EP2030901B9 - Foldable package having opening aid with variable pitch of perforations - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a foldable packaging made of corrugated cardboard according to the preamble of claim 1, wherein an opening aid is formed as a perforation line.

State of the art

For the packaging of a variety of liquid, gel-like, solid and / or free-flowing products such as from the group of laundry detergents, dishwashing detergents, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, agricultural auxiliaries, building materials, dyes, adhesives or food, it is common today to use cardboard packaging.

From the prior art, a variety of cardboard for the purpose of storage and transport of free-flowing goods are known, including those which comprise a closable by means of a cardboard closure formed lid.

Typically, such covers are connected via a perforation with the hull of the cardboard so that the lid can be opened by tearing the perforation and the contents can be removed from the cardboard.

Also, transport or outer packaging for storage and transport of a plurality of packaging such as bottles, cans, cartons, etc. are known. Such containers, which are commonly referred to as carton boxes as well as sales assistants, also commonly referred to as shipping cartons, are commonly used in retailing. The advantage is that the sales units fulfill both the function of a transport protective overpack and later when placed in the business the function of a promotional presentation of the goods, without a separate presentation would be required. In many cases, the respective, any carton is even simply cut in such a way that the content for the customer, preferably in self-service stores, only visible.

The interest of the retail trade in the use of packaging as a product presentation is supported by the packaging industry with corresponding developments. There are therefore a variety of Umverpackungsvarianten, which can be converted with more or less great effort after transport and storage to sales helpers. For example, a tear tape is made up on the inside of the outer carton during manufacture, which is to be torn open before the goods presentation, so that the sales assistant is created. The cartons may also be made from corresponding blanks having one or more parts such that the conversion from the clean packaging to the display sales unit is facilitated.

In particular, perforations are provided as an opening aid to allow opening of the folding cartons without additional aids such as a pair of scissors or a knife.

For example, according to US 2,967,010 a package having a Abreißteil forming, S-shaped material gap known in a matching alignment perforation known in a front wall and hinged thereto side walls. After complete removal of the tear-off creates a so-called display sales unit that still holds together a block of goods, the piece removal and the pricing but readily possible. In order to obtain as evenly as possible a clean tear-off edge after tearing, a material bridge is formed in each case between adjacent S-shaped material gaps, with the material bridges all extending parallel to a fiber direction of the cardboard material. One out US Pat. No. 3,620,438 Known, the preamble of claim 1 forming cardboard packaging comprises a perforation line which extends oval in a side wall and an upper wall. Slot-shaped perforations of the perforation line are aligned with changing angle of attack such that between adjacent perforations during tearing creates an edge with an orientation that coincides with the direction of the fiber structure of the cardboard material. As in US 2 967 010 A should also be achieved with this measure when tearing the perforation relatively clean separation edges regardless of a weakening effect of perforation on the cardboard material.

Perforations represent a weakening of the material which reduces the stability of carton packages and shipping cartons, so that unintentional opening of the package during transport, storage or handling may occur. To prevent this, usually the wall thickness or the material quality, for example by better paper types such as Kraftliner, the wall provided with a perforation are increased, resulting in a higher material usage and thus costs and resource consumption. Additional costs beyond the mere shipping box construction is usually hard to bear for a mass-produced product.

The document EP 1375 361 A deals with single-walled corrugated cardboard, on the cover papers by cutting, possibly only slightly penetrating into corrugated paper continuous cut lines are designed as tear lines. In order to weaken the corrugated cardboard as little as possible, the cutting lines are transversely, preferably perpendicular to the direction of the corrugated cardboard waves, wherein tear lines are kept relatively short in the wave direction and wavy with a variety of turning points.

Object of the invention

The invention has for its object to provide a perforation line as an opening aid having corrugated cardboard packaging, the opening aid with high Stapelstauch- and Eindrückwiderstand is easy and konvenient to handle without the aid of a tool, and compared to a packaging / carton without opening aid to avoid additional material use.

Solution of the task

The object is achieved in conjunction with the above-mentioned features by the features of the characterizing part of claim 1.

Advantages of the invention

Advantage of the invention arranged on the folding package and trained opening aid is her compared with known perforation high Stapelstauch- and Eindrückwiderstand. Furthermore, the opening aid of the packaging according to the invention is suitable to be applicable and functional even with two or more multiwell corrugated cardboard.

opening aid

The opening aid represents a linear material weakening of material gaps and material bridges in the blank of the cardboard, which can be relatively easily destroyed by pushing in, pulling out, tearing and tearing, so as to ensure an easy separation or first opening, for example, a lid member.

The material weakening follows an imaginary line defined by the centers of the material bridges as support points.

Perforationslinienverlauf

The Perforationslinienverlauf is designed such that the perforation line forms a closed polyline in the assembled state of the packaging, so that the cardboard segment enclosed by the perforation line can be completely separated from the packaging. This is particularly advantageous in mailing boxes, whose front wall, top wall and parts of the side walls are usually separated for the purpose of product presentation and product removability on a shelf.

