EP0246173A1 - Packaging container for fragile articles, e.g. eggs, and method for packaging these articles - Google Patents

Abstract

This packaging container comprises: a) a support element (10) comprising a row of cells (100) each containing an article (0); b) a U-shaped sheet (2) which encloses the bottom and the lateral sides of the support element (10); c) a cover (3) fastened to the upper part of the sheet (2), this cover having a row of openings (300) dimensioned and positioned so as to cover the upper part of the articles (0). Packaging for fragile articles, e.g. eggs, certain fruits or vegetables, light bulbs, potted plants, etc. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to a box for packaging fragile articles, in particular eggs; it also relates to a method of packaging these articles.

Currently, fragile articles such as eggs are generally packaged for retail sale in boxes made of shock absorbing material, for example of fiber pulp cardboard or in expanded polystyrene, these boxes comprising a honeycomb bottom and a hinged closure cover. on this background. The cells are divided into two rows of six or three cells, depending on whether the box is intended to contain a dozen or half a dozen eggs.

Unfortunately, this type of packaging has a number of drawbacks:
- firstly, the eggs are imperfectly held in place in the boxes, which is a frequent cause of breakage when these boxes are turned over or receive shocks;
- secondly, the cost of the box is relatively high, the box being entirely produced by molding;
- thirdly, finally, the handling of the boxes by consumers, in particular when they are taken from a shelf or from a display, is not very convenient because of the shape of these boxes and their arrangement at dish.

In addition, the eggs supplied by the producer to the conditioner who ensures their canning (for retail sale) are generally delivered on blister trays which contain a relatively high number of eggs, for example thirty; the cells of these trays are arranged in several rows juxtaposed, usually five rows of six. To condition these eggs, it is therefore necessary to remove each egg from the tray beforehand and then place it in a box of the type mentioned. This is a relatively long and tedious intermediate operation, a source of frequent breakage.

The invention aims to solve these various problems:
- on the one hand by offering a new packaging box for fragile articles, and in particular eggs, in which these articles are perfectly held in place, this box being more than a low cost price while allowing gripping easy ;
- on the other hand by proposing a new packaging process for these items which does not require their individual transfer from the honeycomb tray on which they are delivered, in the box.

• a) un élément-support comportant une rangée d'alvéo­les ouverts vers le hautet adaptés pour recevoir chacun la partie inférieure d'un article ;
• b) une feuille en forme de U, qui est fixée à l'élé­ment-support de telle manière que le fond des alvéoles repose sur sa zone centrale et que ses ailes s'étendent verticalement contre les flancs latéraux de l'élément-­support ;
• c) un couvercle qui est fixé à la partie supérieure desdites ailes et présente une rangée d'ouvertures dimen­sionnées et positionnées de manière à venir coiffer cha­cune la partie supérieure d'un article et retenir celui-ci dans son alvéole.

These results are achieved in accordance with the invention by the fact that the box comprises:

• a) a support element comprising a row of cells open upwards and adapted to each receive the lower part of an article;
• b) a U-shaped sheet, which is fixed to the support element in such a way that the bottom of the cells rests on its central zone and that its wings extend vertically against the lateral flanks of the support element;
• c) a cover which is fixed to the upper part of said wings and has a row of openings dimensioned and positioned so as to each cover the upper part of an article and to retain it in its cell.

It is easy to see that this box structure maintains a firm position, in all directions, of each of the articles inside the box. The low cost price of the box results from the simplicity of the elements that compose it, and the simplicity of their mutual assembly. The generally vertical shape of the box makes it easy to take it from a shelf, this taking place in the same way as that of a book in a library.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the U-shaped sheet is fixed to the support element by gluing the bottom of the cells to its central area.

The openings of the lid naturally have an outline which is adapted to the shape of the articles contained in the box; thus, if we are dealing with eggs, these openings will advantageously have a circular shape.

The openings of the lid, in a variant, can be provided with deformable incisions or serrations, capable of being applied intimately against the upper part of the article contained in the box, in order to further improve the quality of maintenance of this article.

In a preferred embodiment, the support element is made of molded fiber pulp cardboard or of expanded polystyrene, this support element advantageously being obtained by dividing a honeycomb tray.

The U-shaped sheet is for example a sheet of cardboard whose wings are folded down by folding. Likewise, the cover can be produced in a second U-shaped sheet, the central zone of which has the openings and the lateral wings of which are fixed to those of the other sheet, this fixing being able to be done simply by gluing or stapling. for example. This second sheet is advantageously also a sheet of cardboard whose wings are folded down by folding.

