WO2002028727A1

WO2002028727A1 - Package and method of using same in connection with packaging of goods in same

Info

Publication number: WO2002028727A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/002109
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per Anders Berge
Original assignee: Nor-Reg As
Priority date: 2000-10-04
Filing date: 2001-10-01
Publication date: 2002-04-11
Also published as: EP1332094A1; AU2001290485A1; SE519762C2; SE0003588L; SE0003588D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a package (1), which is provided with stamping cuts (9) and tongues or the like (8), which are obtained through said cuts and are designed to, in their inwardly folded condition, keep the goods, enclosed in the package, in place. According to the inevention the tongues are designed to, by utilizing their inherent elasticity, downwardly folded out of their stampings with an angle of up to 180°, act on said goods in order to secure their position and to make certain parts of the goods visible/detectable from the outside. Also, the invention relates to a method of using such a package in connection with a packaging of goods in the package. It is a characterizing feature of the invention, that the package and the tongues are bought into an intermediate position betwen a plane starting position and a completely folded use position, in which intermediate position the goods are received, the final forlding subsequently being performed, the tongues being kept in a prestressed position.

Description

PACKAGE AND METHOD OF USING SAME IN CONNECTION WITH PACKAGING OF GOODS IN SAME

The present invention relates to a package of the type set forth in more detail in the preamble of claim 1. The invention also relates to a method of using a package according to at least claim 1 in connection with the packaging of goods in same.

The invention particularly , but not exclusively, relates to so called display packages, a portion of the package being removed and the remaining portion keeping goods, e.g. boxes, bags and the like, to be removed successively thereafter.

It is known to stamp flaps from the walls of a package and to bend these flaps inwards towards each other to obtain thereby intermediate walls and in this way mutually protect the goods, e.g. vials and the like and keep them in an upright position.

Examples of such packages are described in EP-0 704 381 Al and US-A-4 095 735. These packages are both of them designed primarily for round glass objects and consequently have a function and a designing, which are particularly aimed at such goods. Thus, they are less suitable or indeed unsuitable for e.g. bags and parallelepipedic boxes. Also, they have not been designed to enhance a semi or fully automatic joining of packages and package portions respectively and goods in a packaging process. Also, stampings of this type may weaken the packages considerably despite the fact or possibly due to the fact, that the specially developed protective agents constitute a relatively large portion of the entire package. In case the goods fit tightly into the package, problems may arise during a quick filling. In case the goods fit into the package with a certain play, the play may result in certain problems, i.a. that the goods may slide out of their compartments, when the package is tilted. Finally, problems may arise, when empty packages are taken care of for e.g. recycling.

The object of the present invention is to as far as possible eliminate and counteract the above- mentioned problems and to further develop the state of the art in this technical field.

These objects are attained according to the invention by designing a package of the type described in the introduction mainly in the way set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Also, said objects are attained according to the invention by carrying out the method mentioned in the introduction in the way set forth in the characterizing clause of the first method claim. Additional characterizing features and advantages of the invention are explained in the following description , reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which depict a few non-limiting embodiments of the invention. The drawings show in detail :

Fig. 1 a-e perspective views from above of a first embodiment of a package according to the invention in consecutive mounting steps ;

Fig. 2 a-c perspective views , which show the use of at least partially other means designed to produce the same package with goods ;

Fig. 3 a perspective view of a package , which corresponds to Fig. le with a mounted interior lid ;

Fig. 4 a view, which corresponds to Fig. 3 with a mounted exterior lid ; Fig. 5 a perspective view of a modified package according to the invention ;

Fig. 6 a and b and Fig. 7 a and b respectively perspective views of modified blanks for packages according to the invention as well as packages made of these blanks ;

Fig. 8 a perspective view of an additional modified , so called wrap-around-package according to the invention ; Fig. 9 a perspective view of a blank for a package according to Fig. 8 ; and

Fig. 10 a perspective view of a modified blank for an additional so called wrap-around-package according to the invention.

