EP0561737B1 - Partitioned package - Google Patents

Abstract

The backing blank (1) forms the actual packaging sleeve with the parallel side walls (4, 4') which run parallel to the corrugations (3). These corrugations are formed from a shaped blank (2) which is connected to the backing blank at the wave troughs. Arranged directly adjacent to the parallel side walls (4, 4') in each case is an end corrugation (6, 6') whose outer wall (7), however, is no longer connected to the backing blank. The outer wall lies loosely against the parallel side wall and is thus held in its position. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a package for accommodating elongated objects, such as e.g. is known from CH-A-281928. Such packaging is used to hold ampoules, bottles and similar fragile objects.

One problem with packaging of the same generic type is the formation of the last wave on both sides of the packaging. If the last shaft is omitted, so that the last single compartment is formed by a shaft and by a parallel side wall, this last single compartment is relatively unprotected against knocks and bumps. Damage to objects placed in these outermost individual compartments is therefore common. If, however, the outermost single compartment is closed with a whole shaft, the gluing of this shaft to the carrier blank requires a strip of material that widens the packaging.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a packaging of the type mentioned at the outset, in which even the outermost individual compartments are delimited and protected by a shaft, the packaging being to be simple to produce with as little material consumption as possible. This object is achieved according to the invention with a packaging which has the features in claim 1.

The construction according to the invention makes it possible to provide an entire end shaft on both sides without the outer wall of these end shafts also having to be glued. Although the end shafts are fully formed, they are only held in position by the parallel side walls. Since the parallel side walls are integrated in the carrier blank, there is also no need for an additional material blank. The waves are glued directly to the bottom of the box.

The carrier blank preferably also forms at least one transverse side wall of the packaging which runs transversely to the shafts and is connected to the parallel side walls. The carrier blank therefore obviously has two functions. On the one hand it forms the actual packaging envelope and on the other hand it serves to hold the shafts in their predetermined position.

The packaging can be closed with a separate slip lid. But it can also be closed with a hinged lid, which is formed in one piece with the carrier blank. However, shrink films, banderoles, etc. would also be conceivable.

A particularly user-friendly packaging results if the hinged lid is hinged to a transverse side wall which is not directly connected to the parallel side walls and which can be swung out together with the hinged lid. In this way, one end face of the packaging can be completely exposed, which considerably simplifies the removal of the objects located therein. In order to avoid contamination of the packaging interior in this version as well, the end shafts and the individual compartments directly adjacent to them can be protected on at least one end face by dust flaps which are formed in one piece with the parallel side walls. These dust flaps form a tight seal in the corner areas. In order to prevent the dust flaps from swinging out when the packaging is opened, it is particularly advantageous if they are connected to support flaps which are formed in one piece with the shaped blank and which are folded out of the plane of a wave valley. In this way, the dust flaps can be rigidly glued in spite of the swing-out transverse side wall.

The waves can have different cross sections in a manner known per se. They can be prismatic, e.g. be rectangular. The cross section of the shafts can remain the same over the entire length or the shafts can have sections with different cross sections. This configuration is particularly suitable for accommodating objects with different cross sections in the longitudinal axis or for accommodating objects of different shapes in the same packaging.

A tamper-evident device on a packaging version with a hinged lid can be achieved in a particularly simple manner if the hinged lid has an insert strip which can be inserted between the end faces of the shafts and a transverse side wall and if an indentation tab is arranged on the transverse side wall, which is limited by a perforation and which is connected to the plug-in bar, the push-in tab being able to be pushed in for the first opening of the packaging and remaining on the plug-in bar. The connection between the plug-in bar and the push-in flap takes place when the filled packaging is closed for the first time. It is obviously not possible to open the hinged lid without pressing in the perforation. This tamper-evident closure can also be manufactured particularly easily on automatic filling systems.

The plug-in strip can also have a push-in tab which corresponds to that on the transverse side wall, the two push-in tabs being firmly connected to one another and being able to be pressed in together when first opened. The shafts lying in the area of the push-in tabs can have a recess for releasing the push-in tabs. The end faces of the shafts evidently provide support for the transverse side wall, with the exception of the point which is to be pressed in.

A particularly advantageous security packaging can be achieved be when opening individual tabs for the removal of the items are arranged in the transverse side wall on the front side. In this way, each individual object can be completely enclosed by the packaging, it being possible for the objects to be removed individually at the end face. Opening a single compartment for the first time is indicated by opening the opening tabs. The end shafts also allow optimal use of the base area. This embodiment of the packaging is particularly suitable for packaging sterile disposable syringes.

The packaging can be closed with a firmly glued hinged lid which is formed in one piece with the carrier blank and which has a tear-open window flap to form a viewing opening. The contents of the packaging can thus be checked without the individual items being able to be removed through the viewing opening.

