WO1993023309A1

WO1993023309A1 - Bottle carrier and method of forming and applying the carrier

Info

Publication number: WO1993023309A1
Application number: PCT/US1993/004619
Authority: WO
Original assignee: The Mead Corporation
Priority date: 1992-05-18
Filing date: 1993-05-17
Publication date: 1993-11-25
Also published as: HUT73617A; HU9403153D0; AU692410B2; HU217910B; JP3177249B2; IN177560B; AU4250293A; RU2094345C1; CZ285594A3; CZ286643B6; GB9210604D0; CN1081990A; JPH08507276A; KR100292920B1; AU676164B2; IL105709A0; IL105709A; NZ247632A; AU2368797A; BR9306340A

Abstract

An article carrier (10) of the top gripping type comprises a sleeve (12), adapted to receive and retain top portions of a plurality of articles, and comprises an overlapping outer reinforcing structure (14). These two structural components are secured together in superposed registry to form a multi-ply carrier.

Description

BOTTLE CARRIER & METHOD OF FORMING

AND APPLYING THE CARRIER

This invention relates to an article carrier of the top gripping type for use in conjunction with articles, particularly bottles having neck flanges. The carrier is of the so-called "top-gripping" type such being well known in the art as shown, for example, by US-A-4 180 191. The carrier comprises an elongate tubular structure having a bottom wall in which a plurality of bottle neck receiving apertures are formed and to which a pair of upwardly convergently extending side walls is foldably joined thereby forming a sleeve of substantially triangular cross-section. A handle structure extends from the apex of the sleeve.

One aspect of the invention provides an article carrier of the top gripping type which carrier comprises two structural components secured together to form a multi-ply carrier, one of said structural components comprising a sleeve adapted to receive and retain top portions of a plurality of articles.

According to a feature of this aspect of the invention said sleeve may comprise a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, and a top incorporating handle means and wherein said other structural component comprises a reinforcing structure which is secured to the sleeve so as to provide multi-ply material for said side walls and said handle means. Preferably, said sleeve is of substantially triangular cross-section in which said handle structure is upstanding from the apex of the sleeve, said bottom wall, side panels and handle structure incorporating a plurality of article, receiving and retention apertures whereby said articles can be secured together and carried by said carrier and wherein said reinforcing structure comprises a single sheet of material folded to provide a structure similar to the carrier sleeve but in which no bottom wall is present, said reinforcing structure being secured in registry on the sleeve to overlie said handle structure and said side walls.

According to another feature of this aspect of the invention, said upstanding handle structure may be foldable relative to other parts of said sleeve into a stowed inactive position and wherein means are provided for securing the handle structure relative to said articles to hold it in said stowed position. In constructions where this feature is adopted said securing means may comprise foldable flaps located in apertures provided in the handle structure to receive top portions of said articles, said securing flaps being adapted to engage top portions of said articles when said handle structure is folded into its stowed position to hold the handle panel in its stowed position.

Another aspect of the invention provides an article carrier of the top gripping type comprises a sleeve adapted to receive and retain top portions of a plurality of articles said sleeve including an upstanding handle structure which is foldable relative to other parts of said sleeve into a stowed inactive position and wherein means are provided for securing the handle structure relative to said articles to hold it in said stowed position.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method of forming an article carrier or the top gripping type having two structural components secured together to form a multi-ply carrier of which one said structural component comprises a sleeve adapted to receive and retain top portions of a plurality of articles, the method comprising the steps of causing the sleeve to be applied to a group of articles to be retained in a group by said) sleeve and securing a reinforcing structure to said sleeve in registering superposed relationship.

According to a feature of this aspect of the invention said sleeve may be applied to said group of articles while the material for forming said sleeve is in a substantially flat unformed condition whereafter said material is folded and secured into a tubular form during movement, together with said articles, along a feed path and wherein said reinforcing structure is applied and secured to said sleeve in said feed path downstream of said sleeve forming process. Preferably, said sleeve and said reinforcing structure together include α reinforced handle structure, said reinforced handle structure being folded from an upstanding active position into a stowed, more horizontal, inactive position. Yet another aspect of the invention provides a method of forming an article carrier according to the immediately preceding paragraph.

