EP2403771A1

EP2403771A1 - Carton and carton blank

Info

Publication number: EP2403771A1
Application number: EP10706880A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Michel Auclair; Eric Boukredine; Philippe Lebras
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Current assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Priority date: 2009-03-06
Filing date: 2010-03-02
Publication date: 2012-01-11
Anticipated expiration: 2030-03-02
Also published as: EP2403771B1; TWI408087B; AR075796A1; TW201041790A; GB0903871D0; WO2010101852A1; RU2011140485A

Abstract

One or more blanks (10, 110) for forming a carton for receiving and retaining a group of articles (C) disposed in rows, include at least two main panels (14, 18) each having clipping feature (40, 140) for receiving and retaining an upper portion of a respective article, and one or more keel panels (16a, 16b; 116b) hinged to the each main panel for forming a keel structure disposable between a pair of adjacent rows of articles. The one or more blank further include retention panels (12, 20, 28a, 28b; 120, 128b, 128b) for forming a side and end retention structure foldable against the sides and ends of an article group for retaining articles in a group once the carton is formed. The retention panels include a pair of end flaps (28a, 28b; 128b, 128b) hinged to the at least tow main panels. Each end flap is separate from the keel panels and is separate from the other end flap of the pair.

Description

CARTON AND CARTON BLANK

Field of the Invention

The present invention provides a carton for receiving, grouping and holding articles, more particularly, but not exclusively the carton provides a top gripping carrier for receiving and retaining a group of articles.

Background of the Invention

Cartons for engaging multiple articles are useful for enabling consumers to obtain and transport a desired quantity of individual articles such as soft drinks or other beverages or food stuffs.

It is well known to provide top gripping article carriers in which an aperture is formed in a panel of the carrier; wherein tabs are struck from said aperture. The tabs being displaced out of the plane of said panel when an article is received in the aperture: wherein said tabs engages the article generally about a flange or lip of the article. Such a carrier is disclosed in US 2,936,070 to Poupitch and in US 5,188,225 to Jorbin. It can be difficult to remove the articles from such carriers without damaging the carton. A further example of a known carrier is shown in US 5,355,999 to Sutherland, wherein a clip for cans is taught having a supplementary locking mechanism.

It is desirable for ecological and economic reasons to minimise the quantity of material required whilst at the same time providing a secure carrier for the articles, that can offer strength and rigidity without increase in the use of material required and/or that can offer improved efficiency in the automated assembly of the carton by a packaging machine. A small increase in complexity in a carton construction, such as the supplementary lock in US 5,355,999, can cause a considerable reduction in the total throughput of a packaging machine because of the time required to manipulate the carton to engage the lock. A reduction in throughput is costly and can have a knock-on effect to an entire bottling or canning plant where the entire output is limited to the output speed of the packaging line. Summary of the Invention

A first aspect of the invention provides a carton of the top gripping type for receiving and retaining a group of cylindrical articles disposed in adjacent rows, said carton having a main panel comprising clipping means for receiving and retaining an upper portion of a cylindrical article, a keel structure disposable between adjacent rows of articles and the carton further comprising a side and end retention structure foldable against the sides and ends of adjacent article rows for retaining articles in a secure group within the carton, the end retention structure comprising a pair of overlapping end flaps.

Preferably, the clipping means comprises a pair of oppositely disposed curved slits or frangible lines which are shaped similarly to the surface of an article for engaging or clipping that article.

Preferably, the main panel comprises an integrally formed keel structure formed from a medial section of the carton having a pair of panels that are foldable beneath the plane of the main panel. Alternatively, in an arrangement where the carton is formed from two separate pieces of material, the keel structure is formed by combining two pieces of material.

