KR100371048B1 - Carton - Google Patents

Abstract

CLAIMS 1. A wrap-around carton blank for packaging a plurality of articles,

The blank has a non-rectangular shape with respect to the cross-sectional shape of the article arrangement which is parallel to the upper and lower panels (12, 18, 20), and is continuously connected to form an open end sleeve A top, first side, bottom and second side panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20) hingably interconnected; And

And two reinforcing panels (58, 60) hingably connected connecting the first side panel (14) and the upper or lower panel (12, 18, 20) And a reinforcing plate that facilitates movement of the first side panel 14 with respect to the combined shape of the first side panel 14.

Description

Carton

The present invention relates to a carton for packaging a plurality of articles such as beverage bottles or beverage cans, and more particularly to a carton for packaging articles in a plurality of rows or columns in a fully sealed carton, Carton.

Known cartons with octagonal bottoms and top panels are disclosed in US 4747485 by Chaussadas. The carton is comprised of a plurality of separation panels sealing the ends and sides of the carton. The separation panel is hingably connected to each of the eight edges of the top and bottom panels. Most such panels are intermediate between the joined top or bottom panels and the opposing bottom or top panels and thus overlap the associated panels that are connected to the opposing top or bottom panels. Thus, sealing a carton disclosed in US 4747485 requires a relatively complicated method of folding various panels.

The present invention eliminates or mitigates many problems that occur in conventional cartons. According to the present invention there is provided a carton for packaging a plurality of articles comprising an upper, a first side, a bottom and a second side panel connected successively hingably to each other to form an open end sleeve capable of receiving the article Wherein the top and bottom panels are similarly non-rectangular shaped to relate to the cross-sectional shape of the arrangement of articles in a plane parallel to the top and bottom panels, wherein the side panels are associated A plurality of folded portions adapted to be folded into at least three different sides to conform to the shape of the top and / or bottom panel, wherein the gusset plate includes a first side panel and an upper or bottom panel, And two hingedly connected reinforcing panels to connect the two hinges.

The carton blank preferably includes two stiffening plates between the adjacent folding portions of the first side panels and the top or bottom panel and the stiffening plate is disposed between the adjacent folding portions of the first side panels, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 1 < / RTI > The two gussets can connect both side panels to the upper panel, and the two gussets connect the two side panels to the floor panel.

The folded portions each include a portion that is continuously hingably connected, and the hingedly connected portion may be separated by a curvable portion that provides a rounded edge in the completed carton.

One of the reinforcing panels includes protruding tabs to allow easy folding of the reinforcing plate into the carton during formation of the carton. One of the reinforcing panels may also include means such as an edge that is readily adjacent the end of the carton to maintain the position in which the associated side panel is formed within the carton. Preferably, the projecting tab includes the adjacent edge.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a blank forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles comprising a main panel connected to one another in a hingedly continuous manner to form an open end sleeve capable of receiving the article, Wherein the two opposed main panels are similarly non-rectangular to relate to the cross-sectional shape of the arrangement of the articles in a plane parallel to the two opposed main panels, Wherein the reinforcing plate comprises two reinforcing panels hingedly connected to each other, wherein the reinforcing plate comprises two main panels opposed to the adjacent folding portions, Connect the first main panel between the two.

The stiffening plate may include a hole that is easily foldable relative to the stiffening plate, and the stiffening plate may include means for sealing the hole when the carton is formed. Another aspect of the present invention relates to cartons and their formation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings,

1 is a plan view of a carton blank for forming a carton according to a first embodiment of the present invention,

Figures 2 to 6 are views showing various forms of the blank shown in Figure 1 during formation of the cartons shown in Figures 7 and 8,

Figures 7 and 8 are perspective views of cartons formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention,

9 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

10 to 14 are a perspective view of a carton according to a second embodiment of the present invention,

15 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a third embodiment of the present invention,

16 to 21 are various perspective views of a carton according to a third embodiment of the present invention,

22 is a plan view of a blank for forming a carton according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention,

23 to 28 are views showing various steps during formation of a carton from the blank shown in Fig. 22,

Figure 29 is a perspective view of a carton formed from the blank shown in Figure 22, and

Figure 30 is a schematic view of a method of loading and sealing the carton shown in Figure 29;

Example

A first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figures 1-8, wherein a carton blank 11 for forming a carton 10 is shown in Figures 7 and 8. The carton is configured to maintain a non-rectangular array of articles, such as an array comprising rows of two, three, and two articles having a hexagonal cross-section in a substantially horizontal plane. However, since articles such as cans and bottles generally have a columnar shape, or bottles at least have curved surfaces, the hexagonal arrangement of such articles will have curved edges. In order to tightly pack this arrangement, the carton 10 has a curved side panel portion. The carton 10 can accommodate one long article or two articles. Of course, a plurality of shortened side panels can be easily accommodated by adapting the length of the proposed steps to the height of the number of steps.

