AU640503C - Cases made from a sheet material, blanks and machine for producing such cases - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA B PATENTS ACT 19 52 APPLIC7A'rio BY A~SI(;NHL OF INVENTOR DECLARATION IN SUPPORT OF AN APPLICATION FOR A PATENT NAME OF In support of an application made by: APPLICANT Socidt6Ann ie T R

TI ILEi for a patent for an invention entitled: GASES MADE FROM A SHEET MATERIAL, BLANKS AND MACHINE FOR FULL. NAMIE AND PRODUCTINGSUHCES ADDORESS OF SIGNATORY of c/o Socidt:6 Anonyme dite :OTOR 262 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honor6 75008 PARIS -France

do solermnly and sincerely declare as follows: 1. Iam authorised by the above mentioned applicant for the patent to make this declaration on its behalfJ :*I1.NAME AND ADD1RESS 01' 2. The name and address of eachi actual inventor of the invention :.INVENTOR(S is as followvs: Jean-Yyes, flAC(L1ES 53.Bou dS tz~ein~ji 75005APARIS_ Frane sE s vE Guv Le Boro~al 14 OE-France

3. The facts upon which the applicant is entitled to make this application 4 AN EPRAGAPH O are as follows: iTesld_~p~cnt_~_tesJg~e-f.the.said-_ NON-CNONENIONE ne-ors x the_sa~__nenon_

APLCTO 4. The basic application(s) as defined by Section 141 of the Act was tIwere) made as follows: Country FAC UY2~19 5 in the name(s) __Soc±tt AToni. te- OTOR and in on in the name(s)

The basic application(s) referred to ini the preceding paragraph was (were) the first application(s) made in a Convention country in respect of the invention the subject of this application.

PLIACE A-ND DArE OF Declared at PARIS IIGNING this 4 day of July 19 91 Signed Jean-Yves BACQUES Position P.D G.

Soci6t6 Anionyme dite OTOR GRIFFITH HACK CO PATENT AN 0 TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS

M E L BOUR NE -S YD0NE Y -PE RT H

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(12) PATENT ABRIDGMENT (11) Document No. AU-B-81171/91 (19) AUSTRALIAN PATENT OFFICE (10) Acceptance No. 640503 (54) Title CASES MADE FROM A SHEET MATERIAL, BLANKS AND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING SUCH CASES International Patent Classification(s) 5 B65D 005/10 (51) B31B 003/28 B65D 005/02 (21) Application No. :81171/91 (22) Application Date: 18.07.91 Priority Data (31) Number (32) Date (33) Country 09457 24.07.90 FR FRANCE (43) Publication Date: 06.02.92 (44) Publication Date of Accepted Application 26.08.93 (71) Applicant(s) SOCIETE ANONYME DITE: OTOR (72) Inventor(s) JEAN-YVES BACQUES; GUY COALIER (74) Attorney or Agent GRIFFITH HACK CO., GPO Box 4164, SYDNEY NSW 2001 (56) Prior Art Documents US 4349345 US 4386729 FR 2276230 (57) Claim 1. A machine for forming a case from a sheet material blank having a succession of square or rectangular panels connected together by first fold lines parallel to each other and a first set of lateral flaps disposed on one side of said succession of panels, joined thereto by second fold lines perpendicular to said first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of said case, said machine comprising a mandrel, whose external cross section corresponds to the internal cross section of said case to be obtained; means for freely supporting an intermediate panel of said succession of panels at least approximately opposite the corresponding face of said mandrel, but at some distance therefrom, then bringing said intermediate panel towards said corresponding face of the mandrel, then pressing said intermediate panel against said corresponding face, after the panels adjacent said intermediate panel have been folded until said adjacent panels bear against said mandrel; means for wrapping said succession of panels about said mandrel;

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(11) AU-B-81171/91 -2- 640503 means for fixing together the end panels of said succession of panels thus wrapped about said mandrel; means for folding the flaps of said first set against a corresponding face of said mandrel; and means for fixing said flaps thus folded together, wherein said mandrel comprises at least five faces and said support, drawing together and pressure means for said intermediate comprise5 a pressure plate with two panel faces connected rigidly together, the first of said faces corresponding to said intermediate panel and the second to a first panel adjacent said intermediate panel, said first and second faces of the pressure plate defining a first dihedral such that, when said first face is applied against said corresponding face of the mandrel, said second face which is applied against the face of said mandrel corresponds to said first adjacent panel, the edge of said first dihedral then -bejng in coincidn o with the edge of said mandrel defined by said corresponding faces of said mandrel. 14. 4-ak made of a sheet material, such as cardboard, or corrugated board for forming the case specified in claim 4, said blank comprising a succession of square or rectangular panels joined together by first fold lines parallel to each other and a first set of lateral flaps disposed on one side of said ;uccession of panels, connected thereto by second fold lines perpendicular to said first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of said case, wherein said succession comprises at least five panels.

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P/00/011 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 64053 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: SOCIETE ANONYME DITE OTOR *9

Actual Inventor(s): Jean-Yves Bacques and Guy Coalier

Address for Service: GRIFFITH HACK CO S.

71 YORK STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 S

Invention Title: CASES MADE FROM A SHEET MATERIAL, BLANKS AND MACHINE FOR PRODUCING SUCH CASES S. S

*o S.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: *9

9 GH&CO REF: 21916-A:CLC:RK

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TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Cases made from a sheet material, blanks and machine for producing such cases.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to cases made from cardboard, corrugated board, or similar sheet material as well as the blanks of such material for forming said cases and a 0. machine for producing said cases from said blanks.