In order to realize a high stacking resistance of the cardboard packaging, it has proven to be advantageous that the perforation line extends in an arcuate manner over the side walls of such shipping folding boxes. Particularly advantageous here is a parabolic design of the perforation line.

Particularly preferably, the perforation line formed as a closed polyline is designed as a continuous function which has at least four inflection points over its course. It is advantageous, in each case two inflection points mirror-symmetrical a front wall which forms an intermediate wall between side walls and head walls, respectively at the lower end of a side wall and to provide in the head wall.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, starting from a first inflection point, at least 50% of the Perforationslinienwegs formed to a second inflection point with the shaft alignment of the corrugated cardboard substantially parallel material gaps. As a result, a higher stacking resistance can be achieved than in the case of material gaps which, via the perforation profile, have an orientation deviating from the parallel to the shaft alignment.

The material bridges or gaps of the opening aid are not tangent to the perforation line, but have a different orientation from the tangential to the perforation line. This orientation, which deviates from the tangential, can be described by the angle of attack α.

angle of attack

The angle of attack α is defined as the acute angle formed by the tangent line of the perforation line and the tangent of the gap between the material in the piercing point (intersection point) of the perforation line and the material gap.

The angle of attack α has a variable size over the course of the perforation line. Its size thus changes from material gap to material gap. This achieves and configures an optimum ratio between the greatest possible transport stability and the smallest possible tearing force necessary to open the perforation line. Thus, the angle of attack α, for example, in the area of top bottles very pointed, so be formed sharper than in other areas, since in this area the package has little load to bear, but a comparatively easy and clean tearing of the perforation is advantageous while the angle of attack α in the range of side walls over the longest possible path of the perforation line parallel to the shaft alignment of a corrugated cardboard having the perforation and thus realizes the highest possible Stapelstauchwiderstand.

It is particularly advantageous if the angle of attack α is selected such that the force vector acting on the material gap when the opening aid is torn forms an angle β between material gap and force vector of 75 ° to 105 °, ie the force vector acting on the material gaps between itself and the material gap forms an angle of 75 ° to 105 °. As a result, a self-acting for the user on the Aufreißweg, which follows the perforation line, acting opening force is realized, which is regularly felt by the user to be pleasant.

packing material

As a material for a container of the type for the opening aid is every foldable material made of corrugated cardboard in question.

The opening aid is particularly suitable for one-, two- and more multi-shaft boards.

A corrugated cardboard with cover paper or corrugated paper should preferably have good printability and foldability and have suitable stability. Furthermore, the paper should be suitable for processing in automated manufacturing processes such as erecting and filling equipment. The foldable paper can be a variety of papers on which a perforation can be formed.

Fig. 1

einen Faltzuschnitt einer erfindungsgemäßen Verpackung mit Öffnungshilfe,

Fig. 2

eine Detailansicht der gemäß Fig.1 als Perforationslinie ausgebildeten Öffnungshilfe,

Fig. 3

einen Ausschnitt der Perforationslinie gemäß Fig. 1 bzw. Fig. 2 mit angreifendem Kraftvektor und veränderlichem Anstellwinkel α und

Fig. 4

in vergrößerter Darstellung die gemäß Fig. 1 bzw. 2 als Perforationslinie ausgebildete Öffnungshilfe mit veränderlichem Anstellwinkel α und erstem und zweitem Wendepunkt.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing illustrating only embodiments. In this case, particularly preferred embodiments and particularly preferred combinations of features are further described in detail. Show it:

Fig. 1

a folding blank of a packaging according to the invention with an opening aid,

Fig. 2

a detailed view of according to Fig.1 formed as a perforation line opening aid,

Fig. 3

a section of the perforation line according to Fig. 1 respectively. Fig. 2 with attacking force vector and variable angle of attack α and

Fig. 4

in an enlarged view according to Fig. 1 or 2 designed as a perforation opening opening aid with variable angle α and first and second inflection point.

Fig. 1 shows a blank for a product outer packaging made of cardboard. Such a cardboard is also referred to as a shelf-ready box. The blank 1 has a first side wall 6a, a second side wall 6b and a front wall 7a and a rear wall 7b. In the assembled (erected) state of the product outer packaging, the blank 1 is formed into a tube, that is to say into an annularly closed body, which initially leaves open end faces. At the upper edge of the tube forming walls 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b head bottles 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b are pivotally arranged, which cover the head opening, so the one open end of the tube at least partially in the assembled state of the product outer packaging.

The blank 1 has an opening aid formed by a perforation line 2. The perforation line 2 extends, with respect to the front wall 7a and the top flap 9a, mirror-symmetrically from the front wall 7a via the side walls 6a and 6b as well as via the top flaps 8a and 8b. The perforation line 2 forms in the assembled state of the blank 1 from a closed polyline, which includes areas of the front wall 7a, the side walls 6a, 6b and the head lugs 8a and 8b. The front wall 7a has at its bottom end on a handle opening 5, through which a user can intervene to rupture of the limited area by the perforation line 2.

