EP1575766A2 - Carton tubulaire comprenant des languettes de retenue d'article et decoupe de celui-ci - Google Patents

Carton tubulaire comprenant des languettes de retenue d'article et decoupe de celui-ci

Info

Publication number
EP1575766A2
EP1575766A2 EP03818834A EP03818834A EP1575766A2 EP 1575766 A2 EP1575766 A2 EP 1575766A2 EP 03818834 A EP03818834 A EP 03818834A EP 03818834 A EP03818834 A EP 03818834A EP 1575766 A2 EP1575766 A2 EP 1575766A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tab
fold line
carton
article
retention tab
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03818834A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1575766A3 (fr
Inventor
Tamio Ikeda
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Original Assignee
Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC filed Critical Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Publication of EP1575766A2 publication Critical patent/EP1575766A2/fr
Publication of EP1575766A3 publication Critical patent/EP1575766A3/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • 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
    • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/12—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
    • B65D71/14—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls
    • B65D71/16—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls with article-locating elements
    • B65D71/20—Slits or openings along the fold line of the tubular body
    • 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
    • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/12—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
    • B65D71/14—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls
    • B65D71/16—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls with article-locating elements
    • B65D71/18—Tabs inwardly folded tabs from the upper or lower wall
    • 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
    • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/12—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
    • 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
    • B65D71/06—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers
    • B65D71/12—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank
    • B65D71/14—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls
    • B65D71/16—Packaging elements holding or encircling completely or almost completely the bundle of articles, e.g. wrappers the packaging elements, e.g. wrappers being formed by folding a single blank having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers without end walls with article-locating elements
    • B65D71/22—Openings or windows formed in the side walls
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00129—Wrapper locking means
    • B65D2571/00135—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00141—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper glued
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00129—Wrapper locking means
    • B65D2571/00135—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00154—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked
    • B65D2571/00185—Wrapper locking means integral with the wrapper interlocked by tabs cut within one end and facing away from the other end when blank is unfolded, and co-operting with openings at the other end
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00246—Locating elements for the contents
    • B65D2571/00253—Locating elements for the contents integral with the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00259—Locating elements for the contents integral with the wrapper inwardly folded tabs, i.e. elements substantially narrower than the corresponding package dimension
    • B65D2571/00265—Locating elements for the contents integral with the wrapper inwardly folded tabs, i.e. elements substantially narrower than the corresponding package dimension extending from the upper or lower wall
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00432—Handles or suspending means
    • B65D2571/00438—Holes
    • B65D2571/00444—Holes for fingers
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00648—Elements used to form the wrapper
    • B65D2571/00654—Blanks
    • B65D2571/0066—Blanks formed from one single sheet
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00709—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element
    • B65D2571/00716—Shape of the formed wrapper, i.e. shape of each formed element if the wrapper is made from more than one element tubular without end walls
    • 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
    • B65D2571/00—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, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00123—Bundling wrappers or trays
    • B65D2571/00833—Other details of wrappers
    • B65D2571/0087—Special features for machine processing, e.g. gripper apertures

