DE69613255T2 - Cut for a bowl with partitions - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a panel blank for producing a container divided into compartments for, for example, biscuits, chocolate and the like and having at least four panels formed by parallel, longitudinal fold lines, the panels defining in the finished container, in succession, a base, a side, a number of transverse parts and a side, of the panels, the three panels defined by the sides and the panel arranged between these sides have a number of parallel, transverse incisions which intersect the longitudinal fold lines forming the three panels, of the panels, the middle panel has a number of transverse fold lines which run up to the longitudinal fold lines, and the side panels have oblique fold lines which start from the intersection of a longitudinal fold line and a transverse fold line, so that when the panels defined by the sides are folded with respect to the middle panel, those areas of the middle panel which are respectively delimited by a transverse fold line, two diagonal fold lines and an incision, folded to form transverse parts defining the compartments.

A panel blank of this type is disclosed in US-A-2 744 675. The container made from this panel blank has fairly deep cutouts on the sides, which weaken the finished container. At the locations of these cutouts, the resistance to bending is low, so that the container can easily give way under pressure in its longitudinal direction.

Another important aspect is that this panel cut must be made of a relatively strong material. This is necessary primarily because the finished container must be sufficiently robust, especially at the cutouts. Furthermore, the way in which the container is made from the panel cut means that a strong material must be used. In the manufacturing process, the panel cut is first formed into a tube, after which the cross-sections are formed by pressing in the relevant areas. During this process, the material is folded. During this phase, high forces are generated that would destroy a panel cut made of a lightweight material.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a panel blank made of a relatively lightweight, inexpensive material from which a robust container can be made. This object is achieved in that both ends of each transverse incision run behind the corresponding longitudinal fold lines and an additional incision whose two ends connect to a diagonal fold line.

Since additional cuts are present at both ends of a transverse cut, the cutouts on the sides of the finished container become much smaller, so that these sides can offer a relatively high resistance to deflection. Another advantage of the panel blank according to the invention is that no material is wasted because the panel blank is completely rectangular or square.

Since the panel blank is completely square, the transverse cuts according to the invention may have a gable or arched shape at the location of the central panel, so that the areas on either side of each transverse cut have unequal dimensions, seen in a direction parallel to the longitudinal fold lines. The largest of the areas forming parts between adjacent compartments in the finished container is of such a size that it extends almost or completely to the base of the container. This provides better separation between the compartments, whereas otherwise a detrimental effect on the strength of the other parts of the container, in particular the side walls, would be achieved because the cuts are too large.

Both panels defining each side can be connected to a panel defining a base via a fold line. This design creates a double base, which ensures high strength.

Furthermore, the middle panel may have a portion defining an end wall behind each of the two outer transverse fold lines. The container can be closed forcefully at both its longitudinal ends by means of such end walls.

Preferably, the two outer transverse fold lines extend across the entire two panels each defining a side, and the side areas lying behind the two outer transverse fold lines are connected to an end wall section by longitudinal fold lines, the side areas not being connected to a panel defining a base and having an oblique fold line running from the intersection point between an outer transverse fold line and a longitudinal fold line on one side and the free corner of that side area on the other side. In this embodiment, the sides extend beyond the end walls of the container, thus creating a very strong construction.

In this connection, each base has a transverse fold line at both longitudinal ends, which in each case runs in the extension of an outer transverse fold line, each defining an end base section, which end base sections can be fitted between an end wall section and that region of the central panel which is connected thereto by a transverse fold line. By gluing such side sections, the base panel and the central panel, all of which adjoin each other at the location of the end wall, a very robust and strong container is produced.

With the panel blank according to the invention, the side wall of the container can be produced in various shapes. According to a first For example, each additional cut may be longitudinal and intersect the transverse cut at a substantially right angle. The top edge of the sides of the finished container will then be straight.

According to a further possibility, each additional cut can have two oblique cut halves that intersect each other and the associated transverse cut at a common intersection point. The upper edge of the sides of the container now has triangular sections that protrude upwards.

According to a further possibility, a lid can be formed, wherein a plate forming the base is connected via a fold line to a lid which is foldable towards the transverse parts defined by transverse fold lines.

A design of this type has greater stability and offers better protection for the packaged products.

In particular, the lid can have a first lid plate connected to a plate forming the base via a fold line, the width of the first lid plate substantially corresponding to the distance between the upper surface of the transverse parts and the base, and a second lid plate connected to the first lid plate via a further fold line.

