EP0436968B1 - Multi-article packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

The front flaps (5) of the wall section (2) can hinge in relation to the lower edge area of the adjacent container, and the bottom flaps (7) can hinge from the outside in relation to the adjacent front flaps. The flaps pref. cover the EAN code of the container. The wall sections (2) are connected to the base section (3) by edge sections (2") which, with the blank laid around the container, have an inclined angle to the wall sections. <IMAGE>

Description

The subject of the innovation is a multi-piece pack made of foldable flat material, in particular cardboard, for bottles, cans or similar containers according to the preamble of claim 1.

A multi-piece pack according to EP-A-0 247 298 has openings in the edge region between the wall sections and the lid section or the bottom section, which openings are delimited by webs, into each of which the upper or lower edge of a container projects, as a result of which it is fixed and secured against falling out . The openings adjacent to the lower corners are crossed and delimited towards the corner by a web section which bears against the container wall. Multi-piece containers of this type offer the No printable areas on the end faces that can be used to promote sales. In addition, an EAN code printed on the containers can be perceived through the openings with a suitable rotational position and can be detected by EAN code readers. In many cases, therefore, EAN codes of the individual containers instead of the codes of the entire container carriers are accidentally detected on computer registers equipped with such readers. This leads to incorrect determinations of the purchase price and incorrect calculations of the inventory.

US-A-3 156 377 shows a bottle pack with bottom flaps on a bottom section and end flaps on wall sections. The end flaps are connected to the bottom flaps via webs and are locked behind the bottles adjacent to the opening. Then the bottom flaps are raised and folded against the bottom edge of the bottle, which secures the bottles near the bottom in the pack. This securing is complex and can unintentionally detach at high loads in the longitudinal direction of the pack. In addition, EAN codes on bottle labels should remain visible through the front openings despite the folded-up bottom flaps.

From GB-A-2 201 396 a generic multi-piece pack is known in which the end flaps are in the end openings be pivoted. Bottom flaps are guided to the front flaps via webs, which are pivoted against the outer sides of the front flaps and glued to them. This multi-piece pack is particularly in need of improvement with regard to the closing of the forehead openings, the security and strength as well as the visual appeal.

For the transport of several multi-piece packs that are filled with reusable bottles, so-called quill boxes have become known, which engage with quills that stand up from a base plate in the spaces between the bottles. The sleeves reach through the bottom section of the packs. After the packs have been removed, the bottles can be individually adjusted in the quill box, whereby they are held on the side by the quills and partitions. Quill boxes with four segments surrounded on all sides by dividing walls are customary for a pack of six bottles, with two quills being assigned to each segment. In total, these boxes are equipped with eight quills. In addition, tens quill boxes have already become known in which five quills are arranged in two rows, only one partition being provided in the longitudinal direction between the rows. Multi-piece packs that can be set in these quill boxes require open recesses on the front side for adjacent quills.

Proceeding from this, the object of the invention is to provide a multi-piece pack of the type mentioned at the outset, which has increased stability in the base area.

The solution to this problem is specified in claim 1.

A multi-piece pack according to the invention is first placed around the container in the manner of a sleeve and closed on the circumference. For this purpose, overlap areas are usually formed in the bottom section, which are connected to one another in particular by gluing. First of all, the cuff between the wall sections and the base and cover sections is completely open on the front side. The bottom flaps as well as the webs protrude beyond the outer container, whereby they are approximately aligned with the bottom section. The end flaps also protrude outwards, but extend in the planes of the wall sections. The end flaps are bent against the lower edge areas of the containers by folding the bottom flaps under the bottom section until they abut against it. The webs articulated on one end to the bottom flaps pull the front flaps articulated at the other end to the lower edge areas of the containers. When the bottom flaps are folded down, the front flaps become automatic bent against the container so that the package can be closed with a relatively simple packaging machine. Finally, the end flaps are fixed in contact with the containers by fastening the bottom flaps to the bottom section. A package according to the invention has the particular advantage that it covers the EAN codes of the individual containers, so that only the codes assigned to the packages can be recorded as long as they are closed. The end flaps also secure the containers in the pack and prevent them from falling out. Additional openings, in particular for holding the lower edge of the container, therefore do not have to be provided. The increased safety and strength of the multi-piece pack is also obvious to the customer, so that he can expect particularly favorable handling when buying the pack. The particularly pleasing appearance of the pack, particularly in the area of the front openings, should also offer an incentive to buy. Finally, the multi-piece pack according to the invention is reinforced by the folded-over bottom flaps and webs in the end regions on the end edge, so that it has increased stability.

