ES2534485T3 - Cardboard box for beverages with carrying handle type band - Google Patents

Abstract

A carton (11) for beverage containers, the carton including a top panel (18) hingedly interconnected with a base panel (12) by a pair of opposing side panels (14, 16, 20, 22) to form a sleeve, a pair of opposite upper end closure panels (38, 40), said opposite upper end closure panels being hinged to said upper panel to close, at least in part, the opposite ends of said sleeve, each having one of said opposite top end closure panels, opposite end edges and opposite side edges extending between the opposite end edges, wherein each of said opposite top end closure panels is hingedly connected to the top panel thereto along one of said end edges opposed by a respective end fold line (44, 44a), said respective end fold line extending between said side panels, said upper end closure panels and said upper panel being of unitary construction, the cardboard including a handle structure (8) through which the cardboard box can be transported, said handle structure having a handle band (98), the band having handle a user portion (74) which is in substantially coplanar relation to said top panel in a storage state, said user portion being disposed between opposite ends of the handle band, said handle band being connected at said ends opposed to said upper end closure panels to provide excess material to allow said user portion to be brought into a use position, wherein the handle band has intermediate portions between said user portion and said opposite ends, at wherein said intermediate parts are not attached to said top panel and are free to provide said excess material, wherein a panel of f fixing (65, 65a) for at least one of said opposite ends such that said at least one of said opposite ends is sandwiched by said fixing panel and an adjacent one of said upper end closure panels that is firmly connected to an adjacent one of said upper end closure panels, characterized in that the fixing panel is hingedly connected to one of the opposite side edges of an adjacent one of said upper end closure panels along a fold line of the fixing panel ( 63, 63a), and why the fastening panel fold line covers a side end closure panel (46/48, 60/62, 46a / 48a, 60a / 62a) that is hingedly connected to one of the opposite side panels (14/16, 20/22).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Cardboard box for beverages with carrying handle type band

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to a cardboard box that is particularly suitable for accommodating beverage containers, such as cans, but not only for that purpose, which incorporates a "band-type" carrying handle, which is configured in a position of use as the cardboard box closes after it has been loaded.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Cardboard boxes are known which include transport handles and also the transport type handles of the band type. For example, US 4,166,570 (Lazerand et al.) Discloses a cardboard packaging box for beverage cans having a band-type handle. The handle band has a central user portion exposed to the view in an access opening of the handle in the upper wall of the cardboard box, which extends through the upper wall and has opposite ends that end in a pair of respective final closing fins 15 that are hinged to the upper wall. The band of the handle is reinforced by an independent band of reinforcing material, for example, a fibrous tape.

[0003] WO 97/07031 (Riverwood International Corporation) discloses a packaging cardboard box for beverage cans having a handle band fixed at each end thereof to an external face of an end panel of the Cardboard box between a pair of cuts that extend through the joint between the top panel and the respective end panel. As the cardboard box is lifted through the handle, the provision of a fold line that extends between the pairs of cuts on the upper panel allows the parts joined by the cut lines to flex inwards. 25

[0004] EP99945335 discloses a cardboard box for beverage containers comprising a band handle in which the band is formed from a material that is adhered to the inner surface of the cardboard box. It is desirable to improve the adhesion of the band to the cardboard box, while allowing the band to slide freely through an opening in the upper panel of the cardboard box. It is also desirable to achieve this using a minimum amount of material to make the cardboard box.

[0005] WO 01/46023 discloses a beverage carton box having a handle band provided in a composite panel.

[0006] The present invention seeks to overcome, or at least mitigate, the problems of the prior art.

Summary of the Invention

[0007] A first aspect of the invention provides a cardboard box for beverage containers, the cardboard box including a top panel interconnected in an articulated manner with a base panel by means of a pair of opposite side panels to form a sleeve, 40

a pair of opposite upper end closing panels, said opposite upper end closing panels being articulated to said upper panel to close, at least in part, the opposite ends of said sleeve, each of said opposite upper end closing panels having about opposite end edges and opposite side edges extending between the opposite end edges, in which each of said 5 opposite upper end closing panels is articulated connected to the upper panel along one of said opposite end edges by a respective final fold line, said respective final fold line extending between said side panels, said upper end closing panels and said upper panel being of unit construction, the cardboard including a handle structure through which the box can be transported. cardboard, said handle structure having a handle band, the band having handle a user portion that is in substantially coplanar relationship with said upper panel in a storage state, said user portion being disposed between opposite ends of the handle band, said handle band being connected at said ends opposite to said panels upper closing ends to provide an excess of material to allow said user portion to be put into a use position, in which the handle band has intermediate portions between said user portion and said opposite ends, wherein said intermediate parts are not attached to said upper panel and are free to provide said excess material, in which a fixing panel is provided for at least one of said opposite ends such that said at least one of said opposite ends is intercalate through said fixing panel and an adjacent one of said upper end closing panels that is firmly connected to not adjacent to said upper end closing panels, characterized in that the fixing panel is connected in an articulated manner to one of the opposite side edges of an adjacent one of said upper closing closing panels along a panel fold line of fixing, and because the fold line of the fixing panel covers a lateral end closure panel that is articulated connected to one of the opposite side panels.

