AU2002247436A1

AU2002247436A1 - Carton and blank

Info

Publication number: AU2002247436A1
Application number: AU2002247436A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean-Michel Auclair; Jean-Yves Daniel; Philippe Lebras
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Current assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Priority date: 2001-03-30
Filing date: 2002-03-28
Publication date: 2003-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-28

Description

CARTON AND BLANK

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to a carton of the type in which one or more articles are held in complementary article receiving apertures provided in a main panel disposed normally perpendicular to the main axes of the articles.

The invention is particularly suitable for use with frusto-conical cups, and other articles such as trays that taper along their vertical axis and/or have enlarged lip portions.

In the present invention, panels for flanking body portions of the packaged articles include positioning tabs which extend into the article receiving aperture(s) so that during loading and formation of the package, the article(s) is/are urged against the positioning tabs which thereby automatically cause their associated flanking panels to be pivoted into the required article flanking position.

US 4 706 814 to The Mead Corporation discloses a multipack carton in which a plurality of articles are held in a complementary set of apertures provides in a main panel in which panels flanking the articles are automatically pivoted during loading due to the provision of tabs integral with the flanking panels that extend into the apertures.

The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a carton in which a plurality of articles are held in a complementary aperture or set of apertures provided in a main panel of the carton so that portions of the or each article is exposed to view while other portions are enclosed by outer panels of the carton, an opposed pair of end panels provided for flanking body portions of the or each packaged article include positioning tabs which extend into the or each article receiving aperture so that during loading and formation of the package the articles are urged against the positioning tabs which automatically cause the flanking panels to be pivoted into and held in the article flanking position.

According to the second aspect of the invention there is provided a carton for at least one article comprising a main panel having an aperture for receiving and retaining this or each article, side wall panels foldably joined to opposing side edges of said main panel, end panel retaining means joined to said main wall panel and folded into overlapping relationship, each of said end panel retaining means having at least one integral positioning tab extending into and interrupting the area defined by the adjacent article receiving aperture, the positioning tab being effective to induce pivoting of its associated end panel retaining means about the hinged connection thereof with the main panel when an article is inserted into said adjacent article receiving aperture.

Preferably the positioning tab is sized and disposed such that when the article is inserted into the article receiving aperture, force is exerted by the article against the positioning tab thereby to urge the associated end panel retaining means against a body portion of the article.

According to an optional feature of the second aspect of the invention, each of the side panels has at least one flanking tab extending into and interrupting the area defined by an adjacent article receiving aperture.

There may further comprise a cover panel hingedly connected to a first of the side wall panels and an intermediate panel hinged to a second of the side wall panels, the intermediate panel having a plurality of apertures aligned with the article receiving apertures wherein the cover panel is disposed over the articles to prevent upward dislodging movement of the articles.

According to yet another optional feature of the second aspect of the invention the positioning tabs include portions which are in locking engagement with the or each endmost article in the carton. The end panels may include an upper edge for engagement with an article in the receiving aperture.

According to a further optional feature of the second aspect of the invention there further comprises a second wall panel having an article-engaging upper edge and an engaging tab that extends into the aperture when the carton is in blank form, wherein the first and second wall panels are hingedly connected to a pair of opposed edges of the main panel respectively. In some embodiments, the opposed edges are the end edges of the main panel and wherein the opposed side edges of the main panel are available to connect other structures for the carton or its blank.

Preferably the or each end panel is connected to the main panel along a curved fold line. Alternatively the or each end panel is connected to the main panel by a pair of divergent fold lines.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a blank for forming a carton comprising a main panel having at least one article receiving aperture, a pair of flanking panels hinged to two opposed edges of said main panel, each of said pair of flanking panels being disposed adjacent the or each article receiving apertures and having an integral positioning tab extending into and interrupting the area defined by said adjacent article receiving aperture.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a blank for use in forming a carton according to one embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view of a partially completed carton formed from the blank of Figure 1 during loading;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a partially completed carton formed from the blank of Figure 1 during loading;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the completed and loaded carton formed from the blank of Figure 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a blank for use in forming a carton according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a partially completed carton formed from the blank of Figure 5 prior to loading;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of a partially completed carton formed from the blank of Figure 5 during loading;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view of the completed and loaded carton formed from the blank of Figure 5;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view from another angle of the completed and loaded carton of Figure 8;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a third embodiment; and

