KR20150038153A - Carton and carton blank for forming a carton - Google Patents

Abstract

The blank 1 of the present invention is suitable for assembly in which the articles D are stably held in the carton 9 when assembled into the carton 9 and are used by the machine. The blank comprises a plurality of wall panels (2) connected together in a row. At least one section (10) forming at least one article holding structure is connected to the blank (1). At least one section includes a folding panel (12) hingedly connected to a first one of the wall panels and a cover panel (15) hingedly connected to the folding panel. The cover panel is also hinged to the end of the second one of the wall panels adjacent to the first wall panel. At least one tab (21) is provided on a side edge of the folded back panel to which the cover panel is connected.

Description

[0001] CARTON AND CARTON BLANK FOR FORMING A CARTON [0002]

The present application claims priority from Japanese Utility Model Application No. 2012-004734, filed on August 2, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to a carton having a tubular structure and capable of receiving articles in the tubular structure and a carton blank for forming the carton.

Traditionally, cartons have been used to easily store and transport various articles. Among conventional cartons is a wraparound carton having an open-ended tubular structure that forms an internal space for collectively receiving a number of articles, such as a generally cylindrical can.

A typical conventional carton having a tubular structure is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 of Japanese Unexamined Patent Application No. 2003-34354. The carton disclosed in this publication has an upper wall, a pair of side walls and a lower wall. Opposite ends of the tubular structure are provided with article holding means for holding the items within the tubular structure. The article holding means includes an upper cover panel connected to an end edge of the upper wall, a first side cover panel connected to the upper cover panel via a folding line, a second side cover panel connected to the first side cover panel through a fold line, And a folded back panel connected to the second side cover panel and connected to the end edges of the respective side walls. Folding both the folding line between the upper cover panel and the first side cover panel and the folding line between the first side cover panel and the second side cover panel in a mountain- The article holding means is provided with an upper end portion of one or more of the end articles facing each opening of the tubular structure so as to hold the article in the tubular structure by folding it in a valley shape and folding the refolding panel inward Cover.

However, according to the above-mentioned cartons, there is a risk that the reflex panel may fall out of the tubular structure when the second side cover panel is subjected to external forces or loads of packaged articles. If the refolding panel is pulled out of the tubular structure in this manner, the article retention means will no longer be able to hold the items within the tubular structure.

One way to overcome the above problem is to significantly increase the size of the refolding panel, significantly increasing the surface area of the refolding panel that presses the articles in the tubular structure. However, this approach requires the use of a significant amount of sheet material and results in a significant increase in the cost of the product.

The present invention provides carton blanks and cartons that improve strength to firmly hold an article contained within a tubular structure and can also improve assembly aptitude using a machine.

The carton blank of the present invention comprises wall panels providing top, side and bottom walls of a tubular structure. These wall panels are arranged in a single line to form a tubular structure. The tubular structure has opposing open ends and is designed to receive one or more articles. The blank further includes at least one section forming at least one article holding structure for holding one or more articles in the tubular structure. The at least one section is connected to the respective end edges of the two or more wall panels. The at least one section includes a fold-back panel hinged to an end edge of the first one of the wall panels. The refolding panel is folded inside the tubular structure when the blank is assembled into a carton. The at least one section further comprises a cover panel hingedly connected to the refolding panel and hinged to the end edge of the second one of the wall panels adjacent to the first wall panel. The cover panel covers a portion of the article in the carton when the blank is assembled to accommodate one or more articles. The end edge of the reflex panel to which the cover panel is connected is provided with at least one tab projecting into the cover panel. The tab is formed by the cut-out portion of the cover panel, whereby the tab is cut from the cover panel substantially in a straight line. When the blank is assembled into the carton, the tabs and the refolding panels extend together into the tubular structure such that the tabs are held or sandwiched between the first wall panel and the adjacent article in the carton.

