Packaging box and method of packaging

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6332537
  • Patent Number
    6,332,537
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, December 21, 1999
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, December 25, 2001
    22 years ago
Abstract
A packaging box is formed by a bottom surface member disposed at the side of a bottom surface of goods to be packaged, and a top surface member disposed at the side of a top surface of the goods to be packaged. The bottom surface member includes a base panel, side panels formed extending integrally from the base panel and further shaped to correspond to side surfaces of the goods to be packaged. An attachment panel extends integrally from the end of each side panel. The top surface member and base panel typically include corrugations. The corrugations in each item are preferably oriented generally transverse to one another, thereby increasing the strength of the structure without requiring additional material.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a packaging box for packaging goods, and a packaging method using the packaging box, which packaging box and method are used, for example, when intermediately packaged photosensitive printing plates are further packaged (externally packaged).




2. Description of the Related Art





FIG. 10

shows a conventional packaging box


110


as an example.

FIG. 11

shows the packaging box


110


before it has been folded (see Japanese Patent Application Publication (JP-B) No. 57-38,150).




As shown in

FIG. 11

, in the packaging box


110


, bottom-surface lamination panels


116


and upper-surface lamination panels


118


are formed adjacently to respective two short sides of a bottom surface panel


112


and an upper surface panel


114


. A plurality of bend lines


120


are formed in each of the bottom-surface lamination panel


116


and the upper-surface lamination panel


118


. By folding these lamination panels along the bend lines


120


, as shown in

FIG. 10

, four-sided spiral-wound portions


122


and


124


are formed. As a result, goods contained in the packaging box


110


are protected. For example, if a great impact acts on the box from outside, the impact transmitted internally is reduced thereby helping to prevent damage to the goods.




As described above, in the conventional packaging box


110


, a process in which the bottom-surface lamination panel


116


and the upper-surface lamination panel


118


are folded along the plurality of bend lines


120


was required. Further, as the size of goods to be packaged increases, great force becomes necessary for the folding operation. Therefore, folding at correct positions substantially only by a manual operation was very difficult. For this reason, there were cases in which a large-size folding apparatus was required, but it resulted in greater manufacturing costs.





FIG. 12

shows a packaging box


140


different from the packaging box shown in FIG.


10


.

FIG. 13

shows the packaging box


140


before it has been folded (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 10-16,946).




As shown in

FIG. 13

, in the packaging box


140


, side surface panels


144


are respectively extended from the longer sides of a bottom surface panel


142


and cover surface panels


146


extend from the side surface panels


144


. Further, a side surface panel


148


and face panels


150


sequentially extend from each of the shorter sides of the bottom surface panel


142


. When the packaging box


140


is assembled, as shown in

FIG. 12

, an upper surface of the box is structured so as to open like a double door and a three-sided tubular body


152


is formed along each side of the box by the side surface panel


148


and the face panels


150


.




However, as can be seen from the unfolded configuration shown in

FIG. 13

, in the packaging box


140


, a length of the side surface panel


144


and the cover surface panel


146


extending from the bottom surface panel


142


and a length of the side surface panel


148


and the face panels


150


extending from the bottom surface panel


142


are both long. For this reason, a great quantity of corrugated fiberboard becomes necessary in forming such a packaging box


140


. Particularly, as the size of goods to be packaged become larger, the quantity of required corrugated fiberboard increases, thereby resulting in an increase of manufacturing costs.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a packaging box which can be manufactured at lower cost and by which goods to be packaged can be easily packaged, and further provides a method for packaging goods using the packaging box.




In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging box for receiving and packaging goods. The goods include a top surface and a bottom surface, and a number of side surfaces. The packaging box includes a bottom surface member having a base panel formed substantially in the same shape as the bottom surface of the goods to be packaged. The packaging box further includes a plurality of side panels corresponding in number to the number of side surfaces of the goods. Each side panel extends integrally from the base panel and is substantially the same shape as its respective corresponding side surface of the goods. The box further includes a top surface member formed to have dimensions substantially equal to dimensions as a top surface of the goods.




Accordingly, few or no useless portions are formed in the material composing the packaging box (for example, a sheet material such as corrugated fiberboard or cardboard), the packaging box is foldable, and initially it is provided in a flattened or unfolded configuration. After the goods are packaged in the box, there is substantially no overlap of any of the base panel, the side panels, and the top surface member with one another. Namely, the packaging box can be formed using a reduced amount of material and thus costs are reduced. Moreover, the bottom surface, side surfaces, and top surface of the goods to be packaged are covered by the base panel, side panels, and top surface member of the packaging box. Thus, the goods are protected from bending or deformation.




In packaging, the goods are placed on the base panel of the packaging box when it is unfolded, in such a manner that the bottom surface of the goods substantially coincides with the base panel of the packaging box. Then, the side panels are each folded along a boundary between the base panel and the side panels so as to be substantially made parallel to the side surfaces of the goods. Further, the top surface member is disposed so as to substantially coincide with the top surface of the goods, and the top surface member is fixed in place over the goods. As described above, the number of folds is fewer as compared with a conventional packaging box, and packaging is facilitated. Further, it is not necessary to use a folding device or the like, and therefore, costs are reduced.




In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the packaging box further includes an attachment flap integrally extending from each side panel. When the packaging box receives goods therein, each side panel is folded to extend substantially parallel to a corresponding side surface of the goods. The attachment flaps are folded to extend substantially parallel to a top surface of the goods, without the attachment flaps overlapping one another. This permits the top plate member to be fixed to the attachment flaps, thereby connecting the top plate member to the bottom plate member. The lack of overlap between attachment flaps, reduces the amount of material required, and therefore, costs as well.