Preferably, the end retention structure comprises a band of material wrapped around the sides of the adjacent rows of articles.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides, one or more blanks for forming a carton, particularly of the top gripping type for receiving and retaining a group of articles disposed in adjacent rows, the or each blank having a main panel comprising clipping means for receiving and retaining an upper portion of an article, one or more keel panels for forming a keel structure disposable between adjacent rows of articles and the or each blank further comprising means for forming a side and end retention structure foldable against the sides and ends of an adjacent article row for retaining the articles in a secure group once the carton is formed, the end retention structure comprising a pair of end flaps hinged to the main panel, each of said end flaps being free of direct hinged connection with said keel panels and being free of direct hinged connection with the other end flap of the pair.

Preferably, the one or more blanks comprise first and second blanks, wherein one end flap of said pair of end flaps is provided by a first blank and the second end flap of said pair of end flaps is provided by the second blank.

Optionally, said pair of end flaps of the one or more blanks are disposable in overlapping relationship once the keel panels have been folded out of the plane of the main panel and said end flaps are affixable to one another in the overlapping position thereby to maintain the keel panels in a folded condition.

Optionally, the clipping means comprises a pair of oppositely disposed curved slits or frangible lines which are shaped similarly to the surface of an article for engaging or clipping that article.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides a carton, particularly of the top gripping type for receiving and retaining a group of articles disposed in adjacent rows, said carton having a main panel comprising clipping means for receiving and retaining an upper portion of each article, a keel structure disposable between adjacent rows of articles and the carton further comprising a side and end retention structure foldable against the sides and ends of adjacent article rows for retaining articles in a secure group within the carton, the end retention structure comprising a pair of end flaps hinged to the main panel, each of said end flaps being free of direct hinged connection with said keel panels and being free of direct hinged connection with the other end flap of the pair and being affixed in overlapping relationship to the other end flap of the pair.

Preferably the clipping means of the carton comprises a pair of oppositely disposed curved slits or frangible lines which are shaped similarly to the surface of an article for engaging or clipping that article. Optionally, the main panel comprises an integrally formed keel structure having a 'V- shaped cross-section formed from a medial pair of panels that are foldable beneath the plane of the main panel and that are maintained in the folded condition by means of the pair of end flaps being affixed in overlapping relationship.

Preferably, the carton is formed from two separate blanks or pieces of material and the keel structure is formed by coupling together those two blanks and the keel structure is maintained in a set-up condition by means of an end flap of one blank being affixed to an end flap of the other blank.

Optionally, the side and end retention structure form a band of material wrapped around the sides of the adjacent rows of articles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a plan view of a blank for forming the carton and package of Figure 8;

FIGURE 2 illustrates a plan view of a first blank according to a second embodiment of the invention, for forming a package illustrated in Figure 13;

FIGURES 3 to 7 illustrate the formation of the package of Figure 8 from the blank of Figure 1 ;

FIGURE 8 illustrates a carton and package;

FIGURE 9 illustrates an internal view of the package of Figure 8 albeit with some of the articles removed to enhance the illustration of an internal keel structure; FIGURES 10 to 12 illustrate the formation of the package of Figure 13 from two similar blanks, one of which is shown in Figure 2.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 , a blank 10 for forming the carton shown in Figure 8. In the illustrated embodiment, the blank is formed of paperboard coated on one side with a laminate and unbleached on the "underside". It will be understood that other suitable foldable sheet material may be used for making a blank, carton and/or package as herein described. Additionally, whereas both of the illustrated embodiments in Figures 1 to 13 are suitable for securely holding six articles arranged in a two rows of three articles each, the invention is not limited in its application to such an arrangement. Moreover, whereas the invention has particular applicability for grouping and securely holding articles such as cans, other applications are foreseen, for example other flanged articles may be supported; bottles may be supported and the clipping means described may take many forms.

