Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D75/00—Packages comprising articles or materials partially or wholly enclosed in strips, sheets, blanks, tubes, or webs of flexible sheet material, e.g. in folded wrappers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D71/40—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks
  • B65D71/46—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a tubular element
  • B65D71/48—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a tubular element characterised by the handle
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B21/00—Packaging or unpacking of bottles
  • B65B21/24—Enclosing bottles in wrappers

Definitions

• the invention relates to a carrier for articles such as bottles and more particularly to top gripping carriers which engage, for example, the underside of bottle caps thereby to retain the bottle within the carrier.
• top gripping (or clipping) carriers for carrying two bottles of the PET soft drinks type.
• US 4403689, US 4378879, US 4339032, US Des 271944 and US Des 271749 disclose article carriers of this type.
• US 4339032 discloses a blank for forming a bottomless bottle carrier wherein the crowns of the bottles are engaged in apertures located on a central fold line between adjacent upper panels of the carton and the sides of the blank are folded downwardly about the fold line prior to engaging the apertures with the underside of bottle tops passed therethrough.
• the carton of US4339032 comprises side walls having upper portions just described with article receiving apertures. Additionally lower portions of the side walls are foldably attached to a series of panels which form side skirts in the carton. Ends of the skirts are glued to the inside of a lower portion of the opposite side panel to that to which the skirts are foldably attached. Also, an internal panel is provided which is foldably attached to the upper portions of the side walls but which rotates inwardly in forming the carton to provide an upper reinforcing panel. Therefore, the carton disclosed by Wood in US 4339032 undergoes a series of folding operations and gluing operations in order to form a substantially complete carton prior to loading articles therein.
• a carton blank for forming an article carrier of the top gripping type comprising hingably interconnected first and second end panels, first and second side panels and an upper panel having means for cooperating with an article to retain th article in a formed carrier, wherein the first end panel, first side panel, second end panel and second side panel are hingably interconnected in series about an aperture through which an article is passable in packaging the article during formation of the carrier.
• the first end panel can be hingably connected to sai first side panel via a gusset panel.
• the gusset panel ca be hingably attached to a fold panel which is hingably attached to said first side panel along a fold line, said fold panel enabling relative folding of the first end panel and first side panel during formation of the carrier.
• the first end panel and second side panel can b connected via a gusset panel and preferably a fold panel.
• the second end panel and first side panel can be connecte via a gusset panel and preferably a fold panel, and the second end panel and second side panel can be foldably connected via a gusset panel and preferably a fold panel.
• an inner panel can be hingably attached t the first side panel and extending into said aperture which inner panel comprises end edges for cooperating wit associated end panels during the formation of the carrier.
• a second such inner panel can be hingably attached to the second side panel.
• Another aspect of the invention provides a method of forming an article carrier of a top gripping type from a blank comprising hingably interconnected first and second end panels, first and second side panels and an upper panel having means for cooperating with an article to retain the article in a formed carrier, wherein the first end panel, first side panel, second end panel and second side panel are hingably interconnected in series about an aperture, the method comprising the steps of passing an article through the aperture, folding the side panels upwardly and engaging said article retaining means in said upper panel with the top of the article.
• gusset panel is hingably connected between each end panel and side panel of the blank and the method can further comprise the step of folding said end panels prior to folding said side panels upwardly.
• the method can comprise the step of folding the fold panel about a fold line connecting it to a side panel so as to cause folding of the associated end panel.
• the method can comprise the step of folding said inner panels upwardly prior to folding said fold panels thereby to enable said end edges to cooperate with the end panels during erection thereof.
• the blank is lowered onto the article which causes the upward movement of the inner panels.
• a further aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier of the top gripping type comprising lower panels including a first and second side panel and end panels for wrapping around the sides and ends of a packaged article and an upper panel hingably attached to said first side panel along a fold line, said upper panel comprising means for cooperating with the top of the article to retain the article in the formed carrier, wherein said retaining means is configurable to cooperate with the article top upon folding of the upper panel about said fold line.
• a second upper panel can be hingably attached to said second side panel which panel also comprises article retaining means.
• the retaining means can comprise an aperture defined by a rim which is at least partially in one of said upper panels.
• the rim can extend into the associated side panel across the associated fold line. Part of said aperture rim in said upper panel and said side panel can cooperate with the article top to retain the article in the carton.
• a further aspect of the invention provides a method of forming an article carrier of the top gripping type from a blank comprising lower panels including a first and second side panel and end panels for wrapping around the sides and ends of a packaged article and an upper panel hingably attached to said first side panel along a fold line, said upper panel comprising means for cooperating with the top of the article to retain the article in the formed carrier, wherein said retaining means is configurable to cooperate with the article top upon folding of the upper panel about said fold line, the method comprising the step of forming the side and end panels around an article and folding the upper panel about said fold line into a position adjacent the second side panel thereby to bring said retaining means into cooperation with the article.