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to cartons for packaging articles and blanks for forming such cartons, and more particularly to a tubular carton or a wraparound carton having an article retention tab for engagement with the end recess of an article and a blank for forming such a carton.
  • Tubular cartons and wraparound cartons are well known as means for packaging articles such as cans and bottles so that more than one article may be easily transferred from, for example, a point of purchase to a different location.
  • US Patent No. 2,571,833 shows one of these known cartons that is designed to package similarly dimensioned, cylindrical articles, such as steel cans, each having a cylindrical side wall, a circular top, a circular bottom and circular chimes each formed around the respective circular can end.
  • FIG. 12 illustrates a blank of a conventional carton designed to package steel cans while FIG. 13 illustrates a cross section of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 12.
  • the carton of FIG. 13 is shown as accommodating steel cans.
  • the carton blank 62 includes a top wall panel 63, a pair of side wall panels 65 and 65 connected to the opposite side edges of the top wall panel 63 along fold lines 64 and 64, and a pair of bottom wall panels 67a and 67b connected to the side wall panels 65 and 65 along fold lines 66 and 66 respectively.
  • the bottom wall panels 67a and 67b are designed to be secured together at their respective free edge portions in an overlapping relationship and to thereby form a composite bottom wall 68 of the carton 61.
  • the top wall panel 63 is provided along each end edge thereof with a pair of similarly shaped, semicircular upper retention tabs 69 and 69. These retention tabs 69 and 69 of each pair are arranged side by side and are hingedly connected to the respective end edge along a fold line 70. Each bottom rn 1 lanel 67a and 67b is provided along each end edge thereof with a semicircular lower ion tab 71. The lower retention tabs 71 are hingedly connected to the respective bottom wall panels along fold lines 72, respectively In order to assemble the carton 61 from the blank 62, the blank is folded along the fold lines 64 and 66 and the bottom wall panels 67a and 67b are secured together to form a tubular structure.
  • Each of the upper and lower retention tabs 69 and 71 are then folded inwardly along their respective fold lines 70 and 72 so that each retention tabs are disposed within the tubular structure.
  • the assembled carton 61 is designed to accommodate six cans 74 arranged in two rows each including three cans.
  • the loaded package is designated by reference numeral 73 in FIG. 13.
  • the folded tabs 69 and 71 are urged toward their initial positions due to the resiliency of the sheet material, such as paperboard, from which the blank is formed. As a result, the retention tabs 69 and 71 are pressed against the respective end walls 75 and 76 of the associated end cans 74 and engage the respective can chimes 77 and 78.
  • the can chimes of steel cans have cylindrical inside surfaces that define a right angle with respect to their respective can ends. For this reason, the free end of each retention tab is held in stable engagement with the inside surface 79 of the respective chime. This ensures that the cans are well retained within the carton.
  • One drawback of the above-described conventional carton is that the carton cannot well retain articles having a hemispherical end recess.
  • An example of such an article is an aluminum can.
  • Aluminum cans typically have a hemispherical bottom recess that is continuous with the cylindrical can side wall. The recessed bottom is smoothly curved to form a dome-shaped ceiling. There is no chime between the bottom and the side wall. Keeping this type of bottom recess in engagement with a folded retention tab is difficult.
  • the curved surface of the bottom recess 80 of an aluminum can 81 extends all the way to the perimeter 82 of the can bottom.
  • a carton for packaging at least one article comprising a tubular structure for surrounding at least one article and an article-retaining means for engaging a recess of one of the at least one article to prevent the one article from dislodging from one of the opposite open ends of the tubular structure.
  • the article-retaining means comprises a retention tab hingedly connected to the tubular structure along a first fold line, and a spacer tab disposed adjacent to the retention tab and hingedly connected to the tubular structure along a second fold line that is juxtaposed to the first fold line.
  • the retention tab is folded more than 90 degrees inwardly along the first fold line to define an acute angle with respect to the inside surface of the tubular structure.
  • the spacer tab is folded more than 90 degrees inwardly along the second fold line to be disposed between the retention tab and the inside surface of the tubular structure.
  • the spacer tab serves as a spacer that is interposed between the retention tab and the tubular structure so that the spacer tab holds the retention tab in the angled position where the retention tab defines an acute angle with, and thus is spaced apart from, the inside surface of the tubular structure.
  • the retention tab protrudes inwardly from the inside surface of the tubular structure so as to be maintained in engagement with the recess of the associated article.
  • At least part of the spacer tab may be formed from a portion of the tubular structure between the first and second fold lines while the retention tab may be formed from the material outside the portion of the tubular structure.
