EP0609784B1 - Foldable packaging container and blank therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

In a foldable packaging container with a bottom panel and with transverse and end walls (16) starting from the latter and separated from it by bending lines (24, 26) or such like weakening lines, the said packaging container being cut to size from a cardboard sheet, the transverse and end walls (18) are folded up at an angle to the bottom panel (14) to form a frame, surrounding the latter, for a receiving cavity (36), two transverse walls of adjacent packaging containers, as part of the material web, being separated respectively by a folding line (22). This packaging container forms, with a plurality of further identical individual containers (12), a packaging box (10) extended in a bar-like manner, and the individual containers (12) are separated from one another by the folding lines (22) of the material web, the adjacent transverse walls (18) of respectively two individual containers being movable relative to one another about a constructive hinge axis (B) drawn through the folding line. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a foldable packaging container according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular for foods such as chocolate bars, confectionery, chocolates or the like. The invention also includes a blank for a packaging container.

In the course of reducing the amount of packaging, attempts are increasingly being made to replace the plastic and film containers which have hitherto been customary with those made of pure paper and cardboard material, with the aim of reducing the transport capacities to provide the packaging company with flat blanks, which these then brought into the final packaging form and filled.

A foldable packaging container according to the preamble of claim 1 has become known from DE-A-1 179 449. This document from 1958 describes a process for producing individual - or in a row connected - folding containers. With the simple machines of that time, there were other requirements for the production of folding containers connected in a row; the blanks had to have a simple rectangular shape; the folding containers should only be shaped by folding in a special way. This folding results in folding triangles and sealing strips, in particular also a sealing strip between the individual folding containers connected in series, this sealing strip having to be welded to a cover strip.

The folding container according to this DE-A-1 179 449 was then carried out on the assembly line by women, which is why the task was to create a very special additional side wall stiffening, and those folding triangles were required for this. There is nothing else to be found in this document about the material used there.

EP-A-0 303 500 describes a packaging unit which consists of three or more individual containers and a holding means.

Knowing these circumstances, the inventor has set himself the goal of creating a foldable packaging container of the type mentioned at the outset and a cut for it which both meets the requirements for good recyclability and is inexpensive and helps to save packaging material. The packaging container should be environmentally friendly, easy to dispose of and variable in design and usability.

To solve this problem, a packaging container and a cut provided for this according to the independent patent claims; the subclaims indicate favorable further embodiments.

It is assumed according to the invention of a blank which, by means of the special shaping by means of bending lines, folding lines and folding tabs to be glued, mechanically forms a container strip with a plurality of receiving spaces for packaging goods such as chocolate bars, chocolates or the like. results.

An advantage over DE-A 1 179 449 according to the invention is a hinge axis which is formed by the fold line between two individual containers. Such a hinge axis is not possible with the individual containers according to DE-A 1 179 449, since there is also a sealing strip between the individual containers connected in a row.

The packaging container is a single container part of a bar-like stretched packaging box, the individual containers being separated from one another by the fold lines of the material web and the adjacent transverse walls of two individual containers in each case being able to be moved relative to one another about the constructive hinge axis B defined by the fold line. This is made possible by that the adjacent transverse wall pairs each limit a gusset space below the fold line with an opening angle which is preferably between 5 ° and 30 °. An opening angle of 20 ° has proven to be particularly favorable.

The packaging box according to the invention comprising a plurality of individual containers of this type lined up and connected to one another fulfills the task seen by the inventor and can be produced in almost any length with a blank.

As a result of the gusset spaces present between the transverse walls of the individual containers - in the aligned position of use - the packaging boxes according to the invention can take different forms, i.e. their end walls can be assigned to each other in curved contours similar to a caterpillar belt.

However, it has proven to be advantageous to fill, close and transport the packaging boxes consisting of several individual containers as a flat web.

A separate cover plate can be used as a closure, which in turn is made from a cardboard blank and is provided with edge or side flaps for connection to the packaging box, as is known per se from DE-A-1 179 449.

However, according to the invention, a cover tongue is provided on an end transverse wall - optionally also on both - which or the like from this transverse wall by an embossing line. Line of weakness is separated and can be placed around the individual container so that it overlaps several individual containers in the closed position. Since the latter - in the type of chocolate bars already mentioned - separated from each other at the described fold lines of the transverse walls In a further development, it has also proven to be advantageous to equip the cover tongue (s) with corresponding perforation lines. This creates an elongated packaging box that can be shortened in stages.