4o* Description of the Prior Art 15 From the patents US-A-4 242 949, DE-A-3 541 821 and FR-A-2 629 012, for example, machines are known which are capable of producing a cardboard case or similar by wrapping a blank about a mandrel. In these machines, said mandrel has an essentially square or rectangular cross 20 section, so that the cases obtained have four lateral faces defining a volume whose cross section, parallel to the bottom of said cases is also square or rectangular. Of course, two adjacent lateral faces are then orthogonal to eo* each other and form an edge perpendicular to the bottom of the case. Such cases are used for packing objects or groups of objects which are introduced therein through the lid which remains open, said lid only being closed after introduction of said objects. It rarely, if ever, happens that the cross section of the load formed by said objects or groups of objects is square or rectangular and is exactly adapted to that of the case in which said load is introduced, so that said load is not firmly held in said case by the lateral faces thereof and the corners of the case are projecting and empty. The result is that the load may move inside the case, causing instability leading to difficulties in handling and loading on a transport means. In addition, the projecting corners of the case are exposed to external aggressions and may be easily torn, which adversely affects the presentation and protection of the packed products. Finally, the empty corners of the case form a waste of sheet material, since they are useless. To partially overcome these drawbacks, the patent US-A-4308029 proposes disposing an object to be packed inside said mandrel and wrapping the blank, under tension and with resilient deformation of two opposite lateral faces of the case. Thus, a square cross section package is obtained whose faces are exactly tangential to the walls of said object. It will be noted that use of the machine described in this latter patent raises problems when a group of objects (and not a single object) are to be packed in the case. In addition, the package obtained also has projecting and empty corners, likely to be damaged and useless. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks. According to the invention, there is provided a sheet material case obtained by using the machine defined below, including a series of eight square or rectangular panels including principal panels separated by intermediate panels having a smaller width than at least some of the principal panels and ending in a fastening tongue, V said principal panels forming lateral faces of the case and said intermediate panels fforming angular or cut comers of the case, a first set of lateral flaps disposed on one ft. side of said panels and forming at least partially the bottom of said case, said intermediate panels being devoid of flaps, at least one flap in two having its two lateral sides at least partly angled towards the outside of said flap so as to "t correspond to the angular or cut corner, the end panel of said series and the tongue, on one side, and the adjacent flaps on the other side, being fastened only by being applied against one another and by gluing, when the panels and flaps are folded about a mandrel to form the case.

28 August 1997

Thus, because of the high number of said lateral faces of the case according to the form of the cross section of the case can be best adapted to the cross section of the load which it is to contain, so that the load may be held laterally optimally; the projecting empty and useless comers of the case may be suppressed, which reduces the risk of damage to the projecting corners and saves on sheet material. These projecting corners (dihedrals at 900) are then transformed into more open dihedrals (angle greater than which are less vulnerable to external aggression; the number of lateral edges is increased and so the compression strength of the case. According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a machine for forming a case from a sheet material blank having a succession of square or rectangular panels connected together by first fold lines parallel to each other and a first set of lateral flaps disposed on one side of said succession of panels, joined thereto by second fold lines perpendicular to said first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of said case, said machine comprising: i::I a mandrel, whose external cross section corresponds to the internal cross 00section of said case to be obtained; means for freely supporting an intermediate panel of said succession of panels 20 at least approximately opposite the corresponding face of said mandrel, but at some distance therefrom, then bringing said intermediate panel towards said corresponding ovao face of the mandrel, then pressing said intermediate panel against said corresponding face, after the panels adjacent said intermediate panel have been folded until such adjacent panels bear against said mandrel; means for wrapping said succession of panels about said mandrel; means for fixing together the end panels of said succession of panels thus S" wrapped about said mandrel; means for folding the flaps of said first set against a corresponding face of said mandrel; and means for fixing said flaps thus folded together, SE b 3 Auf l4 p~m AC Lnb:dmw:#0il77. s 1 2 Auguitl 1997 wherein said mandrel comprises eight faces and said support, drawing together and pressure means for said intermediate panel comprises a pressure plate with two faces connected rigidly together, the first of said faces corresponding to said intermediate panel and the second to a first panel adjacent said intermediate panel, said first and second faces of the pressure plate defining a first dihedral such that, when said first face is applied against said corresponding face of the mandrel, said second face which is applied against the face of said mandrel corresponds to said first adjacent panel, the edge of said first dihedral then coinciding with the edge of said mandrel defined by said corresponding faces of said mandrel. The invention further provides a blank made of a sheet material, such as cardboard or corrugated board, for forming the case defined above, said blank comprising a succession of square or rectangular panels including principal panels separated by intermediate panels having a smaller width than at least some of the principal panels and joined together by first fold lines parallel to each other, a first set of lateral flaps disposed on one side of said succession of panels and joined to at least each of said principal panels by second fold lines perpendicular to said first i fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of said case, said succession of panels including eight panels ending in a fastening tongue, said principal panels forming lateral faces of the case when the blank is folded, said 20 intermediate panels forming angular or cut corners of the case when the blank is folded and being devoid of lateral flaps, at least one flap in two of said lateral flaps of said first set having its two lateral sides at least partly angled towards the outside of said flap starting from the second folding lines, whereby the lateral flaps when folded lie closely adjacent said cut corners, said lateral flaps and said tongue being adapted to be fastened only by being applied against one another and by gluing, said S° blank being adapted to be folded by folding said panels and said flaps of said first S: set about a mandrel.