• the blank comprises a second upper panel having article retaining means is hingably attached to said second side panel and the method can comprise the step of folding said second upper panel to a position adjacent said first side panel thereby to engage said retaining means with an article top.
• the step of attaching the second upper panel to the first side panel preferably by gluing can be included.
• any feature of either aspects of the blanks according to the invention can be combined in a blank.
• a handle in at least one of the side or upper panels can also be provided.
• the blank can be adapted to package a plurality of articles and having retaining means for each.
• FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a carrier blank according to the invention.
• FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of an initial stage of forming a carrier according to the invention from the blank shown in Figure 1;
• FIGURE 3 shows a second stage of formation following that shown in Figure 2;
• FIGURE 4 shows a third stage of formation to that shown in Figures 2 and 3;
• FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a completed carton according to the invention.
• An example of a carrier blank 10 according to the invention comprises an upper panel 12 hingably connected to a side panel 16 along fold line 54.
• Bottle cap engaging apertures 28 are provided in the upper panels and can, as shown here, straddle the fold line 54 so as to extend into an upper side portion 14 of the side wall 16.
• Side panel 16 thus comprises an upper side portion 14 having, in this example, a handle 30 comprising a handle flap hingably connected to the upper side portion 14 thus defining a handle aperture.
• Side panel 16 is hingably connected at fold line 38 to an inner panel 18.
• Inner panel 18 is separated from a second inner panel 20 by cut line 46 which runs transversely across the middle of the carrier blank. Cut line 46 forms a mirror symmetry axis of the carrier.
• a fold panel 32a is hingably connected to side panel 16 at fold line 35a.
• a triangular or gusset panel 36a is foldably connected along fold line 34a to fold panel 32a.
• the gusset panel 36a is foldably connected to an end panel 42a along a fold line 40a. Due to the symmetry of the carton similar fold and gusset panels are provided along each lateral edge of side panels 16 and 22 where like integers have the same reference numerals suffixed by the letter a, b, c or d. Thus four fold panels 32 and four gusset panels 36 are provided.
• Two end panels 42a and 42c extend between associated pairs of gusset panels. These end panels provide bands or skirts in the formed carrier which help secure the articles in the carrier.
• the inner panels 18 and 20 are separated by cut lines 50a and 50c from the end panels 42a and 42c respectively.
• the inner panels can therefore be displaced to reveal an aperture 60 defined by the edges of end panels 42a and 42c adjacent cut lines 50a and 50c respectively, and the edges of side panels 16 and 22 at fold lines 38 and 48 respectively.
• the second inner panel 20 is hingably connected to a side panel 22 along fold line 48.
• side panel 22 comprises an upper side portion 24 which comprises a handle 30 and bottle cap engaging apertures 28 which extend into upper panel 26.
• the upper panel 26 is hingably connected to side panel 22 along fold line 52.
• the carton blank here is used to package two bottles B.
• the carton blank can be first pushed down onto the tops of the bottles such that inner panels 18 and 20 are caused to fold upwardly about fold lines 38 and 48 respectively.
• the fold panels, gusset panels and end panels are then all folded upwardly about fold lines 35.
• Fold panels 32 are then folded downwardly against the inside of the side panels as shown in Figure 3.
• This folding causes the gusset panels 36 to pull the end panels or bands 42 in tightly around the ends of the packaged articles B.
• the inner panels 18 and 20 can be provided to assist in the formation of the carrier during this folding process as end panels 42a and 42c grip the outside of the bottles and gusset panels 36 are caused to rotate inwardly.
• This assistance can be provided by cooperation between end edges of the inner panel and the gusset panels, for example, by providing a reactive force adjacent fold lines 40 to enable folding of the gusset panels 36 and tightening of the end panels 42 during rotation of fold panels 32.
• the end panel or band panel 42 can be used to carry advertising and/or to conceal a bar code on the primary packaging of the article being packaged.
• the side panels 16 and 22 can then be rotated upwardly as shown in Figure 4 prior to folding upper panels 12 and 26 about respective fold lines 50 and 52 thereby to clip a bottle cap C of the articles to be carried in an aperture 28.
• upper panel 26 can first be folded over the bottle caps followed by upper panel 12 such that rims 29 of the bottle cap receiving apertures 28 grip the underside of a bottle cap C.
• upper side portions 14 and 24 are caused to fold inwardly contouring the shoulder portion of the bottles.
• upper panels 12 and/or 16 can be glued to one another or other securing means such as cooperating locking tabs and apertures might be provided.
• a handle 30 can be presented near the top of the carton.
• the handle can comprise finger tabs as discussed earlier.
• Means for cooperating with the top of the package articles B for retention other than the apertures 28 shown herein may be used.
• a "starburst" type aperture may be provided as shown in EP 0 188 327 A2.
• retention tabs of the type shown in GB 2 273 284 A may be used.
• Other possibilities will be recognized by those skilled in the art.
• the carton is easily formed in a relatively simple folding operation and does not require any gluing or other adhesion of panels prior to attaching to articles.
• articles can be packaged using uniformed carriers in the form of a flat blank which can be folded into a carrier in cooperation with the articles whilst they move along a flow path as indicated by arrow F.