Blank 10 comprises a pair of top panels 14, 18 each having clipping means 40 formed therein. The pair of top panels 14, 18 comprise a plurality of fold lines 30, 38, 32, 34, 36. Fold lines 30 and 36 hingedly connect one of the pair of top panels 14, 18, to a side panel 12, 20 respectively. Fold lines 32 and 34 hingedly connect one of the pair of top panels 14, 18, to a keel panel 16a, 16b respectively. Fold lines 38 hingedly or foldably interconnect the series of clipping means 40. In the illustrated embodiment the clipping means 40 takes the form of a curved slit. In other embodiments the clipping means 40 is formed by a series of curved frangible lines. In other embodiments, the clipping means 40 may comprise apertures for receiving upper parts of articles held by the carrier. It will be understood that many mechanisms exist for clipping, locking or engaging the tops or other portions of articles (such as radially protruding portions or flanges) for holding the articles in an assembled and secure group so that a number of articles may easily be purchased and transported at the same time. In the embodiments illustrated, the clipping means 40, 140 takes the form of C-shaped slits which open when the top panels 14, 18 are folded about the fold lines 30, 32, 34 and 36. Once opened, the slits are sized similarly to or substantially equal to the rim edge of a can 'C.

Cans, typically have a cylindrical body and a flattish top, with a tapered portion of reduced diameter between the top and cylindrical body and a seam or rim where the two are joined. This rim portion is engaged by the clipping means 40 of the present invention as is illustrated in Figures 8 and 13.

Whereas the clipping means 40 provides one mechanism for retaining the articles in a grouped assembly, further retaining means is provided by the side panels 12, 20 and end flaps 28a, 28b. In blank form, the end flaps 28a, 28b are separated from one another along cut line 50. The end flaps 28a, 28b are provided at each end of the top panels 14, 18. The end flaps 28a, 28b are not connected to the keel panels 16a, 16b. This facilitates the construction of the blank 10 into a carton and enables the end flaps 28a, 28b to be overlapped and take up the space that is removed when the keel panels 16a, 16b are folded out of the plane of the top panels 14, 18. Optionally, each end flap 28a, 28b is provided with an extension portion 26a, 26b connected to the respective end flap 28a, 28b by one or a plurality of crease or fold lines 46, 48 which facilitate the tight and smooth wrapping of the retention structures about the group of articles which, in the illustrated embodiments are cans and have curved surfaces. In other applications of the invention where the articles are of a different surface shape to curved, more or no fold lines 46, 48 may be provided.

A further optional feature of the first illustrated embodiment is the provision of web panels 22a, 22b which link the extension portions 26a to side panel 12 and which link the extension panels 26b to the side panel 20. In this way folding of the end flaps 28a, 28b (once joined as described below) and extension portions 26a, 26b causes the automatic folding of the side panels 12, 20 against the sides of the articles held in the adjacent rows. The web panels 22a, 22b become sandwiched between an innermost extension panel 26a, 26b and an outermost side panel 12, 20. Figures 3 to 7 illustrate the formation of the carton package about a group of articles. First, the keel panels 16a, 16b are folded beneath the plane of the top panels 14, 18 by folding of hinge connections 32, 34 and the hinged connection between the keel panels 16a, 16b. The keel panels 16a, 16b may, optionally, be adhered together by adhesive or other chemical or mechanical joining means. It is not necessary to secure the keel panels 16a, 16b together because the adjoined end flaps 28a, 28b prevent unfolding of the keel structure 16a, 16b once formed. At about the same time, glue (G) or other adhesive means is applied to one or both of the separate end portions 28a, 28b. In the illustrated arrangement, glue (G) is applied to a portion of the end flap 28b as depicted by the hashed lines in Figure 4. As the keel panels 16a, 16b are folded beneath the plane of the top panels 14, 18, the top panels 14, 18 are brought closer together. The end flaps 28a, 28b are brought into overlapping relationship and by virtue of the glue 'G' applied to end flap 28b, are secured together. The resulting arrangement is shown in Figure 5. The separate end flaps 28a, 28b overlap to take up some of the length in the blank 10 that was lost by folding the keel panels 16a, 16b. The keel panels 16a, 16b are thereby prevented from being unfolded and as such are maintained in a set-up condition having a substantially "V'-shaped cross-section.

