GB2186550A

GB2186550A - Cartons

Info

Publication number: GB2186550A
Application number: GB08622320A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Joseph Wonnacott
Original assignee: St Regis Packaging Ltd
Current assignee: St Regis Packaging Ltd
Priority date: 1986-09-17
Filing date: 1986-09-17
Publication date: 1987-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2006-09-17
Also published as: GB8622320D0; GB2186550B

Abstract

A packaging carton (e.g. for cans 31 of drink) comprises a reinforcing tape (18) incorporated in the board material from which the carton is formed which tape reinforces a carrying handle (20) defined by two parallel cuts formed in an end wall of the carton. Access to the contents of the carton are obtained by defining access flaps (23, 24) delimited by lines of weakness (22a, 22b) which extend up to the cuts defining the carrying handle. By locating the handle (20) in the median plane between two rows of cans, free passage of cans from the opening provided by an access flap is prevented by the handle, thus ensuring one-by-one dispensing of the cans from the carton. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in packaging This invention relates to an improved method of packaging a plurality of identically sized articles (such as cans of drink) and to an improved packaging carton for putting the method into practice.

In particular, this invention relates to a packaging method and carton which enables the same carton to be usedforthe retailing ofthe packaged articles and fortheirone-by-one dispensing when required.

It is known to provide a reinforced carrying handle on a packaging carton by incorporating a reinforcing tape in a board from which the carton is made and forming the carrying handle in such a position on the board that it includes the incorporated tape. It is also known to provide a packaging carton that has at least one line of weakness formed thereon to delineate an opening flap and provide user-easy access to the articles packaged in the carton.

This invention relates to a novel combination of these two known features.

According to one aspect ofthe invention, a method of packaging a plurality of identically sized articles comprises locating the required number of articles in two adjacent rows in a right parallelepipedic carton folded up from a preformed blankofstiffbutfoldable board material, the board material incorporating firstly a reinforcing tape which extends at least across one wall of the carton and lies in the median plane between the two rows and secondly a spacedapart pair of lines of weakness which extend towards said reinforcing tape.

Preferablythe blankisfoldedarounda double row array of articles, but it is not ruled out that the two rows of articles can be slipped into a partially erected carton.

Desirablythe blank has two at least substantially parallel cuts formed one on each side ofthe reinforcing tape to define a handle region and said pair of lines ofweakness terminate at, or adjacent to, one of said cuts. Suitably the cuts extend completely across the said one wall ofthe completed carton and each encroaches slightly on either or both of the adjacent walls of the carton that also incorporatethereinforc- ingtape.

The blank may be dimensioned to give rise to a carton thatcompletely surrounds the articles or it may provide at least one opening through which a part only of at least some ofthe articles in at least one row can be viewed. The board material can becorrugated or non-corrugated fibreboard and if corrugated material is used, the reinforcing tape desirably extends at right angles to the flutes of the corrugations since such an orientation is more easily effected on the corrugator and applying the tape on the corrugator means it can be disposed between the corrugated sheet and one facing sheet of the board and can thus be sensibly invisible in the completed carton. Further, the heat used to bond the sheets together to make the board can be used to fuse a heat-sensitive adhesive on the tape and fix it in place.

The spaced-apart lines of weakness can be formed by providing slit-score or perforation lines in the board blank and preferably these are spaced apart by at least the axial length of the packaged cylindrical articles. Thus the lines of weakness can coincide with edges ofthesaid onewall ortheycan be formed one in each adjacent wall that also incorporates there- inforcing tape.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a packaging carton formed from a btank of stiff butfoi- dable board material and containing two rows of identically sized articles, comprises a reinforced handle which extends parallel to and is intersected by the median plane between the rows and an opening flap delineated by said handle and by spacedapart lines ofweakness.

As with its method aspect, a carton according to this invention can be formed from corrugated or non-corrugated fibreboard material, can completely enclose the packaged articles or can leave some exposed and can have a handle which encroaches upon the board material of three adjacent walls of a right parallelepipediccarton.

The invention will be further described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure ishowsa blankfor afirst embodiment of carton, Figure2shows a blank for a second embodiment of carton, Figure 3 shows a filled carton erected from the blank of Figure 1 prepared for carrying, and Figure 4shows a carton erected from a blank ofthe type shown in Figure 2 with the carton opened for one-by-one dispensing of its contents.

