GB2187169A

GB2187169A - Cartons

Info

Publication number: GB2187169A
Application number: GB08704624A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Allan Barclay
Original assignee: Taylowe Ltd
Current assignee: Taylowe Ltd
Priority date: 1986-02-28
Filing date: 1987-02-27
Publication date: 1987-09-03
Also published as: GB8604976D0; ES296519Y; GR860766B; ES296519U; EP0234079A3; EP0234079A2; GB2187169B; GB8704624D0

Abstract

A carton blank (4) for making a carton includes an additional panel (64) joined to one of the body panels (28) by a break line (62) such that upon erection of the carton from the blank (4) the additional panel (64) detaches at the break line (62) from the panel (28) to which it was joined, and is removably adhesively secured to an outer surface of the body panel (22). Alternatively the additional panel (64) may be joined to one of the end panels (32, 40) by a break line. Preferably the adhesive is that known as "high-tack" so that the label can be peeled from the body panel (22) and re-affixed e.g. to a prescription or other commodity listing. <IMAGE>

Description

GB 2 187 169 A SPECIFICATION printed atthetimeof manufacturewith an

electronically scannable code (e.g. European article Acarton blank,and acarton madetherefrom numbering system)ora human readablecode (P.1.P.

system) this can then be used eitherina This invention relatesto a carton blank,andtoa 70 computerised or manual price look-up system to carton made theref rom, specifically a tubular carton. assess the cost, or selling price, of the specific Car-ton blanks are often made and assembled into packagewith appreciabletime savings; paymentto a lay-flat condition bythe carton manufacturers and the dispensary can be readily calculated if this is are despatched in bulk in the lay-flat condition tothe made from a central fund, as in the U.K. National packaging plantwherethey are erected into tubular 75 Health Service,to whom the prescriptions are form priorto being filled. submitted.

Such erected and filled cartons arewidely used in Preferablythe additional panel has a lesser commerce. In use, often the carton will carry a label, dimension than the body panel towhich it isjoined.

which is adhesively secured to the carton, and which According to an aspect of our invention there is for example indicates the price of the carton and 80 provided an erected carton made f rom the blank contents. Such labels are applied bythe individual according to said one aspect of the invention in product outlet or so-called "point of sale"; and once which the additional panel is removably adhesively used by the cashierto checkthe payment due, are left secured to one of body panels but substantially affixed to the carton which istaken away bythe separated atthe break line from the body panel to customer. Some adhesively-secured labels are so 85 which itwas joined, the break line having fractured designed thatthey are damaged if an attempt is substantially due to the folding of the additional made to peel off the label from the carton, for panel aboutthe break line.

instance to thwart attempts by potential customers Preferably the break line is parallel with but spaced to exchange price labels between packages of from one edge of the panel to which it is joined. In differeffivalue. 90 thatway during erection of the carton the break line The present labelling practice however has a will fracture as a result of erecting the carton.

number of disadvantages. Specialised staff and According to a further aspect of the invention there labelling equipment are needed at each product is provided a method of erecting a carton madefrom outlet. The labels will often contain only one piece of a carton blankaccording to said one aspect of the information e.g. the price. The carton may be 95 invention including forming a layflat carton from the incorrectly labelled. carton blank, urging togethertwo opposed panelsto It is an object of our invention to reduce or avoid provide a cavity between the body panels, and these disadvantages, by providing according to one assembling togetherthe body panels to effect aspect of our invention a carton blank having a folding of the additional panel aboutthe break line.

plurality of parallel fold lines, a plurality of body 100 Tubular cartons are conventionally made in panels associated with the fold lines and an rectangularform from a carton blankwhich has additional panel joined to one of the body panels by opposed transverse edges, and fourfold lines a break line whereby on forming the carton from the therebetween. The edges and fold lines of the carton blankthe additional panel will fold aboutsaid break blank are parallel or nearly so, and define a first pair line. Our additional panel can easily be provided 105 of panels (between thefirst and second fold lines, during manufacture of the carton blanks, and yet and between the third and fourth fold lines), and allowsthe carton to be assembled in the lay-flat which when the carton is erected are respectivelythe condition and to be erected atthe carton filling top and bottom panels of the carton; a second pair of station by existing packaging equipment. panels (between the second and third fold lines, and We preferthe additional panel of our invention to 110 between the fourth fold line and the adjacent become adhesively secured to the lay-flat carton, transverse edge) and which when the carton is and thereafterto be peelable in toto from the erected erected are respectively the first and second carton carton, leaving the carton contents untouched. sidewalls; and a securement panel between thefirst Weforesee particular advantages for ourinvention fold line and the transverse edge adjacentthereto in the packaging of medical products, since currently 115 and which is adapted to be (adhesively) secured to a many such products are made availableto face of the second carton sidewall for lay-flat carton dispensaries in large volume packs f rom which the assembly and subsequent carton erection. In the prescribed quantity e.g of pills ortablets, has to be assembled lay-flat and erected carton conditions; removed and then individually re-packed forthe the securement panel is concealed within thetubular patient. Preferably the additional panel is secured by 120 car-ton. Such a car-ton blank is hereinafter referred to an adhesive selected from the group which allows as a carton blank of the kind described.