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of a completed and loaded carton formed from a blank shown in Figure 10.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Referring first to Figure 1, an elongate blank 10 is provided, which is formed from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material. There comprises a plurality of panels for forming a carton, for example a top gripping type, so that there comprises a top, a base and opposed sides hingedly connected together. In this embodiment, there comprises a top wall panel 12, a first side wall panel 14, a base wall panel 16, a pair of flanking structures 18a, 18b, a second base wall panel 20, a second side wall panel 22 hingedly interconnected in series along fold lines 30, 32, 34a, 34b, 36a, 36b, 38. In some embodiments, there comprises a securing flap 24, hingedly connected to second side wall 22 along fold line 40.

Flanking structures 18a, 18b are, in this embodiment, subdivided into integral positioning tabs 48a, 48b that protrude into a central aperture 49, defined by base wall panels 16, 20 and the structures 18a, 18b, and flanking panels 46a, 46b that extend outwardly of the blank 10.

There may further comprise cushioning tabs 26 and 28, that are preferably hingedly connected to first and second base wall panels 16, 18 along fold lines 42, 44 respectively and which also protrude into aperture 49.

Turning to the construction of the carton as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 it is envisaged that the carton of the present invention can be formed by a series of sequential folding operations in a straight line machine so that the carton is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to that described below and may be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.

Turning in particular to Figure 2, there is shown an exploded perspective view of the partially erected carton and article A, which in this embodiment is a tray of the type that may be used for "ready meals", pre-packed salads and the like. The carton is loaded by relative vertical movement between article A, and blank 10 whilst the base of the article is aligned with aperture 49. The base of the article A is lowered and begins to enter the apertures and peripheral portions of the article base strike against the positioning tabs 46a, 46b.

As application of the blank 10 relative to the article continues, end flanking panels 46a, 46b are caused to pivot upwardly, relative to base panels 16, 20, about fold lines 34a, 36a, 34b, 36b respectively, by virtue of the downward displacement of the positioning tabs 48a, 48b by the article A. Cushioning tabs 26, 28 are simultaneously caused to fold downwardly about fold lines 42, 44 respectively.

The position of the tabs and panels after this operation is shown most clearly in the exploded view of Figure 2. The folding process continues so that the article progressively is more fully inserted into the aperture 49 and the flanking panels 46a, 46b are folded upwardly to bring the side flanking panels into upright flanking relationship with respect to the side wall of the tray such that flanking panels 46a, 46b engage in this embodiment, in a recess defined by the side wall of the article A and the downwardly extending lip portion of the article lid L, as shown in Figure 3.

The folding process is then completed by causing side wall panels 14, 22 to be folded inwardly and upwardly about fold lines 32 and 38 respectively and top wall panel 12 and securing flap 24 to be folded inwardly and downwardly so as to overlie the top of the article A. Top wall panel 12 and securing flap 24 are preferably secured together using glue or other suitable means known in the art to form the completed article as shown in Figure 4.

Turning now to the second embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 5 to 9, like numerals have been where possible used to denote like parts with the addition of the prefix "1".

Referring first to Figure 5, an elongate blank 110 formed from paperboard or similar foldable sheet material comprises a plurality of panels forming a top, a base and opposed sides. Thus, there comprises, in series, a top wall panel 112, a first side wall panel 114, a base comprising a first base wall panel 116 and a second base wall panel 120, a second side wall panel 122 and a securing flap 124 hingedly interconnected fold lines 130, 132, 141, 138 and 140 respectively. A pair of flanking structures 118a, 118b are hingedly connected to the opposed longitudinal edges of the base wall panels along interrupted fold lines 134a, 136a; 134b, 136b.

In this embodiment, a plurality of article receiving apertures 149 are struck from the base wall panels 116, 120 and are arranged in two rows of three apertures each, although other arrangements e.g. 2x2 are envisaged. A pair of positioning tabs 148a and 148c which together with flanking panel 146a, integrally form flanking structure 118a and extend from the interrupted fold lines 134a and 136a into the space defined by the adjacent apertures 149, so that each aperture is partially obscured by a respective one of the positioning tabs. Fold lines 134a, 136a and 134b, 136b are, preferably, mutually divergent from fold line 144 and intersect where fold lines 132 and 138 respectively terminate. A similar arrangement is provided with respect to flanking structure 118b.

