WO2019077967A1

WO2019077967A1 - Packing container and package

Info

Publication number: WO2019077967A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/036164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kengo Sakai; Taiji Watanabe; Hideto Sakai; Mitsuhiro Sato
Original assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Priority date: 2017-10-18
Filing date: 2018-09-28
Publication date: 2019-04-25
Also published as: JP2019073323A

Abstract

A packing container comprises a bag that stores a packaged object, a box provided with a recess where the packaged object that is stored in the bag is stored, and a packaging member. The box has a surface to form the recess and an openable and closable portion configured to be rotatable between a position where the recess is covered and a position where the packaged object that is stored in the recess is exposed. The packaging member includes a first buffer area disposed between the openable and closable portion and the packaged object and a second buffer area disposed between the surface and the packaged object. The bag and the first buffer area move so that the packaged object can be taken out.

Description

PACKING CONTAINER AND PACKAGE

The present invention relates to a packing container used when packaging a packaged object.

Here, the packing container is a container that protects the packaged object from external vibration or shock when transporting the packaged object. As the packaged object, there is, for example, a cartridge of an image forming apparatus. Examples of the image forming apparatus include an electrophotographic copying machine (for example, a laser beam printer and an LED printer), a facsimile apparatus, and a word processor. The cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus. Examples of the cartridge include a cartridge having an electrophotographic photoreceptor which is an image carrier, a cartridge including a developing unit that acts on an electrophotographic photoreceptor, and a cartridge including mainly only developer.

An electrophotographic image forming apparatus (hereinafter, an image forming apparatus), such as a printer that uses an electrophotographic process, uniformly charges an electrophotographic photoreceptor, which is an image carrier, and forms a latent image by selective exposure of the electrophotographic photoreceptor. The latent image is developed by developer and actualized as a developer image. Then, the developer image is transferred to a recording medium.

Heat and pressure are applied to the transferred developer image, and thereby the developer image is fixed to the recording medium and the image is recorded. Conventionally, such an image forming apparatus requires supply of the developer and maintenance of various process units.

As a system that facilitates the developer supply operation and the maintenance, all or some of the electrophotographic photoreceptor, a charging unit, a developing unit, a cleaning unit, and the like are collectively formed into a cartridge. A process cartridge system that can attach and detach a process cartridge (hereinafter, a cartridge) to and from an image forming apparatus is employed.

According to the process cartridge system, a user can perform maintenance of the apparatus by replacing the cartridge, so that it is possible to significantly improve operability. In this way, a cartridge can be attached and detached and a user can replace the cartridge, so that in general, a user takes out a cartridge from an image forming apparatus main body and replaces the cartridge with a new one.

Here, a newly shipped cartridge is packaged in a packing container in order to protect the cartridge from vibration and shock during transportation. When attaching a new cartridge to an image forming apparatus main body, a user opens the packing container, takes out the cartridge from the packing container, and attaches the cartridge to the image forming apparatus main body.

As the packing container, a container that includes a box, a buffer member that is arranged so as to sandwich the cartridge inside the box and protects the cartridge from vibration and shock during transportation, and a bag for protecting a product and preventing dust, fuzz, and the like from mixing into the cartridge is proposed (PTL 1).

However, the conventional example described above requires an operation to take out the packaged object from a packing box along with a packaging member such as the bag and thereafter remove the packaging member from the packaged object.

The present invention is made by studying the problem of the conventional technique. The present invention provides a packing container from which a user can easily take out a packaged object.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-18044

The present invention provides a packing container including
a bag that stores a packaged object,
a box provided with a recess where the packaged object that is stored in the bag is stored, and including a surface to form the recess and an openable and closable portion configured to be rotatable between a position where the recess is covered and a position where the packaged object that is stored in the recess is exposed, and
a packaging member including a first buffer area disposed between the openable and closable portion and the packaged object and a second buffer area disposed between the surface and the packaged object.
The bag and the first buffer area move with respect to the packaged object by interlocking with the rotation of the openable and closable portion so that the packaged object that is stored in the recess can be taken out.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to the attached drawings).