  • This arrangement allows the retention tab and the spacer tab to be folded in the same direction, which facilitates mechanization of the tab-folding process.
  • the retention and spacer tabs are designed to be folded toward each other, there is a chance that the spacer tab accidentally moves out of the space between the retention tab and the tubular structure. This type of accident is eliminated in the arrangement of this embodiment.
  • at least part of the spacer tab may be formed from the retention tab.
  • slight pre-folding of the spacer tab allows the spacer tab to be automatically folded in response to folding of the retention tab. This arrangement further facilitates mechanization of the tab-folding process.
  • the maximum distance between the first fold line and the free end edge of the retention tab may be greater than the distance between the first and second fold lines. This arrangement assures that the spacer tab is positioned between the retention tab and the tubular structure when both the retention and spacer tabs are folded more than 90 degrees. In this embodiment, the maximum distance may be even greater than the summation of the distance between the first and second fold lines and the distance between the second fold line and the free end edge of the spacer tab. This additional arrangement assures that the retention tab extends beyond the free end edge of the spacer tab so that not only a part but the entirety of the spacer tab is positioned between the retention tab and the tubular structure.
  • the present invention in another aspect provides a carton blank for forming the carton of the invention in the preceding aspect.
  • the blank comprises a plurality of panels hingedly interconnected in series to form a tubular structure for surrounding at least one article and an article-retaining means for engaging a recess of one of the at least one article.
  • the article- retaining means comprises a retention tab hingedly connected to one of the panels of the blank along a first fold line and a spacer tab hingedly connected to the one panel along a second fold line that is juxtaposed to the first fold line.
  • the retention tab extends from the first fold line away from the second fold line whereas the spacer tab extends from the second fold line toward the first fold line.
  • the maximum distance between the first fold line and the free end edge of the retention tab is greater than the distance between the first and second fold lines.
  • At least part of the spacer tab may be formed from a portion of the one panel between the first and second fold lines.
  • the retention tab may be formed from the material outside the portion of the one panel.
  • at least part of the spacer tab may be formed from the retention tab.
  • the maximum distance between the first fold line and the free end edge of the retention tab may be greater than the distance between the first and second fold lines. In this embodiment, the maximum distance may be even greater than the summation of the distance between the first and second fold lines and the distance between the second fold line and the free end edge of the spacer tab.
  • FIG. 1 is a plan view of a carton blank according to a first embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is an end view of a carton half erected from the blank of FIG. 1, showing one of the steps for erecting the blank;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross section of a package formed from the carton of FIG. 2 and a plurality of articles (i.e., cans) contained therein;
  • FIG. 4 is a plan view of a carton blank according to a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 5 is a plan view of a carton blank according to a third embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a plan view of a carton blank according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 7 is a transverse cross section of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 6;
  • FIG. 8 is a plan view of a carton blank according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross section of a carton formed from the blank of FIG.
  • FIG. 10 is a plan view of a carton blank according to a sixth embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross section of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 10;
  • FIG. 12 is a plan view of a blank for forming a conventional carton
  • FIG. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross section of a carton formed from the blank of FIG. 12, showing by the phantom line steel cans loaded into the carton;
  • FIG. 14 is a fragmentary cross section of the carton of FIG. 13, showing the bottom portion of an aluminum can loaded into the carton.
  • cans with a hemispherical bottom recess are packaged in the carton or blank of the invention.
  • the cans used with the carton or blank of each embodiment are similarly dimensioned.
  • Each can has a cylindrical side wall, a circular top, and a circular bottom.
  • the can top is connected to the upper end of the side wall by a can chime whereas the can bottom is integrally formed with the side wall.
  • the bottom is concave or curved to form a recess to assume the shape of a domed ceiling. Examples of such cans are shown in FIGS. 3, 7, 9 and 11.
  • FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention.
  • an elongate, essentially rectangular carton blank 1 is formed from paperboard or any foldable sheet material such as sheet plastic.