In a preferred embodiment of the innovation, the webs connect the ends of the base plates and end plates to one another in an articulated manner, so that the strips on large lever arms are articulated and the end flaps can be pulled securely against the container.

If the webs are connected to the bottom flaps and end flaps via folding lines which run at an acute angle, the legs of which converge towards the bottom section and the wall sections, the multi-piece pack deformation and resistance arm can be closed. In this regard, it is particularly favorable if, when the blank is placed around the container, first folding lines between webs and bottom flaps cut approximately the middle of the bending area of the articulated front flaps, and second folding lines between webs and front flaps run approximately parallel to the bending plane of the front flaps. The first folding lines thus intersect the centers of the bending areas at the four corners of the blank, whereby they are pivoted around the intersection points when the bottom flaps are folded down. The second folding lines run parallel to the bending plane of the face plates, i.e. approximately perpendicular to the wall sections. This allows floor straps, webs and face straps to be moved without these having to be stretched or compressed in some areas.

In one development, the webs have between the second folding line and a third one running parallel to it Folding line an edge web, whereby the third folding lines overlap with folding lines between the bottom flaps and the bottom section when the webs are folded under the bottom flaps. The edge web compensates in particular for height differences that result from the stacking of the bottom section, bottom tabs and webs. In the case of a further development, the wall sections are additionally connected in an articulated manner to the bottom section via edge sections, the heights of the edge sections and edge webs approximately corresponding to one another. The edge sections in particular enable adaptation to changed container dimensions in the lower edge area.

If, according to a practically preferred embodiment, the end flaps have crease lines running perpendicular to the bending plane in the bending area, they are bend-free and can be bent with little resistance.

On the floor section side, punch-outs preferably border on the bending areas of the end plates, which prevent accumulations of material when the bottom plates and webs are folded and the end plates are bent.

The multi-piece pack can be used without special adaptation measures for quill boxes with two quills per segment.

For this purpose, only quill punchings have to be made in the bottom section between the contact areas of the bottom flaps. For use with tens quill boxes, the bottom section between the contact areas of the bottom straps has two quill holes and symmetrically cuts each flap line between bottom section and bottom flap, whereby the quill holes are open towards the front sides when the bottom straps are folded under the bottom section. The edge pinholes are thus completely enclosed by an edge when the blank is spread out flat and are opened by folding the bottom flaps around the fold-out lines towards the end faces. As a result of the several layers of material in the bottom area of the pack near the edge quill punchings, these practically do not impair the strength of the pack and the rim quill punchings are secured against tearing when the quills are passed through.

A further development of the carrier described above provides that the webs next to the end flaps have insertion flaps connected via articulation lines, each articulation line being approximately aligned with an adjacent edge of an edge sleeve punching when the webs are folded against the bottom flaps. The insertion tabs fold when they are inserted back of the quill and cover the cut edges in the insertion area of the edge quill cut-outs so that they become more slidable for the quill.

Furthermore, it is provided according to a further development that two bottom section parts have longitudinal overlap areas for connection, in particular by gluing, and that the fold lines in the overlap areas are formed by complementary creasing and slit lines or recesses in the overlapping layers. This favors the folding over of the bottom flaps.

Fig. 1

einen flach ausgebreiteten Zuschnitt einer Mehrstückpackung für Dosen;

Fig. 2

denselben Zuschnitt manschettenartig um Dosen gelegt in perspektivischer Darstellung;

Fig. 3

dieselbe Packung mit geschlossenen Stirnlaschen in derselben Perspektive;

Fig. 4

einen flach ausgebreiteten Zuschnitt einer Packung für Pinolenkästen mit zwei Pinolen pro Segment;

Fig. 5

einen flach ausgebreiteten Zuschnitt einer Packung für Zehner-Pinolenkästen;

Fig. 6

dieselbe Packung um Flaschen herumgelegt und vollständig geschlossen von der Unterseite;

Fig. 7

dieselbe Packung mit eingesetzten Flaschen auf einen Zehner-Pinolenkasten aufgesetzt in der Seitenansicht.

Further details and advantages of the subject matter of the innovation result from the following description of the associated drawings, which show four preferred embodiments of the multi-piece pack.

