EP2277785B1 - Packaging, method and blank for its manufacture - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a packaging made of a foldable material having a bottom and side walls, wherein at least one side wall at least partially from at least two superimposed layers, namely an inner layer and an outer layer, the foldable material is formed and in this side wall a stiffening rib of the foldable Material is provided. This packaging is from a prefabricated delivery state in which the side walls forming portions of the foldable material and possibly the bottom are arranged approximately parallel to each other, erectable in a use state in which the side walls and possibly the bottom, for example, are aligned perpendicular to each other. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method and a blank for producing such a package.

Packages made of a foldable material, such as cardboard, cardboard or corrugated cardboard, are known for various fields of application. For reasons of cost and efficiency, in addition to packaging which can be produced manually from one or more blanks, machine-erectable packaging also exists. These are prefabricated by the manufacturer of the packaging by the individual components of the packaging are cut or punched and possibly glued together. In this state, the side walls, a bottom and / or a cover forming elements side by side and / or one above the other, so that the packaging assumes a flat state of delivery, which allows a space-saving transport and the intermediate storage of not yet filled packaging. Before filling the packaging, this is then preferably erected mechanically, ie brought into a state of use, which allows filling and possibly closing.

In particular, in stackable packaging, the side walls must be able to partially accommodate the load of overlying packaging. For this purpose, it is known to provide stiffening ribs or the like. Stacking corners, which often have a triangular in cross-section shape and from a region of the side wall and two angled thereto extending tabs or the like. Are formed. These tabs are usually glued firmly to the side wall or fixed in another suitable manner. If this occurs only when erecting the packaging, this leads to an additional step, which is undesirable for packagers of packaging. On the other hand, prior formation of such stiffening ribs may result in more space being put on the package in the prefabricated delivery condition or damage to the stiffening ribs or other elements of the package during shipping or storage.

From the FR 2 837 466 a package is known in which forms a stiffening corner during erection of the package.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a package of the aforementioned type and a method and a blank for this, which allow the most automatic possible erection of a stiffening rib. The focus here is on easy handling, quick erection and nevertheless good stability.

This object is achieved with a package according to claim 1. Here, the superimposed layers of the foldable material are formed and arranged such that the stiffening rib forming portions of the inner layer erect when erecting the package to form the stiffening rib. In other words, the stiffening rib in the prefabricated delivery state is not yet in its final, stiffening effecting position, but the elements forming the stiffening rib are transferred to this position during the erection of the packaging. However, according to the invention, this does not take place in a separate working step, but virtually automatically during the erection of the packaging, The invention is based on the idea that during the erection of a package adjacent side walls are transferred from an up or adjacent position in an angled position to each other. This process can be used for a relative movement of the elements forming the stiffening rib, so that the stiffening rib is formed automatically during the erection of the packaging.

The present invention will be described with reference to a package or a package. However, the term packaging in this case is not to be understood as limiting the inventive principle of erecting a stiffening rib or a stability or stacking corner to other products made of foldable material, for example pallets, displays, furniture or the like. if, during the production of these devices, a pivoting of two mutually adjacent side walls takes place. In this context, the term side walls should not be construed restrictively, so the mutually pivotable elements, for example, in a display and display surfaces or the like. Be.

The automatic erection of the stiffening rib according to the invention is achieved in that the stiffening rib is associated with a lever mechanism that straightens the stiffening rib forming portions of the inner layer when erecting the package. This lever mechanism may comprise one or more latches which can be displaced to the outer layer.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the stiffening rib (or stile corner or stacking corner) is formed by a portion of the outer layer of the foldable material and two portions of the inner layer of the foldable material, wherein the portions of the inner layer with the portion of the outer layer in the upright Condition of use of the packaging to form a triangle.

The pivoting of side walls or the like. Can then be particularly easy to use by means of the lever mechanism 'for automatic erection of a stiffening rib, if the inner layer partially fixed to the outer layer, for example. Glued or secured with brackets, and partially not fixed to the outer Location is connected. So there are areas of the inner layer, which are firmly connected to the outer layer, so that when pivoting two tabs of the outer layer, the not connected to this outer layer tabs of the inner layer can perform a relative movement to the outer layer.

In a further development of this idea, it is provided that a first area fixed to the outer layer is provided adjacent to one of the two inner sections of the stiffening rib, and another in the side wall adjacent to the side wall in which the stiffening rib is provided fixed area is provided.

According to the invention, a sliding element which can be displaced to the outer layer is provided between the lever mechanism and the two sections of the stiffening rib. Here, it is particularly preferred if the sliding element is associated with a partially fixedly connected to the outer layer guide tab which engages over the sliding element in the prefabricated state of delivery and performs parallel to the outer layer displaceable.