According to the carton blank of the present invention, the tab projecting from the refolding panel contacts the peripheral surface of the article to be received. Thus, the area of the reflex panel contacting the article to be received is substantially increased. This reduces the risk that the refolding panel will come off the tubular structure. Also, the risk of breakage of the refolding panel by pressure is also reduced. Also, because the tabs are formed at locations spaced from the adjacent open ends of the tubular structure, the incisions do not reach these adjacent open ends. This arrangement is an additional feature that contributes to the strength of the carton formed from the blank of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one section comprises two or more sections providing two or more article holding structures when the blank is assembled. In such an embodiment, the refolding panels of the two or more sections may be hinged to the opposite end edges of the first wall panel.

In one embodiment, the cover panel of at least one section is provided on only one end edge of the refolding panel and may also be provided on the second wall panel adjacent to the first wall panel. In an alternative embodiment, the cover panel may be provided at each of the opposite end edges of the refolding panel. One of the cover panels connected to the same refolding panel is connected to a respective wall panel adjacent one of the side edges of the first wall panel while the other of the cover panels is connected to the respective side panel Can be connected to a wall panel.

The present invention also provides a carton comprising a top wall, a pair of opposed sidewalls and a bottom wall coupled together to form a tubular structure having opposed open ends. The carton is suitable for accommodating one or more articles. The carton further comprises at least one article holding structure provided on at least one of opposite ends of the tubular structure for holding one or more articles within the tubular structure. At least one article holding structure is hinged to an end edge of one of the opposing side walls and folded inwardly of the tubular structure, And a cover panel hingedly connected to the edge. When one or more articles are received in the carton, the cover panel covers a portion or portions of the one or more articles in the carton. At least one tab projecting from the folded panel is provided at the end edge of the folded back panel to which the cover panel is hinged, in a direction away from the cover panel. The tabs are formed at positions spaced apart from adjacent open ends of the tubular structure. The tabs and the refolding panels extend together into the interior of the tubular structure such that the tabs are disposed between one side wall and one or more articles in the carton.

According to the cartons of the present invention, the tabs projecting from the refolding panel contact one or more articles. Thus, the area of the refolding panel contacting the articles is substantially increased. Thus, the carton of the present invention can reduce the risk of the back folding panel being easily removed from the tubular structure as well as the risk of the back folding panel being easily broken and tearing. Also, because the tabs are formed at locations spaced from the adjacent open ends of the tubular structure, the incisions do not reach these adjacent open ends. This arrangement also reduces the risk of breakage or tearing of the refolding panel initiated at the open end.

According to the carton blanks and cartons of the present invention, the area of the refolding panel contacting the peripheral surface of the at least one article in the carton is increased, so that the tabbed refolding panel is positioned between each side wall of the carton and one or more articles Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > folded < / RTI >

1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a carton blank of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view showing a carton formed from the carton blank shown in Fig.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the interior substantial portions of the carton shown in Fig. 2;
4 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the carton blank of the present invention.
5 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing the internal recesses of the carton formed by the carton blank shown in Fig.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs.

In the following embodiments, the description will be made using cans in which the overall shape of each is substantially cylindrical. Each can has a generally circular top surface, a generally circular bottom surface, and a generally cylindrical side surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface.

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a carton blank of the first embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a carton formed from the carton blank of Fig.

1, the carton blank 1 comprises wall panels 2 which provide a top wall 2A of the carton, a pair of opposed side walls 2B, 2C and a bottom wall 2Da / 2Db, Respectively. The lower wall 2Da / 2Db is formed by fixing the two lower panels 2Da and 2Db together.

The wall panels 2 are arranged in rows. The side wall 2B is hingedly connected to the lower panel 2Da along the fold line 27. [ The upper wall 2A is hingedly connected to the side wall 2B along the fold line 5. [ The other side wall 2C is hingedly connected to the upper wall 2A along the fold line 6. [ The other lower panel 2Db is hingedly connected to the other side wall 2C along the fold line 48. Fig. The carton blank 1 forms the tubular structure 7 of the carton 9 as shown in Figure 2 when the lower panels 2Da and 2Db are secured together to form the lower wall 2Da / . ≪ / RTI > The tubular structure 7 has end openings 8 at opposite ends thereof, respectively. A plurality of articles "D" are received in the tubular structure 7. Each of the blank of Figure 1 and the carton of Figure 2 is provided with four article holding structures for holding articles "D" in tubular structure 7, or sections 10 for forming four article structures.

