FR2867753A1 - Package for containing products, has flap arranged at one end of front, base and rear panels to delimit housing, where one top edge of panels is connected to another top edge and flap is supported on panels with respect to former top edge - Google Patents

Abstract

The package has front, base and rear panels (11, 20, 22) presenting two top edges extending along a longitudinal direction of the panels. A closing panel (24) extends above one top edge. A flap (6) is arranged at one end of the panels (11, 20, 22) to delimit a housing. Another top edge is connected to the former top edge, where the flap is supported on the panels (11, 20, 22) with respect to the latter top edge. Independent claims are also included for the following: (A) a package assembly including two divisible packaging cases with individual packages (B) a pre-form for obtaining a divisible packaging case (C) a process for obtaining divisible packaging cases.

Description

The invention relates generally to the field of

  packaging made from sheets of flexible material such as cardboard.

  The invention relates more particularly to an individual package, a breakable packaging box comprising such individual packages, a pre-box and a method of forming such a breakable box from such a pre-box.

  Breakable packaging boxes generally consist of a set of individual packages attached to each other to form a homogeneous and convenient box for transporting and storing unit products each disposed in one of the individual packages.

  Typically, each of the individual packages receives a product identical to the others so that the breakable box can be labeled as containing a certain number of identical products, the separation of the different packages subsequently making it possible to broadcast each unit of this product in its individual packaging. .

  Very often in the field of logistics and storage, unit products, for example for retail sale, are arranged in an individual package. A carton, forming a collective package, is then filled with a number of these individual packages stacked and stored inside the carton in an orderly manner.

  To avoid putting the cartons into each other, it is used breakable packaging boxes that are collective packaging becoming a plurality of individual packages without requiring the use of a separate collective container, which provides a significant gain in packaging material.

  Such breakable packages are known which comprise a set of individual tanks grouped together in a tube. These individual tanks are five-sided parallelepiped packs, that is to say a box without lid, which are arranged side by side inside a tube wrapping them while forming the lid of each of the individual tanks. The tube further comprises transverse dotted cutouts, each of the individual tanks being disposed between two of these successive cuts of the tube.

  The linear assembly formed by the tube enclosing the individual tanks then fulfills the function of collective packaging while each of the individual tanks with its associated tube portion fulfills the individual packaging function once it detached from the assembly through with dotted cutouts.

  A variant of this type of breakable box is to replace the tube by a longitudinal lid formed in one piece and allowing the individual tanks to remain agglomerated.

  The invention aims to provide a breakable box with individual packages, fulfilling the functions described above while being simple, convenient and economical.

  It proposes for this purpose an individual packaging of flexible material, such as cardboard, comprising a housing adapted to be closed by a cover, this package being characterized in that it comprises: a tubular body having two first slices of vertex extending along the longitudinal direction of the tubular body, a closure panel forming said cover and extending beyond one of the first top slices; two flaps, each disposed at one end of the tubular body, transversely to said longitudinal direction, for delimiting said housing laterally, each flap comprising a second edge wafer; each second vertex wafer being attached at its ends to one of the ends of one of the first vertex slices, the flap being in abutment with the tubular body opposite the second summit slices.

  The invention also relates to a breakable packaging box comprising at least two of the aforementioned individual packages, these packages being attached to one another by detachable connection means arranged transversely to said tubular body, between two consecutive flaps belonging to each to one of the individual packages, these detachable connecting means extending over the entire section of the tubular body and the closure panel.

  This breakable box saves the packaging material as much as the individual packages have almost no double fold of flexible material.

  The side walls of the individual packages are derived from the upper face of the profile. Its shutters make it possible, in addition to saving material, to participate in the rigidity of the packaging due to their transversely folded position, which also saves the material of any structural reinforcements that are no longer needed here.

  A tubular body such as that of a packaging according to ECMA F1001 (European Carton Makers Association) can thus be used to form individual dwellings.

  The tubular body may have a convenient rectangular section for stacking the packages.

