JP7479227B2 - Packing boxes and boards - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to packaging boxes and board materials.

Conventionally, a packaging box such as that shown in FIG. 1 has been used as a box for packaging a packaged item. The packaging box is formed by assembling a single piece of corrugated cardboard, and the packaged item is packaged by enclosing both the packaged item and a protective member inside. The packaged item is, for example, a toner cartridge that contains toner used in an image forming device. The protective member is a special case that secures the packaged item, and is sized to fit the inside dimensions of the packaging box. The protective member is a cushioning material that prevents damage to the packaged item due to interference between the packaging box and the packaged item packed in the packaging box.

However, because the protective materials are separate from the packaging box, when packing the packaged items into the packaging box, the protective materials must also be packed together, resulting in increased work.

Registered Utility Model Publication No. 3009526

The problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a packaging box that has a cushioning material that is integrated with the packaging box and reduces the impact on the packaged items.

In order to solve the above problem, the packaging box of this embodiment has a buffer section and an elastic member. The buffer section is provided on the inside of the packaging box formed by folding a single sheet of plate material so as to come into contact with a packaged item to be packed in the packaging box, is integral with the packaging box, and is hollow. The elastic member is provided on the inside of the buffer section and has a biasing force in a direction in which the buffer section comes into contact with the packaged item. The elastic member is formed by alternately folding the plate material into a zigzag shape, and at least one side shared by a pair of surfaces facing each other in the zigzag shape is perforated.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a packaging box according to a conventional technology. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a packaging box according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a development view of the packaging box according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the packaging box according to the first embodiment is assembled. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging box according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a packaging box according to a second embodiment. FIG. 11 is a development view of a packaging box according to a second embodiment.

The following describes the form for implementing the invention.

Figure 2 shows the packaging box 100 and packaged item 201 of the first embodiment. The packaging box 100 is made by assembling a single sheet of board material so that it has a space for accommodating the packaged item 201, which is made up of a bottom surface, two pairs of opposing side surfaces, and a top surface facing the bottom surface. For the purposes of explaining the embodiment, the side surface in the short direction (end side) of the two pairs of opposing side surfaces is referred to as the end surface. Furthermore, the packaging box 100 has another set of end surfaces facing each other on the end surface side inside the space formed by the bottom surface, one pair of opposing side surfaces, one pair of opposing end surfaces, and the top surface. The other set of end surfaces formed inside this space is referred to as the inner end surface. The packaged item 201 according to the embodiment is a toner cartridge.

There are no limitations on the material, size, shape, structure, etc. of the plate material. The size and shape of the plate material can be selected appropriately according to the size and shape of the packaged item 201 to be packaged. There are also no limitations on the material that constitutes the packaging box 100, and it may be, for example, cardboard or plastic. In the first embodiment, a packaging box 100 made of corrugated cardboard will be described as an example.

In FIG. 2, one end of the packaging box 100 in the longitudinal direction is provided with a buffer section 160 that is integral with the packaging box 100 and fills the gap between the packaged item 201 and the packaging box 100 to act as a buffer. As shown in FIG. 5(b), the buffer section 160 has an elastic member 137 formed in a zigzag shape inside. The buffer section 160 obtains a biasing force for supporting the packaging box 100 and the packaged item 201 from the elastic member 137 formed by folding a cardboard sheet in a zigzag shape. The elastic member 137 is positioned so as to have a biasing force along the longitudinal direction of the packaging box 100.

The structure of the packaging box 100 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to the development view in FIG. 3, the perspective view in FIG. 4, and the cross-sectional view in FIG. 5.

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of the cardboard sheet that constitutes the packaging box 100 of the first embodiment. In Figure 3, the dotted lines are fold lines. A rectangular first side surface 130 that constitutes the side surface of the packaging box 100 is located approximately in the center of the cardboard sheet. The four sides of this first side surface 130 are side 1, side 2, side 3, and side 5, respectively, and the first end surface 131, second end surface 134, bottom surface 140, and first top surface 120 that constitute the end surface, bottom surface, and top surface of the packaging box 100 are provided adjacent to the first side surface 130 and share side 1, side 2, side 3, and side 5, respectively.

From the first end face 131, a first bottom flap 133 is provided adjacent to and shares side 11 perpendicular to side 1, and a first rectangular hole 1331 is formed in the first bottom flap 133 at the location where it contacts side 11. Also, from the first end face 131, a joint surface 1311 is provided sharing side 12 perpendicular to side 1. From the joint surface 1311, a first inner end face 132 is provided sharing side 13 parallel to side 12. A first tongue portion 1321 is formed on the first inner end face 132 at a position opposite side 13.

