FR2698074A1 - End closure for grouping package - is formed from single pre-cut blank with rounded corners shaped to fit base of containers - Google Patents

Abstract

The closure forms part of a package (1) which has a base (2), side panels (3, 4) and end closure panels (9, 10) with corner flaps (5, 6, 7, 8). The flaps are hinged to the closure panels by a strip of cardboard. Each corner of the base and the corner flaps are curved. They are shaped to a contour similar to the base of the containers held inside the package (42, 43). The strip of cardboard that connects the corner flaps to the end closure is formed as a gusset made from two tabs (34, 35). They are connected together by a central fold line (36) and also have external fold lines arranged at their extremities. USE/ADVANTAGE - For packages containing groups of drinks bottles or similar items. Forms upright corners and allows easy filling.

Description

 The invention relates to a closure with rounded corners and a total opening section for group packaging.

 The closure according to the invention is particularly suitable for any grouping of containers comprising a body at least part of which is generally cylindrical in shape or has a cylindrical base section, for example bottles, beverage, canned or other cans.

 The invention relates to group packaging, the end faces of which have corner flaps and an end closure panel. The grouping of containers is engaged by automatic mechanical means through one of the end faces of the packaging. The end openings are then closed by folding down the corner flaps and then the end panel provided for this purpose.

 In order to mechanize the closing of the packaging, it has been imagined to connect the corner flap to the adjacent panel by an articulated strip of cardboard at an angle forming a bellows joint. Thus, the closing of the end panel by a mechanized arm causes that of the corner flaps.

 This strip of cardboard is made in the side of the cardboard when it is cut. Its position and its inclination are defined by the general geometry of the end, in particular of the shape, the size and the position of the corner flaps and of the end closure panel.

 However, this solution does not allow the bases of the cylindrical end containers or the lower and middle cylindrical part of the bottle bodies to be wrapped close up and at a sufficient height, and to simultaneously obtain an easy and mechanizable engagement of the group. in the packaging.

 Indeed, the essential condition for the introduction of a grouping of containers into a packaging relates to the section of the end face used of the packaging, even partially formed.

It must correspond by its shape to that of the grouping which one wants to introduce and present slightly larger dimensions. Thus, the corner flaps and the end closure panel must fold down completely during opening to leave the full opening opening completely free.

 In addition, the desired narrow and high wrapping of the cylindrical parts or bodies of the containers requires for the packaging a bottom panel with rounded corners and high corner flaps, long and cut according to a curvilinear bottom edge which must follow closest possible rounding of the corresponding corner of the bottom panel of the packaging.

 This curvilinear cutout of the lower edge of the corner flap continues all the more as the wrap character desired narrow and high of the flap is pronounced.

 In the spirit of a tight closed package, at least in the lower part, the connection to the end closure panel by an articulated bellows connection must be made above the limit of the lower part of this flap. This end of the lower part is necessarily raised when the packaging is in the erected position with its ends open, that is to say in the position of introduction of the group.

 Thus, with the previous embodiments, the articulated bellows connection in this open position would remain oblique through each lower corner without completely clearing the inlet opening. The lower corners which are insufficiently cleared due to the band of the bellows which is placed stretched obliquely in the open position of the panels would not allow the introduction of the group without damage.

 Another drawback of the previous embodiments is linked to the existence of projecting and straight corners at the lower ends of the packaging. In addition to their unsightly appearance in the case of containers with a partially cylindrical body such as bottles, these corners constitute hollow volumes reducing the resistance of the packaging by transferring the maintenance of the containers to less extensive areas.

 In terms of wrapping end containers, lateral corner flaps are known with successive vertical or divergent fold lines enabling the curvature of bottles or cans to be followed as closely as possible by a polygonal shape. However, this solution is also unattractive and impractical due to the presence of multiple folding zones and the problems associated with the connection joint remain.

 The general object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to simultaneously provide a high, tight and long wrapping over the entire cylindrical part of the body of the end containers as well as a section shape with perfectly straight angles and clear of the lower part of the inlet section of the package.

 To this end, the invention provides a packaging closure for a group of containers comprising a cylindrical part produced by cutting and folding from a side of cardboard, which allows on the one hand, the easy introduction of the group of containers in the package followed by a simple and quick mechanized closing operation, and on the other hand, a narrow and high wrap at the corners of the end containers.

 To this end, the closure according to the invention comprises a bottom panel with rounded angles, two lateral corner flaps enveloping the base of the containers along the line of curvature of the bottom panel, and at least one articulated end closure panel. on each side on the corner flaps by an articulated bellows connection formed by at least two articulated tabs and connected together by an intermediate fold line and to each corner flap and to the end closure panel by lines of end folding.

The advantages of the closure according to the invention are numerous. These include the total opening of a lateral section for
easy introduction of a group of bellows completely cleared in this position
introduction of the closing grouping following the rounded shape of the containers ease of mechanization made possible by the
bellows connection according to the invention bellows tabs subjected to
minimal traction and torsion enveloping closure by the corner flaps following
pushing the end panel through
bellows; quick and easy mechanization of the introduction of
containers and packaging closure.

