US3744708A

US3744708A - Structure for folding carton

Info

Publication number: US3744708A
Application number: US00170567A
Authority: US
Inventors: S Gardner; R Krackenberger
Original assignee: Eli Lilly and Co
Current assignee: Eli Lilly and Co
Priority date: 1971-08-10
Filing date: 1971-08-10
Publication date: 1973-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1990-07-10

Abstract

Embossments in a folding carton blank near the edge at each side of the glue lap or side panel to which the gluing panel is connected, on the face of the glue lap or side panel, opposite the face whereon glue is applied, prevent the over-run of glue at each side of the glue lap from contacting the reverse face of the side panel which is contiguous with the gluing panel and the subsequent sealing of the non-glued face of the glue lap to such side panel when the sealing operation is completed.

Description

I 1 Y Umted States Patent 1 [111 3,744,708 Gardner et al. 2 July 10, 1973 [54] STRUCTURE FOR FOLDING CARTON 3,3l-5;870 4/1967 Barnes 229/37 R 75 Inventors Selby A Gardner Robert J 5 313 322 3:32; fiuckhenbecke" 533/135 I v ar s f 'sm both of lndlanapollsr 2,501,852 3/1950 Ringler 229 37 R [73] Assignee: Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance Ind. Assistant Examiner-Stephen Marcus [22] Filed g 10 1971 Att0rney-Everet F. Smith and Ralph W, Ernsberger [21] Appl. No.: 170,567 [57] ABSTRACT Embossments in a folding carton blank near the edge 'i 229/48 229/37 Z at each side of the glue lap or side panel to which the [58] Fie'ld R 48 SA gluing panel is connected, on the face of the glue lap 229/48 SB 41 R 41 37 or side panel, opposite the face whereon glue is ap- 5 plied, prevent the over-run of glue at each side of the glue lap from contacting the reverse face of the side e l which is contiguous with the gluing panel and the [56] References Cited Pane subsequent sealing of the non-glued face of the glue lap UNITED STATES PATENTS to such side panel when the sealing operation is com- 2,521,208 9/1950 Eaton 229/5.5 leted, 2,259,822 10/1941 Kienlen 229/48 R p 2,317,773 4/1943 Kavanaugh 229/51 WB 16 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures PATENIEUJUL 1 0 I973 FIG.5

1 STRUCTURE FOR FOLDING CARTON BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to folding cartons. More particularly, it relates to an improvement to the structure of folding cartons which prevents undesired sealing of the glue lap to the side panel contiguous with the gluing panel thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art Folding cartons have been in use as containers for a long time. One of many variations of such folding cartons comprises a die-cut sheet which is glued together to form a container having three or more sides. Typically, the die-cut sheet is comprised of a glue lap, to which glue is machine applied, and three or more side panels. The sealing of the folded carton is generally accomplished by utilizing mechanical means to bring the adhesive laden glue lap into contact with one of the side panels in a pre-planned position. Pressure is usually applied to the contacting surfaces to aid in the seal ing operation. Various designs have been in use wherein the glue lap issealed to either the inside or the outside of one of the side panels of the carton. Esthetically, it is preferred that the glue lap should be attached to the inside of one of the side panels.

Generally, the carton is designed so that it can be stored flat in a knocked-down configuration to save space. When it is desired to open up the carton to receive the goods which are to be placed therein, a mechanical means is employed to do this operation. At this point the opened-up carton has a configuration such that three or more sides confine a space, and one or more sides are open to receive the goods. The usual practice is to mechanically close one or more of the remaining open sides, such as the bottom or the top of the carton, leaving one side open to accept the contents. Alternatively, the carton can be left open on one or more sides and the goods placed therein with no subsequent closure of the open side(s). In the latter case the carton can be said to serve as a sleeve or over-wrap.

In any event, in the sealing operation wherein a gluing means applies an adhesive to the glue face of the glue lap, there is an over-run of adhesive at the edges of both sides of the glue lap where the application of the glue starts and finishes, deposited thereat by the gluing means as the latter traverses the glue lap. Then in the course of sealing the glue lap to the gluing panel, the over-run of adhesive from the glue application can contact a side panel which is not intended to be sealed to the glue lap and result in the attachment of the reverse'face of the glue lap to the side panel so contacted.