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packing container according to a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of a cartridge. Fig. 4A is a perspective view showing packaging members used in the first embodiment. Fig. 4B is a perspective view showing a packing box used in the first embodiment. Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view of a package according to the first embodiment. Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the package according to the first embodiment. Fig. 6A is a diagram for explaining a mechanism where the packaging members according to the first embodiment absorb shock. Fig. 6B is a diagram for explaining the mechanism where the packaging members according to the first embodiment absorb shock. Fig. 6C is a diagram for explaining the mechanism where the packaging members according to the first embodiment absorb shock. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing packaging members used in a second embodiment. Fig. 8A is a diagram showing a package according to the second embodiment. Fig. 8B is a diagram showing the package according to the second embodiment. Fig. 9A is a diagram showing a package according a modified example of the second embodiment. Fig. 9B is a diagram showing the package according the modified example of the second embodiment.

First Embodiment

An embodiment of a packing container according to the present invention will be described. As a packaged object that is packaged in a packing container, a cartridge attachable to and detachable from an image forming apparatus will be described as an example. First, the image forming apparatus will be described, and then the cartridge which is a packaged object and attachable to and detachable from the image forming apparatus will be described. Finally, a packing container according to the present embodiment will be described.

Image Forming Apparatus

An image forming apparatus 1 where the cartridge is attached and detached will be described with reference to Fig. 2. The image forming apparatus 1 uses a process cartridge system where a process unit that performs image formation can be attached and detached as a cartridge. As the image forming apparatus 1, a full color image forming apparatus where four cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, and PK) can be attached and detached will be illustrated and described.

The image forming apparatus 1, where the cartridge P is detachably attached to an apparatus main body 2, performs color image formation on a recording medium S. Examples of the recording medium S include a recording paper, a label paper, an OHC sheet, and a cloth. More specifically, in the image forming apparatus 1, four cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, and PK) including a first cartridge PY, a second cartridge PM, a third cartridge PC, and a fourth cartridge PK are arranged in a horizontal direction inside the apparatus main body 2. The apparatus main body 2, which is a body obtained by removing the cartridge P from the image forming apparatus 1, has an optical unit LB, a transfer unit such as a transfer roller 10, a fixing unit 11, and a feeding unit 14 of the recording medium S.

In each of the first to the fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, and PK), a cleaning unit 8 and a developing apparatus 9 are connected with each other. The first to the fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, and PK) have the same electrophotographic process mechanism (Fig. 3). The cleaning unit 8 includes a photoreceptor drum (electrophotographic photoreceptor) 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, or 4K). The cleaning unit 8 includes a charging unit such as a charging roller 5 (5Y, 5M, 5C, or 5K) and a cleaning unit such as a cleaning blade 7 (7Y, 7M, 7C, or 7K) as a process unit that acts on the photoreceptor drum 4. On the other hand, the developing apparatus 9 has a developing unit such as a developing roller (developer carrier) 6 and a developing frame body 13 that supports the developing unit as a process unit that acts on the photoreceptor drum 4. Yellow (Y) toner (developer) is stored in the developing frame body 13 of the first cartridge PY, magenta (M) toner is stored in the developing frame body 13 of the second cartridge PM, cyan (C) toner is stored in the developing frame body 13 of the third cartridge PC, black (K) toner is stored in the developing frame body 13 of the fourth cartridge PK.

Regarding the photoreceptor drum 4, a surface of the photoreceptor drum 4 is uniformly charged by the charging roller 5 when a voltage is applied from the apparatus main body 2. Then, the optical unit LB emits laser light L according to image information to the charged photoreceptor drum 4 and forms an electrostatic latent image according to the image information on the photoreceptor drum 4. The electrostatic latent image is developed with toner by the developing unit, and a developer image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 4. The developer images of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black, which are formed on the surfaces of the photoreceptor drums 4 in the first to the fourth cartridges P, respectively, are sequentially primarily transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 3, and a color developer image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 3.

On the other hand, the recording media S are separated and fed one by one in synchronization with the formation of the developer image. Then, the recording medium S is transported to the transfer roller 10 used as a transfer unit. The transfer roller 10 is energized so as to be in contact with a surface of the intermediate transfer belt 3. Then, the recording medium S is caused to pass through a nip portion formed by the intermediate transfer belt 3 and the transfer roller 10. At this time, the color developer image formed on the intermediate transfer belt 3 is transferred to the recording medium S by applying a voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the developer image to the transfer roller 10. The recording medium S to which the developer image is transferred is transported to the fixing unit 11. Then, heat and pressure are applied to the recording medium S by the fixing unit 11 and the developer image transferred to the recording medium S is fixed. Thereby, an image is formed on the recording medium S. Thereafter, the recording medium S is transported and discharged to a discharge portion 12.

