate packaging member taken from the assembly. In this process, the packaging portion of the intermediate packaging member is separated from the respective mounting portion, and is transported out of the packaging machine together with the product. After a number of products has been packaged, the carrying device of the first assembly is removed from the packaging machine together with the attached remaining mounting portions, and is replaced by a second assembly. After multiple assemblies have been used, the remaining carrying devices with the remaining mounting portions thereon can be put into a recycling process to recover their base materials.

[0041] The packaging method according to the invention may be used for packaging any type of product, but is particularly suited for packaging vegetative products such as potted plants and bunches of flowers.

Claims

1. Assembly of a carrying device (1) and a plurality of intermediate carrying members (100) made from plastic film, wherein each intermediate packaging member (100) comprises a packaging portion (120) for packaging a product, as well as a mounting portion (110) mounted on the carrying device (1),
wherein the mounting portion (110) has at least two holes (111),
wherein the carrying device (1) engages said holes (111),
wherein the packaging portion (120) is arranged to be separated from the mounting portion (110), so that a product packaged in the packaging portion (120) can be removed while the mounting portion (110) remains mounted on the carrying device (1),
wherein both the carrying device (1) and the intermediate packaging members (100) are manufactured from a polymer such as polyethene (PE) or polypropene (PP),
wherein the carrying device (1) comprises a folding member (10) having a pair of opposite side wings (12,13), which side wings (12,13) are flexibly connected to each other, wherein the one side wing (13) is provided with at least two hooking members (30, 30a, 30b),
wherein the other side wing (12) is provided with coupling members (40, 40a, 40b) for coupling on to said hooking members (30, 30a, 30b),
wherein the folding member (10) further has a central portion (11) lying between the two side wings (12,13), characterized in that
the carrying device (1) comprises a pair of rod portions (21) provided on opposite ends of the folding member (10), wherein the pair of rod portions (21) lie in line with each other, and each rod portion (21) is connected to the central portion (11) of the folding member (10) by a connecting element (22) extending away from the top surface of the folding member (10) such that each rod portion (21) is positioned at a certain distance above that surface.

2. Assembly of a carrying device (3) and a plurality of intermediate carrying members (100) made from plastic film, wherein each intermediate packaging member (100) comprises a packaging portion (120) for packaging a product, as well as a mounting portion (110) mounted on the carrying device (1),
wherein the mounting portion (110) has at least two holes (111),
wherein the carrying device (1) engages said holes (111),
wherein the packaging portion (120) is arranged to be separated from the mounting portion (110), so that a product packaged in the packaging portion (120) can be removed while the mounting portion (110) remains mounted on the carrying device (1),
wherein both the carrying device (1) and the intermediate packaging members (100) are manufactured from a polymer such as polyethene (PE) or polypropene (PP),
wherein the carrying device (1) comprises a folding member (10) having a pair of opposite side wings (12,13), which side wings (12,13) are flexibly connected to each other, wherein the folding member (10) further has a central portion (11) lying between the two side wings (12,13), characterized in that
the carrying device (1) comprises a pair of rod portions (21) lying in line with each other, provided on opposite ends of the folding member (10), wherein each rod portion (21) is connected to the central portion (11) of the folding member (10) by a connecting element (22) extending away from the top surface of the folding member (10) such that each rod portion (21) is positioned at a certain distance above that surface, and the assembly comprises a thermal weld or an adhesive connecting the carrying device (3) to the plurality of intermediate packaging members (100).

3. Carrying device suitable for use with an assembly according to claim 1, wherein the carrying device (1) is manufactured from a polymer such as polyethene (PE) or polypropene (PP),
wherein the carrying device (1) comprises a folding member (10) having a pair of opposite side wings (12,13), which side wings (12,13) are flexibly connected to each other, wherein the one side wing (13) is provided with at least two hooking members (30, 30a, 30b), wherein the other side wing (12) is provided with coupling members (40, 40a, 40b) for coupling on to said hooking members (30, 30a, 30b),
wherein the folding member (10) further has a central portion (11) lying between the two side wings (12,13), characterized in that
the carrying device (1) comprises a pair of rod portions (21) lying in line with each other, provided on opposite ends of the folding member (10),
wherein each rod portion (21) is connected to the central portion (11) of the folding member (10) by a connecting element (22) extending away from the top surface of the folding member (10) such that each rod portion (21) is positioned at a certain distance above that surface.

