JP3949579B2 - carton - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a carton for storing one or a plurality of contents and a blank forming the carton, and more particularly to a wraparound carton that can be applied to contents having different diameters.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In general, wraparound cartons having a top receiving opening and a top tab forming the top of the receiving opening are well known. For example, in US Pat. No. 4,215,781, the top tab is formed as part of the top wall of the carton. The top tab has opposing side edges formed by a pair of slits extending from the opening 29 to the top wall. Similar slits are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,429,496 and French Patent No. 2,488,857. The top tab is formed so as to cover the top of the bottle to be stored, and plays a role of protecting contents such as the bottle.
[0003]
As a problem with the prior art, articles having the same appearance always have different diameters when formed due to tolerances. In a conventional wrap-around carton, it is difficult to fix a bottle with a large change in diameter, and / or it tears at the point where the strength of the carton is the smallest, and the strength drops or the pack tears open. Had problems and was not preferred.
[0004]
By the way, conventionally, with respect to such a problem, an example of an article cover tab formed on the top wall and connected to itself by an elevating tab (see, for example, Patent Document 1), or a holding structure formed on an adjacent sidewall panel (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
US Pat. No. 3,416,654 [Patent Document 2]
French Patent No. 1,429,770 [0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Accordingly, the present invention aims to overcome or at least mitigate the problems of the prior art by providing a wrap-around carton that can be packaged even if it has various diameters in the same bottle.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to one aspect of the present invention, a carton holding one or more articles with a plurality of wall panels forming a top wall and a plurality of opposing side walls and a base wall, the top wall being To provide a carton characterized by being arranged so as to cover at least part of the upper surface of one or a plurality of articles, wherein the base wall is formed by a pair of inner base panel and outer base panel connected to each other. Can do. The carton further comprises one or more article holding structures, each article holding structure comprising an article holding tab formed at least in part by a tear line extending at least in part on one of the wall panels. Each article holding tab is formed along a boundary between one side wall and the top wall of the plurality of side walls, and each article holding tab has a side edge formed by a tear line and a free end adjacent to the side edge. A base end located inward of the top wall relative to the free end, and each article holding tab is integrally connected to the top wall at the base end, the tear line extending from the free end toward the base end, tear line is Ri applicable der packaging of articles having different heights by including one or more notches connecting portion, one or more notches connecting portion and the article retaining tab and the top wall along a side edge It is provided at the connecting position.
[0008]
In the present invention, since the tear line is provided, even when contents having a larger diameter are accommodated, this tear line tears and spreads, so that it is possible to cope with it. The holding tab can also improve the flexibility of the panel.
[0009]
As an additional aspect of the present invention, the article holding tab further has an edge formed by a second tear line extending to at least a portion of one wall panel, the edge being the first tear line. It is preferable that they are arranged opposite to each other.
[0010]
As yet another additional aspect of the present invention, the article retention tab is formed in the top wall so as to form at least a portion of the top receiving opening and abut the top of the contents held in the carton. Has been made.
[0011]
According to another aspect of the invention, a carton holding one or more articles comprising a plurality of wall panels forming a top wall and a plurality of opposing side walls and a base wall, the top wall Is arranged to cover at least a part of the upper surface of the one or more articles, the base wall is formed by a pair of inner base panel and outer base panel connected to each other, and the carton is one or more articles Each article support structure includes an article holding tab formed at least in part by a tear line extending at least partially on one of the plurality of side walls, and each of the article holding tabs The article holding tab is formed along the lower edge of the one side wall, and each of the article holding tabs has a side edge formed by the tear line, a free end adjacent to the side edge, and a base end located above the free end. And with Each of the article holding tabs is integrally connected to the one side wall at the base end, the tear line extends from the free end toward the base end, and the tear line includes one or more cut connection parts. It can be applied to packing of articles having different heights by including.
[0012]
As yet another additional aspect of the present invention, the article holding tab forms at least part of an article support structure for the lower part of the article to be held, the article holding tab being formed on one of the side walls. .