In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention, when the attachment flaps are folded substantially parallel to the top surface of the goods, the attachment flaps define an opening located substantially centrally above the goods. The opening permits small attachment flaps, further reducing material requirements, and thus costs.




In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, the bottom and top surface members are each formed from a sheet of material. Each sheet includes a plurality of substantially corrugations formed therein. When the packaging box receives goods, the top surface member is placed over the goods with its corrugations oriented substantially transverse to the corrugations in the bottom surface member. Directionality in the strength of the packaging box is therefore reduced and the rigidity of the packaging box is increased. Thus, the packaging box with goods packaged therein is better able to resist deformation and retain a fixed shape. For example, when the packaging box is lifted up by putting hands on the bottom plate and holding the box in ones arms, no consideration of a direction to which hands are placed is required and handling of the packaging box becomes easier.




In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention, a reinforcing plate is attached to the bottom panel.




Since the reinforcing plate is attached to the bottom panel, the bottom panel and the reinforcing plate are integrated with each other to improve the strength thereof, and the strength of the entire packaging box. As a result, deflection or deformation of the packaging box is better prevented. Accordingly, even when the goods to be packaged are heavy or have a large bottom surface area (in this case, the area of the bottom panel also becomes large, and therefore, the bottom panel itself is more apt to deflect), the bottom panel integrated with the reinforcing plate better resists deflection or deformation.




Further, the reinforcing plate i s attached to the bottom panel, and therefore, there is reduced possibility of the reinforcing plate being inadvertently displaced or separated from the bottom panel.




In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention, each side panel extends a distance from the base panel substantially equal to a height dimension of the goods, plus a thickness dimension of the top surface member.




Moreover, the attachment flaps and the side panels are folded after the top plate member is disposed in surface contact with the top surface of the goods. Therefore, the attachment flaps can be brought into surface contact with the upper surface of the top plate member. As a result, the side panels surround the top plate member, and the top plate member is positioned in such a manner that the upper and lower surfaces of the top surface member respectively make surface contact with the attachment flaps and the top surface of the goods. Accordingly, fixing the top surface member to the bottom surface member is facilitated.




Further, when the top surface member is fixed to the bottom surface member using adhesive tape or the like, the adhesive tape may be applied along the ends of the attachment flaps (a position near the center of the top surface of the goods to be packaged). For this reason, in cooperation with the above-described third aspect, the amount of adhesive tape required for fixing the top surface member to the bottom surface member decreases. Further, the adhesive tape can be applied in a planar manner (it is not necessary that the adhesive tape be applied over large corner portions), and therefore, applying the adhesive tape is facilitated.




Even when the top surface member is fixed to the bottom surface member using adhesives such as normal paste, bond, and hot melt adhesive instead of adhesive tape, it suffices that the adhesives be applied along ends of the attachment flaps in a linear or dotted manner. Therefore, the amount of adhesives required is reduced. Additionally, the top surface member may be fixed to the bottom surface member using adhesive tape and other adhesives together, thereby resulting in greater adherence.




In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, a method for packaging goods is provided. The method includes placing the goods on a foldable box (on an interior bottom surface of the box). Then a top surface member of the box is placed over the goods, opposite the bottom surface member. Thereafter, the box is folded, wherein the box includes side panels with an attachment flap extending from each side panel. The side panels are folded to extend toward the top surface member, and the attachment flaps fold to extend substantially parallel to the top surface member. Then, the attachment flaps are fixed to the top surface member.




Typically, the top and bottom surface members will be stronger in one direction. The method further includes orienting the top surface member such that it is placed over the goods with the direction that the top surface member is stronger in, oriented substantially transverse to the direction that the bottom surface member is stronger in. Directionality in the strength of the resulting packaging is thus reduced and rigidity of the package increased.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

illustrates a perspective, partial cut-away view of an unfolded packaging box according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing goods being packaged in the box;





FIG. 2

illustrates a perspective view of the box of

FIG. 1

, with the goods placed in the box;





FIG. 3

illustrates a perspective view of the box of

FIG. 1

, with flaps of the box fixed in place over the goods;





FIG. 4

illustrates a perspective, partial cut-away view of an unfolded packaging box according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing goods being packaged in the box;





FIG. 5

illustrates a perspective view of the box of

FIG. 4

, with the goods placed in the box;





FIG. 6

illustrates a perspective view of the box of

FIG. 4

, with a top section member of the box fixed in place over the goods;





FIGS. 7 and 8

illustrate perspective views of the box of

FIG. 1

, showing alternate methods for fixing flaps of the box in place over the goods;





FIG. 9A

illustrates a plan view of two sheets of protective cardboard fastened together for use in accordance with the present invention, wherein each sheet of cardboard is approximately one half the size of a planographic printing plate;





FIG. 9B

illustrates a plan view showing four sheets of protective cardboard fastened together for use in accordance with the present invention, wherein each cardboard sheet is approximately a quarter of the size of a planographic printing plate;





FIG. 9C

illustrates a cross-sectional view through the structure in

FIG. 9A

, taken along section line X—X in

FIG. 9A

;





FIG. 10

illustrates a perspective, partial cut-away view of a conventional packaging box;





FIG. 11

illustrates a plan view of the box of

FIG. 10

, in an unfolded configuration, without any goods;





FIG. 12

illustrates a perspective view of another conventional packaging box, with the box partially unfolded; and





FIG. 13

illustrates a plan view of the box of

FIG. 12

, completely unfolded.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS





FIG. 1

illustrates a preferred embodiment of a packaging box


10


in accordance with the present invention. The box


10


is foldable and is illustrated initially in an unfolded configuration.