Since the packaging box according to the invention can be folded over in the area of each folding line between two adjacent transverse walls, it is also possible to fold the row of individual containers onto one another in two parts, for example in the longitudinal center of the packaging box, and thus to produce the closed position. Before said folding, the individual receiving spaces can be closed, for example by a cardboard sheet - or a transparent film - and the two parts can then be connected in the area of their upper edges.

All in all, a versatile container made of easily disposable material is created, which is easy to manufacture, easy to transport and easy to put into use. Compared to other forms of packaging, there is an astonishingly high saving in packaging material.

In an independent claim, protection is claimed with subclaims for a blank for producing a packaging container from a cardboard sheet, in particular a packaging container according to one of the claims 1 to 5.

This document deals in particular with how the individual containers are to be sealed with regard to their contents. It is intended for individual films for each individual container or for a common removable cover film - transparent or non-transparent. The individual containers have a polygonal cross-section and sit in rows - at a distance - on an elongated flexible band. This flexible band is either provided with perforations or other lines of weakness between the individual containers to make it easier to fold the band into a ring. Four correspondingly shaped individual containers - arranged in a ring - can be seen in the figures of this document. Other figures of EP-A-0 303 500 show three individual containers correspondingly shaped. If lines of weakness are produced here after the individual containers have been closed by a common film, the common film can be cut into separate portions, each of which is assigned to one of the individual containers. The weakening lines according to EP-A-0 303 500 are in the flexible band and not in a cut for the container.

FR-A-1 511 072 also describes a version made from five appropriately shaped individual containers as a ring which is hung on a handle. Other configurations show a similar arrangement for four or for three individual containers. All individual containers have a foil that closes them. The containers according to FR-A-1 511 072 are folded along their edges into corresponding prismatic three-four or five-packs, but this is only made possible by the plastic or aluminum foil.

Fig. 1:

eine Schrägsicht auf eine offene Verpackungsschachtel aus mehreren zusammenhängenden Einzelbehältern;

Fig. 2:

die Draufsicht auf den Zuschnitt zu Fig. 1;

Fig. 3:

eine Schrägsicht auf die teilweise von einer Schutzhülse umgebene Verpackungsschachtel;

Fig. 4:

eine Schrägsicht auf eine andere Konfiguration der Verpackungsschachtel;

Fig. 5:

eine Schrägsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Ausführungsform der Verpackungsschachtel mit angehobener Deckelzunge;

Fig. 6:

eine Schrägsicht auf die erfindungsgemäße Ausgestaltung nach Fig. 5 der Verpackungsschachtel mit teilweise angedeuteter aufgelegter Deckelzunge;

Fig. 7:

die Draufsicht auf den verkleinerten Zuschnitt zu Fig. 5, 6;

Fig. 8:

eine Schrägsicht auf eine mit Aufhängelasche versehene erfindungsgemäße Verpackungsschachtel;

Fig. 9:

eine Schrägsicht auf die geöffnete Verpackungsschachtel in der Ausführung der Fig. 8.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment, the containers or blanks in FIGS. 1 to 4, 8 and 9 and the corresponding description parts showing examples in which the cover tongue according to the invention is not present; these only serve to further explain the subject of the application. Show it:

Fig. 1:

an oblique view of an open packaging box made up of several contiguous individual containers;

Fig. 2:

the top view of the blank of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3:

an oblique view of the packaging box partially surrounded by a protective sleeve;

Fig. 4:

an oblique view of another configuration of the packaging box;

Fig. 5:

an oblique view of the embodiment of the packaging box according to the invention with raised lid tongue;

Fig. 6:

an oblique view of the embodiment of Figure 5 of the packaging box according to the invention with partially indicated cover tongue.

Fig. 7:

the top view of the reduced blank to Fig. 5, 6;

Fig. 8:

an oblique view of a packaging box according to the invention provided with a hanging tab;

Fig. 9:

8 shows an oblique view of the opened packaging box in the embodiment of FIG. 8.