The blank 10 of Figure 1 is designed for packaging six 440 ml cylindrical cans of drink (e.g. beer or lager). It comprises a base wall 11, two side walls 12 and 13, atopwall 14andfourflaps 11a-14a and 11 b- 1 4b to make the end walls of the erected carton. A securing flap 15 is formed along one edge ofthe side wall 12 and is attached to the underside ofthetop wall 14 as the blank is folded around six cans arranged in two rows of three. The locations of the ends of the cans is shown in dashed lines 16 on the base wall 11, the central or median plane between the two rows of cans being shown at 17.In wrapping the blank around the collated array of six cans, the flaps 12a, underlie the flaps 11 a and 14a to make one end wall and the flaps 12b, 13b underlietheflaps 11 b and 14bto make the other end wall.

The folding and gluing (orotherfixing method) used to form the carton (shown in Figure 3) from the blank of Figure 1 are well known procedures which need not be described in detail here.

When the blank is of double faced corrugated fibre-board the flutes of the corrugations run in the direction of the arrows A shown in Figure 1. The preformed creases that delimitthe walls 11,12 and 13 andtheirflaps (1 la, 12a, 13a, 1 1b, 12b, 13b and 15) are conventionally formed and all fold downwardly as shown in Figure 1.

The important difference in the carton shown in Figure 1 resides in thetopwall 14 and its flaps 14a, 14b. Embedded between layers ofthe board material from which the blank is made is a reinforcing tape 18 (e.g. a hot melt adhesive coated polyester fibre tape made by Sesame Industries Ltd. of Quebec, Canada).

This tape 18 is centrally located across the top wall 14 and its associated end wall flaps 1 4a, 1 4b and thus will be intersected by the median plane 17 between the two rows of cans when the carton is erected and filled. Two parallel cuts 19a and 19b are formed one on each side ofthe tape 18 and these define a carrying handle 20. Cut-outs 21 provide finger access to the handle to lift it clear of the top wall 14, when the filled carton isto be carried. The cuts 19a and 19b which extend into the end wall flaps 14a and 14b allow the ends ofthe handle 20 to move inwardly as the central region of the handle 20 lifts clear ofthe top wall 14.

Thefold lines22a, 22bbetweenthetopwall 14and the respective end wall flap 1 4a, 1 4b are perforated orslit-score lines uptothe respective cuts 19a, 19b but are simple unperforated fold lines where they traverse the handle 20. The fold lines 22a, 22b thus define two pairs of lines of weakness in the blank which extend up to the cuts 19a, 19b.

To dispense cans from the carton shown in Figure 3, one ofthe access flaps 23, 24 can be pulled back away from the handle 20 so that the board material is torn along the respective pair of lines of weakness exposing the ends of the cans in one row.

The blank shown in Figure 1 isforthe six can pack (shown in Figure 3) but four-, eight-, ten- or twelvecan packs can equally well be produced.

Figure 2 shows a second embodimentof blank which only partially envelops six cans as can be seen from Figure4 (although this shows a largercarton).

This embodiment is particularly suitable for one-byone dispensing (e.g. from a refrigerator) with the rows of cans one above the other. Similar reference numbers have been used in Figures 1 and 2 to designate similar integers.

The reinforcing tape 18 now extends the whole length ofthe blank and the handle 20 is formed in one end wall 30. The lines of weakness 22a, 22b do not coincide with the fold lines between the base wall 1 ? 11 andtheendwall30andbetweenthetopwall 14 and the end wall 30 but rather extend atan angle to terminate at the ends ofthe respective cuts 1 9a, 19b.

The carton of Figure 4 is for twelve cans (rather thanthefourwhichwould be accommodated in the blankof Figure 2) and can be carried safely using the reinforced handle 20. When can dispensing is required, the lower one ofthe access flaps 23,24 is torn back using the lines of weakness and the first can available can be removed from underthe handle 20.

As the first can is removed another (e.g. can 31 from the upper row) takes its place but this second can will be retained in the carton bathe presence ofthe re inforced handle 20 which, since it lies symmetrically with respecttothe median plane 17, will act as a stop to free passage of cans from the carton.

The carton and method ofthis invention are expected to find their most important commercial application in the drinks industry, but itshou Id beappreciated that the invention is not limited to that end-use.

Thus although articles ofcircularshape arevery suitably packaged in accordancewiththis invention two rows of articles of polygonal (e.g. rectangular) crosssection can equally well be employed.

Claims

1. A method of packaging a pluraiity of identi- cally sized articles comprises locating the required number of articles in two adjacent rows in a right parallelepipedic carton folded up from a preformed blank of stiff but foldable board material, the board material incorporating firstly a reinforcing tape which extends at least across one wall of the carton and lies in the median plane between the two rows andsecondlya spaced-apart pairof lines of weakness which extend towards said reinforcing tape.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the blank isfolded around a double row array of articles to create a carton filled with two rows of articles.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the blank has two at least substantially parallel cuts formed one on each side of the reinforcing tape to defines handle region and said pair of lines of weakness terminate at, or adjacent to, one of said cuts.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, in which the cuts extend completely across the said one wall of the completed carton and each encroaches slightly on either or both of the adjacent walls of the carton that also incorporate the reinforcing tape.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the blank is dimensioned to give rise to a carton that completely surrounds the articles but provides at least one opening through which a part only of at least some of the articles in at least one row can be viewed.

6. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the board material is corrugated fibreboard and the reinforcing tape extends at right angles two the flutes in the corrugations, the tape being disposed between the corrugated sheet and one facing sheet ofthe board and is thus sensibly invisible in the completed carton.

7. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the spaced-apart lines of weakness are formed by providing slit-score or perforation lines in the board blank.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, in which the lines of weakness are spaced apart by at leastthe axial length of packaged cylindrical articles.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, in which the lines of weakness coincide with edges ofthe said one wall or are formed one in each adjacent wall that also incorporates the reinforcing tape.

10. A packaging carton formed from a blank of stiff but foldable board material and containing two rows of identically sized articles, which carton is of right parallelepipedic shape and comprises a reinforced handle which extends parallel to and is intersected by the median plane between the rows and an opening flap delineated by said handle and by spaced-apart lines of weakness, the handle including a reinforcing tape which extends at least across one wall ofthe carton and lies in the said median plane.

11. Acarton as claimed in claim 10, in which the lines of weakness coincide with edges of said one wall.

12. Acarton as claimed in claim 11, in which the lines of weakness are formed one in each wall adja cent to said one wall,which adjacent wall orwalls include reinforcing tape.

13. Acarton as claimed in anyofclaims lOto 12, in which the board material is corrugated fibre board and the reinforcing tape extends at rightanglesto the flutes ofthe corrugations, the tape being disposed between the corrugated sheet and one facing sheet of the board.

14. A packaging carton substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4 ofthe accompanying drawings.

14. A packaging carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A packaging carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have the following effect: (a) Claims 1-15 above have been deleted ortextually amended.

(b) New ortextually amended claims have been filed as follows:

1. A method of packaging a plurality of identically sized articles comprises locating the required number of articles in two adjacent rows in a rig ht parallelepipedic carton folded up from a preformed blank of stiff but foldable board material, the board material incorporating firstly a reinforcing tape which extends at least across one wall of the carton and lies in the median plane between the two rows and secondly a spaced-apart pair of lines of weakness which extend towards said reinforcing tape, the blank having two at least substantially parallel cuts formed one on each side ofthe reinforcing tape, which cuts extend completely across the said one wall ofthecompleted carton and each encroaches slightly on both of the adjacent walls of the carton that also incorporate the reinforcing tape.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the blank is folded around a double row array of articles to create a carton filled with two rows of articles.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the blank is dimensioned to give rise to a carton that completely surrounds the articles but provides at least one opening through which a part only of at least some of the articles in at least one row can be viewed.

4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the board material is corrugated fibreboard and the reinforcing tape extends at rightanglesto the flutes of the corrugations, the tape being disposed between the corrugated sheet and one facing sheet of the board and is thus sensibly invisible in the completed carton.

5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the spaced-apart linesofweakness are formed by providing slit-score or perforation lines in the board blank.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, in which the lines of weakness are spaced apart by at least the axial length of packaged cylindrical articles.

7. A method as claimed in claim 5, in which the lines of weakness coincide with edges ofthe said one wall or are formed one in each adjacent wall that also incorporates the reinforcing tape.

8. A packaging carton formed from a blank of stiff but foldable board material and containing two rows of identically sized articles, which carton is of right parallelepipedic shape and comprises a reinforced handle which extends parallel to and is intersected by the median plane between the rows and an opening flap delineated by said handle and by spacedapart lines ofweakness, the handle including areinforcing tape which lies in the said median plane and which extends completely across one wall of the carton and at least partly across two of the walls of the carton adjacentto the said one wall, the tape being located between substantially parallel cuts in the board material which encroach onto said two adjacent walls to define the reinforced handle.

9. Acarton as claimed in claim 8, in which the lines of weakness coincide with edges of said one wall.

10. Acarton as claimed in claim 8, in which the lines ofweakness areformed one in each ofthesaid two adjacent walls.

11. Acarton as claimed in any one of claims 8to 10, in which the board material is corrugated fibre board and the reinforcing tape extends at right an- gles to the flutes of the corrugations, the tape being disposed between the corrugated sheet and one facing sheet of the board.

12. A carton as claimed in any one of claims 8to 11,inwhich the reinforcing tape extendsthewhole length of the blank and thus surrounds the articles packaged in the carton.

13. A packaging carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 ofthe accompanying drawings.