To facilitate the opening of the box for the removal of articles, it is advisable to provide in the central area of the cover at least one tear line, which can pass through the openings to make them communicate with each other.

In a possible variant of the box, the U-shaped sheet wings which is fixed to the support element extend upwards, above the level of the cover, these extensions forming a handle capable of facilitating the carrying of the box by hand.

The proposed packaging method, which is suitable for packaging articles initially placed on a honeycomb tray comprising several juxtaposed rows of cells, is characterized in that this tray is first of all sectioned so as to divide it into several elements -support of the same width each containing a row of articles, which each of said support elements is fixed to a shaped sheet to wrap its bottom and its lateral flanks, and then a cover adapted to ensure the retention of each article in its cell.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description and the appended drawings which show preferred embodiments thereof suitable for packaging eggs.

• - la figure 1 est une vue en perspective de l'élé­ment-support contenant les oeufs, cet élément-support étant placé, avant confection de la boîte, sur une feuille destinée à être conformée en U ;
• - la figure 2 est une vue en perspective du couvercle destiné à obturer la partie supérieure de la boîte après pliage et assemblage avec les éléments de la figure 1 ;
• - la figure 3 est une vue en perspective de la boîte obtenue après mise en forme et assemblage des éléments des figures 1 et 2 ;
• - la figure 4 est une vue en coupe transversale de la boîte de la figure 3 ;
• - la figure 5 est une vue similaire à la figure 4 montrant une variante de la boîte des figures 3 et 4 ;
• - les figures 6 et 6A sont des vues partielles en perspective qui montrent une ouverture de couvercle pourvue d'un bord dentelé, respectivement avant et après mise en place sur la partie supérieure d'un oeuf ;
• - la figure 7 est une vue de côté schématique d'une variante de boîte munie d'une poignée ;
• - la figure 7A est une vue schématique coupée par le plan transversal A-A de la figure 7 ;
• - la figure 8 est une vue schématique en perspecti­ve d'un plateau alvéolé sur lequel sont livrés les oeufs avant leur conditionnement ;
• - les figures 9 et 10 sont des vues schématiques, de dessus, du plateau de la figure 8 garni d'oeufs, avant et durant sa division en plusieurs éléments-support ;
• - les figures 11, 12 et 13 sont des vues schématiques, en coupe transversale, qui montrent les différentes étapes de confection d'une boîte à partir d'un élément-­support qui a été obtenu par l'opération illustrée à la figure 10.

In these drawings:

• - Figure 1 is a perspective view of the support element containing the eggs, this support element being placed, before making the box, on a sheet intended to be shaped into a U;
• - Figure 2 is a perspective view of the cover intended to close off the upper part of the box after folding and assembly with the elements of FIG. 1;
• - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the box obtained after shaping and assembly of the elements of Figures 1 and 2;
• - Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the box of Figure 3;
• - Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing a variant of the box of Figures 3 and 4;
• - Figures 6 and 6A are partial perspective views which show a lid opening provided with a serrated edge, respectively before and after placement on the upper part of an egg;
• - Figure 7 is a schematic side view of a variant of the box provided with a handle;
• - Figure 7A is a schematic view cut by the transverse plane AA of Figure 7;
• - Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a honeycomb tray on which the eggs are delivered before packaging;
• - Figures 9 and 10 are schematic views from above of the tray of Figure 8 lined with eggs, before and during its division into several support elements;
• FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are schematic views, in cross section, which show the different stages of making a box from a support element which has been obtained by the operation illustrated in FIG. 10.

FIG. 1 represents a support element 10 on which eggs 0 are placed, point directed downwards. The support element 10 comprises a row of six cells 100, of generally frustoconical shape, the opening of which is directed upwards and the bottom 12 of which is directed down; each cell receives an egg 0. In known manner, each cell is bordered by four fingers of general pyramidal shape 13, allowing centering of the egg in its cell, and allowing stacking of the support elements, without damage to the eggs; each support element is advantageously obtained from a honeycomb plate previously sectioned, in rows; the support element is made for example from molded fiber paste, expanded polystyrene, or thermoformed plastic.

The lateral sides of the support element 10 have been designated by the reference 11.

The support element 10 is placed on the central zone 20 of a rectangular cardboard sheet 2 whose length is slightly greater than that of the element 10; it is a semi-rigid cardboard intended to be folded along lines shown in broken dashed lines I1, I2, which delimit the central part 20 of the sheet, these lines being spaced by a distance which corresponds substantially to the width of the support element 10; the parts - or wings - outside the central area 20, designated by the reference 21, have a width substantially greater than the height of the support element 10, and the eggs 0 which it contains.

