CA1238018A - Carton with separaters, its blank and apparatus facilitating its erection for use - Google Patents

Abstract

CARTON WITH SEPARATERS, ITS BLANK AND APPARATUS FACILUTATING ITS ERECTION FOR USE.

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The disclosure relates to cartons with separaters which, where the articles to be separated are deep, comprise a lower arrangement of separaters according to the invention in co-operation with a higher arrangement of separaters of known form and supported from a stiff central separater according to the invention.
The lower and upper separaters erect automatically when the carton walls are moved from the flat condition to the rectangular condition,the lower ones are extensions of the known Crash-bottom style and arranged to interact together according to the invention to erect the separater forming extensions for separating two or more articles such as glass bottles. The invention includes means joining the two separate similar opposing structures associated with the known Crash-bottom to effectively form one bottom member fixed at its four sides and the invention extends from the flat blank, through a process for folding and gluing the flat blank, to apparatus erecting the carton and effecting said joining of the bottom structures ready for the commercial use of the carton.

(Figures 21 and 22 are recommended for publication with the abstract)

Description

The present invention relates to cartons, to blank for cartons and to means for erection of collapsed cartons.
Hitherto, for instance, carrier blanks have been made for glass bottles for which transport requirements make it necessary to have separation between the glass and these requirements have resulted in cartons with separators between a central wall and two long side walls which, due to their method for folding flat when empty, have a bottom which is fixed to only the two long sidewalls. Such designs vary but they are necessarily complicated and require a lot of the paperboard from which they are made to be cut to waste. Also the blank is complicated to fold and glue together, which generally causes its production to be slow and limited to special gluing machines such as right angle gluers so it is an expensive carton.
The~eore it is desirable to be able to make such carrier cartons, or any carton requiring separators or dividers, by using the type of bottom which will erect automatically when the sides are opened and are known generically by such names as the CLash-bottom, the Auto-bottom and the Lock-bottom but such bottoms are weak and the reference to locking relates only to the engagement of two opposite parts of the bottom to prevent it returning to its original flat carton state. Furthermore, such bottoms do not appear to lend themselves to the provision of separators, nor do they appear to allow the type oE flat folding required to allow a top structure with a central handle held stiffly as required by bottle carriers.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a bottom which is self erecting and has separators which are automatically erected when the sidewalls are opened from the flat condition by means provided or locked by means provided.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a collapsible carrier for articles constructed from a blank of sheet material and including a bottom comprising bottom member panels depending from bottom edges of each of four side walls by horizontal lines of fold, each side wall being ., .j hinged by a line of vertical corner fold to the next side wall, and when the carrier is folded flat into the collapsed condition, the bottom member panels being folded to lie against the insides of the adjacent side walls, and wherein the pair of bottom member panels each have a separator forming extension hinging with the respective bottom member panel at a line of weakness parallel to the horizontal line of fold, the separa~ors being arranged to engage one another for their rightangular displacement relative to the respective bottom member panels when the bottom member panels are displaced vertically by horizontal displacement of the side walls during erection of the carrier.
The present invention further provides a collapsible carrier for articles constructed from a blank of sheet material including a bottom comprising bottom member panels depending from the bottom edges of each of four side walls ky a horizontal line of fold, each side wall hinged by a line of vertical corner fold to the next s:ide wall, and when the carrier is folded Elat into the collapsed condition and assembled two of the four vertical corner folds lie between the two other vertical corner folds which are folded fully each with members adjacent to it forming a similar opposing structure, the adjacent bottom member panels folded to lie against the inside of the adjacent side walls and a glue lap divided from one of the bottom member panels of each structure by a diagonal fold meeting with the vertical corner fold folded fully and the horizontal line of fold, the glue lap folded to lie against the adjacent bottom member panel and glued to it, at least one substantially horizontal cut above a vertical corner fold and its adjacent side walls, the ends of the cut connecting with the lines of two vertical folds which have a further vertical fold therebetween and above the cut, one of the vertical folds providin~ another such vertical corner fold upon the further vertical fold forming an internal corner by reverse folding the carrier material, means including a second substantially hori~ontal cut loca~ed above at least one of the fully folded vertical corner folds with the carrier material above the second cut being folded to reverse inwardly for forming separation for separating the upper parts of the articles carried and for accommodating a carrying opening when the carrier is erected, characterized in that the free edge of at least one bottom member panel of each one of the similar opposing structures carries a separator forming extension hinging with the bottom member at a line of weakness paralle:L with the horizontal line of fold and the line of weakness dimensioned to communicate with a line of weakness of the similar opposing structure when erected and the height of khe separator extensions dimensioned to finish below the carrying opening of the inwardly reversing carrier material when the carrier is collapsed, the separators each arranged and adapted for the transmi.ssion to it of opposition force through engagement between the separator and another separator for their rightangular displacement relative to their at least one bottom member panel when the at least one bottom member panel and the bottom member sharing a diagonal fold ~ogether are displaced vertically by their respective side walls of their similar opposing structure being displaced horizontally and th~ carrier material enabled to reverse inwardly is displaced inwardly contribut.ing stiffness and positioned for co-operating with the separator forming extensions of the bottom which separate the lower parts of the same articles carried in the erected collapsible carrier which is erected by moving each fold for folding fully one toward the other and opened to provide the displacements.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a collapsible carrier for articles and constructed from a blank of sheet material including a bottom comprising bottom member panels depending from bottom edges of each of four side walls by a horizontal line of fold, each side wall being hinged by a line of vertical corner fold to the next side wall, and when the carrier is fol~ed into the collapsed condition and assembled two of the four vertical corner folds lying between the two other vertical corner Eolds which are folded fully each with component members adjacent to it forming a similar opposinq structure, the bottom member panels being folded to lie against the insides of the side walls, at least one substantially horizontal cut above one of the vertical corner folds and its adjacent side walls, the ends of the cut connecting with the lines of another two vertical folds, which have a further vertical fold therebetween and above the cut, one of the vertical folds forming an internal corner by reverse folding of the carrier material, means including a second substantially horizontal cut located above at least one of.the fully folded vertical corner folds with the carrier material above the second substantially horizontal cut being folded to reverse inwardly for Eorming separation for separating the upper parts of the articles carried and for accommodating a carrying opening and providing stiffness to the carrying opening. More particularly, the invention may be implemented as a collapsible carrier for articles and constructed from a blank of sheet material including a bottom comprising bottom member panels depending from the bottom edges of each of four side walls by a horizontal line of fold, each side wall hinged by a line of vertical corner fold to the next side wall, and when the carrier is folded into the collapsed condition and assembled two of the four vertical corner folds lie between the two other vertical corner folds which are folded fully each with component members adjacent to it forming a similar opposing structure, the adjacent bottom member panels folded to lie against the inside of the adjacent side walls and a glue lap divided from one of the bottom member panels of each structure by a diagonal fold meeting with the vertical fold folded fully and the horizontal lines of fold, the glue lap folded to lie against the adjacent bottom member panel and glued to it, at least one substantially horizontal cut above a vertical i~

corner fold and its adjacent side walls, the ends of the cut connecting with the lines of two vertical folds which have a further vertical fold therebetween and above the cut, one of the vertical folds providing another such vertical corner fold upon the further vertical fold forming an internal corner by reverse folding the carrier material, means including a second substantially horizontal cut located above at least one of the fully folded vertical corner folds with the carrier material above the second substantially horizor.tal cut being folded to reverse inwardly for forming separation for separating the upper parts of the articles carried and for accommodating a carrying opening and providing stifEness to the arxying opening upon folding and gluing the blank into a collapsed collapsible carrier which blank is dimensioned Eor erecting into a carrier for use.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig 1 shows a ~lat blank lower part providing a single separator.
Fig 2 shows the blank of Fig 1 glued together and being erected.
Fig 3 shows the blank of Fig 2 erected.
Fig 4 shows the blank of Fig 3 with a suitable erected upper separation complete.
Fig 5 shows a flat blank lower part using related glue laps.
Fig 6 shows the blank of Fig 5 glued together and being erected.
Fig 7 shows the blank of Fig 6 erected.
Fig 8 shows the blank of Pig 7 with two suitable upper separations, erected.
Fig 9 shows a fla~ blank lower part using disassociated glue laps.
Fig 10 demonstrates the gluing and folding of a complete carton with the lower separation shown by Fig 9.