4. Carrying device suitable for use with an assembly according to claim 2, wherein the carrying device (1) is manufactured from a polymer such as polyethene (PE) or polypropene (PP),
wherein the carrying device (1) comprises a folding member (10) having a pair of opposite side wings (12,13), which side wings (12,13) are flexibly connected to each other, wherein the folding member (10) further has a central portion (11) lying between the two side wings (12,13), characterized in that
the carrying device (1) comprises a pair of rod portions (21) lying in line with each other, provided on opposite ends of the folding member (10),
wherein each rod portion (21) is connected to the central portion (11) of the folding member (10) by a connecting element (22) extending away from the top surface of the folding member (10) such that each rod portion (21) is positioned at a certain distance above that surface.

5. Carrying device (1') according to claim 3, characterized in that the carrying device (1) further comprises a fixation means (50, 60) for fixating a first side wing (12) with respect to an opposite side wing (13).

6. Carrying device (1') according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixation means (50, 60) comprise a first fixation member (50) provided on a first side wing (13) and a second fixation member (60) provided on a second side wing (12), the two fixation members (50, 60) being configured to come into mutual engagement when the two side wings (12,13) are folded towards each other.

7. Carrying device (1') according to any of claims 5-6, characterized in that the fixation means (50, 60) are positioned at an outer end of the folding member (10).

8. Carrying device (1') according to claim 5 or claim 7, characterized in that the fixation means (50, 60) comprise a thermal weld connecting a first side wing (12) to a second side wing (13).

9. Method for packaging a product, comprising the steps of:

- providing an assembly according to any of claims 1-2,

- selecting a packaging portion (120),

- packaging a product in the selected packaging portion (120), and

- separating the packaging portion (120) from the corresponding mounting portion (110).

10. Method of packaging according to claim 9, characterized in that the product to be packaged is a potted plant or a bunch of flowers.

Ansprüche

1. Aufbau einer Tragvorrichtung (1) und mehrerer Zwischenträgerelemente (100), die aus einer Kunststofffolie hergestellt sind, wobei jedes Zwischenverpackungselement (100) einen Verpackungsabschnitt (120) zum Verpacken eines Produkts sowie einen an der Tragvorrichtung (1) montierten Montageabschnitt (110) umfasst,
wobei der Montageabschnitt (110) mindestens zwei Löcher (111) aufweist,
wobei die Tragvorrichtung (1) diese Löcher (111) in Eingriff nimmt,
wobei der Verpackungsabschnitt (120) so angeordnet ist, dass er von dem Montageabschnitt (110) getrennt ist, sodass ein in dem Verpackungsabschnitt (120) verpacktes Produkt entfernt werden kann, während der Montageabschnitt (110) an der Tragvorrichtung (1) montiert bleibt,
wobei sowohl die Tragvorrichtung (1) als auch die Zwischenverpackungselemente (100) aus einem Polymer, wie Polyethen (PE) oder Polypropen (PP), hergestellt sind,
wobei die Tragvorrichtung (1) ein Faltelement (10) mit einem Paar gegenüberliegender Seitenflügel (12, 13) umfasst, wobei die Seitenflügel (12, 13) flexibel miteinander verbunden sind, wobei der eine Seitenflügel (13) mit mindestens zwei Hakenelementen (30, 30a, 30b) versehen ist, wobei der andere Seitenflügel (12) mit Kopplungselementen (40, 40a, 40b) zum Koppeln an die Hakenelemente (30, 30a, 30b) versehen ist,
wobei das Faltelement (10) ferner einen mittleren Abschnitt (11) aufweist, der zwischen den beiden Seitenflügeln (12, 13) liegt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Tragvorrichtung (1) ein Paar Stababschnitte (21) umfasst, die an gegenüberliegenden Enden des Faltelements (10) vorgesehen sind,
wobei
das Paar Stababschnitte (21) in einer Reihe liegt, und
jeder Stababschnitt (21) mittels eines Verbindungselements (22), das sich von der oberen Fläche des Faltelements (10) derart weg erstreckt, dass jeder Stababschnitt (21) in einer bestimmten Entfernung oberhalb dieser Fläche angeordnet ist, mit dem mittleren Abschnitt (11) des Faltelements (10) verbunden ist.

