Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D71/40—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks
  • B65D71/42—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
  • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D71/40—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks
  • B65D71/42—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element
  • B65D71/44—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material comprising a plurality of articles held together only partially by packaging elements formed by folding a blank or several blanks formed by folding a single blank into a single layer element characterised by the handle

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a carrier of cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard, for connecting a plurality of generally cylindrical cans being disposed in one or several rows and having an inclined upper part and a top closure with a projecting circular rim.
• the carrier is produced from a plane blank, having, for each can to be connected by the carrier, two mutually opposing, essentially arcuate slits, the outer edges of which engage below the rim of the cans when the carrier is assembled on the plurality of cans to connect the carrier and the cans and form a package assembly.
• the invention also relates to a plane blank of cardboard for a carrier for cans.
• Cylindrical cans are used in the beverage industries for drinks, such as for instance mineral water, bear and soft drinks.
• package assemblies are provided, which may comprise from two up to ten cans.
• package assembly means provided for enabling a plurality of cans to be lifted and handled by, for example, a consumer.
• Plastic materials are used as package assembly means, e.g. in the form of a plastic film wrap extending around the packaged cans or in the form of mutually connected plastic rings which are applied around the cans.
• These package assembly means are costly and cause environmental problems.
• a carrier of cardboard is known, which are adapted to be applied against the upper side of the group of containers and to be connected to the containers.
• a carrier of this type is described, for example, in US-A-3, 094, 210.
• the carrier is produced from a plane card- board blank having two opposing U-shaped slits for each container to be connected by the carrier.
• the plane blank is assembled on the group of containers by folding side flanges downwardly towards the sides of the container, such that outer edges of the slits in the carrier engage below the shoulder of the containers.
• an additional corresponding carrier must be applied on the bottom part of the containers.
• the carrier as described above is disadvantageous in that it can be used for a single row of containers only and is costly due to material costs and a more complicated assembly of a two-piece carrier.
• a further disadvantage is that the side flanges of the carrier projecting downwardly along the sides of the containers, may easily get caught by an adjacent package assembly or some other element, such that the flanges are forced upwardly and the edges of the slits are disengaged from the shoulder of the container.
• a similar carrier for cans is disclosed in EP-B-0496807.
• the carrier comprises two opposing arcuate slits for each can and short incisions extending radially from said slits.
• Grasping flaps are provided on each side of the carrier adapted to be folded when the carrier with the cans is grasped and lifted by the user.
• the carrier as disclosed has proven insufficient to securely engage the carrier on the cans, especially when lifting forces are applied in the gripping recesses in the sides of the carrier.
• the carrier has a centrally arranged folding line, which serves as a "hinge " when lifting forces are applied in the gripping recesses in the opposing sides of the carrier, such that the cans are separated and tend to disengage from the carrier.
• the side flaps are forced, by the lifting forces, in an upward direction, thus further increasing the risk for disengagement of the carrier from the cans.
• the object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing a carrier for cans, which may be securely fitted to the cans in order to connect, lock and support the cans and provide a package assembly which may be lifted and handled without risking dis- engagement, and which is material-effective and may be readily and effectively applied to and assembled on a plurality of cans.
• the opposing arcuate slits for each can to be connected by the carrier comprise an arcuate intermediate sec- tion between two arcuate end sections, said intermediate section of the slit being formed radially inside the arcuate end sections of the slit, such that a radially projecting arcuate engagement tongue is formed in the intermediate section of the slit.
• the tongue is adapted to slip over the rim of the can when the side panels and possibly the centre portion of the blank are forced in a downward direction towards the inclined sides of the can, and to snap in below the rim of the can to securely connect the carrier to the cans.
• the can is securely tightened in the carrier by the tightening forces ensuing from the contact pressure of the carrier on the top closure of the can arising when the engagement tongue snaps in below and bear on the rim of the can.
• the curvature of the engagement tongue thoroughly follows the curvature of the can and through the deflection of the end sections of the slits and the ensuing tension in these sections effected by the contact pressure on the top closure, the engagement tongues are tightened and provides a secure and steady connection.
