GB2377421A

GB2377421A - Packaging sandwiches

Info

Publication number: GB2377421A
Application number: GB0224312A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Peter Marchant
Original assignee: SPIRAL PACKS
Current assignee: SPIRAL PACKS
Priority date: 1999-05-04
Filing date: 2000-04-27
Publication date: 2003-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-27
Also published as: GB0224312D0; GB2377421B

Abstract

A sandwich carton (fig 1), formed from a blank, comprises a pair of oppositely disposed triangular side walls 3, 5, a pair of quadrilateral bottom walls 7, 9, and a further panel 11 or lid which further comprises a viewing window (fig 1, 13). The angle at the apex of each of the triangular walls is greater than 90{.The sandwich carton has a trough shape defined by the triangular side walls and bottom walls may be of trapezoidal shape, and the lid further comprises a flap 15 provided by a tongue 17, adapted to be received in a cut-out 21 in one of the triangular walls. Flaps may be provided on the triangular and quadrilateral walls, and may be glued in place, or the flaps may have tongues to be received in slots. A plurality of cartons may be provided in a stack with the cartons nested, the sandwiches may also be wrapped before being placed within the carton.

Description

PACKAGING SANDWICHES This invention relates to a carton for use in packaging sandwiches, a blank for making the carton, and a method of packaging using the carton.

During recent years, sandwiches have increased in importance as a take-away food item. Originally sandwiches were supplied in paper bags, but these do not provide resistance to crushing. For some years, most sandwiches sold by retail have been packed in vacuum-formed plastics packs. Although robust and light in weight, plastics packs are environmentally unfriendly and cannot be disposed of easily because of their elastic memory. These packs do not have a surface on which details of ingredients may be printed, and for this reason it is difficult to develop brands of sandwiches. The plastics packs are also shaped so as to occupy more shelf space than required by sandwich volume. Sandwiches may also be wrapped in transparent plastics film, but this too cannot be printed with details and the sandwiches remain at risk of crushing.

One example of a carton designed specifically for triangularly-shaped sandwiches is that disclosed in patent specification GB No 2 221 449A. This carton is assembled from a blank which has a relatively complicated arrangement of side panels and flaps adjoining a triangular face panel which forms one side of the carton. The sandwich is inserted into the carton from the other side, and the remaining side panel closed over it. A window in a rectangular panel between the two face panels is covered in transparent film and allows the edge of the sandwich to be viewed. The sandwich is in contact with the interior of the carton, which must therefore be made from card provided with a grease-resistant coating.

Another example of carton intended for sandwiches is that disclosed in patent specification GB No. 2 331 291A, which has triangular end walls connected by rectangular side walls. One side wall of the carton is hinged to another wall of the carton to provide an opening for insertion of a sandwich and to form a lid for closing the opening. The edges of the lid and edges of the carton extending from the hinge

ave integral tabs connected by a fold line whereby the tabs fold inwardly beneath le lid as it is closed over the opening to assist in retaining foodstuff in the carton.

L window covered by transparent film is preferably provided and a fold line may militate flattening of the carton. The appearance of the lid and one of the iangular end walls suffers from the fold line which passes through them, while the ppearance of the other triangular side wall suffers from a dividing line between two anels from which it is formed. The legibility of printing on the carton is therefore dversely affected and the area available for printing effectively reduced. according to one aspect of the invention there is provided a sandwich carton omprising a pair of oppositely disposed triangular side walls, a quadrilateral bottom /all extending between first edges of the triangular walls, a second bottom uadrilateral wall extending between second edges of the triangular walls, and a lid djoining an edge of one of the walls and covering the free edges of the remaining valls, the lid having therein a viewing window.

Lccording to another aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for a dwich carton having a pair of trapezium-shaped panels arranged with the parallel 'des of one panel parallel to those of the other, a pair of triangular panels, and a bstantially rectangular panel adjoining one of the other panels, fold lines parating each panel from that or those adjoining it. carton made from a blank according to this latter aspect may be stacked and is erefore more suitable for automated packing, whether or not sandwiches are apped before packing. The proposed design also allows cartons to be erected 'thout the use of adhesive flaps, thereby simplifying assembly, and allowing the lid be closed without applying an adhesive label. er aspects of the invention reside in a method of using a carton to package dwiches, and a pack of sandwiches produced thereby.

Preferred forms of carton and carton blank and methods of assembly and packing will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings and have the advantages explained below. In particular, except for the space occupied by the viewing window, substantially the entire surface area of the carton may be printed with information concerning the brand and type of sandwich, as well as nutritional information. Because no fold lines pass through the lid and triangular sides, which are each formed in one piece, the clarity of the printing is not adversely affected.

