Patent Application
20200079563
The invention relates to the field of packaging of packs comprising cups grouped one on top of the other using cardboard package.
More specifically the object of the invention is a separator element for a package for a pack.
Packs comprising a cardboard blank forming a package for at least two layers of cups are known. The top cups from the upper layer rest by the bottom walls thereof on the closures of the bottom cups from the lower layer. The upper layer is therefore supported by the lower layer.
However such packs are not entirely satisfactory.
In particular, in such packs, the top cups are not sufficiently well held in case of abrupt movement in the package. The consequence of this is a poor hold which could lead to a movement of the top cups relative to the bottom cups, and possibly a separation of the pack.
For this purpose, separator elements are known. Such separators comprise holding elements respectively arranged partially around lateral walls of the top cups near the bottom walls thereof. The top cups are thus spaced and braced between each other, and less likely to move relative to the bottom cups. The document FR 2,684,078 describes an example of such a separator element.
However the separator elements are not entirely satisfactory.
In particular the separator elements are not robust enough such that a too sudden movement of the pack is likely to break down the holding elements of the intermediate element and then make it inoperable. Further, the cups are not sufficiently, and in particular equivalently, held in all directions.
The invention thus targets getting a separator element and, more generally, a package for a pack, wherein the top cups are held satisfactorily relative to the bottom cups.
Thus, the invention relates to a flat cardboard separator element intended to hold cups in a pack, where the pack comprises bottom cups from a lower layer and top cups from an upper layer and where the separator element comprises at least one first side-panel, one central-panel and one second side-panel. Further:
Because of these arrangements, the top cups are held satisfactorily. In particular, the fact of having second openings away from the central-panel allows the first openings to surround the lateral walls of the top cups with a separation relative to the bottom walls thereof, once the separator element is shaped. Thus the top cups are held particularly well.
According to an embodiment, each second opening is delimited by at least one first cut-line and one second cut-line, where the first cut-line is suited and intended to come to stop against a bottom cup.
According to another implementation, the first and second side-panels are identical to each other.
According to another implementation, the first side-panel, the central-panel and the second side-panel are arranged one after the other along the longitudinal direction.
According to another implementation, the first and second side-panels can thus swing about the central-panel respectively along the fold lines extending along the transverse direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
The invention also relates to a pack comprising:
According to an implementation, the central-panel of the separator element is raised for a separation relative to the lower cups.
According to another implementation, each first opening of the separator element completely surrounds the lateral wall of one top cup.
Thus, the cups are held whatever the direction of movement of the pack.
According to another implementation, each first opening of the separator element is suited and intended to stop one top cup on the lateral wall thereof, near the bottom wall thereof.
According to another implementation, the package also comprises an expanded blank for surrounding the bottom cups and the top cups.
According to another embodiment, the separator element is shaped by folding the first and second side-panels about the central-panel; the blank holds the shaped separator element.
Thus, the separator element is held in shape by the blank, in this way it can be avoided that the separator element cannot be moved once the pack is formed.
Finally, the invention relates to a method for forming a pack, wherein:
The various implementations of the invention which were just described may be implemented independently of each other or in combination.
Now the figures of drawings are going to be described briefly.
The invention relates to a flat, cardboard separator element 1 intended to hold the cups 2 of a pack 20, such as shown in
“Separator” is understood to mean that the element 1 is suited and intended to be arranged at or near the junction of the two layers of cups 2 of the pack 20.
“Cardboard” must be understood to be a material in a layer such as commonly used or suited for the indicated purpose. Such cardboard cannot be either too rigid or too flexible. It must be able to be folded in the area of fold lines, or score-lines and/or cut-lines, provided for that purpose.
By “flat,” it must be understood that the blank 1 is deployed so as to be at least substantially in one single plane P.
The term “pack” must be understood as meaning a lot formed of several cups 2 presented grouped in superposed layers in longitudinal rows and/or transverse rows, in a package, in order to form a unitary assembly, intended to be stored, handled, moved, displayed for sale and sold as such.
A cup 2 comprises a bottom wall 3a, a lateral wall closed on itself 3b and an opening opposite the bottom wall 3a with top closure 4.
In an implementation, a cup 2 has the shape of a cylinder or conic frustum and comprises a transverse collar 5 near the upper opening thereof, and the top closure 4 is a flat lid securely joined to and on the collar 5. In other embodiments, the generatrix of the lateral wall 3b is a line different than a straight line, having a more or less complex shape, and the directing shape is other than a circle, for example being a rectilinear square with rounded corners. Such a cup 2 can remain upright by resting on the base-forming bottom wall 3a thereof.