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Fig 11 shows an elongated version of the blank shown by Fig 9 being erected.
Fig 12 shows the blank of Fig 11 Prected.
Fig 13 shows the blank of Fig 12 with a suitable erected upper separation complete.
Fig 14 demonstrates the gluing and folding of a complete carton using related glue laps.
Fig 15 shows the lower separation of the blank of Fig 14 being erected.
Fig 16 shows the blank of Fig 15 erected.
Fig 17 shows the blank of Fig 16 with a suitable erected upper separation complete.
Fig 18 shows a flat blank complete including short separators and handle.
Fig 19 shows the lower part of Fig 18 glued together and being erected.
Fig 20 shows the blank of Fig 19 erected and short separators erect, also locking.
Fig 21 shows the blank of Fig 20 with a suitable erected upper separation complete.
Fig 22 shows a ~lat blank complete with lower and upper separation and stitch.
Fig 23 shows an underside view of the blank of Fig 22 glued and being erected.
Fig 24 shows part of the lower separators of a flat blank with short separation.
Fig 25 shows the blank of E'ig 24 erected seen Erom below and being acted upon.
Fig 26 shows the blank of Fig 25 from inside and being acted upon by apparatus.
Fig 27 shows the blank of Fig 26 having been acted upon by apparatus.
Fig 28 shows the blank of Fiq 23 as a bottom elevation after erecting complete.
Fig 29 is a scrap view of the short separator and stitch of Fig 28 from inside.
Fig 30 shows a flat blank complete with lower separator stitching and upper separation for four articles.

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6a Fig 31 shows the blank of Fig 30 as a bottom elevation after erecting complete~
Fig 32 is a scrap view of a stitch of Fig 31 seen from inside the carton.
Fig 33 sho~s a flat blank with automatic stitching of the bottom when erected.
Fig 34 shows the glued blank of Fig 33 seen from below and being erected.
Fig 35 shows the main stages in the process of gluing the blank together.
Fig 36 shows the flat blank entering a folding device for preparing the invention.
Fig 37 shows a later stage following Fig 36 of prebending and folding.
Fig 38 shows a later stage followlng Fig 37 having prebent and further Eolding.
Fig 39 shows a later stage following Fig 38 opening the prebend and further folding.
Fig 40 shows a later stage following Fig 39 and glue laps folded with the bottom.
Fig 41 shows the blank bottom folded a~cording to the invention and leaving.
Fig 42 shows apparatus means preparing the glued blank for its commercial use.
Fig 43 shows a flat blank complete with upper separation accordirlg to the invention.
Fig 44 shows the blank of Fig 43 erected as for travelling with bottles inside.
Fig 45 shows the blank of Fig 44 with its handle expanded for the customer to carry.
Fig 46 shows the flat blank of Fig 18 erected ready to hold six bottles or other.
Fig 47 shows the blank of Fig 46 with its handle e~panded for the customer to carry.
Fig 48 shows erected upper separation combining that of Figs 17 and 21.
Separators or dividers as they are sometimes called normally have to be added to the carton after it is made , ~

6b and erected and these vary from display cartons for sachets which require separation to prevent the sachets sliding about the floor of the carton, to carriers for articles such as glass bottle to prevent them abrading each other or bra~ing in which case the separation must be as deep as the bottle body. However, it is not necessary, in the case of most bottles, for the separators to be full depth of the body because it is unnecessary and undesirable to have any separator between the bottle shoulder and the bottle heel otherwise the bottle label can be scuffed and damaged. Therefore one of the most economic and advantageous uses of the present invention is as a bottle ca.rrier and, although it is not the only use for the invention and features of it, bottle carriers will ` '~t~ ~

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be used as the example known to the inventor with some of its embodiments including lower and upper separation and each could be used alone to advantage as required.
Unlike the known added separation the lower separation of the invention begins at and is integral with,the bottom of the carton. An advantage of the upper separatior 5. is that it use~ only the amount of material required to surround the group of bottles in a rectangle on their sides only. The lower part of the invention begins with the known bottom which automatically erects similar to the embodiment shown by ~ig 1 in which two diagonal folds 25 and 26 which divide the glue laps 9 and 10 from the bottom member panels 6 and 8 which are folded up to lie against the inside o.of ~ide walls 2 and 4 respectively as the glue laps 9 and 10 are simultaneously folded back, the bottom member panels 5 and 7 are folded to lie against the in~ide of side walls 1 and 3 respectively, so that the g].ue laps 9 and 10 can fix to glue areas 31 and 32 when side walls 1 and 4 are folded at the vertical lines of fold 11 snd 13 in~ard to overlQy respectivoly to form two ~imilar opposing ~tructures 15.wh~n glue lap 15 i9 glued and fixed to edge 35 of side wall 1.
Thi~ embodiment i9 also imilar to the known lock-bottom in that when it is erected by moving the ~ide wallR ~uch that vertical fold 11 and vertical fold 13 move one toward the other their adjacent bottom member panels 5, 6, 7, B, will be pulled ; down to for~ a com~on floor of the carton and the two opposing edges 20 will be 20.pu~hed one p~gt the other and lock the bottom into place but only in the sense of the known manner and which prevents the return of the bottom folds to their collapsed form. The separater invention in Fig 1 is in its simplest form and it is required where the contents to be separated are only t~o using one separater ; between and as such it i9 required for large whisky bottles et¢ ~o it i~ important 2s.commercially. The separaters 16 and 18 are hinged by lines of weaknes~ 27 and 28 respectively 30 that as they ~re exten3ions of bottom members ~ituated on opposing 3tructurs of the carton they will interact together by one separator opposing the other so that the line~ of weaknes~ 27 and 29 will bend as the carton bottom erects ~ig 2 ~hows that ~herea~ one separater extension will rotate toward the other in side elevstion, the carton in plan view will change from flat~ through rhomboidal9 ~23~