2. Aufbau einer Tragvorrichtung (3) und mehrerer Zwischenträgerelemente (100), die aus einer Kunststofffolie hergestellt sind, wobei jedes Zwischenverpackungselement (100) einen Verpackungsabschnitt (120) zum Verpacken eines Produkts sowie einen an der Tragvorrichtung (1) montierten Montageabschnitt (110) umfasst,
wobei der Montageabschnitt (110) mindestens zwei Löcher (111) aufweist,
wobei die Tragvorrichtung (1) diese Löcher (111) in Eingriff nimmt,
wobei der Verpackungsabschnitt (120) so angeordnet ist, dass er von dem Montageabschnitt (110) getrennt ist, sodass ein in dem Verpackungsabschnitt (120) verpacktes Produkt entfernt werden kann, während der Montageabschnitt (110) an der Tragvorrichtung (1) montiert bleibt,
wobei sowohl die Tragvorrichtung (1) als auch die Zwischenverpackungselemente (100) aus einem Polymer, wie Polyethen (PE) oder Polypropen (PP), hergestellt sind,
wobei die Tragvorrichtung (1) ein Faltelement (10) mit einem Paar gegenüberliegender Seitenflügel (12, 13) umfasst, wobei die Seitenflügel (12, 13) flexibel miteinander verbunden sind,
wobei das Faltelement (10) ferner einen mittleren Abschnitt (11) aufweist, der zwischen den beiden Seitenflügeln (12, 13) liegt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Tragvorrichtung (1) ein Paar Stababschnitte (21) umfasst, die in einer Reihe liegen und an gegenüberliegenden Enden des Faltelements (10) vorgesehen sind,
wobei
jeder Stababschnitt (21) mittels eines Verbindungselements (22), das sich von der oberen Fläche des Faltelements (10) derart weg erstreckt, dass jeder Stababschnitt (21) in einer bestimmten Entfernung oberhalb dieser Fläche angeordnet ist, mit dem mittleren Abschnitt (11) des Faltelements (10) verbunden ist und der Aufbau eine Thermoschweißnaht oder einen Klebstoff umfasst, die bzw. der die Tragvorrichtung (3) mit den mehreren Zwischenverpackungselementen (100) verbindet.

3. Tragvorrichtung, die zur Verwendung mit einem Aufbau nach Anspruch 1 geeignet ist, wobei die Tragvorrichtung (1) aus einem Polymer, wie Polyethen (PE) oder Polypropen (PP), hergestellt ist,
wobei die Tragvorrichtung (1) ein Faltelement (10) mit einem Paar gegenüberliegender Seitenflügel (12, 13) umfasst, wobei die Seitenflügel (12, 13) flexibel miteinander verbunden sind, wobei der eine Seitenflügel (13) mit mindestens zwei Hakenelementen (30, 30a, 30b) versehen ist, wobei der andere Seitenflügel (12) mit Kopplungselementen (40, 40a, 40b) zum Koppeln an die Hakenelemente (30, 30a, 30b) versehen ist,
wobei das Faltelement (10) ferner einen mittleren Abschnitt (11) aufweist, der zwischen den beiden Seitenflügeln (12, 13) liegt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Tragvorrichtung (1) ein Paar Stababschnitte (21) umfasst, die in Reihe liegen und an gegenüberliegenden Enden des Faltelements (10) vorgesehen sind,
wobei jeder Stababschnitt (21) mittels eines Verbindungselements (22), das sich von der oberen Fläche des Faltelements (10) derart weg erstreckt, dass jeder Stababschnitt (21) in einer bestimmten Entfernung oberhalb dieser Fläche angeordnet ist, mit dem mittleren Abschnitt (11) des Faltelements (10) verbunden ist.

4. Tragvorrichtung, die zur Verwendung mit einem Aufbau nach Anspruch 2 geeignet ist, wobei die Tragvorrichtung (1) aus einem Polymer, wie Polyethen (PE) oder Polypropen (PP), hergestellt ist,
wobei die Tragvorrichtung (1) ein Faltelement (10) mit einem Paar gegenüberliegender Seitenflügel (12, 13) umfasst, wobei die Seitenflügel (12, 13) flexibel miteinander verbunden sind,
wobei das Faltelement (10) ferner einen mittleren Abschnitt (11) aufweist, der zwischen den beiden Seitenflügeln (12, 13) liegt,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
die Tragvorrichtung (1) ein Paar Stababschnitte (21) umfasst, die in Reihe liegen und an gegenüberliegenden Enden des Faltelements (10) vorgesehen sind,
wobei jeder Stababschnitt (21) mittels eines Verbindungselements (22), das sich von der oberen Fläche des Faltelements (10) derart weg erstreckt, dass jeder Stababschnitt (21) in einer bestimmten Entfernung oberhalb dieser Fläche angeordnet ist, mit dem mittleren Abschnitt (11) des Faltelements (10) verbunden ist.

5. Tragvorrichtung (1') nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tragvorrichtung (1) ferner ein Befestigungsmittel (50, 60) zum Befestigen eines ersten Seitenflügels (12) in Bezug auf einen gegenüberliegenden Seitenflügel (13) umfasst.