The carton is economical to produce, light in weight, and environmentally friendly using sustainable and fully recyclable materials. The carton is also user friendly and tamper evident. Extras may readily be placed in the packaging, including collectibles, napkin, lemon, salt, pepper, etc.

The proposed carton occupies 14.5% less shelf space than comparable plastics pack products. Distribution costs are therefore reduced.

The proposed packaging is more robust than the known sandwich carton and gives greater security during transit and handling. By packing the carton with sandwiches wrapped in plastics film, their shelf life is increased and they are protected against crushing, ensuring that they reach the consumer in the best possible condition.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view showing an erected carton for sandwiches, with the lid open, Figure 2 shows a blank for use in forming the carton shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 illustrates diagrammatically one method of forming the cartons, Figure 4A illustrates diagrammatically one method of forming and using the cartons, viewed both in elevation and plan,

figure 4B illustrates diagrammatically another method of forming and using the cartons, viewed both in elevation and plan, 'igue 5 shows a modified blank,

ligure 6 shows a carton having a modified lid, ligure 7 shows a carton having another modified lid, ligure 8 shows a blank for modified carton similar to that shown in Figure 6. teferring to Figure 1, a carton I for use in retailing sandwiches is formed in one ) iece from cardboard with triangular front and rear side walls 3 and 5 respectively, oined by trapezium-shaped bottom walls 7 and 9. The walls 3, 5, 7 and 9 define a rough of triangular profile, dimensioned to receive one or more rounds of andwiches cut diagonally. A lid 11 extends from the rear wall 5. The lid has an opening or viewing window 13 through which the contents of the carton may be seen and which, as shown, is oval in shape but can have any other shape. A carton ntended to contain salmon sandwiches might, for example, have an opening 13 in he shape of a fish, whilst one intended for sandwiches to be sold at a tennis match night have an opening 13 shaped to represent tennis racquets. Extending along the onger, free edge of the lid 11 is a flap 15 formed with a tongue 17. The tongue is mdercut by slits 18. The triangular front wall 3 has a segment shaped opening 19 rom which slits 21 extend in line with its straight edge. The lid may be folded lown to cover the trough formed by the walls, the flap 15 folded over to cover the lpper edge of the front wall 3, and the tongue 17 inserted into the opening 19 and : lits 21 wherein it is held firmly in place. Dust flaps 23 and 25 on the free edges of he walls 7 and 9 underlie the shorter edges of the lid.

\. preferred blank 2 for assembly into the carton 1 is shown in Figure 2 wherein corresponding reference numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts.

Fold lines are indicated by broken lines. The blank includes a main portion 4 divided by fold lines b and c into a tapering, trapezium shaped panel 7 disposed between triangular panels 3 and 5. A panel 9 of tapering, trapezium shape is separated from the panel 7 by a fold line a. A rectangular panel 11, which will serve as the lid, is separated from the triangular panel 5 by a fold line d. Flaps 27 and 29 are provided on the blank panels 3 and 5. Fold lines between panel 3 and flap 27 on the one hand, and between panel 5 and flap 29 on the other, form extensions to the fold line a between panels 7 and 9. To assemble the carton, the panel 9 is folded into a position at an angle to panel 7 and the flaps 27 and 29 are glued to the edges of the panel 9 in the regions 27a, 29a. The angle V between the fold lines b and c separating the panels 3 and 5 from the panel 9 is between 900 and 940 and is preferably 92 so that the walls 7 and 9 in the erected carton meet at an angle slightly greater than a right angle. The angle W between each edge of the panel 7 and the fold line a separating panels 7 and 9 is between 920 and 960 and preferably 93. 75 . A stack of cartons assembled from blanks 2 and in the erected condition shown in Figure 1 may therefore be nested with the lids arranged in parallel planes behind one another.

Because of the illustrated arrangement of the panels and the fact that only two flaps (27,29) need to be glued in place in order to assemble the carton, the blank lends itself to automated assembly. In one method of assembly depicted in Figure 3, blanks 2 are fed successively in the direction of arrow X into a position in line with a triangular former A. During this movement, the flaps 27,29 are coated with hot melt adhesive. The former reciprocates vertically and carries a blank with it during each upwards movement. The former cooperates with guides to cause the panels 7 and 9 to be positioned at the desired angle relative to each other. The flaps 27,29 engage guides arranged in their path and are folded into positions in which they are made to adhere to panel 9. A stack B of cartons is thus formed, with the trough portions nested one within the other, and the lids extending vertically downwards. one behind the other.

Fhe stack of cartons may be supplied to a user who makes and wraps sandwiches by land in cellophane and packs them by hand into each carton as it is removed from he stack. The user then folds down and fixes the lid using tongue 17. The cartons nay be supported on a conveyor belt and passed through a station at which the sandwiches are packed into them. The window 13 is left open and the sandwiches riewed through the cellophane wrapper.