In order to ensure that the stiffening rib is not folded up again due to loads in the erected state, the sliding element and the side walls are dimensioned and arranged such that the sliding element is supported in the use state with an end face on the adjacent to the side wall with the stiffening rib sidewall. The sliding element is thus fixed by this adjacent side wall in a position in which the stiffening rib is erected.

The object underlying the invention is further achieved by a method according to claim 8 for the production of a device, for example. A package of the type mentioned above.

The inventive method makes it possible to erect a stacking corner, stiffening rib or the like. In a device made of a foldable material automatically characterized in that two elements, for example. Side wall tabs or the like. Of this device are pivoted to each other during erection. The formation of a stiffening rib, stacking corner, stability corner or the like. Thus, does not take place by gluing or the like. Fixing the stiffening rib forming elements during Vorkonfektionierens or during erection, but only by pivoting the side wall flaps or the like, wherein the stiffening rib is held in its erected state.

According to the invention, a guide tab is partially fixed to one of the side wall flaps between steps b) and c), to move with a free end during step c) acting as a sliding element, not fixed to the side wall flaps sliding element tab slidably.

The method according to the invention may be a method that is essentially manual as well as a partially or completely machine-executable method.

The object underlying the invention is also achieved by an example. One-piece blank made of a foldable material having a first and a second side wall flap, which are pivotally connected to each other. In this case, the first side wall tab is connected via a bending line with an unfoldable on this inner wall strap, to which in turn two stiffening tabs, a sliding element tab, at least one lever tab or bending line and another inner wall tab are hinged. In addition, a guide lug is hinged to the first side wall tabs via a bending line, which can be brought by folding on the first side wall tab in a sliding element tab partially cross-layer. Of course, further tabs for forming a bottom, a lid, further side walls and / or further stiffening ribs may be provided in one piece or as separate blanks. In addition, the two side wall tabs on the one hand and the inner wall tabs, the stiffening tabs, the sliding element tab and the at least one lever tab on the other hand can also be formed from separate blanks. However, it is preferred if these are made of a one-piece blank.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment with reference to the drawing.

Fig. 1

in Perspektivansicht eine Verpackung in ihrem aufgerichteten Verwendungszustand nach einer ersten Ausführungsform der Erfindung,

Fig. 2

einen einstückigen Zuschnitt zur Herstellung der Verpackung nach Fig. 1

Fig. 3a bis 3f

verschiedene Schritte der Herstellung einer Verpackung nach Fig. 1 aus einem Zuschnitt nach Fig. 2 und

Fig. 4

einen einstückigen Zuschnitt zur Herstellung einer Verpackung nach einer zweiten Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

They show schematically:

Fig. 1

in perspective view a packaging in its erected state of use according to a first embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 2

a one-piece blank for the preparation of the packaging Fig. 1

Fig. 3a to 3f

various steps in the manufacture of a package Fig. 1 from a blank to Fig. 2 and

Fig. 4

an integral blank for producing a package according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In the Fig. 1 The packaging shown is designed as a tray, ie as a packaging with side walls and a bottom. This package may have a lid, which is not shown for reasons of clarity in the present case. In the illustrated embodiment, the packaging is after Fig. 1 made of corrugated cardboard and is made of a one-piece blank 1, which in Fig. 2 is shown.

This blank 1 has a bottom flap 2, at the edges of which bending lines (Riller) side wall flaps 3, 4 and 5 are pivotally hinged. The longitudinal side forming side wall tabs 3 are hereinafter also referred to as the first side wall tabs. Next is a back plate 4 and a Front flap provided as additional side panels. At the first side wall flaps 3, second side wall flaps 6a, 6b are each articulated via bending lines, which in the illustrated embodiment can be crimped into the rear wall flap 4 or the front flap 5 in order to form the corner connection between the individual side walls. Even if the second side wall tabs 6a, 6b are received in the erected state between the two layers of the back wall flap 4 and the front flap 5, the second side wall tabs 6a, 6b are also referred to as outer side wall tabs 6a, 6b.

Among other things, in order to improve the rigidity of the packaging, the side walls are essentially two-layered, in some areas also three-layered. Thus, a first inner wall flap 7 is provided on each of the first side wall flaps 3, which can be unfolded onto the first side wall flap 3 connected thereto. At each first inner wall flap 7, two stiffening tabs 8a and 8b, a sliding element tab 9, lever tabs 10a, 10b and a second inner wall tab 11 are successively articulated. The two stiffening tabs 8a, 8b, together with their associated first side wall tab 3 in the erected state of the packaging a stiffening rib or stacking corner.

