FR2481230A1 - Tray container made from single material sheet - has extension pieces to sides folded at corners for stacking - Google Patents

Abstract

The tray is made from a single sheet of material and has a base (1) and two sides (2,2') and two end panels (4,4'). The side panels have triangular extensions (9) at each end. The extension has a flap (11). The end pieces have extensions (15') folded along the sides. The triangular extensions are folded horizontally across the corners of the container and the flaps are folded downwards over the ends. The tabs (18) engage in slots (19) on the adjacent container in the stack.

Description

 Blank for packaging of the stackable crate type.

 The present invention relates to packaging of the ca gents type produced from a single blank, used for the storage, handling and transport of articles, in particular fruit and citrus fruits.

 The packaging made from a single blank has been developed to allow industrial mass production using shaping machines. In the more specific case of packaging of the crate type used for the storage and transport of fruit and citrus fruits, these packaging should preferably be provided to allow stacking or stacking. In general, the sides of the packaging include for this make legs projecting vertically relative to the general plane defined by the upper plane of the package and intended to cooperate with lights formed in the bottom of a package su perpose.

 These tabs are relatively fragile, and are liable to deform during assembly and stacking operations on the packaging, so that they subsequently become difficult to introduce into the corresponding slots. Furthermore, packaging of the single blank type is most often produced from a cardboard blank, a relatively deformable material sensitive to humidity. Since the size of the crate in the upper plane is close to the dimension of the bottom of the crate, there may then be a penetration of the upper packaging into the lower packaging when the latter are not positioned with great care.

 The object of the present invention is in particular to obviate these drawbacks by proposing a crate type packaging allowing easy and stable stacking of these packaging, having qualities of increased mechanical strength, requiring a minimum of forming operations and capable of be produced at high speed on automatic or semi-automatic machines from a single blank.

 To do this, and according to a characteristic of the present invention, such packaging is produced from a blank comprising a central flap connected along its tudinal long edges with two longitudinal foldable flaps according to two first longitudinal fold lines, connected according to its transverse edges with two transverse folding flaps along two second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines, the longitudinal outer edges of the longitudinal flaps being extended on either side by tongues intended to be produced later, after shaping the blank, corner shelves at each corner of the package, parallel to the bottom of the package; these tabs comprise a first oblique strip and a second longitudinal strip, the oblique strip extending towards the outside of the blank and being connected to the flap along a fold line parallel to the first fold lines and distant by a length equal to the desired interior height of the packaging, the longitudinal strip being connected to the end of the oblique strip along a transverse fold line situated towards the outside of the blank at a distance from the second fold line substantially equal to the thickness of the blank.

mension dans le sens longitudinal sensiblement egalea i'e- paisseur du flan et dont la dimension dans le sens transversal est au moins égale à la distance entre la ligne de pliure de la bande oblique et le bord longitudinal extérieur de la bande longitudinale des languettes ; les volets transversaux comportent dans leur prolongement latéral des pattes destinées à être collées sur les extrémités des volets longitudinaux ; ils comportent en outre un tenon de gerbage sur leur bord transversal extérieur pour coopérer avec des lumières correspondantes ménagées au voisinage dewleur zone de pliure et formant, lorsque l'emballage est conformé, des encoches dans lesquelles les tenons viennent s'engager. According to another characteristic of the present invention, the transverse flaps, the dimension of which in the longitudinal direction of the packaging is equal to the height of the packaging, comprise, on the transverse external edge and in the vicinity of each end, a setback whose di

mension in the longitudinal direction substantially equal to the thickness of the blank and whose dimension in the transverse direction is at least equal to the distance between the fold line of the oblique strip and the outer longitudinal edge of the longitudinal strip of the tongues; the transverse flaps have in their lateral extension tabs intended to be glued to the ends of the longitudinal flaps; they further comprise a stacking pin on their outer transverse edge to cooperate with corresponding openings formed in the vicinity of their fold zone and forming, when the packaging is shaped, notches in which the pins engage.