The blank 11 includes a bottom panel 12 hingedly connected to the side panels 14,16 via end tabs 22,24 and fold lines 56a 56b as shown in Figure 1, 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d. The side panels 14 and 16 each include a continuous side panel portion 42a and 42b, 46a and 46b, 50a and 50b, 54a and 54b, respectively. The side panel portions are separated from adjacent side panel portions by the curved panel portions 44a and 44b, 48a and 48b, 52a and 52b. The curvable panel portion includes a series of folding marker lines that can be bent somewhat to fold each of the curvable panel portions so that the side panels 14,16 are arcuately folded about the article to be packaged, thereby completely sealing the sides of the carton . Thus, the carton has a polygonal cross-sectional shape in the horizontal plane, in this case a curved, hexagonal cross-section with rounded corners.

The side panels 14, 16 are hingedly attached to the first and second top panels 18, 20, respectively. The upper panels 18 and 20 are hingably connected to the respective side panels 14 and 16 by reinforcing plates 38a, 38b, 38c and 38d and folding lines 64a and 64b. The top panels are stacked and may be joined together using a locking means or adhesive such as, for example, tabs and holes. The top panel 18 includes end tabs 26b, 28b hingably connected along fold lines 25c, 25d, respectively. The slits 33c and 33d are located at the fold line between the first top panel 18 and the respective end tabs 26b and 28b, but in other embodiments there may or may not be only one slit. When the knob 30 is used as described below, the fold lines between the side tabs and the first upper panel can be bent by the slits 33c and 33d. The handle 30 is provided on the second top panel 20 and includes a ring with a finger tab 32 that is foldably engaged. The second upper panel 20 is foldably connected to the end tabs 26a and 28a along the fold lines 25a and 25b respectively and the end of the grip ring in the present embodiment is provided with the side cut portions 33a and 33b Thus extending into the end tabs 26a, 28a. The second top panel 20 also includes a handle enhancement panel 36 hingedly connected to the handle 30 ring along the fold line 34 in this embodiment.

Each gusset 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d includes an outermost panel 58 hingably connected to the innermost panel 60, as shown in Fig. Cutting portion 62 may be used to separate a portion of panel 58 from panel 60 and the associated top panel 18 or 20. This cutout portion 62 can form a protrusion 59 in the outermost reinforcing panel 58 and the protrusion 59 or folding means can be used to fold the stiffening plate into the carton, Can help folding. The lower stiffeners 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d may be formed similar to the stiffener 38, but each includes two symmetrical panels hingedly connected to one another along a fold line 41.

The folding method of the blank 11 for forming the finished carton 10 shown in Figs. 7 and 8 can be seen in Figs. 2-6. First, the first upper panel 18 is folded at the folding line 64b so as to overlap on the side panel 14. The reinforcing panel 36 is then folded along the fold line 34 beneath the handle ring 30, thereby providing a double fold handle to strengthen the handle. Next, the side panel 16 and the second upper panel 20 are folded along the hinge line 56a in the shape shown in Fig. Next, the first and second top panels may be attached to each other, for example, by glueing the overlapping portions or using locking means (not shown) such as locking tabs and holes. Of course, another panel can be used as the overlapping panel so that the tubular sleeve can be formed.

In the cutout or slits 33a and 33b the handle edges are arranged in a first position to move the fold lines 25a, 25b, 25c and 25d or a part of the hinge between the upper panel and the end tabs 26a and 28a, 26b and 28b, And aligned with the slits 33c and 33d in the upper panel 18. [ This causes it to move inwardly from the handle ring portion adjacent the end of the carton, causing the handle ring 30 to bend upwardly in use. To facilitate this movement, a pair of side folding mark lines or folding lines 35c, 35d may be provided in the first top panel 18 as shown in Fig. Both the relevant portions of the fold lines 25c and 25d that extend across the folded portion extending between the end tabs and the upper panel in this embodiment and the fold lines 35c and 35d both use the handle 30 when in use Helps tilt.

