Claims
- 1. A bin loader package for shipping, storing and dispensing cut paper directly into the paper supply bin of a photocopier, printer or other machine having means for storing a supply of paper used in the operation of the machine, comprising:
- means defining a box enclosure having opposite side walls, opposite end walls, a top wall and a bottom wall for enclosing a stack of paper sheets to be placed in a photocopier or other machine that uses the paper;
- said means including first and second members interengaged with one another to define said box enclosure, said first member defining at least said side and end walls, said bottom wall and an open top, and said second member defining a tray which rests in the box enclosure on the bottom wall and supports the stack of paper thereon, for enclosing and protecting the stack of paper sheets during shipping, storage and handling of the package; and
- said side and end walls are integrally joined to the bottom wall of said first member and are folded upwardly about the sides of the tray and adhesively attached together to define a wrapper, said adhesive attachment being releasable by exerting force on the side and end walls to enable them to be folded downwardly to expose the stack of paper and enable access to the tray, which may then be lifted with the stack of paper supported thereon and deposited onto the elevator platform of the paper supply bin of a photocopier or other machine in position for use by the machine.
- 2. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- the first member and the tray are each made from a single blank folded to form the respective first member and tray, and are assembled together to define said box enclosure without the use of separate fasteners.
- 3. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 2, wherein:
- the first member and tray are made of a material selected from the group consisting of corrugated cardboard, paperboard and plastic.
- 4. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- said tray has handle means thereon to facilitate grasping and lifting of the tray and a stack of paper supported thereon.
- 5. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
- the handle means comprises a hand grip at each end of the tray, formed integrally with the tray, foldable into flush, coplanar relationship with an adjacent end wall of the first member, and extending in substantial vertical alignment with the adjacent end walls of the first member.
- 6. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 5, wherein:
- said adjacent end walls of the first member have cut-outs therein shaped complementally to the handle means for receiving the handle means in flush, nested relationship therein.
- 7. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 6, wherein:
- said tray has a bottom wall, and the handle means comprise foldable flaps on each end of the bottom wall; and
- each foldable flap has an elongate knock-out panel therein which may be displaced to form an opening in each flap for receiving the fingers of the user of the package to facilitate lifting of the tray and paper thereon.
- 8. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 4, wherein:
- the side and end walls formed by the first member comprise opposite side wall panels and opposite end wall panels, said side wall panels have end flaps integrally joined thereto and folded inwardly toward one another behind the opposite end wall panels, and said end flaps are adhesively attached to the end wall panels to hold the first member in its erected, folded position about the tray and stack of paper.
- 9. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 8, wherein:
- the handle means comprises a hand grip at each end of the tray, formed integrally with the tray, foldable into flush, coplanar relationship with an adjacent end wall of the first member, and extending in substantial vertical alignment with the adjacent end walls; and
- inner bottom edge portions of the end flaps have cut-outs therein shaped complementally to the handle means for receiving the handle means therein in flush, nested relationship to define a smooth, uninterrupted inner surface in the erected box enclosure.
- 10. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- at least the first member is treated with a moisture vapor barrier material to maintain the moisture content of the paper supported in the package within acceptable limits without requiring the use of ream wrap about the sheets of paper or shrink wrap about the package.
- 11. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 9, wherein:
- at least the first member is treated with a moisture vapor barrier material to maintain the moisture content of the paper supported in the package within acceptable limits without requiring the use of ream wrap about the sheets of paper or shrink wrap about the package.
- 12. A bin loader package as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- the top wall comprises a separate lid placed over the open top of the box enclosure; and
- at least one tie strap is secured about the package to hold the lid in place and facilitate handling and storage of the package.
- 13. A method of depositing a stack of paper directly from a package into the paper supply bin of a photocopier, printer, or other machine which uses the paper in its operation, comprising the steps of:
- forming a package comprising a stack of paper held within a box enclosure defined by two interconnected members including a first member folded to defined a bottom wall and side and end walls, and a second member defining a tray resting on the bottom of the first member and supporting the stack of paper thereon;
- using the package to ship and store the paper;
- partially unfolding the first member to expose the paper and gain access to the tray and;
- lifting the tray and the paper supported thereon away from the first member and depositing the tray and paper in the paper supply bin of a machine which uses the paper.
Parent Case Info
This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly owned co-pending application Ser. No. 08/733,279, filed Oct. 17, 1996; pending which is, in turn, a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/597,949, filed Feb. 7, 1996, pending.
US Referenced Citations (27)
Continuation in Parts (2)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
733279 |
Oct 1996 |
|
Parent |
597949 |
Feb 1996 |
|