• Figure 1 shows a plane cardboard blank for a carrier for cans according to a first embodiment of the invention, said carrier being adapted for one row of cans with two cans,
• Figure 2 shows in a perspective view a package assembly comprising a carrier with two cans, the carrier being produced from the cardboard blank of Figure 1
• Figure 3 shows a plane cardboard blank for a carrier for cans according to a second embodiment of the invention, said carrier being adapted for two rows of cans with six cans
• Figure 4 shows in a perspective view a package assembly comprising a carrier with six cans, the carrier being produced from the cardboard blank of Figure 3.
• the carrier according to the invention is produced from a plane blank of cardboard, preferably corrugated cardboard.
• a thin and compact F-flute corrugated cardboard is preferably used.
• a thicker E-flute corrugated cardboard may also constitute a suitable material in the carrier.
• the corrugated cardboard may be coated with a plastic layer, preferably on its inner side. Besides that the plastic layer increases the resistance of the material against moisture, the layer also increases the ductility of the material. The advantages of the environment friendly corrugated cardboard remain also with a plastic coating, since the plastic material in the coated layer may be recycled.
• Figure 1 shows the plane blank 2 for a carrier according to a first preferred embodiment of the invention.
• the carrier is adapted to hold and connect a plurality of cans disposed in a single row, in the embodi- ment as shown, a row of two cans.
• Figure 2 shows the carrier 1 produced from the blank 2 of Figure 1 and assembled on the plurality of cans 4.
• the cans 4, which do not form part of the present invention, are conventionally designed with an essentially circular-cylindrical basic form.
• the upper part of the can is slightly inclined and is closed by a top closure 6 which is sealed by means of a circular projecting rim 8.
• the plane blank 2 in Figure 1 has an essentially rectangular basic form, preferably with dented or inclined corners 10 for reducing the risk that a projecting part of the carrier may get caught by an adjacent element, such as for example another package assembly of cans.
• Two cen- trally disposed gripping recesses 12, forming a finger grip for two fingers, are provided on the long sides 26 of the blank.
• the carrier 1 and the cans 4, forming a package assembly as shown in Figure 2 may simply be lifted by a two finger grip in the recesses 12.
• the arcuate slit 14 comprises an arcuate intermediate section 16 having arcuate end sections 18 on both sides thereof. Step-like portions 20 are disposed between the intermediate section 16 and the end sections 18.
• the arcuate end sections 18 are part circular, the radius of which is equal to or slightly larger than the radius of the projecting rim 8 of the top closure 6 on the can, such that the end sections 18 are in line with or project slightly outside the edge of the shoulder 8 in the assembled state as shown in Figure 2.
• the outer edge of the slit 14 may thus, along the end sections 18, easily be displaced downwardly past the rim 8, as will be explained more in detail below.
• the arcuate intermediate section 16 of the slit 14 is formed radially inside the arcuate end sections 18 of the slit, such that the intermediate section forms an arc inside the arched line formed by the extensions of the two end sections 18.
• the outer edge of the intermediate section 16 of the slit 14, thus forms a projecting engagement tongue 22 directed towards the centre of the blank.
• the engagement tongue 22 is arched and may be part circular, the curvature of which corresponding to the curvature of the can just below the rim.
• the engagement tongue 22 may also be differently arched, for example, the arc may be part circular and "wider". Hence, this engagement tongue 22 has a larger radius and a centre which does not coincide with the centre of the cans in the assembled state of the carrier.
• the engagement tongue 22 is adapted to snap in below the projecting rim 8 of the can 4 to connect and lock the can to the carrier, as will be described more in detail below.
• Several longitudinal folding lines 24 are disposed in the blank 2, extending parallel with the long sides 26 of the blank and the row of cans. The folding lines 24 connect the ends of the arcuate slits 14 with each other or with an adjacent short side 28 of the blank.
• the blank 2 is first superimposed on the top closures 6 of the cans, such that the slits 14 in the blank on the whole coincide with the projecting rims 8 of the cans.
• Side panels 30 in the blank 2, formed between the long sides 26 and the folding lines 24, are forced and thus folded downwardly towards the inclined surfaces of the cans.
• the outer edge of the slit 14 is thereby displaced downwardly and the projecting engagement tongue 22 is turned into a slightly upward direction.