  • a rectangular top wall panel 2 At around the center of the blank, there is provided a rectangular top wall panel 2.
  • the width Wl of the top wall panel 2 is dimensioned to match N x dl where N is a positive integer, preferably two (2), and dl is the diameter of the top of the cans 3 to be accommodated in the carton formed from the blank 1.
  • the length LI of the top wall panel 2 is dimensioned to match M x dl where M is a positive integer, preferably two (2), and dl is the diameter of the top of the cans 3.
  • M is a positive integer, preferably two (2)
  • dl is the diameter of the top of the cans 3.
  • M+1 cans may be accommodated in the carton along each side edge of the top wall panel 2 while a half of each end can projects from the respective carton end to be exposed to view.
  • a pair of semicircular upper retention tabs 5 and 5 are hingedly connected to each end edge of ' the top wall panel 2 along a fold line 6.
  • the upper retention tabs 5 of each pair are arranged side by side along the respective fold line 6.
  • the diameter of each upper retention tab 5 is approximately equal to, or slightly less than, the diameter of the top 4 of the cans 3.
  • a pair of side wall panels 8 and 8 are hingedly connected to the opposite side edges of the top wall panel 2 along fold lines 9 respectively.
  • the height HI of each side wall panel 8 is equal to the length or height of the cans 3.
  • the opposed end edges of each side wall panel 8 are concavely curved toward each other.
  • Each side wall panel 8 is formed with a medial fold line 10 that is disposed parallel with the fold line 9 and traverses that side wall panel 8.
  • a pair of rectangular bottom wall panels 12a and 12b are hingedly connected to the lower edges of the side wall panels 8 and 8, respectively. These bottom wall panels 12a and 12b are designed to be secured together in an overlapping relationship to form a composite bottom wall 14 when the blank is assembled into the carton.
  • the width W2 of each bottom wall panel is dimensioned such that the width of the composite bottom wall 14 is equal to N x d2 where N is a positive integer, preferably two (2), and d2 is the diameter of the bottom of the cans 3..
  • a semicircular lower retention tab 18 is hingedly connected to each end edge of each bottom wall panel 12a and 12b along a fold line 25. The diameter of each lower retention tab 18 is approximately equal to, or slightly less than, the diameter of the bottom 16 of the cans 3.
  • a semicircular spacer tab 23 is provided adjacent to each lower retention tab 18.
  • Each spacer tab 23 is defined by a semicircular cut 22 and thereby struck in part from the adjacent lower retention tab 18 and in part from the adjacent end portion of the respective bottom wall panel 12a or 12b.
  • Each spacer tab 23 is hingedly connected to the respective bottom wall panel 12a or 12b along a fold line 21 and extends into the adjacent retention tab 18 beyond the fold line 25 of the adjacent retention tab 18.
  • the fold lines 21 and 25 are juxtaposed to each other.
  • the maximum distance Dl between the fold line 25 of each retention tab 18 and the free end edge of that retention tab 18 is greater than the summation of D2 and D3 where D2 is the distance between the fold line 25 and the adjacent fold line 21 and D3 is the maximum distance between the adjacent fold line 21 and the free end edge of the adjacent spacer tab 23.
  • One of the side wall panels 8 and 8 that is adjacent to the bottom wall panel 12b is folded along its fold line 10 so that the bottom wall panel 12b lies flat with the inside surface of the top wall panel 2.
  • Glue is applied to the inside surface of the bottom wall panel 12a along its free end edge and then the other side wall panel 8 is folded along its fold line 10. This brings the bottom wall panel 12a into an overlapping relationship with the bottom wall panel 12b, which secures the bottom wall panels 12a and 12b together.
  • a flat tubular carton is created.
  • the carton may be shipped from a carton manufacturer to a packaging facility where the carton is loaded with articles.
  • the flat carton is expanded into a fully erected tubular form wherein the side wall panels 8 and 8 extend between the top wall panel 2 and the bottom wall 14.
  • a half erected carton is shown in FIG. 2 to illustrate the carton expanding step.
  • the spacer tabs 23 are then inwardly pre-folded along the fold lines 21, followed by inward folding of the upper and lower retention tabs 5 and 18 along the respective fold lines 6 and 25. Both the upper and lower retention tabs 5 and 18 are folded more than 90 degrees. In response to the folding of the lower retention tabs 18, the spacer tabs 23 are automatically folded inwardly along their fold lines 21. This final folding of the spacer tabs 23 is induced because the free end edge of each pre-folded spacer tab 23 is caught by the inside surface of the adjacent lower retention tab 18 as the retention tab 18 is folded inwardly of the tubular carton 27.
  • cans 3 that have been arranged in two groups, one having a 2x2 configuration and the other having a 2x1 configuration, are loaded into the tubular carton 27 through its opposite open ends to form a can package 30 of a 2x3 configuration.
  • the upper and lower retention tabs 5 and 18 snap into engagement with the end cans 3b at their top and bottom recesses 4 and 16, which is best shown in FIG. 3.
  • the associated lower retention tab 18 is held in the folded position where it defines an acute angle with respect to the inside surface of the bottom wall 14.
