Packaging material, and method of and machine for producing the same

Abstract

A loose-fill packaging material has a plurality of tubular elements for filling a container with articles to be shipped, each of the tubular elements having a shape selected from the group consisting of a conical shape and a cylindrical shape, and being composed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and a paper product, each of the tubular element having an axis and two open axial ends provided with two axial edges spaced from one another in an axial direction, at least one of the edges being rolled around an axis extending transversely to the first mentioned axis in a direction selected from the group consisting inwardly and outwardly so as to form a plurality of tight turns and to form a prestressed ring at least at one of the open axial ends of each of the tubular elements for reduction of filling weight per unit volume as well as for increase of compression stiffness, rigidity and bearing properties; also a method of packaging and a machine of producing the material are provided.

1 . A loose-fill packaging material, comprising a plurality of tubular elements for filling a container with articles to be shipped, each of said tubular elements having a shape selected from the group consisting of a conical shape and a cylindrical shape, and being composed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and a paper product, each of said tubular element having an axis and two open axial ends provided with two axial edges spaced from one another in an axial direction, at least one of said edges being rolled around an axis extending transversely to said first mentioned axis in a direction selected from the group consisting inwardly and outwardly so as to form a plurality of tight turns and to form a prestressed ring at least at one of said open axial ends of each of said tubular elements for reduction of filling weight per unit volume as well as for increase of compression stiffness, rigidity and bearing properties.  
   
   
       2 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the other of said edges is also rolled in a direction selected from the group consisting of inwardly and outwardly.  
   
   
       3 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said edges of each of said tubular elements are rolled in a same direction.  
   
   
       4 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said edges of each of said tubular elements are rolled in opposite directions.  
   
   
       5 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said axial edges of each of said tubular elements is formed as an edge selected from the group consisting of a straight edge, an inclined edge, and a curved edge.  
   
   
       6 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said tubular elements has a genetrics with a shape selected from the group consisting of a straight line, an inclined line, and a curved line.  
   
   
       7 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said tubular elements is composed of several layers.  
   
   
       8 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein each of said tubular elements is provided with a plurality of knurls.  
   
   
       9 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said layers are provided with knurls formed so that the knurls of different layers are different.  
   
   
       10 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said material on each of said tubular elements is a material which is initially wetted and subsequently bright.  
   
   
       11 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said material is provided with a coating.  
   
   
       12 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said material is impregnated with a substance.  
   
   
       13 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the paper or the paper product of each of said tubular elements is wound under an angle.  
   
   
       14 . A loose fill packaging material as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the paper or the paper product of each of said tubular elements is wound so that an amount of layers is a variable along a length of said tubular element.  
   
   
       15 . A method of packaging articles to be shipped, comprising the steps of providing a loose-field packaging material, comprising a plurality of tubular elements each having a shape selected from the group consisting of a conical shape and a cylindrical shape, and being composed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and a paper product, each of said tubular element having an axis and two open axial ends provided with two axial edges spaced from one another in an axial direction, at least one of said edges being rolled around an axis extending transversely to said first mentioned axis in a direction selected from the group consisting inwardly and outwardly so as to form a plurality of tight turns and to form a prestressed ring at least at one of said open axial ends of each of said tubular elements for reduction of filling weight per unit volume as well as for increase of compression stiffness, rigidity and bearing properties; and filling a container with said loose-filled packaging material.  
   
   
       16 . A machine for producing a loose-fill packaging material for filling a container with articles to be shipped, the machine comprising means for forming a plurality of tubular elements each having a shape selected from the group consisting of a conical shape and a cylindrical shape, and being composed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and a paper product, wherein each of said tubular elements having an axis and two open axial ends provided with two axial edges spaced from one another in an axial direction; and means for rolling at least one of said edges around an axis extending transversely said first mentioned axis in a direction selected from the group consisting inwardly and outwardly so as to form a plurality of tight turns and to form a prestressed ring at least at one of said open axial ends of each of said tubular elements for reduction of filling weight per unit volume as well as for increase of compression stiffness, rigidity and bearing properties.