An advantage of the panel cutting according to the invention is that it is suitable for high-speed production and for the subsequent machine deformation is particularly suitable for producing a container. A process of this kind makes the sheet blank suitable for a lightweight package for, for example, confectionery, biscuits and the like, the corresponding machine being installed at the confectionery manufacturer's site. The package is made from a stack roll and then filled with the product in question.

The invention therefore relates to a system for producing a container from a panel blank according to one of the aforementioned embodiments with:

- feeding means for feeding a starting material piece in sheet form,

- Cutting and pressing tools for making cuts and fold lines in the starting material for producing the panel cut.

The plant according to the invention is characterized by:

- means for folding the panels of the panel blank forming the sides of the finished container and for folding the areas in the panel located between the sides to form the transverse parts.

In this context, it should be noted that the panel blank according to the aforementioned US-A-2 744 675 is not suitable for such a fully mechanized method for producing a container. In this known method, the container is formed manually. Such a method is not economically viable when a large number of products are packaged in a relatively lightweight container such as the subject of the invention.

The plant according to the invention comprises an upper die and a lower die, both of which are movable away from and towards each other. The lower die has two upwardly directed, longitudinally extending die sections, between which a number of transverse, upwardly directed and spaced apart die sections are arranged. The number of these transverse die sections corresponds to the number of transverse parts to be formed. The upper die has a number of transverse punches which overlap the upwardly directed die sections of the lower die when the lower die and the upper die are in a position where they move towards each other.

Using the upper die and the lower die, it is possible to simultaneously form the transverse parts and fold up the side walls. Even if a panel cut is made of lightweight material, such as thin, ribbed cardboard, it is possible to form a container from this panel cut without damaging it or flattening it.

In this context, preferably the number of punches is equal to the number of transverse parts plus one, the punches being arranged alongside and between the upwardly directed transverse die sections when the lower die and the upper die are in a position to be moved towards each other.

In order for the plant to function well, the transverse die sections may have a gable roof-shaped upper part and their dimension transverse to the gable roof shape may be almost identical to the distance between two transverse parts of the finished container, the upper limit of the transverse die sections preferably being at a higher level than that of the longitudinal die sections.

In the case of this latter embodiment, advantageous operation of the system can be achieved by carrying out the following steps:

- Feeding a starting material piece in sheet form,

- Making cuts and fold lines in the starting material to produce a panel cut,

marked by:

Arranging the plate blank between the upper die and the lower die and

- moving the upper die and the lower die towards each other, whereby in a first phase the punch holes push the plate towards the transverse die sections and the transverse die sections push open the incisions in the plate blank and whereby in a second, immediately following phase the longitudinal die sections fold the plates forming the sides while at the same time the incisions are pushed open further.

Due to the gable roof shape of the transverse die sections and their relatively high arrangement compared to the longitudinal die sections, the cutting lines can be opened in such a way that the plate blank is formed into a container very quickly and without any hindrance.

Furthermore, the positions of the various die sections can be easily adjusted so that the panel blanks of several different formats and layouts can be processed by the system according to the invention.

The invention is explained in more detail using exemplary embodiments. Show:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a first panel blank,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a container made from the first panel cut,

Fig. 3 a second panel cut,

Fig. 4 a detail of the container made from the second panel cut,

Fig. 5 further variants of panel cutting,

Fig. 6 the side of the container made from the plate cut from Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 a plate blank for a container with a lid,

Fig. 8 the container with lid,

Fig. 9 Matrices of the mold according to the invention, partly sectioned and shown in perspective,

Fig. 10 the different process steps,

Fig. 11 a variant of the forming tool with two lower dies.

The panel blank shown in Fig. 1 comprises five panels, namely a first base panel 1, a first side panel 2, a second side panel 4, a panel 3 arranged between these side panels and a second base panel 5. These panels are connected to one another via longitudinal fold lines 6, 7, 8, 9.

Furthermore, the panel blank comprises a number of transverse fold lines 10, 11. The transverse fold lines 11 are arranged in outer areas of the panel blank and intersect the longitudinal fold lines in such a way that they are also present in the side panels 2, 4 (transverse fold line sections 12, 13) and in the base panels 1, 5 (transverse fold lines 14, 15). Incisions 23 are provided in extension of the longitudinal fold lines 6, 9 behind the transverse fold lines 11.

The side areas, which are each arranged between a transverse fold line section 12, 13, a longitudinal fold line 7, 8 and an incision 23, each have an oblique fold line 22.