A packaging box 10 made of cardboard with a thickness of approximately 0.5 mm - for example for confectionery - has five individual containers 12 connected in line according to FIG. 1, each of which consists of a base plate 14, two end walls 16 and two transverse walls 18 connecting them . The cross sections of the individual containers 12 taper - both parallel to the longitudinal axis A of the packaging box 10 and transversely thereto - from the upper wall edges to the base plate 14. The angle w between the base plate 14 and the end walls 16 or transverse walls 18 measures slightly more than 100 °.

As can be seen above all in the cut 20 of the packaging box 10 in FIG. 2, the respectively adjacent transverse walls 18 of two individual containers 12 are separated by a folding line 22, which forms a type of hinge axis between the individual containers 12; these can be mutually opposed about the hinge axis B made clear in FIGS. 1, 2 be pivoted. For the sake of clarity, the upper edges of the outer transverse walls 18e of the packaging box 10 are designated by 19, and the upper edges of the end walls 16 by 17.

The length a of the blank 20 determined by the upper edges 19 of the outer transverse walls 18e measures 450 mm, its width b here 140 mm; this is also the distance between the upper edges 17 of the end walls 16 from one another. At a distance e of 25 mm each from the upper edges 19 or folding lines 22 crossing the longitudinal axis A - in each field of the cutting width f of 90 mm for the individual container 12 - two parallel bending lines 24 around which the transverse walls 18 to the base plate 14 can be set up. Parallel to the longitudinal axis A, the base plate 14 is delimited by bending lines 26, which are arranged at a distance h of approximately 90 mm from one another and to which the end walls 16 of height e connect to the outside.

From the intersection points 28 of the bending lines 26, 24 - to the bending lines 24 of the transverse walls 18 or the outer transverse walls 18e at an angle w - inclined folding lines 30, which on the other hand end at the upper edge 19 of the outer transverse walls 18 and start from Separate structurally folding flaps 32. Separation lines 34 are cut between the flap tabs 32 and the end walls 16. The cut edge of the folding flap 32 which is produced by the dividing line 34 and which is connected to the end of the upper edge 19 or the kink line 22 by a curved cutting edge 31 is denoted by 33.

The blank 20 is punched out of a cardboard sheet, which is not particularly shown here, and then the end walls 16 around the bending lines 26 and the transverse walls 18, 18e about their bending lines 24 are folded out of the plane of the base plate or the transverse walls 18 are folded about their folding lines 22 . Then the folding tabs 32 projecting from the lateral ends of the transverse walls 18 are brought around the folding lines 30 from the outside to the end walls 16 and glued to them. 1 with, for example, five receiving spaces 36 for packaging goods neglected in the drawing.

The packaging box 10 is pushed into the protective sleeve 38 in the direction of the longitudinal axis A, it being apparent in FIG. 3 that the individual containers 12 can be pivoted against the hinge axis B or the folding lines 22 outside the protective sleeve 38 against one another, to the stop of the Outer surfaces of the transverse walls 18 together. If the upper edges 17 of the end walls 16 lie in one plane, there are triangular gusset spaces 44 between the transverse walls 18 of the individual containers 12 below their fold line 22, the opening angle t of which measures approximately 20 °.

It is also possible to fold the packaging box 10 around one of its fold lines - Q in FIG. 4 - in such a way that a double pack is formed which consists of a protective sleeve 38 double height i - is held together. In addition, in FIG. 4 at the right end of the packaging box 10 it is indicated that an unnecessary individual container 12a can be separated along the hinge axis B.

In the exemplary embodiment of a packaging box 10a of FIG. 5, the upper edges 12 of the end walls 16 and an outer transverse wall 18e are formed by fold lines 46, 48, around which wall flaps 50, 52 of the end or transverse walls 16 and 18 can be pivoted. These wall brackets 50, 52 are then connected to a hinged cover or the mentioned cover tongue 54, for example by adhesive, the hinged cover 54 being fixed to an end transverse wall 18f and being separated from it by an embossing line 56. Perforation lines 58 parallel to the embossing line 56 and to one another can also be provided in the cover tongue 54, the distances n of which correspond to the distances of the folding lines 22 in the finished packaging box 10 or 10a. When the packaging box 10a according to FIG. 6 is closed, the free end of the cover tongue 54 projects beyond the end transverse wall 18e as a grip strip 55.