Depending on the case, the cups 2 are individualized or else they are connected to each other, for example by the collars 5 thereof, so as to form a plate of cups 2. In the context of the invention, the cups 2 are similar and more specifically identical, and they are filled with some content, identical or not for the various cups 2, and closed.
In an embodiment, a cup 2 is made of thermoformed plastic and it has a certain resistance allowing it to be self-supporting, but the cup can be made in other materials and by other means.
A cup 2 is typically intended to contain a content which is homogeneous or not, and which has a more or less fluid overall state, without however excluding the presence of more or less solid pieces. Such a content is a dairy product or a dessert, for example; however this list is not limiting.
In an implementation, the cup 2 is intended to receive a quantity of such a content for individual and unit use, for example of order 100 g and, in that case, it can have a height of order a few centimeters and fall laterally within a cylinder whose diameter is also of order of a few centimeters. In other implementations, the cup 2, intended to receive a mini-quantity, is smaller or, in contrast, intended for a larger quantity, is larger.
In the plane P, relative to the flat separator element 1, a longitudinal direction L and a transverse direction T, mutually perpendicular, can be defined as can a direction Z perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the plane P.
The separator element 1 has a generally rectangular shape and it is delimited by two free edges 6 in the longitudinal direction and by two free edges 7 in the transverse direction T. The longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T cross perpendicularly to each other at a point 0 in the center of the separator element 1.
The separator element 1 comprises, arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction, and between the two free edges 6, a first side-panel 8, a central-panel 9 and a second side-panel 10.
“Panel” must be understood to mean a layer-shaped flat part, of cardboard in this case, delimited by a border comprising fold lines, such as score-lines and/or cut-lines.
The separator element 1 is preferably such that the two side-panels 8, 10 are identical to each other.
The separator element 1 also comprises fold lines, such as score-lines in transverse direction T. Score-lines are well known in the field of packaging and cardboard and allow relative folding of two adjacent panels at a predefined location. Such score-lines are formed by use of a scoring tool. It is understood that the expression “score-line” must be the most broadly understood as meaning that the line is suited and intended for relative folding of two adjacent panels.
More specifically, the separator element 1 comprises two fold-lines 11, 12 respectively between the central-panel 9 and the two side-panels 8, 10.
Advantageously, the two fold-lines 11, 12 are dashed cut-lines. “Dashed cut-line” must be understood to mean that on the line, the cardboard is regularly and alternately cut all the way through and then not cut, and so on, so as to create a mixed line.
The two side-panels 8, 10 can thus swing about the central-panel 9 along the fold lines 11, 12, which are advantageously parallel to each other. These two fold-lines 11, 12 are thus suited and intended for relative folding of the side-panels 8, 10 about the central-panel 9 for shaping the separator element 1. Once the separator element is shaped, the two side-panels 8, 10 form an angle α with the central-panel 9, with the angle is in particular obtuse, for example of order 120°, as shown in
The central-panel 9 comprises first openings 13, that advantageously pass through.
Each first opening 13 is suited and intended to come surround the lateral wall 3b of a cup 2, in particular near the bottom wall 3a thereof once the pack 20 is formed.
Each first opening 13 advantageously has a circular shape, or more generally a shape corresponding to the section shape of a lateral wall 3b of the cup 2. Each first opening 13 is however slightly larger than the lateral wall 3b of a cup 2, in particular near the bottom wall 3a thereof, such that one cup can be arranged in a first opening 13, while leaving a space E between the separator element 1 and the lateral wall 3b of the cup 2 arranged in the first opening 13, shown in
The side-panels 8, 10 also comprise second openings 14, advantageously passing through.
Each second opening 14 is suited and intended to come into contact, for example by butting, with the top closure 4 of a cup 2, in particular near the collar 5 thereof once the pack 20 is formed.
For this purpose, each second opening 14 of the side-panel 8, 10 is spaced from the central-panel 9 by a distance D along the longitudinal direction L. More specifically, each second opening 14 of the side-panel 8, 10 is spaced a distance D from the fold line 11, 12 allowing the respective swinging of the side-panel 8, 10 relative to the central-panel 9.
Each second opening 14 can be delimited by a first cut-line 15 and a second cut-line 16.
