WO2010036184A1

WO2010036184A1 - Packing unit

Info

Publication number: WO2010036184A1
Application number: PCT/SE2009/050950
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Marbe; Lars-Erik Andersson
Original assignee: Ecolean Research & Development A/S
Priority date: 2008-09-24
Filing date: 2009-08-25
Publication date: 2010-04-01
Also published as: WO2010036184A8; SE0802023A2; SE0802023A1

Abstract

A packing unit comprises a box structure (2) made of a paperboard material and a plurality of packages (4) which are filled with a liquid product and which are arranged head to foot in said box structure (2), which packages (4) are of the collapsible type and have an upwardly tapering shape. The box structure (2) is separable for providing two box halves (3a, 3b) which each contain a group (G1, G2) of packages (4) and the liquid product of the packages (4) forms at least one vertically extending liquid column (18), which acts to take up forces when a load is applied to said packing unit.

Description

PACKING UNIT

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a packing unit and, more specifically, to a packing unit of the kind comprising a separable box structure made of a paperboard material and a plurality of packages which are filled with a liquid product and which are arranged in said box structure, which packages are of the collapsible type and have an upwardly tapering shape.

Background Art

It is well known in the art to arrange packages which are of the col- lapsible type and which hold a liquid product in box structures made of different kinds of paperboard material for providing a packing unit which enables efficient distribution of the packages. A drawback, however, is that the packages must be manually unpacked from the box structure and placed on a shelf in order to achieve an excellent presentation of the packages for exam- pie in a food store.

This problem has been solved by means of packing units which are arranged so as to ensure both efficient distribution and excellent presentation of packages.

Such a packing unit comprises a separable box structure which con- tains said packages. In the non-separated state the box structure has the shape of a right parallelepiped and packing units can thus be stacked in a space-saving manner, enabling rational distribution. In the separated state of the box structure two box halves are provided which each contain a set of, usually upright, packages. The packages can hold for example a food product and the box halves with the packages can thus be placed on a shelf of a food store. Owing to the box halves it is possible to provide excellent presentation of the packages while reducing to a minimum the amount of work required to arrange the packages on the shelf.

WO98/31593 discloses, for instance, a box structure for a packing unit, which box structure is separable into two box halves, which each contain a set of packages.

Packages which are of the collapsible type and which hold a liquid product are normally used for products which are exposed to fierce price competition, such as milk, and because of the costs involved the packing unit is not used together with a separable box structure made of a paperboard material, since the latter would be too expensive. There is thus a need for a more cost-efficient packing unit for packages of the collapsible type and for liquid products, which packing unit enables both efficient distribution and excellent presentation of the packages.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the above it is an object of the present invention to provide a packing unit for collapsible packages with liquid contents, which packing unit is comparatively cheap. The packing unit must enable efficient distribution of the packages and also allow excellent presentation of the packages once they have been distributed to the intended location.

The present invention therefore suggests a packing unit having the features as defined in claim 1. Embodiments of the packing unit are set out in claims 2-10, which are dependent on claim 1.

More specifically, a packing unit is suggested comprising a separable box structure made of a paperboard material and a plurality of packages which are filled with a liquid product and which each have a bottom wall and two opposite side walls, which packages are of the collapsible type and have in the upright position an upwardly tapering shape. The packages are arranged in the box structure in such a manner that each package has a side wall facing a bottom of the box structure and are laid horizontally on top of each other in a plurality of layers with a plurality of packages in each layer. The packages have an alternating orientation in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, the packages of an individual layer having a uniform orientation in the first or the second direction. The packages which have an orientation in the first direction form a first group of packages and the packages which have an orientation in the second direction form a second group of packages. The box structure is separable for providing two box halves which each contain a group of packages and the liquid product in the packages forms at least one vertically extending liquid column, which acts to take up forces when a load is applied to said packing unit.