A further aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming an article carrier of the top-gripping type which comprises foldably interconnected panels which form a sleeve paving a bottom wall, a pair of side walls and a top incorporating a handle, said sleeve comprising one or more apertures each for receiving the neck of an article and means associated with at least one of said apertures which cooperates with the neck of an article received in the associated aperture to secure the blank to the associated article thereby to enable said foldably interconnected panels to be folded into said sleeve.

A carrier embodying the invention together with a method and device for forming the same will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the carrier applied to a group of bottles;

Figure 2 is a. schematic cross-sectional view of the carrier without bottles present;

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a machine for applying the carrier to a group of bottles;

Figure 3a is a perspective view of the bottle group showing a part-formed carrier; and Figure 3b is a series of views showing details of a handle folding arrangement of the carrier.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, an article carrier 10 formed specifically for holding a group of bottles B1, B2 and B3 together in a group comprises two components. The first component is an elongate sleeve 12 and the second component: is a reinforcing structure 14. Both the sleeve 12 and structure 14 are formed from paperboard or like foldable sheet material but this is not an essential requirement. For example, the two components of the carrier may be formed from two dissimilar materials such as paperboard and plastics respectively or from different types of grades of a like material. In this latter regard, it is envisaged that paperboard components of different compositions and/or caliper could be utilized.

Sleeve 12 comprises a single blank "bk" (Figure 3) of paperboard comprising, in series, a first handle panel 16, a first side wall panel 18, a bottom panel 20, a second side wall panel 22 and a second handle panel 24 hinged One to the next along fold lines 26, 28, 30 and 32 respectively.

The sleeve is formed by relative folding of these panels from a substantially flat condition so that an open-ended tubular structure which is generally of triangular cross-section is provided by the sidewalls and the base and a handle structure is provided by securing together handle panels 16 and 24 in face to face relationship. Thus, the handle panel formed stands upright from the apex of the tubular structure.

As is common in carriers of this type, apertures are struck from various locations in each of the panels so that in the completed structure the bottom panel 20 included a series, in this case three, of like apertures "A" through each of which a neck portion of a bottle extends and protrudes into "windows" W1, W2 and W3 created by registering apertures in the side walls and the handle panel. The bottles are held in position by engagement of the undersides of top flanges "f " of the bottles with "ledges" L defining the lowermost, ie. nearest the base panel, edges of the windows.

The carrier is completed by application of the reinforcing structure 14 to the sleeve 12. Reinforcing structure 14 is similar to sleeve 12 in most respects but it does not have a bottom panel. Like parts of the reinforcing structure to those of the sleeve are designated like reference numerals with the addition of suffix ''a". Since the reinforcing structure has no bottom panel but is formed from a single sheet of material the handle reinforcing panels 16a and 24a are joined together by a fold 34. Thus, reinforcing structure 14 fits in registry over the sleeve rather like a cap.

Referring now to Figures 3, 3a and 3b, a bottle carrier according to the invention is shown being applied by a machine to a group of three in-line bottles B. At the infeed end of the machine, a line of bottles from a filling machine (not shown) pass through a starwheel 40 which is a well known metering device and puts the continuous infeed line of bottles into the requisitely spaced groups of three ready to be "clipped" together by the article carrier. The separated bottle groups pass through a set of gripping belts 42 which convey the bottles and ensure that the bottles in each group are correctly aligned and the aligned bottles are then delivered to a conveyor 44 and conveyed downstream. Paperboard blanks for forming the sleeve structure 12 are stored in an overhead hopper 46 at the infeed end of the machine) and are fed successively therefrom by a rotary paper feed device 48 and delivered into the path of a downwardly inclined lug chain assembly so. The lug chain assembly conveys the sleeve blanks into registry with the bottle group so that the blanks are applied to the bottle necks. As can be seen more clearly with reference to Figure 3a, the bottle necks are received through the aperture provided in the bottom panel. Each of the bottle neck apertures includes a hinged flap "HF" which interferes with the path of insertion of a bottle neck so that each flap is displaced by and resiliently engages a bottle peck when the blank is applied to the bottle group. This particular feature helps to keep the sleeve blank correctly positioned ready for folding. The sleeve is folded to form the tubular structure by fixed guides as the bottle group together with its fitted sleeve blank is conveyed downstream. In order for the handle panels to be secured together, an application of glue from hot melt glue gun 54 is made before those panels are brought together in overlapping relationship. Thereafter the secured handle panels are passed through a set of complementary pressure belts 56 to aid the adhesion between the handle panels. At the downstream end of the pressure belt 56 section the "clipped" bottle group passes beneath a second hopper and feeder assembly which is provided to apply the reinforcing structures.