A package 1 according to the invention is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. It principally comprises a plane blank (Figs, lb and 2a) , made of e.g. corrugated cardboard or paper board having a central, e.g. rectangular bottom 2, side walls 4 being attached to the two longitudinal sides of the bottom via folding notches 3, e.g. grooves. Folding flaps 6 and 7 are attached to the short sides of the bottom and the side walls via through folding notches 5. A folding suitably is to be done into a parallelepipedic shape according to Figs, le and 2c, flap portions, which overlap each other, suitably being attached to each other by means of e.g. gluing and/or stapling.

Side walls 4 are each one provided with at least one longitudinal row of stamped out tongues 8, the stamping cuts 9 preferably being V-shaped and the V-opening facing the bottom. Also, the stamping cuts can be U-shaped or parabola-shaped. Also, one of the two stamping cuts, i.e. one of the legs of the stamping, can have another angle in relation to the bottom than the other leg, e.g. an angle of 90° (Fig. 5). The latter tongue-shape allows to a great extent the prevention of an undesired tilting of goods with a bending downwards of the tongues.

The blank now shown and described, which may constitute a complete package or the main part of it, is bent, from a plane condition to an intermediate shape according to Figs, lc and 2b respectively, the side walls being folded along their folding notches towards each other and forming an angle of 120° - 90° , preferably about 110°, with the bottom. A machine equipment 10, which performs such a folding, is shown in Fig. 2b. Before, simultaneously with or after said folding tongues 8 are folded, e.g. with an angle of 20° - 90°, from the corresponding side walls. This folding outwards of the tongues is done by means of a machine equipment (not shown). This equipment can hold the tongues in their outwardly folded position or possibly the tongues can be allowed to spring back a small distance due to an inherent elasticity of the material subsequent to the folding, which was exaggerated to some extent.

In this position (Fig. lc) or in the plane starting position of the blank (Fig. 2a) e.g. box-shaped packages can be placed on the bottom. The tongues do not touch , despite their inwardly folded position, the packages due to the fact, that the side walls tilt outwards. Subsequently a lid 11 is mounted, which also may be a tool and includes a main area 12, which corresponds to bottom 2, and side areas 14, which laterally define the main area 12 via e.g. folding notches 13 and which, in case a lid is used, will occupy folding positions according to Fig. 1 d with angles of 95° - 150°, preferably about 110°, in relation to the main area. In this way the free longitudinal edges of the side areas will, in an upside-down position according to Fig. Id, abut the shoulder areas of the inwardly folded tongues. Subsequently, the goods being enclosed between bottom 2 and the main area, side walls 4 will, preferably at the same time, be folded further inwards, side areas 14 also being enclosed and pushed downwards at the same time, the tongues being folded completely downwards to a plane abutment against the side wall portions below said stamping cuts (see Figs, le and 2c). In this position the lid can remain with its side areas 14 inserted between side walls 4 and downwardly folded tongues 8 respectively, the folding flaps being fastened to each other and keeping such a finished package together (Fig. 3). In such a case the elasticity of the tongues act on the lid, which consequently is better secured in its insertion position. Also, the surfaces of the side areas, which are exposed to the tongues , possibly may be extra rough or provided with a special designing in order to guarantee to a great extent the holding of the lid.

The side areas of the lid can also be provided with stampings/tongues (not shown), which correspond to the stampings of the side walls but are bent outwards to a certain extent in order to be able to be inserted into the stampings of the side walls, when they end up at the same level. In this way it will be practically impossible to pull back the lid. Such a package suitably is opened up by using a tear tape or the like on the lid or on the package. In both cases the package can also be closed by means of a film or the like, which also completely encloses the package. Also, it is possible to remove the lid or a corresponding tool, when it has been used to bend the tongues 180° downwards between the side walls and the goods. The lid can then be positioned on the outside of the package and embrace it (Fig. 4).