I Sandwiches may be packed unwrapped. In this case, the board used for the carton clanks may be coated on the side intended to be in contact with the sandwiches. The riewing window 13 is in this case covered with a film of acetate or other transparent ilm material glued to the inner side of the lid 11. alternatively, sandwiches to be deposited in the cartons may be flow wrapped in a ilm of cellophane or other transparent material, and the viewing window left uncovered and the board uncoated. tems, such as a napkin and packets of salt and pepper or collectibles, may be inserted into the carton before closing.

ne outer side of the carton provides adequate surface area for printed matter elating to ingredients, manufacturer, brand and so on, without the printing area seing obscured by fold lines or lines of separation.

Alternatively, blanks may be supplied to the user in flat condition and erected mediately before packing. As depicted in Figure 4A, a conveyor C (illustrated in levation and plan) travels in direction Y. In successive stations, a sandwich is repared, cut diagonally to form two triangular portions D which are stacked one on ) p of the other, and flow wrapped in cellophane or other transparent foil. Flow wrapping produces a rectangular package E containing the triangular sandwiches.

'he empty wings of the package are folded over and the package inserted into a arton drawn from the stack B. The filled triangular cartons are then packed into octangular cartons H for transportation.

In the modified method shown in Figure 4B, after cutting, the two half-portions D are moved slightly apart and left side by side on the conveyor and flow wrapped in this configuration. The spacing between the sandwich halves allows the resulting package E to be folded in half along the line of separation between the sandwich halves, as illustrated at G to form a triangular package F which is deposited in a carton drawn from the stack B. The filled cartons are packed into the rectangular cartons H.

Modifications may be made. In particular, the tongue 17 and slot 19/21 may be omitted and flap 15 secured to the wall 3 by an adhesive label or gluing. Flaps 27, 29 may be provided on the panel 9 instead of on the triangular panels. Alternatively one flap may be on panel 9 and the other on one of the triangular panels. The flaps 23,25 may be provided on the lid.

In an alternative mode of assembly, the flap 15 is glued to the longer, free edge of panel 3, and the flap 23 glued to the lid. The panel 9 is initially left unaffixed, thereby providing an opening through which the sandwiches may be inserted, before gluing the flaps 27,29 in place. A similar effect may be achieved by providing the triangular panel 3 on the lid, in place of flap 15.

Figure 5 shows a blank for a second embodiment of carton which may be erected without the use of adhesive and may be supplied in a flat condition to a retailer for him to erect. The flaps 27,29 are provided with tongues 31,33 which are inserted into slots 31a, 33a in the panel 9. In a variant of this modification, one flat is provided on the panel 9, and the other on the main portion 4.

Figure 6 shows a third embodiment of carton assembled from a blank generally as shown in Figure 2 but in which the panel 11 intended to constitute the lid adjoins the edge of panel 7 opposite to panel 9, or the edge of panel 9 opposite to panel 7. Other arrangements may be used to secure the lid. It also falls within the invention for one triangular panel to adjoin one trapezium-shaped panel, and for the other

angular panel to adjoin the diagonally opposite side of the other trapezium-shaped anel. Figure 7 illustrates a further embodiment in which the upper edges of three of e four walls have folded over flaps 23 to which the lid 11 is glued in order to close . In this case the lid need not be rectangular in shape and may be wider than the on when closed. In an embodiment, such as that shown in Figure 7, in which the d is glued to flaps on the walls of the carton (or flaps on the lid are glued to the alls of the carton), tear strips formed by lines of weakening may be provided in rder to allow the lid to be tom open. Alternatively, the lid may be held to the flaps 3 shown in Figure 7 by a peelable adhesive which permits the lid to separate from e flaps when force is applied. e blank shown in Figure 8 may be used to assemble a carton similar to that shown Figure 6 but having a tongue 17 arranged to be retained in a slot 19/21 in the ottom wall panel 9, and with dust flaps 23,25 arranged along the edge of the . angular panels 3,5. he panels 7 and 9 may be rectangular if it is desired to produce a non-nesting arton. The lid need not have a window opening if it is not desired to allow ispection of the contents of the carton. will, of course, be understood that the arrangements of flaps and tongues ascribed and illustrated above in the context of any one embodiment of carton or lank, or the use of adhesive labels to secure the lid, may be used in connection with ly other embodiment of carton described above.

Iso, although the preparation, stacking (when carried out) and packing steps ustrated in Figures 4A and 4B are depicted as being carried out manually, it will understood that these steps may be carried out by automated machinery, as may e folding-over of the package shown in Figure 4B. The flow wrapping of the ndwiches in Figures 4A and 4B may be carried out using a flow wrapping achine of conventional construction in which each package is sealed and severed ) m the foil strip along a transverse line.

