Packaging system and method

Abstract

A packaging system for goods, having a box ( 1 ) for holding the goods, the box having four side walls ( 11 a - d ), a front face ( 12 ) and a rear face ( 16 ); the front face has a wall provided with a window ( 15 ); the rear face has an opening; the packaging system further has either (i) a plastic film ( 6 ) wrapped around the box, the plastic film covering the front face and the rear face of the box and thereby retaining the goods within the box; or (ii) at least one band placed around the box, the at least one band being placed around the box so as to encircle the front face and the rear face of the box and thereby retain the goods within the box; and the opening in the rear face is configured to allow the goods to be pushed out of the box through the opening when the box is resting on one of its side walls and after the plastic film or the at least one band has been removed.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A packaging system for goods, comprising:
 a box for holding the goods, the box having four side walls, a front face and a rear face;   wherein the front face comprises a wall provided with a window;   wherein the rear face comprises an opening;   wherein the packaging system further comprises either   
       (i) a plastic film wrapped around the box, the plastic film covering the front face and the rear face of the box and thereby retaining the goods within the box; or 
       (ii) at least one band placed around the box, the at least one band being placed around the box so as to encircle the front face and the rear face of the box and thereby retain the goods within the box; 
       and wherein the opening in the rear face is configured to allow the goods to be pushed out of the box through the opening when the box is resting on one of its side walls and after the plastic film or the at least one band has been removed. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging system as in  claim 19 , wherein the rear face opening extends fully to the side walls of the box. 
     
     
         21 . The packaging system of  claim 19 , wherein the rear face opening is defined by the side walls of the box. 
     
     
         22 . The packaging system of  claim 19 , wherein a lip projects partially across the rear face opening from a side wall of the box, the lip being configured to deflect outwardly when goods are being pushed out of the box. 
     
     
         23 . The packaging system of  claim 19 , wherein the rear face opening extends across more than 70% of the area of the rear face. 
     
     
         24 . The packaging system of  claim 19 , wherein the box is made of cardboard. 
     
     
         25 . The packaging system of  claim 19 , wherein the film is a pre-stretch film. 
     
     
         26 . The packaging system of  claim 19 , wherein the packaging further comprises a tray adapted to support the goods, and wherein when the packaging is assembled, the tray is located in the box. 
     
     
         27 . The packaging system of  claim 26 , wherein the tray is made of plastics. 
     
     
         28 . The packaging system as in  claim 27 , wherein the tray is made from rPET. 
     
     
         29 . The packaging system as in  claim 26 , wherein the tray comprises a back wall and a bottom plate, and wherein the back wall is configured to be inclined with respect to a horizontal surface which supports the tray. 
     
     
         30 . The packaging system as in  claim 19 , wherein the rear face of the box is completely open. 
     
     
         31 . A packaging method using a box and either a plastic film, or at least one band, the box having four side walls, a front face comprising a window, and a rear face comprising an opening, the opening in the rear face being configured to allow the goods to be pushed out of the box through the opening when the box is resting on one of its side walls, the method comprising positioning the goods in the box through the rear face opening so that the goods face the opening in the front face of the box; and either
 (i) wrapping the box in at least one layer of the plastic film so that the plastic film at least partially covers the front face and the rear face of the box and thereby retains the goods within the box, or   (ii) placing the at least one band around the box so that the at least one band encircles the front face and the rear face of the box and thereby retains the goods within the box.   
     
     
         32 . The packaging method of  claim 31 , wherein the plastic film is provided with perforations along one of the side walls of the box. 
     
     
         33 . The packaging method of  claim 31 , wherein the goods are stored in a tray. 
     
     
         34 . The packaging method of  claim 31 , wherein the tray is made of plastic. 
     
     
         35 . A method of unpacking goods from a package formed of a box and either a plastic film or at least one band,
 wherein the goods are positioned inside the box, the box having four side walls, a front face comprising a wall provided with a window, and a rear face comprising an opening, the opening in the rear face being configured to allow the goods to be pushed out of the box through the opening when the box is resting on one of its side walls,   wherein either (i) the plastic film has been wrapped around the box, and the plastic film comprises perforations along one of the side walls, or (ii) the at least one band has been placed around the box;   the method comprising:
 locating the perforations and breaking the film by pulling the film apart along the perforations and removing the film from the box, or cutting the band, 
 placing a hand or a tool through the window in the front face, 
 pushing the goods through the opening in the rear side of the box. 
   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the goods are stored in a tray, and wherein the method comprises pushing the tray containing the goods through the rear face opening of the box.