[0013]
Another feature of the present invention is a blank for forming a carton for holding a top wall, one or more articles comprising a plurality of wall panels for forming a plurality of side walls and base wall opposed to each other, the top A top wall panel for forming a wall, a pair of side wall panels connected to both side edges of the top wall panel to form a plurality of side walls, and a pair of inner bases respectively connected to the lower edges of the side wall panels A blank panel and an outer base panel, the blank further comprising one or more article support structures, wherein each article support structure is at least partially by a tear line extending at least partially to the top wall panel or one of the side wall panels. Is formed with an article holding tab. Each article holding tab is formed along one side edge of the top wall panel or the lower edge of one side wall panel, and each article holding tab has a side edge formed by the tear line and a free end adjacent to the side edge. And a base end portion facing the free end. Each article retaining tab is integrally connected to the top wall or one side wall at the proximal end, tear line extends to the free end to the far seat mow direction from inner base panel or the outer base panel as a starting point, tear line is one or more It is applicable to packing of articles having different heights by including the cut connecting portion.
[0014]
As an additional aspect of the present invention, the article holding tab further has an edge formed by a second tear line extending to at least a portion of one wall panel, the edge being the first tear line. It is preferable that they are arranged opposite to each other.
[0015]
In some embodiments, the tear line is arcuate inwardly and generally U-shaped to form a tab. Alternatively, the tear line may be formed in an arc shape inwardly and draw a substantially C shape to form a tab.
[0016]
As yet another additional aspect of the present invention, the article holding tab is formed in the top wall to form at least a portion of the top receiving opening and to abut the top of the article held in the carton. ing.
As yet another additional aspect of the invention, the article retention tab forms at least part of an article support structure comprising a pair of article support flaps stamped from opposite ends of the article receiving opening. Formed on the side wall panel.
[0017]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to FIG. 1, a blank is shown which forms a carton comprised of cardboard or other foldable material, such as a wrap-around carton. In this embodiment, a single blank is depicted, but a carton can be constructed from two or more blanks without departing from the scope of the present invention. The present invention can also be applied to packages in which one or more articles can be packed with varying tolerances, such as different types of cartons, such as basket carriers, cartons that are filled with contents from the ends.
[0018]
A blank 10 in FIG. 1 is a first embodiment of the present invention. The blank 10 includes a plurality of panels that form a wraparound carton. In this embodiment, the first base panel 12, the side wall panel 14, the top panel 20, the second side wall panel 22, and the second base panel 28 are continuously connected through hinge lines 30, 32, 34, 36 by hinge connection. Has been. Each side wall panel 14 and 22 is comprised from the upper part and the lower part. That is, the first side wall panel 14 includes the lower panel 16 that is hinged to the upper panel 18 via the crease line 38. Similarly, the second side wall panel 22 includes an upper panel 24 that is hinged to the lower panel 26 via a crease line 40.
[0019]
The base wall includes an intermediate panel 42 hinged to the side wall panel 14 along the broken fold line 30, and the intermediate panel 42 is hinged to the base panel 12 along the fold line 44. The intermediate panel 42 is divided by the article support means 46. In this embodiment, the article support means 46 is shown in more detail in FIG. The article support means 46 includes a first flap 48. The first flap 48 includes upper and lower flap portions 50 and 52. Upper flap portion 50 is hinged to intermediate panel 42 along fold line 56. The lower flap portion 52 is hinged to the base panel 12 along the fold line 54 and to the upper flap portion along the fold line 58. The first flap 48 is formed by punching from the intermediate panel 42 and the base panel 12 by an upper cutting line 60, a central cutting line 62, and a bottom cutting line 64, and is connected with hinge couplings 54 and 56 as rotation axes. The cutting line 60 is preferably arcuate.
[0020]
Similarly, a complementary second flap 65 (with flap 48) is formed from upper and lower flap portions 66 and 68, respectively.