A relatively inexpensive packing unit is thus obtained, which enables efficient distribution and presentation of packages. When the packing unit is whole and the box structure is in its non-separated state, the packing unit can be given the shape of a right parallelepiped, whereby stacking of the packing units according to the invention in a space-saving manner is made possible. When the packing unit has been divided and the box structure is in its separated state with two box halves which each contain a group of packages, the box halves can be arranged so as to provide excellent presentation of the packages when placing each box half, for example, on a shelf of a food store. Furthermore, the contents of the packages form at least one liquid column, which acts to take up forces when a load is applied to the packing unit. Such application of a load can be achieved for example by stacking a plurality of packing units according to the invention on top of each other. In this case the take-up of forces does not occur solely via the box structures, but by virtue of the fact that the packages are compressed the contents thereof form liquid columns that help to carry the load. As a result, box structure requirements can be less exacting, thereby allowing said structure to be manufactured at a lower cost. By virtue of the fact that the packages form groups of packages with alternating orientation in two different directions, it is ensured that the package orientation is optimized to enable said liquid columns to take up forces when a load is applied.

According to one embodiment, said box structure has a bottom wall, four side walls and a top wall. A box structure which has the shape of a right parallelepiped and which enables efficient distribution can thus be obtained. According to a further embodiment, a central strip portion defined by perforations extends over the top wall and over a mutually opposite pair of side walls. This allows the box structure to be separated in a simple manner. Said strip portion can include a first strip member, which extends along part of the top wall and a first of the side walls, and a second strip member, which extends along part of the top wall and a second of the side walls opposite to the first side wall. The first strip member can be separate from the second strip member. Each strip member can have a pointed end portion which connects onto the bottom wall. A defined fold line is thus obtained along which folding occurs for the purpose of separating the box structure.

According to a further embodiment, the box structure can have walls which, in the non-separated state of the box structure, are arranged to provide compression of the filled packages. This causes a pretensioning effect, for instance by the top wall of the box structure pressing against the top layer of packages, which results in the formation of a liquid column capable of taking up forces even at small loads. Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a packing unit according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the packing unit in Fig. 1 ;

Figs 3a-3d are perspective views illustrating the method for separating the packing unit shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of three packing units according to the invention stacked on top of each other.

Description of Embodiments

With reference to Fig. 1 , an embodiment of a packing unit 1 according to the present invention is shown. The packing unit 1 can be divided and comprises for this purpose a box structure 2 which is separable into two box halves 3a, 3b. The box structure 2 contains packages 4 of the collapsible type. The packages 4 are filled with a liquid product and are sealed. The product can be a food product such as milk, juice or water. In the non-separated state the box structure 2 has substantially the shape of a parallelepiped and thus presents four side walls 5 (only two of which are shown), a bottom wall 6 (not shown) and a top wall 7.

As mentioned above, the box structure 2 forms, in the separated state, two box halves 3a, 3b which each contain a group of packages 4. The box structure 2 is made of a paperboard material.

The box structure 2 can be achieved for example by folding and gluing a box blank which comprises panels and flaps that are connected to each other in a convenient manner.

The top wall 7, for example, can be achieved as shown in the Figure. Accordingly, the top wall 7 is made up of four flaps 7a, which are each connected to a respective side wall 5. As shown in the Figure, the top wall 7 of the illustrated embodiment does not form a complete cover, but the flaps 7a define together a central opening 8 in the top wall 7.

A separable, central strip portion 9 extends over the top wall 7 and over a mutually opposite pair of side walls 5. The strip portion 9 is defined by perforations 10. In the embodiment shown, the strip portion 9 is divided into a first 11a and a second 11b strip member. The first strip member 11a extends along part of the top wall 7 and along a first side wall 5a of the pair of opposing side walls 5. The second strip member 11b extends along part of the top wall 7 and along a second side wall 5b of the pair of opposing side walls 5.

The strip members 11a, 11b can be separated from each other and, in the illustrated embodiment, the strip members 11a, 11b are separated by the central opening 8 of the top wall 7.

Each strip member 11a, 11b has a pointed end portion 12 which con- nects onto the bottom wall 6.

As stated above, each package 4 is of the collapsible type and, thus, has flexible walls defining a chamber whose volume is dependent on the relative position of the walls. The package can have two opposite side walls 13a, b and a bottom wall 14, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 2, to which reference is now made.

