Patent Application
20150175293
The present invention relates to a box of corrugated cardboard sheet material which has a polygonal cross-section, comprising a belt which comprises at least four main rectangular panels and which is provided with at least one series of flaps which are capable of at least partially forming the base and/or the top of the box, at least two of the main lateral panels being connected to a main central panel by intermediate panels, forming cut corners which do not have flaps.
The invention also relates to a blank or a set of blanks and a method and a device which allow such a box to be obtained.
A particularly important, though non-exclusive, use involves the field of boxes which are formed around a mandrel and which are provided to contain cylindrical products, for example, bottles.
There are already known boxes which are configured in order to optimize the internal volume available for containing rounded products.
For example, there are boxes having eight sides, that is, four main faces and four intermediate faces which have smaller dimensions and which allow better conformity to the shape of the products which are located inside the box.
Though such packagings have better resistance to compression and are readily able to be produced around mandrels, they do not allow optimization of the shape of the cut faces which remain with large dimensions, owing to the need for a specific distance which must exist between two grooves (also referred to below as scoring) and/or vertical folding lines.
There are also known, in particular in the context of packagings known as “wrap” packagings, corrugated cardboard sheets which are relatively flexible and which have rounded angles.
However, those packagings have poor resistance to compression and are difficult to form.
An object of the present invention is to provide a box of cardboard sheet material which has a polygonal cross-section and which better complies with the requirements of practice than previously known boxes, in particular in that it allows the disadvantages of known boxes to be overcome, by better resisting compression, and in that it will allow automatic packaging formation whose angles will be similar to a quarter of a circle without for all that being completely rounded, in an easy, automatic and efficient manner.
In so doing, it will be possible to combine the advantages of a box which can be produced in a rapid and repetitive manner with regard to the qualities which it has, and which has good resistance to compression. Advantageously, the walls and/or the corners have even better resistance to pressure, in particular as a result of the fact of their nature involving rigid tongues over a specific height, whilst being combined with walls and/or corners which also have specific heights, allowing a packaging having a shape which is as similar as possible to that of the products which it may contain, in particular when cylindrical products which are oval and/or round are involved, such as bottles.
To that end, the invention substantially proposes a box of corrugated cardboard sheet material which has a polygonal cross-section, the box comprising a belt which comprises at least four main rectangular panels and which is provided with at least one series of flaps which are capable of at least partially forming the base and/or the top of the box, at least two of the main lateral panels being connected to a main central panel by intermediate panels, forming cut corners which do not have flaps,
characterized in that at least two cut corners are formed by at least two rectangular portions of cut face which are connected to each other or to the adjacent main panel by a folding line, the portions of cut face having a width between 3 mm and 20 mm, and in that at least two opposing main panels have different widths.
The folding of those packagings may thus be brought about by wrapping around a mandrel, at least two opposing main panels having different widths which allows stacking of the dimensions and formation of the corners.
The construction of such multi-faceted boxes which therefore comprise rectangular cut faces which are located at distances close to each other allows preservation of a resistance to compression of the box with acceptable values, whilst allowing, as a result of the multiple facets thereof, which may be of different numbers, for example, from two to nine facets, a possibility of packagings which are completely adaptable to the products involved.
The cut corner(s) of the box therefore comprise up to ten simple, close-set scores or folding lines.
To that end, and in order to allow, in an automatic manner, the folding of those scores which are close together, it has been necessary to configure tools which allow them to be formed without crushing the score alongside (located a short distance away). This is done particularly as a result of foaming (coating with a layer of foam, for example, of plastics material) of the blades for forming the score which is provided so as not to crush the portions alongside (frustoconical form), or, in the event that the scores are too close together, by dispensing with any foaming and by perforating the scores in order to subsequently allow correct folding, which is otherwise impossible to obtain.
In advantageous embodiments, use is further and/or also made of one and/or other of the following arrangements:
Such differences will allow different behavior of the box when it is compressed, allowing optimization and/or control of the consideration of the weights and pressures applied to the box in a progressive manner:
The invention also proposes a blank or set of blanks for forming a box as described above.
It also proposes a blank or set of blanks which is produced from corrugated cardboard sheet material and which is intended to form a box of polygonal cross-section, the blank or each of the blanks comprising a belt which comprises at least four main rectangular panels and which is provided with at least one series of flaps which are capable of at least partially forming the base and/or the top of the box, at least two of the main lateral panels being connected to a main central panel by intermediate panels, forming cut corners which do not have flaps,
characterized in that, each intermediate panel being formed by at least two rectangular portions of cut face which are connected to each other or the adjacent main panel by a folding line, the portions of cut face have widths between 3 mm and 20 mm.