the label to be re-affixed e.g. to the prescription; then Thus according to yet another aspect of our the product dispensed can be independently invention we provide a method of assembling a checked againstthe presciption, which is retained by lay-flatcarton from a carton blank of the kind the pharmacist or other dispenser; if another and 125 described which ineJudesthe steps of applying an potentially dangerous product has been adhesive to at least one of the securement panel and inadvertently dispensed instead of that prescribed, the second sidewall panel, applying adhesive to at the retained prescription and affixed label allows least one of thetop panel and the additional panel, quick identification of the patient and of the remedial folding thetop panel and thusthe securement panel action required; furthermorq if the affixed label is 130 about the second fold line, thereafter folding the 2 GB 2 187 169 A 2 second sidewall and thus the additional panel about width as panel 28.

the fourth fold line, the arrangement being such that With the carton blankviewed as in Figure 1, the the second sidewall adheres to the securementflap, undersides of panels 22,24,26,28,32,40, which are and the additional panel adheres to the top panel,the the panels visible when the carton isfully erected, securement panel being concealed within the 70 will conventionally be printed upon bythe carton assembled carton. manufacturer with wording and/or designs Preferablythe break line is offsetfrom the firstfold appropriate to the productto be packaged; though line such that during erection the carton upon for certain e.g. medical, applications the outside inwardly directed pressure on the second and fourth surfaces of the carton mayfor instance be plain fold linesAhe additional panel separates at the break 75 white. Priorto printing these carton surfaceswill line from the second sidewall whilst remaining conveniently have been primed with a laquered adhesively secured to the top panel. surface, ultra-violet cured, to ensure firm bonding of Thus according to a furtherfeature of our the print.

invention we provide a carton erected from a carton To assemble the carton to the lay-flat condition of blank of the kind described, in which the additional 80 Figure 2 from the blank of Figure 1, the underface of panel is secured to the top panel but separated from panel 20 is coated with adhesive, and panel 22 (and the second sidewall. thus panel 20) is then folded aboutfold line 14 sothat The adhesive selectedfor securement of the these panels 22,20 lie face to face with panels 24,26.

additional and peelable panel will usually be a Conveniently panel 20 has a slightly smaller depth different adhesive to that used forthe permanent 85 than panel 24, so that edge 66 approaches but does adhesion of the securing panel. not reach (and therefore does not cross) fold line 18.

The invention will be further described byway of Panel 28 (and thus panel 64) is then folded aboutfold example with referenceto the accompanying line 18 until the upperface of panel 28 as seen in drawings, in which: Figure 1 engages and adheres to the underface of Figure 1 is a plan view of a carton blank according 90 panel 20. Panel 64 partly covers the cut-out 66.

to the invention; Additionally, the upperface of panel 64 carries in a Figure2 is a plan view of a carton according to the central area a high tack adhesive 72, as shown in invention, in the lay-flat condition, and assembled discrete areas, but alternatively joined as a central from the blank of Figure 1; strip, so that panel 64 adheres to the (printed) under Figure 3 is a perspective view of the carton of 95 face of top panel 22. The adhesive is selected so that Figure 2 in its erected condition. panel 64 is secured firmly, but removably, to the top Figure4is a carton blank according to another panel 22. A suitable high tack adhesive is available embodiment of the invention; from Croda Adhesives Limited of Winthorpe Road, Figure 5is a carton blank according to a further Newark, Nottinghamshire, England. In the lay-flat embodiment of the invention; 100 condition of Figure 2, the cartons are despatched in Figure 6is plan view of the carton of Figure 5, in the bulk bythe carton manufacturerto a packaging lay-flat condition; and station, which may be a carton filling area ata Figure 7is a perspective viewof the carton of pharmaceutical manufacturer. Priorto despatch the Figure 5 in its erected condition. underface of panel 64 as seen in Figure 1, and which The blank 4 has transverse edges 6,8 and four 105 becomes the visible face as seen in Figure 2, is e.g.

parallel fold lines 12,14,16,18 which definefive marked with intended content details, such asthe panels 20,22,24,26,28. Panels 22 and 26 arethe product, quantity, batch number and manufacturer.

same size, and provide respectivelythe top and These details can not only be checked before bottom carton panels. Panels 24,28 are also of the dispatch, but can also be checked upon delivery same size and provide respectivelythe first and 110 before these lay-flat cartons areforwarded to the second carton sidewails. In this embodimentthe filling area, to help ensurethatthe correct product is sidewalls arethe smaller panels, but in another packed. Alternatively these details could be applied embodimentthey could be largerthan thetop and bythe manufacturer& the productto be packed, bottom carton panels. again priorto forwarding of the lay-flat cartons to the Panel 22 isjoined byfold line 30 tofirstend panel 115 respective carton filling area.