[0021]
In the present embodiment of the present invention, the second flap 65 is in a mirror-symmetrical relationship with the first flap 48 along a cutting line 62 extending in a planar shape. Therefore, a more detailed description of the second flap 65 is omitted. Of course, they do not necessarily have to be mirror-symmetrical, and in practice a single flap can be applied to the support article and the support separating means. Also, even when two flaps are used, they do not necessarily have to be adjacent along the cutting line 62. In practice, for example, a gap that plays an important role may be provided between the two flaps. . In use, a part of the article receiving opening 55 is formed by the flaps 48 and 65.
[0022]
Article support means can be provided without departing from the scope of the present invention. In such an embodiment, it is preferable that an opening is formed by punching from one or more of the side wall panel, the intermediate panel, or the base wall panel. Of course, the opening is not an indispensable element for the present invention.
[0023]
In some embodiments, one or more tear lines 45, 49 extending from the end of the opening 55 toward the lower panel 16 are also provided. According to the illustrated embodiment, the tear lines 45, 49 form a holding tab 53, which can be held in use to hold the article supported by the article support means. The tab 53 is substantially U-shaped, but can be formed in a C-shape. Alternatively, the holding tab may be formed from a single tear line as long as it does not depart from the scope of the present invention.
[0025]
With respect to the lower panel 16, cut connection portions 47 and 51 for improving the strength of the retaining tab 53 are formed adjacent to the tear lines 45 and 49. The operation of the holding tab 53 will be described in more detail below.
[0024]
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the pair of flaps 48/65, 67/69, 70/72 formed by punching from the intermediate panel 42 and the base panel 12 constitute three article support means. Three articles are received (FIG. 2). Each flap pair 67/69, 70/72 is preferably in line as shown in FIG.
[0025]
Similarly, in the carton C on the other side shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, it is connected to the lower panel 26 along the broken fold line 36 and to the second base panel 28 along the fold line 76. Thus, a second intermediate panel 74 is formed. As described above, the intermediate panel 74 is divided by the article support means substantially equivalent to the article support means 46 formed from the panels 42 and 12 shown in FIG. To do. Thus, the three pairs of flaps 78, 80, 82 are stamped from the intermediate panel 74 and the base panel 28 to receive the three articles A. In this embodiment, the position of each flap pair is aligned with each article support means of the corresponding panels 42 and 12.
[0026]
Further, three openings 84 are formed by punching from the base panel 12, and each opening extends from the lower end of each of the flap pairs 48/65, 67/69, 70/72. Similarly, three openings 86 are formed by punching from the base panel 28, and each opening extends from the lower end of each of the flap pairs 78, 80, 82. In use, these openings 84, 86 are used by the packaging machine in the packaging process to draw the carton base panel around the article.
[0027]
Fixing means are provided to fix the inner and outer base panels 12, 28 together. For example, it is more preferable if glue is used, but one or more holding tabs 88, 90 are stamped from the base panel 12, and a complementary pair of securing tabs 92, 94 are punched from the second base panel 28. Is formed. In this embodiment, the fixing tab 94 and the holding tab 90 can be fixed at different locations depending on the size of the article. In addition, when connecting a base panel at the time of an assembly, means other than these techniques can also be employ | adopted, and this invention is not limited only to the fixing tab shown in figure.
[0028]
Focusing on the top of the carton, opposite end wall panels 96, 98 are hinged to the top panel 20 along each fold line 100,102. In order to reinforce the formation of the end wall panels 96, 98, these panels 96, 98 may be coupled to the opposing upper panels 18, 24, respectively. It is more preferable that the reinforcing panels 104 and 106 connect the end wall panel 96 and the upper panels 18 and 24 along the crease lines 108, 110 and 112, 114. Similarly, a reinforcing panel is also connected to the end wall panel 98, and the arrangement thereof is the same as the arrangement in which each symbol described in the end wall panel 96 is a. In actual use, the end wall panels prevent the contents from unintentionally falling off the open end of the carton.
[0029]
Further, in this embodiment, the top panel 20 includes gripping means, and includes a pair of opposing finger insertion openings formed by punching from the top panel 20. The opening is preferably formed from buffer tabs 116, 118 hinged to the top panel 20, as is well known. In other embodiments, the user can easily lift the carton by applying known gripping means or finger engaging means.
