EP0904235B1 - Method for producing a package with nesting lid from a blank - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method of making a cardboard or material packaging with mechanical characteristics similar to those of cardboard, including packaging with a closing lid fitting.

We already know, in many realizations, cardboard or material packaging similar to snap-on cover, sometimes referred to in the art as packaging of type "telescope" and which include, as indicated by example in FR-A-2 486 912, a parallelepiped body and a cover of identical shape but of dimensions very slightly higher than those of the body, for cap it, the cover and the body being made in two separate and distinct blanks of material in sheet. If packaging of this type gives satisfaction, they nevertheless have the disadvantage to require two assembly operations, one for the body and the other for the cover, on the one hand, and, on the other part, to require auxiliary means, - such as pieces of tape - temporarily securely fasten the body and the cover.

It is generally a goal of the invention of providing a blank intended for a packaging in cardboard or similar material, in particular with a cover snap closure, and which allows easy mounting.

The object of the invention is also a method of production of such packaging likely to be economical, on the one hand, and which can be implemented on automatic machines well suited to packaging facilities at a rate of high functioning, on the other hand.

• un premier et un deuxième panneaux constituant une première paire de parois latérales opposées de l'emballage
• un troisième et un quatrième panneaux constituant une deuxième paire de parois latérales opposées de l'emballage
• un premier volet formant un fond de l'emballage, et qui est articulé au troisième panneau le long d'une première ligne d'articulation
• un deuxième volet articulé au quatrième panneau le long d'une deuxième ligne d'articulation
• et, de part et d'autre du premier volet, une première et une deuxième série de volets intermédiaires de plus petite surface que le premier volet et qui sont articulés au premier et au deuxième panneau le long d'une troisième et d'une quatrième ligne d'articulation qui sont situées dans le prolongement desdites première et deuxième lignes d'articulation lorsque le flan est disposé à plat.

A packaging made of sheet material, such as cardboard or the like, meeting at least one of the aforementioned aims, is produced according to the invention from a single blank of said material, cut and possibly creased. This blank which is known from German Patent Application DE-A-3116924 comprises:

• first and second panels constituting a first pair of opposite side walls of the package
• third and fourth panels constituting a second pair of opposite side walls of the package
• a first flap forming a bottom of the packaging, and which is articulated to the third panel along a first line of articulation
• a second flap articulated to the fourth panel along a second line of articulation
• and, on either side of the first flap, a first and a second series of intermediate flaps of smaller area than the first flap and which are articulated to the first and to the second panel along a third and a fourth articulation line which are located in the extension of said first and second articulation lines when the blank is placed flat.

The process for producing a packaging from said blank is defined in claim 1. Des variants of the Invention are specified in claims 2 to 9.

The invention provides a method of making a packaging, from this blank, which avoids putting a specific installation, for example for setting up form around a common core in the aforementioned document.

• un troisième volet articulé à un troisième panneau le long d'une cinquième ligne d'articulation opposée à ladite première ligne d'articulation
• un quatrième volet articulé au quatrième panneau le long d'une sixième ligne d'articulation opposée à ladite deuxième ligne d'articulation
• et, de part et d'autre du troisième volet, une troisième et une quatrième série de volets intermédiaires de plus petite surface que le troisième volet et qui sont articulés au premier et au deuxième panneau le long d'une septième et d'une huitième ligne d'articulation, qui sont situées dans le prolongement desdites cinquième et sixième lignes d'articulation.

The blank may also include:

• a third flap articulated to a third panel along a fifth line of articulation opposite to said first line of articulation
• a fourth flap articulated to the fourth panel along a sixth line of articulation opposite to said second line of articulation
• and, on either side of the third flap, a third and a fourth series of intermediate flaps of smaller surface area than the third flap and which are articulated to the first and to the second panel along a seventh and an eighth hinge line, which are located in the extension of said fifth and sixth hinge lines.

