FR2688193A1 - Method of manufacturing a container which can be unfolded flat and container which can be unfolded flat - Google Patents

Abstract

A container which can be unfolded flat comprises side faces (22-25) with substantially closed guide channels for a tie (6) for bringing the side faces towards each other and assembling them.

Description

METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING FOLDABLE CONTAINER A
FLAT AND FOLDABLE FLAT CONTAINER
The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a foldable flat container and a foldable flat container.

 Document FR-2 642 399 describes a container of the generally parallelepipedal type with side plates connected together by at least one flexible and sliding clamping link. When the link is released and the container lid open, the side faces move apart and the container opens completely; while, by simple tension on the link, the side faces come together and assemble so as to reform the container.

 The content of document FR-2 642 399 is considered to be incorporated in the present description: the mode of operation of the container obtained by the process according to the present invention is identical to that of the container described in document FR-2 642 399.

 This known type of container is manufactured by cutting from a large cardboard blank using large capacity machines and by folding shutters around flaps to form double-thick side walls trapping a tightening link.

 The object of the present invention is to simplify the manufacture of containers, to save material and to allow manufacture on machines of lower capacity.

The subject of the invention is a method of manufacturing a container which can be folded out flat from a blank of coated cardboard or similar foldable material which can be heat-sealed, bonded or stapled at least locally, characterized in that
- Longitudinal grooves are made in lateral parts articulated by a fold line or the like around a bottom.

- a continuous link is placed in said longitudinal grooves
- Closing pieces are assembled to the side pieces by heat sealing, gluing, stapling or the like so as to trap the link in a space between grooves and substantially flat strips.

According to one of the characteristics of the invention
- A passage is provided in a strip allowing the exit of the link from a confinement space.

 - We pass the link between the passage and the outside diameter of an eyelet or similar reinforcement ring.

 - the link is passed through the eyelet to exit from the side of a corresponding side piece.

 The invention also relates to a foldable flat container obtainable by the method according to the invention.

 This container according to the invention has lateral faces and is characterized in that the lateral faces comprise substantially closed guide gutters for a link for bringing together and assembling the lateral faces.

The invention will be better understood thanks to the description which follows given by way of nonlimiting example with regard to the appended drawings in which
Figure 1 shows a top view of a blank blank for container 1 according to the invention.

 FIG. 2 represents a partial sectional view along the line II-II of FIG. 1.

 FIG. 3 represents a part view in section along the line III-III of FIG. 1.

 FIG. 4 represents a top view of the complementary lateral parts of the container according to the invention.

 Figure 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a container according to 1 Vinvention.

 In the method according to the invention, a foldable material blank such as cardboard is used.

 With reference to FIG. 1, there are cutouts and folds in the blank to define lateral pieces 1, 2, 3, 4 articulated around fold lines around a bottom 5.

 In each lateral part 1, 2, 3, 4 a longitudinal groove 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a is produced respectively.

 The grooves 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a are substantially in the form of a gutter and are easily produced by known methods of knocking out or pushing back on the blank arranged flat.

 The material of the side pieces comprises at least in the vicinity of the gutters 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a an external coating preferably satisfying food standards and weldable (preferably hot, that is to say heat sealable).

 This material is for example a recycled food material such as a cardboard / polyethylene composite or for example a cardboard coated with a thickness of polyethylene of about 50 micrometers.

 With reference to FIG. 2, a continuous link 6 is placed in a gutter 1a, 3a for example a twine or cord of diameter allowing the link 6 to slide easily in the gutter 1a or 3a.

 In a gutter 3a, the link 6 is preferably maintained by being clamped, glued, stapled or fixed by other means so as to prevent the displacement of the link 6.

 A closure part 7, 8 or 9 shown in FIG. 4 is applied in the vicinity of the gutter 1a, 2a or 3a.

 The closing pieces 7, 8 and 9 applying respectively to the side pieces 1, 2 and 3 have substantially flat strips 7a, 8a and 9a in the vicinity of the gutters 1a, 2a and 3a. The strips 7a, Sa and 9 are made integral with the gutters 1a, 2a and 3a on either side of the link 6 by two cohesion zones 10 and 11 which are, for example, joints obtained by heat sealing.

