GB2267272A

GB2267272A - Flip-top containers

Info

Publication number: GB2267272A
Application number: GB9211456A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Shilcock
Original assignee: Field Group Ltd
Current assignee: Field Group Ltd
Priority date: 1992-05-29
Filing date: 1992-05-29
Publication date: 1993-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2012-05-29
Also published as: GB9211456D0; GB2267272B

Abstract

A two-part blank 1 for a flip-top container comprises an outer case-forming portion 2 and a liner 3. The liner 3 is adhesively attached to the case-forming portion 2 through a locating panel 35 hingedly connected to the liner 3. The liner 3 is folded about a locating panel hinge line 36 so as to lie on top of the case-forming portion 2, and the respective front panels 6, 30 thereof adhered together whereupon the adhesive bond 37 between the locating panel 35 and the case- forming portion 2 may be broken. <IMAGE>

Description

Flip-Top Containers The present invention relates to a blank for a container having an outer case with a flip-top, hinged, lid which opens to define a mouth in the container, within which is arranged an upstanding liner which may act to retain the contents, such as infusion packages, and/or frictionally hold the lid in a closed position.

Such containers are hereinafter termed "flip-top containers".

Various blanks for flip-top containers are known.

In GB-A-2160849, for example, a one-piece blank is disclosed in which the liner is formed as an integral extension of the case-forming section of the blank.

Prior to erecting a container from the blank, the liner is folded about a hinge line located at the extreme edge of the case-forming portion of the blank so as to overlie that portion of the blank in a desired positional relationship.

A two-piece blank is also known in which a separate liner is attached directly to the appropriate part of the case forming blank.

Both of these prior art blanks have disadvantages.

The former blank is wasteful of material, not only because each blank contains an unnecessarily large number of panels, but also because the blanks cannot be stamped efficiently (in terms of the waste material produced) from sheet material. Furthermore, the whole blank, rather than just the case forming portion (which would normally be the only part printed) must be passed through a printing device, which is inefficient. It also means that an "unfinished" side of the liner is presented to a user upon opening the container.

The latter blank, while not suffering from certain of the above problems can, however, only be produced relatively slowly. The process for making the blank is intermittent, with the case forming blank stopping in a predetermined position, the liner being guided down pins onto the blank in the desired position and adhered, and the process then repeated for the next blank.

The present invention seeks to provide a blank and method of manufacturing a blank overcoming all of the above problems.

From a first aspect the invention provides a blank for a flip-top container including a case-forming portion comprising a row of case-forming panels hingedly connected together about respective parallel hinge lines, and a separate liner comprising a row of liner panels hingedly connected together about respective parallel hinge lines, said liner being adhesively secured to said case-forming portion by means of a locating panel hingedly connected to said liner about a locating panel hinge line.

From a second aspect the invention provides a method of manufacturing a blank for a flip-top container comprising the steps of: a) providing a case-forming portion comprising a row of panels for defining the faces of said container; b) providing a liner having a locating panel hingedly connected thereto about a locating panel hinge line; c) aligning said case-forming portion and said liner such that at least said locating panel of said liner overlaps said case-forming portion; and d) adhesively securing said locating panel to said case-forming portion.

Thus in accordance with the invention, a separate liner is provided having a locating panel hingedly attached thereto, and by which the liner may be located with respect to the case-forming portion in a first position and then folded about the locating panel hinge line to bring the liner into the desired face-to-face position with respect to the case-forming portion, where it may then be adhered in position.

The invention thus overcomes the problems associated with the prior art in that it is economical in the use of blank material (for example cardboard, paper board or a similar lightweight sheet material), efficient in the use of printing facilities, and can present a finished surface of the liner to a user when the flip top is opened. Furthermore, it may be carried out more quickly than the earlier procedure for producing two-part blanks in that the step of adhering the locating panel to the case-forming portion may be performed substantially continuously.

Preferably the locating panel is attached directly or indirectly to an edge panel of the liner, with the locating panel hinge line extending parallel to the hinge lines between the respective panels of the liner, so that the liner is folded over the case-forming portion from the side.

Preferably the locating panel is adhered to an edge region of the case-forming portion and most preferably to a panel of the case-forming portion forming, after erection, a side wall of the case and remote from the panel forming the back wall of the case. In such a construction, the locating panel hinge line preferably substantially coincides with the outer edge of that side wall panel.

The alignment and adhesion of the case-forming portion and the liner may be performed by any suitable machinery. Preferably, however, the outer case-forming portion and liner are aligned parallel to one another, preferably by guide rails engaging their edges, with the locating panel overlapping the part of the outer case portion to which it is to be adhered, and the two then transported together through adhesion means which adheres the locating panel in position. Adhesive may be applied to either the locating panel or the case-forming portion, and it may be applied either before or after the two parts are aligned. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the two parts are joined together using machinery as described in GB-A-2147277, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.In this document, overlapping portions of sheet members are passed continuously through a compression roller arrangement which presses the already adhesively coated members together.