In this case, the process can be implemented work as defined in claim 5.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique, en perspective, d'un emballage produit par un procédé selon l'invention avant première ouverture ;
• la figure 2 illustre, en perspective éclatée, le corps et le couvercle coiffant d'un emballage selon la figure 1 après première ouverture de celui-ci ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective, par l'intérieur, du couvercle coiffant ;
• la figure 4 est une vue à plat d'un flan de matériau, comme du carton ou matériau présentant des caractéristiques mécaniques analogues à celles du carton, à partir duquel peut être fabriqué l'emballage par le procédé selon l'invention ;
• la figure 5 est une vue à plat d'un mode de réalisation préféré du flan pouvant être utilisé dans le procédé selon l'invention, et la figure 6 représente ledit flan plié.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the description which follows, given by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a package produced by a method according to the invention before first opening;
• Figure 2 illustrates, in exploded perspective, the body and the covering cap of a package according to Figure 1 after first opening thereof;
• Figure 3 is a perspective view, from the inside, of the styling cover;
• FIG. 4 is a flat view of a blank of material, such as cardboard or material having mechanical characteristics similar to those of cardboard, from which the packaging can be produced by the method according to the invention;
• Figure 5 is a flat view of a preferred embodiment of the blank that can be used in the method according to the invention, and Figure 6 shows said folded blank.

In the embodiment described and shown, packaging in sheet material, such as cardboard or material with mechanical characteristics similar to those of the carton, with closing lid by socket is a box 10 intended for packaging of food products such as cookies B, without this indication having, however, whatever limiting nature. Package 10, FIG. 1, includes a cylindrical side wall 11, and two parallel end faces whose outline, as shown for side 12, has central symmetry around from a point O with two convex parts 13, 14 joined together between them by rectilinear parts 15 and 16, respectively so that the side wall 11 has two curved faces and two flat faces 20 and 21 which allow to attach such packaging boxes between them for their transport and presentation to the sale.

The packaging box 10, - produced as will be explained below from a single blank 25 of sheet material such as cardboard or the like -, comprises means 26 for first opening which, when they are made operational , separate said packaging into a box body proper 30 and a covering cover 31. In the embodiment described and shown, the means 26 are formed by a strip 32 precut in the blank 25, between its edges 27, 28 (FIG. 4) and which is provided with a gripping tab 33 which, when pulled by the user in the direction of arrow f , causes the strip to be torn over the entire side wall 11 of the package without it appearing on the body 30 or the throat or rim cover 31 of the type of those known, for example, in cardboard boxes of cigarette packets. Easy removal, - and as a result of the easy opening of the box - contributes to the fact that for a cardboard blank 25 the direction of the fibers thereof is chosen to obtain a clear tear along the precut edges of band 32.

The packaging box which has just been described, and which is mainly intended to contain content whose volume can decrease by successive withdrawals, like cookies, on the one hand, and that we want be able to keep with the possibility of closing it, on the other hand, includes means intended precisely for allow this reclosing by fitting the cover styling 31 on the body 30. More precisely, said means are arranged so that a slight pressure in preferential areas of the body leads to reduction of the perimeter of the opening 35 of the latter and, in the embodiment described and shown, said means consist of crease lines 36, 37 and 38, 39 formed by non-through cuts in the thickness of the flat faces 20 and 21, respectively, of the side wall of the packaging box; as visible in Figures 2 and 4, said crease lines 36-39 are directed obliquely to the generators of the side wall, forming inverted V's whose points 40 and 41, respectively, are in the vicinity of the opening 35 of the body 30.

Alternatively, a single crease line directed parallel to the generators of the wall side is provided substantially in the middle of the faces planes 20 and 21.

In yet another variant, the lines of creasing like 36-39 are parallel to each other and parallel to the generators of the side wall of packaging.