Advantageously, the width is less than or equal to 10 mm or 5 mm.
In other advantageous embodiments, use is further made of one and/or other of the following provisions:
The invention also proposes a device for forming a box as described above.
It also proposes a device for forming a box from at least one blank of corrugated cardboard sheet comprising a belt which comprises at least four main rectangular panels and which is provided with at least one side having a series of flaps which are capable of at least partially forming the base of the box, characterized in that,
with at least two main panels being connected to a main central panel by intermediate panels forming cut corners which do not have flaps, each cut corner being formed by at least two rectangular portions of cut face which are connected to each other by folding lines, it comprises
an assembly for picking the blank, means for gluing the blank during the transfer to a mandrel,
the mandrel comprising at least two edges which comprise rounded angles capable of cooperating with the cut corners,
means for wrapping the blank around the mandrel in order to form the belt of the box and
pressing means which are configured in order to fold the cut corners on the rounded edges and the flaps around the mandrel in order to form the base of the box by adhesive bonding.
The invention also proposes a method for forming a box from at least one blank of corrugated cardboard sheet, comprising a belt which comprises at least four main rectangular panels and which is provided with at least one side having a series of flaps which are capable of at least partially forming the base of the box, characterized in that,
with at least two main panels being connected to a main central panel by intermediate panels forming cut corners which do not have flaps, each cut corner being formed by at least two intermediate panels which form rectangular portions of cut face which are connected to each other by folding lines,
after the blank has been picked,
the blank is glued during its transfer towards a mandrel which comprises at least two edges which comprise rounded angles which are capable of cooperating with the cut corners,
the blank is wrapped around the mandrel in order to form the belt of the box and
the intermediate panels are pressed on the rounded edges and the flaps are pressed around the mandrel in order to form the cut corners and the base of the box by adhesive bonding.
Advantageously, the box is formed from two blanks, the second blank being wrapped on the first blank once formed, and/or being glued beforehand to the first before forming in a manner known per se.
The invention will be better understood from a reading of the embodiments given below by way of non-limiting example. It refers to the drawings which accompany it and in which:
Each of the panels 3, 4, 5, 6 is connected to the adjacent panels by two portions 7, 8 having a rectangular cut face having a width e via three parallel folding lines 9, 10, 11.
The folding lines are formed by means of a flat blank machine, for example, a machine manufactured by the Swiss company BOBST, so that the adjacent folding lines are not crushed during production of the blank.
To that end and in the event that the width e is greater than 15 mm (up to 20 mm), the accompanying foam which surrounds the blade for marking the groove has dimensions not exceeding 12 mm at one side and the other of the blade.
If the dimension is smaller, the length of the foam is also reduced and perforations (not illustrated), for example, having a length less than 1 cm, are produced every 1 cm or less, for example, perforations having a length of 3 mm spaced apart from each other by 3 mm.
That allows minimization of the pressure for forming the groove whilst subsequently allowing folding which is easy and adequate.
The belt is further terminated with a bonding tongue 12 having a length L3.
Each of the panels 3 and 5 terminates at one side and the other with a rectangular flap 13 which has lower corners 15 at the side of the junction line 14 with respect to the panel, at an angle of 45° relative to the folding line.
The flaps have a length l2 and a width l3.
Each of the panels 4 and 6 itself comprises a flap 16 which is connected to the panel by folding lines 17, the flaps having a tulip-like shape and a width l1 and a height l4, so that, when the box is closed, the base and the top of the box coincide substantially with respect to the open top of the box, the corner of the tulip-like member at the side of the line 17 having facets 18, 19 and being capable of cooperating and/or coinciding with the end 20, 21 of the portions of cut faces 7 and 8.
The panels and portions of cut faces further have for the panels 3, 5 heights or a length L5, the panels 4, 6 a length L7 and the cut faces 7, 8 a length L6.
In the embodiment described with reference to
L1 and L5 are the width and length of the panel 3,
L2 and L7 are the width and length of the panel 4,
L′1 and L5 are the width and length of the panel 5,
L′2 and L7 are the width and length of the panel 6,
L3 is the width of the tongue l2, L4 is the total length of the blank and L8 is the total width,
e is the width of the portions of cut face, L6 is the length of the faces,
l1 and l4 are the length and width of the flaps 16 and
l2 and l3 are the length and width of the flaps 13.