[0030]
The top retaining opening 150 used to retain the upper portion T of the contents will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. A holding tab 144 partially formed by one or a plurality of tear lines 146 and 148 is further formed along the upper end portion of the article holding opening 150.
[0031]
In this embodiment, two tear lines 146 and 148 extending from the end 142 of the opening 150 to the top panel 20 are formed. These tear lines form a holding tab 144, and the holding tab 144 is bent during use to support the top of the article in the article holding opening 150. The tab 144 has a substantially C shape, but may have other shapes such as a U shape. The tear lines 146 and 148 are formed with a plurality of cut connection portions 147 and 149 that function to improve the robustness of the holding tab with respect to the top wall panel 20.
[0032]
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, top retention openings along opposite ends of the upper retention structure 120 consisting of flaps 132, 138 hinged to the side wall panel 18 along fold lines 134, 144, respectively. 150 is provided. In this embodiment, the crease lines 134 and 140 draw a shallow curve. The flaps 132 and 138 are in contact with each other while being separated by a cutting line 136. As can be seen with reference to FIG. 3, the retention tab 144 is separated from the flaps 132, 138 by a cutting line 142. Of course, in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1, the retention tab is separated from the flaps 132, 138 by the opening 150, and the blank 10 has six upper retention structures 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, 130. It has.
[0033]
Other embodiments of the holding tab are shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, and parts similar to those described above are denoted by reference numerals with the hundreds replaced by 2, so that only parts different from those described above will be described below. Will be described in detail. As is apparent from the figure, the retention tab 244 is formed by a single tear line 246 and is preferably curved. The retention tab 244 is spaced from the flaps 232, 238 by the opening 250.
[0034]
Focusing on the fully assembled state of the carton, as shown in FIG. 2, the blank 10 is subjected to a series of continuous folding and assembling processes in a straight line machine. It is not preferable that a process of rotating or reversing the rotation is entered. The bending process is not limited to the following description, and changes can be made according to requirements in the manufacturing process.
[0035]
The first stage is when articles A, for example bottles, are arranged in a line. In this embodiment, six bottles are arranged in two rows of three, but other arrangements are possible. First, a blank is introduced into the bottle. Next, the bottle top and the top T of the bottle by the relatively vertical movement of the bottle and the blank, which is performed simultaneously with the forward feeding operation of the bottle, which is known as a technique for putting the bottle into each opening 150 of the upper article holding structure. Is brought into contact with the top wall 20.
[0036]
In these embodiments, the flaps 132, 138 are folded along the fold lines 134, 140 so that they are not aligned with their adjacent upper panels 13, 24, so that the top T of the contents is as shown in FIG. Protrude from there.
[0037]
The side panels 14 and 22 are bent inwardly with respect to the top panel 20 along the crease lines 32 and 34, of which the upper panels 18 and 24 are bent at a shallower angle with respect to the top panel 20 than the lower panel. It has been.
[0038]
Thereafter, the end wall panels 96, 98 are bent inward along the fold lines 100, 102, and the reinforcing panels 104, 106 and 104a, 106a are bent along the fold lines 110, 108 and 112, 114. An arrangement is made in surface contact with the adjacent upper panels 18 and 24, respectively. In this way, the end wall panels 96, 98 are arranged substantially perpendicular to the top panel 20. It is also possible to fix the end wall panels 96 and 98 in place by applying an adhesive to the surfaces of the reinforcing panels 104 and 106 that are in contact with the upper panels 18 and 24.
[0039]
As shown in FIG. 2, each pair of flaps 48, 65 is folded inward along each fold line 54, 56 so that the base panels 12, 28 and the intermediate panels 42, 74 are aligned with the side wall panels 14, 22. The article holding means 46 is formed by bending inward so that the flaps 48 and 65 are brought into contact with the article A, the article protrudes through the opening 55 formed by the article holding means, and the tab of the article holding means is formed. 48 and 65 hold the article in place. The base panels 12, 28 are superimposed on each other and connected together by securing tabs 92, 94 and corresponding retaining tabs 88.90, as is known.