The folded blank is opened to form a sleeve such as that shown in Fig. In this configuration, an article such as a can can be loaded into the carton 10 formed partially through the open end of the carton. After loading the articles, the end tabs 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b are folded downward and the end tabs 22, 24 are folded upwardly. Thereafter, the side panels 14, 16 are folded about the article to seal the end of the carton. For example, the panels 60 of the one or more gussets 38 and / or the panels 58 may be pushed inwardly to fold the gussets 38a, 38b, 38c, 38 under the associated top panel 18 or 20 have. By folding the reinforcing plates 38a, 38b, 38c, and 38d inward, the end portions of the side panels 14 and 16 seal the end portion of the carton 10. Similarly, by folding the gussets 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d inwardly of the carton 10, the lower portion of the side panels 14, 16 can be wrapped to seal the end of the carton.

The end portions of the side panels 14 and 16 overlap each other as shown in Fig. To retain the carton in a sealed configuration, the ends 54a and 54b may be attached to each other by joining or gluing locking means such as locking tabs and holes. Also, one or both of the end portions 54a, 54b can be attached to one or both of the end tabs 26a and / or 26b or the end tabs 22. Thus, multiple overlapping portions can be attached to each other. Similarly, the opposite end of the carton may be sealed to form the fully sealed carton 10 shown in Figs.

It will be appreciated that the carton 10 is configured to have a curved side panel that fits tightly around the article, thereby tightly and completely sealing the arrangement of the article. The cartons are made aesthetically satisfactory by suitably forming the top and bottom panels so that the storage arrangement of the articles exhibits a non-rectangular shape. Of course, other non-rectangular arrays, such as triangular, rhombus, rectangular and octagonal, may also be used.

A second embodiment of a carton 110 according to the present invention is shown in Figs. 9-14. In this embodiment, parts substantially similar to those shown in the first embodiment are indicated by the same numeral 1 before the same two-digit reference number. Thus, the first top panel 118 is hingedly connected to the side panel 114 hingably connected to the bottom panel 112. The bottom panel 112 is connected to a second side panel 116 hingably connected to the second top panel 120. The handle slot 133 in this embodiment is substantially similar to the previous embodiment but has a displaceable portion 131c adjacent to the fold lines 125c and 125d between the top panel 118 and each end panel 126b and 128b, Lt; / RTI > is now provided. On the other hand, the lines labeled " 135c " may be cut lines that provide holes 131c at the fold line between the first top panel 118 and the end panels 126b and 128b.

In the side panels 114 and 116, the central curvable portion of the first embodiment is replaced by the central panel portions 148a and 148b, and the other side panel portions are simply hingedly connected by one fold line . In this embodiment, the side panels are adapted to surround the sides of the article arrangement to fully seal the sides of the carton. However, the bottom panel 112 formed from the panels 118, 120 and the carton top panel do not include very rounded corners, but each is an irregular octagon. In this embodiment, an arrangement of articles made of articles 1, 2, 2 and 1 is provided at one end or at each end. For example, the illustrated blank 111 is designed to fix two ends of the array of cans.

The side panels include a main panel 158 that is hingably connected to, for example, the associated side panel 114 or 116, and a subpanel 158 that is hingably connected to both the main reinforcement panel 158 and the top panel 118 or 120. [ Which is hingedly connected to the upper panel by a respective gusset plate 138, The cut line 162 interrupted in the middle can be used to separate a portion of panel 158 from panel 160 and upper panel 118 or 120. The cutout 162 can therefore conveniently form a protrusion 159 that is used to fold the stiffener plate 138 between the top panel 118 or 120 and the article in the carton 110. [ That is, the shape of the reinforcement panel is designed to help fold the side panel during sealing of the carton after loading. The edges 157 provided to each of the main reinforcement panels 158 also work together with the end panels 126 or 128 in the carton formed to maintain the shape of the side panels formed.

The side panels 114, 116 include removable portions 170a, 170b, respectively. The portions may be partially attached to the carton blank along at least the tear line 174 by fold lines 153 and 156 or 164 as shown in Fig. The removable portion 170 includes means for helping to remove the portion from the carton, such as the finger hole 172. The finger hole can be sealed by the hingable tab portion until it is used.

The carton 110 is formed by folding the blank 111 in a manner substantially similar to that described in the first embodiment. The upper panel 118 is folded against the fold line 164b and the side panel 116 and the upper panel 120 are folded against the fold line 156a and the upper panels are attached to each other at the overlapping portions. A carton sleeve is then formed and folded around the side panels 114,116 to fold the end panels 122,124, 126a, 128a, 126b, 128b against the respective fold lines and load them before sealing the ends have.