  According to one embodiment, the tubular body and the closure panel are formed in one piece by a strip of flexible material, a first end of which is folded in a loop against the body of the strip, this first end comprising a fastening tab. attached to the band so as to form said tubular body, the portion of the band extending between the junction of the fastening tab to the band and the second end forming said closure panel and the individual package can thus be realized d one piece.

  Moreover, each flap may have a dimension in said longitudinal direction equivalent to half the size of the tubular body in this longitudinal direction. The edge of each flap that is opposite to the second vertex edge may be rectilinear.

  The flaps can thus be formed from an upper face of the tubular body through a cut perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

  According to a preferred characteristic, the first vertex slices are attached to the second vertex slices by articulations formed by pre-folds, these articulations being each arranged at one of the four corners of said recess and make it possible to transform the quasi-totality of the upper face. from the profile into a pair of shutters.

  For the sake of convenience, each of the articulations forms a first triangle comprising a first side formed by a pre-pleat of attachment to the flap, a second side formed by a pre-pleat attached to the tubular body, and a third side formed by a cutout. extending between the second side and the flap, each of these joints being adapted to pivot about said second side.

  An additional pre-ply extending obliquely from the top of the triangle formed by the second and third sides may be provided, this pre-pleat forming a second triangle with the second side of the first triangle and an edge of the tubular body so as to allow free movement of the first triangles.

  According to a preferred feature, the apex formed by said second and third sides of each of the first two triangles located on the side of the closure panel coincides with the tubular body.

  According to another preferred feature, a notch is made in the tubular body between the two cutouts each forming the third side of each of the first two triangles located on the side of the closure panel.

  According to preferred features relating to the closure panel: the tubular body has a pre-pleat disposed along the longitudinal direction of the body, between the closure panel and the body, so as to allow the articulation of the closure panel with respect to the body; a closure flap is attached by a pre-pleat to the free end of the closure panel; - The closure flap has at its end a closure tongue and a closing slot is formed in the body, the closure tongue being adapted to be inserted into the closing slot when the closure panel and the closure flap are arranged against the tubular body.

  With regard to the breakable packaging box comprising such individual packages, the detachable connection means may be formed of a linear precut.

  The breakable box may also comprise at each of its longitudinal ends an end panel connected by a pre-fold to the flap adjacent to this end, this end panel being adapted to be folded transversely to the longitudinal direction of the body.

  According to a preferred feature of the breakable box, it comprises, at each of its ends, a projecting flap adapted adapted to be attached with a similar junction flap. This junction flap may comprise a slot.

  The splice flap may also be detachably connected to an end panel connected by a pre-pleat to the flap adjacent to this end, this end panel being adapted to be folded transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body.

  A packaging assembly comprising two breakable packaging boxes, these boxes being connected to each other at their ends by means of said joining flaps, can thus be obtained.

  According to another object, the invention aims a pre-box for obtaining a breakable packaging box as described above, the shutters of this pre-box being arranged in the extension of each other, in said direction longitudinal.

  The shutters can also be arranged parallel to the closure panel.

  Furthermore, the section of the tubular body can form a deformable parallelogram flattened.

  According to another object, the invention provides a method for obtaining a breakable packaging box as described above from a pre-box as described above, this method comprising the following steps: - opening of the pre-box so as to set the volume of the tubular body; - Folding flaps transversely to the longitudinal direction. The method may further include a step of closing side flaps disposed at the ends of the tubular body.

  Moreover, the flaps folding step can be performed by pinching the flaps two by two, on either side of the detachable connecting means.

  The following steps can also be envisaged alone or in combination: detachment of a joining flap; - closure of the closure panel; - Removal of unit products in the individual housing of the box, before the closing step of the closure panel.

  According to another object, the invention relates to a process for obtaining an individual package as described above from a breakable packaging box as described above, this method comprising a detachment step of at least 1 one of the detachable connection means.

  According to another object, the invention relates to a method for obtaining a packaging assembly as described above from two breakable packaging boxes as described above, this method comprising a step of joining two flaps of junction each belonging to one of the breakable boxes.

  This method may further comprise a step of holding the two joining flaps, once connected, against a flap of one of the breakable boxes.