As in Fig. 4 may differ from the embodiment of the Fig. 1 to 3 instead of the two lever flaps 10a, 10b, a bending line 10c may be provided which has the same function explained in more detail below, like the lever flaps. This bending line 10c is preferably introduced from the outside, ie from the bottom in Fig. 4 when the top of the flap 2 forms the side of the bottom facing the goods to be packaged.

Furthermore, a guide lug 12 is articulated on each first side wall flap 3 via a bending line running obliquely in the illustrated embodiment, which when unfolding on the respective first side wall flap 3, the sliding element tab 9 partially overlaps. In principle, the guide tab 12 can also have a not as in Fig. 2 shown obliquely, but straight bending line are hinged to the first side wall strap 3.

To improve the stackability of the package stacking projections 13 and corresponding Stapelausnehmungen 14 are provided in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the stacking projections 13 and stacking recesses 14 are arranged so that identical packaging can be stacked in alignment. In principle, however, it is also possible to arrange the stacking projections 13 and the stacking recesses 14 in such a way that packages can be stacked in a step-like manner. The rigidity of the side walls of the package can be further increased by hinged to the first inner wall flap 7 corner flaps 15.

The function of the elements described above will be described below with reference to FIGS Fig. 3a to 3f explained in more detail. For reasons of clarity, only a first side wall strap 3 with the two second side wall straps 6a, 6b hinged thereto and the first inner wall strap 7 with the further straps 8a, 8b, 9, 10a, 10b, 11 and 15 hinged thereto are shown in these.

The Fig. 3a corresponds to a section of Fig. 2 and shows a portion of the still lying flat punched blank 1. To produce a package or the like. First, the first inner wall flap 7 is folded onto the first side wall flap 3, wherein also hinged to the first inner wall flap 7 further tabs on the first side wall tab 3 and be folded at this hinged second side wall tabs 6a, 6b. This forms in Fig. 3b recognizable stacking projections 13 from. In this state, the first inner wall flap 7 is adhered to the first side wall tab 3 or fixed in another suitable manner. In the same way, the second inner wall flap 11 is fixed on the second side wall flap 6a. The two stiffening tabs 8a, 8b, the sliding element tab 9 and the two lever tabs 10a, 10b lie only on the first side wall tab 3 and the second side wall tab 6a.

Fig. 3c shows how the guide tab 12 is unfolded on the first side wall tab 3 and glued to this in the vicinity of the oblique bending line or otherwise secured. The free end 12a of the guide plate 12 is not glued to the first side wall tab 3 and overlaps the sliding element tab 9 partially. In principle, however, it is also possible to design the guide plate 12 in such a way that the sliding element tab 9 is completely overlapped.

In Fig. 4 the according to claims 8 and 9 according to the invention guide tab 12 is not shown.

The Fig. 3d and 3e now show how first the second side wall tab 6a is pivoted to the first side wall tab 3. The completely tilted state is in Fig. 3e shown. Since the first inner wall flap 7 and the second inner wall flap 11 are fixed to the first side wall flap 3 and the second side wall flap 6a respectively, in this pivoting of the first and second side wall flaps, the one between the first and second inner wall flaps is fixed to the outer side wall flaps Area crunched. The guide plate 12 prevents the sliding element tab 9 from lifting off the first side wall tab 3. The sliding element tab 9 can thus perform only a pure sliding movement parallel to the side wall flap 3. This causes the two lever flaps 10a and 10b to tilt and also align the two stiffening tabs 8a and 8b at an angle to each other, so that these form with the first side wall tab 3 a triangular in cross-section stiffening rib.

The geometry of the lever tabs 10a and 10b and the sliding element tab 9 is selected such that an end face 9a of the sliding element tab 9 arranged between the two lever tabs 10a, 10b bears against the second side wall tab 6a. Thus, the two stiffening tabs 8a and 8b can not move back back into their lying flat on the first side wall tab 3 position. The stiffening rib is stabilized and held in this manner, without the need for a gluing or the like. Would be required.

Fig. 3f Finally, Figure 2 shows how the second side wall flap 6b is folded down when erected relative to the first side wall flap 3. Here, the corner plate 15 is pivoted and thus contributes in addition to the stabilization and stiffening of the package.

In the illustrated embodiments, the stiffening rib is formed with a substantially triangular cross-section of the tabs 8 a, 8 b and 3. In principle, however, a stiffening rib according to the invention can also assume other geometric cross-sectional shapes, in particular a quadrangle or a trapezoid. In this case, one or more additional tabs may be provided to form the stiffening rib.