In some embodiments, there further comprises opposed pairs of article retention structures 150a - 150f, that are preferably provided along fold lines 130 and 140, the structures being arranged so as to interrupt the aforesaid fold lines. Each retention structure is substantially identical, and therefore only structure 150a is described in further detail. It will be seen from Figure 5 that structure 150a comprises a protruding portion of top wall panel 112 arranged so as to interrupt fold line 130 and being defined by curved cut line 152.

The structure further comprises a pair of spaced parallel cut lines 154 and 156 which are, in this embodiment, arranged substantially perpendicular to fold line 130, and extend from curved cut line 52 and terminate part way down side wall panel 14. The cut lines 54 and 56 thereby define a tab.

As illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 the blank 110 is applied to a group of articles A, which in this embodiment are frusto-conical plastics articles for holding yoghurt and the like so that the blank is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction, as in the first embodiment. The blank 110 and articles A are brought together by relative vertical movement therebetween such that articles A are in register with apertures 149 as shown in Figure 6 like the first embodiment.

Thereafter, the bottoms of the articles A begin to enter respective ones of the apertures 149 and peripheral portions of the bases thereof strike against the positioning tabs 148a - 148d.

As application of the blank relative to the articles continues, end flanking panels 146a and 146b are caused to pivot upwardly, relative to base wall panels 116, 120 about interrupted fold lines 134a, 136a and 134b, 136b, respectively, by virtue of the downward displacement of the positioning tabs by the articles.

This partially loaded condition of the package is shown by Figure 7. The folding process continues so that the articles progressively are more fully inserted into the apertures 149 and the flariking panels are folded upwardly, relative to base wall panels 116, 120 about fold lines 134a, 136a; 134b, 136b to bring the flanking panels into a substantially upright flanking relationship with respect to the side walls of the articles.

The pivoting action of the flanking panels 118a, 118b simultaneously causes an inward bowing action thereof, as well as causing the base wall panels 116, 120 to be folded upwardly out of their mutually co-planar relationship about fold line 144. One advantage of this arrangement is that articles A may be held more tightly within apertures 149.

The folding process is then completed by causing side wall panels 114, 122 to be folded upwardly about fold lines 132 and 138, and top wall panel 112 and glue flap 124 to be folded inwardly and downwardly about fold lines 130 and 140 respectively, shown in Figures 7 and 8. The top wall panel 112 and securing flap 124 are thereby brought into overlapping relationship whereupon they are secured together by glue or other means known in the art. This causes the top flanges of the articles to be secured by the retention structures 150a - 150f, as is known in the art. The carton is now fully set up and loaded as shown in Figures 8 and 9, in which there is shown a carton with complementary apertures 149 provided in a main panel 116/120. There further comprises an opposed pair of end panels 118a, 118b for flanking the outermost articles, having positioning tabs 148 which extend into the apertures. During formation, each article is urged against the positioning tab 148 which causes the end panels to be pivoted.

A third embodiment is shown in Figures 10 and 11 in which there is provided a blank similar to the second embodiment. Therefore, like references have been used, but replacing the prefix ' 1 ' with the prefix '2' and only the differences will be described in any greater detail.

In this third embodiment, there is shown in Figure 10 a blank for forming a top loading carton including a pair of upper and lower apertured support panels 223, 216, 220 and a cover panel 227 disposed over the articles to prevent upward dislodging movement of the articles.

The cover panel 227 is hingedly connected to side wall panel 214 along fold line 230. There further comprises an outer side wall panel 229 hingedly connected to cover panel 227 along fold line 225. In use, the outer side wall panel 229 is secured to inner side wall panel 222 in face contacting arrangement.

Preferably, cover panel 227 is provided with opposed tear lines to form a tear strip so that in use, the tear strip is removed to reveal the articles.

There may further comprise an intermediate panel 223 hingedly connected to inner side wall panel 222 along fold line 240. A plurality of apertures 257 are struck from intermediate panel 223 in corresponding position to apertures 249, so that in use apertures 249 and 257 are aligned vertically. The apertures 257 may be shaped to conform to the shape of the article.