  Other features and advantages of the invention appear in the light of the description which follows of a preferred embodiment given by way of non-limiting example, description made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a plan view of the packaging blank adapted to the production of a breakable box according to the invention; - Figure 2 shows the blank of Figure 1 after being bent and during a sizing operation; FIG. 3 shows the blank of FIG. 2 after the gluing operation, thus forming a pre-box intended to become a box in a few simple operations; FIG. 4 represents in perspective the pre-box of FIG. 3 during an intermediate step of its transformation into a breakable box, its tubular body having been set here in volume; - Figure 5 is similar to Figure 4 and shows a later step in which the flaps were folded transversely; - Figure 6 shows the breakable box in the subsequent step to that of Figure 5, the closure panel having been put in place; - Figure 7 shows in perspective an end of the breakable box obtained following the operations of Figures 4, 5, 6, a salient junction flap being visible here; - Figure 8 shows the ends of two breakable boxes being attached to each other through their respective connecting flaps; FIG. 9 shows the two breakable boxes of FIG. 8 once the junction is made; 10 shows an individual package according to the invention, obtained after rupture of the detachable connection means of the breakable box of Figure 6, the inner housing of the individual package being here closed by the cover; - Figure 11 is a perspective view of the individual package of Figure 9, the individual housing being here open; and Figure 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 but for another embodiment in which the tubular section has a circular section.

  Figure 1 is a top view showing a packaging blank adapted to the realization of a breakable box which will itself be adapted to be separated into individual packages.

  In this figure, as well as all the others, the pre-creases and the cuts made in the blank are indicated by continuous lines.

  The blank has a general shape of rectangle with only a limited number of flaps or tongues.

  This general form of rectangle consists of transverse strips 1 juxtaposed, each of these strips 1 corresponding to the blank of an individual package.

  One of these bands 1 will now be described. In order not to overload the drawings, the constituent elements of only one of the bands 1 have been numbered. This numbering however also applies to the other bands 1, which are identical.

  With reference to FIG. 1, each of the strips 1 comprises, on its lower part, a first rear panel 2, a notch 3 and two rear hinges 4.

  The rear joints 4 have a substantially triangular shape, a first side of which is formed by a pre-ply 5 attached to the adjacent flap 6, the second side by a pre-ply 7 extending obliquely, and the third side of which is a cutout 8 delimiting the notch 3.

  An additional pre-ply 9 is further provided between the vertex of the triangle adjacent to the second side 7 and the third side 8 and the lateral edge of the first rear panel 2.

  The first rear panel 2 is attached to an upper face panel by an arcuate delimitation comprising the pre-plies 5 and a cutout 5 'delimiting the notch 3.

  The upper face panel has a rectilinear cut transverse in its middle defining on this portion two symmetrical flaps 6. The upper face panel is attached at its other end to a front panel 11 via two front joints 12, identical to the rear joints 4 if not their third side 13 which is a rounded precut while their first side 14 and their second side 15 are both made of pre-pleats.

  An additional pre-ply 16 is also provided on the front panel 11 in the same manner as for the rear joints 4.

  The front panel 11 also has a notch 17 and a dashed precut 18 disposed against the notch 17.

  The front panel 11 is attached, at a pre-pleat 19, to a bottom panel 20 substantially of the same shape as the upper face panel formed by the two flaps 6. The precut 18 continues further on this bottom panel 20.

  The bottom panel 20 is attached by its opposite edge to the pre-pleat 19, at a pre-pleat 21, to a second rear panel 22. This second rear panel 22 has a contour which is substantially the same as that of the front panel 11 .

  A pre-pleat 23 makes it possible to reattach the second rear panel 22 to a closure panel 24 of substantially the same contour as the bottom panel 20. A closure flap 25 is further attached to the closure panel 24 by a pre-fold 26, at the level of the edge of the closure panel 24 opposite the pre-fold 23. The closure flap 25 further comprises a closing tab 27 projecting.

  In the example of FIG. 1, five transverse bands 1 identical to the one just described are juxtaposed longitudinally along their longest side, being connected to each other by dotted pre-cuts 27.