Referring to Figure 1, each section 10 forming the article holding structure is hingedly connected to a respective end of each side wall 2B, 2C through a folding line 11 near the top wall 2A. And a folding panel (12). The folding back panel 12 is folded inwardly of the tubular structure 7 when the blank 1 is assembled into the carton 9. [ Each section 10 also includes a triangular cover panel 15 hingedly connected to the side edges of the refolding panel 12 via a fold line 13. The cover panel 15 covers at least a part of the upper end of one of the articles D when the articles D are received in the carton 9. [ The folding line 16 is provided in the cover panel 15. [ The folding line 16 extends completely across the cover panel 15 so that this folding line reaches the free edge of the cover panel 15. The cover wall portions 17 lying on the upper surface of the end articles D and covering these upper surfaces are integrally formed with the upper wall 2A and located at opposite ends of the upper wall 2A. The cover panels (15) of the four sections (10) are hingedly connected to the cover wall portions (17) through a folding line (18).

A tab 21 projecting into the cover panel 15 from the folding back panel 12 is provided at a side edge of the folding back panel 12 to which the cover panel 15 is hinged. The tabs 21 are formed in the cover panel 15 in a generally C-shaped or U-shaped cutout 20 so that the tabs 21 are cut from the cover panel 15, Respectively. The U-shaped cutouts 20 are located at a spaced apart position from the free edges of each section 10, as well as from the adjacent ends of the respective side walls 2B, 2C. In this embodiment, the tab 21 is formed at a position close to the boundary 13 between the refolding panel 12 and the cover panel 15. The folding line 13 between the backward folding panel 12 and the cover panel 15 is interrupted by the cut section 20. [ Therefore, the boundary between the backward folding panel 12 and the cover panel 15 is formed by the cutout portion 20 and the folding line 13. 3, the folding back panel 12 is folded inwardly with the tabs 21 inwardly of the tubular structure 7 so that the outer surface of the tabs 21 is in contact with the inner surface of the tubular structure 7, Facing the adjacent article D located inside.

The cover panel 15 has a curved shape along the folding line 13 so as to cover a part of the upper end of the adjacent article D positioned at the end position visible through the respective end opening 8 of the tubular structure 7. [ Lt; / RTI >

With further reference to Fig. 1, a pair of finger flaps 25 for forming finger-receiving openings is formed in the top wall 2A. By folding the flaps 25 inward against the fold line 26, finger receiving openings are formed in the central portion of the top wall 2A. Each finger flap 25 is formed by a respective fold line 26 and a generally C-shaped cutout 27. The fold lines 26 extend between opposite ends of the C-shaped cutout 27. The finger flaps 25 are arranged side by side along a notated line extending in a direction along the side edges 5,6 of the upper wall 2A so that the fold lines 26 are substantially parallel to each other .

With further reference to Fig. 1, a pair of disconnection vulnerability lines 29 extend from one end of the top wall 2A to the other end thereof, respectively. These disconnecting vulnerability lines 29 form a removable panel portion 30 that includes finger flaps 25 therebetween. The removable portion 30 can be held at one end of the carton and pulled out of the carton. Such pulling will cause the removable portion 30 to be cut away from the top wall 2A along the disconnection line 29.

A number of mushroom-shaped locking tabs 31 are formed in the lower panel 2Da. Each locking tab 31 is hingedly connected to the lower panel 2Da via a folding line 33. [ The substantially rectangular retaining tabs 36 are formed in the other lower panel 2Db. Locking openings 35 are formed by retaining tabs 36, respectively. The locking tabs 31 are folded into the locking opening 35 and the locking tabs 31 are held inside the opening 35 by the retaining tabs 36 so that the lower panels 2Da, (2D), and keeps the carton in an assembled tubular form as shown in Fig.