FIG. 1

shows goods being packaged in the box


10


, such as a stack of photosensitive printing plates (PS plates)


100


, for example.

FIG. 2

illustrates the box


10


after the stack of photosensitive printing plates


100


have been packaged in (the lower portion of) the box.

FIG. 3

shows the box


10


after attachment flaps


20


of the box have been folded and fixed over the stack of photosensitive printing plates


100


.




The stack


100


is composed of a plurality of photosensitive printing plates and protective sheets of interposing paper alternately superposed. The entire stack


100


is wrapped by a wrapping material and formed substantially in shape to a right rectangular parallelepiped having a width dimension of W, a depth dimension of D, and a height dimension of H. The wrapping material shades the photosensitive printing plates and prevents exposure to moisture.




In addition, protective paper composed of cardboard, kraft paper, corrugated fiberboard, or a combination thereof may be disposed on one of the upper or lower sides of the stack


100


, or both. An adhesive tape may be employed to fix the protective paper in place. After the protective paper is fixed in place, the wrapping material encloses the assembly, thereby forming the stack


100


. The protective paper as described above protects the stack (particularly, the photosensitive printing plates) from deformation or damage of the photosensitive printing plates due to impacts. For greater protection, the protective paper is preferably disposed at each of the upper and lower sides of the stack. The adhesive tape used for fixing the protective paper to the stack is not particularly limited in the configuration in which it is applied. For example, with the protective paper fixed by adhesive tape at two places on each of the longer sides of the stack, a constant fixing strength can be maintained even with a small amount of adhesive tape.




The packaging box


10


includes a bottom surface member


12


which constitutes a lower portion of the box. When packaging the stack


100


in the box


10


, the base


102


of the stack


100


is placed centrally on the bottom surface member


12


. The box


10


includes a top plate member


14


, which is placed over the top


104


of the stack


100


. When the stack


100


is packaged in the box (see FIG.


3


), the assembly as a whole corresponds generally in shape to a right rectangular parallelepiped. Further, the bottom surface member


12


and the top plate member


14


are each formed from corrugated fiberboard having a thickness T.




The bottom surface member


12


includes a base panel


16


having substantially the same shape as the base


102


of the stack


100


. As illustrated, the stack base


102


substantially corresponds in shape to a rectangle, having length D and width W. The base panel


16


of the box


10


, corresponds substantially in shape to a rectangle, having a length D


1


and width W


1


, substantially equal to the length D and width W, respectively of the stack base


102


.




The box


10


includes side panels


18


extending integrally from each side of the base panel


16


. The side panels


18


respectively correspond to side surfaces


106


of the stack


100


. The shape of each side panel


18


is substantially the same in size and shape to that of its corresponding side surface


106


of the stack


100


. As illustrated, each side panel


18


extends a distance L


1


from the base panel


16


. The distance L


1


is measured from the inner surface of the base panel


16


when the box is assembled as shown in FIG.


3


. As shown in

FIG. 2

, the distance L


1


substantially equals the height H of the stack


100


, plus the thickness T of the top surface member


14


.




An attachment flap


20


extends integrally from the end of each of the side panels


18


. Each attachment flap


20


extends from its respective side plate


18


, when the box


10


is folded or assembled as in

FIG. 3

, a predetermined distance L


2


so that opposite respective extended ends of attachment flaps


20


do not contact or overlap each other.




The distal corner of each attachment flap


20


is beveled to form a triangular cut portion


22


. When the box


10


is folded or assembled as in

FIG. 3

, the attachment flaps are folded substantially parallel to the top


104


of the stack


100


. Due to the triangular cut portions


22


, the attachment flaps


20


do not overlap one another when folded in this way. As illustrated, the attachment flaps fold along bend lines


26


.




The beveled angle between the beveled portion and the bend line


26


in each attachment flap


20


is not limited to a particular angle, so long as the attachment flaps


20


do not overlap one another. Preferably, though, the angle is substantially equal to 45 degrees. As a result, adjacent cut portions


22


contact one another in a substantially linear manner when the box is folded or assembled as shown in FIG.


3


. This configuration increases the strength of the box


10


and prevent deformation thereof.




As illustrated in

FIG. 1

, the box


10


folds substantially along bend lines


24


and


26


. Bend line


24


defines the boundary between the base panel


16


and the side panels


18


. Bend line


26


defines the boundary between each side panels


18


and its respective flap


20


. The bend lines


24


and


26


are preformed by, for example, creasing (pre-bending), perforating, or half cutting. Among these, creasing is preferably used from the viewpoint of maintaining the strength of the bottom surface member


12


and facilitation of folding. The bend lines


24


and


26


facilitate correct folding or assembly of the box


10


.




The top surface member


14


is formed substantially in the same size shape as that of the top surface


104


of the stack


100


. That is, the length D


2


of the longer side of the top surface member


14


is substantially equal to the length dimension D of the stack top


104


. Further, the length W


2


of the shorter side of the top surface member


14


is substantially equal to the width dimension W of the stack top


104


.




When the packaging box


10


is folded or assembled (see FIG.


3


), the top surface member


14


is oriented so that the corrugations in the sheet of corrugated fiberboard forming the top surface member


14


extend in a predetermined direction. Namely, a direction substantially transverse or perpendicular to the direction that the corrugations


27


in the sheet of corrugated fiberboard of the bottom surface member


16


extends. This arrangement increases the strength of the packaging box


10


because corrugated fiberboard is generally stronger in one direction. For example, when the external packaging box


10


is lifted up with the bottom plate


16


being held by worker's hands, it becomes unnecessary to consider a direction in which the box is held.