32,which is itself joined to firsttuck-in flap 34 byfold The carton is erected i.e. to the arrangement as line 36; whilst panel 26 is joined by fold line 38 to shown in Figure 3, by pressure in the direction of second end panel 40, which is itself joined byfold arrows P against fold lines 14,18. During erection, line 42 to second tuck-in flap 44. Tuck-in flaps 34,44 panel 64 breaks away from panel 28, to remain have cuts 45. End panels 32,40 are oppositely 120 generally in a plane parallel to top panel 26, to which directed. as described above it is adhesively secured by Panels 24,28 carry respective coverflaps 46,48 hard-tack adhesive 72. To ensure a clean breakof and 50,52 byway of fold lines 54,56 and 58,60. panel 64from panel 28, break line 62 comprises a line Secured to transverse edge 8 of panel 28 byway of of perforations offsetfrom edge 8 of panel 28 such break line 62, is an additional panel 64, of depth L and 125 that panel 64 as viewed in Figure 3 overhangs second having a purpose to be described below. Panel 22 carton sidewall 28. It is an advantage of our has a cut-out 66, centred atthe distance Lfrom fold arrangement that the integrity of carton 10 is line 14. In this embodiment panel 64 has a width W, retained against external contaminants, sincethe which is less than the width of panel 28; though in an break away of panel 64from panel 28 occurs alternative embodiment it could have the same 130adjacent fold line 12, so that panels 20 and 22 remain 3 GB 2 187 169 A 3 intactto backthe gap created between panels 64and the pairof these panels adherestothe panel first 28. folded,toform a glued-end skilletcarton. During The selection of a high-tack adhesive 72 allowsthe erection panel 264, which was adhesively secured to panel 64to be peeled off panel 22 and adhesilvely panel 222 during assembly by hardtack adhesive applied elsewhere e.g. to a prescription, sothata 70 272, breaksfrom panel 228 atthe fine of rupture262.

separate checkof the items dispensed againstthe In an alternative arrangement, which extendsthe prescription can be made, and any mistakes quickly scope of the invention, in relation to glued-end skillet rectified. The panel 64, may carry a bar code for use cartons, the additional panel 279 could alternatively in computer price look-up, stock-taking and be connected to the panel 226 through, e.g. panel 240 re-ordering. If the product outlet is a dispensary 75 via a break line 280, as shown in dotted outline in which is reimbursed by a central authority, for Figure 5. Panel 240 would thus be the other of each instance the British National Health Service, the respective pair as discussed in the preceding panel 64 adhering to the prescription allows the paragraph, and when adhered to the panel first amount dueto be readily checked and calculated, folded, i.e. panel 239, a furtherfolding operation again by a computer system if required. 80 would be needed to fold the additional panel into Panel 64 can be peeled off byfiner pressure at adhesive engagement with the (under-surface as cut-out 66 and/or atthe overhanging perforations at seen in Figure 5 of) panel 222. Thus in the alternative break line 62. arrangementthe additional panel carried by panel Thus we are able to provide a carton which is 240 would replace the additional panel carried by suitable for hygenic original pack dispensing, with 85 panel 228; and would form a peelable label attached less chance of content mis-labelling, permitting to the outside of the carton, separated from panel multiple use of a peelable label, allowing assembly 240 atthe break line between panel 240 andthe and erection on existing manufacturing plant, and additional panel.

with reduced handling costs atthe pointof sale.