The surface of the photoreceptor drum 4 after the transfer is cleaned by the cleaning blade 7 and uniformly charged again by the charging roller 5, so that an image can be formed again on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 4.

Configuration of Packing Container

The cartridge P is stored inside a packing container to be a package U so as to mitigate shocks applied to the cartridge P from outside by vibration or dropping and prevent the cartridge P from being damaged while the cartridge P is being transported. As shown in Figs. 5A and 5B, the package U includes the cartridge P that is a packaged object, a packing box A that stores the cartridge P, and packaging members B (BR and BL) arranged between the cartridge P and the packing box A. Fig. 5A is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration where the cartridge P is arranged in the packing box A through the packaging members B. Fig. 5B is a cross-sectional view showing the package U where an opening portion of the packing box A is opened and the cartridge P can be taken out.

The packing box A is made of a material having a certain strength such as resin in addition to paper such as corrugated cardboard and is formed as a box-shaped structure that stores the cartridge P. The packing box A is configured to absorb shock by being crushed and thereby be able to mitigate the shocks applied to the cartridge P. In addition, the packing box A has a structure having a certain strength, so that it is possible to stack a plurality of packing boxes A. Further, the packing box A may have high designability and a feature of merchandise package.

The packaging members B are packaging members provided so as to sandwich the cartridge P from two directions opposite to each other. A packaging member BL is provided at one end (left side) in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P, and a packaging member BR is provided at the other end (right side) in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P. The cartridge P attached with the packaging members BL and BR is stored inside the packing box A, so that the packaging members BL and BR restrict movement of the cartridge P inside the packing box A and it is possible to absorb shock when the shock is applied from outside.

In the present embodiment, the cartridge P attached with the packaging members BL and BR is stored in a bag M made of resin in order to protect the cartridge P from dust and the like. The packing box A added with the packaging members B and the bag is collectively referred to as a packing container N.

Details of Packing Container

Figs. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing detailed configurations of the packaging members BL and BR and the packing box A, respectively. The packing box A has a recess that can store the cartridge P through the opening portion and an openable and closable portion that closes the recess (Fig. 4B). The recess is formed from a rectangular bottom plate A9, and four plates including a left-side plate A3, a right-side plate A4, a front plate A6, and a rear plate A8 that are connected to each side of the rectangular bottom plate A9 and erect perpendicularly. A side of the left-side plate A3 opposite to a side connected to the bottom plate A9 is connected to a left inside flap A1 through a hinge A1h, and a side of the right-side plate A4 opposite to a side connected to the bottom plate A9 is connected to a right inside flap A2 through a hinge A2h. Similarly, a side of the front plate A6 opposite to a side connected to the bottom plate A9 is connected to a front flap A5 through a hinge A5h, and a side of the rear plate A8 opposite to a side connected to the bottom plate A9 is connected to a rear flap A7 through a hinge A7h. The left inside flap A1, the right inside flap A2, the front flap A5, and the rear flap A7 are rotatable openable and closable portions that can rotate around the hinges A1h, A2h, A5h, and A7h as axes, respectively. Each of the left inside flap A1, the right inside flap A2, the front flap A5, and the rear flap A7 can be folded so as to close the opening portion from which the cartridge P stored in the packing box A is exposed. In the present embodiment, after the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2 are folded, the front flap A5 and the rear flap A7 are folded, so that the front flap A5 and the rear flap A7 are located over the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2. Therefore, the hinges A5h and A6h are located higher than the hinges A1h and A2h. Further, the present embodiment employs a so-called over flap shape where when the flaps are folded, the rear flap A7 (outer flap) is folded after the front flap A5 is folded, so that the rear flap A7 is located over the front flap A5. Therefore, the hinge A7h is located higher than the hinge A5h.