Once the locating panel has been adhered to the case-forming portion, the liner may be folded about the locating panel hinge line, and the liner then preferably adhered to the case-forming portion in its final desired position, with the location of the two members being maintained by virtue of the locating panel. Preferably, opposing front panels of the case-forming portion and liner are adhered together. Adhesive may be applied to either or both panels, as desired.

In order to prevent buckling of the case-forming portion and the liner panels during subsequent erection, the edge panel of the liner to which the locating panel is attached is preferably freed from the case-forming portion prior to erection. This may be done by detaching the edge panel from the locating panel, which may then be left adhered to the case-forming portion, for example by breaking a line of weakness provided between them. More preferably, however, the adhesive bond between the locating panel and the outer case is broken. Advantageously this may be performed by passing cutting means, for example a blade or knife, between the locating panel and the panel of the case-forming portion to which it is adhered. To facilitate the breaking of the bond, adhesive preferably adhesive provided over only a portion of the locating panel, preferably at a portion remote from the leading edge of the locating panel with respect to the cutting means. This reduces the size of the bond to be broken and also allows the blade more easily to be introduced between the locating panel and the underlying panel of the case-forming portion.

The two-part blank may then be erected into a container and filled with, for example, infusion packages. Such a process is described generally in GB A-2160849. The invention of course extends to a container erected from a blank in accordance the present invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a blank in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 shows a stage in the manufacture of a blank; Fig. 3 shows a further stage in the manufacture; and Fig. 4 shows a stage in the erection of a carton from the blank of Figs. 1 to 3.

Referring to Fig. 1, a two-part blank 1 comprises an outer case-forming portion 2 and a liner 3. Both parts 2,3 are stamped from cardboard, paperboard or a similar lightweight foldable sheet material.

The outer case-forming portion 2 comprises a rear wall forming panel 4, a first side wall forming panel 5, a front wall forming panel 6, a second side wall forming panel 7 and a glue tab 8, all hingedly connected together about parallel hinge lines 9-12. Top and bottom forming panels 13,14 are hingedly connected by hinge lines 15,16 to the front forming panel 6. The panels 13,14 have glue tabs 17-22 hingedly attached thereto.

The flip-top lid of the erected carton is defined in the outer case 2 by lines of weakness 23,24 in the side wall forming panels 5,7 and a tear strip 25 formed in the front wall forming panel 6. The hinge 26 for the lid is formed in the rear wall forming panel 4.

The liner 3 comprises a front panel 30 and two side panels 31,32 connected thereto about hinge lines 33,34.

A locating panel 35 is hingedly connected to the side panel 32 about locating panel hinge line 36.

It will be noted that the upper profile of the liner 3 is complementary to its lower profile, whereby the liner may be stamped from a strip of board without waste.

The liner 3 is attached to the inner surface of the outer case 2 in the position shown in Fig. 1 by adhesive 37 located at the lower part of the locating panel 35.

This is done by apparatus of the type described in GB-A2147277. Thus the case-forming portion 2 is fed from a hopper onto a travelling conveyor, with the edges of the case portion aligned with and guided by rails at the edges of the conveyor. Adhesive is applied to the appropriate section of the side wall forming panel 7.

The liner 3 is then fed onto a second conveyor, running parallel to the first conveyor, such that it overlaps the case-forming portion in the desired position, and travels with the locating panel 35 overlying the adhesive coated portion of the side forming panel 7 as indicated by the arros A in Fig. 1. The edges of the liner 3 are aligned and guided by rails provided at the sides of the second conveyor. The aligned parts are then ploughed together to adhere the locating panel 35 to the side wall forming panel 7 as shown. This can be conducted at high speed with a rate of 10,000 per hour being possible.

It will be seen that the locating panel hinge line 36 overlies the hinge line at the outer edge of the side wall-forming panel 7.

Once the liner 3 has been adhered to the caseforming portion 2 by the locating panel 35, it is folded about the locating panel hinge line 36 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Adhesive 40 is applied to either the front wall-forming panel 6 of the case-forming portion or the front panel 30 of the liner and the two panels are pressed together. This is done as a continuous process, for example by the panels being ploughed together through compression rollers. The correct orientation of the two parts is maintained in this process by the locating panel 35. In the folded position, the upper portion 50 of the liner extends beyond the various formations defining the flip-top lid, so that when, after erection, the lid is opened, this part of the liner 3 will extend upwardly in the mouth of the container.It will be noted that the hinge lines 33,34 of the liner 3 overlie the hinge lines 10,11 of the case-forming portion 2.