If the opening tabs that can be torn open taper towards the upper side edge of the transverse side wall, the opening tabs can be pressed out or gripped relatively easily.

Figur 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine erfindungsgemässe Verpackung,

Figur 2

einen Teilquerschnitt durch die Verpackung gemäss Figur 1,

Figur 3

ein vergrössertes Detail der Darstellung gemäss Figur 2,

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Darstellung der Verpackung gemäss Figur 1 mit Stülpdeckel,

Figur 5

ein Trägerzuschnitt eines alternativen Ausführungsbeispiels einer Verpackung,

Figur 6

ein Formzuschnitt für den Trägerzuschnitt gemäss Figur 5,

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Darstellung der fertigen Verpackung aus den Zuschnitten gemäss den Figuren 5 und 6,

Figur 8

eine Draufsicht auf ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel mit unterschiedlich geformten Wellen,

Figur 9

ein Trägerzuschnitt eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Verpackung,

Figur 10

ein Formzuschnitt für den Trägerzuschnitt gemäss Figur 9,

Figur 11

eine perspektivische Darstellung der fertigen Verpackung aus den Zuschnitten gemäss den Figuren 9 und 10,

Figur 12

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels mit stirnseitigen Entnahmeöffnungen vor dem Verschliessen der Verpackung, und

Figur 13

die Verpackung gemäss Figur 12 mit verschlossenem Deckel und mit einer geöffneten Entnahmeöffnung.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings and are described in more detail below. Show it:

Figure 1

a plan view of a packaging according to the invention,

Figure 2

1 a partial cross section through the packaging according to FIG. 1,

Figure 3

3 shows an enlarged detail of the illustration according to FIG. 2,

Figure 4

2 shows a perspective illustration of the packaging according to FIG. 1 with slip lid,

Figure 5

a carrier blank of an alternative embodiment of a packaging,

Figure 6

5 a shape blank for the carrier blank according to FIG. 5,

Figure 7

3 shows a perspective representation of the finished packaging from the blanks according to FIGS. 5 and 6,

Figure 8

3 shows a plan view of a further exemplary embodiment with differently shaped shafts,

Figure 9

a carrier blank of a further embodiment of a packaging,

Figure 10

9 a shape blank for the carrier blank according to FIG. 9,

Figure 11

3 shows a perspective illustration of the finished packaging from the blanks according to FIGS. 9 and 10,

Figure 12

a perspective view of a further embodiment with removal openings on the front before closing the packaging, and

Figure 13

the packaging according to Figure 12 with a closed lid and with an open removal opening.

Figures 1 to 4 show an embodiment of a package with a separate slip lid 8, which is assembled in a manner known per se. A carrier blank 1 is glued with a wave-shaped deformed blank 2. The parallel side walls 4, 4 'and the transverse side walls 5, 5' are formed in one piece from the carrier blank 1 and folded over by 90 ° from the floor level. On the parallel side walls 4, 4 ', side tabs 15, 15' are arranged on both sides, which are glued to the transverse side walls 5, 5 '. Of course, these side tabs could also be arranged on the transverse side walls.

The individual shafts 3 form individual compartments 10 between them for inserting the packaged goods. The connection between the carrier blank 1 and the shape blank 2 takes place exclusively at the troughs 13. An end shaft 6, 6 'is arranged directly next to the parallel side walls 4, 4'. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the outer wall 7 of such an end shaft bears against the parallel side wall 4. A fixed connection of this outer wall to the carrier blank 1 is not present and is also not required. As a result, there is no disruptive gap between the end shaft and the parallel side wall, as would be required when gluing the outer wall 7.

Figures 5 to 7 show an embodiment with a hinged lid 9 which is integrally connected to the carrier blank 1. The configuration of this carrier blank can be seen in FIG. 5. The carrier blank has a bottom 16, on the long sides of which the parallel side walls 4, 4 'and the transverse side walls 5, 5' are in turn connected. On the transverse side wall 5, side tabs 17 and 17 'are arranged on both sides. The parallel side walls 4, 4 'are integrally connected to the approximately triangular dust flaps 11, 11'. Immediately to the transverse side wall 5, the cover 21 connects with a front bar 19 and with the side bars 22, 22 '. Side tabs 18, 18 'are arranged on the latter. A guarantee tongue 20 is stamped into the front strip 19 and can be broken out to open the cover. All individual sections are in themselves known manner separated by folded edges 23.

Figure 6 shows the shape blank 2 in the extended position, but somewhat shortened. The individual sections are also separated from one another by folded edges 23. The end shafts 6, 6 'extend over the entire width of the packaging, while the remaining shafts 3 are provided with a bevel 24. Support flaps 12, 12 'are formed on the outermost wave troughs 13, 13'. The shape cut is completed on the outside by the two outer walls 7, 7 '.