[0008] Preferably, the cardboard box includes a pair of opposing lower end closing panels articulated on said base panel, wherein the fixing panel is formed from a material provided between the adjacent upper end closing panel and an adjacent lower end closure panel, such that the fixing panel is formed from a material located within the perimeter of a die impression to form the cardboard box.

[0009] Preferably, the cardboard box includes a pair of opposing lower end closing panels 35 articulated on said base panel, wherein the fixing panel is formed from a material provided between the adjacent upper end closing panel and an adjacent lower end closure panel, such that the fixing panel is formed from a material located within the perimeter of a die impression to form the cardboard box. 40

[0010] Preferably, the fixing panel the fixing panel adheres to said handle band and said adjacent upper end closing panel.

[0011] Optionally, said opposite ends of the handle band are fixed to movable parts into said upper end closure panels respectively.

[0012] Preferably, a portion of each of said inwardly movable parts is positioned to be located between adjacent articles on a respective one of said opposite ends of said sleeve to provide a stabilizer spacer between said adjacent articles.

[0013] Alternatively, said opposite ends of the band are separated from said user portion and are attached to movable parts within said final closing panels, the band having intermediate pieces between said user portion and said opposite ends, and said intermediate parts are not fixed to said upper panel and 10 are free to provide said excess material.

[0014] Preferably, each of said inwardly movable parts comprises a passage that includes a bracket (285a) and a protrusion (287a), and the bracket of each step is provided by a respective upper end closing panel and the protrusion of each step is provided by said top panel. fifteen

[0015] Preferably, said user portion of the band is connected to a part of said upper panel.

[0016] Preferably, said user portion is formed, at least in part, from a material that is integrated into said upper panel.

[0017] Alternatively, each step is automatically placed in a functional position 20 when said upper end closing panels fold into a final closing position.

[0018] Preferably, each step comprises a first fold line (286a) located between the second (391) and third (390) fold lines through which each step is respectively articulated to said upper panel and to an upper final closing panel respectively, each step being folded into an adjustment action along said first, second and third fold lines when said upper end closing panels are folded into a final closing position.

[0019] Optionally, said final fold line (44, 44a) is a simple and unbroken fold line that extends from one side panel to another.

[0020] Optionally, said final fold line is a single fold line, partially interrupted.

[0021] Optionally, said fixing panel is connected in an articulated manner to said a side edge along a side fold line whose length is less than that of said side edge.

[0022] Preferably, an upper end of said lateral fold line is separated from said final fold line.

[0023] A second aspect of the invention provides a die to form a cardboard box, the die comprising a series of articulated panels to form a sleeve, a pair of opposing end closing panels articulated on a first of said articulated panels, and a handle means comprising a handle band connected to said opposite end closure panels, the band having a user portion that is in substantially coplanar relationship with said first articulated panel, the band being connected at opposite ends thereof to said opposite end closure panels, in which said opposite ends of the band are separated from said user portion, and in which the band has intermediate parts between said user portion and said opposite ends, said intermediate parts are not subject to said first articulated panel and are free to supply excess material when the cardboard box is being used, in e l that a fixing panel is arranged adjacent to an articulated lateral end closing panel on one second of said articulated panels located near said first articulated panel and is connected in an articulated manner to one of the opposite final closing panels, characterized by that said fixing panel is disposed 15 along a free end edge of the side closure panel as a means to secure the strip to the cardboard in a mounted cardboard box.

[0024] Preferably, said opposite ends of the band are fixed to the movable parts within said opposite closing closing panels, said movable parts being inwardly separated from said upper panel. Preferably, said fixing panel is provided for at least one of said opposite ends of the band, such that said at least one of said opposite ends is sandwiched by said fixing panel and an adjacent opposite end closing panel which is will connect firmly to said adjacent adjacent closing closing panel.

[0025] Optionally, the fixing panel is articulated on one of the opposite end closure panels 25 along a side fold line, said side fold line being aligned with a connecting fold line forming an articulated connection between said first and second articulated panels.

[0026] Optionally, said fixing panel is separated from said second articulated panel. 30

[0027] Preferably, said side closing panel is disposed between said fixing panel and said second articulated panel.