Advantageously, the openable portion 170 allows the article A to be removed from the carton 110 without breaking the entirety. The openable and sealable portion 170b as shown in Figures 11 and 12 can tear the tear line 174 and open the panel 170b against the tear line 153b. The cutout line 161c can be provided between the reinforcing panels 158c and 160c of the reinforcing plate 138c so that the openable panel 170b can be fully opened.

As can be seen in Fig. 12, the carton 110 may also be packaged in two stages separated by, for example, a partition panel 176. As shown in Fig. A second openable or removable portion 170a may be provided to access the bottom item. In order to open the openable portion 170a, the openable portion is cut off the cuttable line 141b and the cutout portion 174 between the panels of the reinforcing plate 140b, and then the foldable portion is folded over the hinge line 143a Reference). Of course, the gusset may be designed such that the openable panel is fully open without a second cuttable line, such as line 161c or 141b as described above.

Also, in this embodiment, the reinforcing panel 138 is folded under the associated top panel by folding the reinforcing panels 158, 160 against each other at the folding line 161 so that both portions overlap below the top panel. The main reinforcement panel 158 can therefore be positioned adjacent the fold line 125 between its edge 157 and the end panels 126a, 126b, 128a or 128b thereby maintaining the shape of the side panels, To provide firmness from the fold line between the panels to the edge of the handle ring.

A third embodiment of the carton according to the present invention is described with reference to the cartons and blanks shown in Figs. 15-20. In the third embodiment of the present invention, portions similar to those of the above two embodiments are indicated by using the same two-digit reference number preceded by the numeral 2. Thus, the first top panel 218 is hingedly connected to the side panel 214 hingably connected to the bottom panel 212. The second side panel 216 is hingedly connected to both the bottom panel 212 and the second top panel 220. The side panels 214 and 216 are substantially similar to those shown in FIG. 9 as described above, except that the openable (and / or removable) portion 270 has a different shape. In this embodiment, the perforations 274 extend on three sides of the rectangular panel forming a substantially removable portion 270. The openable portions 270a, 270b are hingably connected on the fourth side along the fold lines 239b, 237c, respectively. In this embodiment, each fold line connects the openable portions 270a, 270b to the associated reinforcement panels 240b, 238c, respectively. Finger holes 272 may be provided, which may be covered by the collapsible tabs 271. Fig.

The openable portion 270b can be folded about the fold line 237c in the completed carton as shown in Fig. The portion 270b can be cut along the fold line 261c as shown in Fig. 18 and removed, thereby removing the uppermost article A from the carton as shown in Fig. Similarly, the bottom openable portion 270a can be folded open against the folding line 239b. The portion 270a may also be completely removed, for example, by cutting along the fold line 241b.

In this embodiment, the carton 210 is adapted to accommodate two stages of articles, each stage being arranged in 1, 2, 2 and 1 rows. Of course, multiple articles may be packaged in multiple rows, and multiple stages may be accommodated by suitably adjusting the blank described above.

A fourth embodiment of the blank 311 and the carton 310 is formed as shown in Figs. 22 to 30. The formed carton 310 shown in Fig. 29 is generally designed to accommodate one end of an article, such as a bottle, having an octagonal cross section with respect to a horizontal plane and arranged in 3, 4, 4, or 3 per column.

The blank 311 includes an upper panel 320 hingably connected to the side panel 316 along a fold line 364a. The side panel 316 is hingably connected to the floor panel 312 having an octagonal shape. The bottom panel 312 is connected to the second side panel 314 along the fold line 356b. In this embodiment, tabs 315 are provided instead of overlapping the top panel to form a tubular, sleeve-like structure of the blank. The tab 315 hingedly connected to the top panel 320 along the fold line 364b in this embodiment may be attached to the side panel 314 using, for example, gluing or coupled locking means such as locking tabs and holes. ). ≪ / RTI >

The blank 311 includes a handle 330 having a finger tab 332 on the upper panel 320 and a handle reinforcing ring 336 hingably connected to the end panels 326 and 328 hingably connected to the upper panel 320. [ ). It may also form a folding trail line that cracks in the top panel 320 to provide a stress relief surface 380 when using the handle. In this embodiment, an openable surface 370 is provided in the upper panel 320. [