to rectangular and while it is rhomboidal the d~per extension ~6 will engage incut-away 37 and the deeper e~tension 38 ~ill engage in cut-away 39 such that in elevation they, 16 and 18, will cross one over the other and establish that one cannot slip under the other. As the separater extensions slide together hori20ntall~
the p~rts 36 and 38 will fill cut-aways 37 and 39 ~ith the separaters perpendicular to the bottom as seen in Fig 3 erected~ The glue spplication area is shown by broken shaded line because it is on the reverYe side as seen in Fig 1, ~hile the glue could be applied to either side of glue lap 150which is attached at vertical line of fold 14, it is stronger as an external joint and glued on the side seen.
.Vertical linesof fold 12 and 14 are used ~hen the carton is erected and they divid~
the two similar opposing structures each adJacent their respective vertical folds 11 and 13 for folding double. It will be understood that throughout the drawings of embodiments vJhere two surfaces are fixed by gluing, either of the surfaces may carry the application of glue whereas only one is shovrn. Such g]ue i9 preferably 15.wet-Btrength adhesive such as that known generically as P.V.A. Fig 4 sho~s the erectad bottom with a suitable upper separater structure when used with bottles and with a carrying handle all erected ready for loading.
~ig 5 shows a blank which includes separaters which take 3upport by their interaction togathar by one separater extension 17 and 19 opposing the other but because more 20,than two articles have ~eparaters between, the separaters 17 and 19 must have separ-aters 16 and la respectively fixed to them by glue laps 33 and 34 respectively.
~herefore because they are fixed by gluing the shaded area,after folding 6 to over-lay 2 and 9 to overlay 6, with 5 folded to overlay 1 to complete one structure adjacent vertical line of foldll when folded for 9 to come against and become fix~d 2s.t 5 and for 33 to become fixed to 16,as abo~e, all in the flat condition, the geometry of the invention therefore provides that when ~ide walls 1 and 2 are opened the separater extensions 16 and 17 will interact together because they are fixed at a substantially vertical line of fold 36 cau~ing them to remain parallel with the side ~alls 1 and 2 and 90 be automatically erected as separaters as the bottom i3 erected as seen in Fig 6 but where the other end of the long separater 17 i9 supp-orted by interaction with separater 19 when erected and seen in Fig 7 ~hich interac-tion is the same as the interaction by opposing separater~ in the erected Fig 3.
Separater 19 is a member of the similar opposing 3tructure seen in Fig 5 comprising similar members ~, 4, 10, 79 3, 18, 19, 34 and 37 similarly folded and fixed toget-5. her adjacent their re~pective vertical line of fold 13 ~hen glue lap 15 is fixed tothe free edge 35. Fig 6 shows the separaters 19 and 17 ~ertical but in practice the free end is not sufficiently influenced to fully bend its line of weakness and this is done by 17 opposing 19 as 3een in Fig 7. ~n~en u~ed with bottles a suitable upper separator str~cture is shown by Fig 8. Fig 43 sho~s a similar blank but square.
lOoFig 9 shows a va~iation on ~ig 5 ~h~re the glue laps 33 and 34 are not cut fro~
the glue laps 9 and 10 but are disassociated and extend from different adjacent separater extensions 16 and 18 of each respective similar opposing structure,which are separated by vertical line of fold 12. The folding and gluing of lo~er separ-ate~sas shown by Fig 9 is seen in Fig 11 being erected but it is described a~in to 15.sho~ that the change of position does not affect the invention, also subsequent variations will demonstrate some of the many varying effects which may be obtainsd through embodiments of the invention where the elements are repositioned.
In Fig 10 similar opposing structures have been created adjacent vertical lines of fold 11 and 13 on each side of vertical line of fold 12. Therefore bottom member 200panel9 6 and 8 are folded back to lie against the inside of ~alls 1 and 3 respectiv-ely while retaining glue laps 9 and 10 a9 the blank travels through the gluing mach-ine(either by hooks or by the device 79 according to the present invention) bottom fir~t in the known manner to lay in a "Z" fold with the carton inside facing out-~ard at glue lap~ 9 and 10. bottom members 5 and 7 are also folded back to lie 2sOagainst the inside of 3ide walls 2 and 4 respectively and glue i9 added to member 5 or 9 and 7 or 10 also in the known manner for timed pattern glui~g and sho~n shaded. The lower and upper separation shown by Fig 10 are new and the lower separ-aters are pro~ided by bottom member panel ~eparaters forming extensions 17 and 16 glued together by the contact of glued glue lap 33 with 17 and substantially ~erti-cal fold 36 at the point of attachment~ also by bottom member panel separater forming extensions 1~ and 19 glued tog~th~r by the contact of glued ~lue lap 34 with 19 and substantially ~ertical fold 37 at the point of attachment9 all in accor-d~nce ~ith the directional arrows of Fig 10 uhen glue lap 15 i8 fixed to free edge 35. As shown by Fig 10 the side walls are of equal length but separater3 I7 and 19 could be elongated to produce a carton bottom as shown by Figs lI, 1~ and 1~ wherein 5. the comments correspond ~ith those relating to Figs 6, 7 and 8 excepting that eight articles are accommodated. Therefore it will be understood that separater glue laps may be related or disassociated in any combination to achieve the greatest advantage Fig 14 the chaneeof position of separater glue laps can be 3een by comparing the folding and gluing de n3tration drawing Fig 10 with the folding and gluing demon-10.9tration dra~ing Fig 14 which relates to Figs 5 and 43. The demon~tration by Fig14 will be apparent by comparing the reference figures of Fig 10 to those of Fig 14.
Fig 12 show~ the lower separation seen in Fig 11 after it has been erected but it should not be confused with Fig 7 ~hich is constructed differ~ntly,apart from the number of artlcles contained.~i~15 shows the blank demonstrated in Fi~ 14 being 15.erected, ~i~ 16 9how9 the 9ame blank erected such that the Polded co~ners 36 and 37 will oppose and support each other, ho~ever the free ends of separaters 16, 17, 18~ 19 do not h~ve the support of opposition and it is nece~sary to cut the ends of lines of weakn2~s 27, 28, 29, 30 or prebend them as shown by ~igs 35 to 41.
Fig 17 shows the lower separation of Figs 10, 14, 15, 16 er0cted with 3uitable 20.uPper separation. Fi~s 7 and 12 sho~ that the lower separation i9 incomplete and Figure 18 shows one of the ways for including a short separater to complete the separation, it also sho~s one of the variations possible in the arrangement of bottom extension separaters. The description and positions of reference~ are as provided for in Fig 5 excepting that separater extensions 16 and 18 are 3ubstanti-ally the full width of the parent bottom members 5 and 7 respecti~ely, while the separater extension3 17 and 19 are sho~n one third of the length of their parent bottom members 6 and 8. The result of the completed bottom is seen being eracted in Fi~ 19~ Fig 20 shows the same bottom when erected and Fig 21 shows a suitable ~m of upper separater w1th it ready for loading as a carrier for bottles.
Figs 189 19, 20 therefore shov the "H" form of separation and short separater means ~3~

to complete it to separate six articles therefore the tabs 40 in Fig 18 are cut from glue laps 9 and 10 on each side and hinge at an upper line of fold and have a cut-out opening 41 positioned 80 that the tab 40 is below the cut-out when the blank is glued and ~hen erected,as in Fig 20, the tab 40 c~n be rotated about its hinge 5. to penetrate the cut-out 41 as a stitch through ~hich will be supported by the cut-out 41 and separate bottles at their centre as a part of the invention.
Yet another stitch through is shown in Figs 18, 19, 20 and 22 and its object is to join the two similar opposing 3tructures. It i~ a necessary part of the invention to join them because,as stated in the prior art description, the Crash-bottom is lO.considered too weak for carrying a dense load such as bottles Or liquor, therefore the present invention includes various means for providing a Stitch rrhrough from one similar oppoYing structure through the other. Therefore ln one embodiment of stitching there is provided a cut-out tab 43 hinged at the -top and opposite 43 there is tab 44 hinged at the bottom from the opposing ~ertical separater, see Fig 19.
15.~Yhen the 3eparaters are erect and one is opposing the other, the tab 44 is pushed through the space occupied by tab 43 which opens to accept tab 44 snd retain it flat where it can be made to lock. Mechanism effecting such a stitch will enter the inside of the erected carton to press the bottom flat and support the ~urround oP the tab 43 while a ho'rizontal plunger will pu3h ta~ 4~ through cut-out 43.
20.0ther mean of fixing according to the in~ention include ~ire stitching and gluing any part or tab of the similar opposing structure, or a tab or extension of it,one to the other. It will be understood that the invention refers to any means fixing the one ~ ~e ~thei~ and glue or hot melt adhesive ar~ quite suitable at the point of erecting the carton before the bottom is fully formed by a support means pressing 25~the bottom flat because it is thereafter held by the content load until fixed.
Fig 23 shows the underside of a bottom, constructed from a blank as shown in Fig 22 being ere~ted before the bottom is fully formed and sho~ing extensions 45 of the bottom member panels and so differing from those of known form as they continue beyond lines of fold 46 and which are the normal extent of Crash-bottom cartons as ..

they are known. Fold lines 46 are not essential but they help bending of the exten-sion in some ca3es.