 When the packaging is formed, the tabs extending laterally the transverse flaps are secured to the inner ends of the longitudinal flaps, and the longitudinal strips of the tabs of the longitudinal flaps are pressed against the outer ends of the transverse flaps; thus the corners of the packaging are doubled and strongly consolidated.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of a particular embodiment, made in relation to the appended figures among which - FIG. 1 represents a front view of a blank for the
realization of a packaging according to the present invention - Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 show the different
annuities phases of the packaging forming from the blank
single shown in Figure 1; and - Figure 8 shows a perspective view of ltembal-
Age finished.

 The packaging of the present invention can be produced from a single blank cut and folded as shown in FIG. 1. The blank comprises a central flap 1 intended to produce the bottom of the packaging. The packages currently used are generally of parallelOpipedic shape, their length being slightly greater than their width. For the convenience of the following description we will use the term longitudinal to characterize an element of the packaging extending lengthwise and transversely an element of the packaging extending lengthwise. It is understood that the packaging can be as wide or wider than long. Longitudinal flaps 2 and 2 ′ are connected to the longitudinal edges of the central flap along two first longitudinal fold lines 3 and 3 ′ respectively. Two transverse flaps 4 and 4 'are connected to the transverse sides of the central flap 1 along two second transverse fold lines 5 and 5' perpendicular to the first fold lines.

 The outer longitudinal edges of the longitudinal flaps 2 and 2 'have in their middle part a recess 6 or 6' substantially symmetrical with respect to the transverse axis of the blank to form an edge having a hollow profile, with the concavity directed towards the 'outside. The central zone of the recess is closest to the first fold lines and is distant from these lines by a length less than the desired height of the package. The 6-6 'recess is intended to allow the aeration of the products contained in packages stacked on top of each other. This recess can be carried out in particular in the following two ways: in a first mode, the blank can be simply cut according to the desired hollow profile, as shown in FIG. i for the production of the flap 2 ′, and thus obtaining a longitudinal flap 2 ′ with single thickness in a second mode, it will be possible to provide for a partial cutting of the blank and fold inwards packaging the additional flap 13 thus obtained, as shown in FIG. 7 for the production of flap 2. This gives a flap 2 with double thickness and a more rigid packaging. The additional flap 13 can then be held in position by gluing, locking, stapling, or any other method of joining.

 The longitudinal outer edge of the longitudinal flaps 2 and 2 'is extended on each side by tongues intended to form a shelf parallel to the bottom of the package at each upper part of the corners of the package and to consolidate the ends of the transverse flaps.

Thus, the longitudinal flap 2 comprises at each end a tongue, respectively 7 and 8, the second longitudinal flap comprising the tongues 7 'and 8'. These tabs, such as the tab 7, comprise a first strip 9 extending in an oblique direction towards the outside of the blank, connected to the end zone of the longitudinal outside edge of the longitudinal blank 2 along a fold line 10 parallel to the first fold line 3 and separated from it by a distance substantially equal to the desired interior height of the packaging. A longitudinal strip 11 extends the oblique strip 9 and is connected to it by a transverse fold line 12, parallel to the second fold lines 5 and 5 ′, and situated relative to the corresponding second fold line 5 towards the outside of the blank and at a distance from the latter substantially equal to the thickness of the blank. It is preferable to provide a longitudinal strip 11 of length substantially equal to the desired external height of the packaging. This strip 11 can be rectangular, its two lateral sides being parallel to the first fold lines and its small transverse side being parallel to the second fold lines. As shown in the figure, the oblique strip 9 can be limited by an appreciably rectilinear outer side and an inner side curved in a circular arc, the inner longitudinal side of the longitudinal strip 11 being slightly offset towards the outside with respect to the fold line 10 to facilitate the folding operations at the corners of the package.
The transverse flaps, for example the flap 4, are limited by a transverse outer edge 14 substantially parallel to the second fold lines 5. These flaps are extended on either side in the transverse direction of 1 t packaging by legs fixing respectively 15 and 15 'connected to the longitudinal sides of the transverse flap along a fold line parallel to the first fold lines and offset from these fold lines by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the blank0
The fixing lugs such as 15 are intended to be folded towards the inside of the packaging and applied, in the embodiment shown, against the inner ends of the longitudinal flaps, The outer edge 14 of the transverse flap comprises, at each end , a cut out respectively 16 and 16 'whose dimension in the longitudinal direction of the packaging is substantially equal to the thickness of the blank, and whose dimension in the transverse direction is at least equal to the distance h between the fold line 10 of the oblique strip and the outer longitudinal edge 17 of the longitudinal strip 11. Thus, when this strip 11 is folded over the transverse flap 4, the upper part of the tongue is flush with the same height as the upper edge 14 of the transverse flap, to avoid bending starts.