In order to further reinforce the strength of the case according to the invention, it is advantageous for at least one flap of said first set and/or said second

SEC v 1 04 ttnbdmw:#23777.rs 28 August 1997

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set to have at least one foldable lug able to be fixed to a panel, when the case is formed from said blank. In the French patent FR-A-2629012, a machine is described for forming a case from a sheet material blank

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tnb:dmw:H23777.n1 SA~ut19 29 August 1997 having a succession of square or rectangular panels connected together by first fold lines parallel to each other and a first set of lateral flaps disposed on one side of said succession of panels, joined thereto by second fold lines perpendicular to said first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of said case, said machine comprising a mandrel, whose external cross section corresponds to the internal cross section of said case to be obtained; means for freely supporting an intermediate panel of said succession of panels at least approximately opposite v sa the correspondinc face of said mandrel, but at some a distance therefrom, then bringing said intermediate panel towards said corresponding face of the mandrel, then 0 15 pressing said intermediate panel against said a corresponding face, after folding of the panels adjacent said intermediate panel until said adjacent panels bear against said mandrel; means for wrapping said succession of panels about said mandrel; means for fixing together the end panels of said succession of panels thus wrapped about said mandrel; means for folding the flaps of said first set against a corresponding face of said mandrel; and means for fixing said flaps thus folded together. Such a machine overcomes the drawbacks inherent in those provided for producing American cases. It is therefore advantageous to improve such a machine for manufacturing cases according to the invention. To this end, according to another aspect of the present invention, the machine of the above rqcalled type

9* 6N is remarkable in that said mandrel comprises I faces and in that said support, drawing together and T

pressure means for said intermediate panel comprise a pressure plate with two faces connected rigidly together, the first of said faces corresponding to said intermediate g'SEC~ ~O 4 e~I 4Sj o

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panel and the second to a first panel adjacent said intermediate panel, said first and second faces of the pressure plate defining a first dihedral such that, when said first face is applied against said corresponding face of the mandrel, said second face which is applied against the face of said mandrel corresponds to said first adjacent panel, the edge of said first dihedral then being in coincidence with the edge of said mandrel defined by said corresponding faces of said mandrel. Thus, two panels of said blank are perfectly positioned with respect to the mandrel and are held in position with respect to the corresponding faces thereof during wrapping of said blank, so that the case obtained has a particularly precise shape. is. To further increase this precision, it is advantageous for said pressure plate to have a third face rigidly connected to said first and second faces of said plate and corresponding to the second panel adjacent said intermediate panel, said first and third faces of the 4 4 20 pressure plate defining a second dihedral such that, when said first and second faces are applied against said faces of the mandrel which correspond thereto, said third face is applied against the face of said mandrel corresponding to said second adjacent panel, the edge of said second dihedral being then in coincidence with the edge of said mandrel defined by said corresponding faces of said e o mandrel. Thus, during the final phase of wrapping the S4 panels, three of them are disposed precisely and held firmly in position against the corresponding faces of the mandrel. Advantageously, said means for wrapping said succession of panels about the mandrel comprise a mobile assembly with swinging arms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will

now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows a flat blank of sheet material for producing a first embodiment of a case according to the invention; Figures 2 and 3 show in perspective the case obtained from the blank of Figure 1, the lid of said case being shown respectively open (Figure 2) and closed (Figure 3); Figure 4 illustrates, in cross section parallel to its bottom, use of the case of Figures 2 and 3; Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate schematically the procedure for forming the case of Figure 2 from the blank of Figure 1; Figures 8, 10 and 12 are schematic elevational views of a machine for manufacturing the case of Figure 2 from V, the blank of Figure 1, at different stages of this manufacture; 20 Figures 9, 11 and 13 are schematic top views corresponding respectively to Figures 8, 10 and 12; Figures 14, 15 and 16 illustrate schematically in partial lateral views, perpendicular to Figures 8, 10 and 12, the closure of the bottom of the case of Figures 2 and S: 25 3; Figures 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, .'eo 50, 53 and 56 show, flat, respectively blank variants according to the invention; Figures 18, 21, 24, 27, 30, 33, 36, 39, 45, 48, 51, 54 and 57 show, in perspective, the cases obtained respectively from the blanks of Figures 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 44, 47, 50, 53 and 56, said cases having their lids open. Figures 19, 22, 25, 28, 31, 34, 37, 40, 42, 46, 49, 52, 55 and 58 show, in perspective, the cases obtained respectively from the blanks of Figures 17, 20, 23, 26, r

1 I _1 L

29, 32, 35, 38, 41, 44, 47, 50, 53 and 56, said cases having their lids closed. Figure 43 is an end view of the case of Figure 42, obtained from the blank of Figure 41.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The blank Fl of sheet material, for example cardboard or corrugated board, shown in Figure 1, comprises a succession of eight aligned rectangular panels 1 to 8, joined together in twos by preformed parallel fold lines 9 to 15. Along the free edge of the end panel 1 of said succession of panels is disposed a tongue 16 which is connected to said end panel 1 by a fold line 17, parallel a 15 to the fold lines 9 to Furthermore, on each side of each panel 1, 3, 5 and 7 flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7 and 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7 are respectively provided. Each lateral flap 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7 is hinged to the corresponding panel 1, 20 3, 5 or 7 by a preformed fold line 20.1, 20.3, 20.5 or 20.7. These fold lines 20.1, 20.3, 20.5 and 20.7 are aligned and perpendicular to the fold lines 9 to 15 and 17. Similarly, each lateral flap 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7 is hinged to the corresponding panel 1, 3, 5, 7 by a preformed fold line 21.1, 21.3, 21.5,or 21.7. The fold lines 21.1, 21.3, 21.5 and 21.7 are aligned and perpendicular to the fold lines 9 to 15 and 17. The panels 2, 4, 6 and 8 have no lateral flap. The rectangular panels 1 to 8 all have the same height h. The two panels 1 and 5 are identical to each other and have a width 1. The two panels 3 and 7 are identical to each other and have a width L, greater than 1. The four panels 2, 4, 6 and 8 are identical to each other and have a width e less than 1. The height h is greater than L.