Reference letters and numerals mentioned in the claims are for convenience only and are not intended to have any limiting effect.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A blank for a sandwich carton comprising first and second quadrilateral panels (7,9), first and second triangular panels (3,5) ; and a further panel (11), wherein the quadrilateral panels (7,9) adjoin each other along a first fold line (a), those edges of the first quadrilateral panel (7) which intersect the first fold line being defined by second and third fold lines (b) and (c) ; first edges of each of the first and second triangular panels (3,5) are defined by the second and third fold lines (b) and (c), respectively; second edges of each of the first and second triangular panels (3,5) are defined by extensions of the first fold line (a); the second quadrilateral panel (9) is in the form of a flap extending from that part of the blank incorporating the first quadrilateral panel (7) and the triangular panels (3,5) such that by folding along the first fold line (a) the edges of the second quadrilateral panel (9) may be affixed to the respective second edges of the triangular panels (3,5) to form a receptacle of a triangular profile, and the further panel (11) adjoins one of the triangular panels or one of the quadrilateral panels and is divided therefrom by a fold line.

2 A blank for a carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein flaps (27,29) are provided on the second edges of the triangular panels or on edges of the second quadrilateral panel (9), or one flap is provided on a triangular panel and one flap is provided on a quadrilateral panel.

3. A blank as claimed in claim 2, wherein the flaps (27,29) are provided with tongues (31, 33) adapted for insertion into corresponding slots (3 la, 33a).

4. A blank as claimed in claim 3, wherein the slots (31a, 33a) are formed in the second quadrilateral panel (9)

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5. A blank for a carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein a third edge of the second triangular panel (5) is defined by a fourth fold line (d) between that triangular panel and the further panel (11) 6. A blank for a carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein a fourth edge of the first quadrilateral panel (7) is defined by a fold line between that panel and the further panel (11).

7. A blank for a carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the further panel (11) and is provided on at least one of its edges with a flap (15) 8. A blank for a carton as claimed in claim 7 wherein the flap (15) has a tongue (17) adapted for insertion into a corresponding slot (19).

9 A blank for a carton as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the further panel (11) has a viewing window.

10. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the quadrilateral panels (7,9) are each in the shape of a trapezium.

11. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the included angle between the first fold line (a) and each of the second and third fold lines (b, c) is between 90 and 94 .

12. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the angles of the vertices of each triangular panel are substantially 920, 440 and 440.

13. A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the extensions to the first fold line (a) which form the second sides of the triangular panels extend parallel to the first fold line (a).

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4 A blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein each of the panels in one piece and untraversed by an internal fold line.

5 A sandwich carton formed from a blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 An article of commerce comprising a triangular package consisting of one or ore sandwiches wrapped in transparent film, the package being contained within a on formed from a blank as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14.

7. An article as claimed in claim 16 wherein extras are placed inside the carton t outside the transparent film.

8 An article as claimed in claim 17 wherein the extras are taken from a group mprising advertising material, collectables, napkins, lemon, salt and pepper.

9 A sandwich carton comprising a pair of oppositely disposed triangular side 'alls, a quadrilateral bottom wall extending between first edges of the triangular 'alls, a second bottom quadrilateral wall extending between second edges of the iangular walls, and a lid adjoining an edge of one of the walls and covering the free iges of the remaining walls, wherein the angle at the apex of each triangular wall is eater than 90 .

A carton as claimed in claim 19, wherein the lid has a flap provided along ie edge for attachment to a triangular wall.

A carton as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the lid has a flap ovided with a tongue adapted to be received in a cut-out in one of the triangular ills.

A carton as claimed in any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the quadrilateral dis are trapezium shaped.

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23. A carton as claimed in any of claims 19 to 22, wherein flaps attaching the quadrilateral walls to the triangular walls are glued in place.

24. A carton as claimed in and of claims 19 to 23, wherein flaps attaching the quadrilateral walls to the triangular walls have tongues received in slots.

25. A plurality of cartons as claimed in any of claims 19 to 24, arranged in a stack, with the cartons nested and the lids arranged one behind the other in parallel planes.

26. An article of commerce comprising a triangular package consisting of one or more sandwiches wrapped in transparent film, the package being contained within a carton according to any of claims 19 to 25.

27. An article as claimed in claim 26 wherein extras are placed inside the carton but outside the transparent film.

28. An article as claimed in claim 27 wherein the extras are taken from a group comprising advertising material, collectables, napkins, lemon, salt and pepper.

29. A carton or blank therefore substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the drawings.