From the second wife surface 134, the second bottom flap 138 is provided adjacent to and shares the side 21 perpendicular to the side 2, and the second bottom flap 138 has a second rectangular hole 1381 formed at a location parallel to the side 21. Also, from the second wife surface 134, the second top surface 135 is provided adjacent to and shares the side 22 perpendicular to the side 2. From the second top surface 135, the second inner wife surface 136 is provided adjacent to and shares the side 23 parallel to the side 22. The second inner wife surface 136 has a second tongue portion 1361 formed to connect the middle of the side 24 parallel to the side 23. From the second inner wife surface 136, the first bent surface 1371 is provided adjacent to and shares the side 24 parallel to the side 23. From the first bent surface 1371, a second bent surface 1372 is provided adjacent to the first bent surface 1371, sharing side 25 parallel to side 24. From the second bent surface 1372, a third bent surface 1373 is provided adjacent to the first bent surface 1371, sharing side 26 parallel to side 25.

From the bottom surface 140, a second side surface 150 is provided, sharing side 4 parallel to side 3.

From the second side surface 150, a first engagement surface 151 is provided, sharing side 41 perpendicular to side 4. Also, from the second side surface 150, a second engagement surface 152 is provided, sharing side 42.

The insertion portion 110 is provided on the first top surface 120, sharing side 6 parallel to side 5.

A method for forming a packaging box 100 from a cardboard sheet as shown in the development diagram of Figure 3 will be described. Note that when folding a cardboard sheet, it is generally folded in a fixed direction. For example, it is folded in a direction such that the surface shown in the development diagram of Figure 3 becomes the inside of the packaging box 100.

When forming the packaging box 100 using the cardboard formed as described above, first, sides 1 and 2 constituting the two opposing sides of the first side 130 are folded, and then sides 11 and 21 are folded. Then, side 3, which is the other opposing side, is folded, and then sides 41, 42, and 4 are folded. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the first engagement surface 151 is positioned vertically on the first bottom flap 133, and the second engagement surface 152 is positioned vertically on the second bottom flap 138. Then, sides 12 and 13 are folded so that the first engagement surface 151 is sandwiched between the first end surface 131 and the first inner end surface 132, and the first tongue portion 1321 is fitted into the first rectangular hole 1331 to fix it. At this time, it is desirable that the dimension between side 12 and side 13 of the joint surface 1311 is equal to or greater than the thickness of the cardboard. The first engagement surface 151 is sandwiched between the first end surface 131 and the first inner end surface 132, and the first tongue portion 1321 is fitted into the first rectangular hole 1331, thereby fixing the first engagement surface 151 and maintaining the vertical state of the first inner end surface 132.

The second engagement surface 152 is fixed by folding sides 22 and 23 so as to sandwich the elastic member 137, each of whose sides is folded alternately, and the second end surface 134, and fitting the second tongue portion 1361 into the second rectangular hole 1381. At this time, the dimension between side 22 and side 23 of the second top surface 135 and the dimension between side 21 of the second bottom surface flap 138 and the second rectangular hole 1381 are determined by the longitudinal length of the zigzag-shaped elastic member 137 relative to the packaging box 100. The second engagement surface 152 is sandwiched between the folded elastic member 137 and the second end surface 134, and the second tongue portion 1361 is fitted into the second rectangular hole 1381, thereby fixing the second engagement surface 152 and maintaining the vertical state of the second inner end surface 136.

At this time, the elastic member 137 is formed inside the buffer section 160 consisting of the second end face 134, the second top face 135, the second bottom face flap 138, and the second engagement face 152, as shown in FIG. 5. The elastic member 137 is folded at sides 24, 26, and side 25, which is folded in the opposite direction to the other sides, so that a zigzag shape is formed by the first folded surface 1371, the second folded surface 1372, and the third folded surface 1373, as shown in FIG. 5(b).

Finally, sides 5 and 6 are folded to form the first top surface 120 and the insertion portion 110. The insertion portion 110 is fitted between the opposing first side surface 130 and second side surface 150, thereby preventing the first top surface 120 from opening.

This completes the assembly of the packaging box 100 of the first embodiment.

The buffer section 160 and the elastic member 137 will now be described.

When the packaged item 201 is packed in the packaging box 100, the buffer section 160 fills the gap between the packaging box 100 and the packaged item 201 to prevent the packaged item 201 from moving within the packaging box 100. The second inner end face 136 constituting the buffer section 160 is fixed by fitting the second tongue portion 1361 into the second rectangular hole 1381 formed in the second bottom flap 138, so that the position of the packaged item 201 can be maintained even when it receives an impact.

The elastic member 137 is a zigzag-shaped member that is integral with the packaging box 100 and is composed of a first folding surface 1371, a second folding surface 1372, and a third folding surface 1373, which are formed by folding the sides 25 and 26 in the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the elastic member 137 has a biasing force in the longitudinal direction with respect to the packaging box 100. Therefore, even if the packaging box 100 receives a large impact from the outside and the buffer part 160 is crushed (if the second inner end face 136 moves toward the second end face 134), the biasing force of the elastic member 137 can return the second inner end face 136 to its original position. In addition, if the second tongue portion 1361 is crushed and cannot be fitted into the second rectangular hole 1381, and the second inner end face 136 is not fixed, the biasing force of the elastic member 137 can hold the packaged item 201.

