EP2197751A2

EP2197751A2 - Improvements in or relating to packaging

Info

Publication number: EP2197751A2
Application number: EP08788531A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gerd Unni Kram; Ivica Franic
Original assignee: Elopak Systems AG
Current assignee: Elopak Systems AG
Priority date: 2007-09-05
Filing date: 2008-09-05
Publication date: 2010-06-23
Also published as: WO2009030910A3; WO2009030910A2; GB0717191D0

Abstract

A plastics-coated paperboard blank for forming into an asymmetric finseal carton has a front top closure panel (13) extending from a front body panel (3) to a rear body panel (1) and overlapping a rear, smaller, top closure panel (11), so that the finseal (21 - 25) does not protrude beyond the rear body panel (1), the free edge (26) of the finseal is formed with V-notches (56) between the sealing sub-panels ( 21 and 23 ) in the loop of sealing sub-panels (21 - 25). In an alternative embodiment, there is a lenticular intermediate sub-panel between the rear body panel (1) and the rear top closure panel (11) to provide a recess in place of the ridge provided by the boundary (52). Another possibility is to have curved score lines in place of, or in addition to, the rectilinear score lines (40 and 41) and bulging into the associated front and rear top closure panels (13 and 11).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO PACKAGING

This invention relates to a method of producing a packaging carton and to a packaging blank, a packaging carton sleeve and a packaging carton.

WO-A-00/63081 discloses a package which comprises a top- sealed gable-top carton, a flowable substance contained in the carton, and a screw-capped pour spout fitment openable to pour the substance from the carton, the carton including a top closure including an obturating, front roof sub-panel carrying and sealed to the fitment, the carton also including a front body panel, the boundary zone between the front roof sub-panel and the front body panel comprising an edge protruding into the front body panel, and the fitment extending to adjacent to that edge. It is thereby possible to provide on a gable-top carton a pour spout fitment having a greater through-flow cross-sectional area than would be the case if the above-mentioned boundary zone were not to protrude into the front sub-panel. In addition, the boundary zone between an obturating, rear roof sub-panel and a rear body panel may comprise an edge protruding into the rear body panel. In that way, when the cartons are arranged in a row for storage and/or transportation with the front body panel of one carton facing the rear body panel of the next forward carton in the row, even if the lowest and foremost portion of the pour spout fitment on the one carton projects forwards beyond its front body panel, it is still possible for its front body panel to lie in face-to-face contact with the next body panel of the next forward carton.

US-B-6, 929, 171 discloses a reclosable carton having a rectangular base, four body surfaces positioned essentially perpendicularly to one another, a head region, sealed using a fin seal after the carton has been filled, and a screw- capped, pour spout fitment positioned on a forwardly and downwardly slanted surface in the head region. It is asserted that the carton volume can be used optimally without losing the advantages of a known carton in regard to production, filling, and sealing. The carton is folded so that the slanted surface carrying the fitment at least partially projects out of the rectangular profile predetermined by the base, so that the body surface located below the fitment has a protuberance and the body surface lying opposite the projecting body surface has a corresponding indentation, at least in the head region, so that the cartons can be nested front-to-back in a row.

WO-A-00/63081 discloses a carton made by folding a blank and with an extended, front top panel. The carton has a front body panel, a rear body panel and a pair of parallel lateral body panels. The extended, front top panel seals at a sealing region, a vertical plane through which is spaced from a central vertical plane through the' carton. The extended top panel may extend to the rear body panel at the sealing region. A rear, lesser top panel may extend from the rear body panel and seal with the extended front top panel at an off-centre top sealing fin. A pour spout fitment is accommodated in the top panel that has a screw-cap having a diameter greater than the diameter of an aperture disposed through the extended top panel. One embodiment is a gable- topped carton whereof the sealing fin is asymmetrically disposed relative to the gable top and its front body panel is shorter than its rear body panel, with the top edges of the two lateral body panels being inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the front body panel to the rear body panel.

