US3404825A

US3404825A - Carton bundling

Info

Publication number: US3404825A
Application number: US581530A
Authority: US
Inventors: George C Rumberger
Original assignee: Brown Co
Current assignee: Fort James Corp
Priority date: 1966-09-23
Filing date: 1966-09-23
Publication date: 1968-10-08
Anticipated expiration: 1985-10-08

Description

Oct. 8, 1968 c, RUMBERGER 3,404,825

CARTON BUNDLING Filed Sept. 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fi/ezz for $90138 GT Fa mfiezyez G. c. RUMBERGER 3,404,825

CARTON BUNDLING Oct. 8, 1968 Filed Sept. 23, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 r. a m m /w ,r 5 H fa a edgy v Z W J PQJJMU w H w 5;

United States Patent 3,404,825 CARTON BUNDLING George C. Rumberger, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Brown Company, Kalamazoo, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 581,530 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-6) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A unit bundle comprising a plurality of cartons secured to each other at their ends, each of the cartons having an end flap and at least one underlying flap positioned immediately below, each of the cartons being comprised of laminated paperboard having a layer of thermoplastic adhesive intermediate two layers of paperboard, and having exit means provided in the paperboard of the flaps permitting the adhesive to be extruded therethrough, an integral web being placed between two of the flaps of each carton and being adhesively aflixed to at least one flap of each carton by means of the thermoplastic adhesive extruded from the laminated paperboard.

The present invention relates to cartons, and is more particularly concerned with a novel method for providing assembled multiple units or bundles of end sealed cartons.

In the past it has been necessary to package multiple units of cartons by overwrapping or by enclosing in a master carboard carton. Such methods utilizing unnecessary overwraps or master cartons are expensive and timeconsuming.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling multiple units of sealed end cartons. It is a further object to provide such multiple units which lend themselves readily for dispensing and merchandising of the units in any combination of numbers desired. It is further object to provide multiple unit packages which avoid the necessity for utilizing overwraps or master cartons. The accomplishment of the foregoing and additional objects will become more fully apparent hereinafter.

The invention in its preferred embodiment is illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an integral blank suitably cut and scored for forming a carton which may be used in the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of four partially assembled cartons with the outer flaps still unsealed and showing paper webs positioned at the ends of the cartons for providing a carton bundle.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an assembly of four sealed cartons bundled together.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of one end of the carton assembly taken at the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the process of applying the web on packaging equipment.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of paper tape used for bundling cartons in one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of paper tape used for bundling in somewhat modified embodiment.

According to the invention, a plurality of cartons (at least two) are placed in juxtaposition, with their ends in coplanar arrangement, either side by side or face to face or both. At least one flap at the end of each carton is placed in open position. A strip or web of paper is then placed over the ends of the cartons and the open flaps then adhesively afiixed to the web and the web in turn adhesively affixed to the flap below. The other end of each of the cartons may if desired be similarly fastened together by means of another web of paper. As a result,

See

a bundle of cartons linked together by means of a paper web or strip is formed, which bundle may be readily handled and/or sold in this form. When an individual carton is desired, it can be readily torn from the rest of the bundle without disturbing the integrity of the remainder of the bundle.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings for a better understanding of the invention, wherein all the parts are numbered and wherein the same numbers are used to refer to corresponding parts throughout.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an integral blank cut and scored for forming a carton which may be used to form bundles according to the invention. The blank and subsequent carton are comprised of

major panels

1 and 2 and

minor panels

3 and 4. A glue flap 5 is connected to an edge of the major panel 1. The

major panels

1 and 2 are each provided at one end with an

outer end flap

6 and 7. The

minor panels

3 and 4 are each provided at an end with

tuck flaps

8 and 9. The major panel 1 is provided at its other end with an inner end flap 10 and the major panel 2 is provided with an inner end flap 17 at its other end. The

minor panels

3 and 4 are provided at their other ends with

tuck flaps

13 and 14.

The carton is erected in normal fashion by adhesively affixing the glue flap 5 to the edge of the minor panel 4. The carton is then in the form of a flat-folded sleeve and may be stored and shipped in this condition. The carton is further erected by opening the sleeve. The

tuck flaps

13 and 14 are infolded as is inner end flap 10. Usually these

flaps

10, 13, and 14 are secured together, preferably adhesively, at this point. The carton may then be filled with the desired contents. A-fter filling, the

tuck flaps

8 and 9 are infolded and one of the

outer end flaps

6 and 7 folded thereover. A group of cartons 21 is then arranged as shown in FIG. 2, and paper webs or

strips

18 and 19 placed over both the infolded flaps at both ends of the carton (or at only one end if desired). The

outer end flaps

7 or 6 and 17 are then infolded and sealed to the

paper strips

18 and 19, and through the paper strips to the flaps below. A finished bundle of cartons is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 5, the process of the invention may be conveniently carried out on automatic packaging equipment by mounting the strips or webs of paper, which may be ungurnmed or gummed on one or both sides, or similar material such as