The first cut-line 15 is straight or substantially straight. The first cut-line 15 is more specifically suited for coming into contact, advantageously over substantially the entire length thereof, with the closure 4 of a cup 2. The second cut-line 16 is a circular arc. Alternatively, the second cut-line 16 can take other shapes.
The separator element 1 is symmetric or substantially symmetric by axial rotation around the Z direction.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the separator element 1 comprises four first openings 13 and four second openings 14.
The four first openings 13 are arranged side-by-side and facing, on the central-panel 9. The second openings 14 are arranged on the side-panels 8, 10. More specifically, two second openings 14 are arranged, advantageously side-by-side along the transverse direction T on the side-panel 8, and two other second openings 14 are arranged, advantageously side-by-side along the transverse direction T on the other side-panel 10.
The separator element 1 is suited and intended to make, with one blank 30, a package 40 for a pack of cups 20, where the pack 20 comprises the cups 2 and the package 40.
A flat cardboard blank 30 (the terms “cardboard” and “flat” being understood as before) is intended for implementation of the package 40.
The package 40 made in particular by the blank 30 is a tubular envelope type and is made by expanding the blank 30 and closing it on itself in order to match the cups 2 of the pack 20 which are thus held grouped.
By “tubular envelope”, it must be understood that the package 40 has six total surfaces and has a general parallelepiped shape, comprising four adjacent surfaces closed on themselves and two facing open surfaces.
As shown in
The blank 30 is such that the two lateral-panels 32a and 32b have the same dimensions.
The first top-panel 31a is relatively wide, intended to form the entirety of the surface of one top wall 34, whereas the second top-panel 31b is relatively narrower, like a flap, able to come to the back of the first top-panel 31a. Such an implementation can comprise a means for securing between the first top-panel 31a and the second top-panel 31b, such as tabs, notches or an adhesive for securing.
The blank 30 also comprises fold-lines, such as score-lines. These lines are suited and intended for relative folding of the panels 31a, 32a, 33, 32b for expanding the blank 30, implementation of the package 40 and forming the pack 20.
More specifically, the blank 30 comprises two bottom score-lines 35a, 35b between the bottom-panel 33 and the two lateral-panels 32a, 32b, and two top score-lines 36a, 36b between the two top-panels 31a, 31b and the two lateral-panels 32a, 32b.
The package 40 for the pack 20 is formed by expanding the blank 30 and shaping the separator element 1.
The pack 20 comprises at least two layers of cups, one upper layer comprising the top cups 2b and the lower layer comprising the bottom cups 2a. The qualification “bottom cup 2a” thus seeks to distinguish one such cup from another cup in the pack 20, specifically a “top cup 2b” from the upper layer. The bottom cups 2a from the lower layer and the top cups 2b from the upper layer are advantageously identical to each other.
Just the same, more generally, the invention also targets any pack 20 comprising at least two layers of cups, or more. The pack 20 may comprise three or an even larger number of layers of cups (not shown), having several upper layers of cups and one or several separator elements 1, in particular for each of the upper layers of the pack 20.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the lower and upper layers of the pack 20 each comprise four cups arranged side-by-side and facing.
Just the same, more generally, the invention also targets a pack 20 in which the layers of cups comprise a more-or-less larger number of cups 2, and also a variable arrangement of cups in an upper or lower layer.
The invention also relates to a method for implementation of the package 40 and forming the pack 20.
For this method, a flat separator element 1, a flat blank, bottom cups 2a and top cups 2b intended to be part of the pack 20 are available.
Successively or simultaneously, the bottom cups 2a are arranged on the bottom-panel 33 of the blank 30. The separator element 1 is arranged on the lower layer of bottom cups 2a, as shown in
Each top cup 2b is advantageously arranged plumb with the bottom cup 2a. More precisely, each top cup 2b is centered on a bottom cup 2a.
Each top cup 2b is also arranged in a first opening 13 of the separator element 1.
The separator element 1 is formed by folding of the two side-panels 8, 10 along two score-lines 11, 12, about the central-panel 9.
Then the blank 30 is expanded around the cups 2 of the pack 20 by folding of the lateral-panels 32a, 32b, along two bottom score-lines 35a, 35b.
Alternatively, the shaping of the separator element 1 can be done during expanding the blank 30, where the lateral-panels 32a, 32b then come to exert a force on the side-panels 8, 10 of the separator element 1 in order to drive the folding of the side-panels 8, 10 about the central-panel 9.