EP-A-I, 332, 969 discloses a plastics-coated paperboard carton obtained by forming a seal between longitudinal edges of a packaging web, filling liquid food into the tube, transversely sealing the tube to form a preliminarily pillow- shaped carton, cutting off the preliminarily shaped carton and forming of a finally shaped carton having a top, side walls and a bottom by folding according to crease lines. Wings produced by the top forming are folded outwardly and downwardly onto the lateral body panels, so that the top is of a lean-to shed roof shape. The front body panel is shorter than the rear body panel and the top edges of the lateral body panels are inclined upwardly and rearwardly from the front body panel to the rear body panel. The obturating, front top panel has a large-sized screw-capped pour spout fitment attached thereto. It is explained that having a fin- seal top closure as compared with a gable top closure reduces stresses in the top closure and thus increases noticeably the strength of the filled and top-sealed carton.

US-A-2006/0,255, 110 discloses a development of the carton of WO-A-00/63081. The development is a carton whereof the top closure has a substantially flat rear top surface adjacent to a forwardly and downwardly inclined front top to which a large-sized pour spout fitment is attached.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton blank comprising: -

a row of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

a row of first, second, third and fourth top closure panels comprising first, second, third and fourth top sealing sub-panels arranged along an edge of said blank, and first, second, third and fourth obturating sub-panels between the respective top sealing sub-panels and the respective body panels and substantially co-extensive, longitudinally of the row of top closure panels, with the first, second, third and fourth sealing sub-panels, respectively,

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the first obturating sub-panel being of an extent in a direction transverse to said edge significantly smaller than that of the third obturating sub-panel,

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary inclined away from said edge and common with the adjacent second or fourth body panel, and

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

characterised in that said blank has an intermediate panel between the first body panel and the first top closure panel and bounded by an inner line of weakness at said first body panel and an outer line of weakness at said first top closure panel.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton sleeve of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and

- A - comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

a loop of first, second, third and fourth top closure panels comprising first, second, third and fourth top sealing sub-panels arranged round an edge of said sleeve, and first, second, third and fourth obturating sub-panels between the respective top sealing sub-panels and the respective body panels and substantially co-extensive, round the loop of top closure panels, with the first, second, third and fourth sealing sub-panels, respectively,

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the first obturating sub-panel being of an extent, in a direction transverse to said edge, significantly smaller than that of the third obturating sub-panel,

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary inclined away from said edge and common with the adjacent second or fourth body panel,

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness; and characterised in that said sleeve has an intermediate panel between the first body panel and the first top closure panel and bounded by an inner line of weakness at said first body panel and an outer line of weakness at said first top closure panel.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth side panels, and

a loop of first, second, third and fourth top closure panels comprising a loop of first, second, third and fourth top sealing sub-panels forming a fin seal, and a loop of first, second, third and fourth obturating sub-panels between the respective top sealing sub-panels and the respective side panels,

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular and, respectively, rearward and forward obturating sub-panels,

the first obturating sub-panel being of an extent, in a direction from front to rear of said carton, significantly smaller than the third obturating sub- panel,

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels , of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary inclined away from said fin seal and common with the adjacent second or fourth side panel,

said first and third obturating panels being in conditions turned inwards about their respective inner boundaries,

each said further triangular sub-sub-panel being in a condition turned outwards about its said boundary inclined away from said fin seal, and each of the second and fourth sealing sub-panels being in a condition folded on itself, and

inside surfaces of the first and third top sealing sub-panels being sealed to each other, and an inside surface of each of the folded second and fourth sealing sub-panels being sealed to itself, thereby forming said fin seal, the fin seal being in a condition turned away from said third obturating sub-panel, and respective end zones of the fin seal and the respective second and fourth obturating sub-panels being in conditions turned down towards respective outside surfaces of the second and fourth side panels;

characterised in that said carton has an intermediate panel between, and oblique to, the first side panel and the top closure panel.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method comprising: -