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The blank Fl is intended to form, by wrapping and fastening panels 1 to 8 and fastening flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7, 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7 in the way described hereafter in greater detail with reference to figures 5 to 16 the case C1 shown in Figure 3. The case Cl has a height equal to h, a length Ll and a width 11. It has the general appearance of a case with rectangular cross section and four cut corners. In case Cl, the large lateral faces are formed by panels 3 and 7, whereas the small lateral faces are formed by panels 1 and 5, panels 2, 4, 6 and 8 forming the cut corners of said case Cl. In o addition, the bottom of case Cl is formed by flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7, whereas the lid of said case Cl is formed by flaps 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7. 15 The four flaps 18.1, 18.5, 19.1 and 19.5 are identical and rectangular. They have a length equal to the ~width 1 of panels 1 and Flaps 18.3, 18.7, 19.3 and 19.7 are identical to each other. they have a length equal to the length Ll of case Cl and a width 11/2 equal to half the width 11 thereof. The flaps 18.3, 18.7, 19.3 and 19.7 whose length Ll is greater than the width L of the corresponding panels 3 and 7, are joined to said panels by a convergent portion whose inclined edges 22 have a length a equal to the width e of panels 2, 4, 6 and 8. Thus, each of said flaps 18.3, 18.7, 19.3 and 19.7 corresponds in form to half the cross section of case Cl. In Figure 4, an application of case C1 has been shown, in cross section, to the packing of six bottles B separated by separating cross-pieces S. It can be seen that, because of the cut corners corresponding to panels 2, 4, 6 and 8, the end bottles B are held well in position since these cut corners are tangential thereto. These corners, which project very little, are relatively invulnerable to external aggressions. In addition, at each corner, with respect to a known rectangular case, it can

~-~-s39~p~pl~sg PB~S I--~a~8i be seen that only a proportion a/2b of sheet material is used. If the faces 2, 4, 6 and 8 are inclined at 45° with respect to faces 1, 3, 5 and 7, this proportion is equal 12, i.e. equal to 70%. The result is, for each corner, a saving in material of Finally, the case Cl has eight lateral edges, corresponding respectively to the fold lines 9 to 17, which confers thereon a compression strength greater than that of a rectangular cross section case. In Figures 8 to 16, a machine has been illustrated schematically for manufacturing the case Cl, with open lid, such as shown in Figure 2. For the sake of clarity, these Figures are partial and simplified and they each comprise only the elements required for understanding the manufacturing phases which they illustrate. The machine of Figures 8 to 16 comprises a mandrel 23, shown on a larger scale in Figures 5 to 7, whose external shape corresponds to the internal shape of case C1 from blank Fl. For this, the cross section of mandrel 23 is rectangular with cut corners. As shown in Figures 8 to 16, the length of mandrel 23 may be different from the height h of case Cl. Mandrel 23 may be solid or only formed of a frame defining its edges, as is shown in said Figures 5 to 7. In these Figures, it has been assumed that said mandrel 23 was formed of parallel shaped sections 24 (seen in an end view in Figures 5 to 7) having a rectangular cross section with cut corners, defining lateral bearing faces 25 to 32 for the panels of blank Fl, fold edges 33 to 40 corresponding to the fold lines between said panels and a front bearing face 41 for the flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7, the contour of said bearing face 41 forming fold edges corresponding to the fold lines of said flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7. In Figures 5 to 7, the procedure has been shown schematically for positioning blank Fl with respect to mandrel 23, when it is desired to apply the intermediate panel 3 against the corresponding lower face 25 of mandrel 23. Using known means, for example those shown in the document FR-A-2 629 012, a blank Fl is brought in the vicinity of mandrel 23, so that its panel 3 is disposed at least approximately facing the bearing face 25. Although the lateral positioning of said panel 3 with respect to said face 25 should be as precise as possible, it may happen that a slight shift S occurs between panel 3 and said bearing face 25. To prevent premature folding of blank outside the fold lines 10 and 11, at the time of folding the other panels of blank Fl, before folding said other panels, panel 3 is moved away from the bearing face by a distance d (see Figure Then, during folding of 15 said panels 2, 1 and tongue 16 on the one hand, and panels C 4 to 8 on the other hand, panel 3 is brought close to the C. bearing face 25 by means of a pressure plate 42 whose profile is concave and which, transversely to mandrel 23, has a face 43 which can be superimposed on the face 25 of 20 said mandrel, a face 44 which can be superimposed on face 26 of the mandrel 23 and a face 45 which can be superimposed on the face 32 thereof, the faces 43 and 44 being connected together by an edge 46 which can be superimposed on edge 34, whereas faces 43 and 45 are connected together by an edge 47 which can be superimposed on edge 33. Thus, while panel 3 is brought closer to f£ice (arrow the panels 2, 1 and tongue 16, on the one hand, and panels 4 to 8, on the other hand, bear against mandrel 23 (see the dotted lines 48 and 49 in Figure which generates a lateral guiding effect and exactly positions panel 3 with respect to the bearing face 25 (see Figure When plate 42 presses panel 3 against the bearing face 25 (see Figure the fold lines 10 and 11 are superimposed exactly on the fold edges 33 and 34 and the fold lines 9 and 12 are superimposed exactly on the fold edges 40 and