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Such extension~ 45 as shown by Fig 23 are particularly suited to receive wire stitching as shown by Fig 24 where a flat wire stitch 47 is in~erted for greater strength.
Figs 22 and 23 show a co-operat;ing tab interaction which is both a locking stitch 5. and a short separater. 'rhe tab construction is shown by Fig 22 wherein broken lines are lines of fold and full lines are liIles of cut. ~ig 23 shows a suitable leading edge 48 which represents posYibly the largest area allowable where edge 4 will become the outer bottom member 6 a~d ~, while bottom members 5 and 7 have leading edges as 49 because it is the interaction of leading edge3 48/49, especially lO.at the corner end which controls which bottom member is to b~ outsiAe during and after erecting. The erect bottom blank of ~ 22 and 23 is shollrn at Fig 28 where outer tabs 50 have been pushed through the opening left by tabs 51 and tabs 51 have moved back to retain tab 50 which is shaped to lock as a locking stitch throu~h 5 and 7 from 6 and ~. Tab 50 will thus remain erect inside as in Fig 29 until the 15.articles being separated by it are insertad after which they remain vertlcal even when the carton is emptied and refilled.
Where the invontion i~ embodied in a carrier for four articles there i~ no need for a short separater but a similar stitch can be usefully used and a suitable blank is shown including tabs 52 and 53 as seen ~ig 30 and ~rhich correspond with tabs 50 and 20.51 of Fig 22. In Fig 30 broken lines ar~ lines of fold and ~ull lines are lines of cut. A difference ho~reYer is that another opening 54 is needed due to the extra thickness of paperboard at the point of stitching and the fully erected bottom made from the blank shown ln Fig 30 is shown with the stitching made operative in Fig 31 from the out~ide and in Fig 32 from the inside.
25.Such stitching is carried out very quickly and easily where machinery is used to complete the invention for use, such as shown by Fig 42, because the surround of the opening can be held firmly by support 59 which has entered the carton while a probe 60 or 61 from below will push the flaps 50/51 or 52/53 or any other stitch or short separater such as 55/56, from belo~r so that they erect, preferably at one stroke, as seen in the scrap view detail Or Fig 42 bottom right.

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However it will be obvious from ~i~ 23 that the leading edge 4B~ being caused topass over cut-out opening 51 could be made 3maller than an opening at 51 and thus 48 ~ould enter the opening where entry i~ sufficiently unobstructed as in the case of opening 58 of ~ig3 33 and 34. The blank is sho~ by ~ig 33 and it is glued and 5. folded a9 previously disclosed in describing Fig 5 c~d Fig 43 there~ore the extens-ion 45 have a sythe-li~e action and will necessari:Ly be offered to the opening 58 at an angle since that is the state of the bottom members 7 outer angled to bottom member 6 inner, also bottom member 5 outer angled to bottom member ~ inner, upon 45 meeting 5a, see Fig 34. Therefore entry of 45 through 58 is unobstructed and as lO.the bottom is almo9t ereot and 45 has almost completed its stitch action it may be made to become tight or fixed ~ithin the opening. As sho~n the radial cuts 57 engage to co-operate snd lock in a known manner with similar radial cuts of opening 58. Such a locking stitch provides an extremely strong bottom and it can similarly be used with such a carton carrying more than four articles but more security can 15.be had by uslng a stitch Or another material and having a sep2rate short separater Fig 24 sho~s a suitable blank form ~herein broken lines are linss of fold and continuous lines are lines of cut. Therefore to create a short separater at each carton bottom end there is provided tab 55 and tab 56 hinged at lin8s of fold 62 and 63 respectively and having notches 64 and 65 each able to engage the other when 20.glued to the carton blank by the application of glue shown by the shaded area which will ~ecure the bottom member panel 7 as close,as manufacturing tolerance will allow, to the folds 62 and 63. Said gluing is important because the hinges 62 and 63 should be fixed to a substrate and the opening left by tabs 55 and 56 should be repaired by the glue lap 10. Fig 25 sho~s the underside of the erected carton bottom 25,~here a flat ~ stitch47 has been inserted through outer extension 45~ the glue lap 10 and carton bottom member 7. Fig 26 sho~s the carton inside entered by a ~upport means 59 including an anvil for clenahing the flat wire stitch. Such support may also support the bottom 7 each side of the hinges 62 and 6~ while probe 61 enters the slot openings 66 and 67 to raise tabs 55 and 56 and engage their notches 64 and 65 to ~aintain their interaction together one with the other to provide short separ-aters as shown by Fig 27 with the inside of the ~ire stitch clenohed and out of the way of any bottle base ~7hich is circular.Fig 35 shows the elements o a process or machine system for gluing the automaticall erecting bottom and ~eparaters according to the inventiolI and shown as stages.
Stage references are; 71 infeed of a flat blank located ~ith a flight for timing 5. the process of the blank through gluing or special folding; 72 prebending of the vertical lines of fold ll/llA and 13/13~; 73 the bottom folded as Figs 36 to 41;
74 blank prepared for gluing; 75 glue imprinting cylinder with 3terios surfaced with glue from glue pot and roller systQm, using ste:rios which may be made by the copolymerisation of plastics material selectively exposed to ultraviolet light lO.(such as the known process of Asahi Chemical Industry Co) for impartlng the intric-ate shape required without difficulty; 76 folding folds 11 and 1~ and any ;everse-folds 11~ and 13A u~ing lifters for side llralls 1 and 4 to overlay side walls 2 and 3 and glue lap 15 to join to edgQ 35; 77 the carton i~ pressed while glue fixes the carton blank. Figs 36 to 41 show a device for preberlding the impressed lines of 15.fold of ~he flat blank 27, 2~ 29, 30 90 that such prepressed lines of fold become li~re hingea ~rhere the paperboard fibres are 3eparated. If this is not done then the folds must be weake~ed by cuts through so that the separaters will erect easily and effectivel~r. Other prepressed lines of fold normal to Crash-bottom cartons and which will be prepared by the device are 21, 22, 23l 24, The device is supported 20.on a cro93bar and there pivoted 78; 79 i9 the device with the special internal shape ~ho~m; 80 is a pivoted spring arm deflector. Fig 36 show~3 the device in the path of the flat blank moving bottom first and entering the shape of the device 79 ~rhile the glue laps of the blank 9 and 10 are prevented from rising by guide rail 81.
Fig 37 ~hollvs the separaters 16, 17, 18, 19 betng deflected b~ deflector ao and glue ~5 l~ps 9 and 10 bending back under the rail 81. Fig 38 shows ths deflector itself deflected and 79 pivoted until vertical on 78 and 9 and 10 bent back still further.
Fig 39 sho~rs the delrice 79 moved to the far side of centre and the deflector regai-ning its position, the fold~ 27 to 30unfolding having been bent double, the glue laps 9 and 10 being bent double while the blank passes avray belo~ Fig 40 3ho~s the blank leaving the device llrhich has pivoted to its furthest point, the folds 21 to 24 -14~