A single oblique fold line 16 adjoins the intersection of each longitudinal fold line 7, 8 and each outer transverse fold line 11; two oblique single fold lines 16, which run at opposite angles, adjoin the intersection of each longitudinal fold line 7, 8 and each other transverse fold line 10, An incision 17 intersects the end of a transverse incision 18 which runs transversely to the longitudinal fold lines 7, 8 and runs between the outermost ends of two oblique fold lines 16. In the embodiment shown, the transverse incision 18 has a gable shape so that relatively large areas 20 are formed on one side and relatively small areas 19 on the other side of each incision 18.

When a container is manufactured from the panel blank shown in Fig. 1, as shown in Fig. 2, the side panels 2, 4 are first folded downwards around the fold lines 7, 8. During this folding movement, side areas 21 which are delimited by the longitudinal fold line 7 or 8, the oblique fold line 16 and the longitudinal notch 17 are also folded in such a way that they lie against the remaining part of the relevant side panel. At the same time, the areas 19, 20 are folded against each other around their fold lines 10.

The finished container is shown in Fig. 2. The two base plates 1, 5 are folded towards each other. The side areas in which the oblique fold lines 22 are arranged are folded around their fold lines 22, as can be seen from Fig. 2.

Base tabs 24 are arranged on the outside of the transverse fold line sections 14, 15 and overlap in the same way when the container is finished. At one end of the container the base tabs are inserted between the area 19 folded about the transverse fold line 11 and an area 25; at the other end of the container the base tabs 24 are arranged between the area 20 and the area 25.

The panel cut shown in Figs. 3 and 4 corresponds essentially to that of Fig. 1. In contrast to the panel cut in Fig. 1, two fold lines 26, 27 are now arranged between the transverse cuts 18. If the container is made from the panel cut in Fig. 3, the areas 19 and 20 do not lie against each other because a bridge section 28 lies between them. This bridge section is delimited by two fold lines 26, 27. With this arrangement, the part between two compartments 30 has greater strength and stability.

Although the panel blanks according to the two figures relate to a container with four compartments, the invention can also be applied to a container with a different number of compartments.

The panel blank shown (partially) in Fig. 5 produces a container having a side like that in the side view of Fig. 6. In this case, the corresponding projections 36, 37 and 38 are achieved by cuts 31, 32, 33 and 34. In addition to a decorative effect, these projections also have the effect of increasing the strength of the side.

Fig. 7 shows a panel blank with panels 53, 54 forming a lid. The panel 53 is connected to the base panel 1 via a fold line and is laid against the side panel 4, while the panel 54 is laid over the transverse parts, as shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 graphically shows an upper die 40 consisting of three punches 41, 42 mounted on a plate 43 shown in dashed lines.

A lower die 44 is also provided, which consists of longitudinal die sections 45 and transverse die sections 46, 47, the die section pairs 46, 47 each having a gable roof-shaped upper surface. This gable roof shape has sloping upper surfaces 48 and flat upper surfaces 49.

Thin lines indicate the positions at which the punches come into contact with the panel blank. In Fig. 9, the panel blank is shown in its initially formed state, which is achieved when the panel blank lies on the longitudinal die sections 45 of the lower die 44 and when the punches 41, 42 are moved downwards between the longitudinal die sections 45 over a short punching path.

Since the gable-roof-shaped sides of the transverse die section pairs 46, 47 and in particular the upper surfaces 49 of these pairs are at a higher level than the upper surfaces of the longitudinal die sections 45, the areas 19, 20 of the panel blank are first pushed open during this operation so that the notches 17, 18 are opened. In the following phase, the panels 2 and 4 are folded up relative to the panel 3 while the pushing open of the areas 19, 20 continues. In the final phase, the panels 2, 4 have been bent at an angle of 90º with respect to the panel 3, these panels then lying against the inside of the longitudinal die sections 45. The regions 19, 20 are in contact with the vertical surface of the transverse die section 46 or 47.

The aforementioned process steps are shown graphically in Fig. 10. First, the plate cut according to Figs. 7 and 8 is shown with its various folding and cutting lines. An additional plate 52 for forming a closure lid has been added.

The first step is carried out by means of the upper die 40 and the lower die 44 according to Fig. 9; the plates 2 and 4 are folded by an angle of 90º with respect to the plate 3 and the transverse parts 19, 27 are formed.

In the next process step, the plates 5 and 1 forming the base of the finished container are folded towards each other.