(a) providing a carton sleeve of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth body- panels,

a loop of first, second, third and fourth top closure panels comprising first, second, third and fourth top sealing sub-panels arranged round an edge of said sleeve, and first, second, third and fourth obturating sub-panels between the respective top sealing sub-panels and the respective body panels and substantially co-extensive, round the loop of top closure panels, with the first, second, third and fourth sealing sub-panels, respectively, and

an intermediate panel between the first body panel and the first top closure panel and bounded by an inner line of weakness at said first body panel and an outer line of weakness at said first top closure panel,

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

(b) turning said first and third obturating sub-panels inwardly about their respective inner boundaries, while turning each said further triangular sub-sub-panel outwardly about its said boundary inclined away from said edge and folding each of said second and fourth sealing sub-panels on itself, said intermediate panel tending to become obligue to said first body panel and said first obturating sub-panel,

(c) sealing inside surfaces of the first and third top sealing sub-panels to each other and sealing an inside surface of each of the folded second and fourth sealing sub-panels to itself, thereby to form a fin seal,

(d) turning the fin seal away from said third obturating sub-panel, and

(e) turning down towards respective outside surfaces of the second and fourth body panels respective end zones of the fin seal and the respective second and fourth obturating sub-panels.

Owing to those aspects of the invention, it is possible to form a recess to receive the nose of a person drinking directly from the carton fitment. Moreover, the intermediate panel provides a more gentle transition from the rear panel to the rear top closure panel than the greater than right- angle transition otherwise required, so reducing the risk of cracking of the material of the blank at the transition. Furthermore, it may be that, if the front obturating sub- panel is relatively steep and it carries a pour spout fitment which protrudes beyond the front body panel, the recess can receive the lowest and foremost portion of the fitment.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton blank comprising :-

a row of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the first obturating sub-panel being of an extent in a direction transverse to said edge significantly smaller than that of the third obturating sub-panel, and

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary inclined away from said edge and common with the adjacent second or fourth body panel, the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub- panels being defined by lines of weakness;

characterised in that said edge forms V-notches in the second and fourth top sealing sub-panels.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton sleeve of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially co^¬ extensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary inclined away from said edge and common with the adjacent second or fourth body panel, and

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

characterised in that said edge forms V-notches in the second and fourth sealing sub-panels.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth side panels, and

the first obturating sub-panel being of an extent, in a direction from front to rear of said carton, significantly smaller than the third obturating sub-panel ,

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary inclined away from said fin seal and common with the adjacent second or fourth side panel,

characterised in that the third top closure panel, which comprises the third obturating sub-panel and the third top sealing sub-panel, substantially extends from the third side panel, which is a front panel of said carton, to the first side panel, which is a rear panel of said carton.

Owing to those aspects of the invention, it is possible not only to give a packaging carton cleaner lines, but maybe even further to increase the back-to-front dimension of an asymmetric top closure, so enabling use of a pour spout fitment of even greater throughflow cross-sectional area.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton blank comprising: -

a row of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary common with the adjacent second or fourth body panel, and

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

characterised in that, between the third top closure panel and the second and fourth top closure panels there are respective lines of weakness which bulge towards one another into the third top closure panel and at respective sides of the second and fourth top closure panels opposite to those lines of weakness there are respective lines of weakness which bulge away from one another, and in that among the first, second, third and fourth top closure panels there are additional, rectilinear lines of weakness extending perpendicularly to the row of body panels from corners of the body panels.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton sleeve of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

characterised in that between the third top closure panel and the second and fourth top closure panels there are respective ends of weakness which bulge towards one another into the third top closure panel and at respective sides of the second and fourth top closure panels opposite to those lines of weakness there are respective lines of weakness which bulge towards one another, and in that among the first, second, third and fourth top closure panels there are additional, rectilinear lines of weakness extending perpendicularly to the loop of body panels from corners of the body panels.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carton of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and comprising :- a loop of first, second, third and fourth side panels, and

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary and common with the adjacent second or fourth side panel,

inside surfaces of the first and third top sealing sub-panels being sealed to each other, and an inside surface of each of the folded second and fourth sealing sub-panels being sealed to itself, thereby forming said fin seal, and respective end zones of the fin seal and the respective second and fourth obturating sub-panels being in conditions turned down towards respective outside surfaces of the second and fourth side panels;

characterised in that between the third top closure panel and the second and fourth top closure panels there are respective folds which bulge towards one another into the third top closure panel and at respective sides of the second and fourth top closure panels adjacent to those folds there are respective further folds which bulge towards one another, and in that there are rectilinear lines of weakness extending substantially perpendicularly to the first and third body panels into the top closure panels from top corners of the first and third body panels.