• the arcuate end sections 18 of the slit 14 pass the outside of the projecting rim 8 of the top closure 6 and the engagement tongue 22 slips over the rim 8 and snaps in below said rim, such that the carrier is securely locked to the can by the tongue.
• the arcuate engagement tongue 22 is formed to fit the cylindrical curvature of the can 4, such that the entire tongue 22 bears on the surface of the can below the rim 8 and exerts a tightening force ensuing from tensions distributed in the carrier along the outer edges of the end sections 18 of the slits from the contact pressure of the carrier 1 on the top closure 6, such that a secure and stable connection between the carrier and the cans is achieved.
• the package assembly is further stabilised by the panels 30 bearing on the inclined surfaces of the cans 4.
• the width (along the short sides 28) of the plane blank 2 is approximately equal to the cylindrical diameter of the cans.
• the width of the carrier 1 is further reduced.
• the edges of the carrier 1 do not exceed the maximum dimensions of the cans.
• the upper plane parts of the assembled carrier 1 cover the upper portions of the cans, i.e. the top closure 6, such that these portions are protected from contamination during transportation and storing.
• Figure 3 shows the plane cardboard blank 32 for a carrier according to a second embodiment of the invention.
• the blank is adapted, in the assembled state, to connect and hold a plurality, i.e. six in the embodiment as shown, of cans 4 arranged in two rows.
• the blank 32 is shown in an assembled state in Figure 4 .
• the plane blank 32 has an essentially rectangular basic form, preferably with dented or inclined corners 10 as in the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 - 2.
• At least two gripping recesses 42 preferably configured as circular or oval openings, are centrally disposed in the blank between the rows of cans, forming a finger grip for two fingers in order to lift and handle the package assembly.
• Each pair of slits comprises an outer slit 44, corresponding in substance with the slits 14 in the embodiment as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and an inner slit 45 adjacent to the centre 34 of the blank between the rows of cans.
• the inner slit 45 differs from the outer slit 44, pri- marily in the configuration of the intermediate section 46, but also in that the arcuate end sections 48 are smaller than the corresponding end sections 18 in the outer slit 44.
• the intermediate section 46 of the inner slit is larger than the corresponding intermediate section 16 in the outer slit 44.
• the intermediate section 46 of the inner slit 45 has at least one, in the embodiment as shown two, radially extending incisions 47.
• the incisions 47 extend between the edge of the slit 45 and an arcuate folding line 53, extending between the end sections 48 and delimiting an engagement tongue between the step-like portions 50.
• the incisions 47 divide the engagement tongue into three engagement flaps 52.
• the curvature of the intermediate section 46 of the slit 45 differs from the curvature of the arcuate folding line 53 in that it is wider and has a larger radius than the folding line 53.
• the arcuate folding line 53 has a curvature corresponding to the curvature of the contact line on the inclined surface of the can, as will be described more in detail below with reference to Figure 4.
• a plurality of additional folding lines are disposed in the blank 32.
• Three longitudinal folding lines 54, for each row of cans, extend parallel to the long sides 56 of the blank and the rows of cans.
• Two of the three longitudinal folding lines 54 connect the ends of the arcuate slits 44, 45 with each other or with an adjacent short side 58 of the blank and the third folding line 54 connects the step-like portions 20 in the outer slits 44 with each other or with an adjacent short side 58 of the blank.
• a plurality of oblique folding lines 55 are disposed in the blank, said folding lines connecting the outer engagement flaps 52 with an adjacent gripping recess 42 or with an adja- cent short side of the blank.
• the plurality of cans 4, disposed in two rows, are connected and held together by the carrier 31 in a package assembly, as shown in Figure 4.
• the plane blank is first superimposed on the rows of cans and then the side panels 60 on the long sides as well as the central portions of the blank are forced and thus folded in a downward direction, preferably by means of a specially designed pressure-applying tool.
• the essentially circular parts of the blank between the slits 44, 45 bear on and cover the top closures 6 of the cans, while the side panels 60 and the central portions are forced downwardly.
• the blank 32 is folded in the folding lines 54, 55.
