TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of refrigerator packaging, and
specifically to a packaging structure and a packaging method for refrigerators.
BACKGROUND
[0002] As economy develops rapidly and people's income increases, household electrical appliances
such as refrigerators have already become indispensable home appliances. In the current
industry chain of refrigerators, refrigerator packaging is an indispensable section
for sales, transportation and storage.
[0003] At present, refrigerators in the prior art all employ a paper packaging box. The
packaging box comprises a base, an upper cover, protective corrugated paper or foam
on sides. The paper packaging box is large-sized, costly and not environment-friendly,
as well as prone to damp, mold and fall-apart problems due to the influence of the
environment.
[0004] Therefore, in view of technical problems existing in the paper packaging boxes in
the prior art, it is urgently desirable to provide a packaging structure for refrigerators,
which is low-cost, small-sized, environment friendly and not prone to the influence
from the environment, and a packaging method for refrigerators.
SUMMARY
[0005] In view of technical problems that paper packaging boxes in the prior art are large-sized,
costly and not environment-friendly as well as prone to damp, mold and fall-apart
problems due to the influence of the environment, embodiments of the present invention
a packaging structure for a refrigerator, which is small-sized, low-cost, and less
environment-affected, and a packaging method. The packaging structure for a refrigerator
employs a film which is heated to shrink to form a layer of outer film without employing
the packaging manner of using paper to covering the whole refrigerator, thereby saving
the cost, reducing the size and avoiding the influence from environmental factors.
[0006] A specific solution of the packaging structure for a refrigerator according to embodiments
of the present invention is as follows: a packaging structure for a refrigerator comprises
a bottom seat supported on a bottom of the refrigerator; a top seat covering a top
of the refrigerator; four vertical side edges, both ends of each vertical side edge
being respectively connected with the bottom seat and the top seat, and the four vertical
side edges being respectively disposed at four corners of the bottom seat and the
top seat; the bottom seat, the top seat and the four vertical side edges form an accommodation
space for accommodating the refrigerator; wherein the packaging structure further
comprises a film layer which wraps an outer surface of an outline main body formed
by the bottom seat, the top seat and the four vertical side edges by means of film
shrinking upon heating.
[0007] Preferably, the packaging structure further comprises an upper cover plate which
covers the outside of the top seat, and the film layer wraps an outer surface of an
outline main body formed by the upper cover plate, the bottom seat and the four vertical
side edges.
[0008] Preferably, the packaging structure further comprises a lower cover plate which covers
the outside of the bottom seat, and the film layer wraps an outer surface of an outline
main body formed by the upper cover plate, the lower cover plate and the four vertical
side edges.
[0009] Preferably, the bottom seat, the top seat and the four vertical side edges are all
made of a shock-absorbing material.
[0010] Preferably, a hollow is provided in the middle of the bottom seat, an area of the
hollow is between one third and two thirds of the area of the bottom seat, a plurality
of through holes are disposed at predetermined positions of the top seat, and the
plurality of through holes are evenly arranged.
[0011] Preferably, the packaging structure further comprises a strapping band which is wound
around the outside of the film layer.
[0012] Preferably, the material of the film layer comprises polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride.
[0013] Preferably, a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions are disposed on inner surfaces
of the vertical side edges facing towards the refrigerator, and are configured to
abut against the outer surface of the refrigerator.
[0014] Embodiments of the present invention further provide a packaging method for packaging
a refrigerator, comprising the following steps: placing the refrigerator on a bottom
seat; fixing four vertical side edges at four corners of the bottom seat respectively;
placing a top seat on the top of the refrigerator and fixing the top seat with the
four vertical side edges; covering an outer surface of an outline main body formed
by the bottom seat, the top seat and the four vertical side edges with a film, and
heating the film so that the film shrinks to form a film layer.
[0015] Preferably, the packaging method further comprises: winding a strapping band around
the outside of the film layer.