Owing to those aspects of the invention, it is possible not only to provide a carton sleeve which, owing to those rectilinear lines of weakness, is readily mountable upon a mandrel for bottom-folding and-sealing, but also, upon later top-folding and -sealing, can have lateral edge zones of the first and third obturating sub-panels turned downwards and thus the upper end regions of the lateral side panels pressed inwards as the down-turned ears of the finseal are pressed against their outside surfaces, so that the overall width of the carton need be not substantially greater than the overall width of a corresponding gable-topped or slant-topped carton, so enabling the carton according to those aspects of the invention to be readily received in roll containers and crates sized to receive such gable-topped or slant-topped cartons .

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an elongate web comprising a multiplicity of potential carton blanks distributed therealong, each blank comprising: -

a row of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness; characterised in that, between the third top closure panel and the second and fourth top closure panels there are respective lines of weakness which bulge towards one another into the third top closure panel and at respective sides of the second and fourth top closure panels opposite to those lines of weakness there are respective lines of weakness which bulge away from one another.

Owing to this aspect of the invention, it is possible to arrange that finseal top cartons produced on a so-called roll-fed, form-fill-seal packaging machine each have a width which is not substantially greater than the width of such gable-topped or slant-topped cartons and so again can be readily received in roll containers and crates designed to receive the latter.

The carton may be of substantially rectangular cross- section over substantially all of its height, or may be of a non-rectangular, e.g. circular, cross-section at its base merging via its side panels into its substantially rectangular upper region.

Where a pour spout fitment is provided on the carton, it may either be inserted outwardly from the inside of the still open-topped carton into a hole through ^' the larger, substantially rectangular, top obturating sub-panel; or be provided after sealing of the top of the carton (and, if so, even before filling if the carton is filled from what will become its bottom) , when the fitment would be applied to the external surface of the larger, substantially rectangular, top obturating sub-panel, round a hole through that sub- panel, or round a partial-depth loop of weakness provided in that sub-panel, or even with that panel intact, depending upon the character of the fitment.

In order that the invention may be clearly and completely disclosed, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: -

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a carton blank;

Figure 2 is a perspective view from one side of a carton made from that blank;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view from the other side of that carton; and

Figures 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified version of the blank.

Referring to Figure 1, the carton blank 2 is of plastics-coated paperboard, possibly with the interposition of an oxygen barrier layer and comprises a row of body panels 1 to 5, of which the panel 5 is a so-called fifth panel which is to be sealed face-to-face to the further edge 6 of the panel 1, in a manner known per se. There is also a row of top closure panels 11 to 15 comprised of a row of top sealing sub-panels 21 to 25 arranged along an edge 26 of the blank 2, and a row of obturating sub-panels 31 to 35 between the sub- panels 21 to 25 and the panels 1 to 5, respectively. Again, the panel 15 is to be sealed to the further edge 7 of the top closure panel 11. The obturating sub-panels 31 and 33 are substantially rectangular, as are the sub-panels 21 and 23, which are of substantially identical height to each other. In a direction transverse to the row of body panels 1 to 5, the obturating sub-panel 31 is of an extent significantly smaller than the obturating sub-panel 33, which is formed with a through hole 36 for receiving a pour spout fitment.

