FR2744990A1 - Cardboard holder for packs of yoghurt pots - Google Patents

Abstract

The holder, designed to fasten two or more packs of yoghurt pots together for transport and storage prior to display for sale, is made from a pre-cut cardboard panel and consists of a base (26) on which the packs are stood, and two side panels (28,30) with flaps (32,34,36,38). The side panels are folded up from the base against the sides of the packs, and the flaps are folded at 90 degrees to the side panels and inserted between the pots in the two outermost packs to hold the packs together. The dimensions of the side panels are selected so that once the flaps are bent over they lie in line with the spaces between rows of pots. The lower flaps have rounded upper edges for easy insertion beneath the collars joining the pots in the lower layer.

Description

GROUPING ELEMENT FOR ASSEMBLING PACKAGES CONTAINING
POTS JOINED IN PLATES.

 The present invention relates to a cardboard element for grouping several packages containing plates of pots or batches of individual pots, for example yogurt pots.

 It is known to pack yogurt pots in one or more layers in cardboard sales packages which wrap them on four sides, the other two sides of the package remaining open. To transport them to the point of sale, these packages are placed in cardboard grouping trays with a rectangular bottom. The tray is shaped, by bonding two of its side walls on tabs provided at the ends of the other two side walls.

 Such trays require for their manufacture the use of a large amount of cardboard and are therefore expensive.

 In addition, once the packaging has been removed from the shelf and placed on the shelves of a sales area, the shelf becomes unusable and bulky. To allow storage in a small volume before disposal, its side walls must be torn and laid flat. This results in a large amount of waste.

 The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a cardboard element making it possible to group packages for transport, which uses a quantity of cardboard much less than that used in the manufacture of a tray according to the prior art and, therefore, more economical.

 The invention also relates to a cardboard grouping element which can be dismantled without it being necessary to tear it and therefore without forming waste. The grouping element can even possibly be reused.

 The invention also relates to a grouping element of this type which allows the stacking of packaging, while avoiding the sliding of a grouping element relative to that located under it.

 The invention finally relates to a grouping element which is entirely mechanizable.

 All these objects and advantages are obtained with the grouping element according to the invention which is intended to group at least two packages each containing at least one layer of pot plates or individual pots, said packages being arranged side by side in a single row so that their respective open faces are turned on the same side, characterized in that it comprises a cardboard bottom wall on which the packages rest and two lateral cardboard flaps articulated on two opposite sides of said bottom wall, each of the flaps being provided at its ends with at least two tenons capable of being folded at 900 relative to the side flaps and of being fitted respectively in the two passages which are defined between the pots being in the two most distant packages, so as to get stuck under the peripheral collar of said pots or under the wall of said packages.

 This grouping element uses much less cardboard than the tray of the prior art since it has only two side walls, the other two walls being reduced to the studs.

 According to a particular embodiment of the invention, the grouping element is produced from a single blank of cardboard. The posts have an upper edge which, in the service position, is horizontal and is placed against the flange of the pot plates.

 The assembly of this grouping element is carried out by folding the studs perpendicularly to the side flaps, then by pivoting the latter to bring them into a position perpendicular to the bottom wall. To allow the studs to freely introduce into said vertical passages without their risk of abutting against the edge of the collar of the pots, the pot plates must be slightly raised inside their packaging enough so that the edge superior of the posts can pass and arrive at their final position. When the plates return to their low position, their flange comes to rest on said upper edge of the studs, thus blocking the side flaps and preventing them from opening spontaneously.

 To dismantle the grouping element, the side flaps must simply be pivoted in the opposite direction, forcing slightly until the pins are released from under the flanges.

 The invention also relates to an alternative embodiment which makes it possible to avoid lifting the pot plates.

 According to this alternative embodiment, the grouping element is produced in at least two separate parts.

For example, the bottom wall and the two side flaps can be separate. In this case, the side flaps are presented vertically in front of the open faces of the packages and the pins are inserted laterally under the flanges. Once the studs are in place, the side flaps are glued to legs articulated on the bottom wall.

 Similarly, the grouping element can be produced in two parts, namely a bottom wall on which is articulated one of the side flaps, the other side flap being produced separately.

 Advantageously, the side flaps are pierced with holes used to pass the fingers to transport the grouped packaging and to allow good air circulation between the pots.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
FIG. 1 represents a grouping element according to a first embodiment, for assembling packages comprising two layers of pot plates
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the grouping element in an intermediate assembly phase around three packages of yogurt pots
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the grouping element in the assembled state
Figure 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of Figure 3 and showing, in phantom, an intermediate position of the side flap and the studs, and, in solid lines, the final position of the latter
FIG. 5 represents a grouping element according to a second embodiment, formed of three distinct parts;
Figure 6 is a partial perspective view showing one of the independent side flaps of Figure 5, in the insertion position between the pots
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the grouping member of Figure 5 in the assembled state
FIG. 8 shows a grouping element according to a third embodiment, in two parts
FIG. 9 shows a grouping element for packaging comprising a single layer of pot plates and
Figure 10 is an alternative embodiment of the grouping element, with a cover.