[0028] Optionally, said fixing panel is articulated on at least one of said final closing panels along a side fold line that is aligned with one of the opposite side edges of said first articulated panel. 35

[0029] Preferably, said a side edge of said first articulated panel is a common lateral edge between said first and second articulated panels.

Brief description of the drawings

[0030] Three embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a die of a cardboard box according to an embodiment of the invention incorporating a handle band;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the die of the cardboard box showing the adhesive applied during construction;

Figure 3 a plan view of the die of the cardboard box illustrating the interleaving of the handle band between two layers of material;

Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating the folding of the die during the construction of the cardboard box;

Figure 5 is a plan view illustrating an additional folding operation performed on the die during the construction of the cardboard box; 10

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a cardboard box formed from the die shown in FIGURE 1;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the cardboard box shown in Figure 6 illustrating the structure of the handle in an assembled configuration;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cardboard box shown in Figure 15 6 illustrating the access feature removed;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a cardboard box according to a second embodiment, and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a cardboard box according to a third embodiment. twenty

Detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention

[0031] With reference to the drawings, and to Figure 1 in particular, an article conveyor is formed from a single die 10 made of cardboard or other suitable folding sheet material, which can be adapted to accommodate the diversity of articles B, for example twenty-four bottles arranged in four rows of six bottles each. It is envisioned that the conveyor can be adapted to accommodate a different number of bottles according to the user's requirements.

[0032] Returning to the die of the cardboard box 10 illustrated in Figure 1, the die includes a first base panel 12, a lower side panel 14, an upper side panel 16, an upper panel 18, a second upper side panel 20 and a second lower side panel 22, 30 articulated one to the next in a longitudinal plane along fold lines 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 respectively. A glue flap 94 is attached to the base panel 12 along the fold line 21.

[0033] The die further comprises a final closing structure 34, 36 that includes a pair of upper opposite closing panels (or "adpaneles") 38, 40 articulated to the upper panel 18 along the broken fold lines 44 and 44a respectively, located along the longitudinal edges of the upper panel 18 and a

pair of lower end closing panels 39, 41 articulated to the base panel 12 along the fold line 43, 45 respectively.

[0034] The construction of the die 10 along the opposite side of the upper panel 18 and the lower panel 12 comprises an end closure structure 36 that is similar to the final closure structure 34 and, therefore, similar parts in one end of the upper panel 5 18 are designated by the reference numbers with respect to the similar parts of the opposite end with the addition of the suffix "a" and are not described in more detail.

[0035] The closing end structure 34 includes reinforcement panels 46 and 48 connected together by the panel portion 50 along the fold line 55. The reinforcement panels 46, 48 extend outside the side panels. upper and lower 20, 22 10 respectively and are connected thereto by the fold lines 52, 54. An additional superimposed panel 56 is connected to the final panel 38 by the side fold line 30 and to the reinforcement panel 46 along of the fold line 58. Reinforcement panels 46, 48 and overlapping panel 56 are adapted to form a corner structure as is well known in the art. fifteen

[0036] Also, the opposite corner of the final closure structure 34 also includes reinforcement panels 60 and 62 connected together by the panel portion 64 along the fold line 67. The reinforcement panels 60, 62 extend outside the upper and lower side panels 14, 16 and are connected thereto by the fold lines 66, 68. An additional superimposed panel 70 is connected to the upper end panel 38 by the 20 side fold line 28 and to the reinforcement panel 62 along the fold line 72. The die 10 additionally comprises an interleaving panel 65 articulated to the upper end closing panel 38 along the fold line 63. At the same time it is envisioned that the panel interleaving 65 can be articulated to any free edge of the upper end closing panel 38, the configuration illustrated in Figure 1 uses the material within the perimeter of the die 10; thus, the "printing" of the die does not increase and, therefore, does not increase the amount of material required to form the die. The interleaving panel 65 is formed of the material that will normally be lost as waste and, therefore, no additional cardboard or similar material is required to form the interleaving panel 65. The interleaving panel 65 is arranged so that it can be secured. to the inner face of the final closure panel 38 and thus insert one end of the handle band 98 so that the handle band 98 is firmly attached to the cardboard box 11. It is envisaged that the interleaving panel 65 can be connected by a frangible connection instead of a fold line, whose frangible connection can be broken after folding and subsequent adhesion of the interleaving panel 65 to the upper final closing panel 38. 35

[0037] The cardboard box further comprises a handle structure 8 in which the upper panel 18 may additionally comprise a central user portion 74, frangibly connected to the upper panel 18. In this embodiment, the central user portion 74 It has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises a pair of support panels 76, 78 that extend into a central user opening 79 and connect to the side edges of the central user portion along fold lines 80, 82 respectively. The central user opening 79 is defined by four substantially triangular tabs 79 articulated to the upper panel 18, to form a

Parallelogram that is substantially diamond-shaped, however, other shapes may be employed. Two tabs 79 separated by a weakened line or cutting line are placed on opposite sides of a handle band 98. The handle band 98 is applied to the inner surface of the die 10, preferably being secured to the central user portion 74 and the upper opposite end closure panels 38, 40 by glue at the 5 g-tail points or by other means known in the art. It is further preferred that the handle band 98 be formed from cardboard, laminated cardboard, fibrous tape or other suitable plastic material.