The obturating sub-panels 32 and 34 are each comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels 32a, 32b and 32c/34a, 34b and 34c, of which 32b and 32a/34b and 34a, have boundaries 40 and 41 with extents substantially co-extensive with the extents of the respective obturating sub-panels 33 and 31. The sub- sub-panels 32a and 32b/34a and 34b meet at a point centrally of the length of the sealing sub-panel 22/24, whence central score lines 43 and 44 of the respective sealing sub-panels 22 and 24 extend to the edge 26. Each further triangular sub- sub-panel 32c/34c has a boundary 42 inclined away from the edge 26 and common with the adjacent body panel 2/4. Within the boundary of the blank, the various panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels are bounded by score lines shown as chain lines in Figure 1.

The top closure panel 13 is of a dimension perpendicularly to the row of body panels 1 to 5 such that, in the final carton shown in Figures 2 and 3, the panel 13 extends completely from the top edge of the shorter body panel 3 to immediately adjacent the top edge of the taller body panel 1, so providing a more visually attractive top to the carton and a larger continuous top area for artwork.

In order to achieve this feature, although the sealing sub-panel 23 is of substantially the same dimension transversely of the edge 26 as the sealing sub-panel 21, it is not aligned therewith, whilst the sealing sub-panels 22 and 24 are therefore made generally oblique to the sub-panels 21 and 23. Moreover, in order to achieve that feature without the sealing sub-panels 22 and 24 protruding beyond the panel 1 in the final carton, those sub-panels are formed with respective V-notches 56 having included angles such that the rearmost edges of the sub-panels 22 and 24 in the final carton extend vertically parallelly to the body panel 1 immediately forwards of the plane of the rear face of that panel.

In producing the carton from the blank shown in Figure 1, the blank is converted into a carton sleeve which is of rectangular cross-section and in which the body panels 1 to 5 form a loop round the sleeve and the top closure panels 11 to 15 form a loop round the sleeve. The bottom of the sleeve is then closed in any per se known manner. Then, preferably after pre-breaking of the score lines of the top closure, there is inserted into the hole 36 and outwardly from inside the sleeve a pour spout fitment 50 (see Figures 2 and 3) . At the same time, a flange of the fitment 50 is sealed to the inside surface of the obturating sub-panel 33, for example by ultrasonic welding. After filling of the carton, the obturating sub-panels 31 and 33 are turned about their respective inner boundaries 52 and 54, whilst the triangular sub-sub-panels 32c and 34c are turned outwardly about their respective boundaries 42 and relative to the respective pairs of sub-sub-panels 32a and 32b and 34a and 34b. At the same time, each of the sealing sub-panels 22 and 24 is folded outwardly on itself about the central score lines 43/44 thereof. Then, the inside faces of the top sealing sub- panels 21 and 23 are sealed to each other while the inside surface of each of the folded sealing sub-panels 22 and 24 is sealed to itself, thereby forming a fin seal. Thereupon, the fin seal is turned away from the fitment and, thereafter, respective end zones of the fin seal (these zones being the sealing sub-panels 22 and 24) and the remainders of the respective closure panels 12 and 14 are turned down about the boundaries 42 towards the respective outside surfaces of the now side panels 2 and 4 and the ears so formed are tacked to those outside surfaces.

The filled and sealed package, with its screw-cap pour spout fitment 50 mounted in the larger obturating sub-panel

33, with its wrapped-over fin seal (of which the sub-panels

21 to 24 can be seen) turned away from the fitment 50, and with the tacked-down ears provided by the closure panels 12 and 14, is shown in Figures 2 and 3. As can be seen, the package has clean lines, with its bottom wall, its top wall and its four side walls all being substantially planar, and with its rear side wall 1 taller than its front side wall 3, so that its top slopes upwards from front to rear.