Next, a method for packaging the stack


100


using the external packaging box


10


according to a preferred embodiment will be described.




In order that the stack


100


be packaged using the external packaging box


10


, first, as shown in

FIG. 1

, the bottom surface member


12


is provided in a planar manner (i.e., unfolded), and the stack


100


is placed on the bottom surface member


12


so that the base


102


of the stack


100


coincides with the bottom plate


16


.




As shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, the top surface member


14


is placed on the top


104


of the stack


100


. Further, the bottom surface member


12


is folded along the bend lines


24


so that the side panels


18


are made substantially parallel to the side surfaces


106


of the stack


100


. In this arrangement, the side panels


18


are preferably brought into surface contact with the side surfaces


106


of the stack


100


. However, it is not absolutely necessary that the side panels


18


be brought into surface contact with the side surfaces


106


. The side panels


18


and side surfaces


106


may be disposed to substantially face in parallel with a small clearance being formed therebetween.




The length L


1


that each side panel


18


extends from the bottom surface member plate


16


(see

FIG. 1

) is substantially equal to the height H of the stack


100


plus the thickness T of the top surface member


14


. Therefore, an end portion of each side panel


18


contacts the top surface member


14


or faces the top surface member


14


with a small clearance formed therebetween. Should a force act to dislodge the top surface member


14


from a position centrally over the top


104


of the stack


100


, the side panels


18


retain the top surface member centrally over the stack top


104


. As a result, the top surface member


14


retained in a position coinciding with the stack top


104


without any significant offset being introduced.




Alternatively, prior to the top surface member


14


being placed on the top


104


of the stack


100


, the bottom surface member


12


is bent or folded along the bend lines


24


so that the side panels


18


are made substantially parallel to the side surfaces


106


of the stack


100


. Thereafter, the top surface member


14


is placed on the top


104


of the stack


100


. In this case, the end of each of the side panels


18


extends upward, slightly past the stack top


104


. Therefore, with the top surface member


14


being disposed between the extended portion of the side panels


18


, the top surface member


14


can be readily placed to coincide with the top


104


of the stack


100


.




Subsequently, the bottom plate member


12


is bent or folded along the bend lines


26


. This positions the attachment flaps


20


on the exterior of the top surface member


14


substantially parallel to the top surface member


14


. As shown in

FIG. 3

, adhesive tape


28


is applied to the attachment flaps


20


and the top surface member


14


. Specifically, the tape


28


is applied along the interface line between the attachment flaps


20


and the top surface member


14


to fix these items together. As a result, the external packaging box


10


is assembled and the stack


100


is packaged within the box


10


. Therefore, transportation of goods can be carried out with the external packaging box


10


.




Further, in this arrangement, the outer surface of the stack


100


contacts the inner surface of the external packaging box


10


or faces the inner surface thereof, with a predetermined small clearance being formed therebetween. Accordingly, the stack


100


is maintained at a substantially fixed position with respect to the external packaging box


10


. Further, even when the external packaging box


10


is struck by a foreign object, photosensitive printing plates which form the stack


100


are protected from damage or deformation by the box


10


.




In the previously described embodiment, folding is only required along the bend lines


24


and


26


. As compared with the conventional packaging box


110


shown in

FIGS. 10 and 11

or the conventional packaging box


140


shown in

FIGS. 12 and 13

, the amount of folding is relatively minimal. Therefore, the external packaging box


10


can be easily assembled. Further, it is not necessary to use a device for folding, thereby resulting in reduction in cost.




Moreover, in the assembled external packaging box


10


(see FIG.


3


), only the attachment flaps


20


overlap the top surface member


14


. Therefore, it reduces the risk of incorrect folding or of the box


10


being formed into a tubular structure. In addition, a space is formed between the ends of the attachment flaps


20


(i.e., at the center of the stack top


104


), when the box


10


is folded. Namely, an overall length of each side panel


18


and its respective attachment flaps


20


extending from the base panel member


16


(L


1


+L


2


) is shorter as compared with the conventional packaging boxes


110


and


140


shown in

FIGS. 10

to


13


. Therefore, the stack


100


can be packaged by a reduced amount of corrugated fiberboard and the external packaging box


10


can be manufactured at lower cost.





FIG. 4

shows an external packaging box


40


according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5

shows a process in which the stack


100


is packaged using the external packaging box


40


.

FIG. 6

shows the box


40


after it has been assembled.




The external packaging box


40


is different from the external packaging box


10


of the previously described embodiment in the shapes/sizes of the side panels


48


and the top surface member


44


. Note that substantially identical items as those of the previously described embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and a description thereof will be omitted.




In the external packaging box


40


, the length L


3


of the side panels


48


extending from the base panel


16


is substantially equal to the height H of the stack


100


. Further, the top surface member


44


is sized to have a width W


3


substantially equal to the width W of the stack top


104


, plus twice the thickness of the top surface member


44


. The top surface member is additionally sized to have a length D


3


substantially equal to the length D of the stack top


104


, plus twice the thickness of the top surface member


44


.




When the stack


100


is packaged using the external packaging box


40


, first, in the same way as in the first embodiment, the bottom surface member


42


is provided in a planar manner (i.e., unfolded) and the stack


100


is placed on the base panel


16


of the bottom surface member


42


so that the bottom


104


of the stack


100


substantially coincides with the base panel


16


.