[0038] The central user portion 74 is connected at each end to the support panels 81, 83 by weakened or frangible lines 85, 87 respectively, as shown in Figure 6.

[0039] In one class of embodiments, a stabilizing fin (or bottleneck spacer) 84 shown in Figure 1 is removed from the die in the upper end closure panel 38 so that the stabilizing fin 84 is articulated to that panel , but otherwise cut from the die. In the same way, a second stabilizing fin 15 88 is extracted from the other upper end closure panel 40 and is articulated thereto.

[0040] Returning to the construction of the cardboard box 11, illustrated in Figures 2-5, the die 10 requires a series of sequential folding and / or gluing operations that can be performed in a straight-line machine so that it is not required that the cardboard box 11 is rotated or reversed to complete its construction. The folding process is not limited to what is described below and can be altered according to the particular manufacturing requirements.

[0041] Cardboard box 11 is normally supplied to a bottler in a compressed flat tubular condition. The glue is applied to the upper end closure panels 38, 40 at the glue points G as shown in Figure 2, and the interleaving panels 65, 25 65a are folded inside the cardboard box 11 along of fold lines 63, 63a respectively as shown in Figure 3; thus, the interleaving panel 65 is secured to the handle band 98 and the respective upper end closing panels 38, 40. Therefore, the handle band 98 is secured to the cardboard box 11 on both sides, which increases the degree of safety with which the handle band 98 is fixed to the cardboard box 11. 30 The additional interleaving panel 65 makes the handle band 98 more resistant to tear and shear forces when used by an user. It is envisioned that suitable alternative means, other than the glue, may be used to secure the interleaving panels 65, 65a to the upper end closing panels 38, 40 and the handle band 98. The base panel 12 is connected to the lower side panel 22 securing tail fin 94 to 35 lower side panel 22 by tail or other suitable means. To configure the sides of the cardboard box 11, the upper panels 18 and base 12 are separated to form a tubular structure, as is well known.

[0042] Subsequently, the articles B are loaded into the cardboard box constructed by parts 11 and the final closing structure 34, 36 is formed. In the first embodiment, the upper final closing panels 38 and 40 are folded down at each end of the sleeve formed by the enveloping folding action. The reinforcement panels 46, 48, 56 and 60, 62,

70 fold inwardly on the fold lines 52, 54 and 66, 68 respectively, whereby the reinforcing panels 46, 48, 60, 62 enter into an opposite relationship with the side panels 22, 20 and 14, 16 respectively . The panels 56, 70 come into contact face to face with their respective adjacent reinforcing panels 46, 62.

[0043] Optionally, the faces of the reinforcing fins 46, 62 in contact with the upper side panels 5, 20 respectively can be secured together by means known in the art to hold the upper end closure panels 38, 40 in place. Subsequently, the lower end closure panels 39, 41 are folded on fold lines 43, 45 and adjacent to the upper end closure panels 38, 40 and are fixed together by glue or other means known in the art. The final closure structures 10 of the second and third embodiments are formed in a substantially identical manner and, therefore, the construction thereof is not described in greater detail.

[0044] The arrangement of the reinforcement panels 46, 48, 60 and 62 requires that the ends of the cardboard box 11 be closed by first folding the upper final closing panel 38 before folding the lower final closing panel 39 Therefore, the lower end closing panel 15 39 is adhered or secured by other means to the laminated outer face of the upper end closing panel 38. Therefore, the interleaving of the end of the handle band 98 between the upper and lower end closure panels cannot be achieved so that the provisions of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and therefore the provision of an additional fixing interleaving panel 65, are advantageous. Adhesion to a laminated face of cardboard material often provides a weaker bond, while in the arrangement of the present invention it is the simple internal faces of the upper end closure panel 38 and the interleaving panel 65 which are secured together and this provides a stronger bond in which the ends of the handle band 98 are secured. Additionally, the present arrangements allow the cardboard box 11 to be formed in a packaging machine where the upper end closing panel is folded before folding the lower final closing panel.