Referring to Figure 4, the embodiment shown therein differs from that shown in Figure 1 in that the edge 26 is rectilinear, with the sealing sub-panels 20 to 25 being aligned with each other. A further difference is that, between the body panel 1 and the top closure panel 11 is an intermediate panel 60 defined by an inner score line 62 at the body panel 1 and an outer score line 64 at the top closure panel 11. The intermediate panel 60 narrows from its middle towards the respective adjacent corners of the body panel 1. The panel 60 as shown is lenticular in shape; however, it could be of a diamond shape with its longer axis parallel to the edge 26 and possibly with a central score line perpendicular to the edge 26. The main purpose of the panel 60 is to create a recess in the final carton in place of the ridge which would be provided by the boundary 52 in the version of Figures 1 to 3, which recess can receive the nose of a consumer drinking directly from the pour spout fitment 50. A further difference is that, between the top closure panel 13 and the top closure panels 12 and 14 are respective score lines 66 which bulge towards one another into the top closure panel 13, whilst, at respective sides of the top closure panels 12 and 14 opposite to the score lines

66 are respective score lines 68 which bulge away from one another. The score line 68 of the top closure panel 11 is matched by a score line 70, so that those two score lines bulge towards each other. As shown, the score lines 66, 68 and 70 curve from the top corners of the body panels 1 to 5 to the edge 26. Among the top closure panels are the per se known rectilinear score lines 40 and 41 " extending perpendicularly to the edge 26 from the corners of the body panels. The thought behind the provision of the score lines

66 to 70 in addition to the score lines 40 and 41 is that, when the carton sleeve is made from the blank of Figure 4 it will, as per se known, have rectangular corners at the score lines 40 and 41 and so be able readily to be received over a rectangular mandrel cap of a rotary spider on which the carton sleeve will be bottom-folded and-sealed before being stripped off into a pocket of a horizontal chain conveyer of a form-fill-seal packaging machine, but that, when the ears of the fin seal are pressed against the sides of the body panels 2 and 4, the lateral edge zones of the top closure panels 11 and 13 will fold inwards and downwards at the score lines 66 to 70, so allowing the fin seal ears to be recessed so that the rectangular plan area represented by the base of the carton will not be increased widthwise by the ears.

If, instead of a flat-carton-sleeve-fed, form-fill-seal packaging machine, a roll-fed, form-fill-seal machine is to be used, with the rolled web having scored, potential blanks distributed therealong prior to forming into a longitudinally- sealed tube which is filled and subsequently transversely sealed through the fluid content and severed transversely at the seals, then the score lines 40 and 41 would be omitted, so that the pouches so formed would tend to fold at the score lines 66 to 70 .

It will be understood that, in the final carton, however it is formed, the score lines 66 complement the score lines 68 and 70. The score lines 66 to 70 need not be curved but could each consist of at least two straight sections, one of which commences from the relevant body panel top corner. It is even feasible that those score lines should not commence at body panel top corners but could be at least partly perpendicular to the edge 26.

Claims

CIAIMS

1. A carton blank comprising: -

a row of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the first obturating sub-panel being of an extent in a direction transverse to said edge significantly- smaller than that of the third obturating sub-panel,

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

2. A blank according to claim 1, wherein said intermediate panel narrows from its middle longitudinally of the row of body panels.

3. A blank according to claim 2, wherein said intermediate panel is lenticular in shape.

4. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein between the third top closure panel and the second and fourth top closure panels there are respective lines of weakness which bulge towards one another into the third top closure panel and at respective sides of the second and fourth top closure panels opposite to those lines of weakness there are respective lines of weakness which bulge away from one another.

5. A blank according to claim 4, wherein those lines of weakness which bulge towards each other and those lines of weakness which bulge away from each other are curved.

6. A blank according to claim 4 or 5, wherein among the first, second, third and fourth top closure panels there are rectilinear lines of weakness extending perpendicularly to the row of body panels from corners of the body panels.

7. A method according to any preceding claim, wherein said edge forms V-notches in the second and fourth top sealing sub-panels.

8. A blank according to any preceding claim, wherein said third obturating sub-panel has a pouring hole therethrough, or a loop of weakness in an outer surface thereof defining a potential pouring hole therethrough.

9. A carton sleeve of substantially rectangular cross- section at an upper region thereof and comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

characterised in that said sleeve has an intermediate panel between the first body panel and the first top closure panel and bounded by an inner line of weakness at said first body panel and an outer line of weakness at said first top closure panel-

10. A sleeve according to claim 9, wherein said intermediate panel narrows from its middle peripherally of the loop of body panels.