[0016] As can be seen from the above technical solutions, embodiments of the present invention
have the following advantages:
[0017] The packaging structure for a refrigerator proposed by embodiments of the present
invention comprises the top seat, the bottom seat and the four vertical side edges,
and employs the film which is heated to shrink to form a layer of outer film, the
outer film tightly wraps the top seat, the bottom seat and the four vertical side
edges due to shrinking upon heating, into a whole which is not apt to fall apart,
so that the packaging manner of covering the whole refrigerator with paper needn't
be employed, the cost can be saved and the size can be reduced. Furthermore, the film
layer in the packaging structure for the refrigerator proposed by the embodiments
of the present invention is made of a transparent material so that the user can view
the status of the product of the refrigerator without opening the packaging box. Furthermore,
the film layer of the packaging structure for the refrigerator proposed by the embodiments
of the present invention has good chemical stability and water resistance, thereby
effectively avoiding problems such as damp, mold and fall-apart problems of the packaging
structure due to environmental factors.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging structure for a refrigerator according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging structure (not including a
film layer) in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a vertical side edge in the embodiment shown in FIG.
1;
FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a packaging method for a refrigerator according to an embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Technical solutions in embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly
and completely hereunder with reference to figures in the embodiments of the present
invention to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the solutions of
the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only partial embodiments
of the present invention other than all embodiments. All other embodiments obtained
by those having ordinary skill in the art based on the embodiments in the present
invention without making any inventive efforts should all fall within the protection
scope of the present invention.
[0020] Terms such as "first", "second", "third" and "fourth" (if any) in the description,
claims and the above figures of the present invention are used to distinguish similar
objects and not necessarily used to describe a specific order or a sequential order.
It should be appreciated that the thus-used data may be interchangeable in proper
cases so that the embodiments described here can be implemented in an order other
than the content shown or depicted here. In addition, terms "comprise" and "have"
and their variants are intended to cover inclusion in a non-exclusive way, for example,
a process, method, system, product or apparatus including a series of steps or units
is not necessarily limited to clearly listing which steps or units, and instead, may
comprise other steps or units which are not clearly listed out or are intrinsic for
the process, method, system, product or apparatus.
[0021] FIG. 1 to FIG. 2 show perspective views of a packaging structure for a refrigerator
according to embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, since a film
layer is transparent in the embodiment, the film layer is separately shown in parallel
as a structural form in a final state. In the embodiment, an upstanding direction
of the refrigerator when the refrigerator is located in a packaging structure 100
is taken as a vertical direction, a surface in a direction close to the refrigerator
is taken an inner surface, and a surface in a direction away from the refrigerator
is taken as an outer surface.
[0022] In one embodiment, a packaging structure 100 for a refrigerator comprises a bottom
seat 20 supported on the bottom of the refrigerator, a top seat 10 covering the top
of the refrigerator, four vertical side edges and a film layer 40. Both ends of each
vertical side edge are respectively connected with the bottom seat 20 and the top
seat 10, and the four vertical side edges are respectively disposed at four corners
of the bottom seat 20 and the top seat 10. The top seat 10, the bottom seat 20 and
the four vertical side edges form an accommodation space for accommodating the refrigerator.
In this embodiment, the film layer 40 wraps an outer surface of an outline main body
formed by the bottom seat 20, the top seat 10 and the four vertical side edges by
means of film shrinking upon heating. The bottom seat 20, the top seat 10, the four
vertical side edges and the film layer 40 form a complete packaging structure 100.
[0023] A shape of the top seat 10 is substantially the same as the shape of the top of the
refrigerator; a shape of the bottom seat 20 is substantially the same as the shape
of the bottom of the refrigerator. Preferably, the top seat 10 and the bottom seat
20 have the same shape and size. In the present embodiment, the shapes of the top
seat 10 and the bottom seat 20 are both a regular quadrilateral such as a square or
a rectangle. The top seat 10 and the bottom seat 20 respectively have four corners.
[0024] A structural configuration of the bottom seat 20 matches the structural configuration
of the bottom of the refrigerator, to enhance the fixing effect of the refrigerator.