Paperboard blanks for forming the reinforcing structure 14 are stored in an overhead hopper 58 and are fed successively therefrom by a rotary paper feed device 60 and delivered into the path of a downwardly inclined lug chain assembly 62. The lug chain assembly conveys the reinforcing structure blanks into registry with successive "clipped" bottle groups. The overlapping fitment of a reinforcing structure onto a sleeve is achieved by means of an overhead boom arrangement which in this embodiment comprises an endless belt 64 adapted to push the reinforcing structure gradually onto a registering sleeve. In order to secure the reinforcing structures to the sleeves, application of adhesive is made to each sleeve by a hot melt glue gun 66 whereafter lateral pressure is applied to the completed 4-ply handle structure by a pressure belt assembly 68 while the bottle groups are again conveyed by lateral belts 70.

In some situations (in order to facilitate a further packaging process) it is necessary to fold the handle structure of the carrier relative to other parts of the sleeve out of its upstanding position into a more horizontal attitude as shown in Figure 3b, as a continuation of the carrier forming process or, perhaps, subsequently. In order to retain the handle structure in its downwardly folded position the upper edges of each of the "window" opens are formed with a hinged flap (or pluarlity of flaps) 72 which, when folding of the handle structure has been effected, engage and hold fast against the cap of an associated bottle to retain the handle structure folded over. Various flaps or hinged tabs maybe employed for this purpose. However, it is not necessary that this feature per se be associated with an article carrier described with reference to Figures 1 & 2. This folded handle facility is especially useful in connection with palletization where several carriers according to the invention are held together in a group on a pallet by plastics film. It will be seen that for convenience of construction, the central "window" opening also incorporates a handle aperture by which the carrier can be grasped.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An article carrier of the top gripping type comprises two structural components secured together to form a multi-ply carrier one of said structural components comprising a sleeve adapted to receive an4 retain top portions of a plurality of articles.

2. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve comprises a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, and a top incorporating handle means and wherein said other structural component comprises a reinforcing structure which is secured to the sleeve so as to provide multi-ply material for said side walls and said handle means.

3. An article carrier according to claim 2 wherein said sleeve is of substantially triangular cross-section in which said handle structure is upstanding from the apex of the sleeve, said bottom wall, side panels and handle structure incorporating a plurality of article receiving and retention apertures whereby said articles can he secured together and carried by said carrier and wherein said reinforcing structure comprises a single sheet of material foleed to provide a structure similar to the carrier sleeve but in which no bottom wall is present, said reinforcing structure being secured in registry on the sleeve to overlie said handle structure end said side walls.

4. An article carrier according to any of the preceding claims wherein said upstanding handle structure is foldable relative to other parts of said sleeve into a stowed inactive position and wherein means are provided for securing the handle structure relative to said articles to hold it in said stowed position.

5. An article carrier according to claim 4 wherein said securing means comprises foldable flaps located in apertures provided in the handle structure to receive top portions of said articles, said securing flaps being, adapted to engage top portions of said articles when said handle structure is folded into its stowed position to hold the handle panel in its stowed position.

6. An article carrier of the top gripping type comprises a sleeve adapted to receive and retain top portions of a plurality of articles said sleeve including an upstanding handle structure which is foldable relative to other parts of said sleeve into a stowed inactive position and wherein means are provided for securing, the handle structure relative to said articles to hold it in said stowed position.

7. A method of forming an article carrier of the top gripping type having two structural components secured together to form a multi-ply carrier of which one said structural component comprises a sleeve adapted to receive and retain top portions of a plurality of articles, the method comprising the steps of causing the sleeve to be applied to a group of articles to be retained in a group by said sleeve and securing a reinforcing structure to said sleeve m registering superposed relationship.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said sleeve is applied to said group of articles while the material for forming said sleeve is in a substantially flat unformed condition whereafter said material is folded and secured into a tubular form during movement, together with said articles, along a feed path and wherein said reinforcing structure is applied and secured to said sleeve in said feed path downstream of said sleeve forming process.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said sleeve and said reinforcing structure together include a reinforced handle structure, said reinforced handle structure being folded from an upstanding active position into a stowed, more horizontal, inactive position.

