GB2160507A

GB2160507A - Tray formed from a blank

Info

Publication number: GB2160507A
Application number: GB08415984A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Alfred Plummer
Original assignee: UK CORRUGATED Ltd
Current assignee: UK CORRUGATED Ltd
Priority date: 1984-06-22
Filing date: 1984-06-22
Publication date: 1985-12-24
Also published as: GB8415984D0

Abstract

An open-top tray is erected from a blank made of a foldable flat material such as corrugated board to define a base (B), sides (S1 S2) and ends (e1 e2) that are retained by the outfolding of outboard side walls (S3 S4) to provide inter alia a tray in which the colour of the top surface of the blank is wholly exhibited on the interior faces of the inside of the tray. Said tray being able to be erected with goods placed in situ. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Blank and improved method of erecting an open-top tray This invention relates to an improved method of erecting an open-top tray and a blank therefor, the erecting is preferably effected by automatic machine action.

It is well known in the packaging art to provide a substantially rectangular blank of card board, corrugated fibre-board orsimilarfiatfoldable material that can be folded along internal crease lines to form an open-top tray. Such a blank as will be shown in greater detail below cannot readily be erected (i) in forward motion (ii) without a forming tool and (iii) with the product in situ. Again, it cannot, without extra expense, give wholly to the inside of the tray that colour of the top side of the blank, a disappointment when that colour for aesthetic purpose, or for food hygiene, is to be for example white.

All of these difficulties are overcome by the method of the present invention which enables a blank to be erected with for example the goods in situ and to provide an open-top tray of a new and useful form.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming an open-top tray in which a blank having a base and side walls is erected with a support body on the base, opposed side walls being first erected then the remaining side walls with suitable tabs trapped between the outer faces of the said opposed side walls and the inner faces of outerboard side walls that are out-folded of the tray.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an open-top tray whenever made by the above stated method.

According to yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a blank of a relatively heavy corrugated fibre board, as hereinafter defined, said blank having a plurality of crease lines and cuts to delimit certain areas such as base side walls and outset crease tabs of an open-top tray to be erected therefrom, said blank having crease lines on the top surface for in-folding of said certain areas and crease lines on the bottom surface for out-folding of certain areas.

The invention will be made fully understood from the following description given by way of example only with reference to the several Figures of the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa plan view of the top face of a known substantially rectangular blank; Figure 1A is a known open-top tray partly erected therefrom and is shown in oblique perspective; Figure 1B is an oblique perspective view to show the colour surfaces of the known tray; Figures 2, 2A and 2B are equivalent views to those of Figures 1 ,1A,1 B for the present invention; and Figure 3 is a view in oblique perspective of two modified identical blanks erected into two self stacking trays.

Figure 4 is a view in parallel perspective of a modified form of tray.

Referring now to the known art shown in Figures 1,1A and 1 B, a substantially rectangular blank shown generally at 10 has twelve internal crease lines, four cuts orthogonally disposed and three co-operating tabs and tab locating apertures. The twelve creases are all on the top surface of the blank and are denoted by C1 to C12 (dotted lines). The four cuts are denoted by K1 to K4 (double lines) and the three tabs and the co-operating tab apertures by T1 -T3 and t1 - t3. The tabs E3-E6 are inset crease tabs. The blank is shown white on the top face of its base B the end walls e1 e2 the wall tabs E3 to E6 and the side walls S - S4. A dark colour is given to the underside (cross hatched) as is clear from Figure 1 B where the underside of the blank is revealed in certain rabatted or partly rabatted surfaces.

The erection takes place as is well understood by what is termed in the art in-folding and in a board of substantial weight the creases C1 to C12 are often internally indented of the top surface to encourage the said in-folding of the blank or they may be linear perporations. The end-wall tabs E3 to E5 are trapped by the in-folding of the side walls S1 and S2 and the further in-folding of the out board side walls S3 and 54. When the top edge is of a substantial thickness, that is to say the distance of separation between Cg and C10 and C11 and C12 is substantial the tabs E3 E4, E5 E6 slock about and are not well trapped. It is to be noted that the white inside is now over laid by certain dark underside areas of the blank that now make-up inside surfaces of the tray.It has proven extremely difficult to overcome the difficulties referred to above and which difficulties are essentially exhibited by the known blank and known tray of Figures 1, 1Aand 18.

We turn now to Figures 2, 2A and 2B of the present invention where identical integers to those used in Figures 1, 1 A and 1 B refer to substantially identical parts of the blank and tray.

In Figure 2, the blank shown generally at 10, is of substantially rectangularform and is made from a relatively heavy board of corrugated fibre board that is to say a board of calliper 2 to 8 mm (0.078 to 0.315 inch). The blank has eight in-fold creases C1 to C8 (dotted) on the top surface of the blank, four out-fold creases D1 32. ..3 D4 (chain dotted) on the bottom surface of the blank and four cuts K1 to K4 (double lines) all of said creases and cuts are orthogonally disposed with suitable offsets as shown for example at 01 and 2 to accommodate the thickness of the board, hence tabs E3 - E6 are outset crease tabs.