The element shown in Figure 2, which is intended to serve as a cover for the box, has the shape of a rectangular sheet 3, the length of which corresponds to that of sheet 2, but the width of which is substantially less than that of this sheet; it is also a sheet of semi-rigid cardboard, capable of being folded along two lines J1, J2, which divide the sheet 3 into a central zone 30 and two lateral wings 31. The central zone 30 has a row of six openings 300 whose diameter corresponds substantially to the section of the upper part of the eggs 0; these openings are positioned so as to coincide exactly with the cells 100, and correlatively with the eggs 0 contained therein.

FIG. 3 shows the way in which the elements which have just been described are shaped and assembled together.

The support element 10, which contains the row of six eggs 0, having been previously glued by the bottom of the cells 12 on the central zone 20 of the sheet 2, the wings 21 of this sheet are then folded up, by folding along the lines I1, I2, so as to be applied vertically against the lateral flanks 11 of the support element 10; the wings 21 are optionally also fixed to these sides 11 by gluing. The sheet 2 therefore receives a configuration in the form of a U-shaped profile.

Similarly, the edges 31 of the cover sheet 3 are folded up by folding along the lines J1, J2.

This cover 3 is then placed between the upper part of the wings 21 so that each opening 300 comes to cover the upper part (non-pointed end) of an egg 0. The depression of the cover 3 between the wings 21 is determined in such a way so that the eggs 0 are suitably clamped between the cells 100 and the openings 300. Then the folded edges 31 of the cover are fixed to the upper parts of the wings 21 by any suitable means, for example by gluing or stapling.

The box thus made has an elongated parallelepiped shape, arranged vertically, practical to handle.

Each egg 0 contained in the box is correctly held in place, at its lower part (pointed) in a cell 100, and at its upper part (rounded) by the edge of a lid opening 300; this support is perfectly illustrated in the sectional view of Figure 4, which shows that the egg 0 is completely sheltered from shocks. In this figure, the bonding zones of the cell bottoms 12 with the central part 20 of the sheet 2 and of the lateral flanks 11 with the wings 21 have been designated by the references 4 and 5 respectively.

To facilitate the collection, for consumption, of the eggs in the box, it is possible to provide means facilitating the opening of this box. In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, these means consist of a tear line, designated by the reference 6, which is formed in the middle part of the region 30 of the cover, this tear line connecting to each other the openings 300. This tear line is for example made by punching the area 30; by pulling vertically upwards on the cover, it is easy to tear the central part 20, and release the upper part of one or more eggs 0, so as to authorize their removal.

In the variant shown in FIG. 5, the central zone 20 of the sheet 2 has a series of cutouts in an arc, which delimit recessed zones 22 whose contour corresponds to that of the bottom of the cells 12; the connection of the support element 10 with the sheet 2 takes place by nesting the bottom of the cells in these recessed portions 22 (and no longer by gluing). Furthermore, the cover 3ʹ has wings 31ʹ directed downwards, these wings coming cover the upper part of the wings 21 of the U-shaped sheet 2. This is a possible variant embodiment of the box of the invention; however, unlike the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, this solution does not allow stacking of boxes, because the upper part of the egg protrudes above the level of boxes. Stacking is nevertheless possible if the fins 31ʹ - still facing downwards - are fixed inside the wings 21 and if the upper edge of the latter is higher than the level of the upper part of the egg.

In the variant of FIG. 6, the edge of the circular hole 300 is provided with a series of serrations 301 regularly distributed over its circumference. As seen in FIG. 6A, when this opening 300 covers the upper part of the egg 0, the serrations 301 fold upwards, thus ensuring pressure against the egg 0, so as to further improve the retention of this egg in the box.

In the variant of FIGS. 7 and 7A, the lateral wings 21 extend upwards, above the level of the cover 3, and this extension is shaped like a handle 23 having an opening 230. The two extensions of wings constituting the handle 23 are advantageously fixed to each other, for example by gluing or stapling. It is easy to understand that the existence of this handle facilitates the carrying of the box.

Figures 8 to 13 illustrate the packaging process which is the subject of the invention.

The tray 1 is a honeycomb tray which has thirty cells arranged in five rows of six.

It is a known type tray, made of fiber pulp cardboard, on which eggs from the producer are delivered. For the sake of simplification, only two cells 100, as well as four pyramidal fingers 13 surrounding one of these cells have been completely shown in Figure 8; the other cells 100 are symbolized by dots, and the rows of cells are designated by the references R1, R2, R3, R4, R5.

FIG. 9 represents the tray 1 garnished with thirty eggs 0.

