Patent Application
20240409290
The present disclosure pertains to the field of packaging, specifically to the packaging trays with enhanced structural integrity and improved handling during the packaging process.
Blister packs are a type of packaging commonly used to contain and protect products. They are made by forming a cavity or pocket from a formable web, usually a thermoformed plastic, which is then sealed to a backing material such as paperboard.
The use of plastic materials can be a concern for environmental sustainability. Efforts are being made to develop recyclable and biodegradable blister pack materials. Blister packaging can be more expensive than other types of packaging due to the materials and manufacturing processes involved.
Paperboard blister packs offer several advantages compared to plastic blister packs, particularly in terms of environmental impact and consumer appeal. Paperboard is made from wood pulp, a renewable resource, making it more sustainable than petroleum-based plastics. Paperboard is biodegradable, which means it breaks down more easily in the environment, reducing long-term waste. Paperboard is widely recyclable, and many recycling facilities accept it, making it easier to recycle than some types of plastic.
However, paperboard blister packs may suffer by comparison in terms of structural strength. Paperboard is less durable than plastic, and it can tear or crush more easily during handling and transportation, potentially damaging the product inside.
Designing and manufacturing blister packs with paperboard components can be more complex and may require specialized machinery and techniques. Additionally, achieving a strong and consistent seal between the paperboard and the blister can be challenging, which might lead to issues with tamper evidence and product protection. Using reinforced paperboard or incorporating additional structural elements can improve the strength and resilience of the packaging. Further, designing the blister pack with reinforced edges and corners can help improve its overall strength and prevent tearing or crushing.
For purposes of summary, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. It is to be understood that not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any one particular embodiment. Thus, the apparatuses or methods claimed may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
In one aspect, a package for containing a product includes a face card and a tray sealed to a rear surface of the face card, The tray includes a rectangular bottom portion, opposing side walls extending from respective sides of the bottom portion, first and second side flanges extending from outer edges of the side walls, and opposing end walls extending from respective ends of the bottom portion. In this tray, each end wall is configured with opposing lateral edges and opposing corner flaps extending from those lateral edges. First and second end flanges extend from outer edges of the end walls and are adhered to respective side flanges. The corner flaps are adhered to respective surfaces of the opposing side walls.
In one embodiment, the tray defines a rectangular prism, while in another embodiment, the tray defines a truncated pyramid. In yet another embodiment, where the tray is a truncated pyramid, the corners of the tray deviate from perpendicular by 20 degrees, 15 degrees, or 10 degrees.
Another feature disclosed herein is a method for forming packaging tray where the tray comprises the elements described above. The method may comprise the steps of folding tray end walls toward the tray interior, folding end flanges away from the tray interior, and then folding the corner flaps toward the tray interior. Next, the side walls are folded toward the interior and the side flanges are folded away from the tray interior. Lastly, the corner flaps are adhered to respective side walls while the end flanges are adhered to respective side flanges.
The disclosed apparatus and method are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears.
The various embodiments of the paper board blister pack and method, and their advantages, are best understood by referring to
Furthermore, reference in the specification to “an embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “various embodiments,” or any variant thereof means that a particular feature or aspect described in conjunction with the particular embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in another embodiment,” or variations thereof in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to its respective embodiment.
The term “fold line” as used herein may refer to a fold line, a score line, an ablated channel or multiple parallel fold lines, score lines or ablated channels in close proximity so as to function as a fold line.
Referring first to
Side flanges 307a, b extend alongside flange fold lines 304a, b and comprise side flange tabs 315a-d that extend beyond the edges of side walls 305a, b. Similarly, end flanges 309a, b extend along end flange fold lines 308a, b and comprise tabs 313a-d that extend beyond corner flap fold lines 310a-d. The respective sides of the end walls 303a, b comprise corner flap fold lines 310a-d that demarcate between end walls 303a, b and corner flaps 311a-d. Each corner flap 311a-d includes an angled free edge 312a-d traversing from the ends of end flange fold lines 308a-b angling away from end flange 309a, b. Angled free edge 312a-d transitions or an arcuate free edge 314a-d.
Referring to
It will be appreciated having corner flaps that are adhered to the interior side walls provides better strength and alignment to the paper blister flange corners. Second, when a stack of these paper blister assemblies is loaded into a feeding magazine on a typical heat seal machine, they will have a good feed rate without misfeeds/or nonfeed/or double feed of the paper blister assembly.
Then, in the forming process, tray blank 300 is held horizontally with tray bottom 301 against the die. The apparatus further comprises a pair of end wall blocks 503a, b and arms 505a, b. Forming block 501 travels downward pressing tray blank 300 into the end wall blocks 503a, b which urges the end walls 303a, b upward away from tray bottom 301 (
As described above and shown in the associated drawings, the present invention comprises a paper board blister pack with closed corners and manufacturing method. While particular embodiments have been described, it will be understood, however, that any invention appertaining to the apparatus/system/method described is not limited thereto, since modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing teachings. It is, therefore, contemplated by the appended claims to cover any such modifications that incorporate those features or those improvements that embody the spirit and scope of the invention.
This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/506,562, filed Jun. 6, 2023, and entitled “Paper Board Blister Pack With Closed Corners And Manufacturing Method,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63506562 | Jun 2023 | US |