Next, as shown in

FIG. 5

, the bottom surface member


42


is bent or folded along the bend lines


24


and the side panels


48


are made substantially parallel to the side surfaces


106


of the stack


100


. The bottom surface member


42


is further bent or folded along the bend lines


26


so that the attachment flaps


20


are made substantially parallel to the top


104


of the stack


100


.




Then, the top surface member


44


is placed over the top surfaces of the attachment flaps


20


, such that the four sides of the top plate member


44


are substantially coincident with outer surfaces of the side panels


48


. Finally, as shown in

FIG. 6

, adhesive tape


28


is used to attach the side panels


48


and the top surface member


44


along the periphery of the top surface member


44


so that the side panels


48


and the top surface member


44


are fixed together. As a result, the external packaging box


40


is assembled with the stack


100


packaged therein. Accordingly, the external packaging box


40


can be held and transported. Further, as in the previous embodiment, when assembled, the outer surfaces of the stack


100


contact the inner surfaces of the external packaging box


40


, and therefore, the stack


100


is substantially fixed in place with respect to the external packaging box


40


. Moreover, even if a foreign object strikes the external packaging box


40


, the photosensitive printing plates which form the stack


100


are protected from damage or deformation.




In addition, as with the previous embodiment, folding is only required along the bend lines


24


and


26


when the external packaging box


40


is assembled. Thus, the packaging box


40


can be readily assembled . It is not necessary to use a device for folding, and therefore, cost is reduced. The assembled external packaging box


40


is as a whole formed in such a manner that the attachment flaps


20


only overlap with the top surface member


14


, and the length of each side panel


48


and its respective attachment flaps


20


extend from the bottom plate


16


(L


3


+L


2


) is shorter as compared with the conventional packaging boxes


11


and


140


. Accordingly, the stack


100


is externally packaged by a reduced amount of material, thereby resulting in lower manufacturing cost for the external packaging box


40


.




The areas where adhesive tape


28


is applied to the top plate member


14


(


44


) and the side panels


18


(


42


) to fix these items together is not necessarily limited to the previously described areas. For example, strips of adhesive tape


28


may be applied to cross each other substantially centrally or near the ends of the strips of the tape being applied to attachment flaps


20


or side panels


18


(


42


). In other words, when the top surface member


14


(


44


) is viewed from above, adhesive tape


28


is applied in the shape of a cross, a number sign “#”, or a grid as shown in

FIGS. 7 and 8

. In this case, the top surface member


14


(


44


) is fixed by the adhesive tape


28


in at least two places on each attachment flap


20


(that is, the strips of adhesive tape


28


are applied in the shape of a number sign “#” or a grid). Thus, an unstable state of the top surface member


14


(


44


) with respect to the attachment flaps


20


or the side panels


18


(


42


) is prevented, which is preferable from the viewpoint of adherence strength. When adhesive tape


28


is applied in the shape of a number sign “#”, for example, as shown in

FIG. 7

, the adhesive tape


28


may be applied along the interface between the attachment flaps


20


and the top surface member


14


. Alternatively, as shown in

FIG. 8

, the adhesive tape


28


need not be applied along the interface between the attachment flaps


20


and the top surface member


14


, but approximately parallel to the interface.




In the above-described external packaging boxes


10


and


40


, the attachment flaps


20


may not be necessarily required. Namely, the edges of the top surface member


14


(


44


) and the ends of the side panels


18


(


42


) can be fixed together instead, by using the adhesive tape


28


, if the attachment flaps


20


are not provided. When the attachment flaps


20


are not provided, the amount of material used for forming the external packaging box further decreases, thereby reducing manufacturing cost.




In the foregoing, the strength of the external packaging box


10


(


40


) is increased by orienting the corrugations in the sheet of corrugated fiberboard forming the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) substantially perpendicular or transverse to the direction of the corrugations in the sheet of corrugated fiberboard of the top plate member


14


(


44


) when the external packaging box


10


(


44


) is assembled. However, the respective directions of the corrugations in the sheets of corrugated fiberboard forming the bottom surface member and the top surface member are not limited to the same. Namely, so long as a predetermined strength can be maintained with the stack


100


being externally packaged by the external packaging box


10


(


40


), the respective directions of the corrugations in the sheets of corrugated fiberboard may be made parallel to each other or may cross each other than perpendicular angles.




Moreover, the relationship between the direction along which the stack


100


is located and the direction of the corrugations of the sheet of corrugated fiberboard forming the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) or the top surface member


14


(


44


) is not particularly limited. The direction of the corrugations of the corrugated fiberboard can be appropriately determined based on, for example, the strength demanded for the bottom plate member


12


(


42


) when using a corrugating machine for making corrugated fiberboard (that is, the sheet of corrugated fiberboard which forms the bottom surface member


12


(


42


)). In other words, as illustrated in each of the above-described embodiments, the strength of the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) can be increased by orienting the direction of the corrugations in the sheet of corrugated fiberboard substantially parallel to longer sides of the bottom of the stack


100


(see FIGS.


1


and


4


). On the other hand, when the direction of the corrugations of the sheet of the corrugated fiberboard is made substantially parallel to the shorter sides of the bottom of the stack


100


, the length of the corrugations of the sheet of corrugated fiberboard in a direction perpendicular to the flow direction in the corrugating machine (i.e., the transverse dimension of the sheet of corrugated fiberboard in the manufacturing process) is shorter. As a result, the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) can be manufactured by a small-size corrugating machine.