6. Tragvorrichtung (1') nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Befestigungsmittel (50, 60) ein erstes Befestigungselement (50), das an einem ersten Seitenflügel (13) vorgesehen ist, und ein zweites Befestigungselement (60), das an einem zweiten Seitenflügel (12) vorgesehen ist, umfassen, wobei die beiden Befestigungselemente (50, 60) dazu konfiguriert sind, in gegenseitigen Eingriff zu gelangen, wenn die beiden Seitenflügel (12, 13) aufeinander zu gefaltet werden.

7. Tragvorrichtung (1') nach einem der Ansprüche 5 - 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Befestigungsmittel (50, 60) an einem äußeren Ende des Faltelements (10) angeordnet sind.

8. Tragvorrichtung (1') nach Anspruch 5 oder 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Befestigungsmittel (50, 60) eine Thermoschweißnaht umfassen, die einen ersten Seitenflügel (12) mit einem zweiten Seitenflügel (13) verbindet.

9. Verfahren zum Verpacken eines Produkts, das die folgenden Schritte umfasst:

- Bereitstellen eines Aufbaus nach einem der Ansprüche 1 - 2,

- Auswählen eines Verpackungsabschnitts (120),

- Verpacken eines Produkts in dem ausgewählten Verpackungsabschnitt (120), und

- Trennen des Verpackungsabschnitts (120) vom entsprechenden Montageabschnitt (110).

10. Verfahren zum Verpacken nach Anspruch 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich bei dem zu verpackenden Produkt um eine Topfpflanze oder einen Blumenstrauß handelt.

Revendications

1. Ensemble de dispositif porteur (1) et une pluralité de éléments porteurs intermédiaires (100) fabriqués à partir de film en plastique, dans lequel chaque élément d'emballage (100) comprend une portion d'emballage (120) pour emballer un produit, ainsi qu'une portion de montage (110) montée sur le dispositif porteur (1),
dans lequel la portion de montage (110) possède au moins deux trous (111),
dans lequel le dispositif porteur (1) entre en prise avec lesdits trous (111),
dans lequel la portion d'emballage (120) est arrangée pour être séparée de la portion de montage (110), de sorte qu'un produit emballé dans la portion d'emballage (120) peut être retiré pendant que la portion de montage (110) reste montée sur le dispositif porteur (1),
dans lequel à la fois le dispositif porteur (1) et les éléments d'emballage intermédiaires (100) sont fabriqués à partir d'un polymère tel que le polyéthène (PE) ou le polypropène (PP),
dans lequel le dispositif porteur (1) comprend un élément de pliage (10) possédant une paire d'ailes latérales opposées (12, 13), lesquelles ailes latérales (12, 13) sont connectés de manière flexible l'une à l'autre, dans lequel l'une aile latérale (13) est fournie avec au moins deux organes d'accrochage (30, 30a, 30b), dans lequel l'autre aile latérale (12) est fournie avec des éléments de couplage (40, 40a, 40b) pour se coupler sur lesdits organes d'accrochage (30, 30a, 30b),
dans lequel l'élément de pliage (10) possède en outre une portion centrale (11) se situant entre deux ailes latérales (12, 13),
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif porteur (1) comprend une paire de segments de tige (21) fournie sur des extrémités opposées de l'élément de pliage (10),
dans lequel
la paire de segments de tige (21) se trouve alignée l'une avec l'autre, et
chaque segment de tige (21) est connecté à la portion centrale (11) de l'élément de pliage (10) à l'aide d'un élément de connexion (22) s'étendant à partir de la surface supérieure de l'élément de pliage (10) de sorte que chaque segment de tige (21) est placé à une certaine distance au-dessus de cette surface.

2. Ensemble de dispositif porteur (3) et une pluralité de éléments porteurs intermédiaires (100) fabriqués à partir de film en plastique, dans lequel chaque élément d'emballage (100) comprend une portion d'emballage (120) pour emballer un produit, ainsi qu'une portion de montage (110) montée sur le dispositif porteur (1),
dans lequel la portion de montage (110) possède au moins deux trous (111),
dans lequel le dispositif porteur (1) entre en prise avec lesdits trous (111),
dans lequel la portion d'emballage (120) est arrangée pour être séparée de la portion de montage (110), de sorte qu'un produit emballé dans la portion d'emballage (120) peut être retiré pendant que la portion de montage (110) reste montée sur le dispositif porteur (1),
dans lequel à la fois le dispositif porteur (1) et les éléments d'emballage intermédiaires (100) sont fabriqués à partir d'un polymère tel que le polyéthène (PE) ou le polypropène (PP),
dans lequel le dispositif porteur (1) comprend un élément de pliage (10) possédant une paire d'ailes latérales opposées (12, 13), lesquelles ailes latérales (12, 13) sont connectés de manière flexible l'une à l'autre,
dans lequel l'élément de pliage (10) possède en outre une portion centrale (11) se situant entre deux ailes latérales (12, 13),
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif porteur (1) comprend une paire de segments de tige (21) se trouvant alignée l'une avec l'autre, fournie sur des extrémités opposées de l'élément de pliage (10),
dans lequel
chaque segment de tige (21) est connecté à la portion centrale (11) de l'élément de pliage (10) à l'aide d'un élément de connexion (22) s'étendant à partir de la surface supérieure de l'élément de pliage (10) de sorte que chaque segment de tige (21) est placé à une certaine distance au-dessus de cette surface, et l'ensemble comprend une soudure thermique ou un adhésif connectant le dispositif porteur (3) à la pluralité d'éléments d'emballage intermédiaires (100).