Specifically, if the structural configuration of the bottom of the refrigerator is
a structural configuration with four rollers protruding from a plane, the structural
configuration of the bottom seat 20 is a structural configuration with four roller
cavities recessed into a plane. The four roller cavities are adapted to the rollers
in size and position. Certainly, there are various structural configurations of the
bottom of the refrigerator, and correspondingly, the structural configuration of the
bottom seat 20 varies accordingly. With the structural configuration matching the
structural configuration of the bottom seat of the refrigerator, the bottom seat 20
enhances the effect of the packaging structure 100 in fixing the refrigerator. Further
referring to FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, a hollow 201 is provided in the middle
of the bottom seat 20. The area of the hollow 201 is between one third and two thirds
of the area of the bottom seat 20. The hollow structure of the bottom seat 20 can
further reduce the cost of the material without affecting the stability of the bottom
seat 20.
[0025] A plurality of through holes 101 are disposed at predetermined positions of the top
seat 10, and the plurality of through holes 101 are evenly arranged. For the sake
of clarity and conciseness of the figures, only through holes 101 are exemplarily
marked in FIG. 2, and not all the through holes 101 are marked.
[0026] In the present embodiment, the bottom seat 20, the top seat 10, and the four vertical
side edges are all made of a shock-absorbing material such as a polyethylene foam
(EPE), a foamed polypropylene (EPP), a rubber material, fleece paper etc. By employing
the shock-absorbing material, the shock-resistant capability of the packaging structure
100 is effectively improved, thereby avoiding damage to the refrigerator due to shock
during transportation.
[0027] The film layer 40 wraps the outside of the bottom seat 20, the top seat 10 and the
four vertical side edges by means of film shrinking upon heating. After the refrigerator
is accommodated in the accommodating space and the bottom seat 20, the top seat 10
and the four vertical side edges are assembled together, a worker or an industrial
robot covers, in the vertical direction, the outer surface of the outline main body
constituted by the bottom seat 20, the top seat 10 and the four vertical side edges,
the film is made shrink upon heating, so that a transparent film layer 40 is formed
on the surface of the outer contour formed by the bottom seat 20, the top seat 10
and the four vertical side edges. The film layer 40 surrounds and fixes the bottom
seat 20, the top seat 10, the four vertical side edges and the refrigerator as a whole.
[0028] The material of the film layer 40 has colorless, odorless, non-toxic, transparent
and easily heat-shrinkable properties. In the present embodiment, the material specifically
selected for the film layer 40 comprises polyethylene (PE film) or polyvinyl chloride
(PVC film). A manner of heating the film may employ heating with a heat gun or systematic
heating with a heating device. Heating with the heat gun is generally suitable for
small-scale production, and heating with the heating device is generally suitable
for mass production. The film layer 40 has transparent properties, and the user can
see the status of a refrigerator product without opening the package. Furthermore,
the film layer 40 has characteristics such as low cost, small size and compactness,
which effectively reduces the cost during production and transportation. Furthermore,
the film layer 40 has characteristics such as stable chemical properties and water
resistance, thereby effectively avoiding damp, mold and falling-apart problems of
the packaging structure due to environmental factors.
[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the packaging structure 100 further comprises an upper
cover plate 15. The upper cover plate 15 covers the outside of the top seat 10. The
upper cover plate 15 may be in a shape of a semi-open box, the top seat 10 may be
received and mounted in an inner cavity of the box, and a height of the box is equal
to or slightly larger than the height of the top seat 10. The film layer 40 wraps
an outer surface of an outline main body formed by the bottom seat 20, the upper cover
plate 15 and the four vertical side edges by means of film shrinking upon heating.
The bottom seat 20, the upper cover plate 15, the top seat 10, the four vertical side
edges and the film layer 40 form a complete packaging structure 100. Preferably, the
packaging structure 100 further comprises a lower cover plate 25. The lower cover
25 covers the outside of the bottom seat 20. The lower cover plate 25 may be in a
shape of a semi-open box, the bottom seat 20 may be received and mounted in an inner
cavity of the box, and a height of the box is equal to or slightly larger than the
height of the bottom seat 20. The film layer 40 wraps an outer surface of an outline
main body formed by the lower cover plate 25, the upper cover plate 15 and the four
vertical side edges by means of film shrinking upon heating. The lower cover plate
25, the bottom seat 20, the upper cover plate 15, the top seat 10, the four vertical
side edges and the film layer 40 form a complete packaging structure 100.