[0045] The interleaving panel 65, 65a, as shown in Figure 1, can be applied in cardboard boxes of alternative configurations. Each of Figures 9 and 10 illustrates a possible alternative embodiment. The second embodiment shown in Figure 9 corresponds substantially to the first embodiment and, therefore, similar parts are designated by reference numbers having the prefix number "2". Only parts of the second embodiment that differ from the first embodiment are described hereinafter. Therefore, a stabilizing fin 284 (or bottleneck spacer) shown in Figure 9 is removed from the die, in the upper end closure panel 35 238 and the upper panel 218, so that the fin 288 is articulated to the upper end closing panel 288 and upper panel 218 on the fold line 286a, but otherwise the die is cut. The flap 288 preferably comprises a carton panel 285a and a shoulder panel 287a, connected together along the fold line 289a, whose panels are adapted during the construction of the cardboard box to define a passage (or 40 element of keel).

[0046] The cardboard box further comprises a handle structure 208 in which the upper panel 218 may additionally comprise a central user portion 274,

frangibly connected to the upper panel 218. In this embodiment, the central user portion 274 has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises a pair of support panels 276, 278 that extend into a central user opening 279 and connect to the lateral edges of central user portion 274 along fold lines 280, 282 respectively. Additionally, a handle band 5 shown in Figure 9 can be applied to the inner surface of the cardboard 211, the central user portion 274 and the opposite end closure panels 238, 240 being secured by glue at tail points (not shown ) or by other means known in the art. Preferably, the handle band is also glued, or otherwise secured, to the carton panels 285a, 287a. It is further preferred that the handle band be formed from cardboard, laminated cardboard, fibrous tape or other suitable plastic material.

[0047] The third embodiment shown in Figure 10 corresponds substantially to the first and second embodiments in many ways and, therefore, where possible, similar parts are designated by numbers bearing the prefix "3". Returning to the cardboard box 311 illustrated in Figure 10, this cardboard box includes a base panel, a lower side panel 154, an upper side panel 316, an upper panel 318, a second upper panel and a second lower side panel , articulated one to the next in a longitudinal plane along fold lines.

[0048] The cardboard box further comprises one or more final closing structures 334, 336, including a pair of upper opposite closing panels (or 20 "adpanels") 338 as shown in Figure 10, articulated to the upper panel 318 along fold lines, and located along opposite longitudinal edges of the upper panel 318. In this embodiment, the final closing structures 334, 336 also include a pair of lower final closing panels 339 as shown in Figure 10, articulated to the base panel by a fold line formed along the longitudinal opposite edges 25 of the base panel.

[0049] Each final closure structure 334, 336 may also include reinforcing panels 360, 362 connected together by panel portions. The reinforcing panels extend outwardly from the lower panels 314 and the upper side panels 316 respectively and are joined thereto by fold lines. An additional superimposed panel 30 is connected to the upper end panels by a side fold line and to the reinforcement panel along another fold line. The reinforcing panels and the overlapping panel are adapted to form a corner structure, as is known in the art.

[0050] The construction along the opposite side of the upper panel and the lower panel, which includes a second final closure structure is similar and, therefore, similar parts at one end of the upper panel are designated by numbers of reference with respect to the similar parts of the opposite end, but with the addition of the suffix "a" and, therefore, are not described in more detail.

[0051] One or more handle fins 384, 388, shown in Figure 10, are removed from the cardboard, 40 which in this embodiment is formed from the reinforcement panel 360 and / or the side panel 314, so that the fin 384 is articulated to the reinforcement panel 360 and, preferably, the

side panel 314 on a fold line, but otherwise the die is cut by the opposite cut lines in a substantially parallel spaced arrangement. The flap 384 preferably comprises a carton panel 387 and a shoulder panel 389, connected together along the fold line 391, whose panels are adapted during the construction of the cardboard box to define a passage (or element of keel). In this embodiment, the panel 387 is separated from the reinforcement panel 360 by the panel 385 and is articulated therein along the fold line 390 described in more detail below.

[0052] Preferably, the handle fin 384 is separated from the reinforcement panel 360 and the lower side panel 314 by the openings 393, 395 to facilitate the fins to bend out of alignment with the reinforcement panel 360 and the panel lower side 314.

[0053] The side panel 314 may further comprise a user portion 374, frangibly connected to the side panel 314 along the frangible lines 375 and located in a central region of the side panel. In this embodiment, the user portion 374 has a substantially rectangular shape and comprises a pair of carton panels 376, 15 378 that extend to a central user opening 379 and are connected to the side edges of the central user portion by fold lines

[0054] Additionally, a handle band can be applied to the inner surface of the cardboard box 310, preferably securing the user part 374 and the opposing end closure panels by means of glue or other means known in the art. 20 Preferably, the handle band is also glued to the carton panels 385, 387 of each step. It is further preferred that the handle band be formed from cardboard, laminated cardboard, fibrous tape or other suitable plastic material.