11. A sleeve according to claim 10, wherein said intermediate panel is lenticular in shape.

12. A sleeve according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein between the third top closure panel and the second and fourth top closure panels there are respective lines of weakness which bulge towards one another into the third top closure panel and at respective sides of the second and fourth top closure panels opposite to those lines of weakness there are respective lines of weakness which bulge towards one another.

13. A sleeve according to claim 12, wherein the bulging lines of weakness are curved.

14. A sleeve according to claim 12 or 13 wherein among the first, second, third and fourth top closure panels there are rectilinear lines of weakness extending perpendicularly to the loop of body panels from corners of the body panels.

15. A sleeve according to any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein said edge forms V-notches in the second and fourth sealing sub-panels.

16. A sleeve according to any one of claims 9 to 15, wherein said third obturating sub-panel has a pouring hole therethrough, or a loop of weakness in an outer surface thereof defining a potential pouring hole therethrough.

17. A carton of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth side panels, and .

inside surfaces of the first and third top sealing sub-panels being sealed to each other, and an inside surface of each of the folded second and fourth sealing sub-panels being sealed to itself, thereby forming said fin seal, the fin seal being in a condition turned away from said third obturating sub-panel, and respective end zones of the fin seal and the respective second and fourth obturating sub-panels being in conditions turned down towards respective outside surfaces of the second and fourth side panels; characterised in that said carton has an intermediate panel between, and oblique to, the first side panel and the first top closure panel.

18. A carton according' to claim 17, wherein said intermediate panel narrows from its middle peripherally of the loop of side panels.

19. A carton according to claim 18, wherein said intermediate panel is lenticular in shape.

20. A carton according to any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein between the third top closure panel and the second and fourth top closure panels there are respective folds which bulge towards one another into the third top closure panel and at respective sides of the second and fourth top closure panels adjacent to those folds there are respective further folds which bulge towards one another.

21. A carton according to claim 20, wherein the folds are curved.

22. A carton according to any one of claims 17 to 21, wherein the third top closure panel, which comprises the third obturating sub-panel and the third top sealing sub-panel, substantially extends from the third side panel, which is a front panel of said carton, to the first side panel, which is a rear panel of said carton.

23. A carton according to claim 22, wherein the second and fourth sealing sub-panels, which extend from respective opposite ends of the first sealing sub-panel to respective opposite ends of the third sealing sub-panel, have rearmost edges which do not protrude rearwardly beyond said first side panel.

24. A carton according to any one of claims 17 • to 23, and further comprising a pour spout fitment at said third obturating sub-panel.

25. A method comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth body panels,

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular, the first obturating sub-panel being of an extent, in a direction transverse to said edge, significantly smaller than that of the third obturating sub-panel,

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

(d) turning the fin seal away from said third obturating sub-panel , and

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein a pour spout fitment is mounted at said third obturating sub-panel.

27. A carton blank comprising :-

a row of first, second, third and fourth body- panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

28. A carton sleeve of substantially rectangular cross- section at an upper region thereof and comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially co- extensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary inclined away from said edge and common with the adjacent second or fourth body panel, and

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

29. A carton of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and comprising :-

a loop of first, second, third and fourth side panels, and

the first obturating sub-panel being of an extent, in a direction from front to rear of said carton, significantly smaller than the third obturating sub- panel, the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary inclined away from said fin seal and common with the adjacent second or fourth side panel,

30. A carton according to claim 29, wherein the second and fourth sealing sub-panels, which extend from respective opposite ends of the first sealing sub-panel to respective opposite ends of the third sealing sub-panel, have rearmost edges which do not protrude rearwardly beyond said first side panel.

31. A carton according to claim 29 or 30, and further comprising a pour spout fitment at said third obturating sub-panel.

32. A carton blank comprising: -

a row of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular, the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary inclined away from said edge and common with the adjacent second or fourth body panel, and

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

33. A blank according to claim 32, wherein the first obturating sub-panel is of an extent in a direction transverse to said edge significantly smaller than that of the third obturating sub-panel, and said boundary of each said further triangular sub-sub-panel is inclined away from said edge.

