SE451315B - Transparent package with hinged snap-fit cover - Google Patents

Abstract

A package comprises a transparent receptacle part hingedly connected to a lower part which has a projection to snap-fit in an aperture in the rim of the receptacle part. A sheet of stiff cardboard extends between the two parts and has annopening through which the projection can extend into the aperture so that the sheet is securely held. The rim is pref. integral with the receptacle part and formed by a fold. The sheet pref. has a part extending outside the receptacle and perforated adjacent the receptacle and further away so that a part can be broken off to form labels. The package has the advantages of a blister pack but can be readily reclosed.

Description

451 315 '92 shows a further part of the device according to the invention.

According to Fig. 2, a blister pack 1 is formed by a cardboard disc Z to which a transparent plastic part 3 is attached, which forms a transparent container in which one or more articles can be inserted.

The cardboard disc 2 can hold information and it has a hole 4 for hanging in, for example, a warehouse or a sales stand. The cardboard sheet 2 has a perforation line 5 just next to the end of the plastic part 3 and an angularly curved perforation line 6, whereby the outer part of the cardboard sheet becomes tearable from the part which is in the area of the plastic part 3, and at the same time a smaller part is separated, namely the part between the perforation lines 5 and 6. This part can then form a label. As further appears from Fig. 1, the cardboard disc 2 also has a through-opening 7, which lies within the area of the plastic part 3.

The plastic part 3 is seen in more detail in Fig. 1, which shows the two details, the cardboard disc 2 and the plastic part 3, separated from each other. The plastic part 3 thus has the actual container 8 and a tray 9 therefor, and a lower part 10 which can be folded towards the tray 9. The tray 9 and the container 8 are provided with stiffening embossments 11 and 12, respectively.

The lower part 10, which at its one edge is connected to the board 9 in a folding formation 13 forming a hinge, has at its opposite free edge an embossing projecting towards the board 9, which in the following is called the trade 14, while the board shows a from the lower part projecting embossing, which in the following is called the female part. The handle 14 and the female part 15 - are located opposite each other and form a snap lock, which will be described later.

In the composite condition of the package, as shown in Fig. 2, the edge 16 of the cardboard disc 2 is projected towards the hinge fold 13 and the fold 9 and lower part 10 of the plastic part 3, joined together by means of the snap lock formed by the trade 14 and the female part 15, the handle 14 penetrates through the opening 7 in the cardboard disc 2. As a result, the cardboard disc is locked in a certain position at the plastic part 3. The snap lock 14, 15 is held together with such force that the package is kept closed in a secure manner but still so that it can be opened and reseal in the same safe way without damage to either the cardboard board or the plastic part 3.

The production method according to the invention in the embodiment which will now be described comprises the following steps. 1. Production of a carton blank, which constitutes a multiple of the cardboard disc 2. The carton blank is denoted by 17 in Fig. 3. The carton blank must have two free edges 18 and 19, the edge 18 of the cardboard disc finished in 451 315 being intended to form the edge 16 (Fig. 1) and the edge 19 being intended to form the edge opposite to the edge 16.

The cardboard blank thus has the same width as the distance from the edge 16 to the opposite edge of the cardboard disc 2, while the length constitutes a multiple to the width of the cardboard disc 2.

Providing the carton blank 17 with the desired pressure, which is repeated as many times as the number of carton sheets 2 held within the blank.

Correspondingly, the cardboard blank is provided with openings, corresponding to the openings 4 and 7 on the finished cardboard sheet 2 and perforation lines corresponding to the perforation lines 5 and 6. production of a plastic blank, which in Fig. 3 is denoted by 20.

Like the carton blank 17, the plastic blank 20 forms an unbroken row of the finished part, namely the plastic part 3, the details of which are repeated in the number in which plastic parts are accommodated on the blank 20. The two blanks 17 and 20 are of equal length. Production of the plastic blank 20 can take place from a plastic sheet by means of vacuum forming or hot stamping, but spraying of plastic mass is also possible. The plastic blank is provided with a fold, on the finished plastic part corresponding to the fold 13 or an instruction, a perforation for this.

Insertion of the plastic blank 20 in an apparatus in open condition of the blank, thus with the parts of the blank which at the finished plastic part are to form the tray 9 and the lower part 10 unfolded from each other and with the parts of the blank which are to form the containers 8 facing upwards .

. Filling the container parts of the substance with the articles intended for packaging. 2 _ Loading the cardboard blank with the edge 18 facing the fold of the plastic blank or week view and centering on the plastic blank.

. Closure of the plastic blank by folding over the parts, which in the finished packaging should form the tray 9 and the lower part 10 against each other with the cardboard blank lying between these parts and insertion by means of the apparatus of the row 14 in the row of corresponding female parts 15. Hereby the plastic blank is closed Over the carton blank 17 and is bonded thereto by the traders 14 being in the corresponding openings 7 of the carton blank.

. Removal of the sealed packaging blank consisting of the carton and plastic blank and insertion of the packaging blank into an apparatus, by means of which the blank is divided into individual packages. This is done 451 315 by cutting at a distance corresponding to the width of the finished package, whereby a number of finished packages are obtained from the blank, such as shown in Fig. 2. In the pre-sealed package blank shown in Fig. 3, a length corresponding to six finished packages has been selected. . The substance is divided by the arrows denoted by 21, whereby six equal, finished packages are formed.