10. A blank for forming an article carrier of the top- gripping type comprises foldably interconnected panels which form a sleeve having a bottle wall, a pair of side walls and a top incorporating a handle, said sleeve comprising one or more apertures each for receiving the neck of an article and means associated with at least one of said apertures which cooperates with the neck of an article received in the associated aperture to secure the blank to the associated article thereby to enable said foldably interconnected panels to be folded into said sleeve.

11. A blank according to claim 10 wherein said means is a flap foldably connected to the base wall of the sleeve which flap is positioned to interfere with an article as it is inserted into the associated aperture, the flap operatively engaging the underside of a flange or cap on the article thereby to secure the blank and article together.

12. A blank according to claim 10 or 11 wherein a pair of means is provided for an associated aperture and preferably for each aperture in the blank.

13. A blank according to any one of claims 10 to 12 used to form a carrier according to any one of claims 1 to 16. AMENDED CLAIMS

[received by the International Bureau

on 12 October 1993 (12.10.93);

original claims 1-13 replaced

by amended claims 1-8

(4 pages)]

1. An article carrier of the top gripping type comprising two structural components secured together to form a multi-ply carrier, one of said structural components comprising a sleeve adapted to receive and retain top portions of a plurality of articles, said sleeve including a bottom wall, a pair of side walls, and a top incorporating handle means, said other structural component comprising a reinforcing structure which is secured to the sleeve so as to provide multi-ply material for said side walls and said handle means.

2. An article carrier according to claim 1 wherein said sleeve is of substantially triangular cross-section in which said handle structure is upstanding from the apex of the sleeve, said bottom wall, side panels and handle structure incorporating a plurality of article receiving and retention apertures whereby said articles can be secured together and carried by said carrier and wherein said reinforcing structure comprises a single sheet of material folded to provide a structure similar to the carrier sleeve, said reinforcing structure being secured in registry on the sleeve to reinforce said handle structure and said side walls.

3. An article carrier according to any of the preceding claims wherein said upstanding handle structure is foldable relative to other parts of said sleeve into a stowed inactive position and wherein means are provided for securing the handle structure relative to said articles to hold it in said stowed position. 4. An article carrier according to claim 3 wherein said securing means comprises foldable flaps located in apertures provided in the handle structure to receive top portions of said articles, said securing flaps being adapted to engage top portions of said articles when said handle structure is folded into its stowed position to hold the handle panel in its stowed position.

5. A method of forming an article carrier of the top gripping type having two structural components secured together to form a multi-ply carrier of which one said structural component comprises a sleeve adapted to receive and retain top portions of a plurality of articles, the method comprising the steps of causing the sleeve to be applied to a group of articles to be retained in a group by said sleeve and securing a reinforcing structure to said sleeve in registering superposed relationship.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said sleeve is applied to said group of articles while the material for forming said sleeve is in a substantially flat unformed condition whereafter said material is folded and secured into a tubular form during movement, together with said articles, along a feed path and wherein said reinforcing structure is applied and secured to said sleeve in said feed path downstream of said sleeve forming process.

7. A method of forming an article carrier of the top gripping type having two structural components secured together to form a multi-ply carrier, one of said structural components comprising a sleeve formed from a flat blank including a bottom wall having apertures to receive therethrough the top portions of articles, side walls joined to opposite sides of said bottom wall and handle panels joined to said side walls, the other of said structural components comprising a reinforcing structure including handle reinforcing panels and side wall reinforcing panels, the method comprising the steps of

(a) applying said blank to the top portions of a plurality of articles so that the top portions of said articles are received through the apertures provided in the bottom wall,

(b) folding said side panels and handle panels upwardly and inwardly,

(c) securing said handle panels in abutting relationship, and

(d) securing said other of said structural components to said sleeve in registry and overlying relationship with said side walls and handle panels thereof.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said steps (a) through (d) are performed in substantially continuous operation.