When the sealing operation is carried out in a manner which leaves the glue-sealed carton in a knocked-down compact form, the inadvertent attachment described above goes undetected, the glue sets up, and the unwanted attachment of the reverse face of the glue lap to one of the side panels produces a knocked-down carton that cannot be opened up by mechanical means designed to perform that function. As a consequence, the packaging operation is interrupted and slowed down as defective cartons are identified and opened up by other means.

This problem has been partially solved by chamfering the sides of the glue lap from about to about 30. A chamfer is frequently employed to alleviate this condition. However, chamfering the sides does not provide a satisfactory solution to the inadvertent attachment, and more reliable means have been sought to solve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIO It has now been discovered that embossments near the edge at each side of the glue lap or side panel to which the gluing panel is connected, on the face of the glue lap or side panel opposite the face whereon the over-run of adhesive is deposited, prevent the nonglued face of the glue lap from contacting the side panel to which no glue lap attachment is intended. The undesired sealing of the non-glued face of the glue lap to a side panel is thus eliminated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the reverse face of a carton glue lap connected to a carton side panel.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the glue face of a carton glue lap connected to a carton side panel.

FIG. 3 is an end view of a carton glue lap.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a carton folded into a position simulating the relation of the glue lap and the gluing panel immediately preceeding the sealing operation.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a carton showing the position of the glue lap, gluing panel, and side panel connected to the gluing panel after the sealing operation is completed showing the knocked-down configuration.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of FIG. 1 showing the reverse face of a side panel connected to the gluing panel.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a modified embodiment of FIG. 2 showing the glue face of a side panel connected to the gluing panel.

FIG. 8 is an end view of a modified embodiment of FIG. 3 showing the gluing panel connected to the side panel.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a modified embodiment of FIG. 4 showing a carton folded into a position simulating the relation of the glue lap, gluing panel, and side panel connected to the gluing panel immediately preceding the sealing operation.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a modified version of FIG. 5 showing the position of the glue lap, gluing panel, and side panel connected to the gluing panel fter the sealing operation is completed showing the knocked-down configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In this specification, the terms indicated below have the following definitions:

The term folding carton blank" means the flat diecut, or die-formed, material which, when folded in a pre-designed fashion takes the'shape of the finished container.

The term carton glue lap means that portion of a carton blank which is specifically designed to be sealed to one of the side panels of the carton to provide for a container having three or more sides confining a space.

The term carton side panel means any one of the panels which are specifically designed in the carton blank to be one of the three or more sides of the container which confines the space.

The term gluing panel means that panel of the carton blank which is specifically designed to be sealed to the glue lap to provide for a container having three or more sides confining a space.

The term side panel connected to the gluing panel means that panel of the carton blank which is immediately contiguous with and connected to the gluing panel, whether there has been a partial severance by a cut crease or a line of demarcation identifiable only by a crimp crease.

The term glue face means that face of the glue lap, and the carton side panels contiguous therewith, to which the application of glue is made prior to the sealing operation.

The term reverse face means that face of the glue lap, and the carton side panels contiguous therewith, which is opposite to the glue face.

The term cut crease means that crease which has been die-cut in the carton blank andhas resulted in a partial severing of the carton material to form a convenient point for creating a fold in the container.

The term crimp crease means a crease that has been formed in the carton blank by the application of pressure to one or both faces of the carton blank resulting in an identifiable depression on one or both faces and serving as a place where a convenient fold can be made in the container.

The term length of the glue lap means the distance from the cut crease or crimp crease which marks the beginning of the glue lap and the separation of this part of the structure from the carton side panel to which it is attached to the end of the glue lap.

The term vertical center line means the center line of the embossments and the corresponding debossments which is parallel to the cut crease or crimp crease which marks the separation of a carton side panel and the glue lap.

The term horizontal center line of the embossments and the corresponding debossments means the line which is parallel with the sides of the glue lap, and the carton side panels contiguous therewith.