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and 25 and 26 of the glue laps 9 and 10 all folded double. Fig 41 shows the blan~
having left the dsvice and the folds doubled now pressed double under the rail 81 ready for gluing ~rhile the device 79 is about to be freed to swing back to the position sho~n by chain lines ready for rec~iving the next blank to begin again.
5, Fig 42 shows the embodiment of the invention in a machine facilitating its erection for use by ~ay of example only. It is divided into indexing station stages, erecting, locki~g, loading and ejecting. Erecting where the blank is drawn into the compartment between flight ~alls 91 and 92 by vacuum plats a2 on reciprocating arm 83 such that curved ~all 84 will displace carton ~all 2 until it is at right-lO.angle9 to carton ~all 3 whereupon the carton will enter between flight walls 91 and92 and be retained erect a~ a consequence. ~he flight walls 91 and 92 will then index in the direction shown by the horizontal arrows until they are in the position shoun occupied by flight walls 92 and 93 and arm 83 ~ill remain in the position sho~n by the chain lincs with the vacuum hold released until fl:Lght walls 91 and .100 are indexed and stopped ~ith vacuum head 82 therebetween 90 that it can dra~
another blank from the stack of blanks maintaning a blank availabl2 to head 82 at each stroke of it. During which stroke the bottom support 59 will enter the inside of the carton and press on any part of the bottom or support-a separater for stit-ching or securing one carton similar opposing structure to the other. Support 59 20.may support any part of the bottom while an action is performed on it or it can pres~ the bottom a~ainst a spring supported plate a4 ~hich ~ill resist but be over-come by the support 59 exerting pressure beyond the nor~l level of the bottom ~hereby fixed probes 60 or 61 will pass through the carton bottom while it is 90 clamped, ~ee Fig 42 bottom right hand corner ~crap view shown related. Such probes 2s.may perfo~m any action preparing the carton for it~ commercial u~e and may themsel-ve3 be moved, or they may apply glue for fixing the opposing structures together.
Alternatively wire stitching heads may be activated against the carton bottom for instance a3 demonstrated by Figs 25 and 26. Preferably such stitching will be from a reel of wire rather than a magazine of preformed staples. The spring loaded ,, resistancs plate has the advantage of reducing the number of moving parts and will automatically eject the carton after the action leaving it level with ~he others.
The support 59 then lifts clear of the carton as shown by the vertical arro~s and the carton indexes to the next position 90 that flight walls 91 and 92 occupy the positions qho~n occupied by flight walls 93 and 94 where the articles for loading at 85 are loaded into the carton. If loading is done vertically and by gravity then the bottom of the carton will rest on a shock absorbing base 86 which may be ~pring ~upported. The carton will then index to the next position so that flight walls 91 and 92 will occupy the positions shown occupied by walls 94 and 95 and at this stage the loaded carton may be ejectsd from the apparatus ready for comm-lO.ercial use.~ig38, 13, 17, 21 have been refered to and they disolose a variety of upper separ-ation methods. ~ig 13 and 21 inolude strips 105 joining stiff centre board separ-aterslO6 to the side walls~ such strips performing as separater~ and of known form unlike the stiff oentral separater 106 shown in Fig 17 for instance and erected .from a blank ~ade according to Fig 10. ~he carton of Fig 17 includes side wall3 divided by a first,second, third and fourth line of vertical fold refered to in the drawings as 11, 12, 13 and 14 and in consideration of only two such side ~alls one has a fifth line of vertical fold I~l from the highest point of the carton and in line with a line of desired separation in the erected carton down to a line of 20.out 102 defining an upper edge of the side Rall below which the side wall i9 full width. ~he line of cut 102 continued in effect horizontally beyond the corner of the carton to meet with a sixth line of vertical fold 103 extending to the carton top al80. ~etween the fold 101 and 103 there i9 the outward corner of the carton 11, 12, 13 or 14 and an inwardly folding stiffening corner 11~, 12A, 13A or 14~
2s.the full depth of the carton upper part. It is necessary for the cut 102 to Join fold~ 101 and 103 without such cut ~eeting with any other similar cut 102 since if the above arrangement i~ repeated at each corner of the carton shown by Fig 17 and the cuts should meet then the upper part of the carton would be cut from the lo~er part but if, as according to the invention, the cut 102 cannot meet a similar cut then the upper and lower parts remain firmly attached. Where the above inwardly folding stiffening corner is repeated such that the paperboard cor~ers willreverse one against -the other in opposition and be glued one to the other as show~
by blanks F~ ~0 and 43 and the gluing and folding of them demonstrated by Figs 10 and 14, then a strong central separation i9 produced which may carry an opening 1~4 5. for carrying the carton when loaded. It is not necessary for the cut 102 to be continuous in connecting fold 101 with fold 103 and it may be continued only in effect since it will be interrupted by folds 108 and additional cuts forming the separaters in the kno~n manner as shown by Figs 21 and 18 where they have the reference 105, also seen in Fig 13. Figs 13 and 17 show the form of upper separat-lO.ion refered to above but variations of the same arrangement of stiff separatersupport are ~een in Fig 8 where the cross repre~ented by the seperaters in plan view is displaced to accommodate 9ix articles instead of four and in Fig 13 where the cross is extended to accommodate eight articles. From Fig a it i9 a short step to the form of the upper separation seen in Fig 21 where the vertical fold 103 i~ a 15.continuation of the corner rold 13, or a continuation of the similar oppo~ing ~tructure corner fold 11. ~herefore it will be understood that in Fig 21 the centre separater is a double panel 106 because the upper separation arrangement described i~ repeated as two similar opposing structures like the bottom and suoh si~ilar upper separation structure is repeated adjacent each opposing fold folded double 20.of the inventicn lland13. The glue pattern required for the separation according to the invention sho~n by Fig 21 i8 shown in Fig 22. Fig 4 al~o shows such a cent-ral separater structure 106 with resulting side separaters 107. From the various examples it will be seen that they all have internal corners the full depth of the upper structure forming the separater which will necessarily impart stiffnes~ neaded .for the pre~ent i~Yention comprising the oo-operation of the upper separation from the upper structures and the lower separation from the lower 3tructures where each upper and lower structure is ~imilar and opposing one to the other~ Such separation ha~ the advantage that the full depth of the separater according to the prior arts, less the depth or the upper and lo~er ~eparaters of the pre3ent invention; is saved by the present invention. Other ad~antages are that th~ lower separater reaches ~2~

r~ght to the bottom of the carton, another i9 that they stiffen the carton floorand another iB that the total blank is rectangular and requires very little paper-board to be cut to ~aste. Where at least t~o opposing side walls are gluad toget-her to co-operate and to bend at rightangles it is not sufficient to simply super-impose the inside prepressed folding preparation one upon the outsr one and it isnecessary to have a special prepres~ed fold on the inside of the angle comprising a raised portion approximately 3 mm to each side of the intended fold by pressing the paperboard using creasing rules spaced apart on each side of a stxip of hard material raised above the height of the other make-ready so providing a raised 10. strip on the print face side of the board. The result ~hen folded is that the paperboard raised strip ~ill be nipped by hinging about the outside prepressed fold, produced by the normal process, and shown as 101 in Figs 21 and 22, 90 that the inside raised ~trip 12A or 14A will raise further and fold properly without undue resistance.
15. A further featuxe of the invention relates to the opening ln the central separater for carrying the carton ~ith separaters. A disadvantage~such cartons when used as carriers for bottles for instance is that the finger3 must be pu~hed down among the crown clo~ures in order to grasp the finger hole for carrying therefore a feature of the central separater is that it may have a carrying bar cut out of it, 20~ which due to the position of certain cuts and folds at each end Or the carry bar, the carry bar can be raised above the normal height of the carton so that it is more inviting to the prospective purchaser. Fig 18 shows the blank for such upper ; separation for 9iX bottles where broken lines are lines of fold and full lines are lines of cut, including a carxying opening 111 of Fig 47 wherein it~ upper edge 25. shown 112 i3 the lower edge cut of a horizontal strip 11~ forming a carrying bar continuous with connecting ~trips 114 depending from its each end, the connecting strip3 114 defined by substantially vertical cuts 115 outer ~nd 116 inner, each respective connecting strip 114 lower end surrounded by separating vertical cuts each side of it and the lower ends of the vertical separating cuts 118 being connected below the connecting strip lower end by a horizontal cut and the uppsr ~;~3~
ends of the vertical separating cuts higher than the lo~er ends of the connectingstrip 114 by an amount equal to half of the height by which the carry bar 113 is required to rise to form an opening 111 below the lo~er edge 112 of the carry bar 113 and facilitated to rise by hori~ontal Lines of fold 119 outward from the lower 5, end of each connecting strip to the respective vertical separati~g cuts 118 and inward folds 120 from the upper end of each respective separating cut 118 to the respec~i~e surrounding connecting strip 114 for pro~iding a chain of linked panels 121 on each si~e of the carry bar 113 to enable it to be carried easily.
~s shown Fig3 18, 46, 47 for six bottles and in Figs 43, 44, 45 for four bottles 10. t~o such car~ying bar wall arrangements are supsrimposed and each have such horiz-; ontal fold lines 120 and 121 excepting that the horizontal fold lines 120 and 121 Or one of the oarry bar wall arrangements are di3plaoed vertically relative to the arrang~ment~ opposing them, and the contaoting surfac2s above the highest folds 120 and below the lowest folds 119 are adhesively fixed together at the se~ctively 15. applied glue area 3hown ahaded as one side of the contacting surfaces ~hereby eachpanel 121 between the horizontal folds 119 and 120 will fold upward ~hen the carry bar 113 is lifted and maintain the fixed together surface~ substantially parallel one to the other when the carry bar is raised. The strength of such an arrange-ment i3 made practical by the grain of the paperboard being arranged vertical in ~ ( 20. the carton and which is be3t suited to the whole invention.
; It will be ~nder~tood that the t~o upper separation embodiments sho~n by igs 17 and 21 and in keeping with Figs 4, 8 and 13, may be combined in a single carrier as shown by Fig 48 for providing a carrying handle similar to the stiffening provided by that of Fig 17. Such combination i9 effected by repeating the effect-25. ively horizontal cut 102 as cut 102B positioned above cut 102 and similarly conne-cting a fifth line of vertical fold lOlB beyond an outward corner of the carton 14 and 11 to meet with a sixth line of vertical fold 103~ for allowing ~uch out-~ard corner to be folded inwardly9 as 3hown by Figs 10 and 14, to form the folds 14~ and llA so for~ing an upper separation embodiment intermediate the embodiments 30. sho~n by Fig~ 17 and 21 and which demonstrates their relation~hip.
..~