Whatever the embodiment of the means for easily deforming the body 30, the box according to the invention can be closed, - after part of its content was taken -, by distorting the opening 35 of said body by light pressure on it (taking advantage of the slight play between the body and its content) to bring the opening part of the body in the condition shown in solid lines on the Figure 2 in which its opening perimeter is reduced relative to that of the perimeter of the styling cover 31, so that the latter can be easily put in place on the body, as suggested by the arrow E of this figure.

A packaging box produced by the method according to the invention allows as well as packaging enclosed food products directly in the box or previously conditioned in an intermediate flexible sheath so that ensure that no untimely manipulation has been performed on the box as long as the tape 32 is present and intact, then close easily the box after first opening, and openings to contribute to the conservation of the product it encloses.

Whatever the mode of use of the packaging, the invention plans to make it from of a blank 25, FIG. 4, in one piece and which comprises, in addition to panels 20 and 21, panels 50, 50 'and 51 components of the side wall and a set of flaps 52 and 53 intended to form, first, the bottom of the covering cap 21 and the latter the bottom of the body box 30.

• un volet 60 limité par les parties bombées 13, 14 et les parties droites 15 et 16, ces dernières formant lignes d'articulation sur le panneau 20 ;
• un volet 61 d'allure cruciforme relié par une ligne d'articulation 62 au panneau 21 ;
• trois volets intermédiaires de plus petite dimension 63, 64 et 65 reliés à articulation au panneau 50 autour d'une ligne 66 ; et
• des panneaux de même forme que ceux mentionnés en dernier lieu, référencés 67, 68, 69 reliés autour d'une ligne d'articulation 70 au panneau 51, lesdits volets formant après pliage et collage une structure de couvercle 31, relativement rigide et résistante, figure 3, les volets 53 du flan formant quant à eux un fond du corps également rigide et résistant.

As shown in FIG. 4, the flap 50 'is used to bond the panel 21 to it, -to form a cylindrical case-, while the flaps 52 and 53, symmetrical with respect to an average transverse axis XX of the blank, serve to form the bottoms of the package and each include:

• a flap 60 limited by the curved parts 13, 14 and the straight parts 15 and 16, the latter forming articulation lines on the panel 20;
• a flap 61 of cruciform appearance connected by an articulation line 62 to the panel 21;
• three smaller intermediate flaps 63, 64 and 65 connected to articulation to the panel 50 around a line 66; and
• panels of the same shape as those mentioned last, referenced 67, 68, 69 connected around a hinge line 70 to the panel 51, said flaps forming, after folding and gluing, a relatively rigid and resistant cover structure 31, Figure 3, the flaps 53 of the blank forming a bottom of the body also rigid and resistant.

The invention is not limited, of course, to the embodiment described and shown. She finds application for packaging whose section right of the side wall is a polygon for example rectangular, or another closed curve, the height of the the styling cover advantageously being - when the package content is in the form of products discreet - at least the height of one of these products.

A preferred embodiment of the packaging produced by the method according to the invention is shown in Figures 5 and 6.

The blank shown in Figure 5 is a single holding and includes a first (7) and a second (7 ') panels constituting a first pair of walls sides of the packaging, as well as a third (8) and a fourth (8 ') panels, possibly grooved, constituting a second pair of side walls opposite of the packaging. In general, it is planned to present the case to the consumer by placing it on one of the 8 or 8 'walls. It also has two pairs of opposite flaps, respectively (2A, 2B) and (4A, 4B), the shutters 2A, 2B, and possibly shutters 4A, 4B being, like the flap 60 previously described, delimited by two curved sections 13 ', 14' and straight sections 15 'and 16 ', the latter forming a line of articulation with panel 8 ', and possibly panel 8. Whatever either their shape, the flaps 4A and 4B are foldable around an articulation line 71 located in the extension of line 16 ', when the blank is placed flat (Figure 5).

The panels 7 and 7 'also have, from preferably on both side A and side B, flaps intermediates or legs referenced 1A, 3A and / or 1B, 3B and which are hinged to these panels 7 and 7 'around lines 72 and 72 'located in line with the line hinge 16 ', when the blank is placed flat (figure 5).