  The general rectangular shape of the blank of FIG. 1 is thus constituted by the juxtaposition of these five transverse bands 1, whereas tabs and flaps protrude from this rectangle from the free lateral ends of the two strips 1 which are the most left and rightmost of the blank, with reference to FIG.

  At the level of the leftmost band 1 in the figure, the flap 6 which has a free edge is attached by this edge, at a pre-fold 28 to a first side flap 29 itself attached by a pre-pleat 30 to a first lateral tongue 31.

  The first lateral flap 29 is further attached by its lower edge, at a reinforced dotted precut 32, to a first joining flap 33 which has a slot 34.

  Furthermore, the front panel 11 and the second rear panel 22 are attached by their free edge each respectively to two single flaps 35, 36 by pre-folds 37, 38.

  With regard to the rightmost transverse strip 1 in FIG. 1, the flap 6 having a free edge is attached by a pre-pleat 39 to a second lateral flap 40 which is itself connected by a pre-pleat 41 to a lateral tongue 41 '.

  The front panel 11 is here connected to a single flap 42 by a pre-fold 42 ', in the same way as the front panel 11 of the left-most band 1.

  As for the second rear panel 22, it is connected to a second connecting flap 43 by a pre-fold 44. The second connecting flap 43 is identical to the free flaps 35, 36, 42 except for the presence of a slot 45 on this second joining flap 43.

  A pre-box as flat as possible is advantageously obtained from the blank of Figure 1, this pre-box can be easily stored and transported to then be transformed into a box volume manually or automatically. Figures 2 and 3 show the two steps necessary to achieve such a pre-box.

  FIG. 2 shows the blank of FIG. 1 after a folding operation along all the pre-folds 14 of each of the transverse strips 1.

  This folding operation makes it possible to return the flaps 6 and the first rear panel 2 of each of the strips 1 to the front panel 11 and the corresponding bottom panel 20 so that the free edge of each of the first rear panels 2 is that opposite the pre-pleats 5, 5 ', coincides approximately with the corresponding pre-pleat 21 defining the beginning of the second rear panel 22. The result of this folding operation is shown in FIG. 2.

  A sizing operation is then performed. The glue or any adhesive is deposited on the first back panels 2 along the axis 46 of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the second rear panels 22 and the closing panels 24 are then folded, always along the pre-plies 21, on the flaps 6 and the first rear panels 2.

  The bonding of each first rear panel 2 with the corresponding second rear panel 22 is thus achieved and it leads to the pre-box shown in FIG. 3. This pre-box thus comprises three thicknesses of flexible material.

  The operations for transforming the pre-box of Figure 3 into a breakable packaging box will now be described.

  It is first necessary to "open" the pre-box by separating the closing panel 24 of the flaps 6 until the bottom panel 20 is approximately perpendicular to the second rear panel 22. By bonding the first rear panel 2 on the second rear panel 22, the box is put in volume by this operation since a tubular body is formed by the bottom panel 20, the front panel 11, the second rear panel 22 and the flaps 6 provided with their joints 4 , 12.

  This tubular body here has a rectangular section and extends in a longitudinal direction corresponding to the horizontal in FIG.

  After its setting volume, the pre-box is placed on its bottom panel 20 as shown in Figure 4.

  The following operation is to fold down the flaps 6 to obtain the box of Figure 5. During this operation, the flaps 6 are easily easily folded manually in pairs using the thumb and forefinger forming a clamp around the precut 27 passing between the flaps 6 of two adjacent transverse strips 1. These forming operations of the pre-cut packaging box can of course be automated.

  The box thus has five internal housing to accommodate unit products. These internal housings are filled during this stage and can be wedged laterally thanks to the mobility of the shutters 6.

  The closure panel 24 is then folded to close the internal volumes delimited by the flaps 6 by inserting the closure tabs into the notches 17 (see Figure 6). It then remains, at each longitudinal end of the box, to fold down the flaps 36, 37, 42, 43 and to close the side flaps 29, 40 against the flaps 6 located at each of these longitudinal ends of the box.