plastic film

18 and 19 in

continuous reels

25 and 26. Roller guides 27 and 28 mounted on

supports

29 and 30 guide the

strips

18 and 19 into position over the ends of the rows of cartons 21 intermediate the

upstanding fiaps

7 and 17. Either a single column or double column of cartons can be conveniently sealed into a bundle in this manner. The outer end flaps are subsequently folded and adhesively affixed to the paper strip and the strip in turn to the underlying flaps, thus forming a bundle of end-sealed cartons. When fully heat sealing cartons are used, as for example cartons formed of laminated paper stock having an adhesive layer intermediate two paperboard layers and having slits provided in the flaps for permitting the adhesive material to be extruded to the surface, the web or strip material may be formed of porous paper 31, permitting the adhesive to be absorbed into and through the paper, thereby to affix the paper to both the underlying and overlying flaps. Alternatively paper 32 having perforations 3'3 to permit the thermoplastic adhesive to flow therethrough, as shown in FIG. 6, may be used. When a conventional adhesive is used, as for example glue, the glue may be applied to both sides of the web of paper and re-moistened when ready for use. Alternatively the wet glue may be applied to the paper web immediately before it is placed between the flaps of the carton. In an additional embodiment, the

adhesive may be applied to the surfaces of the carton flaps in such a manner that the continuous web may be adhered to both of the closure flaps on adjacent cartons. Alternatively, glue may be applied to one surface of the web and one flap surface. Or, heat sealing patches may be used on one of the flaps, on the web, or both. When cartons are utilized which have a combination of endflaps or tuck flaps, an intermediate flap, and an outer flap, the web material may be made to pass between any two of the named flaps and then be sealed in place. However, where it is desired to form a bundle having rows of cartons in side-by-side relationship, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, it is then necessary to present the continuous web so that it will be folded in between the outer flaps and the next underlying flap. This is accomplished by bringing the cartons together with the top flaps up in face to face relationship, passing the web between the open top flaps, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, and then securing the web beneath the top flaps, as shown in FIG. 3.

In order to facilitate separation of the bundle into individual units, perforated scoring 34 may be applied to a strip such as strip 31 to permit it to be readily severed into portions.

The present invention has a number of advantages over methods used for packing cartons in groups or bundles utilized in the prior art. In the prior art multiple package units were generally prepared by overwrapping, or by enclosing in a master cardboard carton. Such method are expensive both in requiring additional steps and in requiring additional expensive materials. The present invention uses an inexpensive paper web or strip which is applied at the time of sealing of the cartons. Consequently, the additional steps involved in overwrapping are completely avoided. The present invention lends itself to the use of such newly developed materials as laminated paperboard having an inner layer of wax or other thermoplastic sealing material. The cartons of the invention may be bundled together on conventional automatic packaging equipment. Even hermetically sealed bundles of cartons may be provided by the use of a hot melt adhesive applied to both sides of the web material which is to be enclosed by the flaps of the cartons, or to one or more flaps, or both, the adhesive being activated immediately prior to closing the flaps. This is particularly advantageous when using cartons having a material such as polyethylene or saran linings, neither of which seal adequately by heat alone due to the very high viscosity of the coating materials used. Webs of almost any strength may be used depending upon the activity to which the bundles of cartons are to be subjected.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact details of construction, operation, or exact materials or embodiments shown and described, as obvious modifications and equivalents will be apparent to one skilled in the art, and the invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A unit bundle comprising a plurality of cartons secured to each other at their ends, each of said cartons having an end flap and least one underlying fiap positioned immediately below, each of said cartons being comprised of laminated paperboard having a layer of thermoplastic adhesive intermediate two layers of paperboard, and having exit means provided in the paperboard of said flaps permitting said adhesive to be extruded therethrough, and an integral web having portions thereof positioned intermediate two of the flaps of each carton and being adhesively aflixed to at least one flap of each carton by extruded adhesive.

2. A unit bundle according to claim 1 wherein said cartons are arranged in a single column, and wherein an integral web is positioned intermediate an end flap and an underlying flap at one end of each carton of the column, and adhesively affixed to both said end flap and said underlying flap.

3. A unit bundle according to claim 2 wherein a second integral web is positioned at the other end of each carton intermediate an end flap and an underlying flap and adhesively affixed to both said end flap and said underlying flap.

4. A method for forming a unit bundle comprising a plurality of cartons secured to each other at their ends, each of said cartons having an end flap and at least one underlying flap positioned immediately below, each of said cartons being comprised of laminated paperboard having a layer of thermoplastic adhesive intermediate two layers of paperboard, and having adhesive means provided in the paperboard of said flaps permitting said adhesive to be extruded therethrough, said method comprising placing a group of cartons together with at least said outer end fiaps in open position, placing an integral web over said carton with a portion of said web positioned at one end of each carton over at least one of the underlying flaps, folding said open flap over said integral web, and applying heat to each of said outer end flaps, thereby adhesively affixing said web to said flaps.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,567,165 12/1925 Noland 229-6 3,286,906 11/1966 Rumberger 229-37 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.