The term elongated-obloid means a geometric form which has essentially straight sides and rounded ends, and may be many times as long as it is wide.

The term embossment means a raised protuberance from a flat surface.

The term debossment" means a depressed area in a flat surface, and in the context of this specification is intended to be the opposite of embossment.

The novel structure of this invention comprises the presence of an embossment at each side of the reverse face of the glue lap or, alternatively, at each side of the side panel connected to the gluing panel in a position such that, when the reverse face of the glue lap is folded against the reverse face of the side panel connected to the gluing panel, the embossments in the side panel will be beneath the thus folded glue lap. The embossments thus placed serve the purpose of preventing the reverse face of the glue lap from contacting the reverse face of the side panel connected to the gluing panel during the sealing operation after the glue has been applied to the glue lap. In the operation during which glue is applied to the glue lap, there is an overrun of glue at the beginning and the end of the application. This over-run of glue is sufficient to seal the edges of the glue lap to the reverse face of the side panel which is connected to the gluing panel when pressure is applied in the sealing operation: When this glue sets up, there is an attachment that is undesirable in that the mechanical opening of the carton from its knockeddown configuration is prevented at a later time in automatic packaging equipment.

This problem is solved by the presence of the embossments as indicated heretofore. The embossments hold the reverse face of the glue lap off of the reverse face of the side panel connected to the gluing panel during the sealing operation. Thus, the undesired sealing is prevented.

The structure of this invention can be more readily understood by reference to the drawing attached.

In FIG. 1 the novel structure of this invention is shown as embossments 5 in the reverse face of a glue lap l. The embossments 5 are located so that they are in about the vertical center line of glue lap l and occupy from about one-eighth to about one-half the length of glue lap, preferably about one-third of the length. The embossments 5 are set in from the side of the glue lap a distance of from about 0.250 to about 0.750 inch from the edge to the horizontal center line of the embossments 5, preferably about 0.375 to about 0.500 inch. While the sides 3 of the glue lap are shown in FIG. 1 as a straight extension of the carton side panel 2, it is preferable that each side of the glue lap should be chamfered from about 5 to about 30 from a line extended from the edge of the carton side panel 2, and a 15 chamfer is more preferred. When the chamfer is present, the set-back of the embossment is measured from the chamfered edge.

The dashed line shown as No. 6 in FIG. 1 depicts the relative position of the cut crease which is present on the glue face side of the glue lap. While in this embodiment of the instant invention, the crease is shown as a cut crease in FIG. 2, there is no corresponding crimp on the face shown in FIG. 1, a crimp crease could be used to separate the carton side panel from the carton glue lap as effectively as the cut crease illustrated here. If a crimp crease were employed, then there would be a visual line that would appear depressed on both faces of the glue lap.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the embossments as illustrated in FIG. 1 are produced in the reverse face of the glue lap by debossing the glue face of glue lap l as is illustrated in FIG. 2. Generally, folding cartons are manufactured by first die-cutting a carton blank from a section of material used for the fabrication. The die which is employed for this purpose, provides the necessary tooling to form and trim all of the sides, ends, laps, etc., and place the necessary cut creases or crimp creases which will denote where the side panels are to be folded. In this die-cutting operation, it is a relatively simple matter to install bosses in the appropriate place in the tooling to accomplish the debossing concurrently with the die-cutting of the carton blank, and such will be understood by those skilled in the art. As the debossment is accomplished, there is produced simultaneously a corresponding oppositely situated embossment. FIG. 2 shows the glue face of the glue lap connected with the side panel 2. Number 8 in FIG. 2 shows the cut crease which separates the glue lap 1 from the side panel 2. A cut crease is utilized to facilitate the bending of the glue lap. to accommodate the sealing operation. A cut crease describes an incomplete cut; a severance of only a fraction of the thickness of the panel, and is generally die-cut to a depth of from about one-thirdto three-fifths of the thickness of the panel. A crimp crease can be debossed in the panel to form the line of demarcation between the glue flap and the connecting side panel, but generally is employed in fabricating corrugated cartons, whereas the cut crease is the preferred means to establish a fold line in a paper board carton.