FIG. 7 shows the packaging which has been completely glued from the material sections according to FIGS. 5 and 6. The side flaps 18, 18 'are glued to the end strip 19 on the hinged cover 9. The guarantee tongue 20, which is glued to the transverse side wall 5 when it is closed for the first time, has broken out.

While the transverse side wall 5 remains in its upright position by gluing the side tabs 17, 17 'to the parallel side walls 4, 4', the transverse side wall 5 'can be swung out completely together with the hinged cover 9. This makes the front side particularly accessible. The bevels 24 on the shafts 3 further facilitate this accessibility. Since the transverse side wall 5 'is not sealingly connected to the parallel side walls 4, 4', the sealing of the corner region is effected via the dust flaps 11, 11 '. These are folded down from the level of the parallel side walls 4, 4 'erected and connected to the support lugs 12, 12' which are also erected. As a result, the dust flaps remain in a rigid position even when the transverse side wall 5 'is folded over.

FIG. 8 shows an alternative embodiment of a packaging, both the end shafts 6, 6 'and the shafts 3 having sections with different cross-sectional shapes. The end shafts have sections 6a, 6b, 6c and the shafts have sections 3a, 3b, 3c. This results in Individual compartments 10a, 10b of different configurations. The individual sections of different cross-sectional shape are formed by incisions which run parallel to the transverse side walls 5, 5 '.

FIGS. 9 to 11 show a further embodiment of a packaging with a hinged lid and with a particularly advantageous tamper-evident closure. The carrier blank 1 and the shaped blank 2 are configured somewhat differently than the blanks according to FIGS. 5 and 6. The parallel side walls 4, 4 'and the transverse side walls 5, 5' are laterally connected to the base 16. These two transverse side walls are both laterally provided with the side tabs 26, 26 'and 27, 27', which are glued to the parallel side walls 4, 4 'during assembly. In contrast to the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, the transverse side wall 5 'cannot therefore be folded out. The cover 21 is articulated on the transverse side wall 5 'and is provided with an insert strip 25 on its free steering side. The dust flaps 28 and 28 'are provided for lateral sealing of the cover.

A push-in tab 30 is formed on the transverse side wall 5 by a crescent-shaped perforation 32. In a similar manner, an insertion tab 29 is also arranged on the plug-in strip 25, which corresponds approximately in shape and position to the insertion tab 30.

The shape blank 2 according to FIG. 10 is designed similarly to that according to FIG. 6. However, the support tabs are missing. On the other hand, bevels 24 are also provided, specifically only for the shafts 3 which lie between the end shafts 6 and 6 '. Those shafts 3a and 3b which lie in the region of the press-in tabs 29 and 30 on the carrier blank 1 are provided with a cutout 31.

The fully assembled packaging is shown in FIG. 11, shortly before the first closure of the filled packaging. In this case, a hot melt 33 is applied to the insertion tab 29 on the insertion strip 25 before the insertion strip is inserted between the transverse side wall 5 and the end face of the shafts. The hot melt ensures a firm connection between the press-in tab 29 and the inside of the press-in tab 30. In the closed packaging, the shafts 3a and 3b (FIG. 10) with the recesses 31 lie approximately in the swivel range of the two press-in tabs 29 and 30 connected to one another.

To open the packaging for the first time, pressure is exerted on the push-in tab 30 with a finger until the perforation 32 breaks and the two tabs 29 and 30 pivot inwards. Now the entire hinged lid 9 can be lifted effortlessly and the packaging can then be closed again by inserting the insert strip 25.

A tamper-evident seal can also be implemented in exactly the same way on the packaging according to FIG. 7. However, there is the front bar 19 with the push-in tab on the outside of the transverse side wall 5.

The shape of the push-in tab can be very different, e.g. also rectangular or trapezoidal.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a further exemplary embodiment of a packaging in which the contents are not removed from above, but from the front side. Like the packaging described above, all parts are made from a carrier blank and from a shape blank. Dust flaps 28, 28 'are arranged on the parallel side walls 4, 4'. The side tabs 26 and 27 on the transverse side walls 5, 5 'run parallel to the shafts 3 and 6. On the transverse side wall 5, a hinged cover 21 is articulated with an insert strip 25. This hinged lid is firmly glued to the plug-in strip and to the dust flaps 28 and 28 'when the packaging is closed, so that opening only takes place by destroying the packaging.

On the transverse side wall 5, an opening tab 34 is delimited by means of a perforation on the end face of each individual compartment 10. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 13, these opening tabs taper towards the top edge 37 of the transverse side wall 5, the outermost tip even reaching into the area of the cover 21. In the cover 21 itself, a window tab 35 is also delimited by means of perforations.