It is not necessary that the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) and the top surface member


14


(


44


) be formed by the above-described corrugated fiberboard. Any paper sufficient to protect the stack


100


from an external impact may be used, for example, cardboard, kraft paper, or a paper-made honeycomb structure material may be used. When a highly rigid material such as paper-made hard board is used for the outer layers of the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) and the top surface member


14


(


44


), from the viewpoint of protecting the stack


100


, the stack


100


can be protected more effectively so as to prevent deformation from forces of even greater impacts. Similarly, by using an elastic material such as foamed resin for the inner layers of the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) and the top surface member


14


(


42


) (wherein the inner layers contact an intermediate wrapping material which wraps the stack


100


), greater impact energy can be absorbed by elastic deformation of the elastic material and the stack


100


is protected more effectively.




Further, if cardboard or paper-made honeycomb structure material is used, a previously used external packaging box


10


(


40


) can be easily recycled or disposed of, and further, the external packaging box


10


(


40


) can be manufactured at lower cost. When cardboard is used, the strength of the box


10


can be further increased by orienting the direction of corrugations in the bottom and top surface members substantially perpendicular or orthogonal to the longer sides of the bottom of the stack


100


.




In order to increase the strength of the base panel


16


to thereby improve an entire strength of the external packaging box


10


(


40


), a reinforcing plate formed substantially in the same shape and size as the top surface member


14


(


44


) may be attached to the base panel


16


. Namely, when such a reinforcing plate is attached to the base panel


16


, the bottom panel


16


and the reinforcing plate are integrated with each other to thereby improve the strength of the base panel


16


, and further, the entire strength of the external packaging box


10


(


40


) also increases. Particularly, even when the weight of the stack


100


(goods to be packaged) is high or an area of the bottom of the stack


100


is large (in this case, since the area of the base panel


16


also becomes larger, the base panel


16


itself is subjected to greater risk of damage), the strength of the base panel


16


attached to and integrated with the reinforcing plate increases, and therefore, the risk of damage to the base panel


16


is reduced, thereby improving the strength of the packaging box


10


(


40


).




A method for attaching the reinforcing plate to the bottom plate


16


is not particularly limited. For example, adhesives such as normal paste, bond, and hot melt adhesive may be used, or a so-called double-sided adhesive tape may also be used. In any of these methods, the reinforcing plate is attached to the base panel


16


and there is little possibility of the reinforcing plate being inadvertently displaced or separated from the base panel


16


.




Concrete examples of materials used for the reinforcing plate are not particularly limited. For example, when the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) or the top surface member


14


(


44


) are formed using corrugated fiberboard, the reinforcing plate can similarly be formed using corrugated fiberboard. In addition, cardboard, kraft paper, paper-made honeycomb structure material, and the like can also be used. When any of these paper materials is used as the reinforcing plate, the direction of the corrugations of the reinforcing plate is not particularly limited. However, by orienting the direction of the corrugations of the sheet of any one of the top surface member


14


(


44


), the base panel


16


, and the reinforcing plate substantially transverse or orthogonal to the corrugations of the other items, the entire strength of the external packaging box


10


(


40


) can be further increased. Moreover, the strength of the base panel


16


integrated with the reinforcing member is further improved in such a manner that the direction of the corrugations in the base plate


16


is oriented substantially transverse that of the reinforcing plate. This is particularly preferable from the viewpoint of increasing the overall strength of the external packaging box


10


(


40


).




Although the reinforcing plate may be attached to the upper surface of the base panel


16


(the interior of the external packaging box


10


(


40


)), it may also be attached to the lower surface of the base panel


16


(the exterior of the external packaging box


10


(


40


)). When the reinforcing plate is attached to the upper surface of the base panel


16


, it is surrounded by the side panels


18


and the load of the stack


100


(goods to be packaged) is supported by the entire reinforcing plate, which is more preferable from the viewpoint of the strength of the external packaging box. Further, the periphery of the reinforcing plate is not visible from the exterior of the external packaging box


10


(


40


), which is also preferable from the viewpoint of appearance. On the other hand, when the reinforcing plate is attached to the lower surface of the base panel


16


, it can be attached even after packaging of the stack


100


in the external packaging box


10


(


40


).

FIG. 7

illustrates a reinforcing plate


29


for attachment to the bottom of the packaging box


10


(


40


).




When corrugated fiberboard is used for each of the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) and the top surface member


14


(


44


), it is preferable from the viewpoint of maintaining a uniform strength and the like that the following conditions are satisfied.




First, the most preferable type of flute of the corrugated fiberboard is a BA flute or AB flute, followed by an A flute, a C flute, and a B flute B in that order. Further, the most preferable type of liner for the front and rear liners of the corrugated fiberboard is AA liner, followed by A liner, B liner, and C liner. The basic weight of the front and rear liners is in the range of 160 to 340 g/m


2


. The most preferable type of corrugation for the corrugated fiberboard is a reinforced ruffled inner layer, followed by an A ruffled inner layer, a B ruffled inner layer, and a C ruffled inner layer, and the basic weight of the ruffled inner layer is in the range of 115 to 280 g/m


2


.




As an example, the bottom surface member


12


(


42


) and the top surface member


14


(


44


) may be formed form corrugated fiberboard of a flute A, in which kraft paper having a basic weight of 280 g/m


2


is used for the front and rear liners and semi-chemical pulp having a basic weight of 125 g/m


2


is used as the ruffled inner layer.




When a honeycomb structure material is used in place of the corrugated fiberboard, the same front liner, rear liner, and ruffled inner layer as those of the above-described corrugated fiberboard are preferably used.