3. Dispositif porteur pouvant être utilisé avec un ensemble selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le dispositif porteur (1) est fabriqué à partir d'un polymère tel que le polyéthène (PE) ou le polypropène (PP),
dans lequel le dispositif porteur (1) comprend un élément de pliage (10) possédant une paire d'ailes latérales opposées (12, 13), lesquelles ailes latérales (12, 13) sont connectés de manière flexible l'une à l'autre, dans lequel l'une aile latérale (13) est fournie avec au moins deux organes d'accrochage (30, 30a, 30b), dans lequel l'autre aile latérale (12) est fournie avec des éléments de couplage (40, 40a, 40b) pour se coupler sur lesdits organes d'accrochage (30, 30a, 30b),
dans lequel l'élément de pliage (10) possède en outre une portion centrale (11) se situant entre deux ailes latérales (12, 13),
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif porteur (1) comprend une paire de segments de tige (21) se trouvant alignée l'une avec l'autre, fournie sur des extrémités opposées de l'élément de pliage (10),
dans lequel chaque segment de tige (21) est connecté à la portion centrale (11) de l'élément de pliage (10) à l'aide d'un élément de connexion (22) s'étendant à partir de la surface supérieure de l'élément de pliage (10) de sorte que chaque segment de tige (21) est placé à une certaine distance au-dessus de cette surface.

4. Dispositif porteur pouvant être utilisé avec un ensemble selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le dispositif porteur (1) est fabriqué à partir d'un polymère tel que le polyéthène (PE) ou le polypropène (PP),
dans lequel le dispositif porteur (1) comprend un élément de pliage (10) possédant une paire d'ailes latérales opposées (12, 13), lesquelles ailes latérales (12, 13) sont connectés de manière flexible l'une à l'autre,
dans lequel l'élément de pliage (10) possède en outre une portion centrale (11) se situant entre deux ailes latérales (12, 13),
caractérisé en ce que
le dispositif porteur (1) comprend une paire de segments de tige (21) se trouvant alignée l'une avec l'autre, fournie sur des extrémités opposées de l'élément de pliage (10),
dans lequel chaque segment de tige (21) est connecté à la portion centrale (11) de l'élément de pliage (10) à l'aide d'un élément de connexion (22) s'étendant à partir de la surface supérieure de l'élément de pliage (10) de sorte que chaque segment de tige (21) est placé à une certaine distance au-dessus de cette surface.

5. Dispositif porteur (1') selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que le dispositif porteur (1) comprend en outre des moyens de fixation (50, 60) pour fixer une première aile latérale (12) par rapport à une aile latérale opposée (13).

6. Dispositif porteur (1') selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de fixation (50, 60) comprennent un premier élément de fixation (50) fourni sur une première aile latérale (13) et un second élément de fixation (60) fourni sur une seconde aile latérale (12), les deux éléments de fixation (50, 60) étant configurés de façon à venir en accord mutuel lorsque les deux ailes latérales (12, 13) sont pliées l'une vers l'autre.

7. Dispositif porteur (1') selon l'une quelconque des revendications 5 et 6, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de fixation (50, 60) sont placés à une extrémité extérieure de l'élément de pliage (10).

8. Dispositif porteur (1') selon la revendication 5 ou 7, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de fixation (50, 60) comprennent une soudure thermique connectant une première aile latérale (12) à une seconde aile latérale (13).

9. Procédé d'emballage d'un produit, comprenant les étapes consistant à :

- fournir un ensemble selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 2,

- choisir une portion d'emballage (120),

- emballer un produit dans la portion d'emballage (120) choisie, et

- séparer la portion d'emballage (120) de la portion de montage (110) correspondante.

10. Procédé d'emballage selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que le produit à emballer est une plante en pot ou un bouquet de fleurs.

Drawing