A second inner side wall panel 224 is hingedly connected to intermediate panel 223 along fold line 241. In use, inner side wall panel is placed in face contacting arrangement with outer side wall panel 214. In this embodiment, there further comprises a plurality of cushioning tabs 251a, 251b extending into apertures 249 and are hingedly connected to base panels 216, 222.

The carton is formed from the blank of Figure 10 in like manner to the second embodiment, and the cover and intermediate panels 227, 223 are constructed at the same time; whereby intermediate panel 223 is folded out of alignment with side wall panel 222 along fold line 240 and inner side wall is folded along fold line 241 to be brought into face contacting relationship with side wall panel 214.

The articles are loaded into the part formed carton so that they are inserted into the apertures in the intermediate and base panels 223, 216/222. The end panel structure is formed in like manner to the second embodiment. The cushioning tabs 251 are also forced out of alignment to engage an article contained in the aperture 249.

Thereafter, the cover panel 227 is formed by folding inwardly along fold line 230 and outer side wall panel 229 is folded along fold line 225. The outer side wall panel 229 is placed in face contacting arrangement with inner side wall panel 222 to be secured thereto by glue or other means known in the art.

Thus, the carton is in a set up and loaded condition as shown in Figure 11.

It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as "top", "base", "end", "side", "upper", "lower", "inner", "outer" do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.

It will be understood that numerous changes may be made within the scope of the invention. For example, the size and shape of the panel may be altered according to the specific requirements of the articles to be packaged, as may the number and arrangement of the receiving apertures.

Claims

1. A carton in which a plurality of articles are held in a complementary aperture or set of apertures provided in a main panel of the carton so that a portion of the or each article is exposed to view while the other portion is enclosed by other panels of the carton, opposed ones of said other panels provided for flanking said other portion of the or each packaged article include positioning tabs each extending into the or each article receiving aperture so that during loading and formation of the package the articles are urged against the positioning tabs which automatically cause said opposed panels to be pivoted into and held in the article flanking position.

2. A carton for at least one article comprising a main panel having at least one aperture for receiving and retaining said at least one article, a pair of side wall panels foldably joined to opposing side edges of said main panel, a pair of end panels joined to said main panel along respective hinged connections, each of said end panels having at least one integral positioning tab extending into and interrupting a respective one of said at least one aperture, said positioning tab of said each end panel being effective to induce pivoting of its associated end panel about said respective hinged connection thereof with respect to said main panel when an article is inserted into said respective aperture.

3. The carton as claimed in claim 2, wherein said positioning tab of said each end panel is sized and disposed such that when an article is inserted into said respective aperture, force is exerted by the article against said positioning tab thereby to urge said each end panel against the article.

4. The carton as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3, wherein each of said side wall panels has at least one flanking tab extending into and interrupting an adjacent one of said article receiving aperture.

5. A carton as claimed in any of claims 2 to 4 wherein there further comprises a cover panel hingedly connected to one of said side wall panels and an intermediate panel hinged to the other side wall panel, the intermediate panel having a plurality of apertures aligned with said article receiving apertures respectively wherein said cover panel is disposed over the articles in the article receiving apertures to prevent upward dislodging movement of the articles.

6. A carton according to any of the preceding claims wherein said positioning tabs include portions which are in locking engagement with the or each endmost article in the carton.

7. A carton according to any of the preceding claims wherein the end panels each includes an upper edge for engagement with an article in the respective aperture.

8. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said end panels are hingedly connected to opposed end edges of said main panel respectively.

9. A carton as claimed in claim 7 wherein wherein said opposing side edges of the main panel are available to connect other structures for the carton or its blank.

10. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said end panels are connected to the main panel along curved fold lines respectively.

11. A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said each end panel is connected to the main panel by a pair of divergent fold lines.

12. A blank for forming a carton comprising a main panel having at least one article receiving aperture, a pair of end panels hinged to a pair of opposed edges of said main panel, each of end panels being disposed adjacent a respective one of said at least one article receiving aperture and having an integral positioning tab extending into and interrupting said respective article receiving aperture.

13. A blank for forming a carton as claimed in claim 1 or any of claims 2 to 10.

14. A carton as claimed in claim 8 wherein said main panel is provided with at least one medial fold line extending between said end edges of said main panel.