Claims

The embodiment of Figure 4 is of an alternative 90 CLAIMS carton

arrangement of the parallel-tuck type. The carton is assembled to the lay-flat condition as 1. A carton blank having a plurality of parallel described with reference to the arrangement of fold lines, a plurality of body panels associated with Figures 1-21; in an alternative embodiment, adhesive the fold lines and an additional panel joined to one of is applied to panel 128 such thatfollowing folding of 95 the body panels by a break line whereby on forming panel 122 (and thus panel 120) aboutfold line 114, the carton from the blankthe additional panel will and the subsequent folding of panel 128 (and thus fold about said break line.

panel 164) aboutfold line 118, panel 128 overlies the
2. A carton blank as claimed in claim 1 in which (previous under-face of) panel 120 and adheres the additional panel has a lesserdimension than the thereto. Upon erection of the carton, panel 164 100 body panel to which it isjoined.

remains secured to (the former under-face of) panel
3. Acarton blank as claimed in claim 1 orclaim 2 122 and severs at break-] ine 162 from panel 128. in which the break line is parallel with but spaced Flaps 146,148 and 150,152 are folded generally from an edge of the body panel to which the perpendicularto the respective panels 124,128; and additional panel is joined.

panels 132 and 140 are then also folded generally 105
4. A carton blankas claimed in anyone ofthe perpendicularto panel 126, with tuck-in flaps 134, preceding claims in which one of the body panels is 144 being inserted into the erected carton i.e. remote from the body panel to which the additional generally in engagementwith the upperface of panel isjoined and has a cut- outtherein.

panel 122 (as viewed in Figure4) to closethe
5. Acarton blank as claimed in anyone of the opposite ends of the carton. 110 preceding claims in which the cut-out is spaced from In an alternative embodiment, panel 122 can have one of the fold lines on an edge of the body panel by a cut-out similar in position and purposeto the a distance substantially equal to a length of an edge cut-out 66 of Figures 1-3, i.e. forthe removal when of the additional panel.

required of panel 164.
6. Acarton blank as claimed in anyone of the The carton blank of Figure 5 is assembled into a 115 preceding claims in which the additional panel is lay-fiat carton in similar mannerto the embodiment joined to said body panel through an end panel on of Figures 1-3, with the under-face of panel 220 said body panel, the break line extending between coated with adhesive, and thereafter panel 222 (and the end panel and additional panel.

thus panel 220) is folded aboutfold line 214; panel
7. An erected carton made from the carton blank 228 (and thus panel 264) is then folded about fold line 120 as claimed in anyoneof claims 1 to 6 in whichthe 218 so that the upperface of panel 228 as seen in additional panel is removabiy adhesively secured to Figure 5 engages and adheres to the under-face of one of body panels.

panel 220. For subsequent erection of the carton, the
8. An erected carton as claimed in claim 7 in cover flaps 246,248 and 250,252 are folded generally which the additional panel is substantially separated perpendicularto the respective panels 224,228 and 125 atthe break line from the body panel to which itwas adhesive is applied to the under-face of one of the joined, the break line having fractured substantially pairs of panels 232,233 and 239,240 whereupon this due to the folding of the additional panel aboutthe panel is folded generally perpendicularto the breakline.

respective panel 222,226, followed by the folding of
9. An erected carton as claimed in claim 7 or the other of each respective ppir. Thus the other of 130 claim 8 in which the additional panel has a lesser 4 GB 2 187 169 A 4 dimension than the body panel to which it is removably adhesively secured.
10. An erected carton as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the body panel to which the additional panel is removably adhesively secured is provided with a cut-out co-acting with an edge of the additional panel forfacilitating removal of the additional panel.
11. A method of erecting a carton from the carton blank as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 comprising forming a lay flat carton from the carton blank, urging togethertwo opposed body panelsto provide a cavity between the body panels, and assembling togetherthe body panels to effect folding of th additional panel aboutthe break line.
12. A method as claimed in claim 11 including causing the break line substantially to fracture during bending of the additional panel about the breakline.
13. A method as claimed in claim 1 orclaim 12 including removably adhesively securing the additional panel to one of the body panels priorto causing the break line to fracture.
14. A carton blank having a plurality of fold lines, a plurality of body panels associated with the fold lines, an end panel joined to one of the body panels by a fold line and an additional panel joined to one of the body panels or end panel by a break line.
15. An erected carton made from the blank as claimed in claim 14 in which the additional panel is removably adhesively secured to one of the body panels or end panel but substantially separated at the break line from the body panel or end panel to which itwas joined, the break line having fractured substantially due to folding of the additional panel aboutthe break line during erection.
16. A method of erecting a carton from the carton blank as claimed in claim 14 comprising forming a layflat carton from the carton blank, urging together two opposed body panels to provide a cavity between the body panels, and assembling together the body panels to effectfolding of the additional panel above the break line.
17. A method as claimed in claim 16 including causing the break line substantially to fracture during bending of the additional panel aboutthe breakline.
18. Amethod asclaimed in claim 16orclairn 17 including securing the additional panel to one of the body panels or end panel priorto causing the break line to fracture.
19. A carton blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. An erected carton substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
21. A method of erecting a carton from the carton blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company (UK) Ltd,7187, D8991685. Published byThe Patent Office,25 Southampton Buildings, London,WC2A lAY, from which copies maybe obtained.