An additional side wall panel 50 is then folded towards the side wall panel 4. Afterwards, a cover panel 51 is folded over the transverse parts.

Finally, the additional panel 52 is folded over the opposite side panel 2 and, if desired, secured with adhesive. It can be seen that in Fig. 10 an upside down container has been produced.

The variant of the mold shown in Fig. 11 has two lower dies 44, 53 fixed on a support 54, which represent two stations in which different operations take place. In the first process step of Fig. 10, the panel blank has just been formed by the first lower die 44 to create an intermediate product with folded sides 2, 4 and transverse parts 19, 27. The base plates 5 and 1 are folded by the second lower die, as shown in the second process step of Fig. 10.

The carrier 54 with the lower dies 44, 53 is movable in both the horizontal and vertical directions (see arrows). A product is produced from both lower dies. The carrier moves the products to the next station; after the products have been formed by the lower dies 44, 53, they are moved to the right. The panel blank on the lower die 44 is then formed to form a container folded over its base plates. At this point, the container has become a coherent whole, so that the lower die 44 with the carrier can be moved downwards out of the finished container. The carrier then moves to the left and then upwards. The lower die comes into position under a panel blank to be machined, which has been fed in the meantime, and under the upper die 40 (which is not shown in Fig. 11). The die 53 comes into position inside the finished container, and the following shift to the right releases the finished container.

Claims (24)