[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 2, the packaging structure 100 comprises
the upper cover plate 15, a top seat 10, four vertical side edges, the bottom seat
20, the lower cover plate 25 and the film layer 40. As stated above, the upper cover
plate 15 and the lower cover plate 25 in the packaging structure 100 may not be provided,
or only one or both of the upper cover plate 15 and the lower cover plate 25 may be
provided.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the four vertical side edges are respectively a first
vertical side edge 31, a second vertical side edge 32, a third vertical side edge
31 and a fourth vertical side edge 34, and both ends of each of the vertical side
edge are respectively connected with the bottom seat 20 and the top seat 10. The first
vertical side edge 31, the second vertical side edge 32, the third vertical side edge
33 and the fourth vertical side edge 34 are respectively disposed at four corners
of the bottom seat 20 and the top seat 10. The bottom seat 20, the top seat 10 and
the four vertical side edges form an accommodation space for accommodating the refrigerator.
[0032] Further referring to FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, a specific structure of a
vertical side edge is illustrated by taking the third vertical side edge 33 as an
example. The third vertical side edge 33 comprises two sides, which are a first side
331 and a second side 332 respectively. The first side 331 and the second side 332
are respectively perpendicular to a vertical direction, and have a predetermined extension
length (i.e., a transverse width) along the corners of the top seat 10 and the bottom
seat 20. Preferably, a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions 330 are disposed on an
inner surface of the third vertical side edge 33 facing towards the refrigerator,
i.e., a plurality of spaced-apart protrusions 33 are disposed on inner surfaces of
the first side 331 and the second side 332 and configured to abut against the outer
surface of the refrigerator. For the sake of clarity and conciseness of the figure,
only two protrusions 330 are exemplarily marked in FIG. 3, and not all protrusions
330 are marked. In the present embodiment, the protrusions 330 are transversely elongated
protrusions. In other embodiments, the protrusions 330 may also be in other shapes,
for example, annular protrusions with a preset radius, or point-shaped spherical protrusions.
The protrusions 330 further improve the shock-absorbing performance of the packaging
structure 100.
[0033] Preferably, the shapes of the four vertical side edges may vary. As shown in FIG.
1 to FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the first vertical side edge 31 and the fourth
vertical side edge 34 have the same shape and each include a long side and a short
side, i.e., the two sides have different lengths in the vertical direction; the second
vertical side edges 32 and the third vertical side edges 33 have the same shape and
each include two sides with the same length in the vertical direction.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the packaging structure 100 further comprises a strapping
band (not shown). The strapping band is wound around the outside of the film layer.
Specifically, the strapping band may be wound once around the outside of the outline
main body of the packaging structure 100 in a vertical direction. The packaging structure
100 may comprise a plurality of spaced-apart strapping bands. The strapping bands
can not only further strengthen the stability of the whole packaging structure, but
also serve as gripping places for workers upon transportation, thereby facilitating
the workers to transport the refrigerator.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, an embodiment of the present invention further provides a packaging
method for packaging a refrigerator. In this embodiment, the packaging method comprises
four steps, and the specific content of each step is presented as follows.
[0036] Step S1: placing the refrigerator on the bottom seat. As stated above, when the packaging
structure further comprises a lower cover plate, the bottom seat may be placed in
the lower cover plate first, and then the refrigerator be placed on the bottom seat.
[0037] Step S2: fixing the four vertical side edges at the four corners of the bottom seat
respectively.
[0038] Step S3: placing the top seat on the top of the refrigerator and fixing the top seat
with the four vertical side edges. As stated above, when the packaging structure further
comprises an upper cover plate, after the top seat is placed on the top of the refrigerator
and fixed with the four vertical side edges, the upper cover plate is disposed on
the top seat. Alternatively, the top seat and the upper cover plate are firstly fixed
into one piece, and then the one-piece structure is placed on the top of the refrigerator
and fixed with the four vertical side edges.
[0039] Step S4: covering the outer surface of the outline main body formed by the bottom
seat, the top seat and the four vertical side edges with a film, and heating the film
so that the film shrinks to form a film layer. The film layer surrounds and fixes
the bottom seat, the top seat, the four vertical side edges and the refrigerator as
a whole. A manner of heating the film may employ heating with a heat gun or systematic
heating with a heating device. Heating with the heat gun is generally suitable for
small-scale production, and heating with the heating device is generally suitable
for mass production.