Since blank Fl is then temporarily fast with mandrel 23 because of the pressure exerted by plate 42, the formation of case Cl may be continued by wrapping blank Fl about said mandrel 23 (see the dotted lines in Figure 8). With such wrapping, the panels 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are respectively applied against the faces 31, 27, 28, 29 and and tongue 16 is folded back on face 30 (before or after panel It is then possible to fix tongue 16 and panel 8 together, for example by glueing. Then, flaps 18.1 and 18.5 are folded about the edges of the front face 41 of the mandrel 23 corresponding respectively to the fold lines 20.1 and 20.5, so as to be

applied against said corresponding front face 41 of mandrel 23. 4 15 Finally, flaps 18.3 and 18.7 are folded about the edges of the front face 41 of mandrel 23 corresponding respectively to the fold lines 20.3 and 20.7 and applied against flaps 18.1 and 18.5 which are already folded, so that said flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7 may be fixed together, for example by glueing. Then the case C1 shown in Fifure 2 is obtained, •fitted on the mandrel 23 and open on the same side as flaps 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7. To fill this case Cl, the mandrel 23 is removed and the case is set on its bottom formed of flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7 which are secured together. After filling, case Cl may be closed by folding flaps 19.1 and 19.5 •respectively about fold lines 21.1 and 21.5, then by folding flaps 19.3 and 19.7 on the folded flaps 19.1 and 19.5 and finally by fixing said flaps 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7, for example by glueing. Then the closed case Cl shown in Figure 3 is obtained. The above operations may be carried out automatically using the machine illustrated schematically and partially in Figures 8 to 16. This machine has a frame with respect to which the mandrel 23 and the pressure

I plate 42 are mounted. It further comprises a device (not shown) of any known type, for taking the blanks F1 one by one from a magazine and bringing them under mandrel 23. Glue spreaders 51, 52 and 53, mounted on frame 50, deposit lines of adhesive 54, 55, 56 respectively on tongue 16 and on flaps 18.1 and 18.5, while the blank Fl is being brought under mandrel 23. Thus, with the glue spreaders 51 to 53, blank Fl is disposed, already glued, under mandrel 23 in the position shown in Figure 5, above the pressure plate 42, which is driven by an actuator 57, carried by frame To wrap panels 1 to 8 and tongue 16 about mandrel 23, the machine comprises a mechanism with a mobile soIso assembly 58 which may be raised or lowered by means of an t. 15 actuator 59, bearing on frame 0 d4 The mobile assembly 58 has two articulated arms and 61, for example driven respectively by a linkage 62 connected to frame 50 and by a cam 63 mounted on said frame. 20 Actuators 64 to 67, such as cylinder and piston devices for example, are mounted on frame 50 and may fold respectively flaps 18.1, 18.5, 18.7, 18.3. Pressers 68 and 69, also mounted on frame 50, are provided for applying the tongue 16 and panel 8 against the face 30 of mandrel 23. With a blank Fl brought under mandrel 23 so as to be in the position shown in Figure 5 (see Figures 8 and S* the actuators 57 and 59 are actuated so that, on the one hand, the pressure plate 42 draws closer to mandrel 23 and, on the other hand, the articulated arms 60 and 61, in response to the raising of the mobile assembly 58, fold the panels of blank Fl respectively disposed on each side of panel 3. Blank Fl then takes up, with respect to mandrel 23, successively the relative positions illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. Then, with the mobile assembly 58 still rising, the arms 60 and 61 apply panels

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6 and 1 respectively against the corresponding faces 27, 28 and 31 of mandrel 23 (see Figures 10 and 11). Presser 68 then applies tongue 16 against the face of the mandrel 23, after which the other presser 69 applies panel 8 against tongue 16 and face 30. Because of the presence of the line of adhesive 54, the panel 8 is then secured to tongue 16 (see Figures 12 and 13). Then the actuators 64 and 65 fold flaps 18.1 and 18.5 against face 41 of mandrel 23 (Figure 11), after which the actuators 66 and 67 apply respectively flap 18.7 (Figure 15) then the flap 18.3 (Figure 16) against the folded flaps 18.1 and 18.5. Because of the lines of adhesive 55 and 56, flaps 18.1-, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7 are w* secured together so as to form the bottom of case Cl. Figures 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38 and 41 show seo** "respectively sheet material blanks F2 to F10 adapted to *e form cases with rectangular cross section and cut corners, like case Cl. In the blanks F2, F3, F5 to F9 of Figures 17, 20, 26, 29, 32, 35 and 38 we find again the succession of panels of eight aligned rectangular panels 1 to 8, a o connected together in twos by preformed parallel fold lines 9 to 15 and bordered by fold lines 20.1, 20.3, 20.5, 20.7, 21.1, 21.3, 21.5 and 21.7, such as described above *in connection with Figure 1. However, in these variants, flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7 and 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7 have different forms, so that the cases obtained C2, C3 and C5 to C9 are different from case Cl, although having the same rectangular cross section with cut corners. In so far as blanks F4 and F10 of Figures 23 and 41 are concerned, the succession of aligned rectangular panels 1 to 8 is also different, so that the corresponding cases C4 and C10 are different from case Cl although having a similar cross section. From the foregoing it will be readily understood that cases C2 to C0O may be obtained using the machine described in connection with Figures 5 to 16, possibly by

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15

adapting the position and/or the number of glue spreaders 51 to 53, actuators 64 to 67 and pressers 68, 69. In blank F2 of Figure 17, the flaps 18.3, 18.7, 19.3, 19.7 are identical and rectangular. They have a length equal to the width L of panels 3 and 7 and a width equal to half 11. In addition, flaps 18.1, 18.5, 19.1, 19.5 are identical with each other and each of them has a length equal to 11. It is flaps 18.1, 18.5, 19.1, 19.5 which therefore comprise, in the vicinity of their fold line with the corresponding panels, the widening provided by the inclined edges 22, the latter having the length a. The blank F3 of Figure 20 is identical to blank F2 of Figure 2, except in so far as the free edges of panels 2, 4, 6, 8 and tongue 16 are concerned. The free edges of 15 said panels and of said tongue directed towards flaps a18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7 comprise indentations 70 whereas those directed towards flaps 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7 S comprise projections 71. Thus, case C3 has at its lower o part slots 73 and at its upper part stubs 74. When two of 20 cases C3 are superimposed, the stubs 74 of the lower case penetrate into the slots 73 of the upper case, so that said cases are held laterally in position with respect to 0 each other. Panels 2 to 8 and flaps 18.3, 18.5, 18.7, 19.3, 25 19.5 and 19.7 of blank F4 of Figure 23 are identical to