Sterile disposable syringes, for example, can be packed in this packaging. The sterility of such syringes is only guaranteed as long as they are not manipulated. In the case of packaging that exposes the entire contents of the package when the lid is opened, there is no guarantee that the entire contents of the package have remained untouched since the packaging was opened for the first time. In the present exemplary embodiment, the corresponding opening tab 34 has to be torn open in order to remove an object which is located in a single compartment 10. The tips 39 of these tabs protrude slightly above the upper edge 37 of the transverse side wall 5 and can be gripped relatively easily. The object can be removed through the opening 38 thus created. Obviously, this ensures that the items in the still closed individual compartments have remained untouched since they were filled.

In order to check whether the packaging contains the correct objects at all, the window flap 35 can be torn open and folded away, so that a viewing opening 36 is created, which, however, does not completely expose the individual compartments 10. The objects, for example the disposable syringes, can only be viewed through the viewing opening 36, but cannot be removed. Of course, the window tab 35 could also have a different triangular configuration than that shown here exhibit. The end shafts 6 also ensure good lateral protection of the outermost individual compartments 10. Nevertheless, the base area of the packaging is optimally used and the space between the outermost openings 38 and the parallel side walls 4 and 4 'is not greater than the space between the individual openings 38 .

Claims (17)

1. A pack for accommodating elongate articles comprising a carrier blank (1) and a shaped blank (2) which is fixed thereon and which is deformed to provide parallel corrugation shapes (3) for forming individual compartments (10), wherein the carrier blank (1) forms at least the parallel side walls (4, 4') of the pack, which are parallel to the corrugation shapes (3), that arranged beside each of the parallel side walls is a respective end corrugation shape (6, 6') with outer (7, 7'), inner (7a) and upper walls (7b) and the outer walls (7, 7') bear with their entire surface against the parallel side walls (4, 4') and are not joined to the carrier blank (1) and the inner (7a) and outer walls (7, 7') are disposed at a spacing relative to each other.
2. A pack according to claim 1 characterised in that the carrier blank also forms at least one transverse side wall (5) of the pack, which extends transversely relative to the corrugation shapes and which is joined to the parallel side walls (4, 4').
3. A pack according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that it is closable with a separate cover (8) which fits on over it.
4. A pack according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that it is closable with a pivoting cover (9) which is formed integrally with the carrier blank (1).
5. A pack according to claim 4 characterised in that the pivoting cover (9) is pivotally connected to a transverse side wall (5) which is not directly joined to the parallel side walls (4, 4') and which can be pivoted away together with the pivoting cover.
6. A pack according to claim 5 characterised in that the end corrugation shapes (6, 6') and the individual compartments immediately adjoining same are protected on at least one end side by dust flaps (11, 11') which are formed integrally with the parallel side walls (4, 4').
7. A pack according to claim 6 characterised in that the dust flaps (11, 11') are joined to support flaps (12, 12') which are formed integrally with the shaped blank (2) and which are folded out of the plane of a corrugation trough (13).
8. A pack according to one of claims 1 to 7 characterised in that the corrugation shapes (3, 6) are of a prismatic configuration in cross-section.
9. A pack according to claim 8 characterised in that the corrugation shapes are of the same cross-section over their entire length.
10. A pack according to claim 8 characterised in that the corrugation shapes have portions of different cross-sections.
11. A pack according to claim 4 characterised in that the pivoting cover (9) has an insertion strip (25) which can be inserted between the ends of the corrugation shapes and a transverse side wall (5) and arranged at the transverse side wall (5) is a press-in flap (30) which is defined by a perforation (32) and which is joined to the insertion strip (25), wherein for opening the pack for the first time the press-in flap (30) can be pressed in and remains on the insertion strip (25).
12. A pack according to claim 11 characterised in that the insertion strip (11) also has a press-in flap (29) which corresponds to that on the transverse side wall (5), wherein the two press-in flaps (29, 30) are fixedly joined to each other and can be jointly pressed in when the pack is opened for the first time.
13. A pack according to claim 12 characterised in that the corrugation shapes (3a, 3b) which are disposed in the region of the press-in flaps (29, 30) have an opening (31) for freeing the press-in flaps.
14. A pack according to claim 4 characterised in that the pivoting cover (9) has an end strip (19) which can be pushed over a transverse side wall (5) and that arranged on the end strip is a press-in flap (20) which is defined by a perforation and which is joined to the transverse side wall, wherein for opening the pack for the first time the press-in flap can be pressed in and resins on the transverse side wall.
15. A pack according to claim 2 characterised in that disposed in the transverse side wall (5) at the end of each individual compartment (10) are opening flaps (34) which can be torn open, for removal of the articles.
16. A pack according to claim 15 characterised in that it is closed with a pivoting cover which is glued fast and which is formed integrally with the carrier blank and which has a window flap (35) which can be torn open, to form a viewing opening (36).
17. A pack according to claim 15 or claim 16 characterised in that the opening flaps (34) which can be torn open converge to a point towards the upper side edge (37) of the transverse side wall (5).

Images