Claims (24)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A collapsible carrier for articles constructed from a blank of sheet material including a bottom comprising bottom member panels depending from the bottom edges of each of four side walls by a horizontal line of fold, each side wall hinged by a line of vertical corner fold to the next side wall, and when the carrier is folded flat into the collapsed condition and assembled two of the four said vertical corner folds lie between the two other vertical corner folds which are folded fully each with members adjacent to it forming a similar opposing structure, the adjacent bottom member panels folded to lie against the inside of the adjacent side walls and a glue lap divided from one of the bottom member panels of each structure by a diagonal fold meeting with the vertical corner fold folded fully and the horizontal line of fold, the glue lap folded to lie against the adjacent bottom member panel and glued to it, at least one substantially horizontal cut above a said vertical corner fold and its adjacent side walls, the ends of the cut connecting with the lines of two vertical folds which have a further vertical fold therebetween and above the cut, one of said vertical folds providing another such vertical corner fold upon said further vertical fold forming an internal corner by reverse folding the carrier material, means including a second substantially horizontal cut located above at least one of said fully folded vertical corner folds with the carrier material above the second cut being folded to reverse inwardly for forming separation for separating the upper parts of the articles carried and for accommodating a carrying opening when the carrier is erected, characterized in that the free edge of at least one bottom member panel of each one of said similar opposing structures carries a separator forming extension hinging with the bottom member at a line of weakness parallel with the said horizontal line of fold and the like of weakness dimensioned to communicate with a said line of weakness of the similar opposing structure when erected and the height of the separator extensions dimensioned to finish below the carrying opening of the inwardly reversing carrier material when the carrier is collapsed, said separators each arranged and adapted for the transmission to it of opposition force through engagement between said separator and another said separator for their rightangular displacement relative to their said at least one bottom member panel when said at least one bottom member panel and the bottom member sharing a said diagonal fold together are displaced vertically by their respective side walls of their said similar opposing structure being displaced horizontally and said carrier material enabled to reverse inwardly is displaced inwardly contributing stiffness and positioned for co-operating with the separator forming extensions of the bottom which separate the lower parts of the same said articles carried in the erected collapsible carrier which is erected by moving each said fold for folding fully one toward the other and opened to provide the said displacements.

2. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said edge engagement is provided between the face of a said separator extension engaging with and opposing another said separator extension edge and maintained in such opposition during the said rightangular displacement by each separator extension of said similar opposing structure being formed deeper to the free edge of such separator extension at one end than the remainder of the separator extension free edge such that the deeper formed portion of each edge will overlap the free edge remainder of the opposed separator face.

3. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 1 wherein said engagement is provided between adjacent separators which are face opposing face in the folded and glued flat blank and are angularly displaced horizontally one relative to the other during their angular displacement vertically relative to their respective bottom members by the opposing force continued engagement through a vertical edge of at least one adjacent separator maintaining vertical contact with the vertical face of the opposing adjacent separator during and after the angular displacements experienced upon erecting the carrier said vertical edge contact maintained by a substantially vertical line of fold at a glue lap for hinging the adjacent separators together.

4. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein one said similar opposing bottom structure is secured to the other said opposing bottom structure by a stitch of any material from one said similar opposing bottom structure through the other said similar opposing bottom structure.

5. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a stitch comprising a tab cut from the free edge of the bottom member panel of one said similar opposing structure and the tab is able to enter an opening made in the bottom member panel of the other similar opposing structure and the opening positioned to be in the path travelled by the tab, the tab entering the opening and making the stitch when the structures are erected.

6. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a tab is cut out of a part of a similar opposing bottom structure hinged to it by a line of fold for allowing the tab to be rotated and retained perpendicular to the panel from which it was cut to provide additional separation.

7. A collapsible carrier for articles as claimed in claim 1 further characterised in that the said inwardly reversible carrier material will combine with another thickness of carrier material to form double thickness walls of carrier material back to back divided by the said further vertical fold and which further vertical fold comprises a line of embossed carrier material raised between parallel edges on the face of the inwardly reversed carrier material and wherein the back of the embossed carrier material is raised above the said face and above a prepressed line for folding in the said another thickness in the collapsed condition and in the erected condition.

8. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 1 including said carrying opening wherein its upper edge is the lower edge cut of a horizontal strip forming a carrying bar continuous with connecting strips depending from its each end, the connecting strips defined by substantially vertical cuts, each respective connecting strip lower end surrounded by separating vertical cuts each side of said lower end and the lower ends of the vertical separating cuts being connected below the connecting strip lower end by a horizontal cut and the upper ends of the vertical separating cuts being higher than the lower ends of the connecting strip by an amount equal to half the height by which the carrying bar is required to rise to form an opening below the lower edge of the carrying bar and facilitated to rise by horizontal lines of fold outward from the lower end of each connecting strip to the respective vertical separating cuts and inward from the upper end of each respective separating cut to the respective surrounding connecting strip for providing a chain of linked panels on each side of the carry bar.

9. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 8 wherein two such carrying bar wall arrangements are superimposed and each have such horizontal fold lines excepting that the horizontal fold lines of one of the carry bar wall arrangements are displaced vertically relative to the other and the contacting surfaces above and below the highest and the lowest said horizontal folds are adhesively fixed together whereby each panel between the horizontal folds will fold upward when the carry bar is lifted and maintain the fixed together surfaces substantially parallel one to the other.

10. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a stitch comprising a tab cut out of a part of said similar opposing lower structure part is moved through a cut out part of the other said similar opposing lower structure.

11. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein adhesive is applied to a part of one said similar opposing lower structure for meeting with a part of the other said similar opposing lower structure for joining the one to the other upon them being erected.

