FR2667572A1 - Container comprising a thermoformed sheet and a reinforcing panel - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a container of the type comprising a sheet made of synthetic material thermoformed to constitute at least one compartment having a bottom, side walls and an upper peripheral rim. It is characterised in that this sheet (1-20) is integral with a reinforcing panel (4) located under the bottom or bottoms. According to a particular embodiment, the thermoformed sheet receives a cover (3) fixed to the rim (2-21) located at the periphery of the sheet (1-20). A complete assembly is thus obtained which can be handled, stored and placed on sale with no further additions.

Description

CONTAINER COMPRISING A THERMOFORMED SHEET AND
A REINFORCEMENT PLATE.

 There are many containers which include a cardboard part (or similar material) and a plastic part.

 A conventional container therefore includes a sheet of synthetic material, generally transparent, to perform the essential sealing function and a printed cardboard surround to ensure the essential presentation function.

 The reality is much more complex due to the extreme diversity of the problems posed because the containers are very different from each other depending on the products they i19 must receive. We understand, in fact, that the same container cannot be used to contain eggs, sweets or cooked dishes.

 Therefore, depending on the applications, the containers have very different structures.

 There is, however, a universal constraint which results from the three dimensions of space: as soon as one proposes to "wrap" a volume, the container must itself be a volume and therefore generally presents a bottom, a cover parallel to the bottom and side walls.

 The simplest and most widespread is parallelepipedic: two large faces (bottom and lid) and four lateral faces.

 Because of its ability to be well printed, the cardboard is visible from the outside, either because it constitutes the outer faces of the container, or because it appears through a transparent coating.

 When the products are sold in stores, the containers are designed in such a way that buyers are quick and well informed and care is taken to provide attractive prints visible on the sides of the containers intended to be displayed. Generally, the containers are placed on their bottom, "standing", at least one of the side faces (called "front face") carrying the main information in the form of printing: product name, brand, use , composition, slogan, etc.

 The present invention offers a new solution which makes it possible to produce more or less complex containers, from the most economical to the most luxurious, by favoring the rigidity of the plastic part, which makes it possible to adopt new methods of packaging and presentation. , the main print being on at least one of the large faces (cover, cover).

 To this end, the subject of the invention is a container of the type comprising a sheet of thermoformed synthetic material to constitute at least one compartment having a bottom, side walls and a peripheral upper rim, characterized in that this sheet is integral with a reinforcement plate located under the bottom (s).

According to other characteristics of the invention - the thermoformed sheet receives a lid fixed to the rim
located at the periphery of the sheet; - the perimeter of the reinforcement plate is smaller than
that of the rim located at the periphery of the thermo sheet
formed; - the perimeter of the reinforcement plate is substantially
equal to that of the rim located on the periphery of the sheet
thermoformed; - the sheet is transparent and lets see its content,
between the reinforcement plate and the cover both
opaque and / or printed; - the container is associated with an outer envelope; - the envelope is constituted by a sheath, in particular in
cardboard; - the envelope is constituted by a box, in particular in
cardboard; - the envelope is fixed, in particular by gluing, to the plate
enhancement;; - the box comprises on the one hand a body composed of a sidewalk
upper surrounding an opening, with side walls soli
sidewalk, fastening flaps integral with the pa
side kings, and on the other hand a hinged cover to one
curbs and to be folded over the body
after the container has been inserted through the opening
until the reinforcement plate is located at the ni
calf of the fastening flaps folded perpendicular to the
side walls, these fixing flaps to be subject
fabric, in particular by gluing, to said reinforcing plate; - the opening is obtained by cutting a cardboard blank,
the central part removed to create the opening being re
cut to form the reinforcement plate; - the perimeter of the reinforcement plate being smaller
than that of the rim located at the periphery of the sheet
thermoformed, this edge rests on the surrounding sidewalk
opening the box.

 The invention will be better understood from the detailed description below made with reference to the accompanying drawing. Of course, the description and the drawing are given only by way of an indicative and nonlimiting example.

 Figure 1 is a schematic view of a container according to the invention, according to a first simple and inexpensive embodiment.

 Figures 2 e-t 3 are two partial schematic views showing in section two variants of a sealing operation of a seal on a container according to 1 the invention.

 FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic elevation view of a container in accordance with the invention, having a seal sealed according to the method illustrated in FIG. 3.

 Figure 5 is a partial schematic view of the same container as that of Figure 4, but placed sideways and no longer in elevation.

 FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic elevation view of a container in accordance with the invention, having a seal sealed according to the method illustrated in FIG. 2.

 Figure 7 is a schematic front view of a container of the type of that of Figure 6, associated with an outer sheath, for example of cardboard.

 Figure 8 is a schematic perspective view of a container of the type of that of Figure 5, associated with an outer casing consisting of a plastic sheath closed at the ends by transverse welds.