In order that the side panel 31 of the liner 3 and the side wall-forming panel 7 of the outer case-forming portion 2 do not buckle upon erection of the carton, the adhesive bond 37 between the locating panel 35 and the panel 7 is broken. This is done by conveying the twopart blank 1 over a stationary blade 60 which passes between the locating panel 35 and the side wall forming panel 7, as shown in Fig. 3. The adhesive bond is formed at the end 63 of the locating panel 35 remote from its leading edge 62, in the direction of travel indicated by arrow A, so that the blade not only needs to pass through relatively little adhesive but may also more easily be introduced between the respective panels.

The various process steps described above may be performed continuously on a single machjne. Once the adhesive bond 37 is broken, the blank 1 may be stacked in a flat configuration and shipped to an end user who will erect and fill the container. Fig. 4 shows an intermediate step in such a process. Essentially the side wall panels 5,7, and the top and bottom panels 13,14 are folded up from the front wall panel 6, and the glue tabs 17,19,20,22 glued to the adjacent side wall panels 5,7 to form an open-topped box. Because the bond has been broken between the locating panel 35 and the side wall panel 7, those panel may be folded up without buckling. Tea bags, for example, are then introduced into the box from above, and once filled, the glue tabs 8,18,21, bent over, and the back wall panel 5 folded over and glued thereto to seal the box which is opened thereafter by means of the flip top lid.

Claims

1. A blank for a flip-top container including a caseforming portion comprising a row of case-forming panels hingedly connected together about respective parallel hinge lines, and a separate liner comprising a row of liner panels hingedly connected together about respective parallel hinge lines, said liner being adhesively secured to said case-forming portion by means of a locating panel hingedly connected to said liner about a locating panel hinge line.

2. A blank as claimed in claim 1 wherein the locating panel is attached directly to an edge panel of the liner, with the locating panel hinge line extending parallel to the hinge lines between the respective panels of the liner.

3. A blank as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the locating panel is adhered to an edge region of the caseforming portion.

4. A blank as claimed in claim 3 wherein the locating portion is attached to a panel of the case-forming portion forming, after erection, a side wall of the case and remote from the panel forming the back wall of the case.

5. A blank as claimed in claim 4 wherein the locating panel hinge line substantially coincides with the outer edge of that side wall panel.

6. A blank as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the liner is folded about the locating panel hinge line, and adhered to the case-forming portion in its final desired position.

7. A blank as claimed in claim 6 wherein opposing front panels of the case-forming portion and liner are adhered together.

8. A blank as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the edge panel of the liner to which the locating panel is attached is freed from the case-forming portion.

9. A flip-top container erected from a blank as claimed in any preceding claim.

10. A method of manufacturing a blank for a flip-top container comprising the steps of: a) providing a case-forming portion comprising a row of panels for defining the faces of said container; b) providing a liner having a locating panel hingedly connected thereto about a locating panel hinge line; c) aligning said case-forming portion and said liner such that at least said locating panel of said liner overlaps said case-forming portion; and d) adhesively securing said locating panel to said case-forming portion.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 including the step of attaching the locating panel directly to an edge panel of the liner, with the locating panel hinge line extending parallel to the hinge lines between the respective panels of the liner.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11 including the step of adhering the locating panel to an edge region of the case-forming portion.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, 11 or 12 including the step of adhering the locating panel to a panel of the case-forming portion forming, after erection, a side wall of the case and remote from the panel forming the back wall of the case.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the locating panel hinge line substantially coincides with the outer edge of that side wall panel.

15. A method as claimed in any of claims 10 to 14 wherein the outer case-forming portion and liner are aligned parallel to one another, with the locating panel overlapping the part of the outer case portion to which it is to be adhered, and the two then transported together through adhesion means which adheres the locating panel in position.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 wherein said alignment is effected by guide rails engaging the edges of the case-forming portion and the liner.

17. A method as claimed in any of claims 10 to 16 wherein overlapping portions of sheet members are passed continuously through a compression roller arrangement which presses already adhesively coated members together.

18. A method as claimed in any of claims 10 to 17 wherein the liner is folded about the locating panel hinge line, and adhered to the case-forming portion in its final desired position.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein opposing front panels of the case-forming portion and liner are adhered together.

20. A method as claimed in any of claims 10 to 19 wherein the edge panel of the liner to which the locating panel is attached is freed from the case forming portion.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the adhesive bond between the locating panel and the outer case is broken.

22. A method as claimed in claim 21 wherein said bond is broken by passing cutting means between the locating panel and the panel of the case-forming portion to which it is adhered.

23. A method as claimed in any of claims 10 to 22 wherein adhesive is provided over only a portion of the locating panel.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23 wherein said adhesive is provided at a portion remote from the leading edge of the locating panel with respect to the cutting means.

25. A blank manufactured by a method as claimed in any of claims 10 to 24.

26. A flip-top container erected from a blank as claimed in claim 25.

27. A blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.

28. A method of making a blank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4.