Further, when cardboard is used in place of the corrugated fiberboard, the basic weight thereof is preferably in the range of 600 to 2,000 g/m


2


.




The goods to be packaged by the external packaging box of the present invention is not limited to the above-described stack


100


comprised of photosensitive printing plates. For example, the stack


100


may be composed of a wide range of general printing plates, such as heat sensitive printing plates, which can be packaged. An example of photosensitive printing plate is described below.




One example of photosensitive printing plate which can form the stack


100


is an aluminum plate of 0.3 mm×1,310 mm×1,120 mm with a photosensitive layer being applied thereto (in the case of a heat sensitive printing plate, a heat sensitive layer is applied onto the aluminum plate).




An example of interposing paper is interposing paper made form bleached kraft pulp having a basic weight of 30 to 45 g/m


2


, a density of 0.7 to 0.85 g/cm


3


, a moisture content of 4 to 6%, a Beck smoothness of 50 to 200 seconds, and a pH of 4 to 6. The obtained interposing paper is closely adhered to the above-described coating layer (photosensitive or heat sensitive layer) applied onto the aluminum plate and 10 to 100 sheets of printing plates and interposing paper are alternately superposed. Further, protective cardboard made from waste paper and having a basic weight of 400 to 1,500 g/m


2


, a density of 0.7 to 0.85 g/cm


3


, a moisture content of 4 to 8%, a Beck smoothness of 3 to 20 seconds, and a pH of 4 to 6 is disposed at each of upper and lower sides of the superposed plates and the stack


100


is thereby formed. Moreover, a kraft adhesive tape may be used to hold the facing sides of the protective cardboard and the printing plates at two places of each side so that the protective cardboard and the printing plates are fixed relative to each other. The protective cardboard is not particularly limited to the above-described type, but it is particularly preferable to use cardboard with a moisture proof layer applied onto at least one of front and rear sides thereof so as to prevent the quality of a coating film of a planographic printing plate (that is, a photosensitive layer of a photosensitive printing plate, or a heat sensitive layer of a heat sensitive printing plate) from being adversely affected by moisture content in the protective cardboard itself.




So long as the moisture proof layer is provided only on the surface of the protective cardboard facing the coating film of the planographic printing plate, it is possible to prevent the coating film from being adversely affected by moisture content in the protective cardboard itself. However, when planographic printing plates superposed with coating films being applied onto lower surfaces thereof (planographic printing plates each having coating films applied onto both surfaces thereof, or planographic printing plates superposed in such a manner that a surface of each plate with a coating film applied thereto is disposed to face downward) are provided, the protective cardboard is used in a reversed state so that the moisture proof layer faces the coating film. On the other hand, when protective cardboard with the moisture proof layers applied on both surfaces is used, it is not necessary that the protective cardboard is faced in a particular direction. Accordingly, an operation of forming the stack


100


becomes facilitated. Whichever type of protective cardboard is used, an effect obtained by providing the moisture proof layer (that is, removal of an adverse effect exerted on the coating film by moisture content in the protective cardboard itself) is exhibited irrespective of the presence of the interposing paper between the coating film of the planographic printing plate and the moisture proof layer of the protective cardboard.




Further, protective cardboard with the moisture proof layer being applied onto only one surface thereof is apt to warp in response to environmental changes, such as humidity change. However, protective cardboard with the moisture proof layers applied to both surfaces thereof is less apt to warp in response to environmental changes. Accordingly, protective cardboard with the moisture proof layers applied to both surfaces thereof is more preferably used.




The type of material for the moisture proof layer is not particularly limited. For example, low density polyethylene (LDPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE), and other various resin films each having a moisture proof effect can be used. Further, a moisture proof layer may be formed by applying a coating of a liquid-like moisture proof agent. The thickness of the moisture proof layer is not also particularly limited, but as the thickness of the moisture proof layer increases, the moisture proof effect becomes higher. For example, when low density polyethylene is used, a sufficient moisture proof effect can be obtained by a thickness in the range from 10 to 60 μm.




It is not necessary that a sheet of protective cardboard be of substantially the same size as a planographic printing plate. Namely, plural sheets of protective cardboard, each of which is smaller than the planographic printing plate are fastened together so as to be made substantially in the same size as the planographic printing plate. For example, as shown in

FIG. 9A

, two sheets of cardboard


30


of which sizes are each one half of the planographic printing plate are fastened together to form one sheet of protective cardboard having the desired dimensions. Further, as shown in

FIG. 9B

, four sheets of cardboard


32


of which sizes are each a quarter of the planographic printing paper (which are obtained by dividing the planographic printing-size paper along vertical and horizontal lines so as to form four parts of the same size) are fastened together to form one protective cardboard having the desired dimensions.




A method for fastening plural sheets of cardboard


30


or


32


together is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in

FIGS. 9A

,


9


B, and


9


C, these sheets of cardboard can be fastened together using adhesive tape


34


. In this case, for example, the adhesive tape


34


is continuously applied to a portion where respective sides of the sheets of cardboard


30


(


32


) contact each other so that the portion and the adhesive tape


34


are made parallel to each other, and the adhesive tape


34


is cut down in such a manner that vicinities of both ends of the adhesive tape


34


are each folded back to a rear surface of the cardboard


30


(


32


) (see FIG.


9


C). As a result, these sheets of cardboard can be reliably fastened together with a small amount of tape.




The kind of adhesive tape


34


is not particularly limited so long as the quality of the planographic printing plate is not adversely affected thereby. For example, a kraft adhesive tape can be used.