The provision of an internal keel structure adds rigidity to the carton structure as well as providing a cushioning arrangement to restrict articles held in one row from moving towards articles held in another row and thus the articles are held more securely. Optionally the keel structure is provided with cut-outs 54. These assist in the folding of the keel panels 16a, 16b about fold line 52 and also provide shaped edges against which the contained articles may abut or may be held more tightly against to further restrict the movement of articles. Preferably therefore the cut edges 54 are shaped similarly to the outer contour of the articles. In other embodiments it is envisaged that the keel structure may be formed of more than two folded panels and may have a cross-section other than 'V'-shaped.

Once the keel panels 16a, 16b have been moved out of the plane of the top panels 14, 18 and those panels brought closer together and the end portions secured, the folded and pre-glued blank is ready for assembly onto a group of articles. This is shown in Figures 6 and 7. First the clipping means 40 is utilised to attach the carton to the group of articles 'C. Relative movement between the cans 'C and blank 10 causes the can rims to be forced through the slits 40. The part of the top panels 14, 18 between fold lines 38 and 30 and 38 and 36 respectively are folded at an angle relative to the rest of the plane of the top panels 14, 18 and as such the carton closely follows the contour of the grouped articles and slits 40 are allowed to open a little further. Due to the natural resilience of the paperboard, the edges of the slits 40 snaps back to engage a portion of the can of slightly narrower diameter than the rims and in this way the top panels 14, 18 are clipped to the articles.

Assembly of the carton is completed by the folding of the composite end flap structures 28a/28b against the ends of the articles group and by the folding of the web panels 22a, 22b and extension portions 26a, 26b and finally the side panels 12, 20. Preferably, the side panels 12, 20 are adhered to the extension panels 26a, 26b and a tight structure wrapped about the article group is formed. The completed package is illustrated in Figure 8.

Turning now to the second illustrated embodiment, wherein like reference numerals have been used to denote features similar to those of the first embodiment albeit, raised by a factor '100'. It will be seen that a blank 1 10 is shown in Figure 2. Two of these blanks are required to form a carton similar to that of the first illustrated embodiment which clips onto and holds together a group of articles C. The pair of blanks 1 10 are coupled together as is illustrated in Figures 10 and 1 1. The resulting combined composite formed blank is then clipped to and assembled about a group of articles such as cans 'C (a step in the assembly is shown in Figure 12). The completed package of Figure 13 is similar to that of Figure 8. Whereas no web panels 22a, 22b are incorporated into the separate starting blanks 1 10 of this second embodiment; it is envisaged that they could be utilised between extension panels 126b and side panel 120.

Referring back to Figure 2, each blank 1 10 comprises a top panel 1 18; a first keel panel 1 16b for forming the inner keel structure; an end flap 128b hinged by a fold line to each end of the top panel 1 18 (but remaining free of connection with the keel panel 1 16b) and an extension panel 126b hinged to each end flap 128b (again along a pair of fold lines 146, 148 for facilitating the smooth and tight wrapping of the retention structure about the article group). In addition, each blank 1 10 comprises a first shaped projecting portion 152 and a second shaped projecting portion 154. Each of these projecting portions extends from the free, cut edge 150 of the associated end flap 128b.

The first and second shaped projecting portions 152, 154 are shaped and configured to mate or interlock with a second and first shaped projecting portion 152, 154 of another blank 1 10. This is illustrated in Figures 10 and 1 1 , wherein it can be seen that two paperboard blanks 1 10 are positioned with the printable side down and positioned alongside each other.