Claims (9)

1. Packaging consisting of a foldable material having a base (2) and side walls (3, 4, 5), at least one side wall (3, 4, 5) being formed at least partially from at least two superimposed layers, an inner layer (7) and an outer layer (3) of the foldable material, and a reinforcing rib (3, 8a, 8b) consisting of the foldable material being provided in said side wall, and having a lever mechanism (10a, 10b) assigned to the reinforcing rib (3, 8a, 8b), which lever mechanism erects the portions (8a, 8b) of the inner layer forming the reinforcing rib when the packaging is erected, the packaging being able to be erected from a prefabricated delivery state in which the portions of the foldable material forming the side walls (3, 4, 5) are arranged approximately parallel to one another, into a state of use in which the side walls (3, 4, 5) are aligned perpendicular to one another, and the superimposed layers of the foldable material being configured and arranged such that, when the packaging is erected, the portions (8a, 8b) of the inner layer forming the reinforcing rib (3, 8a, 8b) are erected to form the reinforcing rib, characterised in that a sliding element (9) which is displaceable relative to the outer layer (3) is provided between the lever mechanism (10a, 10b) and the two inner portions (8a, 8b) of the reinforcing rib.
2. Packaging according to Claim 1, characterised in that the lever mechanism has at least one flap (10a, 10b) which is displaceable relative to the outer layer (3).
3. Packaging according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the reinforcing rib (3, 8a, 8b) is formed by a portion of the outer layer (3) of the foldable material and two portions (8a, 8b) of the inner layer of the foldable material, the portions (8a, 8b) of the inner layer forming a square, in particular a triangle, with the portion of the outer layer (3) in the erected state of use of the packaging.
4. Packaging according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the inner layer (7, 8a, 8b, 9, 10a, 10b, 11) is partially fixed, in particular bonded, to the outer layer (3, 6a) and is partially not fixedly connected to the outer layer.
5. Packaging according to Claim 4, characterised in that a first region (7) fixed to the outer layer (3, 6a) is provided adjacent to one of the two inner portions (8a, 8b) of the reinforcing rib and a further region (11) fixed to the outer layer is provided in a side wall (6a) adjacent to the side wall (3) in which the reinforcing rib is provided.
6. Packaging according to Claim 1, characterised in that a guide flap (12) which is partially fixedly connected to the outer layer (3) is assigned to the sliding element (9), said guide flap overlapping the sliding element (9) in the prefabricated delivery state and displaceably guiding said sliding element parallel to the outer layer.
7. Packaging according to Claim 1 or 6, characterised in that in the state of use the sliding element (9) is supported by a front face (9a) on the side wall (6a) adjacent to the side wall (3) with the reinforcing rib.
8. Method for producing a device, in particular packaging according to one of the preceding claims, having the following steps:

   a) constructing a blank (1) consisting of a foldable material having at least two side wall flaps (3, 6a) which are pivotable relative to one another,

   b) fixing two inner wall flaps (7, 11) to the side wall flaps (3, 6a), at least three flaps (8a, 8b, 9, 10a, 10b), namely at least two reinforcing flaps (8a, 8b) and a sliding element flap (9), being provided between the inner wall flaps (7, 11) fixed to the side wall flaps (3, 6a), said at least three flaps being connected to said inner wall flaps and not fixed to the side wall flaps,

   c) pivoting the two side wall flaps (3, 6a) relative to one another for erecting the device, at least the reinforcing flaps (8a, 8b) which are not fixed to the side wall flaps (3, 6a) being transferred into an oblique position relative to the side wall flaps (3, 6a), so that the reinforcing flaps (8a, 8b) together with one of the side wall flaps (3) form a square, in particular a triangular, reinforcing rib,

   between steps b) and c) a guide flap (12) being partially fixed to one of the side wall flaps (3) in order to guide with one free end (12a) during step c) the sliding element flap (9) which acts as a sliding element and is not fixed to the side wall flaps (3, 6a).
9. Blank consisting of a foldable material for producing a device, in particular packaging according to one of Claims 1 to 7, having a first and a second side wall flap (3, 6a) which are pivotably connected to one another, the first side wall flap (3) being connected via a bending line to an inner wall flap (7) which may be folded onto said first side wall flap, on which in turn two reinforcing flaps (8a, 8b), a sliding element flap (9), at least one lever flap (10a, 10b) or bending line (10c) and a further inner wall flap (11) are articulated, and a guide flap (12) being articulated on the first side wall flap (3) via a bending line, said guide flap being able to be brought into a position partially overlapping the sliding element flap (9) by being folded onto the first side wall flap (3).

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