The embossments 5 are formed in the reverse face of the glue lap l by debossing the glue face of the glue lap I which results in simultaneously formingcorresponding oppositely situated embossments 5. In FIG. 2, the debossments 7 are shown and are situated exactly opposite the embossments 5 shown in FIG. I. The cut crease 8 is shown in FIG. 2 marking the line which separates the glue lap 1 from the carton side panel 2. Number 9 in FIG. 2 illustrates the position of the strip of glue which is applied to the glue lap in the sealing operation.

The end view of the glue lap 1 is shown in FIG. 3 and provides a detail of the embossments 5 and the corresponding oppositely situated debossments 7. Debossments 7 are formed in the glue face of the glue lap l to produce simultaneously corresponding oppositely situ- 'ated embossments 5 wherein such embossments are raised above the flat surface of the reverse face of glue lap 1 from about 0.008 to about 0.012 inch.

In'FIG. 4, glue has been applied to the glue face of glue lap 1 and mechanical means have been employed to fold the glue lap l oppositelyfrom the cut crease 8 so that the embossments 5 are approaching a contact with the reverse face of the side panel 11 connected to the gluing panel 10. The gluing panel 10, which is to be sealed to the glue lap 1, is moved by mechanical means to a position as depicted graphically in FIG. 4.

At about this point in the sealing operation, the assembly as illustrated in cross-section in FIG. 5 isconveyed by mechanical means to and under 'a pressure roller which presses side panel 10 against glue lap 1 transversely in the area of embossments 5 effecting a seal between the glue face of glue lap 1 and gluing panel 10. The embossments 5 prevent the side edges of glue lap 1 from contacting the reverse face of side panel 11 connected to the gluing panel 10.

The sealing of a carton having a glue lap l as depicted in FIG. 1, 2 and 3 and sealed as depicted in FIG. 4 and 5, is completed with the carton in a knockeddown configuration, and because the glue lap l is prevented from contacting the reverse face of side panel 11 and becoming attached thereto from the sealing of the glue deposited in the over-run on the edges of the side 3 of glue lap 1, the sealed carton can be consistently processed through mechanical carton opening ments 12 is located from about 0.250 to about 0.750

inch from the edge of the side panel 12, preferably about 0.500 inch. When the embossments are in the side panel as illustrated in FIG. 6, they have a long axis parallel to their horizontal center line and equal to about one-eighth to about one-half the length of the glue lap.

In FIG. 7, the side panel 11 is shown as being separated from the gluing panel by a cut crease 15. Alternatively a crimp crease can be employed in place of the cut crease. The debossments 14 which are formed in the glue face of the side panel 11 are produced by the same means which was described above for the formation of the debossments and the corresponding oppositely situated embossments in glue lap 1.

In FIG. 8, which corresponds with FIG. 3, the embossments 12 are shown protruding above the flat surface of the side panel 11. As FIG. 8 is a view fromthe end 10 of the gluing panel 10 this illustration graphically depicts the similar character of the embossments whether they are in the side panel or in the glue lap.

The purpose is the same regardless of which location is utilized. I

The location of the embossments in the side panel and the way in which they relate to the other structural characteristics of the side panel and the carton glue lap, are depicted graphically in FIG. 6, 7 and 8. In FIG. 9 and 10, there is a graphical depiction of the manner in which the embossments formed in the side panel are utilized to accomplish the purpose of keeping the glue lap from coming into contact with the side'panel connected to the gluing panel. This is accomplished in the same fashion as was described above in detailingFIG.

4 and 5. In both situations the sealing operation proequipment withour work stoppages to sort out defectively sealed cartons.

In another embodiment of this invention, theembossments are formed in the side panel connected to the gluing panel near the edge of the side panel, and in such a position than when the glue lap is folded against the side panel connected to the gluing panel, the embossments will be beneath the glue lap. In FIG. 6, embossments are shown near the edge at each side of the side panel connected to the gluing panel, on the reverse face thereof, located so that the vertical center line of the embossments is situated at a position that will be essentially directly beneath (or in line with) the vertical center line of the glue lap when the latter is folded against such side panel in the sealing operation. In FIG.

ceeds in the same manner.