Landscapes

• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Manipulator (AREA)
• Die Bonding (AREA)
• Transition And Organic Metals Composition Catalysts For Addition Polymerization (AREA)
• Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
• Polymers With Sulfur, Phosphorus Or Metals In The Main Chain (AREA)
• Glass Compositions (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Superconductors And Manufacturing Methods Therefor (AREA)
• Seal Device For Vehicle (AREA)
• Inorganic Insulating Materials (AREA)
• Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)
• Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (3)

Family

ID=10761743

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (19)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 1994
  • 1994-09-22 GB GB9419108A patent/GB9419108D0/en active Pending
• 1995
  • 1995-09-21 ES ES95933193T patent/ES2152428T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-09-21 HU HU9800895A patent/HU223452B1/hu not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-09-21 WO PCT/US1995/012063 patent/WO1996009226A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1995-09-21 PT PT95933193T patent/PT781241E/pt unknown
  • 1995-09-21 BR BR9508961A patent/BR9508961A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-09-21 DE DE69519519T patent/DE69519519T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1995-09-21 AT AT95933193T patent/ATE197787T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-09-21 RU RU97106325/13A patent/RU2158705C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-09-21 EP EP95933193A patent/EP0781241B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1995-09-21 DK DK95933193T patent/DK0781241T3/da active
  • 1995-09-21 KR KR1019970701930A patent/KR100371050B1/ko not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-09-21 PL PL95319036A patent/PL179145B1/pl not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-09-21 NZ NZ332441A patent/NZ332441A/en unknown
  • 1995-09-21 AU AU42925/96A patent/AU4292596A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1995-09-21 CZ CZ1997569A patent/CZ294322B6/cs not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-09-21 JP JP51108796A patent/JP3600243B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1995-09-21 NZ NZ300079A patent/NZ300079A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1995-09-21 MX MX9702173A patent/MX9702173A/es not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2001
  • 2001-02-06 GR GR20010400196T patent/GR3035369T3/el not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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