those of blank Fl of Figure 1. On the other hand, panel 1, tongue 16 and flaps 18.1 and 19.1 have been omitted and replaced by two rectangular panels 1.1 and 1.2, respectively fast with the outer edges of panels 2 and 9, 30 along fold lines 9 and 75. With each of panels 1.1 and 1.2 S•are respectively associated rectangular flaps 18.11, 19.11 and 18.72, 19.72. Panels 1.1 and 1.2 and flaps 18.11, 19.11, 18.72 and 19.72 have a width 12 greater than half the width 1 of panel 5. Thus, after blank F4 has been folded about mandrel 23, the panels 1.1 and 1.2 and flaps 18.11, 19.11, 18.72 and 19.72 are superimposed along an overlapping zone 76, along which they may be fastened, for example by glueing. Essentially, in blank F5 of Figure 26, panels 1 to 8, tongue 16, flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7, 19.1 and 19.5 are identical to those of blank Fl of Figure 1. However, along their inclined edges 22, flaps 18.3 and 18.7 comprise lugs 77. Moreover, flaps 19.3 and 19.7 have a form which corresponds to the cross section of case C5. In addition, the inclined edges 22 and 78 of the cut corners of flap 19.7 comprise lugs 79. Thus, when the case C5 is formed from blank F5, lugs 77 and 79 are folded back and fastened to the faces of said case corresponding to panels 2, 4, 6 and 8. The lugs 77 and 79 therefore form reinforcements, connecting the bottom and lid of case 15 to the side wall thereof. In addition, a handle 80 has *o been provided on flap 19.7, said handle 80 being accessible through a slot 81 provided in flap 19.3, when the latter is folded back over flap 19.7 and fastened thereto. 20 In blank F6 of Figure 9, the panels 1 to 8, tongue 16 and flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7 are identical to those of blank F2 of Figure 17. On the other hand flaps 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7 have a small width and all have inclined edges 22. Thus, case C6 comprises a lid formed 25 only of a peripheral border 82, defining a central opening 83. Blank F7 of Figure 32 comprises panels 1 to 8, a tongue 16 and flaps 18.1, 18.3, 18.5, 18.7 similar to those of blank Fl of Figure 1. The flaps 19.1 and 19.5 are 30 rectangular, of a length equal to the width 1 of panels 1 and 7 but of small width. Flaps 19.3 and 19.7 comprise inclined widening edges 22, where their width is less than 11/2. In addition, in longitudinal extension, said flaps 19.3 and 19.7 comprise lugs 84. Thus, case C7 has a lid formed of a peripheral border 85 defining a central opening 86, lugs 84, after being folded back and glued, fastening said lid to the lateral faces of said case corresponding to panels 1 and In the blank F8 of Figure 35, panels 1 to 8 and tongue 16 are identical to those of blanks Fl and F2 of Figures 1 and 2. Flaps 18.1, 18.5, 19.1, 19.5 are identical to each other. Similarly, flaps 18.3, 18.7, 19.3, 19.7 are identical to each other. Each flap 18.1, 18.5, 19.1, 19.5 has, in the vicinity of its fold line connecting to the corresponding panel, a widening zone with inclined edges 22, then a narrowing zone with inclined edges 87, of a direction opposite that of edges 22 and finally a zone 88 of constant length. Each flap 18.3, 18.7, 19.3, 19.7 comprises, in the vicinity of its fold line connecting to the corresponding panel, a zone 89 15 of constant width, then a widening zone with inclined edges 90 and finally a zone 91 of constant length. The total width of flaps 18.3, 18.7, 19.3, 19.7 is equal to half 11 and their length, at the level of the constant length portion 91, is equal to LI. The case C8 So 20 obtained from blank F8 is shown in Figures 36 and 37. In blank F9 of Figure 38, the panels 1 to 8, tongue 16 and flaps 18.1, 18.5, 19.1, 19.5 are similar to those of blank F2 of Figure 17. However, the width of said flaps *i is less than half 11. Flaps 18.3, 18.7, 19.3, 19.7 are identical to each other. In the vicinity of their fold line connecting to the corresponding panel, they comprise a rectangular portion 92, then a narrowing portion 93 with inclined edges 94. The width of these latter flaps is equal to half 11. As is illustrated in Figure 38, the 30 manufacture of blanks F9 is economical in sheet material, 2since two blanks F9 may be interfitted one in the other, with longitudinal offset. In Figure 41 a blank F10 has been shown in which the succession of panels 1 to 8 is such that the height h thereof is less than the width L of panels 3 and 7, contrary to what has been shown for blanks Fl to F9 described above. Flaps 18.1 and 18.5 are substantially similar to those of blank F2 of Figure 17, whereas flaps 18.3 and 18.7 are substantially similar to those of blank Fl of Figure 1. In addition, flaps 19.1, 19.3, 19.5 and 19.7 are substantially similar to those of blank F2 of Figure 17. The lateral edges of flaps 19.3 and 19.7 comprise indentations The bottom of case C10 is formed by folding flaps 18.1 and 18.5 and fixing them on flaps 18.3 and 18.7 which have been previously folded, so that said flaps 18.1 and 18.5 project with respect thereto. The lid of case C10 is formed by folding flaps 19.3 and 19.7 and fixing them on flaps 19.1 and 19.5 which have been previously folded, so that said flaps 19.3 and 19.7, projecting with respect to o 5 15 flaps 19.1 and 19.5 form cavities 96 at the ends of said case. The shape of said cavities 96 corresponds to that of flaps 18.1 and 18.5. Thus, when two cases C10 are superimposed, the projections formed by flaps 18.1 and 18.5 on the bottom of the upper case are housed in the 20 cavities 96 of the lid of the lower case, so that cooperation of projections 18.1 and 18.5 and cavities 96 ensures the vertical stability of said cases. This stability is further reinforced by the fact that panels 2, 4, 6, 8 comprise projections 71 and the indentations 70 of 25 blank F3 of Figure 20, so that case C10 comprises stubs 74 and recesses 73 similar to those of case C3, facilitating staicking of said cases 'Tn the blank Fll of Figure 44, panels 1 and 5 of Fl to F10 described above have been omitted. 30o more, panel 8 is connected to panel 2 and it ies the tongue 16. The result is that case C11 has a hexagonal and not octagonal cross section. Triangular flaps 18.2, 18.4, 18.6, 18.8, 19.2, 19.4, 19.6 and 19.8 are disposed at the ends of panels 2, 4, 6 and 8. Flaps 18.3, 18.7, 19.3, 19.7 are trapezoidal. Thus, in the case C11, the corners are widely cut, causing the total suppression, with respect to cases Cl to CIO, of the lateral faces corresponding to panels 1 and