The course of the perforation line 2 has in each case a first inflection point 10a or 10b in the lower region of the side wall 6a or 6b. A second inflection point 11a or 11b is arranged on the top flap 8a or 8b. Between the two turning points 10a, 11a and 11a, 11b, the perforation line 2 extends with sections 2a and 2b in approximately parabolic.

Fig. 2 shows a detailed view of the perforation line 2 and its course over the front wall, a side wall and a top flap. The perforation line 2 consists of material gaps 3 and material bridges 4, wherein the material gap 4 is formed like a line in the manner of a slit. In the Fig. 2 The dash-dot lines shown and labeled W indicate the shaft alignment of a corrugated board from which the blank 1 is formed. The dash-dot lines W thus run parallel to a wave trough or wave crest of the corrugated board.

How out Fig. 2 Furthermore, the strip-shaped material gaps 3 extend in the lower region of the perforation line 2 essentially parallel to the shaft alignment W, wherein they have an orientation deviating from the parallel in the upper region.

Fig. 3 shows a detailed view of the perforation line 2 with voltage applied to the material gaps 3 force vectors each acting on the gaps 3 when tearing the opening aid. The angle of attack α is selected such that the force vector acting on the line-shaped material gap 3 when the opening aid is torn forms an angle β between the material gap 3 and the force vector of 75 to 105 °, ie the force vectors are at the line-shaped material gaps 3 at such angles β.

The course of the angle of attack α between the first inflection point 10 and the second inflection point 11 is well based on Fig. 4 to recognize. There, starting from a lower region, the material gaps 3 are initially directed parallel to the wave orientation W, while they tilt in the upper region to the perforation line 2, the latter extending in an increasingly curved area in a central region. In any case, the course of the perforation line 2 and the orientations of the material gaps 3 are such that the angle of attack α changes from material gap to material gap.

reference numeral

1

folding blank

2

perforation

3

material gap

4

material bridge

5

grip opening

6

Side wall

7

Front and back wall

8th

top flap

9

top flap

10

turning point

11

turning point

Claims (6)

1. Foldable package made of corrugated cardboard, namely cardboard package, shipping box, shipping case or similar cardboard packaging, in the flat or erected state, which is designed with a perforation as an opening aid which has a perforation line (2, 2a, 2b) that, in the folding blank (1) lying flat, is bent at least in sections and that has material bridges (4) and slot-like material gaps (3) in a line, wherein the material bridges (4) and material gaps (3) have an orientation differing from tangents to the perforation line (2) and this orientation is determined by a pitch angle (α) which is variable over the course of the perforation line (2) and which is defined as an acute angle which is formed by two tangents in each case at the point of penetration, i.e. the point of intersection of the perforation line (2) and the course of a material gap (3), namely by the tangent of the course of the perforation line and the tangent of the course of the material gap (3), wherein the package has a front wall (7a) between a first and a second side wall (6a, 6b), characterised in that the package has a first top flap (8a) arranged pivotably at an upper edge of the first side wall (6a) and a second top flap (8b) arranged pivotably at an upper edge of the second side wall (6b), in that the orientation (W) of corrugations of the corrugated cardboard is oriented from a lower end to the upper edge of the side walls (6a, 6b), in that the perforation line (2) extends over the front wall (7a), the first side wall (6a), the second side wall (6b) and the top flaps (8a, 8b), wherein on each side wall (6a, 6b) in its lower region is formed a first inflexion point (10, 10a, 10b) and on each top flap (8a, 8b) is formed a second inflexion point (11, 11, 11b) of the perforation line (2, 2a, 2b), and the perforation line (2, 2a, 2b), seen in the folding blank (1) lying flat, extends arcuately between in each case the first and second inflexion points (10, 11; 10a, 10b; 11, 11b), and in that the material gaps (3) in the lower region of the arcuate perforation line (2, 2a, 2b) between the two inflexion points (10, 11; 10a, 10b; 11a, 11b) extend substantially parallel to the orientation (W) of corrugations of the corrugated cardboard folding blank (1), while in each case in the upper region of the arcuate perforation line (2, 2a, 2b) between the inflexion points (10, 11; 10a, 10b; 11a, 11b) they have an orientation differing from the orientation (W) of corrugations of the corrugated cardboard.
2. Package according to claim 1, characterised in that the pitch angle (α) is selected so that the force vector respectively acting on the material gaps (3) when the opening aid is torn open forms an angle (β) from 75° to 105° between itself and the material gap (3).
3. Package according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the perforation line (2) between the first inflexion point (10, 10a, 10b) and the second inflexion point (11, 11a, 11b) shows an approximately parabolic course.
4. Package according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that, starting from the first inflexion point (10, 10a, 10b) respectively, at least 50% of the path of the perforation line to the second inflexion point (11, 11a, 11b) is designed with material gaps (3) substantially parallel to the orientation (W) of corrugations of the corrugated cardboard.
5. Package according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the perforation line (2) in the erected state of the package forms a closed continuous line.
6. Package according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the pitch angle (α) is more acute in the region of the top flaps (8a, 8b) than in the side walls (6a, 6b).

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