The first shaped projecting portion 152 of each blank 1 10 is placed over and on top of an inset portion adjacent the second shaped projecting portion 154. Similarly the second shaped projecting portion 154 of each blank 1 10 is placed over and on top of an inset portion adjacent the first shaped projecting portion 152. Optionally, glue or other adhesive may be applied to each, any or all of the first and second shaped projecting portions 152, 154 so that the or each first and second shaped projecting portions 152, 154 is adhered or affixed to the underlying portion of the end flap 128a. Alternatively glue or other adhesive or fixing means may be applied to the underlying portion of the end flap 128a. Optionally the or each first and second shaped projecting portions 152, 154 is not adhered or affixed to the underlying portion of the end flap 128a.

As an optional step to further couple the blanks 1 10 together, the keel panel 1 16b of one blank 1 10 may be adhered or affixed to the keel panel 1 16b of the other blank 1 10, though this is not necessary. The forming of the keel structure 1 16b, 1 16b is illustrated in Figure 1 1. Since the bringing together of the panels in an interlocked manner by overlaying the first and second shaped projecting portions 152, 154 requires the keel panels 1 16b to be folded out of the plane of the top panels 1 18, the keel panels 1 16b could be affixed together before the first and second shaped projecting portions 152, 154 are interlocked. Where, the keel panels 1 16b are not affixed to one another, the keel panels 1 16b must at least be folded out of the plane of the top panels 1 18 in order to allow the interlocking of the first and second shaped projecting portions 152, 154.

To complete the coupling of the blanks 1 10 a portion of each end flap 128b is affixed (preferably by adhesive means) to an overlapping portion of the other blank 1 10. The blanks 1 10 overlap once the keel panels 1 16b have been folded out of the plane of the top panel or main panel 1 18. Until being secured in overlapping relationship, the end flaps 128b are hingedly connected only to the top panel 1 18 but otherwise are free of direct hinged connection with any other end flap 128b and the keel panel 1 16b. Then, once the end flaps 128b are affixed in an overlapping, face-contacting relationship, then they are coupled together.

Once the two blanks 1 10 have been coupled together, the assembled blanks can be attached by clipping means 140 to the article group as shown in Figure 12 and as before described. The end flaps 128b folded downwardly, the extension panels 126b folded around the article group and then the side panels 120 folded downwardly and on top of the extension panels 126b. The side panels 120 are preferably secured to the extension panels 126b by adhesive or other affixing means, optionally including mechanical fixings.

The use of two separate blanks 1 10 that are coupled together and used as a composite carton provides at least two benefits. The first is that in existing packaging machines having a double lane configuration in which articles conveyed in a first stream are packaged by carton blanks fed from a first hopper and articles conveyed in a second stream are packaged by carton blanks fed from a second hopper, already have two hoppers. Utilising a single blank 10 would require the removal and replacement of the two hoppers with a single hopper for feeding the single blanks 10. Whereas by utilising a pair of half blanks 1 10, the existing machinery equipment can be utilised, thus saving time and money. Secondly, because the blanks 1 10 are smaller and can be nested differently, it may be possible to have a higher yield of blanks 1 10 cut from a single sheet of paperboard compared to the number of unitary blanks 10 that can be nested on the same size of sheet of paperboard.

It can be appreciated that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, for example, the size and shape of the panels may be adjusted to accommodate articles of differing size or shape.

It will be further appreciated that various changes may be made to the illustrated and described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention and that the application of the invention is not limited to the applications illustrated. For example, the clipping means for engaging the articles may take a variety of known formats; the articles may be other than cans, and may be arranged in groups of many different configurations including 2x2, 2x4, 3x2 3x4, 1 x2 and 1x3 as further non-limiting examples. Additionally, the invention may be applied to other types of carton such as a fully wraparound carton having a base panel, however, one of the benefits of the invention is that a carton for grouping and holding articles and for protecting the tops of those articles from the ingress of dirt is provided using an economical amount of paperboard and the use of a base panel or longer side panels could reduce this benefit.