1. A panel blank for producing a container divided into compartments for, for example, biscuits, chocolate and the like, and comprising at least four panels formed by parallel, longitudinal fold lines (6-9), the panels (1-5) defining in the finished container one after the other a base (1, 5), a side (2), a number of transverse parts and a side (5), of the panels, the three panels (2-4) defined by the sides (2, 4) and the panel (3) arranged between these sides have a number of parallel, transverse cuts (18) which intersect the longitudinal fold lines (7, 8) forming the three panels (2-4), of the panels, the middle panel (3) has a number of transverse fold lines (10, 11) which extend to the longitudinal fold lines (7, 8) which delimit the middle panel, and the side panels (2, 4) have oblique have folding lines (16) which start from the intersection of a longitudinal folding line (7, 8) and a transverse folding line (10, 26, 27), so that when the panels (2, 4) defined by the sides are folded in relation to the central panel (3), those areas (19, 20) of the central panel (3) which are each delimited by a transverse folding line (10, 26, 27), two oblique folding lines (16) and an incision (18) are folded to form transverse parts defining the compartments (30), characterized in that that both ends of each transverse incision (18) extend behind the corresponding longitudinal fold lines (7, 8) and intersect an additional incision (17, 31-34), the two ends of which adjoin an oblique fold line (16). 2. Panel blank according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse incisions (18) have a gable or arched shape at the location of the central panel (3) such that the areas (19, 20) on both sides of each transverse incision (18) have unequal dimensions, seen in the direction parallel to the longitudinal fold lines (7, 8). 3. Panel blank according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that both panels (2, 4) defining a side are connected via a fold line (6, 9) to a panel (1, 5) defining a base. 4. Panel blank according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the middle panel (3) has an end wall defining portion (25) behind each of the two outer, transverse fold lines (11). 5. Panel blank according to claim 4, characterized in that the two outer, transverse fold lines (11) run over the entire two panels (2, 4) defining the sides, that the rear the side regions (31) arranged on the two outer, transverse fold lines (11) are connected to an end wall section (25) via a longitudinal fold line (7, 8) and that the side regions (31) are not connected to a plate (1, 5) defining a base and have an oblique fold line (22) which runs from the intersection of an outer, transverse fold line (11) and a longitudinal fold line (7, 8) on one side to the free corner on the other side. 6. Panel blank according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that each base (1, 5) has a transverse fold line (14, 15) at both longitudinal ends, each of which runs in extension of an outer, transverse fold line (11), and in that each of these transverse fold lines (14, 15) defines an end base section (24) which can be fitted between an end wall section (25) and that region (19 or 20) of the middle panel (3) which is connected to it via a transverse fold line. 7. Panel blank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a number of transverse folding line pairs (26, 27) are provided on the middle panel (3) and that these folding line pairs each enclose a bridge (28) which is connected at both ends via a longitudinal folding line (7, 8) to a panel (2, 4) defining one side. 8. Panel blank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each additional incision (17) runs in the longitudinal direction and intersects the transverse incision (18) at a substantially right angle. 9. Panel blank according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each additional incision has two oblique incision halves (31, Fig. 5)) which intersect each other and the associated transverse incision at a common intersection point (35). 10. Panel blank according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each additional incision has an incision center section (33) which runs in the longitudinal direction and intersects the associated transverse incision (17) at a substantially right angle, wherein a transverse incision section (32) adjoins each end of the incision center section (33). 11. Panel blank according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that each additional incision is curved (34) and intersects the associated transverse incision essentially in the middle of its course. 12. Panel blank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the panel (1, 5) forming the base is connected via a fold line to a lid (53, 54) which can be folded towards the transverse parts which are defined by the transverse fold lines (10, 26, 27). 13. Panel blank according to claim 12, characterized in that the cover has a first cover plate (51) connected to a base plate (1, 5) via a fold line, the width of which essentially corresponds to the distance between the upper surface of the transverse parts and the base, and a second cover plate (52) connected to the first cover plate (51) via a further fold line. 14. Panel blank according to claim 13, characterized in that the width of the second cover plate (52) substantially corresponds to the width of the base. 15. Plant for producing a container from a panel blank according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by - feeding means for feeding a starting material piece in sheet form, - cutting and pressing means for producing incisions (17, 18, 31-34) and folding lines (6-9, 10, 11, 14-16, 22, 26, 27) in the starting material for producing the panel blank, the incisions and folding lines being designed according to claim 1, - means (40, 44) for folding the panels (1-5) of the panel blank forming the sides (2, 4) of the finished container and for folding the areas (19, 20) in the panel (3) arranged between the sides (2, 4) to form the transverse parts (19, 27). 16. Plant according to claim 15, characterized in that the means comprise an upper die (40) and a lower die (44) which are both movable away from and towards each other, that the lower die (44) has two upwardly directed, longitudinally extending die sections (45) between which a number of transverse, upwardly directed and spaced apart die sections (46, 47) are arranged, the number of these transverse die sections (46, 47) corresponding to the number of transverse parts (19, 27) to be formed, and that the upper die (40) has a number of transverse punches (41, 42) which overlap the upwardly directed die sections (46, 47) of the lower die (44) when the lower die (44) and the upper die (40) are in a position in which they move towards each other. 17. Plant according to claim 16, characterized in that the number of punches (41, 42) corresponds to the number of transverse parts (19, 27) plus one and that the punches (41, 42) are arranged longitudinally and between the upwardly directed transverse die sections (45) when the lower die (44) and the upper die (40) are in a position in which they be moved towards each other. 18. Plant according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the transverse die sections (46, 47) have a gable roof-shaped upper surface (48) and that their dimension transverse to the gable roof shape is almost identical to the distance between two transverse parts (19, 27) of the finished container. 19. Installation according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the upper limit (49) of the transverse die sections (46, 47) is at a higher level than that of the longitudinal die sections (45). 20. Installation according to one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that, after folding the side walls (2, 4) and the transverse parts (19, 27), the lower die (44) is movable longitudinally to a station provided with means for folding the plates (1, 5) forming the base of the container. 21. Plant according to claim 20, characterized in that the lower die (44) after the formation of the base in the station concerned is arranged for its downward movement out of the container and for its return and upward movement to a position below the upper Die (40) can be moved upwards and downwards to accommodate a subsequent panel cut. 22. Installation according to claim 21, characterized in that two lower dies (44) are provided, the first of which occupies an outermost position at the location of the upper die (40) and the second an outermost position at the location of the station provided for forming the base. 23. Method for producing a container from a panel blank according to one of claims 1-11 by means of a system according to one of claims 16 to 22, characterized by the following steps: - Feeding a piece of the starting material in sheet form, - making incisions (17, 18, 31-34) and fold lines (6-9, 10, 11, 14-16, 22, 26, 27) in the starting material to form a panel blank with the incisions and fold lines mentioned in claim 1, - Arranging the plate blank between the upper die (40) and the lower die (44) and - moving the upper die (40) and the lower die (44) towards each other, whereby in a first phase the punching punches (41, 42) push the plate blank onto the transverse die sections (46, 47) and the transverse die sections (46, 47) push open the incisions (17, 18, 31-34) in the plate blank and in a second phase immediately following this the longitudinal Die sections (45) fold the plates (2, 4) forming the sides, while at the same time the incisions (17, 18, 31-34) are further pushed open. 24. Method according to claim 23, characterized in that the lower die (44) with the plate blank is moved to a station for folding the plate (1, 5) forming the base or the base plates.