 The grouping element 10 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is intended to group three packages 12, 14, 16 each containing two layers of plates, each plate comprising six pots 18, for example of yogurt, arranged in two rows of three pots . In a manner known per se, the ports of the same plate are joined together by their upper peripheral flange 20.

 It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to this single example, but that it also applies to the grouping of at least two packages and that these packages may contain one, two, three or more layers of plates, each plate possibly comprising any even number of pots.

The pots can also be independent of each other and arranged in one or more layers.

 As shown in Figure 3, each package is formed of a cardboard envelope, substantially parallelepiped, open at two opposite ends.

 The grouping element of Figure 1 consists of a single blank of substantially rectangular cardboard on which are marked two parallel fold lines 22, 24 extending in the transverse direction of the blank at equal distances from the transverse edges thereof. this. These fold lines define a rectangular central portion or bottom wall 26 and two rectangular side flaps 28, 30, these three surfaces extending in the transverse direction of the blank.

 The bottom wall 26 has a width equal to the length of each of the packages and a length at most equal to three times the width of a package.

 The three packages 12, 14, 16 are placed side by side on the bottom wall in the longitudinal direction of the blank and they rest by their entire base on the bottom wall.

However, the length of the bottom wall can be shorter and be chosen in such a way that the end packages 12, 16 only rest on part of their base surface. This saves on the amount of cardboard used to manufacture the grouping element.

 Each of the side flaps is provided at its ends with substantially rectangular tenons 32, 34 and 36, 38 respectively, articulated on the side flap along a fold line 40. The dimension of the tenons in the longitudinal direction of the blank 10 is equal at the height of a plate of pots.

 The outer longitudinal edge 42 of the outer studs 32, 36 is straight, while the edge 44 of the studs 34, 38 which is contiguous to the studs 32, 36 is rounded and is extended by a notch 46 located at a distance from the fold line 22 equal to the height of a plate.

 The bottom wall 26 has slots 52, 54 adjoining the fold lines 22, 24 of the side flaps on the bottom wall. The side flaps are provided on their free longitudinal edge with lugs 48, 50. These lugs are capable of fitting into the slots when several grouping elements are superimposed.

 The side flaps 28, 30 are pierced with holes 56 allowing the free circulation of air as well as the introduction of the fingers to lift the grouped packages.

 We will now describe the method of assembling the packages 12, 14, 16 with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4. This method, which is entirely automatic, consists first of all in removing a grouping element 10 from a store, not shown , and place it on a work surface of a grouping machine. The packages 12, 14, 16, conveyed by a conveyor belt, are arranged side by side on the bottom wall 26 with their open faces facing the side flaps.

 The pins 32, 34, 36 and 38 are then erected perpendicular to the side flaps by folding around the fold lines 40. This position is illustrated in FIG. 2. The length 1 of the side flaps is chosen so that the pins are then in the same plane as the vertical passages 57, 58 defined between the rows of pots of the end packages 12 and 16.

 The machine then rotates the side flaps 28, 30 around the fold lines 22, 24 upwards in FIG. 2. At the start of this movement, the lower studs 34, 38 can pass freely under the flanges of the lower plates thanks to the rounded shape of their edge.

To allow the upper tenons 32, 36 to also be inserted in the passages 57, 58 without abutting against the flanges 20 of the upper plates, pushers 60 are provided for lifting together the two plates contained in the end packages 12 and 16 , from their normal position shown in solid lines in Figure 4 to their raised position shown in broken lines. The pushers act through holes 61 drilled in the bottom wall 26. This movement is possible due to the ability of the packages to deform.

 In the raised position of the plates, the upper tenons 32, 36 can be inserted freely under the flange of the upper plates or under the upper wall of the packages 12, 16 and the flange of the lower plates comes into the notches 46. The side flaps are then in the vertical position shown in Figure 4. When the pushers 60 retract, the plates descend. The flanges of the upper plates then come to rest on the upper edge 42 of the upper pins 32, 36, while the edge of the flanges of the lower plates is inserted in the notches 46. The side flaps are then in the position shown in FIG. 3 They cannot spontaneously disengage from this position due to the jamming of the upper lugs 32, 36 under the upper flange. To open the grouping element, it is necessary to exert sufficient traction on the side flaps so that the lugs come to rest release from under the upper flange. This movement is done without damage to the grouping element, so that it can be reused.

 We will now describe the grouping element according to the embodiment of Figure 5. This grouping element is formed of three separate parts constituting the bottom wall 26 and the two side flaps 28, 30. The bottom wall is provided on its longitudinal edges of legs 64,66 foldable along the fold lines 22, 24 and serving to glue the side flaps.

 Grouping of packaging is easier than before. After the packages 12, 14, 16 have been placed on the bottom wall 26, the two side flaps 28, 30, whose tenons 32, 34, 36, 38 have been folded beforehand, are approached the packages in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6. The tenons fit exactly between the rows of pots of the end packages 12 and 16 without it being necessary to lift the pot plates.

Once the side flaps in place, the legs 64, 66 are glued on them. I1 is also not necessary here that the edge of the lower studs 34, 38 is rounded.