Each package 4 further has in the upright position an upwardly tapering shape.

The packages 4 are arranged head to foot in the box structure 2. By the expression arranged head to foot is here meant that the packages are positioned in the box structure with an alternating, reverse orientation in a plurality of layers, i.e. at least two layers.

In the illustrated embodiment, the packages 2 arranged head to foot comprise a first group G1 of packages 4 laid horizontally having an orientation in a first direction R1 and a second group G2 of packages laid horizontally having an orientation in a direction R2 opposite to the first direction R1.

By a package 4 laid horizontally is here meant a package 4 which is in a horizontally outstretched position when the packing unit 1 is arranged with its bottom wall 6 facing downward.

As shown in the illustrated embodiment, each individual layer of pack- ages 4 in the box structure 2 comprises a plurality of packages 4 having an orientation in one of said directions R1 , R2 only. As is evident from the Figure, a superjacent layer of packages 4 need not completely overlap a subjacent layer of packages 4.

According to the invention, each package 4 has a side wall 5a facing the bottom wall 6 of the box structure 2.

The side wall 13a of each package 4 of the bottom layer of packages 4 that faces the bottom wall 6 engages with said bottom wall 6. Moreover, each package 4 has a side wall 13b which is oriented towards the top wall 7.

When a load is applied to the packing unit 1 the side wall 13b of at least some of the packages 4 of the top layer of packages 4 that faces the top wall 7 of the box structure 2 engages with said top wall 7. This engagement can occur also when no load is being applied to the packing unit 1.

In Figs 3a-3d, to which reference is now made, the method for separating a packing unit 1 according to the invention is shown.

In Fig. 3a detaching of the central strip portion 9 from the separable box structure 2 has been initiated. Detaching is performed by each strip member 11a, 11 b of the strip portion 9 being torn off along the perforations 10.

In Fig. 3b the strip members 11a, 11b have been torn off and removed from the box structure 2. A notch 15 is thus formed in the respective side wall 5a, 5b, with a pointed notch end 16 adjacent to the bottom wall 6. The notch ends 16 define between them an imaginary fold line 17 extending along the bottom wall 6, as is shown more clearly in Fig. 3c. The fold line 17 can be predefined by creasing.

In Fig. 3c the dividing of the packing unit 1 has been initiated by fold- ing along said fold line 17 for separating the box structure 2 in two box halves 3a, 3b. As a result the packages 4 contained in the packing unit 1 will be divided up between the box halves 3a, 3b. More specifically, the first group G1 of packages 4 will be arranged in a first 3a of the box halves, and the second group G2 of packages 4 will be arranged in a second 3b of the box halves. In Fig. 3d the folding has been completed so that those side walls 5 that are without the central strip portion 9 of the non-separated box structure 2 form the bottom wall of the respective box half 3a, 3b. As shown in the Figure, the packages 4 thus take an upright position.

When the packing unit 1 has been divided, the box halves 3a, 3b can remain interconnected along said fold line 17 or can be disengaged from one another, as shown in the illustrated embodiment, along said fold line.

The box halves 3a, 3b with the packages 4 contained therein enable easy handling and excellent presentation, which for obvious reasons is advantageous for example when unpacking and arranging the packages 4 in a food store.

As stated previously, when the packing unit 1 is whole and the box structure 2 is in its non-separated state, the latter takes the shape of a right parallelepiped. Consequently, packing units 1 of the type according to the invention can be stacked in a space-saving manner, which enables efficient distribution.

The packing unit 1 according to the invention is arranged such that the liquid-filled packages 4 acts to take up forces when a load is applied to the packing unit 1. More specifically, the packages 4 are so arranged in the box structure 2 that the liquid product contained in the packages 4 forms at least one vertically extending liquid column, which acts to take up forces. Each liquid column will extend through a number of packages corresponding to the number of layers in the box structure. As the box structure comprises at least two layers, each liquid column will extend through at least two packages.