 FIG. 9 is a plan view of a blank of cardboard cut and creased to constitute, after folding and gluing, a box which is to receive a container of the type of that of FIGS. 2 and 6 to form together a complete package, the quality and the complexity are adapted to the packaging of high quality and / or particularly delicate products.

 Figure 10 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the making of a container intended to be associated with the box of Figure 9 and whose reinforcing plate is recovered from the blank during its cutting.

 Figure II is a schematic perspective view of a box from the blank of Figure 9 and being assembled, above which there is shown the container of Figure 10 which must be associated with the box.

 Figure 12 is a schematic sectional view of the complete package of Figure ll after filling, sealing, fixing in the box and closing it by a holding lid.

 Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a container according to the invention, which has a body 1 having a continuous peripheral rim 2 and constituting a single compartment produced by thermoforming a film of synthetic material, as is known. in itself.

 This part is made of a high price material and, for cost reasons, it must be given a minimum thickness and this is also a technical reason because the thicker the film and the longer the thermoforming is long and expensive in energy .

 The body 1 alone constitutes a sealed container capable of receiving any content, for example food products: culinary preparations, cookies, confectionery, etc., or any other object.

 After filling the tray 1, a cover 3 is applied here composed of a synthetic material compatible with that which forms the body 1 and its rim 2, in order to be able to fix it by welding on the rim 2.

 Unfortunately, the technical and economic constraints are such that the whole of the container 1-2 (and of the cover 3 when it exists) has a very low rigidity, which makes it unsuitable for individual use.

 Until now, such a structure does not exist other than in association with a rigid outer envelope such as a cardboard box.

 According to the invention, the bottom of the tray 1 is secured to a rigid reinforcing plate 4, for example of cardboard, the perimeter of which is coordinated with that of the rim 2, as will be explained below.

 In addition, for given products, the thermoformed film used for the implementation of the invention may be thinner, and therefore less expensive, because its connection with the rigid plate 4 gives it excellent mechanical strength.

 I1 then became possible to handle the tray 1 and its plate 4 because the packaging machines are well suited to the various actions required on the assembly 1 - 4: removal, lifting, installation, removal, translation etc.

 Therefore, one can fill the tray 1 and seal it to constitute a finished package or to associate it later with a complement: sheath, envelope, box or other.

 When the product justifies it, we can consider the filled tray 1, closed by the lid 3 and secured to the plate 4 as a complete whole, ready for storage, transport or distribution.

 Its low price makes it competitive for mass market and inexpensive products.

 Naturally, the cover 3 can have all kinds of decorations, mentions, drawings. As for the plate 4, the fact that it is advantageously made of cardboard allows it to also receive impressions.

 The perimeter of the plate 4 is not indifferent to that of the rim 2.

 Indeed, to seal the cover 3 on the rim 2, it is necessary to exert a pressure and a simultaneous heating and, for that, one uses an electrode which is lowered on the cover 3 in line with the rim 2 , the latter being supported by a counterpart, also mobile, brought under the rim 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, we see a conventional method which consists in mounting an electrode 10 and its counterpart 11 on vertical jacks, the electrode 10 being movable downwards and upwards according to the arrow F1, while the counterpart It is movable up and down according to the arrow F2. The rim 2 and the cover 3 are somehow pinched between the electrode 10 and its counterpart
When these parts are brought together, as shown in the drawing.

 This method is only applicable if the plate 4 is small enough to provide space for the counterpart II and, this, on the four sides of the assembly. In other words, the perimeter of the plate 4 must be less than that of the rim 2.

 However, this solution has the drawback of making it practically impossible to place the container on one of its sides because the edge of the rim 2 and the edge of the corresponding plate 4 are not perpendicular to each other. .

 We can prefer the opposite solution which is illustrated in Figures 3, 4 and 5 and which provides that the rim 2 and the plate 4 have the same perimeter. Then, it becomes possible to place the edge containers, as shown in FIG. 5 and this can be of great importance since the containers can be presented upright, placed on a store shelving, the large face of the cover 3 being vertical. , widely exposed to buyers.

 Figure 4 shows that when the container is placed flat, the horizontal size is exactly the same as that of a conventional box which would have the periphery of the rim 2 and the plate 4. We also see that if the a transparent film is used to form the tray 1, it is possible for buyers to observe the content without opening the container. Here, we have mentioned cookies A arranged obliquely against each other and that we have drawn in thin lines to better materialize the interposition of the tray 1 between them and the eye of the observer.

 Of course, the advantage of being able to observe the products from the short sides of the container is acquired regardless of the relationship between the perimeters of the rim 2 and of the plate 4.

 The sealing of the cover 3 is less simple because the plate 4 no longer allows the vertical passage from bottom to top of the counterpart 11.

