EP2581319B1

EP2581319B1 - Two-compartment container with closing flaps and divisibile into two separate containers

Info

Publication number: EP2581319B1
Application number: EP11382317.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean Christophe Desvilles; Philippe Barussias; Didier Longeville; Nicolas Pineau; Guy Decouty
Original assignee: SAICA Pack SL
Current assignee: SAICA Pack SL
Priority date: 2011-10-10
Filing date: 2011-10-10
Publication date: 2014-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-10
Also published as: EP2581319A1; PL2581319T3

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a container for transporting single or multiple items which is in the nature of a box with flaps provided with a double inner partition defining two compartments, the box being cut from a sheet of material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard then folded and glued.
From the two compartments formed as stated above, this container is divisible into two halves each constituting a separate container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The state of the art is familiar with containers in the nature of a box with flaps having an inner partition, such as the one given reference number 0228 under the "International Code for Cardboard Boxes" published by the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers (FEFCO). There have been many variations of these containers such as those disclosed in patent US 3,135,457 or even in patent US 6,006,982 all of which have double partitions to divide the space inside into two.
Document US 1899772 discloses a container with the features of the preamble of claim 1.
The major disadvantage of these containers is that they are unsuitable for mechanised assembly on packaging and packing lines designed to use containers in the nature of a box with flaps.
On the one hand the central double partitions are either extended on both sides by flaps that the machines cannot fold, or have no extending flap at all to the detriment of the rigid nature of the central partitions and there is a risk of products to be packed/packaged getting caught while they are being placed inside the box.
On the other hand, the need to divide the box into two separate containers rules out applying any glue between the two middle partitions and any additional reinforcing device to join the two halves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

To overcome these drawbacks, the invention proposes using available material to extend the central partitions to form panels which are glued and folded over these partitions to provide the double benefit of the reinforcement of the flat surfaces of these partitions and of the absence of a layer of material with sharp edges on which the product decorations or labels are likely to get caught while the contents are being placed inside.
Other advantages or solutions of the invention will be set out below in relation to the points discussed in more detail in the description.
One of the potential applications of the invention is the grouping and packing of two rows of bottles or other primary packaging of products like cosmetics, for example, in a single box with flaps on the production lines then dividing it at the end of the production line or at the point of sale into two containers each holding a single row of bottles or other primary packaging. In fact, at the point of sale, replenishing the shelves with each product reference usually only requires a single row of products.

EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a plan view of the container for transporting single or multiple items which is the subject of the invention before the panels are folded and glued by the container manufacturer.
Figure 2 is an illustration of the various phases (Fig. 2.1 to Fig. 2.5) of gluing and folding that the container in figure 1 undergoes as it passes through a folding and gluing machine at the container manufacturer's plant. It shows in sequence the placing of lines of glue and successive folding of the panels until the container is assembled (Fig. 2.5) in the form it will be delivered to the customer (packer).
Figure 3 is a solid three-dimensional view of the container as it is used by the packer following assembly and after the bottom flaps have been put into their final position, prior to filling and closing of the top flaps.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The container (E) which is the subject of the invention is made up of a succession of more or less rectangular-shaped panels (1, 2, 3, 4, 4', 3', 2', 1'), the two end panels (1) and (1') are extended respectively by panels that are more or less trapezoidal in shape (5) and (5') used subsequently as assembly tabs. These panels are successively connected to each other by joint folds (6) between panels (1) and (5), (7) between panels (1) and (2), (8) between panels (2) and (3), (9) between panels (3) and (4), (9') between panels (4') and (3'), (8') between panels (2') and (3'), (7') between panels (1') and (2'), and (6') between panels (1') and (5').
An additional pre-cut dividing line (10) splits the central panel (4, 4') into two more or less equal parts (4) and (4') in order to contribute to the division into two separate containers when it is broken.
This line is preferably achieved by alternating 20 mm long slit sections separated by 3 mm long solid sections (called attachment points). Other sequential arrangements alternating slit sections and solid or grooved sections are possible provided a balance is maintained between the resistance necessary for the cardboard cut-out to pass through the folding and gluing machine or for the container to remain intact when assembled, filled and closed for handling and transportation, and the ease with which the container can be subsequently divided without much effort if it is divided manually and in a manner that is compatible with the mechanical constraints of the production lines if the division is mechanised.
The panels with a prime reference (') are more or less symmetrical to the panels with the same reference number with regard to the dividing line (10).
Starting from the central axis of the container marked by the dividing line (10), the central panel constituting a secondary outer lateral face divisible into two halves (4) and (4') can be distinguished as can the panels constituting the main outer lateral faces (3) and (3'), the panels constituting the other secondary outer lateral face (2) and (2'), the inner double partition (1) and (1') and the inner assembly tabs (5) and (5') designed to be glued, applied and superposed somewhere inside each half of the secondary lateral faces of the middle of the container respectively (4) and (4').
In a direction which is perpendicular to the one above and to the succession of panels described above:

the main lateral faces (3) and (3') are extended respectively on both sides by main panels or flaps (13-₁) (13-₂) and (13'-₁) (13'-₂),
the halves of the central panel (4) and (4') are extended respectively on both sides by secondary panels or flaps (14-₁) (14-₂) and (14'-₁) and (14'-₂) which are themselves divided into two by pre-cut dividing lines (20-₁) between panels (14-₁) (14'-₁) and (20-₂) between (14-₂) and (14'-₂).

Preferably but not exclusively, these lines are made up of an alternating succession of 20 mm long slits and 3 mm long attachment points with no slit or with grooves, the slits being reduced to approximately 10 mm in length close to other panel fold lines or free edges.

the panel halves of the other secondary lateral faces (2) and (2') are extended on both sides by respective secondary panels or flaps (12-₁) (12-₂) and (12'-₁) and (12'-₂),
on one side of the succession of panels constituting the lateral faces and the partitions of the container, one of the secondary panels or flaps (12-₁) or (12'-₁) is extended at right angles by an assembly tab (15-₁) on the secondary flaps and on the opposite side of the succession of panels mentioned above, one of the secondary panels or flaps (12-₂) or (12'-₂) is extended at right angles by an assembly tab (15-₂) on the opposite secondary flaps.

These flap assembly tabs (15-₁) and (15-₂) are each connected to their respective flaps by a pre-cut line preferably but not exclusively embodied by a succession of 12 to 13 mm long slits and 2 to 3 mm long attachment points to allow the container to be glued and divided without any effort. For other container formats or specific material compositions, it is possible to use a succession of 5 to 7 mm long slits alternating with 4 to 6 mm long attachment points.
The central double partitions (1) and (1') are extended respectively by the partition reinforcement panels or flaps (11-₁) (11-₂) and (11'-₁) (11'-₂).
In an economical embodiment of the invention, these partition reinforcement panels are trapezoidal in shape so that there is complete doubling at the joint fold with the partitions to reduce the risk of the products contained getting caught while they are being placed into the container and partial doubling which is even less towards the middle of the height of the partitions in order to reduce over-thickness likely to indirectly cause stress along the joint folds of the lateral faces between them.
Fold and joint lines connect all the panels or flaps extending their respective lateral faces, namely lines (16) between partitions (1 and 1') and the partition reinforcement flaps (11-_x) and (11'-_x), lines (17) between the panels of the secondary lateral faces (2) and (2') and the secondary flaps (12-_x) and (12'-_x), lines (18) between the panels of the main lateral faces (3) and (3') and the main flaps (13-_x) and (13'-_x), lines (19) between the panels of the first secondary lateral half-faces (4) and (4') and the first secondary flaps (14-_x) and (14'-_x).
After cutting out the shape of the container from a sheet of material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard using a die cutter, this cut-out described above is then folded and glued successively as follows: see figures 2.1 to 2.5.
As a matter of interest, "forward direction" is used to indicate the direction in which the container progresses in the production machine (see Fig. 1) during manufacture and "cross direction" is used to indicate the direction perpendicular to the previous one.
According to Fig. 2.1 the first operation is the application of one or more lines of glue (c1) simultaneously or successively (c1') to inner face of partition reinforcement flap panels (11-₁) (11-₂) and (11'-₁) (11'-₂) respectively.
According to Fig. 2.2, these partition reinforcement flap panels are then folded over the respective partitions (1) and (1') along two fold axes in the "cross direction", by top and bottom hooks fitted to the machine, and they are kept superposed on these partitions (1) and (1') until the glue solidifies thereby joining these partition reinforcement flaps to the partitions that are partially doubled by them.
The second successive operation is the application of a line of glue (c2) to part (22) of one of the assembly tabs (5).
This part (22) of assembly tab (5) is cut out of this assembly tab to which it remains joined by a few attachment points.
Note: upon opening the container, this part (22) will be detached from assembly tab (5) when the attachment points break, having first kept the tab (5) folded over the panel (1) then delayed and facilitated the opening and positioning of the double partition (1) and (1') by a pull opposite to that exerted for the opening and positioning of the panels of the lateral faces and of the double partition.
After applying the glue to this part (22) of the assembly tab (5), according to Fig. 2.3 this tab (5) is refolded over the nearest partition panel (1) along fold axis (A) and kept joined by the line of glue (c2) to this partition panel (1) on which it is superposed.
The next operation consists of folding along axis B, the opposing partition panel (1') and its extending assembly tab (5'), which are superposed on the panels of the secondary lateral face (2') and part of the main lateral face (3').
According to Fig. 2.4, the next operation consists of:

applying glue (c3) to outer face of assembly tab (5) already folded over the cut out part (22) then
applying glue (c4) to the secondary flaps (12'-₁) or (12'-₂) to which assembly tabs (15-₁) and )15-₂) will be joined respectively extending the opposite secondary flaps (12-₁) or (12-₂) and
applying glue (c5) to outer face of assembly tab (5') next to the partition (1').

Without prejudice to the invention, glue can either be applied as described above or to the surfaces opposite the panels to which the previous deposits of glue were applied and to which they stuck.
The next operation consists of folding the container so glued over on itself along fold axis (C) so that the container takes the final geometric shape it will be in when delivered to the packager/packer by the container manufacturer according to Fig. 2.5.

Claims

Two-compartment container with closing flaps and divisible into two separate containers, made up
in an initial direction, of a succession of panels connected to each other by joint folds, on both sides of a central panel constituting a secondary outer lateral face divisible (10) into two parts (4) and (4') followed by a panel constituting a main outer lateral face (3) or (3'), then a panel constituting a secondary outer lateral face (2) or (2'), then a panel constituting an inner partition (1) or (1') which is itself extended by an assembly tab (5) or (5') and,
in a perpendicular direction, each of the above panels is extended respectively on both sides by flaps, whereby:
- panels which are preferably trapezoidal in shape (11-₁) (11-₂) and (11'-₁) (11'-₂) extend on both sides the double inner partition (1) and (1') folded along joint folds (16) and glued onto this double partition, and

- assembly tabs (5) and (5') extend each of the two inner partition layers (1) and (1') respectively, each assembly tab being glued and joined to one of the two parts (4) and (4') of the central panel constituting a secondary outer lateral face on which it is superposed, container characterised by:

- a detachable piece (22), cut out of one of the assembly tabs (5), glued and joined to the inner partition layer (1) on which it is superposed, and

- assembly tabs (15-₁) and (15-₂) extending parts (12-₁) and (12-₂) of the secondary flaps glued and joined to the additional parts (12'-₁) and (12'-₂) on which they are superposed.
Two-compartment container with closing flaps and divisible into two separate containers according to claim 1 characterised as having:
- a pre-cut line (10) on two sides (4) and (4') of the central panel extended on both sides by pre-cut lines (20-₁) and (20-₂) dividing the secondary flaps (14-₁) (14'-₁) and (14-₂) (14'-₂), and

- a pre-cut connection line between each assembly tab (15-₁) and (15-₂) extending one of the parts (12-₁) and (12-₂) of the secondary flaps at right angles.