[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the packaging method further comprises step S5: winding
the strapping band around the outside of the film layer. Specifically, the strapping
band may be wound once around the outside of the outline main body of the packaging
structure 100 in the vertical direction. In step S5, a plurality of spaced-apart strapping
bands may be wound around the outside of the film layer. The strapping bands can not
only further strengthen the stability of the whole packaging structure 100, but also
serve as gripping places for workers upon transportation, thereby facilitating the
workers to transport the refrigerator.
[0041] The packaging structure for a refrigerator proposed by embodiments of the present
invention comprises the top seat, the bottom seat and four vertical side edges and
employs the film which is heated to shrink to form a layer of outer film, the outer
film tightly wraps the top seat, the bottom seat and the four vertical side edges
due to shrinking upon heating, into a whole which is not apt to fall apart, so that
the packaging manner of covering the whole refrigerator with paper needn't be employed,
the cost can be saved and the size can be reduced.
[0042] The film layer in the packaging structure for the refrigerator proposed by the embodiment
of the present invention is made of a transparent material so that the user can view
the status of the product of the refrigerator without opening the packaging box.
[0043] The film layer of the packaging structure for a refrigerator proposed by the embodiment
of the present invention has good chemical stability and water resistance, thereby
effectively avoiding problems such as damp, mold and falling-apart problems of the
packaging structure due to environmental factors.
[0044] Although embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described
above, it may be appreciated that the above embodiments are exemplary and cannot be
construed as limiting the present invention. Those having ordinary skill in the art
may make changes, modifications, replacements and variations for the above embodiments
within the scope of the present invention.
1. A packaging structure for a refrigerator, comprising:
a bottom seat supported on a bottom of the refrigerator;
a top seat covering a top of the refrigerator;
four vertical side edges, both ends of each vertical side edge being respectively
connected with the bottom seat and the top seat, and the four vertical side edges
being respectively disposed at four corners of the bottom seat and the top seat; the
bottom seat, the top seat and the four vertical side edges form an accommodation space
for accommodating the refrigerator;
wherein the packaging structure further comprises a film layer which wraps an outer
surface of an outline main body formed by the bottom seat, the top seat and the four
vertical side edges by means of film shrinking upon heating.
2. The packaging structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the packaging
structure further comprises an upper cover plate which covers the outside of the top
seat, and the film layer wraps an outer surface of an outline main body formed by
the upper cover plate, the bottom seat and the four vertical side edges.
3. The packaging structure for a refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the packaging
structure further comprises a lower cover plate which covers the outside of the bottom
seat, and the film layer wraps an outer surface of an outline main body formed by
the upper cover plate, the lower cover plate and the four vertical side edges.
4. The packaging structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the bottom
seat, the top seat and the four vertical side edges are all made of a shock-absorbing
material.
5. The packaging structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a hollow
is provided in the middle of the bottom seat, an area of the hollow is between one
third and two thirds of the area of the bottom seat, a plurality of through holes
are disposed at predetermined positions of the top seat, and the plurality of through
holes are evenly arranged.
6. The packaging structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the packaging
structure further comprises a strapping band which is wound around the outside of
the film layer.
7. The packaging structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the material
of the film layer comprises polyethylene or polyvinyl chloride.
8. The packaging structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a plurality
of spaced-apart protrusions are disposed on inner surfaces of the vertical side edges
facing towards the refrigerator, and are configured to abut against the outer surface
of the refrigerator.
9. A packaging method for a refrigerator, wherein the packaging method comprises the
following steps:
placing a refrigerator on a bottom seat;
fixing four vertical side edges at four corners of the bottom seat respectively;
placing a top seat on the top of the refrigerator and fixing the top seat with the
four vertical side edges;
covering an outer surface of an outline main body formed by the bottom seat, the top
seat and the four vertical side edges with a film, and heating the film so that the
film shrinks to form a film layer.
10. The packaging method for a refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the packaging
method further comprises: winding a strapping band around the outside of the film
layer.