12. A collapsible carrier for articles and constructed from a blank of sheet material including a bottom comprising bottom member panels depending from the bottom edges of each of four side walls by a horizontal line of fold, each side wall hinged by a line of vertical corner fold to the next side wall, and when the carrier is folded into the collapsed condition and assembled two of the four said vertical corner folds lie between the two other vertical corner folds which are folded fully each with component members adjacent to it forming a similar opposing structure, the adjacent bottom member panels folded to lie against the inside of the adjacent side walls and a glue lap divided from one of the bottom member panels of each structure by a diagonal fold meeting with the vertical fold folded fully and the horizontal lines of fold, the glue lap folded to lie against the adjacent bottom member panel and glued to it, at least one substantially horizontal cut above a said vertical corner fold and its adjacent side walls, the ends of the cut connecting with the lines of two vertical folds which have a further vertical fold therebetween and above the cut, one of said vertical folds providing another such vertical corner fold upon said further vertical fold forming an internal corner by reverse folding the carrier material, means including a second substantially horizontal cut located above at least one of said fully folded vertical corner folds with the carrier material above the second substantially horizontal cut being folded to reverse inwardly for forming separation for separating the upper parts of the articles carried and for accommodating a carrying opening and providing stiffness to the carrying opening upon folding and gluing the blank into a collapsed collapsible carrier which bland is dimensioned for erecting into a carrier for use.

13. A collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 12 wherein one end of the first mentioned said substantially horizontal cut connecting with a said line of vertical fold, is so connecting above another such connecting of the second substantially horizontal cut while the other end of the first mentioned substantially horizontal cut is connecting with a said line of vertical fold below another such connecting of another second substantially horizontal cut with a said line of vertical fold, the carrier material between the two said lines of vertical fold reversing inwardly to contribute stiffness to the carrying opening.

14. A collapsible carrier for articles as claimed in claim 12 wherein said means includes a third substantially horizontal cut located above at least one of said line of vertical folding for providing additional stiffness to the carrier opening.

15. A flat blank of sheet material for assembling into a collapsed folded and glued carrier for erecting into a carrier for articles with separators for separating the upper part of the articlesand separators for separating the upper part of the articles therefore the blank comprising a substantially rectangular piece of material such as paperboard divided into four side walls by three lines of vertical corner fold, a lap extension hinged to a side wall free edge by a fourth line of vertical corner fold for joining it to the other side wall free edge on assembly, each side wall having a bottom member panel depending from its lower edge at a horizontal line of fold, the first and second bottom member panels adjacent the first line of vertical corner fold for forming a similar structure to that of the third and fourth bottom member panels adjacent the third line of vertical corner fold, a glue lap divided from one of the bottom member panels of each structure by a line of diagonal fold for folding and meeting with the adjacent line of vertical corner fold and the horizontal line of fold, the glue lap inner side able to fold and lie against and be joined to the adjacent bottom member panel outer side after the bottom member panels for folding have been folded to lie against the inner side of their respective side walls and the first line of vertical corner fold has been folded fully for the fourth bottom member panel to overlie the third bottom member panel and the first and fourth free side wall edges have been joined together, connected side wall parts have at least one substantially horizontal cut situated above a said vertical corner fold and its adjacent side walls, the ends of the cut connecting with the lines of two vertical folds which have a further vertical fold therebetween and above the cut, one of said vertical folds providing another such vertical corner fold upon said further vertical fold forming an internal corner by reverse folding the carrier material, means including a second substantially horizontal cut located above at least one of said fully folded vertical corner folds with the carrier material above the second cut being folded to reverse inwardly for forming separation for separating the upper parts of the articles carried and for accommodating a carrying opening therein;
characterised in that the free edge of at least one bottom member panel of each one of said similar opposing structures carries a separator forming extension hinging with the bottom member panel at a line of weakness parallel with the said horizontal line of fold and the line of weakness dimensioned to communicate with a said line of weakness of the similar opposing structure when erected and the height of the separator extensions dimensioned to finish below the carrying opening of the inwardly reversing carrier material when the carrier is collapsed, said separator each arranged and adapted for the transmission to it of opposition force through edge engagement between said separator and another said separator for their rightangular displacement relative to their said at least one bottom member panel when said at least one bottom member panel and the bottom member sharing a said diagonal fold together are displaced vertically by their respective side walls of their said similar opposing structure being displaced horizontally and said carrier material folded to reverse inwardly is displaced inwardly contributing stiffness and positioned for co-operating with the separator forming extensions of the bottom which separate the lower parts of the same said articles carried in the erected collapsible carrier and which is erected by moving each said fold for folding fully one toward the other and opened to provide the said displacements.

16. A blank for a collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 15 wherein one separator of each said similar structure is greater in depth to its free edge at one end than the depth to the remainder of its free edge and dimensioned to enable the deep end to overlap and engage the free edge remainder of the other separator of the other similar structure such that they engage and oppose each other when the assembled blank is erected.

17. A blank for a collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 15 wherein at least one separator of each said similar structure carries a glue flap hingably attached at a substantially vertical line of fold for fixing and hinging with an adjacent separator of the same similar structure upon the similar structure being assembled into a flat assembled carrier such that upon erecting, the separators of the structure will interact together until they are both erected by their opposition one to the other being transmitted angularly by the said hinging.

18. A blank for a collapsible carrier as claimed in claim 15 wherein said lap extension is hinged to a side wall free edge by a fourth line of vertical corner fold for joining it to the other side wall free edge along its lower portion on assembly and the upper portion of the lap extension forms a part of said carrier material enabled to reverse inwardly for separating its article content at their upper parts when the upper portion of the lap extension is joined to the separator panel member other free edge.

19. A flat blank of sheet materal for assembling into a collapsed folded and glued carrier for erecting into a carrier for articles with separators for separating the bottom part of the articles and separators for separating the upper part of the articles therefore the blank comprising a substantially rectangular piece of material such as paperboard divided into four side walls by three lines of vertical corner fold, a lap extension hinged to a side wall free edge by a fourth line of vertical corner fold for joining it to the other side wall free edge on assembly, each side wall having a bottom member panel depending from its lower edge at a horizontal line of fold, the first and second bottom member panels adjacent the first line of vertical corner fold for forming a similar structure to that of the third and fourth bottom member panels adjacent the third line of vertical corner fold, a glue lap divided from one of the bottom member panels of each structure by a line of diagonal fold for folding and meeting with the adjacent line of vertical corner fold and the horizontal line of fold, the glue lap inner side able to fold an lie against and be joined to the adjacent bottom member panel outer side after the bottom member panels for folding have been folded to lie against the inner side of their respective side walls and the first line of vertical corner fold has been folded fully for the first bottom member panel to overlie the second bottom member panel and the third line of vertical corner fold has been folded fully for the fourth bottom member panel to overlie the third bottom member panel and the first and fourth free side wall edges have been joined together, connected side wall parts have at least one substantially horizontal cut situated above a said vertical corner fold and its adjacent side walls, the ends of the cut connecting with the lines of two vertical folds which have a further vertical fold therebetween and above the cut, one of said vertical folds providing another such vertical corner fold upon said further vertical fold forming an internal corner by reverse folding the carrier material, means including a second substantially horizontal cut located above at least one of said fully folded vertical corner folds with the carrier material above the second cut being folded to reverse inwardly for forming separation for separating the upper parts of the articles carried and for accommodating a carrying opening therein; characterised in that the carrier material between the two vertical folds is dimensioned for reversing the said carrier material inwardly and folding said vertical fold fully upon folding and gluing the blank into a collapsed collapsible carrier.