  • the lower retention tab 18 When in the folded position, the lower retention tab 18 is pressed against the domed ceiling of the recess 16 of the can 3b due not only to its own resilience but also to the associated spacer tab 23 under the retention tab 18.
  • the spacer tab 23 that has been also folded over 90 degrees is pressed at its free end edge against the adjacent retention tab 18 and thereby urges the retention tab 18 upwardly. Because of the spacer tab 23, the retention tab 18 can never be folded all the way down to the bottom wall 14 be flat with it.
  • the associated upper retention tab 5 is placed within the top recess 4 and engages the inner surface 29 of the can chime 28 in the conventional manner.
  • the cans 3 with a hemispherical bottom recess are thus retained stably within the carton 27.
  • FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment of the invention.
  • the carton in FIG. 4 is a so-called wraparound-style carrier that is designed to be applied over a group of articles and wound around the group to form a package.
  • the bottom wall panels 12a and 12b are provided with a mechanical lock for interconnecting the panels 12a and 12b together without using glue.
  • the mechanical lock comprises a male tab 36 that is defined by a cut 37 in the bottom wall panel 12a and a female tab 39 struck from the other bottom wall panel 12b. After the panel 12a is placed to overlie the panel 12b, the male tab 36 is folded and inserted into the locking aperture 38 that is defined by the female tab 39 to secured the panels 12a and 12b in an overlapping relationship.
  • Mechanical locks of this type are well known in the art. Details of the male and female tabs are disclosed, for example, in US Patent No 6,315,123 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
  • a bevelled heel panel 43 is provided between each side wall panel 8 and the adjacent bottom wall panel.
  • Each heel panel 43 is hingedly connected to the adjacent side and bottom wall panels 8 and 12 along fold lines 41 and 42 respectively.
  • These heel panels 43 are adapted to be disposed alongside the tapered lower portions 31 (FIG. 3) of the cans 3 upon formation of a package and thereby help to provide a tight package.
  • Reference numeral 34 in FIG. 4 designates finger tabs defined by C-shaped slits 33 in the top wall panel 2. These finger tabs 34 are folded inwardly of the carton to provide finger apertures by which the carton may be lifted and carried.
  • FIG. 5 shows a third embodiment of the invention, in which the carton is provided with a glue flap 58 that is hingedly connected to one of the opposed side edges of the bottom wall 56 along a fold line 59.
  • the glue flap 58 is used to connect the bottom wall 56 to the side wall panel 54b to form the blank 52 into a tubular carton.
  • This carton is an end loading-style carton similar to that of the first embodiment.
  • FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
  • the carton 91 (FIG. 7) of this embodiment is a tubular carrier similar to that of the first embodiment.
  • the carton 91 comprises a top wall panel 93, a pair of opposed side wall panels 95 and 95 connected to the top wall panel 93 along fold lines 94 and 94 and a pair of bottom wall panels 97 and 97 connected to the side wall panels 95 and 95 along fold lines 96 and 96 respectively.
  • the bottom wall panels are adapted to be secured together in an overlapping relationship to form a tubular carton.
  • the carton differs from that of the first embodiment in that upper and lower retention tabs 100 and 105 and spacer tabs 108 are oriented sideways as opposed to being oriented outward when the carton is in blank form.
  • the upper retention tabs 100 are struck from the top wall panel 93 and hingedly connected thereto along fold lines 98.
  • the fold lines 98 are disposed parallel to the fold lines 94.
  • the pair of tabs 98 at each end of the carton extend toward each other from the respective fold lines 98 and 98.
  • Each lower retention tab 105 is also struck from the respective bottom wall panel 97.
  • Each lower retention tab 105 is hingedly connected to the respective bottom wall panel 97 along a fold line 103 that is parallel to the adjacent fold line 96 between that bottom wall panel 97 and the adjacent side wall panel.
  • Each lower retention tab 105 is accompanied by the associated spacer tab 108 that is struck in part from that lower retention tab 105 and in part from the respective bottom wall panel 97.
  • Each spacer tab 108 is hingedly connected to the respective bottom wall panel 97 along a fold line 106 and extends into the associated lower retention tab 105.
  • the fold line 103 of each retention tab 105 and the fold line 106 of the associated spacer tab 108 are juxtaposed to each other.
  • the above retention and spacer tabs 100, 105 and 108 must be held in folded positions during the can loading process to allow cans to be end-loaded and have the tabs properly engaged with the associated can ends. Otherwise, the retention and spacer tabs function in the same way as those in the first embodiment to retain cans 101 in the carton 91.
  • the manner in which cans are retained in the carton 91 is shown in FIG. 7 wherein the upper and lower retention tabs 100 and 105 are folded more than 90 degrees with respect to their respective wall panels 93 and 97 and wherein the spacer tabs 108 are also folded more than 90 degrees to serve as spacers under their respective lower retention tabs 105.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a fifth embodiment of the invention.