[0055] Along the opposite side edges of the user portion 374, there may additionally be a handle tab 400 removed from the lower side panel 314 by the side cutting lines 25 402, 404. During use, the tabs of handle 400 guide the handle band when moving outward.

[0056] Cutting lines 406 extracted from lower end panels 339 and 341 may be included to cooperate with handle fins 384, 384a.

[0057] In another class of embodiments, the handle structure may comprise one or more 30 handle fins (not shown) removed from the reinforcement panel 360 or another suitable panel so that the fin is articulated to this panel along an edge, but otherwise the die is cut in a manner similar to the first embodiment. Likewise, a second fin can be removed from the opposite reinforcement panel 360a or other suitable panels and connected in an articulated manner thereto. A handle band will be secured to the opposite handle fins and preferably a user portion, but otherwise it will remain unconnected to the die.

[0058] Thus, the cardboard boxes of the first, second and third embodiments are in a mounted and loaded condition as shown in Figures 3, 9 and 10 respectively. The first embodiment advantageously allows the top and end of the cardboard box 11 to remain intact thereby improving the structural integrity of the cardboard box.

11 during handling and storage, caused in part because the fold lines connecting the upper and upper side panels are continuous.

[0059] The embodiment shown in Figure 10 allows the upper part of the cardboard box 311 to remain intact and thus also improves the structural integrity of the cardboard box during handling and storage, again caused in part because 5 the fold lines that join the upper and upper side panels are continuous.

[0060] To form the handle structure 8 in the first embodiment, illustrated in Figure 7, the central user portion 74 can be separated from the upper panel 18 whereby at least a portion of the handle band 98 is held upright from the upper panel 18. The first and second end fins 84, 88, to which the handle band 98 is connected, are capable of moving into the final closing structures so that the central user portion 74 can be extended by above the upper panel 18. The interleaving panel 65 is sized so as not to overlap the fins 84, 88, which would restrict its movement and possibly prevent the extension of the central user portion 74 above the upper panel 18. The support panels 76, 78 are folded under the band of 15 handle, such that the central user portion 74 is wrapped around the band; the central user portion 74 provides a pad for the handle band 98. In addition, the central user portion 74 is designed to be easy to use.

[0061] In the second embodiment, the handle is formed by folding each of the stabilizer fins 288 (or bottleneck spacer). The fins 288 are formed with the 20 cut lines 292a, 294a preferably divergent from the fold line 289a and the cut lines 293a, 295a intermediate and substantially perpendicular to the fold lines 286a and 289a on which the fins can bend in an adjustment action to define a passage at each end of the upper panel 18. This action can occur automatically after folding the final closing panels that lead the fins to their operative position in which the fins move out of the plane from the top panel into the cardboard box. Optionally, cut lines 292a, 294a; 293a, 295a are shaped to define a shaped edge adapted to cooperate with a neck portion of an article. Once the, or each of, the stabilizing fins 288 are moved between the neck portions of the adjacent rows of articles within the package to facilitate the maintenance of the items in their correct standing positions within the package, in particular to prevent items from falling inside while the final closure panels prevent bottles from falling over the entire package.

[0062] To form the handle of the third embodiment as illustrated in Figure 13, the user portion 354 can be separated from the side panel 314 and the handle is then formed automatically by folding each of the handle fins 384. More particularly , a keel structure is formed by folding the panels 385, 387 and 389 into the reinforcement panel 360 such that the carton panel 385, 387 and the protrusion panel 389 are substantially perpendicular or more preferably, in an angular relationship sharp 40 Therefore, the fins 384 can be folded in an adjustment action to define a passage at each end of the lower side panel 314. This action can occur automatically when a user pulls the handle band that brings the fins to their operative position. by

that the fins move flat out of the top panel into the cardboard box. Once displaced, the or each panel 385 is adjacent to the product. Advantageously, the band is held between the cardboard and the interleaved panel by the product, which allows additional resistance.

[0063] In other embodiments, the keel structures can thus be deformed to allow the carton panel 385, 387 to be adjacent to the article. Preferably, once the passage is formed and the billboard and projection panels are folded in perpendicular (or angular) relationship, they are thus constructed to hold in place. More preferably, when the user forms the passage, it is "between the center" of a theoretical plane between the tangential point of contact between the article and the band and the fold line between the shoulder and side panel and, therefore, it prevents it from collapsing backwards in a coplanar relationship with the reinforcement and side panels. In some embodiments, this is achieved because the carton panel 387 and / or the protrusion panel 389 is longer than the distance "d" between the side panel 314 and article A.