It is to beunderstood that the thrust of the instant invention is directly principally to the embossments which may be located in either the glue lap or the side panel connected to the gluing panel. In either case the same purpose is served. The embossments can be in the form of a star, a square, a crescent, or whatever, but it is preferred that sharp angles should be avoided as such have a tendency to cut and warp the carton material. Consequently, the preferred shape of the embossments can be that of a circle, or any geometric form departing therefrom ranging to that of an elongated-obloid. It is further to be understood that the embossments will generally take the shape of the bosses which are applied to the carton blank to form such embossments, and alhough not to be considered as a precise definition, the shape of the bosses determine the shapeof the debossments and the corresponding oppositely situated embossments. Furthermore, whereas it has been specified that the embossments should be raised above the flat surface of the glue lap or carton panel by from about 0.008 to about 0.012 inch, as a general condition it will be appropriate to provide for a somewhat deeper debossment than the corresponding oppositely situated embossment produced thereby. This is a necessity because of the slight compression of the carton material that occurs simultaneously with the formation of the embossments which are the heart of this invention.

It will be readily recognized that any protuberance from the surface of the reverse face of the glue lap, or side panel connected to the gluing panel located so as to be beneath the glue lap when the sealing operation takes place will serve the same purpose as the embossments described herein. For example, thin coins of a suitable material can be attached to the reverse face of the glue lap or side panel connected to the gluing panel and such are included in the scope of this invention. Other variations coming within the scope of the invention can be illustrated by the employment of one embossment essentially extending from near one edge of one side of the glue lap, or side panel connected to the gluing panel to near the edge at the other side. Where a relatively narrow glue lap is to be attached to a gluing panel of a carton of any size; particularly a small container, one protuberance will suffice. Moreover, one of the thin coins specified above can form the protuberance, and can be single or multilayered.

In any event, a single protuberance, or two apparently independent protuberances connected in any way, will be understood to be within the spirit and scope of the instant invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a glued carton the improvement comprising embossments closely adjacent to but spaced from the edge at each side of the glue lap on the face opposite the face of the glue lap on which glue is applied.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are shaped as described by the geometric form of a circle. a

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are raised from about 0.008 to about 0.012 inch above the flat surface of the glue lap.

4. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are from about one-eighth to about one-half the width of said glue lap.

5. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the horizontal center line of the embossments is from about 0.250 to about 0.750 inch from the edge of the side of the glue lap.

6. The improvement of claim 4 wherein the embossments occupy about one-third of the width of the glue lap.

7. In a glued carton the improvement comprising embossments closely adjacent to but spaced from the edge at each side of the side panel connected to the gluing panel, on the face of the side panel opposite the face continuous with the face of the glue lap on which glue is applied, located so that the vertical center line of the embossments is situated at a position that will be essentially directly beneath (or in line with) the vertical center line of the glue lap when the latter is folded against such side panel in the sealing operation.

8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the embossments are shaped as described by the geometric form of a circle.

9. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are raised from about 0.008 to about 0.012 inch above the flat surface of the side panel.

10. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments have a long axis which is from about one-eighth to about one-half the length of the glue lap.

11. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the horizontal center line of the embossments is situated from about 0.250 to about 0.750 inch from the edge of the side of the side panel.

12. The improvement of claim 10 wherein the embossments have a long axis equal to about one-third of the length of the glue lap.

13. The improvement of claim l wherein the embossments are shaped as described by the geometric form of an elongated obloid.

14. The improvement of claim 5 wherein the horizontal center line of the embossments is about 0.375 inch from the edge of the side of the glue lap.

. 15. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the embossments are shaped as described by the geometric form of an elongated obloid.

16. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the horizontal center line of the embossments is about 0.500

inch from the edge of the side of the side panel.

l III

Claims

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are shaped as described by the geometric form of a circle.

13. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the embossments are shaped as described by the geometric form of an elongated obloid.

15. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the embossments are shaped as described by the geometric form of an elongated obloid.

16. The improvement of claim 11 wherein the horizontal center line of the embossments is about 0.500 inch from the edge of the side of the side panel.