As will be apparent from the description of the method of production, the device for carrying it out consists of two apparatus invented for the purpose, namely the packaging and sealing apparatus and the cutting apparatus. In addition, there is of course equipment, which can be of a per se known type, for the production of the cardboard and plastic blank. The packaging and sealing apparatus is shown in Figs. 4 - 6 in different operating modes. It comprises a rack plate 22 with a number of recesses 23, which in size correspond to the size of the container 8 on the plastic part 3 and whose number corresponds to the number of containers 8 on the plastic blank 20. There are further recesses 24 in the plate, which correspond to the female parts 15 on the plastic blank 20. Thus, in the middle of each recess 23 there is a recess 24. The recesses 24 have a depth which is slightly less than the height of the female parts 15 above the board 9 on the plastic part 3.

At each end of the frame plate 22 there is a pivot bearing 25, which pivot bearings are located along a common center line, which is approximately in line with the edge 18 of the plastic blank 20, if this were to be placed with its containers 8 in the recesses 23. As mentioned the edge 18 of the plastic blank extends in line with the hinge fold 13 to the plastic parts 3, which can be formed by dividing the blank. From each bearing a lever 26 emerges, which two levers are joined by means of two longitudinal struts, which form a handle 27, placed at the outermost part of the levers 26, and a push rod 28 placed inside the handle 27.

The push rod 28 has a number of projecting pins 29. The pins 29 are located in the middle of the recesses 24 and when the levers 26 are lowered to the position shown in Fig. 6, the pins 29 penetrate into the recesses 24. This means at the same time that if a plastic blank 20 is inserted into the apparatus in the manner shown in the figures with its containers 8 in the recesses 23, the pins 29 will be located inside the traders 14. The pins 29 are slightly shorter than the common depth of the handle 14 and the female part 15 and terminated with a shoulder 30. The cutting apparatus, belonging to the device according to the invention, comprises a housing 31, which has a plate 32 with an upwardly facing surface. An opening 33 extends through the plate 32, the profile of which is adapted to the profile of the package shown in Fig. 2. Thus, the opening has a gap 34 and a projecting, larger part 35, so that the cardboard disc 2 of the package and the plastic part 3 with the container 8 can be let through. Below the plate 32, the housing continues and ends downwards with a plate 36, which is visible through the opening 33.

A knife 37 is fixedly mounted on the plate 32 along the opening 33 and next to it a pivotable knife 39 is mounted at a shaft 38. The knives 37 and 39 form a cutting tool, the cutting plane of which is in the same plane as the lower side of the knife 37 and the upper side of the knife 39. The knife 39 is thus mounted under the knife 37, which is made possible by the knife 37 being mounted at some distance above the plate 32. The distance between said cutting plane and the plate 36 is equal to the width for a package, thus the distance between two dividing lines 21 (Fig. 3). .

The knife 39 is connected by means of a pivotally mounted link 40 to the piston rod 41 of a pneumatic power tool 42, which is attached to the plate 32. The pneumatic power device 42 is connected by means of a hose 43 to a source of compressed air via a control device.

The control device for the pneumatic power device 42 comprises a pulse valve (not shown), which is arranged on the plate 36 and which can be actuated by means of a sensing means 44 projecting below the opening 33.

The control device is arranged such that each time the sensing means 44 is pressed down against the plate 36, air is supplied to the pneumatic power unit 42, its piston rod 41 making an outward stroke, thereby acting via the link-knife 39, so that it inserted under the knife 37 and thus performs a cutting movement. Thereafter, the piston rod 41 is retracted to the initial position shown in Fig. 7. Retraction can be effected by supplying air to the side of the piston facing the piston rod or by means of a spring. However, the described method of controlling a pneumatic power tool is well known in the art and there is a variety of standard equipment for performing such control. It should therefore not be necessary to describe the constituent components and their mode of operation in addition to what has now happened. The use of the apparatus for packaging and sealing will now be described with reference to steps 4 - 7 in the previous description of the method according to the invention and with reference to Figures 4 - 6: 451 315 s According to Fig. 4, the following is inserted in in connection with step 4, the plastic blank 20 in the apparatus with the containers 8 placed in the recesses 23, the female parts placed in the recesses 24 and the handles 14 on the pins 29 of the raised handle part 26 - 30. The plastic blank 20 is thus folded up so that the containers are accessible.

In accordance with section 5, the intended articles are now placed in the containers. The articles are indicated by dotted lines and are denoted 45.

Because the plastic blank 20 is designed as a multiple of the finished package, several articles or sets of articles can thus be loaded simultaneously, which facilitates the work and enables a rational loading even if automatic machines are not used.

According to Fig. 5 and step 6, the cardboard blank 17 is now loaded with its edge 18 (edge 16 of the disc) next to the fold 13 of the plastic blank and thus with its opening 7 placed in the middle of the recess 24.