Reference is now made to Fig. 4, which illustrates how the liquid product forms two liquid columns 18 in each packing unit 1 (as indicated by two- way arrows). In the Figure, three packing units 1 have been stacked on top of each other such that a subjacent packing unit 1 supports the superjacent packing units 1. Consequently, all the subjacent packing units are subjected to a load.

To be precise, the liquid columns 18, which can also be said to serve as a counter-pressure structure, are formed when the packing unit 1 and its box structure 2 are compressed as a result of the application of a load, whereby they in turn compress the filled packages 4. The liquid columns 18 thus contribute to taking up forces, thereby preventing a continued compression of the packing unit 1.

It will be noted that when a liquid-filled package 4 of the collapsible type is compressed essentially no change occurs in the volume of the package 4, but only in its shape.

Because the filled packages 4 can be made to carry a load, the box structure 2 requirements are lowered to a corresponding degree. As a result, because the rigidity and material thickness of the box structure 2 can be re- duced, and thus the material consumption, so can the cost of manufacture. The packing unit 1 can be arranged in such a manner that the packages 4 contained in the box structure 2 are in an at least partly compressed state also when no load has been applied to the packing unit 1. For this purpose, the top wall 7 of the box structure 2 can be arranged such that it abuts against the top layer of packages 4 with a pretensioning force, thereby causing a compression of the packages 4. It is thus possible to minimize the com- pression of the packing unit 1 that is required to create said liquid column 18 and have it act to take up forces.

It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. It is not necessary for example to have perforations of rectilinear extension, as in the illustrated embodiment; instead perforations can have an arcuate extension. Accordingly, the perforations that define a strip member can have an extension such that they bulge away from each other. One advantage of perforations which have an arcuate extension is that the risk of folding about a perforation occurring during erection of the box structure is eliminated.

Furthermore, perforations may be provided that enable top wall flaps to be torn off for bevelling purposes to provide a better presentation of the packages in the separated state of the box structure. A number of modifications and variations are thus possible, and therefore the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A packing unit comprising a separable box structure (2) made of a paperboard material and a plurality of packages (4) which are filled with a liquid product and which each have a bottom wall (14) and two opposite side walls (13a, 13b), which packages (4) are of the collapsible type and have in their upright position an upwardly tapering shape, the packages (4) being arranged in the box structure (2) in such a manner that each package (4) has a side wall (13a) which faces a bottom wall (6) of the box structure (2), the packages (4) being laid horizontally on top of each other in a plurality of layers with a plurality of packages (4) in each layer, the packages (4) having an alternating orientation in a first direction (R1) and in a second direction (R2) opposite to the first direction (R1), the packages (4) of an individual layer having a uniform orientation in the first or the second direction (R1 , R2), and the packages (4) which have an orientation in the first direction (R1) forming a first group (G 1) of packages and the packages (4) which have an orientation in the second direction (R2) forming a second group (G2) of packages, c h a r a c t e r i s e d in that the box structure (2) is separable for providing two box halves (3a, 3b) which each contain a group (G1 , G2) of packages, and the liquid product in the packages (4) forms at least one vertically ex- tending liquid column (18) which acts to take up forces when a load is applied to said packing unit.

2. A packing unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said box structure (2) has a bottom wall (6), four side walls (5) and a top wall (7).

3. A packing unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein a central strip portion (9) defined by perforations (10) extends over the top wall (7) and over a mutually opposite pair (5a, 5b) of side walls (5).

4. A packing unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein said strip portion (9) comprises a first strip member (11a), which extends along part of the top wall (7) and a first (5a) of the side walls (5), and a second strip member (11 b), which extends along part of the top wall (7) and a second (5b) of the side walls (5) opposite to the first side wall (5a).

5. A packing unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first strip member

(11a) is separate from the second strip member (11b).

6. A packing unit as claimed in claim 4 or 5, wherein each strip member (11a, 11b) has a pointed end portion (12) which connects onto the bottom wall (6) of the box structure (2).

7. A packing unit as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the box structure (2) has walls (5, 6, 7) which, in the non-separated state of the box structure (2), are arranged to provide compression of the filled packages (4).