 The outer rim 14 of the transverse flaps has protrusions 18 forming stacking lugs. When the packaging is formed, these stacking lugs 18 protrude from the upper plane of the packaging and are inserted into notches provided at the lower plane of the packaging which is placed above. To this end, lights 19 are provided on the transverse flaps opposite the tenons 18 and in the vicinity of the second fold lines 5. These lights have a transverse dimension in the transverse direction of the packaging close to the transverse dimension of the post 1 and a dimension in the longitudinal direction of the packaging extending on either side of the second fold line 5, on the one hand towards the inside of the blank over a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the blank, and towards the outside of the blank over a distance close to the height of the post 18.

 FIGS. 2 to 4 show the successive phases of the forming of the packaging from the blank described above. This forming has been described in the embodiment where the blank has no additional flap 13. In FIG. 2 the blank is shown in a simplified manner in flat and in perspective. The first operation consists, as shown in Figure 3, to vertically raise the assembly tabs such as 15 and 15 '. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the set of transverse flaps 4, 4 ′ according to the second fold lines 5, 5 ′ is noted. In FIG. 5, the longitudinal flaps 2 and 2 ′ are raised vertically along the first fold lines 3, 3 ′. In FIG. 6, the tabs 7, 7 ′, 8, 8 ′ are folded horizontally inwards along the lines of fold 10 and in FIG. 7 the longitudinal strips such as 11 are folded down outside the ends of the transverse flaps.

 To secure the assembly, provision may be made to glue the fixing lugs such as 15 to the inner end of the longitudinal flaps such as 2, and to glue the longitudinal strips 11 to the outside of the ends of the transverse flaps. Thus, the region delimiting the corners of the packaging is made up of a double thickness of the blank on either side of each corner, the corner also being stiffened by the presence of the horizontal shelf formed by the oblique strip 9. A remarkably rigid packaging is thus obtained, the stacking of which is facilitated by the presence of the corner shelves preventing the packaging from penetrating into each other.

 FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of a finished package. The horizontal bottom 1 formed by the central flap is limited by four vertical sides formed by the longitudinal flaps 2 and 2 'and the transverse flaps 4 and 4' The longitudinal flaps .25 2 'are doubled by the additional folded flaps 13, 13' inwards along two fold lines defining the recesses 6 and 6 'allowing the aeration of the products contained in the packaging. One of the assembly tabs 15 'is shown folded back inside the packaging and glued on the internal face at the end of the lateral flank 2'. The stacking lugs 18 and 18 'are intended to engage in the corresponding notches 19 and 19 of a possible superposed packaging. The corner tabs (7, 7o), once folded, comprise a part, constituted by the strip forgetting that 9, forming a corner tablet in the upper opening plane of the package and avoiding the penetration of the lower corner of a package which would be placed above the second part of the tongue; constituted by the longitudinal strip 11, covers the end of the transverse blank 49 to the bottom. Thus, the entire height of the corner delimited by two successive blanks is doubled, so that the rigidity of the package is excellent, and allows the stacking of a large number of such full packages.