 In FIG. 3, it can be seen that a solution consists in using a counterpart 12 having an upper part 13 similar to that of the counterpart 11 and an oblique lower part 14, a pivot 15 allowing the entire counterpart 12 to pass from an active position (shown in solid lines) to an erasing position (shown in dotted lines) and vice versa, according to arrow F3.

 The counterpart 12 can therefore be put in place and removed despite the presence of the plate 4 directly above the rim 2.

 The control means for the electrode 10, the counterpart 11 and the counterpart 12 are of any known type within the reach of those skilled in the art and are therefore not described in detail.

 The container of Figures 1 to 5 is simple because the tray 1 represents a single compartment but it is possible to apply the invention to a compartmentalized tray which, therefore, has two or three bottoms.

 Likewise, the invention applies to honeycombed trays, that is to say trays having a plurality of housings and bottoms, as is the case for the packaging of delicate products such as chocolate confectionery because it it is necessary to place each piece in a special cell.

 In this case, the plate 4 may be subject to each bottom of the cell or to some only, depending on the circumstances.

 When the tray comprises a single bottom or large area bottoms, the plate 4 can be fixed along its entire surface, by zones or by points.

 FIG. 6 represents a container constituted by a honeycomb tray 20 having a single peripheral rim 21 and a plurality of honeycombs 22.

 After thermoforming, the plate 20 receives a plate 4 (for example glued to each bottom of the cells 22), then the products are placed in the cells 22 and, finally, the cover 3 is fixed to the flange 21.

 Depending on the characteristics of the products and / or target markets, we may wish to perfect the packaging by combining the container already described with a more or less complex and luxurious envelope.

 In Figure 7, there is shown a container of the type of that of Figure 2, formed of a single tray 1 whose rim 2 has a larger perimeter than that of the plate.

 After filling and sealing the tray 1, the assembly is surrounded by a blank of printed and creased cardboard to present a large face 30 above the cover 3, two inclined lateral faces 31 and 32, a bottom panel 33 and a closing face 34 fixed to the panel 33. Thus shaped, this blank constitutes a sheath open at its two ends.

 To prevent the container 1-2-3-4 from sliding longitudinally in the sheath which surrounds it, provision may be made for a locking means such as a point of glue on the cover 3 and / or under the plate 4.

 In Figure 8, there is shown a container of the type of that of Figure 2, formed of a single tray 1 whose rim 2 has a larger perimeter than that of the plate.

 After filling and sealing the tray 1, the assembly is placed in a plastic sheath 40, for example transparent, which is closed by transverse welding in the vicinity of the ends, which leaves two margins 41 and 42, as well as is known per se.

 This provides great protection, in particular against humidity, which may be desired when the plate 4 and / or the upper face of the cover 3 are made of cardboard sensitive to humidity and that the storage or transport conditions imply. a very humid environment, rain or other aggressions.

 Naturally, as is well known, it is also possible to create a vacuum between the container proper and the sheath 40.

 Referring now to Figures 9 and 10, we see a more elaborate packaging example since it comprises a container of the type of that of Figures 1 to 6 associated with a covering almost as complete as a box. However, thanks to the invention, a high quality presentation is obtained with more practical means than those known to the skilled person.

 In a first phase, a creased and cut cardboard blank is created as shown in FIG. 9, so that it has a frame 50 which surrounds an opening 51 and which is marked with crease lines 52, 53, 54 and 55 beyond which there is a cover 56 and three walls 57, 58 and 59. Creasing lines 60, 61, 62 and 63 determine the adhesive tabs 64, 65, 66 and 67 on the two short sides of the walls 57 and 59.

 The three walls 57, 58 and 59 have crease lines 68, 69 and 70 beyond which there are flaps 71, 72 and 73 whose function will be described later.

 The cover 56 has, in fact, two parts 56 and 75 separated by a crease line 76. The part 75 has two parallel crease lines 77 and 78 defining a wall 79 and a flap 80.

 Before describing the mounting of a box from the blank of Figure 9, it should be noted that the cutout of the opening 51 creates a panel that is recovered and which constitutes the reinforcement plate 4 of the container, like this is shown in Figure 10.

To obtain complete packaging, we therefore start by creating the blank in Figure 9, then we associate the honeycomb tray 20 with the plate 4 after cutting the opening 51, then we fill the honeycomb tray 20, then we seal by means of the seal 3, then on 1, associate with the box mounted in the following manner
The bonding tabs 64, 65, 66 and 67 are folded along the crease lines 60, 61, 62 and 63. The walls 57, 58 and 59 are folded along the lines 53, 54 and 55 as well as the flaps 71 , 72 and 73 along lines 68, 69 and 70.

 The part 75 of the cover is folded along the line 76 so that it is applied against the part 56 to double it. The wall 79 is folded along the line 77 and the flap 80 along the line 78.