In the remainder of the description, the same reference numerals will be used to designate the same elements or similar elements.
The other values are, for example:
Advantageously, therefore:
L1=L′1 or L1<L′1, for example, from 1 to 2 mm.
L2=L′2 or L2<L′2, for example, from 1 to 2 mm.
It is also possible to have L5≠L6, for example, L5=248 mm, L7=246 mm and L6=L7 or L6≠L7=245 mm.
The blank 24 is capable of forming a lower tray. It comprises a belt 26 which is provided with four main panels 27, 28, 29, 30, the central rectangular panel 29 being separated from the two adjacent trapezium-like panels 28, 30 thereof by two cut corners 31, 32, each cut corner being formed by three portions of identical rectangular faces 33 which are connected to each other and to the adjacent panel by folding lines 34. A rectangular panel 27 having a side and a rectangular bonding tongue 35 are also provided.
Each main panel 28, 30 terminates at one side with a flap 36, 36′, which flaps are symmetrical to each other in relation to a transverse center axis of the panel 29, and comprise a side 37 which is substantially rectilinear, and the other side 38 having a cut corner which has an angle less than 45°.
The panel 27 comprises a substantially rectangular flap 39 and the panel 29 comprises a panel 40 with a lower corner cut at the side of the junction line 41 with respect to the panel 29, in order to cooperate with the end of the faces 33 during the formation of the box.
The blank 25 is capable of forming the cover of the box. It itself comprises, in a parallel manner, a belt 42 which is provided with four main panels 43, 44, 45, 46, the rectangular central panel 45 being separated from the two adjacent panels 44, 46 thereof, which are also rectangular, by two cut corners 47, 48 formed by three identical rectangular face portions 49 which are connected to each other and/or to the adjacent panels by folding lines 50.
The rectangular panel 43 and a bonding tongue 51 are provided at one side and the other of the succession of panels.
In a manner identical to the first blank 24, flaps 52, 52′, 53 and 54 which are symmetrical, in relation to the direction of the blank, with the flaps 36, 36′, 39 and 40, are provided.
By way of example, the values of the dimensions are as follows (in mm): (cf.
L11, L′11, L21, L31 are the lengths of the panels 28, 30, 29, 27,
L41 is the total length of the blank 23, L61 is the total width of the blank,
L51 is the height (or width) of the panel 27, L71 is the width of the tongue 35, l11 and l21 are the length and width of the flap 40, e1 is the width of the portion of cut face 33.
The references indexed “2” (for L12, L′12, etc.) correspond to the dimensions of the panels and/or flaps of the blank 25 corresponding to those of the blank 24.
In this instance, the blanks 61 and 62 comprise cut corners 63, 64 which are each provided with three portions of faces 65, 66, 67 and 68, 69, 70, that is to say, two portions 65, 67 having a first width h1 separated by a portion 66 having a second width h2 and two portions 68 and 70 having a first width h′1 separated by a portion 69 having a second width h′2, where, for example, h1=7 mm, h2=21 mm and h′1=6 mm and h′2=20 mm.
Other embodiments of cut corners are also illustrated here, that is to say:
A cut corner 90, with four identical vertical portions of cut face, a corner 92 with five identical portions 93 of cut face, a corner 94 with six identical portions 95 of cut face, a corner 97 with seven portions 98 of cut face, a corner 99 with eight portions 100 of cut face and a corner 101 with nine rectangular portions 102 of cut face having the same height, which portions are therefore all separated by folding lines or scores which are provided to allow the folding thereof.
Thus, from more than four to five cut faces, taking into account the general dimensions of the boxes and so as to allow optimized folding thereof, the grooves or scores or folding lines will be, for example, precut over short distances, over the entire length of the folding line, in order to facilitate folding thereof.
That device comprises in particular and more specifically a mandrel 104, for example, constituted by rounded angles 105 at the four corners of the mandrel around which the box will therefore be able to be formed.
Those rounded angles are rounded at 45°.
They are formed by tubular elements which are also illustrated more clearly in
Those tubular elements, for example, in the form of an angle member, have an outer cylindrical surface, around which the folding of the cut corners of the box according to the invention will be able to be brought about.