The length a1 of the blank 20a between the free edge 53 of the wall flap 52 and the embossing line 56 - including the flap width z of 10 mm - here 370 mm, the length a2 of the cover tongue 54 here 207 mm. The width b1 of the blank 20a measures approximately 156 mm, the width b2 of the cover tongue 54 only 110 mm, but the distance n between its perforation lines 58 is 52 mm.

8, 9 make a or the like thanks to a cantilever flap 60 with a transverse slot 62 in sales stands. hanging packaging box 10b clearly. The cantilever flap 60 here replaces the wall flap of an end transverse wall 18e and is separated from it by the fold line 48. Two of the Individual containers 12 are folded around the imaginary hinge axis B to close the packaging box 10b, if necessary after the application of a stretched transparent film 64, as indicated in FIG. 9, on the right.

Claims (9)

1. Foldable packaging container comprising a bottom panel (14) and transverse and end walls (18, 18_e; 16) departing therefrom and separated therefrom by bending lines (24, 26) or similar weakening lines, cut out of a material web, in particular a sheet of cardboard, the transverse walls (18, 18_e) of which are folded up at an angle to the bottom panel (14) in order to form a frame surrounding the latter for a receiving space (36), at least two identical individual containers (12, 12_a) forming a bar-shaped packaging box (10, 10_a, 10_b), characterised in that two respective transverse walls (18) of adjacent packaging containers are separated by a breaking line (22) as part of the material web and that a top tab (54) is connected to an end transverse wall (18_f) with the interposition of an embossed line (56) or similar weakening line, overlapping a plurality of the individual containers (12, 12_a) in the closing position.
2. Packaging container according to claim 1, characterised in that the individual containers (12, 12_a) are separated from one another by the breaking lines (22) of the material web and the adjacent transverse walls (18) of two respective individual containers can move relative to one another about a constructive hinge axis (B) through the breaking line.
3. Packaging container according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the end walls (16) form an angle (w) of more than 90°, preferably between 95° and 120°, in particular approximately 100°, with the bottom panel (14) in the position of use.
4. Packaging container according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the top tab (54) has parallel perforated lines (58), the spacings (n) of which correspond to the spacings of the breaking lines (22) in the position of use of the packaging box (10, 10_a, 10_b) and/or that part of the individual containers (12, 12_a) can be folded on to the other part of the individual containers about one of the breaking lines (22), the upper edges (17) of the end walls (16) and/or the upper edges of the breaking lines (22) being situated one on top of the other.
5. Blank for the production of a packaging container, in particular a packaging container according to at least one of the preceding claims, from a sheet of cardboard, wherein, departing from an oblong material web for folding a plurality of individual containers (12, 12_a), a bottom panel (14) and transverse walls (18, 18_e) and end walls separated therefrom by bending lines (24, 26) or similar weakening lines are formed in the material web and the transverse walls (18, 18_e) are formed in the material web in such a manner that they can be folded up at an angle relative to the bottom panel (14) in order to form a receiving space (36), characterised in that the longitudinal axis (A) of the blank traverses a plurality of breaking lines (22) each separating two adjacent portions of the blank width (f) for an individual container (12, 12_a), with which a bending line (24) is associated on either side at a spacing (e) as the height of a transverse wall (18), and that a top tab (54) is connected to an end transverse wall (18_f) with the interposition of an embossed line (56) or similar weakening line, its length being greater than the width (f) of a blank.
6. Blank according to claim 5, characterised in that a bottom panel (14) delimited at the other side by a bending line (24) is connected to the bending line (24), a pair of bending lines (26) extending parallel to the longitudinal axis (A) at a spacing (h) and connecting the other pair of bending lines (24) from which folding lines (30) depart at either end at angles (w) and separate folding flaps (32) from the transverse wall (18, 18_e).
7. Blank according to claim 5 or claim 6, characterised in that separating lines (34) extend between the folding flaps (32) and the end wall (16) and/or that a foldable wall flap (50, 52) is connected to the end wall (16) and/or the transverse wall (18_e).
8. Blank according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterised by a length (a) which corresponds to three times the overall width (b) and/or a multiple more than three times the blank width (f).
9. Blank according to one of claims 5 to 8, characterised in that a top tab (54) the length (a2) of which is in a ratio of 1.7 to 1.8 relative to the length (a1) of the blank (20_a) is connected to a transverse wall (18_e).

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