The openable surface 370 is adjacent to the hole formed by the finger tab 332 forming part of the handle 330 and is similar to the lines 274 and 174 shown in the second and third embodiments described, . Four reinforcing plates 338 are provided between the side panels of the carton and the upper panel 320 when the tabs 315 and the side panels 314 are attached. The reinforcing plate 338 in this embodiment is the same, and when the reinforcing plate 338a is taken as an example, these reinforcing plates include a main panel 358a hingably connected to the side panel 316. [ The main panel 358a is hingably connected to a small panel 360a hingably connected to the top panel 320. [ The main reinforcement panel 358a includes protruding tabs 359a that can be used to retain the shape of the associated side walls formed to be curved by engagement between the edges 357a of the tabs 359a and the end panel 328 and to seal the carton do. The coupling is further clarified with reference to the following figures. The reinforcement panel 358 may also be located between the top of the associated article, such as, for example, a bottle cap, and the top panel 320 (i.e., the corner portion). This prevents holes from opening at the top of the carton when the carton is formed, despite the holes 363 formed adjacent the gusset plate.

Sidewalls 316 and 314 are symmetrical and include a main central panel with central fold lines 385a and 385b that allow both side panels to be folded substantially in half. This is advantageous for flat packing so that the partially formed carton shown in Fig. 25 can be raised to a structure like the sleeve shown in Fig. 26 which is capable of being loaded. The center fold lines 385a, 385b extend to the side panel portions 346a, 350a, 346b, 350b. A reinforcing plate 386 is also provided adjacent each fold line 385 on the side of the side panel. The stiffening plate 386 is more useful to form the inclined upper side of the side panels, which surrounds the ends and sides of the stacked article and which can be seen with reference to Figures 27-29. To that end, end fold lines 323a and 323b are also provided on the lower end panels 324 and 322, respectively. The top panel 320 should be smaller than the bottom panel 312 to form an inclined top. Also, like the other embodiments, the reinforcing plate 340 may be provided between the bottom panel 312 and the side panels.

The reinforcing strip 336 is folded about the fold line 334 to the position shown in Fig. 23 to form the carton 310. Fig. Hole 382 in strip 336 is thus aligned with fold lines 325a and 325b so that when sealing the end of the loaded carton the upper end panel 328 , 326) is reduced. Next, the upper portions of the upper panel 320 and the side panel 316 are folded about the fold line 385a to the position shown in Fig. The upper portion of the side panel 314 is then folded against the fold line 385b to abut the tab 315 and glued to the gluing tab, for example to form the flat structure shown in Fig. Conveniently, the blank 311 can be stored in this flattened condition and can be transported to a packaging machine that is prepared to be loaded with a suitable inlet, such as the inlet H schematically illustrated in FIG.

The carton structure shown in Fig. 25 first unfolds into a sleeve-like structure as shown in Fig. 26 for loading. It is also shown in the upstream portion of the packaging process shown in FIG. 30, where it can be seen that the carton is moved downstream along the flow direction indicated by arrow F. In the step A of FIG. 30, it can be seen that the injection heat of the article is separated into two rows including four articles on the inner side and three articles on the outer side on each open end of the carton. The outer row is slightly moved relative to the inner row so that the heat of the article is superimposed to form a relatively tightly packed arrangement. That is, one article in the outer row contacts two articles in the inner row. This contact does not apply to the two inner rows after the article is loaded into the carton during the state shown by section B of Figure 30. The inner rows of four adjacent articles are in contact with each other such that only one article abuts the adjacent inner row. However, it is of course also possible for the cartons of other shapes or sizes to be adjacent to one another in the carton.

After being loaded on the carton 320, the reinforcing plates 338 and 340 are folded inward in the section C shown in Fig. As shown in circle G of FIG. 30, the main reinforcement panel 358c is folded beneath the top panel 320. Also, as shown in circle H in Figure 30, the stiffening plate 340 is folded upwards. By folding the reinforcing plate in this way, the side panel is bent so as to become the partially sealed structure shown in Fig. Thereafter, the shortest end of the side panels 350a, 350b is gathered to make the end of the carton more rounded as shown in section D of FIG. This causes the side panels 314 and 316 to become more curved, thereby contouring the side of the adjacent article and reflecting the shape of the three sides of the octagonal bottom panel 312 and top panel 320. Also, the tops of the side panels 314 and 316 are tilted or tilted to indicate the contour of the top of the bottle being packed in the carton.