 Figure 7 shows the assembly obtained. To open the grouping element, the procedure is as in the previous embodiment.

 Another advantage of this grouping element is that the bottom wall 26 and the side flaps 28, 30 can be produced in different boxes which are best suited to their respective function. Thus, the bottom wall can be made of a cardboard that is not very resistant since it does not support forces, while the side flaps can be made of strong cardboard in order to be able to withstand the forces of vertical compression.

 These same advantages can be obtained with the grouping element of FIG. 8 which is formed in two parts instead of three, namely a bottom wall 26 secured to a side flap 28 and a second separate side flap 30.

In this embodiment, we start by engaging the pins 32, 34, 36, 38 of the side flap 26 between the rows of pots by approaching them laterally as in the embodiment of Figure 6. We then fold the bottom wall 26 to bring it into a horizontal position under the packaging and finally the side flap 30 is put in place as in the embodiment of FIG. 6.

 The grouping element of Figure 9 is used to assemble packages containing a single plate of pots. This grouping element is of the same type as that of FIG. 1 and is distinguished from it only by the fact that the side flaps 28, 30 have at their ends only one pin 32, 36.

 It goes without saying that this grouping element can be formed in two or three parts as in the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 8.

 As shown in FIG. 10, the grouping element according to the invention can be supplemented by the addition of a cover 70 consisting of a cardboard plate provided with four slots 72 in which fit the lugs 48, 50 of the grouping element. The cover is provided with two foldable tabs 74 intended to be glued to the side flaps 28, 30. This gives a unit of three grouped packages suitable for promotional sales to consumers.

 The invention has made it possible to produce grouping elements which are much more economical than those of the known technique, which are more easily assembled and which can be dismantled without having to tear them apart.

Claims (12)

 1. grouping element intended to group at least two packages (12, 14, 26) each containing at least one layer of pot plates (18) or individual pots, said packages being arranged side by side in a single row so that their respective open faces are turned on the same side, characterized in that it comprises a bottom wall (26) of cardboard on which the packages rest and two lateral flaps of cardboard (28, 30) articulated on two opposite sides (22 , 24) of said bottom wall, each of the flaps being provided at its ends with at least two studs (32, 34, 36, 38) capable of being folded 900 with respect to the side flaps and of being nested respectively in the two passages (57, 58) which are defined between the pots located in the two most distant packages (12, 16) of said row of packages, so as to get caught under the flanges (20) of said pots or under the wall of said packaging .  2. grouping element according to claim 1, characterized in that the length 1 of the side flaps (28, 30) is chosen so that when the studs (32,34,36,38) are folded perpendicular to the side flaps, they are in the same planes as the vertical passages (57, 58) defined between the rows of pots of the extreme packages (12, 16).  3. grouping element according to one of the preceding claims, for grouping packages each containing a single plate of pots, characterized in that the side flaps (28, 30) are provided at each of their ends with a single tenon (32, 36), the latter being provided with a horizontal edge (42) intended to be inserted under the flange (20) of the plate of pots.  4. grouping element according to one of claims 1 to 5, for grouping packages each containing two or more layers of pot plates, characterized in that the side flaps (28, 30) are provided each from their ends as many tenons (32, 34, 36, 38) as there are layers of plates in the packages, only the upper tenons (32, 36) being provided with a horizontal edge (42) intended to be inserted under the flange (20) of the upper plate, while the lower studs (34, 38) have an edge (44) rounded on an inlet portion so as to allow the free insertion of the lower studs under the flanges (20) of the lower plates, said rounded edge being followed by a notch (46) which overlaps the edge of the flange.  5. grouping element according to claim 1, characterized in that it is made from a single blank of cardboard.  6. grouping element according to claim 1, characterized in that it is produced in at least two separate parts.  7. grouping element according to claim 6, characterized in that the bottom wall (26) consists of a cardboard blank provided on two opposite sides with foldable legs (64, 66) and in that the side flaps ( 28, 30) are produced separately from the bottom wall and can be attached thereto, after their studs have been put in place in said passages (57, 58), by bonding to said legs.  8. grouping element according to claim 7, characterized in that the side flaps (28, 30) are made of a cardboard resistant to vertical compression forces, and the bottom wall (26) is made of a less resistant cardboard.  9. grouping element according to claim 6, characterized in that the bottom wall (26) and one of the side flaps (28) are made in the same blank of cardboard and in that the other side flap (30 ) is produced separately and attached to the bottom wall by bonding to a foldable tab (66) provided on the edge of the bottom wall opposite the first side flap (28).  10. grouping element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottom wall (26) has slots (52, 54) adjoining the fold lines (22, 24) of the side flaps on the bottom wall and the side flaps are provided on their free longitudinal edge with lugs (48, 50), the lugs of a grouping element being capable of fitting into the slots of a grouping element placed above it.  11. grouping element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side flaps are pierced with holes (56) for the passage of the fingers and to allow air circulation between the pots.  12. grouping element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises a cover (70) consisting of a cardboard plate provided with slots (72) in which fit the pins (48, 50 ), said cover being provided with foldable tabs (74) intended to be glued to the side flaps (28, 30).