The technical characteristics and other advantages of the invention are set out in the description which follows, given by way of nonlimiting example on an embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings in which. Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package
complete with lower part conforming to
the invention, containing bottles. Figure 2 is a view of the flat blank of
the packaging shown in Figure 1 showing
the location of the cutouts and of the folding zones FIG. 3 is a general perspective view of the
lower part of a package with closure according to
the invention, open side face, with the
end containers in introductory presentation
at the opening ;; Figure 4 is a schematic side view
corresponding to figure 3 of the end
fully open introduction with containers in
introductory presentation; Figures 5 to 8 are detailed views in
perspective showing the positions of the panels at
during the various stages of closure; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a package
cut type delivered flat, upright position
according to a "U" profile after introduction of the
grouping of containers Figure 10 is a perspective view of the same
packaging after fully closing the corner flaps
and panels.

 The general inventive idea consists in making a packaging closure for a group of containers with bodies comprising at least one base or a lower and / or central part of generally cylindrical shape, closure comprising high corner flaps and closely matching the forms end containers, each connected to an end closure panel by a bellows joint comprising a central fold line, completely freeing the entry section for the introduction of the group according to a "U" profile, and disappearing in the closed position between each corner flap and the adjacent end closure panel.

 An example will be treated below in the description of the case of a packaging of the pre-glued case type maintaining a grouping of bottles. It is understood that all types of packaging are suitable as soon as they require a full opening totally or partially delimited for the passage of the group.

 It should be noted here that on the packaging shown as an example, the closure only exists on the lower part while it can either be in isolation or be found on the upper part for totally cylindrical containers without constituting another invention.

 Furthermore, due to the symmetrical nature of the packaging, the same closure exists on the opposite end face.

 In Figures 3 to 8, is shown only the lower part of a package comprising the closure according to the invention to show the independence of the invention from the type of packaging.

 The flat cutout shown in FIG. 2 shows the general construction of the packaging, taken as a descriptive example, on which the closure means according to the invention are applied to each of the end openings.

 The package 1 comprises a bottom panel 2, two longitudinal side panels 3 and 4 each extended at each of their ends by a corner flap, 5,6,7,8 respectively, high and enveloping, that is to say d '' a significant height and a length such as to cover the end containers at the corners of the packaging and slightly beyond.

 The packaging further comprises two lower end closure panels 9 and 10 of generally rectangular shape with tongue ends.

 The tongue ends of the lower end closure panels delimit with the rest of the panel oblique connection lines 11,12 and 13,14 respectively.

 This cutting of the end closure panels has no particular technical effect.

 The upper part of the package which does not directly concern the invention consists for example of an upper panel 15 connected by upper oblique side panels 16 and 17 to the lower side panels. These upper oblique side panels are extended at each of their ends by corner flaps, respectively 18.19 and 20.21 having a series of convergent folds such as 22 intended to make the flaps enveloping for the corners of the packaging at right conical ends of the upper parts of the bodies of the bottles arranged at the ends.

 The enveloping flaps are connected to upper end closure panels 23 and 24 by articulated connections 25, 26, 27, 28 with gussets consisting of a simple oblique strip of cardboard having fold lines at the ends.

 This packaging of the pre-glued case type has a covering flap 29 and bonding along the upper part of one of the upper oblique panels, to which corresponds a covering-gluing area 30 on the upper panel 15, shown schematically by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2.

 The shape of the bottom panel 2 corresponds to the shape of the base surface of the grouping of containers. It has rounded corners such as 31 adapted to the rounded shape of the end containers.

 Each of the corner flaps is designed to be placed around a part of the body of the corner containers of the grouping and along the rounded corners of the bottom panel in an enveloping and tight position so as to constitute a package with rounded corners tight.

 Each corner flap has a lower notch such as 32 located at its lower corner and is hingedly connected to the adjacent end closure panel by a biased connecting strip such as 33 constituting an articulated bellows connection. This connecting strip is formed by two tongues 34 and 35 articulated together by a central fold line 36. It is also articulated on the corner flaps and on the adjacent panel by two end closure folds, respectively 37 and 38. One is located at the upper edge of the notch 32 and the other on the oblique connection line, 11, 12 or 13, 14 of the adjacent closure panel.

 Each of the central fold lines 36 is placed, in the open position, in the extension of the adjacent longitudinal border fold such as 39 of the border of the bottom panel, as shown in FIG. 2 to guarantee a passage from opening to lower right angles.

 It is possible to envisage a variant according to which these central fold lines 36 are situated outside the limits formed by the extension of the longitudinal folds 39 of the edge of the bottom panel so that the opening remains even clearer in the position of introduction of the grouping of containers.

 The end folds will be formed and directed so that, in the closed position, each band constituting the articulated bellows connection is folded down and pushed by the end closure panel against the outer edge of the corresponding corner flap.

 The exact geometrical shape of the corner shutters and closing panels as well as the position and the inclination of the bellows depend on the shape and size characteristics of the containers and packaging as well as for certain applications the advertising and aesthetic requirements of the panels and end closures.