In the present application, the packaged item 201 is held by contacting the surface of the buffer section 160 (the second inner end surface 136). This allows for a more stable hold than, for example, holding the packaged item 201 by contacting the lines of the cardboard (for example, the portion that forms the thickness of the cardboard). Furthermore, a surface rather than a line can reduce wear on the buffer section 16 caused by interference with the packaged item 201, reducing the risk of cardboard chips being generated due to wear.

There is no limit to the number of bent surfaces (first bent surface 1371, second bent surface 1372, and third bent surface 1373 in the first embodiment) that make up the zigzag shape of the elastic member 137. The biasing force increases in proportion to the number of bent surfaces that make up the elastic member 137, so by changing the number of bent surfaces, the repulsive force can be adjusted according to the packaged item 201 contained in the packaging box 100.

There is no limit to the number of elastic members 137. For example, in the first embodiment, the elastic member 137 is provided at one end in the longitudinal direction of the packaging box 100, but the elastic member 137 may also be provided at the other end in the longitudinal direction. Here, in the embodiment, the elastic member 137 is described as being in the longitudinal direction so that the position of the elastic member 137 can be easily understood, but there is no intention to limit the position of the elastic member 137 to the longitudinal direction. Since the shape of the single cardboard plate that constitutes the packaging box 100 can be changed as appropriate depending on the packaged item 201 to be packed, the position of the elastic member 137 may be in the short direction.

Each side of the cardboard is scored and half-cut to make it easier to fold. On the other hand, edge 25, which is bent in the opposite direction to the other sides, is perforated to penetrate the cardboard. This is to eliminate the need to turn the cardboard over during processing, and also serves as a marker to encourage the worker assembling it to fold it in the opposite direction.

The second embodiment will be described.

Figure 6 is a cross-section of a packaging box 100 according to the second embodiment. The same parts as those of the packaging box 100 according to the first embodiment in Figure 5 are indicated by the same reference numerals. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that, instead of the zigzag-shaped elastic member 137 formed inside the buffer section 160, a cylindrical elastic member 170 is formed.

Even with this configuration, the cylindrical elastic member 170 has a biasing force in the longitudinal direction against the packaging box 100, similar to the elastic member 137. Therefore, even if the buffer section 160 is crushed by a large impact, the biasing force of the cylindrical elastic member 170 can return the second inner end face 136 to its original position. Also, if the second tongue portion 1361 is crushed and cannot be fitted into the second rectangular hole 1381, and the second inner end face 136 is not fixed, the biasing force of the cylindrical elastic member 170 can hold the packaged item 201.

Figure 7 is a part of a development of a packaging box 100 according to the second embodiment. The same parts as those in the development of the packaging box 100 according to the first embodiment in Figure 3 are indicated by the same reference numerals. In the development of the second embodiment, the elastic member 137 of the first embodiment is simply replaced with a cylindrical elastic member 170, and therefore a description of the method of forming the parts other than the cylindrical elastic member 170 will be omitted.

A cylindrical elastic member 170 is provided on the second inner wife surface 136, sharing side 24. The cylindrical elastic member 170 has a third tongue portion 1701 extending from one end of the cylindrical elastic member 170 and a third rectangular hole 1702 formed at a location parallel to side 24. The cylindrical elastic member 170 is formed by rounding the surface of the unfolded cylindrical elastic member 170 and fitting the third tongue portion 1701 into the third rectangular hole 1702.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100: Packing box 130: First side surface 131: First end surface 134: Second end surface 137: Elastic member 150: Second side surface 160: Cushioning portion 170: Cylindrical elastic member

Claims (4)

A hollow buffer section is provided on the inside of a packaging box formed by folding a single plate material so as to come into contact with a packaged item to be packaged in the packaging box and is integral with the packaging box;
an elastic member provided inside the buffer portion and having a biasing force in a direction in which the buffer portion contacts the packaged item ;
The elastic member is formed by alternately folding a plate material into a zigzag shape, and at least one side shared by a pair of surfaces facing each other in the zigzag shape is perforated.
Packing box. The packaging box according to claim 1 , wherein the perforated side is folded in the opposite direction to the other non-perforated side formed by folding the plate material. The cushioning portion and the elastic member are integral with the packaging box which is formed by bending a single plate material.
The packaging box according to claim 1 or 2. When assembled, the packaging box has a hollow buffer section that is integral with the packaging box and is provided on the inside of the packaging box so as to come into contact with a packaged item to be packaged in the packaging box, and an elastic member that is provided on the inside of the buffer section so as to have a biasing force in a direction in which the buffer section comes into contact with the packaged item,
The elastic member has a zigzag shape, and at least one side shared by a pair of surfaces facing each other in the zigzag shape is perforated.
Board material.

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