  • the carton 111 (FIG. 9) of this embodiment is also an end loading-style carton similar to that of the first embodiment.
  • panels 117, 115, 113, 115 and 117 are interconnected in series by fold lines 116, 114, 114 and 115.
  • the bottom wall panels 117 and 117 are secured together to form the tubular carton 111 from the blank of FIG. 8.
  • the carton 111 differs from that of the first embodiment in that both the upper end lower retention tabs 120 and 125 are formed from their respective carton panels 113 and 117. Otherwise, the carton 111 and the retention and spacer tabs 120, 125 and 128 function in the same way as those in the first embodiment.
  • FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a sixth embodiment of the invention.
  • the carton 131 (FIG. 11) of this embodiment is also an end loading-style carton similar to that of the fifth embodiment.
  • panels 137, 135, 133, 135 and 137 are interconnected in series by fold lines 136, 134, 134 and 136.
  • the bottom wall panels 137 and 137 are secured together to form the tubular carton 131 from the blank of FIG. 10.
  • the carton 131 differs from that of the fifth embodiment in that a pair of retention tabs 140 and 140; or 145 and 145 are provided to engage each can end and that a pair of spacer tabs 148 are provided to urge the respective pair of lower retention tabs 145 and 145 upwards.
  • the upper retention tabs 140 and 140 of each pair are hingedly connected to the top wall panel 133 along a pair of fold lines 138 and 138 which extend divergently toward the adjacent end edge of the top wall panel 133. .
  • the lower retention tabs 145 and 145 of each pair are hingedly connected to the respective bottom wall panel 137 along a pair of fold lines 143 and 143 which extend divergently toward the adjacent end edge of that bottom wall panel 137.
  • Each lower retention tab 145 is accompanied by the associated spacer tab 148 that is struck in part from that lower retention tab 145 and in part from the respective bottom wall panel 137.
  • Each spacer tab 148 is hingedly connected to the respective bottom wall panel 137 along a fold line 146 and extends into the associated lower retention tab 145.
  • the fold line 143 of each retention tab 145 and the fold line 146 of the associated spacer tab 148 are juxtaposed to each other.
  • the carton 131 and the retention and spacer tabs 140, 145 and 148 function in the same way as those in the fifth embodiment.
  • the manner in which cans are retained in the carton 131 is shown in FIG. 11 wherein the upper and lower retention tabs 140 and 145 are folded more than 90 degrees with respect to their respective wall panels 133 and 137 and wherein the spacer tabs 148 are also folded over 90 degrees to serve as spacers under their respective lower retention tabs 145.
  • the cans 141 may be end-loaded into the carton 131 in the same way as described earlier for the first embodiment.
  • each lower retention tab but also each upper retention tab in the foregoing embodiments may be accompanied by a spaced tab to ensure the engagement of the upper retention tab with the top recess of the associated article.
  • the carton and blank of the present invention may be used to package bottles or any other articles having an end recess.
  • an apertured upper retention tab for engaging a bottleneck may be used with a combination of a lower retention tab and a spacer tab.
  • An example of the apertured upper retention tab is disclosed in US Patent No. 2,523,986 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
  • the number and configuration of the retention tabs on each carton are not limited to those disclosed in the preferred embodiments but may vary depending on the number of the packaged articles and the shape of the top and/or bottom of the articles.
  • hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be fonned from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Cartons (AREA)
  • Packaging Of Annular Or Rod-Shaped Articles, Wearing Apparel, Cassettes, Or The Like (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un carton présentant une structure tubulaire (27) permettant d'entourer au moins un article (3a, 3b) et une structure de retenue d'article venant en prise avec un évidement (16) de l'article (3b) afin d'empêcher celui-ci de se détacher d'une des extrémités ouvertes opposées de la structure tubulaire. La structure de retenue d'article comprend une languette de retenue (18) connectée de manière articulée à la structure tubulaire le long d'une première ligne de pliage (25) et une languette d'espacement (23) disposée de manière adjacente à la languette de retenue (18) et connectée de manière articulée à la structure tubulaire le long d'une second ligne de pliage (21) juxtaposée à la première ligne de pliage (25). La languette de retenue (18) est pliée à plus de 90 degrés vers l'intérieur le long de la première ligne de pliage (25) afin de définir un angle aigu par rapport à la surface interne de la structure tubulaire (27). La languette d'espacement est pliée à plus de 90 degrés vers l'intérieur le long de la seconde ligne de pliage (21) à disposer entre la languette de retenue (18) et la surface interne de la structure tubulaire (27).
EP03818834A 2002-09-05 2003-09-05 Carton tubulaire comprenant des languettes de retenue d'article et decoupe de celui-ci Withdrawn EP1575766A3 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2002259800A JP4721611B2 (ja) 2002-09-05 2002-09-05 カートンおよびカートンブランク
JP2002259800 2002-09-05
PCT/US2003/027951 WO2005044549A2 (fr) 2002-09-05 2003-09-05 Carton tubulaire comprenant des languettes de retenue d'article et decoupe de celui-ci