According to Fig. 6 and step 7, the plastic blank is now closed by folding down the handle part 26 - 30, whereby the upright part of the plastic part is folded over the part lying on the plate 22, thus the board 9, with the cardboard blank 17 placed in between. At the end of the downward movement of the handle part, the handles 14 are inserted into the female parts 15 and are thereby passed through the openings 7 in the carton blank 17. Because the recess 24 is slightly shallower than the height of the male and female parts, as indicated in Fig. 6, a certain compression at the height of the male and female parts, so that their sides bend slightly outwards, whereby a snap action occurs between the two parts. The parts are thus form-locked to each other but can still be opened by the sides being able to spring away slightly. The closed packaging blank is now ready to be removed from the apparatus after folding up the handle part to the position shown in Figs. 4, 5.

The use of the cutting apparatus will now be described with reference to step 8 and Fig. 7: After connecting the cutting apparatus to a source of compressed air, the packaging blank is inserted standing in the opening 33 until its lower edge abuts the plate 36 and thereby depresses the sensing means 44. the knife 39 in the manner described in one stroke and the blank is cut off along a dividing line 21 (Fig. 3). The knife 39 then pushes the cut part slightly under the knife 37, which means that the cut part is ejected from the plate 36; which ends slightly inside the cutting edge of the knife 37. The space in the opening 33 thus becomes free and the blank can fall down with the cutting edge abutting against the plate 36, whereby by actuating the gum member 44 the knife 39 performs a new blow and a new cut part is obtained. In this way, the cutting is continued until the whole blank is divided into packages of the type shown in Fig. 2.

Through the procedure for the finished production of the package and the apparatus, constituting a device for carrying out the procedure, a very rational handling is achieved. It is particularly important that the packaging and the substances from which it is manufactured can be handled in a rational manner during manufacture, during packaging of the articles and during sealing even without the use of vending machines and even in small packaging series. The invention can be modified within framework for subsequent patent claims. Thus, the packaging may have widely differing appearances depending on its adaptation to the articles to be packaged. In this case, the plastic part can have containers in different shapes and it can also have several containers for separate storage of several associated articles. The substances for the production of the packaging may also have other forms than those described. Of course, they must be adapted to the finished packaging, but can also be made for any number of packages housed within the same substance. In this case, the formation of the constituent parts can take place in a manner other than that shown in Fig. 3 in the form of a row. The described devices have been stated in a relatively simple form but can within the scope of the invention be designed for more or less automated operation.

Claims (5)

451 315 PATENT REQUIREMENTS A method of providing packages (1) for articles (45), wherein each package comprises a container part (13) having at least one container (8) with an opening and an opening closing part (10), can be lengths of container parts (3) and closing parts (10) are produced, containing a continuous row of container parts and closing parts with a length for each length constituting a multiple of the width of a finished package (1), that each length is placed in and for loading articles with the container opening facing upwards, that each length is filled with articles at one and the same time, that each length is closed in an operation common to all container parts in the length by connecting the longitudinal continuous row of closing parts (10) to - is brought over the opening of the container parts, and that each length is divided into individual packages (1) by dividing the length along predetermined places that the container parts (3) and the closing part The members (10) of each length are made in a single piece, the containers (8) being formed by arranging a row of depressions in the length, whereby for each container part a intended board (9) is obtained, that the closure of the length takes place by folding the row of closing parts (10) towards the row of container parts (3) along a continuous fold line (13) and that a disc blank for each length is produced with a length corresponding to the length of the length, that the disc blank is connected to the length so that after said folding The sheet material forms a gap between the row of container parts (3) and the row of closing parts (10), after which the disc blank is divided into a disc (2) for each package (1) in one and the same operation as the container parts and the closing parts are separated from each other. . 2. A method according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that a row of trades (14) is extruded from the row of closing parts (10) in each length, that a row of female parts (15) is extruded out of the row of container parts (3) and are located so that by folding the female parts can be inserted into their respective handles and form for each package a snap lock, which holds the container part (3) together with the closing part (10). 3. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that each disc blank is provided with a row of through-openings (7), located so that at 9 p 451 315 the folding of the row of closing parts (10) the traders (14) can inserted into the female parts (15) through their respective openings. Device for producing packages each having a container part (3), provided with at least one container (8) and a closing part (10), characterized by a table (22) with a row of recesses (23) for a continuous length of container parts (3), the container (8) of which can be immersed in the recesses with its open side upwards in the position for loading the articles (45) and of a joining mechanism (26-30) movable between a position above the table and a position in contact with the table and arranged to join the continuous length of closing parts (10) with the length of container parts and of a disintegration apparatus (31), which is arranged to divide the length of container parts and closing parts into individual packages. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the joining mechanism (26-30) is arranged to fold over said length of closing parts (10) towards the length of container parts (3), thereby joining a row of handles (14) in the length of closing parts with a row of female parts (15) in the length of container parts (3), and the table (22) is arranged to form a support for a disc winch, so that it can be laid in the intended position before the mechanism is lowered. lowering and that the disintegration apparatus (31) consists of a cutting device, which is arranged to cut the length of container parts (3), closing parts (10) and the carton thread in the individual packages.