[0064] An advantage of this handle structure arrangement is that the handle structure is more rigid and once the user portion has been separated from the side panel it continues to protrude beyond the side panel while a band of handle that can be shaped around the outer article A carried by the cardboard box.

[0065] When the conveyor of any of the embodiments is in use, there is a tendency for the handle band to sink the final closure structures inward to 20 thus improve the integrity of the cardboard box and provide a tensioning effect. In addition, in those embodiments in which the band and / or shoulder and shoulder flaps are located between the neck portions of adjacent bottles, the stability of the cardboard is improved due to the support of the articles.

[0066] Advantageously, the preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrate a cardboard box having a type of handle band, the band being reinforced by a separate band formed of material at one end of the die from which the die is formed. carton box. The handle band is connected to a handle and has a user portion exposed for viewing in a handle access opening, but which is otherwise disposed internally of the cardboard box. 30

[0067] The cardboard box is configured as an open end sleeve for loading and then loaded by the end after which it is completed by closing the final closing panel. The closing of the final closing panel has an effect on the arrangement of the handle band. According to the upper end closing panels they bend to their closing positions the handle band is loosened to a ready-to-use position. When the cardboard box 35 is lifted by the central user portion of the handle band, the band arches upward and protrudes through the access opening of the upright handle of the top / side wall. The load is transmitted from the handle band to the final wall of the cardboard box at each of the opposite ends of the handle access opening and distributed through the final wall. The interleaving panel 65, 65a allows the load to be distributed through two layers of the cardboard material, each arranged on the side

opposite of the band, thereby increasing the safety of the handle band with respect to the final closure panels.

[0068] The present invention and its preferred embodiment relate to an article conveyor that is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to firmly hold the articles, but with a degree of flexibility so that the transfer of charge to the handle is absorbed by the conveyor The shape of the die minimizes the amount of cardboard required and the conveyor can be applied to a set of items by manual or automatic machinery. It is envisioned that the invention can be applied to a variety of conveyors and is not limited to the enclosure type. For example, the top panel 18, the side panels 14, 16, 20, 22 and the final closure structure 34, 36 of the above-mentioned cardboard box can be applied to other types of cardboard boxes, for example , cardboard boxes with superior grip, without departing from the scope of the invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the characteristics of the three described embodiments may be used in any combination, for example, the second embodiment may incorporate the keel structures disclosed in the first and third embodiments.

[0069] It will be recognized that, as used herein, directional references, such as "upper", "lower", "frontal", "posterior", "final", "lateral", "internal", " external "," above "and" below "do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but simply serve to distinguish these panels from each other. Any reference to an articulated connection should not be construed as necessarily in reference to only a single fold line; in fact, it is envisioned that the articulated connection can be formed from one or more of the following, a marking line, a frangible line or a fold line without departing from the scope of the invention.

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Claims (23)