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1575766A2 true EP1575766A2 (fr) 2005-09-21
EP1575766A3 EP1575766A3 (fr) 2005-09-28

Family

ID=32260691

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP03818834A Withdrawn EP1575766A3 (fr) 2002-09-05 2003-09-05 Carton tubulaire comprenant des languettes de retenue d'article et decoupe de celui-ci

Country Status (9)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1575766A3 (fr)
JP (1) JP4721611B2 (fr)
KR (1) KR20050113591A (fr)
CN (1) CN100404388C (fr)
AU (1) AU2003304529A1 (fr)
BR (1) BR0314057A (fr)
MX (1) MXPA05002681A (fr)
RU (1) RU2005109556A (fr)
WO (1) WO2005044549A2 (fr)

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JP5554903B2 (ja) * 2008-05-30 2014-07-23 サントリーホールディングス株式会社 缶容器用包装体
JP5832734B2 (ja) * 2010-10-13 2015-12-16 ミードウエストベコ パッケージングシステムズ エル・エル・シー カートン
WO2012051369A1 (fr) 2010-10-13 2012-04-19 Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems, Llc Carton de support d'article
JP3174661U (ja) * 2011-04-04 2012-03-29 ミードウエストヴェイコ・パッケージング・システムズ・エルエルシー 物品を包装するためのカートンおよびブランク
US9669976B2 (en) * 2014-04-11 2017-06-06 Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Container clip for engaging at least one container
CA3082606A1 (fr) 2017-11-15 2019-05-23 Westrock Packaging Systems, Llc Carton et ebauche associee
CN113631486B (zh) * 2019-02-12 2024-01-23 维实洛克包装系统有限公司 面板互锁装置
CN114222705A (zh) * 2019-06-21 2022-03-22 维实洛克包装系统有限公司 包装、物品承载器及用于其的坯件
CA3149524A1 (fr) * 2019-08-26 2021-03-04 Arnaud Demange Support d'articles et ebauche associee
KR20220124202A (ko) 2020-01-07 2022-09-13 웨스트락 패키징 시스템스, 엘엘씨 물품 캐리어 및 물품 캐리어용 블랭크

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US2678767A (en) * 1950-10-24 1954-05-18 Bartgis Brothers Company Carton for like articles
US2790590A (en) * 1956-05-04 1957-04-30 New Haven Board & Carton Compa Can carriers
DE2223787A1 (de) * 1972-05-16 1973-11-29 Erwin Porth Verkaufsumhuellung, sowie verfahren und vorrichtung zu deren weiterverarbeitung
GB9309048D0 (en) * 1993-04-30 1993-06-16 Mead Corp Bottle carrier
JP2613175B2 (ja) * 1994-03-28 1997-05-21 小倉美術印刷株式会社 缶類のホルダー
GB9713015D0 (en) * 1997-06-20 1997-08-27 Mead Corp Article carrier
CN2341932Y (zh) * 1998-08-26 1999-10-06 邓达初 一种纸托
JP2003002359A (ja) * 2001-06-20 2003-01-08 Taiyoo Package:Kk 缶容器用簡易包装具

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2003304529A8 (en) 2005-05-26
JP4721611B2 (ja) 2011-07-13
BR0314057A (pt) 2005-08-09
CN100404388C (zh) 2008-07-23
EP1575766A3 (fr) 2005-09-28
WO2005044549A3 (fr) 2005-08-04
WO2005044549A2 (fr) 2005-05-19
AU2003304529A1 (en) 2005-05-26
JP2004099054A (ja) 2004-04-02
KR20050113591A (ko) 2005-12-02
CN1750977A (zh) 2006-03-22
MXPA05002681A (es) 2006-01-27
RU2005109556A (ru) 2006-01-20

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