With reference to FIG. 3, a passage eyelet 12 for the two ends of the link 6 shown in section is assembled to the lateral face 4 so as to produce in the gutter 4a an opening 13 through which the link 6 can lead to the outside of the gutter 4a and of the lateral face 4. The outside diameter of the eyelet 12 corresponds substantially to the diameter of a passage or hole 14 formed in a closure piece 15 which covers the outside diameter of the eyelet 12 so that has
the link 6 trapped between a flat strip 15a of the closure part 15 and the gutter 6 heat-sealed to each other sort of this imprisonment space passing between the hole 14 and the outside diameter of the eyelet 12, then make a loop-e to pass inside the eyelet and leave the eyelet on the side of the corresponding side piece 4.

 The assembly by heat sealing of the gutters ia-4a by substantially planar bands overlaps the fact that the link 6 is guided or maintained inside substantially closed gutters, which prevents any overshoot of the link 6 except at the corners of the blank disposed at dish.

 With reference to FIG. 3, the closure parts 7 and 9, capable of being assembled according to their central part to the edges 1 and 3 respectively, each have two flaps respectively 16, 17 each provided with respective flaps 18, 19.

 The closing part 8 is preferably secured to a cover 20 schematically in a view with partial cutaway, articulated by means of a fold line 21.

 According to the invention, the closing piece 8 can also be substantially identical to one of the pieces 7, 9 or 15 and the cover 20, in this case is independent of the closing piece 8.

 The closure pieces 7, 8, 9, 10 are joined to the side pieces 1, 2, 3, 4 to form the side edges of the container according to the invention, preferably by heat sealing.

 To this end, the closure parts 7, 8, 9, 10 are also coated at least at the location of the heat-sealing zones with a heat-sealable material such as a plastic, preferably polyethylene with a thickness of 50 micrometers.

 When the assembly of the closure parts and the lateral parts to constitute the lateral edges 22, 23, 24, 25 of the container shown in FIG. 4 is carried out, the flaps 18 and 19 overlap the inside of the lateral edges 23 and 25 of so as to prevent any jamming or bracing at the corners of the container during the opening and closing operation of the container according to the invention.

 Referring to Figure 5, the e container according to the invention is shown in the position of use. This position is obtained by pulling on the link 6 by means of a seal 26 or similar immobilization piece trapping two strands 6a, 6b of the link 6 having substantially identical lengths, in a manner similar to that described in document FR 2 642. 399.

 The container according to the invention comprises in the example shown a substantially rectangular bottom 5.

The invention also covers any other form of container which can be folded out flat, with or without an attached lid, for example prism-shaped containers with a pentagonal, hexagonal or octagonal base.
The container according to the invention obtained is advantageous in that it can be stored and stacked flat and only needs to be unfolded and locked in the use position after ap. having placed the object to be contained flat on the bottom 5.

 The invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, is in no way limited thereto, but on the contrary encompasses all variant embodiments within the scope and in the spirit of the invention.

 Thus, according to the invention the grooves la-4a in the form of a gutter can be produced on the closure pieces 7-15 and the lateral pieces 1-4 can have substantially flat strips.

 This variant, in which the closure parts and the lateral parts exchange their functions, is equivalent to the embodiment described and is covered by the main and dependent claims.

Claims (6)

 1. Method for manufacturing a foldable flat container from a coated cardboard blank or similar foldable material which can be heat-sealed, bonded or stapled, at least locally, characterized in that  - Longitudinal grooves (1a, 2a, 3a, 4a) are produced in lateral parts (1, 2, 3, 4) articulated by fold line or the like around a bottom (5).  - Closing pieces (7, 8, 9 * 15) are assembled to the side pieces (1, 2, 3, 4) by heat sealing, gluing, stapling or the like so as to trap the link (6) in a space between grooves (la, 2a, 3a, 4a) and substantially planar bands (7a, 8a, 9a, 15a).  - a continuous link (6) is placed in said longitudinal grooves (la-4a)  2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that  a passage (14) is provided in a strip allowing the link (6) to exit from a confinement space.  - Passing the link (6) between the passage (14) and the outer diameter of an eyelet (12) or similar reinforcement ring.  - We pass the link (6) through the eyelet (12) to exit the side of a side piece (4) corresponding.  3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that  - Two strands (16a, 6b) of substantially identical length of the link (6) are trapped by a seal (26) or similar immobilization piece.  4. Container obtained by the manufacturing process according to any one of claims 1 to 3.  5. Container according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises flaps (18, 19) of overlap to avoid jamming or bracing at the corners when passing from the flat storage position to the upright position of use .  6. Deployable container flat, comprising lateral faces, characterized in that lateral faces (2225) comprise gutters (2a, 3a) of substantially closed guide for a link (6) for bringing together and assembling the lateral faces .