 The important thing is to be able to have a full section entry opening at lower right angles and with high and enveloping corner flaps cooperating with bellows connections ensuring their connection to the adjacent end closure panel.

 The closing operation according to the invention takes place as described below and shown in FIGS. 5 to 8.

 The packaging is erected or erected partially or totally beforehand so as to present a totally or partially delimited or constituted opening for the grouping, state in which the corner flaps and panels of the end faces are arranged as an extension of the side faces. adjacent, keeping the introduction opening almost completely clear, as shown in Figure 3.

 One of the openings is chosen for the introduction of the grouping of containers.

 In some cases, it is preferable to use the two openings simultaneously or successively.

 For reasons of simplification, only the introduction and then the closing operation will be described for a single opening, the operation relating to the other opening being easily deduced therefrom.

 The entire cross section of the packaging is cleared to form an introduction passage 40, the maintenance of which at full opening is guaranteed by external means. The tabs making up the bellows connections completely disappear for one in the horizontal plane of the end closure panel and for the other in the longitudinal vertical plane of the adjacent corner flap. The central fold line is maintained in the extension of the adjacent longitudinal border fold of the bottom panel.

 A group 41 of containers such as 42.43 is introduced by sliding or by means of a carrier plate whose longitudinal edges can advantageously maintain the passage at full opening by keeping apart the flaps, the bellows and the panels making up the opening.

 The tray temporarily replaces the bottom and is removed after removing the grouping of containers on the bottom panel.

 After introduction of the grouping, and possible withdrawal of the tray, one proceeds to the deposition or the projection of the adhesive at the appropriate places and one begins the closing of the opening of introduction. To do this, the following movements materialized by arrows in the figures are implemented simultaneously or successively.

 The bellows are folded inside towards the closure panel (figure 5), then the end closure panel is pivoted upwards (figure 6). The corner flaps are forced into closing and folding around the end containers by the thrust from the upward pivoting movement of the end closure panel. The pushing movement of this panel on the corner flaps via the bellows constitutes the driving force for closing the corner flaps.

 At the end of the closing movement, each corner flap closely follows the adjacent corner surface of the end container (Figure 7).

 A final movement presses the closure panel against the side flaps while each bellows connection is extended flat between the end closure panel and the corresponding corner flap (Figure 8).

 Each corner flap is secured by taking the adhesive from the corresponding end closure panel.

 This last pushing movement can be that of evacuating the packaging.

 It should be noted that the packaging described is only an illustrative example.

 Thus, in addition to FIGS. 3 to 8 representing the only lower part of the packaging, for reasons of generalization, FIGS. 9 and 10 are intended to show that the application extends to many other packaging, in particular to those whose cut is delivered flat.

 In FIG. 9, one can observe a cutout 44 of a package 45, erected in a "U" section in which the containers 42 and 43 are introduced.

 Thanks to the invention, the flat cut can be drawn in a "U" shape while keeping an opening opening section for the containers, the base of which has a lower part, of appropriate width, with right angle corners.

 It can be seen in FIG. 9 that the cutout has high ends 46, 47 which will constitute, after folding and gluing, the upper face panel 48.

 As it appears in FIG. 10 representing the packaging after complete closure, the objectives of high and enveloping rounded corners are fixed and achieved, even with this type of packaging.

 The independence of the means constituting the invention makes it possible to apply it to a large number of types of packaging.

Claims (8)

 1. End closure for the introduction of the containers into a container grouping packaging produced by a cutting and creasing operation from a side of cardboard, packaging comprising a bottom panel (2), side panels ( 3,4), end closure panels (9,10) and corner flaps (5,6,7,8) hinged to the edges of the end closure panels by a strip of cardboard, characterized in that each corner of the bottom panel (2) is rounded and  each corner flap (5,6,7,8) is rounded according to a  contour close or identical to that of the base of  containers ;; each corner flap is connected by its outer edge  with the side edge of the closure panel  adjacent end through a strip  of cardboard making a bellows connection formed of  two tongues (34,35) hinged together by  a central fold line (36) and by folds  end (37) and (38).  2. End closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the fold line (36) is located in the extension of the longitudinal edges (39) of the bottom panel (2).  3. End closure according to claim 1, characterized in that the fold line (36) is located outside the plane defined by the extensions of the longitudinal edges (39) of the bottom panel (2).  4. End closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection of each corner flap with the end closure panel by means of the bellows connecting strip (33) takes place at level of the free lower end of the bellows.  5. End closure according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each end closure panel (9,10) has a narrowed end connected to the base by oblique edges (11,12) or (13,14).  6. End closure according to the preceding claim, characterized in that each articulated bellows connection is connected to the end closure panel by an end fold (38) at each oblique edge (11,12) or (13,14).  7. End closure according to claim 4, characterized in that each corner flap comprises at its lower free end a notch (32).  8. End closure according to claim 7, characterized in that each articulated bellows connection is connected to the corner flap (5,6,7,8) at its notch (32) by a fold (37).