During shaping of the separator element 1, the second openings 14 come respectively to stop against the openings 4 of the bottom cup 2a, in particular near the collars 5 thereof. More specifically, a part of the collar 5 of the bottom cups 2a is inserted into the second openings 14 and the second cut-line 15 then comes into contact with the closure 4 of the bottom cups 2a.
Expanding the blank 30 around the cups 2 of the pack 20 is also finished by folding both lateral-panels 32a, 32b along the two top score-lines 36a, 36b.
Both top-panels 31a and 31b are arranged so as to be coplanar, for example one on the other, and secured to each other so as to close the blank 1 on itself, to form the top wall 34, by using the securing means, and to make the package 40 surrounding the cups 2 of the pack 20.
In the pack 20 thus formed and the package 40 thus made, the blank 30 is then arranged around the cups 2. More specifically, the two lateral-panels 32aa, 32bb are raised, upward, relative to the plane of the bottom-panel 33 and form an angle therewith that is in particular obtuse. The lateral-panels 32a, 32b, extend up to the top wall 34. The top wall 34 is arranged above and plumb with the bottom-panel 33.
The blank 30 serves to hold the shaped spacer element 1, in particular because of the lateral-panels 32a, 32b which come to exert a force on the side-panels 8, 10 of the spacer element 1.
In such a pack 20, the spacer element 1 is arranged between, and advantageously parallel to, the bottom-panel 33 and the top wall 34.
Such a pack 20 and such a package 40 are illustrated by
In the case of a pack 20 having more than two layers of cups, the package 40 is, overall, similar to that of a pack 20 with two layers of cups, except, first, that the dimension thereof is larger so as to be suited to the number of layers.
The separator element 1 is adapted so that each first opening 13 is arranged around a top cup 2b of the upper layer. Further, the separator element 1 is adapted such that each second opening 14 is in contact with, advantageously against, a bottom cup 2a of the lower layer.
The top cups 2b are respectively arranged in the first openings 13 of the separator element 1, so as to provide spacing and bracing of these top cups 2b near the bottom walls 3a thereof. The first openings 13 are thus intended to stop the top cups 2b on the lateral walls 3b thereof near the bottom walls 3a thereof.
“Stop the top cups 2b on the lateral walls 3b thereof” must be understood to mean that in the pack 20, the top cups 2b are prevented, at least to some extent, from moving (unexpectedly) relative to the package 40 and/or to the bottom cups 2a, or from bumping each other, because the movement of the lateral wall 3b of each top cup 2b is adjacent to a first opening 13, in particular spaced by a limited space E. The top cups 2b are thus held in all directions, in particular in the longitudinal direction L and the transverse direction T of the separator element 1.
Stop the top cups 2b on the lateral walls 3b thereof “near the bottom wall 3a thereof” must be understood to mean that the separator element 1, and in particular the first openings 13, are separated from the bottom wall 3a of the top cups 2b by a separation H.
More specifically, because in particular of the distance D separating the second openings 14 of the central-panel 9, the separator element 1 is suited and intended to allow the separation H between the central-panel 10 and the bottom wall 3a of the top cups 2b or the closure 4 of the bottom cups 2a (because the top cups 2b rest on the bottom walls 3a thereof on the closures 4 of the bottom cups 2a).
Because of the separation H, it is possible to satisfactorily keep the top cups in the pack 20. In fact, without separation, the top cups 2b could otherwise easily leave the first openings 13 during a sudden movement of the pack 20.
The separation H is relatively small compared to the distance between the bottom walls 3a and the top closure 5 of a cup 2. The separation H is more than 0.5 cm, or even more than 1 cm or even more than 2 cm. Since this implementation however is not limiting, the separation H can be smaller or larger.
Since the first openings 13 are specific to stopping the top cups 2b, as was just disclosed, they participate in that, in the pack 20, the top cups 2b may not, or may only slightly, move unexpectedly or bump into each other.
The pack 20 can further comprise slits or cuts 21, 22 to allow the collar 5 of the top cups 2b or even the bottom walls 3a of the bottom cups 2a to extend outward from the pack 20.
Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiments previously described and provided solely as examples. It encompasses various modifications, alternate shapes and other variance which the person skilled in the art may consider in the context of the present invention and in particular all combinations of the various modes of operation previously described can be taken separately or in combination.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 58104 | Sep 2018 | FR | national |