It is also possible to let the goods function as a lid. In Fig. 2 such a case is shown, in which according to "a" goods in the form of a row of boxes are positioned on a plane package blank, which then according to "b" is folded to the described intermediate shape, e.g. by means of folding sheets 15. In this position the goods are lifted or held in order to end up on a level above the partially inwardly folded tongues of the side walls, which tongues then are folded downwards up to 180°, the boxes being pushed downwards, the lower outer edges of the boxes being inserted into the area above the tongues, when the side walls are further folded inwards towards each other. The goods are then pushed downwards to abut against the bottom and the side walls are pushed into a plane abutment against the outer sides of the goods, the tongues, which have been folded downwards 180° , being enclosed between the outer sides of the goods and the side walls. Subsequently the flaps are fastened to each other and such a finished package is enclosed e.g. with a film, a paper or an outer lid of some type. In Fig. 2 c a tool 16 is shown , designed to carry out the final folding steps for the package.

If such a complete package is to be opened up in order to remove goods, a possible outer part, e.g. a film or the like, is initially removed, and then a possible lid is removed, the goods then being available for individual removal. The goods remain in this position , due to the inherent elasticity of the tongues, which act on the packages, which remain in the package. However, an individual removal is easy to carry out, the tongues adjacent a removed piece of good springing back and ending up in a position, directed inwards roughly at a right angle , and preferably with their edges touching the remaining adjacent goods, which consequently are not allowed to tilt.

Fig. 6 shows a parabola-like tongue shape, whereas Fig. 7 also shows towards one of the short sides edge-shaped tapering side walls 4 and flaps with various widths(heights).

Figs. 8 and 9 show another package design, not designed for display, namely as a more conventional package having flaps, overlapping each other and constituting a bottom and a lid respectively, suitably a side-connected strip 17 being designed to be fastened to one of the side walls and consequently making this package design more stable. Particularly in this case the tongue rows may be positioned relatively close to the bottom and the openings exposed by stamping cuts 9 may be used to show portions of the goods per se and numbers, symbols and the like affixed on them respectively.

Fig. 10 finally shows a blank for a so called wrap-around-package, in which the enclosure around the goods will be 90°, turned in relation to the package according to Figs. 8 and 9.

The packages described above and shown in the drawings are excellent for recycling, because it is easy to disassemble them and make them plane again. It is then normally not important, if the tongues are folded outwards with an angle of 180° or are folded inwards again to be accommodated within the outline of the blank. The lid can of course have another shape than the shape shown in Fig. la, e.g. a design with flaps, constituting short sides. The lid can also in other designs than according to Figs. 8-10 be a part of the package. Also, it may be sufficient with one row of tongues , i.e. only one side wall will be provided with a tongue row, whereas the other row is uninterrupted and even or provided with other opening designs than those obtained by stamped tongues. Also, tongues which are provided alternately in the two side walls can be used, goods adjacent to each other being displaced in relation to each other. Also, in one side wall several rows of tongues can be provided and/or tongues provided on various height levels. Also, several laterally positioned rows of goods can be provided, preferably however a paper board or a cardboard plate between these rows being provided. Also, such a plate, single or double, can of course be provided with stamped tongues. The tongues/stamping cuts can have various shapes and or various sizes in one and the same side wall/plate. Particularly various tongue sizes can then be used for varying lateral displacements of goods. Also, tongues can be used to be inserted between goods, adjacent to each other. Also, it is possible to provide the lid and/or the package with stampings/tongues. The stamping cuts do not have to be provided with the shown and described direction. Thus, they can be positioned horizontally. Also, it is possible to design the stamping cuts as a part of a tear tape or the like, the side walls alternately being torn apart and the tongues being removed or the tongues maintaining the described function, possibly in phases following each other.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and/or shown in the drawings, but it can be modified and supplemented in an arbitrary way within the scope of the inventive idea and the following claims. Of course, the separate characterizing features of the invention can be exchanged in various embodiments.