  A breakable packaging box is thus obtained.

  Figure 7 is a partial view of the breakable box thus formed and showing one of its longitudinal ends. Note that the first connecting flap 33 protrudes from one of the corners of the box.

  In the case of using this box alone, the first splice flap 33 can be detached from the first side flap 29 along the precut 32.

  If it is desired to make two of these breakable packaging boxes integral, the first joining flap 33 must be kept and the second joining flap 43 of the second box must be presented facing each other so as to be able to hook these two flaps 33, 43 through their slots 34, 45 (see Figure 8). This operation being performed at each end of the boxes, each second flap 43 and single fold flap 42 are then folded to their respective location and held by closing the second side flap 40 corresponding (see Figure 9).

  These breakable packaging boxes can thus be coupled two by two.

  When it is desired to dispose of the objects present in the internal housings of these breakable packaging boxes, it suffices to detach each individual package 47. One of these packages 47 is mounted in FIG.

  By a manual or automatic operation, a force of shear, torsion and / or traction is exerted on either side of one of the precuts 27. This then gives way and one obtains an individual package 47 comprising a internal volume delimited by the bottom panel 20, the closure panel 24, the front panels 11 and rear 22, and the flaps 6 arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body.

  The joints 4, 12 and the additional pre-plies 9, 16 allow a certain mobility of the flaps 6 to, for example, wedge the contents of the box 47. Each flap 6 rests against the bottom panel 20.

  This individual box can, in the same way, be transported and stored always protecting the unit element it contains. This element is then released by simply opening the closure panel 24 as shown in FIG. 11.

  Alternative embodiments of these boxes and pre-boxes can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the tubular body described above may be of a section other than rectangular, for example circular, according to FIG.

Claims (32)