To that end, the blank which is, for example, brought below the mandrel, is pressed by means of a pushing plate 106 comprising angle members 107 which are configured to cooperate, and are therefore of a complementary shape, with the rounded external edges 108 of the angle members of the mandrel 104.
Pushing/pressing means 109 and 110 located on the upper portion of the mandrel are further also provided in order to operate in a manner known per se.
Those pushing/pressing means 109 and 110 comprise in a similar manner angle pieces 111, 112 which are provided with an external surface 113, 114 in the form of a cylindrical portion for cooperation with the external cylindrical face 108 (in the form of a quarter-cylinder portion) of the angle members 105 of the mandrel 104.
The device 103 is configured in order to form, from the blank 116 of corrugated cardboard sheet, for example, with micro-flutes, comprising a belt which comprises at least four main rectangular panels 117, 118, 119, 120 which are separated by the cut corners 121, 122, 123, 124 as described above, the cut corners therefore being formed by portions of cut faces which are connected to each other by folding lines 125.
The device 103 comprises a blank picking assembly 126 which is indicated in the Figure, gluing means 127 for gluing in a manner known per se at the locations desired on the tongues and/or the flaps, for example, using glue known as “hot melt” glue which is injected under high pressure.
As seen, the mandrel 104 comprises the edges 105 which comprise rounded angles 108 which are therefore capable of cooperating with the cut corners 121, 122, 123, 124.
The wrapping means mentioned above will wrap the blanks around the mandrel and allow the formation of the belt of the box, the pressing means 106, 109 and 110 subsequently folding the cut corners at the rounded edges and the flaps around the mandrel.
Taking into account the folding lines which are clearly marked and optionally thereby assisted by the precut portions of a portion of those folding lines, the folds will be carried out so as to correctly take up the occurrences of play when the box is formed around the mandrel.
That is allowed as a result of the guiding action which is brought about both by the pushing plate 106 which allows self-centering of the central panel of the blank (previously positioned in a very precise manner on the lower edges) and by the pieces 109 and 110 which will themselves be able to assist in forming folds, in an extremely easy manner, further taking into account the obstructions of the remainder of the panel.
The pieces 109 and 110 are subsequently moved away upward (arrow 129), allowing the release of the box which is, for example, pushed back in a manner known per se by means of actuators which are located inside the box which is then discharged in the direction of the arrow 130.
The operation of the device for forming a box according to the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to
On the basis of a blank of corrugated cardboard sheet, in particular and more specifically with micro-flutes, which involves a given fragility of the material and a given difficulty in folding it, that blank is picked by conventional techniques for taking blanks (located in the vertical or in an inclined plane) by means of a suction cup system.
The packaging is then displaced below the mandrel via, for example, a conveyor belt (not illustrated).
With the blank being positioned precisely under the mandrel, it is subsequently raised and pre-pressed by means of the pushing plate 106, in such a manner that the cut corners move into alignment with the lateral angle members 105 of the mandrel.
The pushing plate is subsequently advanced and the blank takes up a position, the cut corners bending in accordance with the pressurization, the lateral panels 119 and 117 themselves being maintained laterally in order to allow adequate folding, without for all that the cut corners and the portions of cut faces thereof being completely crushed against the angle members 105, which would have the effect of making the cut corner completely rounded without benefiting from the facet-like appearance thereof as indicated above.
The remaining portions of the blank are subsequently wrapped around the mandrel in a progressive manner until the cut corners 123, 124 move into contact with the angle members 105 from above the mandrel, then a pressing system allows formation of the cut corners on the rounded edges of the mandrel, as for the lower cut corners, thereby allowing the close-set folds of the facets which are formed by the portions of cut faces of the packaging.
Subsequently, the upper panel 120 is definitively closed, the positioning of the end tongue being carried out at the end of the panel 120 by pressing.
Subsequently and/or simultaneously, the flaps 140, 141, 142 and 143 which are intended to form the base of the box and which are of identical shape to the cross-section of the blanks once they have been folded, including the cut corners, are pressed against the end of the mandrel, the initial gluing by means of the gluing means 127 having in the meantime been carried out during the movement.
The box is subsequently discharged in accordance with the arrow 130 with reference to
As is self-evident and as further results from the above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments which are described in greater detail. Instead, it includes all the variants and in particular those in which it comprises an access location with the blank on the mandrel from above and not from below, as described in greater detail.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/01748 | Jun 2012 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2013/051412 | 6/17/2013 | WO | 00 |