Claims

1. A package (1) comprising or including at least one blank, provided with stamping cuts (9) and tongues or the like (8), obtained from said cuts, which tongues are designed to, in an inwardly folded condition, be used for goods, enclosed in the package, characterized in that the tongues are designed to, by utilizing their inherent elasticity, directly or indirectly act on said goods in order to secure their positions and possibly to make portions of the goods visible/detectable from the outside.

2. A package according to claim 1, characterized in that said tongues (8) have a V- or parabola- or U-shape, the shoulder area preferably facing the bottom (2) of the package.

3. A package according to claims lor2, characterized in that a plane blank, used to obtain the package and its main part respectively, is designed to, in a partially to said package and main part respectively reshaped form, secure the goods to be packed, in order to, with goods received in this way, obtain its final shape, and in that the tongues (8) are designed to be transformed from a lightly partially inwardly folded position to an inwardly folded position with an angle of up to 180° and to act with elasticity directly and indirectly respectively on the packed goods.

4. A package according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the package comprises a lid (11), which is designed to carry out a portion of the folding of the tongues (8) and/or to be held between the downwardly folded tongues and the goods by means of side areas (14), folded outwards from a main field (12).

5. A package according to claim 4, characterized in that the side areas (14) of the lid (11) are provided with tongues and stampings respectively , which correspond to the stampings (9) in the side walls (4) of the package and are designed to, through insertion into the last-mentioned stampings, effect a locking of the lid on the package.

6. A package according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the lid (11) is designed to surround the package (1) from the outside and/or in that the stampings and the tongues respectively of the package and possibly of the lid are connected to or form a part of a tear tape or the like and/or in that the package is designed as a display package and flaps respectively, which overlap each other and constitute the bottom and the top respectively and/or in that the stampings (9) and the tongues (8) respectively alternately are positioned in two packages and lid walls respectively , disposed opposite each other, and/or in that the stampings and the tongues respectively have various sizes and/or are positioned at various height levels, and/or in that there are several rows of stampings and tongues respectively, at various height levels, in each package and lid position respectively, which include such rows, and/or in that intermediate package walls are used, which include said stampings and tongues respectively and/or in that the stampings and tongues respectively are arranged substantially in a horizontal/varying position.

7. A method of using a package according to any of claims 1-6 in connection with a packaging of goods in the package, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that a plane blank, which will form the package and its main part respectively, is reshaped partially to said package and main part respectively in order to , in this shape, receive goods to be packed and to obtain its final shape together with goods received in this way, and in that the tongues (8) are reshaped from a slightly partially inwardly folded position into a position, inwardly folded with an angle of up to 180° , acting with elasticity directly and indirectly respectively on the packed goods.

8. A method according to claim 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the package will cooperate temporarily with a tool and with a lid (11) respectively, which performs a portion of the folding of the tongues (8) to the use position and/or in that the lid is held between the downwardly folded tongues and the goods by means of side areas (14), folded outwards from a main area (12).

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, c h a r a c t e r iz e d in that a plane blank, which will form the package or its main part, is folded into said intermediate shape, the side walls (4) being folded around folding notches (3) towards each other, with an angle of 120-90°, preferably about 110°, in relation to the bottom (2) of the package, and in that before, simultaneously with or after this folding said partial folding outwards of the tongues (8) is performed with an angle of 20-90° from said side walls, and in that a machine tool and or a lid and/or the goods are used to fold the tongues to their completely inwardly folded use position, the tongues being pushed towards the shoulder areas of the partially inwardly folded tongues, and in that the last-mentioned folding of the tongues is performed at the same time as the package and the lid respectively is folded into its use position, the side walls being pushed towards the goods.

10. A method according to any of claims 7-9, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the tongues (8) are obtained with varying sizes and/or positions in order to show portions of the packed goods and/or to make the goods occupy mutually displaced positions, and/or in that intermediate walls, provided with stampings and tongues, are disposed between laterally arranged rows of goods.