The upper and lower end panels 322, 324, 328, and 326 are folded toward the upper or lower panel by the associated fold lines, as shown in FIG. The associated upper and lower end panels, such as panels 328 and 322, are then attached to each other by, for example, gluing. Optionally, interlocking means such as locking tabs and holes may be provided. It is also possible to attach the end panels to the end panels 346a, 346b, 350a, 350b. For example, if an adhesive such as glue is used, the completed carton shown in Fig. 29 can be pressed in section E of Fig. 30 to ensure that the panel is sealed.

Claims (14)

A top, a first side, a bottom and a second side panel connected to each other in a hingedly continuous manner to form an open end sleeve capable of receiving the article; And And a pair of first gussets provided for each of the side panels, Wherein each of the side panels includes a plurality of panel portions having a pair of opposed end panel portions and at least one central panel portion, Wherein each of the side panels is foldable to position the end and central panel portions in three or more different planes to conform to the respective shape of the top and bottom panels, In addition, Wherein each of the first gussets includes two reinforcing panels hingably connected to each other, and the pair of first gussets of each side panel are connected to the respective sides of the first gussets adjacent to the pair of first gussets Wherein the panel portion of the panel is connected to one of the top and bottom panels. The method according to claim 1, Characterized in that the number of one or more central panel sections of each side panel is one and one of the panel sections of each side panel comprises the central panel section of each side panel. Blank to do. The method according to claim 1, Further comprising a pair of second gussets provided on one of the side panels, wherein each second gusset includes two reinforcing panels hingably connected to each other, the pair of the side panels Characterized in that the first gusset of the first panel connects the respective side panels to the floor panel and the pair of second gussets connect the one side panel to the upper panel. / RTI > The method according to claim 1, Wherein the folding portion comprises at least one folding line. ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 > 11. < / RTI > The method of claim 3, Wherein one of the reinforcing panels of each second gusset plate includes a protrusion that protrudes from the gusset panel to facilitate folding the second gusset plate into the sleeve during formation of the carton from the blank. A blank forming a carton for packaging articles. The method of claim 3, Wherein one of the reinforcement panels of each second gusset plate includes means adjacent the carton end to maintain the folded position of the one side panel when the blank is formed of a carton, And a tab extending outwardly from the one reinforcing panel of the second gusset. ≪ Desc / Clms Page number 13 > 14. A blank for forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles. The method of claim 3, Wherein each second gusset plate has an aperture to facilitate folding of each of the second gusset plates and each second gusset plate includes means for sealing the aperture when the blank is formed of a carton Wherein the blanks form a carton for packaging a plurality of articles. A first top, a first side, a bottom and a second side panel connected to each other in a hingedly continuous manner to form an open end sleeve capable of receiving the article; And And a pair of first gussets provided for each of the side panels, Wherein each of the side panels includes a plurality of panel portions having a pair of opposed end panel portions and at least one central panel portion, Wherein each of the side panels is folded into three or more different planes to conform to the respective shape of the top and bottom panels and the end and central panel portions are positioned so as to be collapsible by folding portions Lt; / RTI > Wherein each of the first reinforcing plates includes two reinforcing panels that are hingably connected to each other, and the pair of first reinforcing plates of each of the side panels has an angle Wherein two adjacent panels of the side panels are connected to one of the top and bottom panels. 9. The method of claim 8, Further comprising a second upper panel hingably connected to the second side panel and a pair of second gussets provided for each side channel, wherein each second gusset plate is hingably connected Wherein the pair of first gussets connect the respective side panels to the bottom panel and the pair of second gussets engage the respective side panels with the first and second top panels, ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 > 1, < / RTI > respectively. 9. The method of claim 8, Wherein the folding portion comprises at least one folding line. ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 > 11. < / RTI > 9. The method of claim 8, Characterized in that the folding portion comprises at least three folding marking lines. ≪ Desc / Clms Page number 13 > 12. The method of claim 11, Wherein the folding portion is a curvable portion to provide a rounded edge when the blank is formed of a carton. ≪ RTI ID = 0.0 > 11. < / RTI > 10. The method of claim 9, Wherein one of the reinforcing panels of each second gusset plate includes a protrusion that protrudes from the reinforcing panel to facilitate folding the respective second gussets into the sleeve while forming a carton from the blank A blank forming a carton for packaging a plurality of articles. 10. The method of claim 9, Each second gusset plate having an aperture to facilitate folding of the respective second gusset plate and each second gusset plate has means for sealing the aperture when the blank is formed of a carton Wherein the blanks form a carton for packaging a plurality of articles.

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