Each of the packaging members BL and BR is integrally formed of resin such as polypropylene (PP). As described above, when the packaging members BL and BR are used for the package of the cartridge P, the packaging members BL and BR are provided so as to face each other at one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P. The packaging members BL and BR are attached to the cartridge P and stored inside the recess of the packing box A in a state where the packaging members BL and BR and the cartridge P are put into the bag M. There are the packaging members BL and BR between the cartridge P and the packing box A, so that shocks applied to the cartridge P can be mitigated. Further, the cartridge P is stored in the bag M along with the packaging members BL and BR, so that it is possible to prevent dust, fuzz, and the like from mixing into the bag M from the outside.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the packaging member BL in the package will be described step by step. The packaging member BL has a left-side buffer area BL1 sandwiched between the left-side plate A3 of the packing box A and the cartridge P. The packaging member BL is provided with a front-side buffer area BL2 which is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 and is sandwiched between the cartridge P and the front plate A6. Similarly, the packaging member BL is provided with a rear-side buffer area BL3 which is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 and is sandwiched between the cartridge P and the rear plate A8. In this way, the cartridge P is sandwiched by the front-side buffer area BL2 and the rear-side buffer area BL3. Further, the packaging member BL is provided with a bottom-side buffer area BL4 which is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 and is sandwiched between the cartridge P and the bottom plate A9. In a state where the left inside flap A1 and the like are folded so as to close the opening portion, a top-side buffer area BL5 that is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the cartridge P and the left inside flap A1 (Fig. 5A). In this way, the cartridge P is sandwiched between the bottom-side buffer area BL4 and the top-side buffer area BL5.

In the present embodiment, the front-side buffer area BL2, the rear-side buffer area BL3, the bottom-side buffer area BL4, and the top-side buffer area BL5 are integrally provided so as to be connected to the left-side buffer area BL1. By using this configuration, it is possible to easily form the packaging member BL by injection-molding a resin such as polypropylene (PP).

In the present embodiment, the left-side buffer area BL1 is provided with a surface BL1a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BL1b protruding from the surface BL1a to the left-side plate A3 of the packing box A. Similarly, the front-side buffer area BL2 is provided with a surface BL2a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BL2b protruding from the surface BL2a to the front plate A6 of the packing box A. The rear-side buffer area BL3 is provided with a surface BL3a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BL3b protruding from the surface BL3a to the rear plate A8 of the packing box A. The bottom-side buffer area BL4 is provided with a surface BL4a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BL4b protruding from the surface BL4a to the bottom plate A9 of the packing box A. The top-side buffer area BL5 is provided with a surface BL5a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BL5b protruding from the surface BL5a to the left inside flap A1 of the packing box A.

In the longitudinal direction, an engagement width of the front-side buffer area BL2, the rear-side buffer area BL3, the bottom-side buffer area BL4, and the top-side buffer area BL5 with the cartridge P is greater than a distance between a left end portion of the cartridge P and the packing box A. In other words, a length where the buffer areas BL2 to BL5 extend in the longitudinal direction from the surface BL1a in contact with the cartridge P in the left-side buffer area BL1 is greater than the distance between the left end portion of the cartridge P and the packing box A. Thereby, even when various shocks such as dropping are applied a plurality of times, the packaging members BL can be interposed between the cartridge P and the packing box A, so that the packaging member BL can absorb the shocks and mitigate shocks applied to the cartridge P.

Similarly, a configuration of the packaging member BR in the package will be described step by step. The packaging member BR has a right-side buffer area BR1 sandwiched between the right-side plate A4 of the packing box A and the cartridge P. The packaging member BR is provided with a front-side buffer area BR2 which is connected to the right-side buffer area BR1 and is sandwiched between the cartridge P and the front plate A6. Similarly, the packaging member BR is provided with a rear-side buffer area BR3 which is connected to the right-side buffer area BR1 and is sandwiched between the cartridge P and the rear plate A8. In this way, the cartridge P is sandwiched by the front-side buffer area BR2 and the rear-side buffer area BR3. Further, the packaging member BR is provided with a bottom-side buffer area BR4 which is connected to the right-side buffer area BR1 and is sandwiched between the cartridge P and the bottom plate A9. In a state where the right inside flap A2 and the like are folded so as to close the opening portion, a top-side buffer area BR5 that is connected to the right-side buffer area BR1 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the cartridge P and the right inside flap A2 (Fig. 5A). In this way, the cartridge P is sandwiched between the bottom-side buffer area BR4 and the top-side buffer area BR5.