L'étui 70 arrive à plat de chez l'imprimeur en étant déjà plié selon la génératrice 6, et collé sur la patte de collage 5, comme représenté à la figure 6.

L'étui 70 est inséré en pile dans une machine dité étuyeuse. Cette machine va tout d'abord, classiquement, dépiler l'étui 70 et l'amener en position d'être mis en forme.

L'étui 70 est alors mis en volume, par tout procédé classique de mise en volume. On procède d'abord à la fermeture du côté A. Cette fermeture s'opère comme suit :

• pliage des quatre pattes 1A, qui serviront de contrepartie lors du rabattage du rabat 2A sur les pattes 1A,
• pliage du rabat 2A sur les quatre pattes 1A,
• dépose de deux traits de colle 18A sur la face externe du rabat 2A. Suite à la dépose de colle, les pattes 3A se trouvent pliées et collées sur le rabat 2A,
• dépose de colle 18'A sur les pattes 3A,
• enfin, pliage du rabat 4A sur les pattes 3A. Suite à la dépose de colle 18'A, le rabat 4A se trouve collé sur les pattes 3A.

The case 70 can have an opening strip 32. In the example shown, two flaps 1 of trapezoidal shape frame three flaps 3 also of trapezoidal shape. These shutters 1A, 3A, 1B, 3B have a surface which is considerably smaller than that of the shutters 2A, 2B which they border. However, their shapes and dimensions can be any provided that they are compatible with the process of shaping the packaging in the form of a case, as will be described below:

The case 70 arrives flat from the printer's, being already folded along the generator 6, and glued to the bonding tab 5, as shown in FIG. 6.

The case 70 is inserted in a stack in a cartoning machine. This machine will first of all, conventionally, unstack the case 70 and bring it into position to be shaped.

The case 70 is then set in volume, by any conventional method of setting in volume. The A side is closed first. This closing takes place as follows:

• folding of the four legs 1A, which will serve as a counterpart when the flap 2A is folded over the legs 1A,
• folding of the flap 2A on the four legs 1A,
• depositing two lines of glue 18A on the outer face of the flap 2A. Following the removal of glue, the legs 3A are folded and glued to the flap 2A,
• depositing adhesive 18'A on the legs 3A,
• finally, folding of the flap 4A on the legs 3A. Following the removal of glue 18'A, the flap 4A is glued to the legs 3A.

Then a bag of cookies for example is inserted into the case by the B side of the package. Once the pouch inserted, we close the B side of the pack in the same way as we closed side A.

Alternatively, the pouch can be inserted in the case before closing the A side, i.e. after the packaging of the case.

We obtain a quality of formatting optimal of the semi-oval part of the package, because the number and the size of the legs allow a good adequacy from the sides of the package to the rounded area of its end. In practice, you can use at least two tabs 3A for each of the panels 7 and 7 '. It is advantageous to use such a high number of legs 3A as possible. The implementation is indeed all the more more suitable than the number of legs 3A is higher, but also that the size of the legs 1A is smaller.

The method according to the invention can be implemented works on only one of the two sides (A or B) of the case 70, or as shown, on both sides A and B from case 70.

It is however in the latter case that the mechanical resistance of the case is optimal, and allows the rounded shape of the case to keep within better conditions during the use of the product.

Glue lines 18A, 18A ', 18B and / or 18'B can be replaced with glue dots.

The lines (or points) of glue 18A, 18A ', 18B, 18'B can be arranged on the external face of the corresponding flap 4A and / or 4B and / or on the legs corresponding 3A and / or 3B.

It is also possible that the regions glued, in particular on the external face of the first 2A and / or of the second 2B component are carried out in advance.