Further, one sheet of protective cardboard which is of the same size of the planographic printing paper, the protective cardboard which is formed by fastening together sheets of cardboard


30


or


32


shown in

FIG. 9A

or


9


B, and a protective cardboard having a moisture proof layer and an ordinary protective cardboard having no moisture proof layer can be used in arbitrary combination when necessary in consideration of dimensions of each protective cardboard or quality suitability.




An example of light proof and moisture proof paper which can be used as an intermediate wrapping (packaging) material is an aluminum kraft paper with aluminium foil of 6 μm being adhered to kraft paper having a basic weight of 85 g/m


2


by low density polyethylene of 13 μm. The stack


100


is intermediately wrapped (packaged) using the above-mentioned aluminum kraft paper and is further fixed using an adhesive tape. The light proof and moisture proof paper is not limited to the above-described example. For example, paper provided with low density polyethylene of 10 to 70 μm being adhered to the aluminium foil having the above-described structure may also be used.




When the stack


100


has the above-described shape, the length L of extension of the attachment plate


20


is preferably 200 mm or thereabouts, but is not limited to the same. Further, an example of the adhesive tape


28


is preferably a kraft adhesive tape having a transverse dimension of 75 mm or thereabouts, but is not limited to the same.




The stack


100


is also not limited to that described above. For example, the stack may have no interposing paper, and alternatively, the stack may be comprised of 1,500 superposed printing plates at the maximum with the above-described protective cardboard provided every 20 to 100 sheets, or the stack may also be comprised of 1,500 printing plates at the maximum with the protective cardboard provided only at upper and lower sides of the stack.



Claims
  • 1. A packaging box adapted to receive and package goods, the goods to be packaged including a top surface and a bottom surface, and a number of side surfaces, the packaging box comprising:a bottom surface member having a base panel formed substantially in the same shape and having substantially the same dimensions as the bottom surface of the goods to be packaged, and a plurality of side panels corresponding in number to the number of side surfaces of the goods to be packaged, each side panel extending integrally from the base panel and being substantially the same shape and having substantially the same dimensions as a corresponding one of the side surfaces of the goods to be packaged; and a top surface member formed as a single upper panel and having dimensions substantially equal to the dimensions of the top surface of the goods to be packaged, wherein the bottom surface member and the top surface member are each formed of a sheet material, the sheet material having greater strength in a first direction, and wherein when the packaging box is assembled, the first direction of the bottom surface member is substantially oriented in a direction transverse to the first direction of the top surface member.
  • 2. A packaging box according to claim 1, wherein said bottom surface member and said top surface member are each formed from a sheet of paper, with each sheet including a plurality of substantially parallel corrugations formed therein, and wherein when the packaging box is assembled, the corrugations of the top surface member are substantially oriented in a direction transverse to a direction of orientation of the corrugations of the bottom surface member.
  • 3. A packaging box according to claim 2, further comprising a reinforcing plate formed substantially in a same shape as the top surface member wherein the reinforcing plate is attached to the bottom surface member.
  • 4. A packaging box according to claim 3, wherein each side panel extends a distance from the base panel which is substantially equal to a height dimension of the goods to be packaged plus a thickness dimension of the top surface member.
  • 5. A packaging box according to claim 3, wherein each side panel extends a distance from the bottom surface member which is substantially equal to a height dimension of the goods to be packaged, plus a thickness dimension of the top surface member, plus a thickness dimension of the reinforcing plate.
  • 6. A method of packaging goods, comprising the steps of:(a) placing the goods on an interior bottom surface of a foldable box, which bottom surface has substantially the same shape and dimensions as a bottom surface of the goods; (b) placing a top surface member of the box over the goods, opposite the bottom surface, which top surface member has dimensions substantially equal to the dimensions of a top surface of the goods; (c) folding the box, the box including side panels integrally extending from the bottom surface and having substantially the same shape and dimensions as a corresponding side surface of the goods with an attachment flap integrally extending from each side panel, wherein the side panels are folded to extend towards the top surface member, and the attachment flaps are folded to a position which is substantially parallel to the top surface member; and (d) fixing the attachment flaps to the top surface member.
  • 7. A method for packaging goods according to claim 6, wherein the top and bottom surface members are each stronger in a predetermined direction, the method further comprising the step of orienting the top surface member such that it is placed over the goods with the predetermined direction of the top surface member being substantially transverse to the predetermined direction of the bottom surface member.
  • 8. A method for packaging goods according to claim 7, further comprising the step of attaching a reinforcing plate, formed substantially in a same shape as the top surface member, to the bottom surface member.
  • 9. A method for packaging goods according claim 8, wherein the reinforcing plate is stronger in the predetermined direction, further comprising the step of orienting the reinforcing plate such that the predetermined direction thereof is substantially transverse to the predetermined direction in the bottom surface member.
  • 10. A method of packaging goods according to claim 6, wherein the attachment flap integrally extending from each side panel has beveled corners, and wherein the fixing step joins the beveled corners.
Priority Claims (2)
Number Date Country Kind
10-362719 Dec 1998 JP
11-231546 Aug 1999 JP
US Referenced Citations (7)
Number Name Date Kind
385451 Ellis Jul 1888
2549682 Grossniklaus Apr 1951
2742145 Blackburn et al. Apr 1956
3227354 Gunyou Jan 1966
3598233 Jasinover Aug 1971
3622063 McVeigh Nov 1971
4314638 Gordon et al. Feb 1982
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number Date Country
57-38150 Aug 1982 JP
10-16946 Jan 1998 JP