In the present embodiment, the front-side buffer area BR2, the rear-side buffer area BR3, the bottom-side buffer area BR4, and the top-side buffer area BR5 are integrally provided so as to be connected to the right-side buffer area BR1. By using this configuration, it is possible to easily form the packaging member BR by injection-molding a resin such as polypropylene (PP).

In the present embodiment, the right-side buffer area BR1 is provided with a surface BR1a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BR1b protruding from the surface BR1a to the right-side plate A4 of the packing box A. Similarly, the front-side buffer area BR2 is provided with a surface BR2a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BR2b protruding from the surface BR2a to the front plate A6 of the packing box A. The rear-side buffer area BR3 is provided with a surface BR3a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BR3b protruding from the surface BR3a to the rear plate A8 of the packing box A. The bottom-side buffer area BR4 is provided with a surface BR4a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BR4b protruding from the surface BR4a to the bottom plate A9 of the packing box A. The top-side buffer area BR5 is provided with a surface BR5a in contact with the cartridge P and a buffer portion BR5b protruding from the surface BR5a to the right inside flap A2 of the packing box A.

In the longitudinal direction, an engagement width of the front-side buffer area BR2, the rear-side buffer area BR3, the bottom-side buffer area BR4, and the top-side buffer area BR5 with the cartridge P is greater than a distance between a right end portion of the cartridge P and the packing box A. In other words, a length where the buffer areas BR2 to BR5 extend in the longitudinal direction from the surface BR1a in contact with the cartridge P in the right-side buffer area BR1 is greater than the distance between the right end portion of the cartridge P and the packing box A. Thereby, even when various shocks such as dropping are applied, the packaging member BR can absorb the shocks.

The bag M is arranged in the recess of the packing box A so that a mouth of the bag M faces outside from the opening portion of the packing box A. As the bag M, a bag whose mouth is greater than the opening portion of the packing box A and whose depth is sufficiently deeper than the depth of the recess of the packing box A is used. In a state where the cartridge P is stored as the package U (Fig. 5A), portions of the bag M near the mouth of the bag M are folded so that the portions are overlapped each other over the cartridge P, so that the bag M is arranged so as to cover the cartridge P. In this way, the bag M is provided so as to protect the cartridge P from dust, fuzz powder dust, and the like.

Buffer Performance of Packaging Member

Figs. 6A to 6C are diagrams showing the package U that uses the packaging members B according to the present embodiment before and after dropping. In the description below, an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P and extends from the front surface to the rear surface of the cartridge P is defined as an x axis, and an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the x axis and extends from the bottom surface to the top surface is defined as a y axis.

In the present embodiment, the buffer areas BL1 to BL5 respectively have contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a that are in contact with the cartridge P and the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b that protrude from the contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a to the packing box A (Fig. 6A). In a state where the cartridge P is packaged as a package, the cartridge P is surrounded by the contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a, and the load of the cartridge P is supported through the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b. Thereby, for example, as shown in Fig. 6B, even when the package U is dropped so that the bottom-side buffer area BL4 is below the cartridge P (in a direction W25), the buffer portion BL4b of the bottom-side buffer area BL4 is deformed or crushed. Thereby, it is possible to absorb and/or mitigate shock applied to the cartridge P.

In the present embodiment, even when the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b are crushed and a space t1 is formed between the packaging member B and the packing box A, a relative positional relationship between the cartridge P and the contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a, that is, between the cartridge P and the packaging member B, is not changed (Fig. 6C). Therefore, even when the package U is dropped again so that the bottom-side buffer area BL4 is below the cartridge P, the cartridge P is still in contact with the contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a of the packaging member B and the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b come into contact with the packing box A. Thereby, the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b can be deformed, so that the cartridge P is prevented from being applied with a large shock. In this way, by employing the configuration of the packaging member B of the present embodiment, it is possible to protect the cartridge P even when a shock is applied to the package U a plurality of times.

In the above description, the packaging member BL provided at one end (left side) in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P has been described. Also in the packaging member BR provided at the other end (right side), the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b correspond to the buffer portions BR1b to BR5b, respectively, and the contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a correspond to the contact surfaces BR1a to BR5a, respectively, so that the packaging member BR has a buffer configuration similar to that of the packaging member BL. In other words, the packaging member BR is configured so that a shock is applied to the cartridge P in a state where the cartridge P is in contact with the contact surfaces BR1a to BR5a and the shock can be mitigated by causing the buffer portions BR1b to BR5b to be deformed.