In some embodiments when articles are received in the carton, the articles introduce forces into the material forming the top panel or main panel. These forces may be tensile or compressive in nature. These forces may also introduce some deformation of the main or top panel. The forces further serve to maintain the articles in their group formation. When the articles are received in the carton, the introduction of articles may increase the rigidity of the top or main panel of the carton.

It will be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as "top", "base", "end", "side", "inner", "outer", "upper" and "lower" do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels from one another. Any reference to a frangible line can also be construed as a cut line, score line, perforate line or slit, without departing from the scope of invention. Also, any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only; indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of the following, a line of demarcation or weakened line, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line without departing from the scope of invention.

Claims

1. One or more blanks for forming a carton for receiving and retaining a group of articles disposed in rows, the one or more blanks comprising at least two main panels each having clipping means for receiving and retaining an upper portion of a respective article, and one or more keel panels hinged to the each main panel for forming a keel structure disposable between a pair of adjacent rows of articles, the one or more blank further comprising retention panels for forming a side and end retention structure foldable against the sides and ends of an article group for retaining articles in a group once the carton is formed, the retention panels including a first pair of end flaps hinged to the at least two main panels, each of said end flaps being separate from the keel panels and being separate from the other end flap of the first pair.

2. One or more blanks according to claim 1, comprising first and second blanks, wherein one of the end flaps of the first pair is provided by a first blank and the other end flap of the first pair is provided by the second blank.

3. One or more blanks according to claim 2, wherein the retention panels further include a second pair of end flaps, one of the end flaps of the second pair is provided by the first blank and the other of the end flaps of the second pair is provided by the second blank.

4. One or more blanks according to claim 3, comprising two main panels provided by the first and second blanks respectively, the first and second end flaps of the first blank being hinged to opposite ends of the main panel of the first blank respectively, the first and second end flaps of the second blank being hinged to opposite ends of the main panel of the second blank respectively.

5. One or more blanks according to claim 4, wherein each of the end flaps of the first blank is provided with a shaped projection, wherein each of the end flaps of the second blank is provided with a shaped projection for interlocking with the shaped projection of an adjacent one of the end flaps of the first blank.

6. One or more blanks according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the end flaps of the first pair are disposable in an overlapping relationship once the keel panels have been folded out of the plane of the main panel, the end flaps of the first pair being affixable to one another in the overlapping relationship to maintain the keel panels in a folded condition.

7. One or more blanks according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the clipping means of the each main panel comprises a pair of oppositely disposed curved slits or frangible lines.

8. A carton for receiving and retaining a group of articles disposed in rows, the carton comprising: at least two main panels each having clipping means for receiving and retaining an upper portion of each article; a keel structure disposable between adjacent rows of articles; and a side and end retention structure foldable against sides and ends of a group of articles for retaining articles in a group, wherein the side and end retention structure comprises a first pair of end flaps hinged to the at least two main panels, each of said end flaps being separate from the keel structure and being affixed in overlapping relationship to the other end flap of the first pair.

9. A carton according to claim 8, wherein the clipping means of the each main panel comprises a pair of oppositely disposed curved slits or frangible lines which are shaped similarly to the surface of an article for being engaged or clipped by the carton.

10. A carton according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the keel structure is integrally formed with the at least two main panels, the keel structure having a ^λV'-shaped cross-section formed from a pair of keel panels that are foldable beneath the plane of the at least two main panels and that are maintained in the folded condition by means of the end flaps of the first pair that are affixed in overlapping relationship.

11. A carton according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the carton is formed from first and second separate blanks or pieces of material, and the keel structure is formed by coupling together the first and second blanks, the keel structure being maintained in a set-up condition by means of the end flaps of the first pair affixed together.

12. A carton according to claim 11, wherein one of the end flaps is provided by the first blank, and the other end flap is provided by the second blank.

13. A carton according to any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the side and end retention structure comprising a band structure wrapped around the sides of adjacent rows of articles.

14. A carton according to any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein one of the end flaps of the first pair is free of direct hinged connection with the other end flap of the first pair.