1. A cardboard box (11) for beverage containers, the cardboard box including an upper panel (18) interconnected in an articulated manner with a base panel (12) by a pair of opposite side panels (14, 16, 20, 22) to form a sleeve, a pair of opposite upper end closing panels 5 (38, 40), said opposite upper end closing panels being articulated to said upper panel to close, at least in part, the opposite ends of said sleeve , each of said opposite upper end closing panels having opposite end edges and opposite side edges extending between opposite end edges, wherein each of said opposite upper end closing panels 10 is connected in an articulated manner to the upper panel along one of said opposite end edges along a respective final fold line (44, 44a), said respective final fold line extending between said lat panels esles, said upper end closing panels and said upper panel being of unit construction, the cardboard including a handle structure (8) through which the cardboard box can be transported, said handle structure having a handle band (98) the handle band having a user portion (74) which is in substantially coplanar relationship with said upper panel in a storage state, said user portion being disposed between opposite ends of the handle band, said handle band being connected at said opposite ends to said upper end closing panels 20 to provide an excess of material to allow said user portion to be placed in a use position, in which the handle band has intermediate portions between said user portion and said opposite ends, in which said intermediate parts are not attached to said upper panel and are free to provide said excess material, in which A fixing panel (65, 65a) is provided for at least one of said opposite ends such that said at least one of said opposite ends is intercalated by said fixing panel and an adjacent one of said upper end closing panels which is firmly connected to an adjacent one of said upper end closing panels, characterized in that the fixing panel is articulated connected to one of the opposite side edges of an adjacent one of said 30 upper end closing panels along a fold line of the fixing panel (63, 63a), and why the fold line of the fixing panel covers a lateral end closing panel (46/48, 60/62, 46a / 48a, 60a / 62a) which is connected in an articulated manner to one of the opposite side panels (14/16, 20/22). 2. A cardboard box according to claim 1, additionally including a pair 35 of opposite lower end closure panels (39, 41) articulated on said base panel, wherein the fixing panel is formed from a material provided between the adjacent upper end closing panel and an adjacent lower final closing panel, such that the fixing panel is formed from a material located within the perimeter of a die impression to form the cardboard box . 40 3. A cardboard box according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fixing panel adheres to said handle band and said adjacent upper end closing panel. 4. A cardboard box according to claim 1, wherein said opposite ends of the handle band are fixed to inwardly movable parts (84, 88) of said upper end closure panels. 5. A cardboard box according to claim 4, wherein a part of each of said inwardly movable parts is positioned to be located between adjacent articles 5 on a respective one of said opposite ends of said sleeve to provide a separator stabilizer between said adjacent items. 6. A cardboard box according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said opposite ends of the band are separated from said user portion and are attached to movable parts into said final closing panels, having the band intermediate parts between said user portion and said opposite ends, and said intermediate parts are not fixed to said upper panel and are free to provide said excess material. 7. A cardboard box according to claim 6, wherein each of said inwardly movable parts comprises a passage that includes a card (285a) and a shoulder (287a), and the card of each step is provided by a respective upper end closing panel and the highlight of each step is provided by said upper panel. 8. A cardboard box according to claim 6 or 7, in said user portion of the web is connected to a part of said upper panel. 9. A cardboard box according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein said user portion is formed, at least in part, from a material that is integrated into said upper panel. 10. A cardboard box according to any one of claims 7 to 8, wherein each step is automatically placed in a functional position when said upper end closing panels are folded into a final closing position. 25 11. A cardboard box according to claim 10, wherein each step comprises a first fold line (286a) located between the second (391) and third (390) fold lines through which each step is respectively articulated to said upper panel and to a respective upper final closing panel, each step being folded in an adjustment action along said first, second and third fold lines when said upper final closing panels fold into a final closing position . 12. A cardboard box according to claim 1, wherein said final fold line (44, 44a) is a simple and unbroken fold line that extends from one side panel to another. 13. A cardboard box according to claim 1, wherein said final fold line 35 is a simple, partially broken fold line. 14. A cardboard box according to claim 1, wherein said fixing panel is connected in an articulated manner to said a side edge along a side fold line whose length is less than that of said side edge . 15. A cardboard box according to claim 14, wherein an upper end 40 of said lateral fold line is separated from said final fold line. 16. A die (10) to form a cardboard box (11), the die comprising a series of articulated panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24) to form a sleeve, a pair of panels opposite closing ends articulated on a first (18) of said articulated panels, and a handle means comprising a handle band (98) connected to said opposite closing closing panels, the band having a user portion that is in relation substantially coplanar with said first articulated panel, the band being connected at opposite ends thereof to said opposite end closing panels, in which said opposite ends of the band are separated from said user portion, and in which the band has intermediate parts between said user portion and said opposite ends, said intermediate parts are not subject to said first articulated panel 10 and are free to supply excess material when the cardboard box is being used, in the that a fixing panel (65, 65a) is disposed adjacent to a lateral end closing panel (60, 62, 60a, 62a) articulated on a second (14, 16) of said articulated panels located near said first articulated panel and it is connected in an articulated manner to one of the opposite end closing panels, characterized in that said fixing panel is arranged along a free end edge of the side closing panel as a means to secure the strip to the cardboard in a cardboard box mounted. 17. A die according to claim 16, wherein said opposite ends of the web are fixed to the inwardly movable parts (84, 88) of said opposite final closing panels, said inwardly movable parts being separated from said 20 top panel. 18. A die according to claim 17, wherein said fixing panel is provided for at least one of said opposite ends of the band, such that said at least one of said opposite ends is sandwiched by said panel of fixing and an adjacent opposite end closure panel to be firmly connected to said adjacent opposite end closure panel 25. 19. A die according to claim 16, wherein the fixing panel is articulated on one of the opposite end closing panels along a side fold line (63a), said side fold line being aligned with a connecting fold line (28) forming an articulated connection between said first and second articulated panels 30. 20. A die according to claim 16, wherein said fixing panel is separated from said second articulated panel. 21. A die according to claim 20, wherein said side closure panel is disposed between said fixing panel and said second articulated panel. 35 22. A die according to claim 16, wherein said fixing panel is articulated on at least one of said end closure panels along a side fold line that is aligned with one of the opposite side edges of the said first articulated panel. 23. A die according to claim 22, wherein said a side edge of said first articulated panel is a common lateral edge between said first and second articulated panels.