Unsealing Method of Packaging Member

The rear flap A7 of the packing box A is rotated around the hinge A7h so as to open the opening portion of the packing box A, and then the front flap A5 is rotated around the hinge A5h. Then, the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2 are rotated around the hinges A1h and A2h, respectively. Here, in the present embodiment, the bag M is adhered to the left inside flap A1 by an adhesion portion K1 and adhered to the right inside flap A2 by an adhesion portion K2. Therefore, when the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2 are opened, a portion near the mouth of the bag M is pulled by the adhesion portion K1 of the left inside flap A1 and the adhesion portion K2 of the right inside flap A2. In this way, the mouth of the bag M is opened interlocking with the opening operation of the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2, so that the cartridge P is exposed (Fig. 5B). Thereby, the cartridge P stored in the recess of the packing box A can be directly held, so that a user can grasp the cartridge P and take out the cartridge P to the outside of the bag, that is, the packing box A (in a direction W1). The bag M is integrated with the packing box A by the adhesion portions K1 and K2, so that it is possible to take out the cartridge P while leaving the bag M in the packing box A. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bag M from clinging to the cartridge P.

By employing the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to save time and effort for exposing the cartridge P from the bag M by unsealing the packing box A, and it is possible to grasp the cartridge P and pull out and take out the cartridge P from inside the packing box A, that is, the bag M. In other words, it is possible to eliminate conventional operations such as an operation to detach the cartridge P from the bag M after taking out the cartridge P stored in the bag M from the package U as well as an operation to dispose the taken-out bag M, so that usability can be improved.

Second Embodiment

In the embodiment described above, the configuration where the cartridge P attached with the packaging members BL and BR is stored in the bag M inside the packing box A is described. However, the embodiment is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the package U may have a configuration where the bag M is arranged between the packaging members BL and BR and the cartridges P inside the packing box A. Therefore, a configuration of the package U where the packaging members BL and BR are attached to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P which is stored in the bag M and the cartridge P in this state is stored in the packing box A will be described as a second embodiment. Fig. 7 shows the packaging members BL and BR used in the present embodiment. Fig. 8A shows a packaged state of the package U according to the second embodiment. Fig. 8B shows an unpackaged state of the package U according to the second embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 7, the packaging member BL is configured so that the top-side buffer area BL5 is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 through the hinge BLh. Similarly, the packaging member BR is configured so that the top-side buffer area BR5 is connected to the right-side buffer area BR1 through the hinge BRh. In the present embodiment, as described above, the cartridge P stored in the bag M is arranged between the packaging members BL and BR arranged at both ends of the inside of the recess of the packing box A. Here, in the present embodiment, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the bag M is adhered to the left inside flap A1 by the adhesion portion K1 and adhered to the right inside flap A2 by the adhesion portion K2.

As shown in Fig. 8B, a user rotates the rear flap A7 of the packing box A around the hinge A7h and then rotates the front flap A5 around the hinge A5h so as to open the opening portion of the packing box A. Then, the user rotates the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2 around the hinges A1h and A2h, respectively. Thereby, when the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2 are opened, a portion near the mouth of the bag M is pulled by the adhesion portion K1 of the left inside flap A1 and the adhesion portion K2 of the right inside flap A2. When the adhesion portion K1 pulls the bag M, a force to reversely pull the bag M to the inside of the packing box A is generated due to the weight of the cartridge P, so that the top-side buffer area BL5 of the packaging member BL is pushed away from an area over the cartridge P by interlocking with the opening operation of the left inside flap A1. Similarly, when the adhesion portion K2 pulls the bag M, a force to reversely pull the bag M to the inside of the packing box A is generated due to the weight of the cartridge P, so that the top-side buffer area BR5 of the packaging member BR is pushed away from an area over the cartridge P by interlocking with the opening operation of the right inside flap A2. As a result, the cartridge P is exposed from the mouth of the bag M.

In this way, in the embodiment, the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2 of the packing box A are rotated so as to open the opening portion, so that the top-side buffer areas BL5 and BR5 are moved from positions preventing the cartridge P from moving to positions allowing the cartridge P to move. In this way, the cartridge P stored in the recess of the packing box A is exposed from the mouth of the bag M, so that the cartridge P can be directly held. As a result, a user can grasp the cartridge P and take out only the cartridge P to the outside of the bag, that is, the packing box A (in the direction W1). The bag M is integrated with the packing box A by the adhesion portions K1 and K2, so that it is possible to take out the cartridge P while leaving the bag M in the packing box A. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the bag M from clinging to the cartridge P.