Fig. 1

a flat spread blank of a multi-piece pack for cans;

Fig. 2

same cut cuff-like around cans in perspective;

Fig. 3

same pack with closed forehead flaps in the same perspective;

Fig. 4

a flat spread blank of a package for quill boxes with two quillings per segment;

Fig. 5

a flat spread blank of a package for ten-quill boxes;

Fig. 6

the same pack wrapped around bottles and completely closed from the bottom;

Fig. 7

the same pack with inserted bottles placed on a quill box in the side view.

1 has wall sections 2 adjoining a cover section 1 on both sides, to which in turn a part of a base section 3 is articulated. Upper edge sections 2 ′ are directed between cover section 1 and wall sections 2 and contain openings 4 for a can edge near the cover. Between the wall sections 2 and the parts of the bottom section 3 are guided lower edge sections 2 ″, which - like the upper edge sections 2 ′ - allow adaptation to the can edges.

The wall sections 2 have end flaps 5 projecting on both sides near the bottom section, which are connected via webs 6 to bottom flaps 7 articulated on both sides of the bottom section 3. For this purpose, first folding lines 8 are provided between the webs 6 and the base plates 7 and 5 second folding lines 8 'are provided between the strips 6 and the end plates 5. The folding lines 8 and 8 'enclose acute angles which converge towards the bottom section 3 and the wall sections 2. The webs 6 also have edge webs 6 'which are formed between a third folding line 8' 'and the second folding line 8' and whose height corresponds approximately to that of the lower edge sections 2 ''.

On the bottom section side, approximately semicircular punch-outs 9 adjoin the end straps 5, which engage both in the bottom section 3 and in the webs 6 and the bottom straps 7.

As FIG. 2 shows, after the blank has been placed around six cans 10, the end flaps 5, webs 6 and bottom flaps 7 protrude beyond the cans. The end flaps 5 are aligned with the wall sections 2 and the webs 6 and bottom flaps 7 with the bottom section 3, which is closed by gluing its parts in overlapping areas. The first folding lines 8 intersect In the middle of the bending areas of the face plates 5, which are located directly next to the cans 10. The edge webs 6 'are somewhat inclined corresponding to the lower edge sections 2''to match the lower container edge.

By folding the bottom flaps 7 under the bottom section 3 in the direction of the folding arrow K, the pack can be partially closed at its front openings. The bottom flaps 7 namely bend the side flaps 5 by means of the webs 6 against the lower edge regions of the cans 10.

As FIG. 3 shows, each side flap 5 finally rests on a can 10, adjacent side flaps butting against each other near the longitudinal central axis of the carrier. In order to fix the pack in this configuration, the bottom flaps 7 are preferably connected to the bottom section 3 by gluing.

To the extent that the cut according to FIG. 4 corresponds to that according to FIG. 1, identical reference numbers are entered and reference is made to the above description. In addition, the end flaps 5 have creasing lines 11 running perpendicular to their bending plane, which allow bending without bending and with little resistance. In addition, in the parts of the bottom section 3 between the contact areas of the bottom tabs 7 quill punchings 12 are incorporated. There the parts of the base section 3 overlap next to the longitudinal central axis, the sleeve punchings 12 are completely surrounded only in part of the base section.

4 is placed around the container and closed according to FIGS. 2 and 3. The closed multi-piece pack can be inserted in a quill carrier with two quills per segment.

The blank according to FIG. 5 was numbered like the blank in FIG. 4, insofar as there is agreement. For holding reusable bottles at an upper closure, openings 4 are provided in this blank between cover section 1 and wall sections 2. At the bottom, the blank for securing the bottles only has end flaps 5.

In addition to two quill punchings 12 between the contact areas of the bottom plates 7 on the bottom section 3, edge quill punchings 13 are also introduced, which are cut symmetrically by a folding line 14 between bottom plates 7 and bottom section 3. In adaptation to the cross-sectional shape and orientation of the quill of a quill box, the approximately square quill punched-out punch 12 and edge quill punched out punching 13 are arranged with their diagonals on the longitudinal central axis of the package.

As shown in FIG. 6, the rim sleeve punched-outs 13 are open towards the end faces of the pack when it is closed by folding and gluing the bottom flaps 7 to the bottom section 3, with a maximum of one half of the sleeves coming into engagement with the rim sleeve punched-outs 13. The quill punchings 12, on the other hand, enclose inserted quills on all sides.