 There is thus obtained a box which is shown in Figure 11, the flaps 71, 72, 73 and 80 are not yet completely folded at right angles to the walls 57, 58, 59 and 79 with which they are integral.

 The walls 57, 58, 59 and 79 are fixed to one another by bonding the legs 64, 65, 66 and 67 and constitute, with the frame 50, a bottomless sidewalk box body.

 The container of FIG. 10 is introduced into the opening 51, in a slightly oblique movement, which is possible since the plate 4 is formed by the part of cardboard removed to create this opening 51 and therefore has the same dimensions as it .

 In FIG. 12, it can be seen that the length L is both that of the opening 51 and that of the plate 4.

 On the other hand, the rim 21 having a larger perimeter cannot penetrate and abuts on the four edges of the frame 5.

 The flaps 71, 72, 73 and 80 are folded back against the underside of the plate 4 and they are fixed there, in particular by gluing, so that the container inside the box forms with it an inseparable assembly because the plate 4 forms sort of the bottom of the whole.

 The cover 56-75 is then folded down and the packaging is almost complete. Generally, for sale, a package of this type is wrapped in a transparent sheet (not shown) which keeps the lid 56-75 closed.

 To access the products contained in the honeycomb tray 20, the possible transparent sheet is removed, the cover 56-75 is lifted, then the cover 3 is removed which is easily detached from the edge 21 on which it is fixed, which reveals the products.

 It should be noted that the packaging of the products in a honeycomb tray (or a tray) closed by a cover makes it possible to use the well-known technique of controlled atmospheres, or even vacuum, which is a guarantee of good protection and good conservation, which is impossible with cardboard boxes of the type of cel-the described with reference to Figures 9, 11 and 12. The invention therefore allows to combine the economic and technical advantages of these packaging and the aesthetic advantages of the boxes.

 Obtaining a rigid container that can be handled independently of the box constitutes very significant progress because it allows mechanization and automation of filling and sealing. Currently, on the contrary, it is not possible to fill a honeycomb tray located outside a box because it is devoid of any mechanical strength. I1 is not possible, either, to place a seal and traditionally isolating the products from the cover 56-75 by means of an independent panel.

 A person skilled in the art knows how to choose the best mounting method: either mount the box "around" the lined and sealed container (gluing tabs 64 to 67), or, as indicated above, pre-mount the box and finishing by gluing the flaps 71, 72, 73 and 80 under the plate 4.

 The container itself can, of course, be associated with an element other than the box described and shown: a box of another type, a display, etc.

 It goes without saying that cardboard parts like the cover can receive all kinds of impressions.

Claims (11)

 1- Container of the type comprising a sheet of thermoformed synthetic material to constitute at least one compartment having a bottom, side walls and a peripheral upper rim, characterized in that this sheet (1-20) is integral with a reinforcing plate (4) located under the fund (s).  2- Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermoformed sheet receives a cover (3) fixed to the flange (2-21) located at the periphery of the sheet (1-20).  3- Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the perimeter of the reinforcing plate (4) is smaller than that of the flange (2-21) located at the periphery of the thermoformed sheet (1-20).  4- Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the perimeter of the reinforcing plate (4) is substantially equal to that of the flange (2) located at the periphery of the thermoformed sheet (1).  5- Container according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet (1-20) is transparent and lets see its content (A), between the reinforcing plate (4) and the cover (3) both opaque and / or printed.  6- Container according to claim 1, characterized in that it is associated with an outer envelope (30-40-50 to 80).  7- container according to claim 6, characterized in that the envelope is constituted by a sheath (30), in particular of cardboard.  8- container according to claim 6, characterized in that the envelope is constituted by a box (50 to 80), in particular of cardboard.  9- container according to claim 6, characterized in that the envelope (30-40-50 to 80) is fixed, in particular by gluing, to the reinforcing plate (4).  10- container according to claim 8, characterized in that the box comprises on the one hand a body composed of an upper sidewalk (50) surrounding an opening (51), side walls (57 to 59) integral with the sidewalk (50 ), fixing flaps (71 to 73) integral with the side walls (57 to 59), and on the other hand a cover (56-75) hinged to one of the edges of the sidewalk (50) and having to be folded over the body after the container (3-4-20) has been introduced through the opening (51) until the reinforcement plate (4) is located at the fixing flaps (71 to 73) folded perpendicularly at the side walls (57 to 59), these fixing flaps (71 to 73) must be subjected, in particular by gluing, to said reinforcing plate (4).  ll-container according to claim 10, characterized in that the opening (51) is obtained by cutting a cardboard blank, the central part removed to create the opening (51) being recovered to constitute the reinforcing plate ( 4).  12-container according to claim 10, characterized in that the perimeter of the reinforcing plate (4) being smaller than that of the flange (21) located at the periphery of the thermoformed sheet (20), this flange (21) rests on the sidewalk (50) surrounding the opening (51) of the box.