  1. Individual packaging (47) of flexible material, such as cardboard, comprising a housing adapted to be closed by a lid, this packaging being characterized in that it comprises: - a tubular body (11, 20, 22) having first two top slices (2, 11) extending in the longitudinal direction of the tubular body, a closure panel (24) forming said cover and extending beyond one of the first top slices (2) ; - two flaps (6) each disposed at one end of the tubular body, transversely to said longitudinal direction, to delineate said housing laterally, each flap (6) having a second top edge; each second edge wafer being attached at its ends to one of the ends of one of the first top wafers (2, 11), the flap (6) bearing on the tubular body opposite the second wafers; of summit.   2. Individual package according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular body has a rectangular section.   3. Individual package according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the tubular body and the closure panel (24) are formed in one piece by a strip of flexible material whose first end (2) is folded in a loop against the body of the band, this first end (2) comprising a fastening tab attached to the band so as to form said tubular body, the portion of the band extending between the junction of the fastening tab to the band and the second end forming said closure panel (24).   4. Individual package according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each flap (6) has a dimension in said longitudinal direction equivalent to half the size of the tubular body in this longitudinal direction.   5. Individual package according to claim 4, characterized in that the edge of each flap (6) which is opposite the second top edge is rectilinear.   6. Individual package according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first top slices (2, 11) are attached to the second vertex slices by joints (4, 12) formed by pre-folds, these joints each being disposed at one of the four corners of said housing.   7. Individual package according to claim 6, characterized in that each of the hinges (4, 12) forms a first triangle having a first side (5, 14) formed by a pre-ply of attachment to the flap (6), a second side ( 7, 15) formed by a pre-pleat of attachment to the tubular body, and a third side (8, 13) formed by a cutout extending between the second side (7, 15) and the flap (6), each of these joints. (4, 12) being adapted to pivot about said second side (7, 15).   8. Individual package according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises an additional prepliure (9, 16) starting obliquely from the top of the triangle formed by the second (7, 15) and third (8, 13) sides, this pre-fold (9, 16) forming a second triangle with the second side (7, 15) of the first triangle (4, 12) and an edge of the tubular body.   9. Individual package according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the apex formed by said second (7) and third (8) sides of each of the two first triangles (4) located on the side of the closure panel ( 20) coincides with the tubular body.   10. Individual package according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a notch (3) is formed in the tubular body between the two cutouts (8) each forming the third side of each of the first two triangles (4). ) located on the side of the closing panel (20).   11. Individual package according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a pre-fold (23) disposed along the longitudinal direction of the body, between the closure panel (24) and the body, so to allow the articulation of the closing panel (24) relative to the body.   12. Individual package according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a closure flap (25) is attached by a pre-pleat to the free end of the closure panel (24).   An individual package according to claim 12, characterized in that the closure flap (25) has at its end a closure tongue (25 ') and in that a closing slot (17) is formed in the body, the closing tab (25 ') being adapted to be inserted into the closing slot (17) when the closing panel (24) and the closing flap (25) are arranged against the tubular body.   14. A breakable packaging box comprising a plurality of individual housings detachably connected, characterized in that it comprises at least two individual packages (47) according to one of claims 1 to 13 attached to one another by detachable connecting means (27) arranged transversely to said tubular body, between two consecutive flaps (6) each belonging to one of the individual packages (47), these detachable connecting means (27) extending over the entire section of the tubular body and on the closure panel (24).   15. A breakable packaging box according to claim 14, characterized in that the releasable connection means are formed of a linear precut (27).   16. A breakable packaging box according to one of claims 14 or 15, characterized in that it comprises at each of its longitudinal ends an end panel (29, 40) connected by a pre-fold (28, 39) to flap (6) adjacent to this end, this end panel (29, 40) being adapted to be folded transversely to the longitudinal direction of the body.   17. A breakable packaging box according to one of claims 14 to 16, characterized in that it comprises, at each of its ends, a connecting flap (33, 43) salient adapted to be attached with a flap junction similar.   18. A breakable packaging box according to claim 17, characterized in that the joining flap (33, 43) has a slot (34, 45).   19. A breakable packaging box according to one of claims 17 or 18, characterized in that the connecting flap (33) is detachably connected to an end panel (29) connected by a pre-fold (28) to the flap (6) adjacent to this end, this end panel (29) being adapted to be folded transversely to the longitudinal direction of the tubular body.   20. Packing assembly characterized in that it comprises two breakable packaging boxes (47) according to one of claims 17 to 19, these boxes (47) being connected to one another by their ends through said joining flaps (33, 43).   21. Pre-box for obtaining a breakable packaging box according to one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that the flaps (6) are arranged in the extension of each other, in said longitudinal direction. .   22. Pre-box according to claim 21, characterized in that the flaps (6) are arranged parallel to the closure panel (24).   23. Pre-box according to one of claims 21 or 22, characterized in that the section of the tubular body forms a deformable parallelogram flattened.   24. Process for obtaining a breakable packaging box according to one of claims 14 to 19 from a pre-box according to one of claims 21 to 23, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: - opening of the pre-box so as to volume the tubular body; - Folding flaps (6) transversely to the longitudinal direction.   25. A method according to claim 24, characterized in that it further comprises a step of closing side flaps (29, 40) disposed at the ends of the tubular body.   26. Method according to one of claims 24 or 25, characterized in that the flap folding step (6) is performed by pinching the flaps (6) in pairs, on either side of the connecting means detachable (27).   27. Method according to one of claims 24 to 26, characterized in that it further comprises a detachment step of a connecting flap (33).   28. Method according to one of claims 24 to 27, characterized in that it further comprises a closing step of the closure panel (24).   29. The method of claim 28, characterized in that it comprises, before the closing step of the closure panel (24), a step of depositing unit products in the individual housing of the box.   30. Process for obtaining a single package (47) according to one of claims 1 to 13 from a breakable packaging box according to one of claims 14 to 19, characterized in that it comprises a detachment step of at least one of the detachable connecting means (27).   31. A method of obtaining a packaging assembly according to claim 20 from two boxes breakable packaging according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that it comprises a step of joining two flaps. junction (33, 43) each belonging to one of the breakable boxes.   32. The method of claim 31, characterized in that it further comprises a step of maintaining the two joining flaps, once connected, against a flap (6) of one of the breakable boxes.