34. A blank according to claim 32 or 33, wherein those lines of weakness which bulge towards each other and those lines of weakness which bulge away from each other are curved.

35. A carton sleeve of substantially rectangular cross- section at an upper region thereof and comprising: -

a loop of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

a loop of first, second, third arid fourth top closure panels comprising first, second, third and fourth top sealing sub-panels arranged round an edge of said sleeve, and first, second, third and fourth obturating sub-panels between the respective top sealing sub-panels and the respective body panels and substantially co-extensive, round the loop of top closure panels, with the first, second, third and fourth sealing sub-panels, respectively,

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

characterised in that between the third top closure panel and the second and fourth top closure panels there are respective ends of weakness which bulge towards one another into the third top closure panel and at respective sides of the second and fourth top closure panels opposite to those lines of weakness there are respective lines of weakness which bulge towards one another, and in that among the first, second, third and fourth top closure panels there are additional, rectilinear lines of weakness extending perpendicularly to the loop of body panels from corners of the body panels .

36. A sleeve according to claim 35, wherein the first obturating sub-panel is of an extent, in a direction transverse to said edge, significantly smaller than that of the third obturating sub-panel, and said boundary of each said further triangular sub-sub-panel is inclined away from said edge.

37. A sleeve according to claim 35 or 36, wherein the bulging lines of weakness are curved.

38. A carton of substantially rectangular cross-section at an upper region thereof and comprising :-

a loop of first, second, third and fourth side panels, and

a loop of first, second, third and fourth top closure panels comprising a loop of first, second, third and fourth top sealing ^" sub-panels forming a fin seal, and a loop of first, second, third and fourth obturating sub-panels between the respective top sealing sub-panels and the respective side panels, the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular and, respectively, rearward and forward obturating sub-panels,

the second and fourth obturating sub-panels each being comprised of triangular sub-sub-panels of which two have boundaries with extents substantially coextensive with the extents of the respective first and third obturating sub-panels, and of which a further triangular sub-sub-panel has a boundary common with the adjacent second or fourth side panel,

each said further triangular sub-sub-panel being in a condition turned outwards about its said boundary, and each of the second and fourth sealing sub-panels being in a condition folded on itself, and

39. A carton according to claim 38, wherein the first obturating sub-panel is of an extent, in a direction from front to rear of said carton, significantly smaller than the third obturating sub-panel, and said boundary of each said further triangular sub-sub-panel is inclined away from said fin seal.

40. A carton according to claim 38 or 39, wherein said fin seal is in a condition turned away from said third obturating sub-panel.

41. A carton according to any one of claims 38 to 40, wherein the folds are curved.

42. An elongate web comprising a multiplicity of potential carton blanks distributed there along, each blank comprising: -

a row of first, second, third and fourth body panels, and

a row of first, second, third and fourth top closure panels comprising first, second, third and fourth top sealing sub-panels arranged along an edge of. said blank, and first, second, third and fourth obturating sub-panels between the respective top sealing sub-panels and the respective body panels and substantially co-extensive, longitudinally of the row of top closure panels, with the first, second, third and fourth sealing sub-panels, respectively,

the first and third obturating sub-panels being substantially rectangular,

the panels, sub-panels and sub-sub-panels being defined by lines of weakness;

characterised in that, between the third top closure panel and the second and fourth top closure panels there are respective lines of weakness which bulge towards one another into the third top closure panel and at respective sides of the second and fourth top closure panels opposite to those lines of weakness there are respective lines of weakness which bulge away from one another.

43. A blank according to claim 42, wherein the first obturating sub-panel is of an extent in a direction transverse to said edge significantly smaller than that of the third obturating sub-panel, and said boundary of each said further triangular sub-sub-panel is inclined away from said edge.

44. A blank according to claim 43, wherein those lines of weakness which bulge towards each other and those lines of weakness which bulge away from each other are curved.

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