The lower panel engaging means for fixing the lower panels 2Da and 2Db together is not limited to the combination of the locking tab 31 and the retaining tab 36. [ For example, the lower panels 2Da, 2Db may be secured together by glue or other type of adhesive. It should be understood that although the bottom wall 2D is formed by a pair of bottom panels 2Da and 2Db, it may be provided by one single bottom panel. In this alternative embodiment, the top wall 2A may be formed by a pair of separate top panels.

1, the side wall 2B includes an inclined panel portion 37 hingedly connected to the rest of the side wall 2B along the folding line 45. As shown in Fig. The inclined panel portion 37 is connected to one side edge of the lower panel 2Da along the fold line 47. [ The side wall 2C includes an inclined panel portion 38 hinged to the rest of the side wall 2C by a fold line 46. [ The inclined panel portion 38 is hinged to one side edge of the other lower panel 2Db. Thus, the side walls 2B and 2C are connected to the lower panels 2Da and 2Db through the inclined panel portions 37 and 38, respectively.

The lower receiving openings 39 are formed in the inclined panel portions 37 and 38 and extend into the respective residues of the side walls 2B and 2C. These lower receiving openings 39 are designed to receive the articles D when they are received in the carton 9. The holding tabs 41 are connected to the respective lower panels 2Da or 2Db through folding lines 40. [ The retaining tabs 41 are designed to be frictionally engaged with the lower part of the articles D received in the carton 9.

The carton 9 formed from the carton blank 1 of the present invention will be described below.

As shown in Fig. 2, the carton 9 of the embodiment of the present invention has a tubular structure 7 capable of receiving articles D such as beverage cans.

After the articles D are received, the folding panels 12 of the section 10 are tucked into the tubular structure 7 with respect to their respective fold lines 11, as shown in Figures 2 and 3 . Thereby, each cover panel 15 is folded about its fold line 13, 16, 18 so as to surround the upper end of each end article D. In this position, each section 10 is assembled into an article holding structure as shown in Fig. The folding panel 12 of each article holding structure 10 extends inwardly of the tubular structure 7 such that a portion thereof is in direct contact with the adjacent end article D in the carton 9. [ The folding panel 12 of each article holding structure also contacts the inner surfaces of the adjacent side walls 2B, 2C. In other words, the back folding panel 12 and a part of the cover panel 15 are sandwiched between the adjacent side walls 2B, 2C and the adjacent article D, whereby their folded Position. In addition, the tab 21 projecting from the refolding panel 12 extends inside the tubular structure 7 together with the refolding panel 12. In particular, the tab 21 extends in a direction away from the cover panel 15, and its outer surface faces the adjacent article D. Thus, the tab 21 is also sandwiched between the adjacent side wall 2B or 2C and the adjacent article D. Each of the article holding structure 10 supports the upper end of each of the end articles D in the tubular structure 7 so that all of the article holding structures 10 are in contact with the tubular structure 7, Keep all the goods (D) inside.

An example of a process of forming a carton 9 from a carton blank 1 using a packaging machine will be described below.

First, articles D are arranged in a group of predetermined configurations, such as a 2 x 3 configuration. The blank 1 is lowered over the group of articles D such that the top surfaces of the articles D face the inner surface of the top wall 2A. The inner surfaces of the foldback panel 12 are folded about the fold lines 5,6 toward the opposite sides of the group D of the products of the group of side walls 2B, 2C, And is in surface contact with the inner surfaces. Thereby, some of the outer surfaces of the refolding panel 12 are moved to come into direct contact with the articles D. The cover panel 15 and the tabs 21 are also brought into contact with the articles D. [ The folding back panel 12, the cover panel 15 and the tab 21 of each article holding structure are in contact with the respective article and each of the articles, respectively, until the side walls 2B, 2C move to a position parallel to the opposite sides of the article group The side wall 2B or 2C.