 In the foregoing description, and in particular in relation to FIG. 1, the blank has been described by mentioning fold lines. These fold lines can be either fictitious or have weakening means such as grooves. Furthermore, the packaging of the present invention may advantageously be made of cardboard with single or double corrugation or fluting.

 We can also reverse the role of the side flaps and transverse flaps, without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, the tongues such as 7 and the fixing lugs such as 15 may be inverted, the tongues being positioned on the end of the transverse flaps and the fixing lugs on the ends of the longitudinal flaps.

 The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations contained in the field of the claims below.

Claims (10)

 1 - Blank for crate-type packaging, comprising a central flap (1) connected along its longitudinal edges to two longitudinal foldable flaps (2, 2 ') along two first longitudinal fold lines, connected along its transverse edges to two transverse foldable flaps (4, 4 ') along two second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines, characterized in that the longitudinal outer edges of the longitudinal flaps are extended on either side by tongues (7) comprising a first oblique strip ( 9) and a second longitudinal strip (11), the oblique strip (9) extending towards the outside of the blank and being connected to the longitudinal flap along a fold line parallel to the first fold lines and distant by an equal length at the desired interior height of the packaging, the longitudinal strip (11) being connected to the end of the oblique strip along a transverse fold line situated towards the outside of the blank at a distance from the second fold line substantially equal to the thickness of the blank.  2 - blank according to claim 1, characterized in that the transverse outer edge (14) of the transverse flaps is parallel to the second fold lines and located at a distance equal to the height of the packaging, and comprises, in the vicinity of its ends, a recess (16) whose dimension in the longitudinal direction of the packaging is substantially equal to the thickness of the blank and whose dimension in the transverse direction of the packaging is at least equal to the distance (h ) between the fold line (10) of the oblique strip (9) and the longitudinal outer edge (7) of the longitudinal strip (11).  3 - blank according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the transverse flaps are extended on either side in the transverse direction of the packaging by tabs (15, 152) articulated along lines of longitudinal folds parallel to the first fold lines and offset from them by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the blank.  4 - blank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the transverse flaps have on their outer transverse edge stacking pins (18) to cooperate with lights (19) formed in the vicinity of the second fold lines , of the same transverse dimensions as the tenons and of longitudinal dimensions extending on either side of these fold lines, on the one hand towards the inside of the blank over a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the blank, d on the other hand towards the outside of the blank over a distance substantially equal to the longitudinal dimensions of the studs.  5 - blank according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the longitudinal outer edges of the longitudinal flaps have a recess (6, 6 ') substantially symmetrical with respect to the transverse axis of the blank to form an edge having a hollow profile, with the concavity facing outwards, the central zone of the recess being located at a distance less than the height of the packaging relative to the first fold lines.  6 - blank according to claim 5, characterized in that the recess (6) is produced by partial cutting and folding of the additional flap (13) thus obtained towards the inside of the packaging to double the central portion of the longitudinal flaps.  7 - blank according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the packaging of the second longitudinal strip (11) is substantially equal to the height of the packaging.  8 - Packaging of the stackable crate type, characterized in that it includes corner shelves in the opening plane of the packaging to prevent the penetration of a packaging of the same type which would be disposed above.  9 - Stackable crate type packaging according to claim 8, characterized in that it is obtained by the shaping of a blank according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the fixing tabs (15) being folded at 900 with respect to the transverse flaps, the transverse flaps (4, 4 ') then being folded down to approximately 900 relative to the central flap (1), the longitudinal flaps (2, 2') being folded down to approximately 900 relative to the central flap (1), the tabs (7) being folded down to around 900 towards the inside of the package, and the longitudinal strips (11) being folded down to around 900 on the outer ends of the transverse flaps (4, 4 ').  10 - Packaging according to claim 9, characterized in that the assembly is carried out by gluing the fixing lugs (15, 151) on the inner ends of the longitudinal flaps, and by gluing the longitudinal strips (11) on the outer ends of the transverse shutters.