• the side panels 60 are folded in two steps in the two longitudinal folding lines 54, whereby the arcuate outer edge of the outer slits 44 is displaced in a downward direc- tion past the rim 8 of the can, in a corresponding manner as in Figure 2.
• the outermost part of the side panels 60 is additionally folded, such that the engagement tongue 22 slips over the rim 8 and snaps in below said rim into its locking position.
• a special designed tool applies pressure at certain points along the centre line 34 of the blank.
• the blank 32 is folded in the longitudinal inner folding line 54, such that the outer edges of the inner slits 45 are displaced in a downward direction past the rim 8 of the can.
• the blank 32 is folded in the oblique folding lines 55 and the arcuate folding lines 53.
• the downward pressure is applied, such that the arcuate folding lines 53 are forced against the inclined surfaces of the cans, and the engagement flaps 52 are folded upwardly to finally snap in below the rim 8 of the can into a locking position.
• the downward pressure is applied at certain portions of the blank between each pair of cans, thus forming bowl-shaped indentations between the oblique folding lines 55 and the arcuate folding lines 53.
• the oblique folding lines 55 and especially the indentations formed therebetween in the carrier 31 prevent that the lifting forces, as in other previously known carriers, are transformed to a separation of and mutual movements between the cans, which may cause a disengagement of the cans from the carrier.
• the lifting forces are instead distributed in the direction of the oblique folding lines 55 and is transformed into an increased pressure of the engagement flaps 52 against the rim 8.
• the blanks may effectively be assembled on the cans in an automated production line.
• the blanks may however also effectively be assembled in a semi-automated line or in a packaging line and it is also convenient to assemble the blank manually into a package assembly.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Cartons (AREA)
• Machines For Manufacturing Corrugated Board In Mechanical Paper-Making Processes (AREA)
• Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
• Closing Of Containers (AREA)
• Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
• Wrapping Of Specific Fragile Articles (AREA)

Priority Applications (11)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Country Status (21)

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Citations (5)

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• 2001
  • 2001-07-03 SE SE0102379A patent/SE522020C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 2002
  • 2002-07-03 CN CNB028132831A patent/CN100408442C/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-07-03 US US10/482,390 patent/US20040206639A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-03 EP EP02751928A patent/EP1401728B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-07-03 RU RU2004102913/12A patent/RU2004102913A/ru unknown
  • 2002-07-03 DE DE60214553T patent/DE60214553T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-07-03 EP EP02746266A patent/EP1401727B8/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-07-03 BR BR0210807-0A patent/BR0210807A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-07-03 ES ES02746266T patent/ES2266529T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-07-03 US US10/482,391 patent/US20040211695A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-03 JP JP2003510358A patent/JP4077790B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-07-03 ES ES02751928T patent/ES2272748T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2002-07-03 DK DK02746266T patent/DK1401727T3/da active
  • 2002-07-03 HU HU0400288A patent/HUP0400288A3/hu unknown
  • 2002-07-03 MX MXPA03011716A patent/MXPA03011716A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2002-07-03 CA CA002452599A patent/CA2452599A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2002-07-03 DE DE60212630T patent/DE60212630T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2002-07-03 CN CNA028132807A patent/CN1529672A/zh active Pending
  • 2002-07-03 WO PCT/SE2002/001317 patent/WO2003004376A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2002-07-03 RU RU2004102912/12A patent/RU2287465C2/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-07-03 MX MXPA03011711A patent/MXPA03011711A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2002-07-03 DK DK02751928T patent/DK1401728T3/da active
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  • 2002-07-03 PL PL366632A patent/PL200975B1/pl not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2002-07-03 PT PT02751928T patent/PT1401728E/pt unknown
  • 2002-07-03 CA CA002452601A patent/CA2452601A1/en not_active Abandoned
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  • 2002-07-03 HU HU0401334A patent/HUP0401334A3/hu unknown
  • 2002-07-03 PT PT02746266T patent/PT1401727E/pt unknown
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• 2003
  • 2003-12-11 IS IS7073A patent/IS2286B/is unknown
  • 2003-12-11 IS IS7072A patent/IS2348B/is unknown
  • 2003-12-30 CO CO03113216A patent/CO5540330A2/es not_active Application Discontinuation
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• 2004
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• 2006
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• 2007
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