5 and 6 show that the webs 6 have articulated insertion flaps 15 in addition to the front flaps 5, the articulation lines of which are approximately aligned with the adjacent edges of the edge sleeve punchings 13. When inserting the quills, the insertion tabs 15 fold in and make the edge quill punchings for the quills more slidable.

As shown in FIG. 7, two sleeves 16 of a tens sleeve holder 17 each engage in the two sleeve holes 12 and only one sleeve sleeve edge is penetrated by a further sleeve 16. In addition to the pack shown, a further pack can be accommodated in the same row of the quill carrier 17, the central quill 16 engaging in two peripheral quill punchings of adjacent packs. The pack contains bottles 18 which, after being removed, are adjustable again in the sleeve carrier 17 and are held laterally by the sleeve 16.

1 to 4, the fold-over line of the larger part of the bottom section 3 has a groove-shaped recess 19 in the overlap area, to which a crease line is assigned in the overlap area of the other part. 5 to 7, a slot line 20 is provided instead of a recess.

Claims (11)

1. A multi-article package of foldable sheet material, in particular a carton, for bottles, cans or similar containers, wherein the preferably integral blank is adapted to be folded about the containers in sleeve-like manner and comprises a pair of opposite wall portions (2), bottom and cover portions (3, 1) and a pair of endwise openings, the bottom portion (3) having on both sides bottom flaps (7) and the wall portions (2) having on both sides end flaps (5) which, when the blank has been folded about the containers (10, 18), are adapted to be folded into the endwise openings against the lower edge area of the adjacent containers (10, 18) and to be fixed in this position, and the bottom flaps (7) and the adjacent end flaps (5) being hinged together via intermediate webs (6),
   characterized in that the webs (6) between the bottom flaps (7) and the end flaps (5) are folded down against the bottom flaps and are folded away from the end flaps (5) substantially under right angles when the bottom flaps (7) have been folded below the bottom portion (3) and have been fixed thereto - preferably by adhesive - and when the end flaps (5) have been folded against the containers (10, 18) and preferably cover an EAN-code of the containers.
2. The multi-article package of claim 1, characterized in that the webs (6) interconnect the ends of the bottom flaps (7) and the end flaps (5).
3. The multi-article package of any of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the webs (6) are connected to the bottom flaps (7) and end flaps (5) via fold lines (8, 8') extending under an accute angle having legs which converge towards the bottom portion (3) and the wall portions (2).
4. The multi-article package of claim 3, characterized in that, when the blank has been folded about the containers (10, 18), first fold lines (8) intersect substantially the center of the bending area of the hinged end flaps (5) and that second fold lines (8') between the webs (6) and the end flaps (5) extend substantially parallel to the bending plane of the end flaps.
5. The multi-article package of claim 4, characterized in that the webs (6) between the second fold line (8') and a third fold line (8'') extending parallel thereto have an edge web (6'), the third fold lines (8'') coinciding with fold lines (14) between the bottom flaps (7) and the bottom portion (3) when the webs (6) have been folded below the bottom flaps (7).
6. The multi-article package of claim 5, characterized in that the wall portions (2) are hinged to the bottom portion (3) via edge portions (2, 2'), with the levels of the edge portions (2, 2') and edge web (6') substantially corresponding to each other.
7. The multi-article package of any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the end flaps (5) have crease lines (11) extending perpendicularly to the bending plane in the bending area.
8. The multi-article package of any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that cut-outs (9) are provided adjacent to the bending areas of the end flaps (5) on the bottom portion side.
9. The multi-article package of any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the bottom portion (3) between the abutment areas of the bottom flaps (7) has a pair of pin cut-outs (12) and that each fold line (14) between the bottom portion (3) and the bottom flaps (7) symmetrically intersects an edge pin cut-out (13), the edge pin cut-outs being open towards the end sides when the bottom flaps have been folded below the bottom portion.
10. The multi-article package of claim 9, characterized in that the webs (6) adjacent the end flaps (5) have insert flaps (15) interconnected via hinge lines, each hinge line being substantially aligned to an adjacent edge of an edge pin cut-out (13) when the webs (6) are folded against the bottom flaps (7).
11. The multi-article package of claim 10, characterized in that two parts of the bottom portion (3) have longitudinally overlapping areas for connection in particular by gluing, and that the fold lines (14) in the overlapping areas are formed by complementary crease and slit lines (20) or recesses (19) of the overlapping parts.

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