In accordance with the invention, this tray (garnished with eggs) is sectioned by cutting it along longitudinal lines L situated between the different rows of cells R1, R2, ... R5. The spacing between these lines has been designated by the reference "e". The longitudinal edges 14 of the plate are also cut, so that five rectilinear support elements 10 are obtained, of well-defined width "e". The division of the plate 1 into individual elements 10 is preferably done in an automatic machine specially designed for this purpose, by any suitable means, the cutting of the elements 10 being carried out for example by sawing for by shearing.

Each support element 10, which contains a row of six eggs, is then placed on the central strip 20 of a sheet 2 previously furnished with glue dots 4, 5 (arrow F, FIG. 11); the lateral wings 21 of the sheet 2 are then folded vertically upwards so that this sheet takes the form of a U and envelops both the bottom and the lateral flanks of the element 10 (arrows G, FIG. 11 ).

After bonding, the cover 3 is also U-shaped and placed on the box in such a way that the openings 300 come to cover the upper part of the eggs 0 (arrow H, FIG. 12).

The height positioning of the lid naturally depends on the size of the eggs; more precisely, the positioning can be determined so that the cover comes to apply firmly, by the edge of the corresponding opening 300, against the most tall in the row.

After installation, the lateral wings 31 of the cover 3 are fixed to the upper part of the wings 21, for example by gluing.

The advantage of this process is clear from the above description, the eggs being packaged directly from the original tray, without individual transfer. It is easy to see that packaging of this type can be easily automated.

It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the only possible embodiments which have just been described; on the contrary, it encompasses all variants.

Thus, for example, the sheet is not necessarily a sheet of cardboard folded into a U; this element could be made of thermoformed plastic material or even molded; similarly, the cover 3 could be a plastic cover.

The number of hatches provided - and correspondingly the number of articles contained in the box - is obviously arbitrary, this number being adapted to the type of article conditioned and to its dimensions. In addition, it is possible to produce multiple boxes, consisting of two or more elementary boxes of the type described, juxtaposed and fixed to each other. Thus, for example, by gluing together two boxes of six eggs identical to that of FIG. 3, one obtains a box of twelve eggs.

Furthermore, the type of packaging claimed could apply to various articles other than eggs, in particular certain fragile fruits or vegetables such as pears and avocados, for example, light bulbs, potted plants (this pots being formed by cells), etc.

Claims (11)

1. Box for packaging fragile articles, and in particular eggs, characterized in that it comprises: a) a support element (10) comprising a row of cells (100) open upwards and adapted to each receive the lower part of an article (0); b) a U-shaped sheet (2) which is fixed to said support element (10) in such a way that the bottom (12) of the cells (100) rests on its central zone (20) and that its wings (21 ) extend vertically against the lateral flanks (11) of the support element (10); c) a cover (3) which is fixed to the upper part of said wings (21) and has a row of openings (300) dimensioned and positioned so as to each cover the upper part of an article (0) and retain this one in its cell. 2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that said sheet (2) in the form of U is fixed to said support element (10) by bonding the bottom (12) of the cells (100) on its central area (20) . 3. Box according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the openings (300) of said cover (3) have a generally circular shape. 4. Box according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the edge of the openings (300) of said cover (3) has incisions or serrations (301) deformable. 5. Box according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said support element (10) is made of molded fiber pulp cardboard. 6. Box according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said sheet (2) in the form of U is a sheet of cardboard whose wings (21) are folded down by folding. 7. Box according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said cover (3) consists of a second U-shaped sheet, the central zone (30) of which has the openings (300), and the lateral wings (31) of which are fixed to the lateral wings (21) of said U-shaped sheet, for example by gluing or stapling. 8. Box according to claim 7, characterized in that said cover (3) is a cardboard sheet whose wings (31) are folded down by folding. 9. Box according to claim 8, characterized in that the central zone (30) of said cover has at least one tear line (6) intended to facilitate the removal of articles (0) from the box. 10. Box according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wings (21) of the sheet (2) U-shaped which is fixed to the support element (10) extend upwards, at above the level of the cover (3), these extensions forming a handle (23). 11. Method for packaging fragile articles such as eggs, which are initially placed on a honeycomb tray comprising several juxtaposed rows of cells, characterized in that said tray (1) is sectioned so as to divide it into several support elements (10) of the same width (e), each containing a row (R1, R2, R3, R4, R5) of articles (0), which are fixed each of said support elements (10) on a sheet (2) shaped to wrap the bottom (12) and the lateral flanks (11), then a cover (3) is attached to it capable of ensuring the retention of each article (0) in its cell (100).

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