Subsequently the lower panels 2Da and 2Db are folded against the fold lines 47 and 48 so that the inner surfaces of the lower panels 2Da and 2Db are in surface contact with the lower surfaces of the article D . On the other hand, some of the lower ends of the article D are accommodated in the lower receiving opening 39. Then, the locking tabs 31 engage with the locking opening 35 to fix the lower panels 2Da and 2Db together. Thus, the carton 9 shown in Fig. 2 is assembled.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figs. 4 and 5. Fig. The components of the second embodiment similar to those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in Fig. 4, four sections 10 forming the article holding structure are provided at opposite ends of the side walls 2B, 2C. Each section 10 has a trapezoidal folded panel 12 hingedly connected to each end of each side wall 2B or 2C through a respective fold line 11. The folding back panel 12 is folded inwardly of the tubular structure 7. Each section 10 also has a pair of triangular cover panels 15 hingedly connected to opposing side edges of the refolding panel 12 via a fold line 13. The cover panels 15 are intended to cover the upper and lower ends of the article D received in the carton. The upper cover panel 15 is hingedly connected to the respective cover wall portion 17 of the upper wall 2A along the fold line 18 while the lower cover panel 15 is hingedly connected to the lower Is hinged to each chamfered edge of the panel (2Da or 2Db).

The folding panel 12 of each section 10 has two outer edges with angles along the fold lines 13. [ These folding lines 13 are respectively interrupted by two tabs 21 protruding from the backward folding panel 12 into the respective cover panels 15. Each tab 21 is formed by a generally U-shaped cutout 20. The tabs 21 along each edge with an angle are arranged side by side at predetermined intervals and are spaced apart from the free edge of the adjacent cover panel 15.

The carton formed by the carton blank 1 of Fig. 4 will be described below.

The article holding structure shown in Fig. 5 is fully assembled and positioned in its operative position between each side wall 2C and one of the articles in the carton. 5, the folding panel 12 of the article holding structure 10 is arranged at a folding position where the folding panel folds together with the four tabs 21 to the inside of the tubular structure 7 So that the outer surfaces of all four tabs 21 can be in surface-to-surface contact with the end article D. The folding line 11 located between the side wall 2C and the folding back panel 12 is folded in a mountain-folded manner and is folded into folding lines 12, (13) is folded in a valley-folded manner. Thus, the folding back panel 12 extends from the folding line 11 to the inside of the tubular structure 7. The upper cover panel 15 extends outward from the angled edge of the upper portion of the refolding panel 12 and contacts the top of the end article D. The lower cover panel 15 extends outward from the angled edge at the bottom of the back fold panel 12 and contacts the lower portion of the same end article D. [ All four tabs 21 of the refolding panel 12 extend outwardly from the upper and lower angled edges of the refolding panel 12 to directly contact the same end article D. When the structure 10 is assembled, the cover panels 15 engage to hold the upper and lower ends of the end article D. The article holding structure 10 thus supports the end article D to prevent the end article D from escaping from the tubular structure 7 through each open end 8.

It will be appreciated that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention, for example the size and shape of the panels and openings / openings can be adjusted to accommodate articles of different size or shape.

In the first embodiment, although each of the article holding structures 10 is disposed at a position spanning both the side walls 2B or 2C and the upper wall 2A, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto . For example, each of the article holding structures may be provided at a position spanning both the side walls 2B or 2C and the lower wall 2D. Alternatively, four article holding structures may be provided at each open end of the tubular structure. In this embodiment, the structure 10 may be provided at a position spanning either of the side walls 2B or 2C and the top wall 2A, while the other structure 10 may be provided at each side wall 2B or 2C And can be provided at positions spanning both of the lower wall 2D. Although the folding panels 12 are connected to the side walls 2B and 2C in the above embodiments, the folding back panels can be folded back to the other wall panel 2C, such as the top wall 2A and / Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > (2). ≪ / RTI >

Directional terms such as "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "end", "side", "interior", "exterior", "upper" and "lower" Will not be limited to such orientations with respect to the panels of the present invention, but simply serve to distinguish these panels from one another.