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Claims (33)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A machine for forming a case from a sheet material blank having a succession of square or rectangular panels connected together by first fold lines parallel to each other and a first set of lateral flaps disposed on one side of said succession of panels, joined thereto by second fold lines perpendicular to said first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of said case, said machine comprising: a mandrel, whose external cross section corresponds to the internal cross section of said case to be obtained; means for freely supporting an intermediate panel of said succession of panels at least approximately opposite the corresponding face of said mandrel, but at some distance therefrom, then bringing said intermediate panel towards said corresponding face of the mandrel, then pressing said intermediate panel against said corresponding face, after the panels adjacent said intermediate panel have been folded until said adjacent panels bear against said mandrel; means for wrapping said succession of panels about said mandrel; :w emeans for fixing together the end panels of said succession of panels thus wrapped about said mandrel; means for folding the flaps of said first set against a corresponding face of said mandrel; and 20 means for fixing said flaps thus folded together wherein said mandrel comprises at least five faces and said support, drawing together and pressure means for said intermediate panel comprises a pressure plate with two faces connected rigidly together, the first of said faces corresponding to said

   o intermediate panel and the second to a first panel adjacent said intermediate panel, said first and second faces of the pressure plate defining a first dihedral such that, So when said first face is applied against said corresponding face of the mandrel, said second face which is applied against the face of said mandrel corresponds to said first adjacent panel, the edge of said first dihedral then coinciding with the edge of said mandrel defined by said corresponding faces of said mandrel.

   ,b:dmw;23777.I 28 Augu 1997 i tl j inb:dmw:#23777.nl 9
2. 2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pressure plate has a third face rigidly connected to said first and second faces of said plate and corresponding to the second panel adjacent said intermediate panel, said first and third faces of the pressure plate defining a second dihedral such that, when said first and second faces are applied against said faces of the mandrel which correspond thereto, said third face is applied against the face of said mandrel corresponding to said second adjacent panel, the edge of said second dihedral being then in coincidence with the edge of said mandrel defined by said corresponding faces of said mandrel.
3. 3. The machine as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein said mineans for wrapping said succession of panels about the mandrel comprise a mobile assembly with swinging arms.
4. 4. A machine for forming a case from a sheet material blank, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 8 to 16 of the accompanying drawings.
5. 5. A sheet material case obtained by using the machine defined in any preceding o* claim, including a series of eight square or rectangular panels including principal o. panels separated by intermediate panels having a smaller width than at least some 9 04,qof the principal panels and ending in a fastening tongue, said principal panels forming lateral faces of the case and said intermediate panels forming angular or cut 20 corners of the case, a first set of lateral flaps disposed on one side of said panels and forming at least partially the bottom of said case, said intermediate panels being devoid of flaps, at least one flap in two having its two lateral sides at least partly angled towards the outside of said flap so as to correspond to the angular or cut corner, the end panel of said series and the tongue, on one side, and the adjacent flaps on the other side, being fastened only by being applied against one another and "by gluing, when the panels and flaps are folded about a mandrel to form the case.
6. 6. The case of claim 5, further including a set of lateral flaps disposed on the other side of said panels and forming at least partially the lid of said case, at least one flap in two having its two lateral sides at least partly angled towards the outside of said flap so as to correspond to the angular or cut corner.