In the example shown, the legs 1A and / or 1B which serve as a counterpart to the folding of the flaps 2A and / or 2B, are preferably end tabs which are adjacent to the straight edges 15 'and 16' of the flaps 2A and / or 2B. Alternatively, it is possible to perform this function using any of the legs 3A and / or 3B.

Claims (9)

1. Method of producing a package from a blank made from sheet material such as cardboard or a similar material, the said blank being in a single piece and comprising:

   first (7', 50) and second (7, 51) panels constituting a first pair of opposite side walls of the package

   third (20, 8') and fourth (21, 8) panels constituting a second pair of opposite side walls of the package

   a first flap (2A, 60) forming a bottom of the package and which is articulated on the third panel (20, 8') along a first articulation line (16, 16')

   a second flap (4A, 61) articulated on the fourth panel (21, 8) along a second articulation line (62, 71)

   and, on each side of the first flap (2A, 60), a first and second series of intermediate flaps (1A, 3A, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69) with a smaller surface area than the first flap (2A, 60) and which are articulated on the first (7', 50) and second (7, 51) panels along a third (66, 72') and fourth (70, 72) articulation line which are situated in line with the said first (16, 16') and second (62, 71) articulation lines when the blank is disposed flat, the method comprising a building up of the said blank, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

   a) effecting the said building up, in a known manner by means of a case maker, from the said blank presented flat and pasted along one end tab (5)

   b) folding, substantially at right angles, at least one intermediate flap (1A, 3A) in the first and/or second series

   c) folding the first flap (2A, 60) substantially at right angles, the latter coming into contact with at least one said intermediate flap (1A) folded during step b.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterised in that, after step b), there remain intermediate flaps (1A, 3A) which are not yet folded.
3. Method according to Claim 2, characterised in that it includes, after c, the following steps:

   d) folding the intermediate flaps not yet folded (3A) substantially at right angles in order to glue them to first regions (18A) of the external face of the first folded flap (2A, 60)

   e) folding the second flap (4A, 61) substantially at right angles in order to fold it over second pasted regions of the intermediate folded flaps (1A, 3A) and/or the external face of the first flap (2A, 60).
4. Method according co Claim 3, characterised in that it comprises, after step e, or between steps a and b, a step f of inserting a product in the case.
5. Method according to Claim 4, characterised in that the blank comprises:

   a third flap (60, 2B) articulated on the third panel (20, 8') along a fifth articulation line (16') opposite to the said first articulation line (16, 16')

   a fourth flap (61, 4B) articulated on the fourth panel (21, 8) along a sixth articulation line (71) opposite to the said second articulation line (62, 71)

   and, on each side of the third flap (60, 2B), a third and fourth series of intermediate flaps (1B, 3B) with a smaller surface area than the third flap.(60, 2B) and which are articulated on the first (7', 50) and second (7, 51) panels along a seventh (72) and eighth (72') articulation line, which are situated in line with the said fifth (16) and sixth (71) articulation lines;
   and in that it comprises the following additional steps:

   g) folding an intermediate flap (1B, 3B) in the third and/or fourth series substantially at right angles

   h) folding the third flap (53, 2B) substantially at right angles, the latter coming into contact with at least one said folded intermediate flap (1B)

   i) folding the intermediate flaps not yet folded (3B) in the third and/or fourth group substantially at right angles in order to glue them on first pasted regions (188) of the external face of the third folded flap (53, 2B)

   j) folding the fourth flap (4B) substantially at right angles in order to fold it over second pasted regions of the folded intermediate flaps (1B, 3B) in the third and/or fourth group, and/or the external face of the third flap (53, 2B).
6. Method according to one of Claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the first pasted regions (18A, 18B) are produced between steps c and d.
7. Method according to Claim 5, characterised in that the first pasted regions (18A, 18B) are produced between steps h and i.
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one intermediate flap folded during step b is a said end flap (1A, 1B).
9. Method according to Claim 5, characterised in that at least one intermediate flap folded during step g is a said end flap (1A, 1B).

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