Alternatively the crease lines may take the form of linear perforations. The open-top tray is erected as shown in Figure 2A, but now the end wall tabs E3 to E6 are trapped, after the in-folding of side walls S1 and S2 by the out-folding of the outboard side walls S3 and S4 about crease lines D1 D2 D3 34- It is to be appreciated that a change of the width (W1) of double outfold crease line 21 D2 will give a substantial top edge surface to the tray for stacking purposes.

In this construction the out-folded outboard side walls S3S4 are glued or pinned into position against the outer faces of side walls S1 and S2 and no slocking of the tabs E3 - E6 can occur. The top colour of the blank is now wholly retained on all inside surfaces of the tray. (See Figure 2B). It is to be noted that by this one single important action, namely the out-fold action the blank erection can proceed with the goods placed in situ on base B, since their presence does not interfere with the out-fold.Further, no forming tool is required in the erection and the tray can be erected in forward motion, a feature not available in the erection of a blank as shown in Figure 1 when often the two outboard side walls (S3 S4) are of such a width that the in-folding requires a sequential operation since they obstruct one another and thereby necessitate a dwell period in the forward advance of the assembly line.

Clearly no unfolded tray can be erected with the goods in situ.

A modified form of open-top tray shown in Figure 3 has its outboard side walls (S3S4) increased in the distance d1 (Figure 2) so that d2 exceeds d1 and gives a bottom retention edge to the tray which facilitates stacking of identical trays.

In Figure 4 a further crease line is provided on each out board side wall S3 S4 at > 5 D6 to ensure a secure entrappment of the end wall flaps E3 E4 E5 E6 and yet give substantially wide top stacking edges at W3 W4 with substantially vertical inside walls at S1 52.

It is to be understood that the term side walls is herein meant to include both side and end walls depending upon the dimensions and orientation of the packaging case.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A method of forming an open-top tray in which a blank having a base and side walls is erected with a support body on the base, opposed side walls being first erected then the remaining side walls with suitable tabs trapped between the outer faces of the said opposed side walls and the innerfaces of outboard side walls which are out-folded of the tray. 2. The method as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the support body is the goods perse to be accepted by the open-top tray. 3. An open-top tray whenever made by the method of Claim 1 or Claim 2. 4. An open-top tray made by the method of Claim 1 or Claim 2 having a single colour on the inner surface that is the colour of the top of a blank from which it is erected. 5. A blank of a relatively heavy corrugated fibre board, as hereinbefore defined said blank having a plurality of crease lines and cuts to delimit certain areas such as base, side walls and outset crease tabs of an open-top tray to be erected therefrom, said blank having crease lines on the top surface for in-folding of said certain areas and crease lines on the bottom surface for outfolding of certain areas. 6. The blank as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the blank is of substantially rectangular form and the crease lines and cuts are substantially orthogonally disposed. 7. The blank as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6, wherein the bottom surface crease lines delimit outboard side walls integral with said side walls to allow out-folding of said outboard side walls. 8. The blank as claimed in Claims 5, 6 or 7 wherein some or all of the crease lines are linear perforations to allow either in or out folding. 9. A blank substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings. 10. An open-top tray constructed and arranged as hereinbefore described and as shown in Figures 2A, 283 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: *(a) Claims 1-10 above have been deleted or textually amended. *(b) New or textually amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. A method of forming an open-top tray in which a blank having a base and side walls is erected with a load body on the base, opposed side walls being first erected then the remaining side walls with suitable tabs trapped between the outer faces of the said opposed side walls and the inner faces of outboard side walls which are out-folded of the tray.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the load body is the goods per sue to be accepted by the open-top tray.

3. An open-top tray whenever made by the method of claim 1 or claim 2.

4. An open-top tray as claimed in claim 3 having a single colour on the inner surface that is the colour of the top of a blank from which it is erected.

5. An open-top tray as claimed in claim 3 wherein their opposed pair of side walls descends below the base to facilitate stacking of said tray with an identical tray.

6. An open top tray as claimed in claim 3 wherein a substantial width (W1) of double out fold crease lines gives a substantial top edge surface to the said tray.

7. A blank of a relatively heavy corrugated fibre board, as hereinbefore defined said blank having a plurality of crease lines and cuts to delimit certain areas such as base, side walls and outset crease tabs of an open-top tray to be erected therefrom by the method of any preceding claim, said blank having crease lines on the top surface for in-folding of said certain areas and crease lines on the bottom surface for out-folding of certain areas.

8. The blank as claimed in claims 7 wherein the blank is of substantially rectangular form and the crease lines and cuts are substantially orthogonally disposed.

9. A blank as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8 wherein the bottom surface crease lines delimit outboard side walls integral with said side walls to allow out-folding of said outboard side walls.

10. The blanks as claimed in claims 7,8 or 9 wherein some of all of the crease lines are linear perforations to allow either in or out folding.

11. A blanksubstantially as hereinbefore de- scribed and as shown in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of forming an open-toptraycon- structed and arranged as herein before described and as shown in Figures 2A, 2B 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.