20. A process for assembling a moving flat blank for a carrier to the invention comprising a substantially rectangular piece of sheet material such as paperboard divided into four side walls by three lines of vertical corner fold, a lap extension hinged to a side wall free edge by a fourth line of vertical corner fold for joining it to the other side wall free edge on assembly, each side wall having a bottom member panel depending from its lower edge at a horizontal line of fold, the first and second bottom member panels adjacent the first line of vertical corner fold for forming a similar structure to that of the third and fourth bottom member panels adjacent the third line of vertical corner fold, a glue lap divided from one of the bottom member panels of each structure by a line of diagonal fold for folding and meeting with the adjacent line of vertical corner fold and the horizontal line of fold, the glue lap inner side able to fold and lie against and be joined to the adjacent bottom member panel outer side after the bottom member panels for folding have been folded to lie against the inner side of their respective side walls and the first line of vertical corner fold has been folded fully for the first bottom member panel to overlie the second bottom member panel and the third line of vertical corner fold has been folded fully for the fourth bottom member panel to overlie the third bottom member panel and the first and fourth free side wall edges have been joined together, connected side wall parts have at least one substantially horizontal cut situated above a said vertical corner fold and its adjacent side walls, the ends of the cut connecting with the lines of two vertical folds which have a further vertical fold therebetween and above the cut, one of said vertical folds providing another such vertical corner fold upon said further vertical fold forming an internal corner by reverse folding the carrier material, means including a second substantially horizontal cut located above at least one of said fully folded vertical corner folds with the carrier material above the second cut being folded to reverse inwardly for forming separation for separating the upper parts of the articles carried and for accommodating a carrying opening therein; characterised in that the free edge of at least one bottom member panel of each one of said similar opposing structures carries a separator forming extension hinging with the bottom member panel at a line of weakness parallel with the said horizontal line of fold and the line of weakness dimensioned to communicate with a said line of weakness of the similar opposing structure when erected and the height of the separator extensions dimensioned to finish below the carrying opening of the inwardly reversing carrier material when the carrier is collapsed, said separate each arranged and adapted for the transmission to it of opposition force through edge engagement between said separator and another said separator for their rightangular displacement relative to their said at least one bottom member panel when said at least one bottom member panel and the bottom member panel sharing a said diagonal fold together are displaced vertically by their respective side walls of their said similar opposing structure being displaced horizontally and said carrier material folded to reverse inwardly is displaced inwardly contributing stiffness and positioned for cooperating with the separate forming extensions of the bottom which separate the lower parts of the same said articles carried in the erected collapsible carrier and which is erected by moving each said fold for folding fully one toward the other and opened to provide the said displacements, the process comprising, the said horizontal line of fold folded for its depending bottom member panels and separator forming extensions to lie against their respective side walls and the diagonal fold of each similar opposing structure folded fully for the glue lap inner side to be able to lie against and be fixed to the adjacent bottom member panel outer side by adhesive applied therebetween and the adhesive applied for fixing any glue flap of a separator of a similar structure to its adjacent separator and adhesive applied for fixing said carrier material for reversing inwardly to other carrier material to which it is adjacent in the carrier when erected and adhesive applied for fixing the said lap extension for joining it to the other side wall free edge when the first and third lines of vertical corner fold for folding fully are finally folded, the first and third lines of vertical corner fold and any further fold, vertical fold, vertical corner fold for reversing inwardly and connecting with a said substantially horizontal line of cutting one of which is above the first or third line of vertical corner fold for folding fully, folded fully for fixing according to the said final folding.

21. A process for erecting an assembled blank according to the invention comprising a substantially rectangular piece of sheet materal such as paperboard divided into four side walls by three lines of vertical corner fold, a lap extension hinged to a side wall free edge by a fourth line of vertical corner fold for joining it to the other side wall free edge on assembly, each side wall having a bottom member panel depending from its lower edge at a horizontal line of fold, the first and second bottom member panels adjacent the first line of vertical corner fold for forming a similar structure to that of the third and fourth bottom member panels adjacent the third line of vertical corner fold, a glue lap divided from one of the bottom member panels of each structure by a line of diagonal fold for folding and meeting with the adjacent line of vertical corner fold and the horizontal line of fold, the glue lap inner side able to fold and lie against and be joined to the adjacent bottom member panel outer side after the bottom member panels for folding have been folded to lie against the inner side of their respective side walls and the first line of vertical corner fold has been folded fully for the first bottom member panel to overlie the second bottom member panel and the third line of vertical corner fold has been folded fully for the fourth bottom member panel to overlie the third bottom member panel and the first and fourth free side wall edges have been joined together, connected side wall parts have at least one substantially horizontal cut situated above a said vertical corner fold and its adjacent side walls, the ends of the cut connecting with the lines of two vertical folds which have a further vertical fold therebetween and above the cut, one of said vertical folds providing another such vertical corner fold upon said further vertical fold forming an internal corner by reverse folding the carrier material, means including a second substantially horizontal cut located above at least one of said fully folded vertical corner folds with the carrier material above the second cut being folded to reverse inwardly for forming separation for separating the upper parts of the articles carried and for accommodating a carrying opening therein; characterised in that the free edge of at least one bottom member panel of each one of said similar opposing structures carries a separator forming extension hinging with the bottom member panel at a line of weakness parallel with the said horizontal line of fold and the line of weakness dimensioned to communicate with a said line of weakness of the similar opposing structure when erected and the height of the separator extensions dimensioned to finish below the carrying opening of the inwardly reversing carrier material when the carrier is collapsed, said separator each arranged and adapted for the transmission to it of opposition force through edge engagement between said separator and another said separator for their rightangular displacement relative to their said at least one bottom member panel when said at least one bottom member panel and the bottom member sharing a said diagonal fold together are displaced vertically by their respective side walls of their said similar opposing structure being displaced horizontally and said carrier material folded to reverse inwardly is displaced inwardly contributing stiffness and positioned for co-operating with the separator forming extensions of the bottom which separate the lower parts of the same said articles carried in the erected collapsible carrier and which is erected by moving each said fold for folding fully one toward the other and opened to provide the said displacements, the process comprising, the said horizontal line of fold folded for its depending bottom member panels and separator forming extensions to lie against their respective sidewalls and the diagonal fold of each similar opposing structure folded fully for the glue lap inner side to be able to lie against and be fixed to the adjacent bottom member panel outer side by adhesive applied therebetween and the adhesive applied for fixing any glue flap of a separator of a similar structure to its adjacent separator and adhesive applied for fixing said carrier material for reversing inwardly to other carrier material to which it is adjacent in the carrier when erected and adhesive applied for fixing the said lap extension for joining it to the other side wall free edge when the first and third lines of vertical corner fold for folding fully are finally folded, the first and third lines of vertical corner fold and any further fold, vertical fold, vertical corner fold for reversing inwardly and connecting with a said substantially horizontal line of cutting, one of which is above the first or third line of vertical corner fold for folding fully, folded fully for fixing according to the said final folding; the process for erecting comprising, at least one side wall engaged by its outer surface for the purpose of drawing the side wall away from an opposite side wall, and rightangularly displacing them relative to their adjacent side wall in each similar opposite structure in which the horizontal folds and the bottom member panels are rightangularly displacedby the displacement transmitted by their diagonal fold connection and the separator extensions of the bottom member panels rightangularly displaced relative to their bottom member panels by the transmission to them of opposing force from an engaging separate, and rightangularly displacing said carton material for reversing inwardly between said vertical folds and angularly divided by a said further vertical fold above a vertical corner fold by its fixing to said other carrier material to which it is adjacent in the upper structure of the carrier.

22. A process according to claim 21 for fully erecting the blank into a carton according to the invention for use wherein the side walls are pressed to overfold the second and fourth lines of vertical corner fold, the bottom member panels are pressed flat the said horizontal lines of fold pressed rightangular one to the other, the lines of weakness hinging the separators are overfolded, vertical lines of fold and further vertical lines of fold are overfolded for shaping the carton and enacted substantially simultaneously.

23. A process according to claim 21 for locking the bottom of a carton according to the invention ready for use wherein a tab for forming a nonreturnable stitch cut from the material of the carton material of each similar structure is pressed through an opening of the similar opposing structure simultaneous with the other to form a nonreturnable stitch.

24. A collapsible carrier erected for use made from a blank according to claim 21.