[0040]
When the contents A are smaller in size, when the base panels 12 and 28 are fixed, the base panel can be further tightened against the periphery of the bottle A by pulling the side wall panels 14 and 22 downward. In these embodiments for the retention tab 144, the retention tab 144 is bent upward relative to the top panel 20 by tearing along the tear lines 146, 148 when the size or diameter of the contents is large. Similarly, with respect to the lower holding tab 53, the holding tabs 53 and 144 are bent by tearing along the tear lines 45 and 49 in these embodiments, so that the holding structure can be maintained for the contents having larger dimensions. .
[0041]
The fixing tab 94 and the engaging tab 90 and the holding tab 48 that can be fixed at different positions can result in a change in the cross-sectional area of the tubular structure. Accordingly, the cross-sectional area of the cylindrical structure is reduced to maintain tightness for smaller sized contents. Of course, for larger sized contents, the tubular structure of the present invention is formed to have a larger cross-sectional area. Thus, even if the dimensions of the contents change, a package that can be handled without impairing the packing performance can be supplied.
[0042]
An advantage of the present invention is that it can be applied to a wrap-around carton for packing a plurality of bottles formed from different diameters. Therefore, it is considered that a holding tab or a tear line can be applied to a known range of cartons used for contents whose diameter is assumed to change. Further, in some embodiments, the holding tab may be applied only to the top of the carrier or the lower holding means without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0043]
The terms "top", "base", "end", "side", "upper", and "lower" used in this description do not limit each panel to the respective direction, but distinguish each other from each other. It is only used for this purpose. All hinge connection terms should not be construed as necessarily corresponding to a single fold line. In fact, it should be noted that the hinge connection can be formed from one or more of a score line, a fold line, and a fold line without departing from the scope of the present invention.
[0044]
It should be understood that various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the dimensions and shapes of the panel and the opening are adjusted according to various dimensions and shapes of the contents to be stored, and alternative top closing structures and base closing structures can be used. In some embodiments, a single article receiving structure is provided, and in other embodiments, a linear array of additional openings in each article receiving structure so that the carton can contain multiple contents. Is provided. Additional panel (s) are formed between the main article receiving panel and the transverse article receiving panel for the purpose of forming a curved interface.
[Brief description of the drawings]
Exemplary examples of the invention are illustrated by the following examples of the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a blank for forming a carton according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a wraparound carton assembled with the blank of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view showing an embodiment of a holding tab in the upper article holding structure.
FIG. 4 is a view showing an embodiment of a holding tab in the upper article holding structure.
FIG. 5 is an example of a holding tab applied to an article support structure.
FIG. 6 is a view showing a second embodiment of a holding tab in the upper article holding structure.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a second embodiment of a holding tab in the upper article holding structure.

Claims (3)

A carton holding one or more articles with a plurality of wall panels forming a top wall and opposing side walls and a base wall, wherein the top wall is an upper surface of the one or more articles The base wall is formed by a pair of inner base panel and outer base panel connected to each other, and the carton further comprises one or a plurality of article support structures, The structure comprises an article retention tab formed at least in part by a tear line extending at least in part on the top wall;
Each of the article holding tabs is formed along a boundary between one of the plurality of side walls and the top wall, and each of the article holding tabs is adjacent to the side edge formed by the tear line and the side edge. A free end and a base end located inward of the top wall from the free end, the article holding tabs are integrally connected to the top wall at the base end, and the tear line is free extending from the end toward the proximal end, Ri applicable der packaging of articles having different heights by the tear line comprises one or more notches connecting portion,
The carton, wherein the one or a plurality of cut connecting portions are provided at a position connecting the article holding tab and the top wall along the side edge .   The article holding tab has an edge portion formed by a second tear line extending to at least a part of the one wall panel, and the edge portion is disposed to face the first tear line. 1. The carton according to 1.   3. The article holding tab is formed in the top wall to form at least a portion of a top receiving opening and is adapted to abut the top of an article held in the carton. Carton.

Images