   l SEC ib.dmw#23777.rI 28 August1997

   104 oW NTSE
7. 7. The case of claim 6, wherein two flaps connected by the same panel are identical.
8. 8. The case of claim 6 or 7, wherein two flaps connected by the same panel are different.
9. 9. The case of any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein said intermediate panels are formed with lateral stubs or projections on at least one side of said panels.
10. The sheet material case of claim 9, wherein the corresponding intermediate panels are formed with indentations at the other side of said panels dimensioned to receive the corresponding stubs or projections.
11. 11. The sheet material case of any one of claims 5 to 10, wherein the flaps which are situated on the outside of the case have complementary shapes so that when two such cases are superimposed, the flaps of the upper case fit into the flaps of the lower case.
12. 12. The sheet material case of any one of claims 5 to 11, wherein at least one flap has at least one foldable lug able to be fixed to a panel.
13. 13. The sheet material case substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 and 3, 18 and 19, 21 and 22, 24 and 25, 27 and 28, and 31, 33 and 34, 36 and 37, 39 and 40, 42 and 43 of the accompanying drawings.
14. 14. A blank made o' a sheet material, such as cardboard or corrugated board, for forming the case specified in any one of claims 4 to 13, said blank comprising a succession of square or rectangular panels including principal panels separated by intermediate panels having a smaller width than at least some of the principal panels and joined together by first fold lines parallel to each other, a first set of lateral flaps disposed on one side of said succession of panels and joined to at least each of said principal panels by second fold lines perpendicular to said first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the bottom of said case, said succession of panels including eight panels ending in a fastening tongue, said principal panels forming lateral faces of the case when the blank is folded, said intermediate panels forming angular or cut comers of the case when the blank is folded and being devoid of
15. tnb:dmw:#U23777.nl 28 AugUstl 1997 lateral flaps, at least one flap in two of said lateral flaps of said first set having its two lateral sides at least partly angled towards the outside of said flap starting from the second folding lines, whereby the lateral flaps when folded lie closely adjacent said cut corners, said lateral flaps and said tongue being adapted to be fastened only by being applied against one another and by gluing, said blank being adapted to be folded by folding said panels and said flaps of said first set about a mandrel. The blank as claimed in claim 14, comprising a second set of lateral flaps disposed on the other side of said succession of panels, joined thereto by third fold lines perpendicular to said first fold lines and intended to form at least partially the lid of said case.
16. 16. The blank of claim 14, wherein said second fold lines are in alignment.
17. 17. The blank as claimed in claim 15, wherein said third fold lines are in alignment.
18. 18. The blank as claimed in claim 15 or 17, wherein at least one flap in two of said second set has its two lateral sides at least partly angled towards the outside of S: the flap starting firom the third folding lines.
19. 19. The blank as claimed in claim 15, wherein two flaps of said first and second sets of flaps, connected to the same panel, are identical. "2
20. 20. The blank as claimed in claim 15, wherein two flaps of said first and second sets of flaps, connected to the same panel, are different.
21. 21. The blank as claimed in claim 14 or 18, wherein the flaps which have their two lateral sides at least party angled towards the outside of said flaps starting from the second folding lines include along said angled parts reinforcing tabs adapted to o be folded and attached to the lateral faces of the case when the blank is folded. S 25
22. 22. The blank as claimed in claim 18, wherein the flaps which have their two lateral sides at least partly angled towards the outside of said flaps starting from the third fold lines include tabs which extend longitudinally and which are arranged after folding and gluing, to attach the lid to the lateral faces of the case when the blank is folded.

    EC b.dmw0237771 28 August1997
23. 23. The blank as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein the flaps of said first and second sets, which are situated on the outside when the case is formed, have complementary shapes so that, when two such cases are superimposed, the flaps of said first set of the upper case fit into the flaps of said second set of the lower case.
24. 24. The blank as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein at least one flap of said first set has least one foldable lug able to be fixed to a panel, when the case is formed from said blank.
25. The blank as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein at least one flap of said second set has at least one foldable lug able to be fixed to a panel, when the case is formed from said blank.
26. 26. The blank of any one of claims 14 to 24, wherein said eight rectangular panels includes a first rectangular panel of width 1,a second intermediate panel of width e narrower than the width I,a third rectangular panel of width L, a fourth intermediate panel of width e, a fifth rectangular panel of width 1,a six intermediate panel of width e, a seventh rectangular panel of width L and an eighth end panel of dimensions corresponding to said intermediate panels, said first, third, fifth and seventh panels having lateral flaps extending from at least one side, said lateral flaps extending from said first and fifth rectangular panels being of corresponding width 20 to said first and fifth panels, said lateral flaps extending from said third and seventh panels being wider than said third and seventh panels and being connected to said :0* third and seventh panels by a portion of the same width as said panels followed by outwardly extending angular portions corresponding in width to said second, fourth, sixth and eighth panels disposed at an angle corresponding to the cut comers of the S 25 case when formed from said blank.
27. 27. The blank as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 25, wherein said lateral flaps attached to said first and fifth rectangular panels are wider than said first and fifth rectangular panels and are connected to said third and seventh panels by a portion of the same width as said panels followed by outwardly extending angular portions

    S L nb:dmw123777.rl nbdwI377.s 28August 1997 corresponding in width to said second, fourth, sixth and eighth panels disposed at an angle corresponding to the cut corners of the case when formed from said blank.
28. 28. The blank as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 25 including a first and fifth panel having a predetermined width and defining in the case formed from the blank opposite ends of the case, a second, fourth, sixth and eighth panel having a predetermined width and defining cut or angular comers in the case formed by the blank, third and seventh panels of a predetermined width greater than the first, second, fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth panels and defining the sides of the case formed from the blank, a first set of lateral flaps attached to at least one side of said first, third, fifth and seventh panels to at least partially form the bottom of said case, said second, fourth, sixth and eighth panels having complementary lugs and notches in opposite edges.
29. 29. The blank as claimed in claim 28, further including a second set of lateral flaps attached to the other side of said first, third, fifth and seventh panels to at least e. 15 partially form the top of said case.
30. The blank as claimed in claim 28, wherein first and second sets of flaps are provided on the outside when the case is formed, having complementary shapes so that, when two such cases are superimposed, the flaps of said first set of the upper case fit into the flaps of said second set of the lower case. 20
31. 31. The blank as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 30, wherein said intermediate panels defining the cut or anrgular comers are positioned adjacent each other to define angular ends of said case formed from said blank. 54
32. 32. A blank made of a sheet material substantially as hereinbefore described with .reference to and as shown in any one of Figures 1, 17, 20, 23, 26, 29, 32, 35, 38, 41 or 43 of the accompanying drawings.
33. 33. A sheet material case made from the blank of any one of claims 14 to 32.

    DATED: 22 October 1997

    CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: PRATT RESEARCH DEVELOPMENT PTY LTD

    22 October 1997 S U tnb:dmw#23777n1

    ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

    such A case is disclosed, made from a sheet material board, having square *or as cardboard or corrugated in twos by a fold rectangular lateral faces connected to each other. line, said fold lines being parallel According the invention, such a case comprises at by wrapping a least five lateral faces. It may be obtained in cooperation with a sheet material blank about a mandrel to that of two or pressure plate whose profile corresponds three consecutive faces of said mandrel.

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