As used herein, the terms "hinge connection" and "folding line" define hinge features of a blank, facilitate folding of parts of the blank relative to each other, . A fold line is typically a scored line, embossed line or debossed line. Any criterion for hinge connection or folding line should not be construed to mean only a single folding line; The hinge connection may be formed from any one or more of short slits, breakable lines or folding lines without departing from the scope of the present invention.

The term " severance line ", as used herein, refers to any manner of lines that readily separate parts of the substrate from each other or represent optimal separation locations. Breaking lines may be breakable or weak lines, tear lines, slashes, or slits.

The hinge connection, the disconnected vulnerability lines and the folding lines can be used to provide a variety of advantages such as perforation, perforation lines, lines of short slits, lines of half-depth cuts, Each of which may include elements formed in the substrate of the blank, including, for example, a score, any combination thereof, and the like. These elements may be sized and arranged to provide the desired functionality. For example, the perforated lines may be of size and design having a degree of vulnerability to form folding lines and / or disconnection vulnerability lines. The perforations can be designed to facilitate folding, to resist breakage, to facilitate folding, to break with a great deal of effort, or to facilitate break with little effort.

Claims (12)

Wall panels arranged to form an open ended tubular structure including a top wall, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall, and connected together in a row; And
At least one section that retains one or more articles in the tubular structure and forms at least one article holding structure connected to at least one of opposite ends of the tubular structure when the blank is assembled into the carton,
Wherein the at least one section comprises:
A folding back panel hingedly connected to an end of the first one of the wall panels and folded inwardly of the tubular structure when the blank is assembled into a carton;
A first cover panel hingedly connected to the folded back panel and hinged to an end of a second one of the wall panels adjacent to the first wall panel and covering a portion of the article received within the tubular structure; And
Folded panel and projecting into the cover panel from the folded back panel and located along the edge of the folded back panel to which the cover panel is connected, and when the blank is assembled into the carton, At least one tab extending from the bottom of the carton blank. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the at least one section comprises at least two sections providing at least two article holding structures,
When the blank is assembled into a carton, the at least two article holding structures are connected to opposite ends of the tubular structure,
Wherein the folding panels of the at least two sections are hingedly connected to opposite ends of the first wall panel. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the cover panel is hinged to one end edge of the back folding panel. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the at least one section further comprises a second cover panel,
The first and second cover panels being hingedly connected to opposing end edges of the back folding panel,
Wherein the second cover panel is hingedly connected to an end of a third one of the wall panels adjacent the first wall panel. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
Wherein the at least one tab is cut from the cover panel and coupled to the folded back panel. 6. The method of claim 5,
Wherein the at least one tab is formed by an incision of the cover panel. A plurality of carton walls connected together to form a tubular structure and including a top wall, a pair of side walls and a bottom wall, the tubular structure having opposed open ends, at least one article holding structure At least one of said opposite ends of said tubular structure to hold at least one article received within said tubular structure,
Wherein the at least one article holding structure comprises:
A folded back panel hinged to an end of the first one of the carton walls and folded inwardly of the tubular structure;
A cover panel hingedly connected to the folded back panel and hinged to an end of a second one of the carton walls adjacent to the first carton wall and adapted to engage a portion of the article received within the carton; And
The at least one tab projecting from the folded back panel away from the cover panel and being disposed along an end edge of the folded back panel to which the cover panel is hinged, And a surface extending inwardly of the tubular structure with the folding panel to contact an article contained within the carton. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the at least one article holding structure comprises at least two article holding structures connected to opposite ends of the tubular structure,
Wherein the folding panels of the at least two article holding structures are hingedly connected to opposite ends of the first carton wall. 9. The method according to claim 7 or 8,
Wherein the cover panel is hinged to one end edge of the folded back panel. 9. The method according to claim 7 or 8,
Wherein the at least one article holding structure further comprises a second cover panel,
The first and second cover panels being hingedly connected to opposing end edges of the back folding panel,
The second cover panel being hinged to an end of a third one of the carton walls adjacent the first carton wall. 9. The method according to claim 7 or 8,
Wherein the at least one tab is cut from the cover panel and coupled to the folded back panel. 12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the at least one tab is formed by an incision of the cover panel.

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