Due to the elasticity of the resin used as a material of the packaging members, the top-side buffer area BL5 of the packaging member BL is located on the top surface of the cartridge P and the top-side buffer area BR5 of the packaging member BR is located on the top surface of the cartridge P. However, the packaging members are not limited to these. For example, according to the elasticity of the resin used as a material of the packaging members, each of the top-side buffer area BL5 of the packaging member BL and the top-side buffer area BR5 of the packaging member BR may be formed so as to have a posture where the cartridge P can be taken out. In this case, when the left inside flap A1 of the packing box A is closed, the top-side buffer area BL5 is located between the cartridge P and the left inside flap A1, and when the right inside flap A2 of the packing box A is closed, the top-side buffer area BR5 is located between the cartridge P and the right inside flap A2.

In the second embodiment, the cartridge P is stored in the bag M, and the packaging members BL and BR arranged outside the bag M retreat interlocking with the rotation of the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2. However, the second embodiment is not limited to the above. For example, as shown in Figs. 9A and 9B, the second embodiment may have a configuration where the bag M is adhered to the left inside flap A1 by the adhesion portion K1 and thereafter a portion of the bag M closer to the mouth of the bag M than the adhesion portion K1 is hooked and fixed to a notch BL5c provided in the top-side buffer area BL5 of the packaging member BL. Thereby, a configuration can be obtained where the adhesion portion K1 pulls the bag M when the left inside flap A1 is opened/closed, so that the top-side buffer area BL5 of the packaging member BL is pushed away through the bag M. In the above description, an example where the notch BL5c is provided is described. However, measures such as adhesion or welding may be used instead of the notch as long as the measures can fix the portion of the bag M.

The embodiment described above has a configuration where the bag M having an opening is used and the opening opens when the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2 are moved. However, the embodiment is not limited to the above. For example, a bag M provided with a dashed line where small holes continue may be used. For example, as shown in Fig. 5B, the opening of the bag M is opened when the cartridge P is taken out. The bag M includes a dashed line where a plurality of small holes are formed side by side, and the opening of the bag M may be formed by cutting the bag M along the dashed line. A configuration may be employed where the bag M provided with the dashed line is used and when the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2 are moved, the bag M is pulled by the movement of the left inside flap A1 and the right inside flap A2 and the bag M is cut along the dashed line so that the cartridge P is exposed. In addition, various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

According to the present invention, it is possible to improve buffer performance of a packaging member and realize a packing container where a packaged object can be easily taken out without taking out the packaging member from a box.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-202087, filed October 18, 2017, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Claims

A packing container comprising:
a bag configured to store a packaged object;
a box provided with a recess where the packaged object that is stored in the bag is stored, and including a surface forming the recess and an openable and closable portion configured to be rotatable between a position where the recess is covered and a position where the packaged object that is stored in the recess is exposed; and
a packaging member including a first buffer area disposed between the openable and closable portion and the packaged object and a second buffer area disposed between the surface and the packaged object,
wherein the bag and the first buffer area move with respect to the packaged object by interlocking with the rotation of the openable and closable portion so that the packaged object that is stored in the recess can be taken out.
The packing container according to Claim 1, wherein the first buffer area and the second buffer area are integrally formed of resin.
The packing container according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the first buffer area connects to the second buffer area through a hinge that enables the first buffer area to rotate with respect to the second buffer area, the first buffer area rotates around the hinge, and the first buffer area is movable from a position preventing movement of the packaged object to a position allowing movement of the packaged object.
The packing container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the bag is fixed to the openable and closable portion and the first buffer area moves with respect to the packaged object when the bag is pulled by the openable and closable portion.
The packing container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the bag is fixed to the first buffer area.
The packing container according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein the bag is provided with a dashed line where small holes are formed side by side and the bag is cut along the dashed line and the packaged object that is stored in the bag is exposed when the openable and closable portion is rotated.
A package comprising:
the packing container according to any one of Claims 1 to 6; and
the packaged object.
A package according to claim 7, wherein the packaged object is a cartridge that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus.