EP0977690A1

EP0977690A1 - Package, assembly of blanks, method and device for packaging an articles or a group of articles of indefinite volume

Info

Publication number: EP0977690A1
Application number: EP98922870A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Yves Bacques; Gérard Mathieu; Eric Schuster; Didier Desertot
Original assignee: Otor SA
Current assignee: Otor SA
Priority date: 1997-04-24
Filing date: 1998-04-24
Publication date: 2000-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 2018-04-24
Also published as: FR2762586B1; DE69811359T2; EP0977690B1; EP1188676A1; CA2287497A1; DE69813315T2; JP3990466B2; EP1188676B1; AU7535598A; JP2001524054A; DE69813315D1; FR2762586A1; WO1998047774A1; DE69811359D1; US6264034B1

Abstract

The invention concerns a box, an assembly of blanks, a method and a device for making a packaging box to transport a load. The box comprises a bottom, at least four side walls, viz. two first opposite walls and two second opposite walls, a heat-shrinkable plastic film (13) designed for packaging and maintaining the load (24) and means for fixing said film on the box bottom comprising a plate (14) mounted horizontal, for pressing and maintaining the heat-shrinkable film on the box bottom inner surface. The plate comprises a median or substantially median line for its provisional longitudinal cone-shaped folding, with a ridge (209) directed towards the box top, said median line being parallel to the two second walls.

Description

PACKAGING, BLANK ASSEMBLY, METHOD AND DEVICE FOR PACKAGING AN ARTICLE OR A LOT OF ARTICLES OF UNDERMINED VOLUME

The present invention relates to a packaging of the cardboard box type provided with a shrink film which is integral with it, intended for the packaging of articles intended to be delivered in variable number or volume. It also relates to a set of blanks making it possible to obtain such packaging.

It also relates to a method and a device for forming a packaging package of the cardboard box type provided with a shrink film. It finds a particularly important although not exclusive application in the field of the transport of heavy objects, that is to say of weight greater than one kilogram, for example three kg and of irregular shape. Such packaging is also particularly suitable for objects such as boxes, bottles, medicines or various documents, taken in groups or individually in the same packaging, particularly intended for the delivery of a retailer such as a bookseller, pharmacist and more generally the trade. Retail .

We know that merchants in wholesale trade, to prepare the order for their retailers, need to package lots of items by nature different in packaging which must nevertheless withstand difficult transport and delivery conditions.

Given the cost of standard cases, it quickly became difficult to use such packaging for packaging batches of articles of this nature, as this would require resorting to ranges of packaging whose storage would be expensive and therefore unsuitable to this form of distribution. We already know many solutions to this type of problem.

It has thus been proposed for a long time to package batches of articles inside a box or a tray, in particular of cardboard, covered by a sheet of heat-shrinkable plastic linked to the internal face of the bottom of the box and / or on the internal face of the two opposite vertical walls.

In this way, it suffices to place the objects to be packaged inside a cardboard bottom, then cover them with the plastic sheet which will finally be completely shrunk on the products by passing through a heating tunnel for example. , with the consequence of keeping said products securely stowed at the transport crate.

Such solutions are normally very advantageous since they require only one box with a minimum volume of cardboard providing substantial savings in materials in addition to obvious savings in packaging storage that has become unique.

In this sense, we know (FR-2,426,620) a package in which two plastic sheets are used which overlap by one of their ends above the load in order to be welded hot at the level of the area of overlap, the other of their ends which is not in contact with the load being glued to the internal face of the bottom or close to the bottom on the internal face of a side wall of a cardboard box obtained from a simple blank forming the bottom of the box from which extend two lateral faces which are previously folded over the load before folding the two plastic sheets which will come by welding to maintain the assembly.

This particular packaging however suffers from a defect in the mechanical strength of the assembly. In fact, the packaging is linked to the resistance to take-off or tearing of the connections of the plastic sheets with the bottom or the side walls of the cardboard box. However, it is well known that such packaging is subjected to high stresses during handling and transport, frequently leading to the rupture of the connections of the plastic films with the cardboard base.

In this respect other solutions have been proposed, this time based on the observation that the resistance to take-off or tearing of heat-shrinkable sheet materials during handling and / or transport operations was improved when the connection of heat-shrinkable materials to the box was made outside the box on at least one external face (bottom or side wall) thereof, the field of the face, which is covered by the heat-shrinkable sheet material, acting as a means opposing the stresses exerted by the weight of the load.

In this sense, several solutions have already been proposed.

French patent FR-A-86.01435 describes a packaging case consisting of a case, for example of cardboard and of a heat-shrinkable sheet material for packaging and holding a load in place. The heat-shrinkable sheet material is bonded by at least one of its edges to the external surface of a wall of the case in the vicinity of the edge of said wall, and is developed outside from said edge towards the edge of said wall then inside the case opposite the internal surface of said wall while moving away from the latter towards the load to be packaged.

We find a similar solution in French patent FR-A-85.16217 according to which the heat-shrinkable sheets are inserted between the faces. internal walls and portions of these same walls folded towards the inside of the body.

The latter solutions have the drawback either of requiring a cover in the first case, or of providing originally for a special cutting that is costly in material and generating an additional cost in managing the stock of such packaging. In addition, these solutions are mechanically more complicated because they require two sheets of plastic significantly complicating the mounting operations.

Another solution has been proposed in French patent FR-2,577,001 which describes an American box or the like using a film of heat-shrinkable plastic secured to the bottom of the box.

The plastic film is pinched between the outer flaps adjoining two parallel walls of the box and constituting the bottom proper of the package, and the inner flaps, adjoining the other two walls and lining the bottom internally.

The latter solution has the advantage of being able to be mechanized relatively easily since the heat-shrinkable film can be inserted continuously from a reel and furthermore the solution does not require any bonding of said film to the bottom of the box, thus overcoming the drawbacks. cited above. On the other hand, this other solution is not satisfactory since it is only adaptable to American boxes with a full bottom, excluding for example boxes with reduced flaps but also the trays with glued corners outside or inside or even the boxes. American junction boxes whose closure is ensured by an independent glued cover.

Also known (FR 2 659 292) is a cardboard packaging box for transporting a load, comprising a series of flaps forming the side walls of the box, linked in pairs by first junction lines parallel to each other. others, the series of flaps comprising two series of two main flaps opposite in pairs, and a first set of side flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second junction lines, perpendicular to the first junction lines, and comprising at least two first opposite flaps at least partially forming the bottom of the box.

The box further comprises a film of heat-shrinkable plastic material intended for packaging and holding the load in place, and means for fixing the film to the bottom of the box.

Again, such a box suffers from the disadvantages due to the risks of uprooting as described above. Document G81 15943.9 describes a packaging case with one or more rigid stepped plates introduced into a tube made of heat-shrinkable plastic material. The plates are difficult to insert into the tube and such a box only authorizes the transport of small articles such as nails or medicines, or even light textile articles such as shirts. Finally, it is also known (FR 2 661 392) a box with plastic film and block for holding the film on the bottom of the box, the block comprising lateral wings provided with self-locking means on the side. Such a box is difficult to produce due to the friction inherent in its mounting and has a fragile locking which does not exclude lifting during impacts.

The present invention aims to provide a box, a set of blanks, a method and a device for forming a box which responds better than those previously known to the requirements of practice, in particular in that it allows fixing of the plastic film by compared to a bottom of the body which is itself firmly maintained and sufficiently solid to ensure the transport of a load safely thus overcoming the various drawbacks of the solutions of the prior art. To this end, the invention proposes in particular a cardboard packaging case for the transport of a load, comprising a bottom, at least four side walls, namely two opposite first walls and two opposite second walls, a film of plastic material. heat-shrinkable intended for the packaging and the holding in place of the load and of the means for fixing said film on the bottom of the box comprising a horizontal attached plate, for pressing and keeping flat the heat-shrinkable film on the internal face of the bottom of the body, characterized in that the plate comprises a median or substantially median line of provisional longitudinal folding of the plate in Chinese hat, with a crest directed towards the top of the body, said median line being parallel to the two second walls.

By median or substantially median fold line, is meant a line parallel to the two second opposite walls of the body, which is centered relative to the plate of which it constitutes for example an axis of symmetry or else located on either side of this axis of symmetry at a distance less than or equal to a quarter of the transverse dimension of the plate, for example between the eighth and the tenth. The plate according to the invention is therefore formed of two portions of plates connected together by a fold line.

Such a solution has many advantages compared to the teachings of the prior art in that it allows the box forming the receptacle to be fitted in a truly effective manner with a heat-shrinkable film intended to wrap any load without risking the problems of delamination. or uprooting during handling or impact during transport.

The presence of the fold line will allow easy introduction of the plate during assembly, allowing assembly rates higher than what is permitted with the boxes of the prior art.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the film is in the form of a rectangular curtain of heat-shrinkable plastic material in one piece, escaping on either side of the two opposite edges facing said plate parallel to the center fold line, and extending from said edges over a length sufficient to overlap one another by enveloping said load and blocking it by thermal shrinkage of the film.

Here again, this solution is well suited to continuous production insofar as a shrink film is used in one piece, since it suffices to provide, in addition to a film reel heat-shrinkable, flat elements which are cut when the time comes to the dimensions of the bottom of the tray, the case or any other container made of compact corrugated cardboard or other sheet material, the mounting of the film then being carried out simply by insertion between two opposite side walls of the container to be fitted.

According to another important characteristic of

1 invention, the plate which will constitute a double bottom for the container is obtained from a blank of corrugated cardboard whose direction of the grooves will be oriented as will be explained below.

In advantageous embodiments, recourse is had to one and / or the other of the following arrangements: the plate is inserted between the two opposite second main flaps so that the edges of the plate are in contact via the plastic film with at least part of the internal lower edges of the body, at the bottom of said second walls; the plate is inserted by force between said internal lower edges of the body, at the bottom of said second walls; - The plate has on at least one of its two opposite edges located on the side of the second flaps, at least one post, said post collaborating with a corresponding recess made at the lower internal edge of the body at the bottom of said second corresponding flaps, once the plate in place against the bottom of the box; the plate is made of corrugated cardboard, the direction of the grooves is perpendicular to the lines of contact with the second main walls between which said plate is inserted; the underside of the plate is at least partly directly bonded to the upper face of the bottom of the box, through at least one hollowed out part of the film of heat-shrinkable material which is in one piece;

In this way the separation between cardboard elements and plastic material is easy, the plastic film not being glued with the cardboard; - the plate completely covers the bottom of the box to form a double bottom; the plate includes means for tearing off said plate relative to the bottom, allowing manual separation between the cardboard parts and releasing the plastic material; the box comprises a series of flaps forming the side walls of the box, connected two by two by first junction lines parallel to each other, said series of flaps comprising two series of two main flaps opposite two by two, and a first set of side flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second junction lines perpendicular to the first junction lines, and comprising at at least two first opposite flaps forming at least partially the bottom of the box, the first two flaps each comprising respectively on their two lateral sides of the reinforcement tabs folded and glued to the external face of the main flaps, called second main flaps, corresponding second walls adjacent to the main flaps corresponding to said first flaps, called first main flaps and corresponding to said first walls; the set of lateral flaps comprises second opposite flaps connected to the second main flaps by second junction lines; the second flaps are folded 180 ° around their second junction lines and glued to the internal face of the corresponding second main flap; the studs have a periphery having two successive bearings and the recesses are formed by grooves of complementary shape to the studs successively passing right through the second flaps and corresponding second flaps in the thickness direction; the first flaps are joined at their ends opposite the second junction lines with the first flaps; the plate has two opposite third end flaps connected thereto by third junction lines, coinciding with the first junction lines between first flaps and first flaps, said third flaps being pressed and glued to the inside of said first flaps facing each other; the series of flaps is terminated by a fixing tab, said second junction lines are aligned or substantially aligned and the body is arranged to be automatically assembled by folding down said flaps and flaps of said first set around a mandrel, the flap d end of the series of flaps and the tongue on the one hand, and the tabs of the first flaps and the external face of the second adjacent flaps on the other hand, being fixed together by gluing to form the box; the suite has eight parts, namely four main parts separated two by two by four intermediate parts.

It goes without saying that the embodiments more particularly described here which are half cases, are provided to constitute cases according to the invention and to do this include covers known in themselves, for example constituted by flaps connected to the walls by fold lines or by a cover in the form of a plate connected or not by a fold line to a wall. The present invention also proposes a set of blanks making it possible to produce a box of the type described above.

It also offers a set of blanks for the production of a packing box comprising a first blank comprising a series of flaps suitable for forming the side walls of the box, linked in pairs by first junction lines parallel to each other. others, said series of flaps being terminated by a bonding tab and comprising two series of two main flaps, and a first set of lateral flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second junction lines, perpendicular to the first lines junction, namely two first flaps and two second flaps intended to form the bottom of the body, characterized in that the first two flaps each comprise respectively on their two lateral sides reinforcement tabs arranged to be folded down and glued to the face external of the main shutters, called second main shutters, adjacent to the main shutters corresponding to the x said first flaps once the box is formed, in that the second junction lines with the second main flaps each have at least one recess and in that said assembly comprises a second blank in the form of a substantially rectangular plate provided on its longitudinal edges with at least one stud capable of cooperating with said recess and on each of its transverse edges with a tab capable of cooperating with the internal face of a first flap once the body is formed, said plate comprising a median or substantially median line of longitudinal folding of the plate in a Chinese hat parallel to the longitudinal edges of said plate.

Advantageously, the plate comprises means for tearing said plate by traction.

The invention also provides a method of forming a cardboard packaging box or the like for transporting a load, as described above. The invention also provides a method of forming a corrugated box or the like for the transport of a load, comprising the following steps: the bottom and the vertical walls of a box are formed which are left open on the above, there is a plate of longitudinal dimensions substantially equal to those of the bottom, said plate comprising a median or substantially median fold line parallel to its longitudinal sides which are adapted to cooperate with two opposite vertical walls of the body, called second walls, the plate is folded in the form of a Chinese hat around said fold line, said plate being placed above a sheet of plastic material arranged to let escape on either side of the two opposite edges opposite the plate, curtain portions of free material extending from said edges on a sufficient length to cover each other by completely enveloping the load and blocking said load by thermal shrinkage of the film, the plastic sheet and the Chinese hat plate are introduced into the box until it comes to the blocking position of said sheet between plate and bottom by placing the plate horizontally in abutment against the bottom of the box, the load is introduced on the plate into the box and the curtain portions are closed on the load before blocking by thermal retraction and closing the box cover.

Advantageously, the sheet of plastic material comprising at least one perforated part, the underside of the plate or the internal face of the bottom is previously glued opposite the perforated part, and the plate is glued to the bottom through said perforated part when the plate is brought into horizontal abutment against the bottom. Also advantageously, the plate comprising two lateral flaps, known as third flaps suitable for being pressed against two opposite walls opposite the box perpendicular to the fold line of the plate, said third flaps are folded against the upper face of the plate before introduction of the plate into the box and the plating faces of said third flaps are glued then, after introduction of the plate into the box, said faces are pressurized for bonding against the walls by automatic straightening of the third flaps when plating the plate on the bottom.

In another advantageous embodiment, the bottom and the walls of the box are formed around a mandrel.

Advantageously, the bottom of the box comprising two first flaps and two second flaps, the second flaps are folded 180 ° around their junction lines with the walls and they are glued to the internal face of the adjacent walls.

Also advantageously, the plastic sheet is introduced into the box in a time-shifted and space-wise manner relative to the plate, that is to say not simultaneously with the plate, before the latter, while being funnel-shaped or recessed relative to the opening of the box, which allows its introduction without injury or risk of annoying friction.

The invention also provides a device for manufacturing a cardboard packaging box or the like for transporting a load, said box comprising a lateral belt formed by at least four vertical walls and a horizontal bottom secured to said belt via junction lines, and a heat-shrinkable plastic film material intended for packaging and keeping said load in place, characterized in that it comprises means for forming the bottom and vertical walls of the box, presentation means a plastic film above said box, means for presenting a plate previously folded in the shape of a Chinese hat around a longitudinal fold line of said plate above said film and means for introducing the film in the box and introduction of the Chinese hat plate into said box, said means being suitable for pressing said plate by pressing on it, until pressing the heat-shrinkable film on the internal face of the bottom of the box leaving escape on either side of two opposite edges opposite said plate, curtain portions of free material extending from said edges over a length sufficient to r cover each other in a second step by completely enveloping the load. Advantageously, the device comprises means for cutting at least one orifice in the film of plastic material and for gluing the bottom of the box opposite said orifice after introduction of the film into the box. Also advantageously the device further comprises means for introducing the load into the box, means for folding down the curtain portions on the load and means for heating the film for thermal shrinkage on the load.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description of several embodiments of the box, of the set of blanks, of the method and of the device in accordance with the invention, given in a nonlimiting manner.

The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figures 1 to 8 are perspective views showing the different stages of a box according to a first variant of one invention.

- Figure 9 is a plan view of the blank for mounting the half-body of Figure 1.

FIG. 9A is a plan view of the attached plate of the type of that of FIG. 2, with tear strip,

- Figure 10 is a partial plan view of a blank constituting a half-body according to another embodiment of the invention, with tongue on cut corners.

- Figure 11 is a box obtained with the blank of Figure 10, closed by a cover. - Figure 12 shows another embodiment of the insert plate used 1 according to the invention, with frangible tear cross area.

- Figures 13 and 14 show another embodiment of a box according to the invention, with four components, with formation around a mandrel.

FIG. 15 shows an exploded perspective view of the junction between plate and second flap, of an assembly intended to form a half-box according to the embodiment of the invention of FIG. 1.

- Figure 16 is a sectional view along VIII-VIII of Figure 15.

- Figures 17 to 22 schematically show a device according to an embodiment of the invention during the different stages of forming a box according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figures 23 to 28 are perspective views showing the different stages of a box according to another variant of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a half-case 1 for the packaging of a load, comprising a series of flaps forming the side walls of the box, connected in pairs by first connecting lines 2, parallel to each other.

The series of shutters comprises two first opposite main shutters 3 and 5, and two second opposite main shutters 4 and 6, the main shutters being separated by intermediate flaps 7, forming cut corners of the body.

The first flaps 3 and 5 have first flaps 8, connected at the bottom of said first flaps by second junction lines 9 perpendicular to the first junction lines 2.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the first two flaps each comprise, respectively on their two lateral sides, reinforcement tabs 10 folded down and glued to the external face of the second main flaps 4 and 6.

The first two flaps are joined at their ends located on the side opposite the fold lines 9 between first flaps and first flaps. The tongues 10 are also contiguous at their ends and extend all along the first flap facing the second corresponding flap.

The second main flaps 3 and 5, for their part, have second flaps 11 connected to said flaps in the lower part by second or second junction lines 9 ′.

The second flaps are folded 180 ° relative to the junction lines 9 ′ and glued to the internal face of said second flaps 4 and 6.

Figures 2 to 8 show in perspective the successive stages of formation of the cardboard packaging case according to the method of embodiment of the invention more particularly described here.

After gluing in 12 of the upper face of the bottom of the box, that is to say of the internal face of the first flaps 8, on a central surface of determined area, a place is placed above the half-box 1 sheet of film of heat-shrinkable plastic material 13, comprising a perforated central part 13 ′, with a surface area slightly greater than that of the central surface and arranged to be opposite the lines or bonding points 12 ′ of the internal face the bottom.

The sizing 12 facing the perforated part can also and advantageously be done on the underside of the plate.

The plastic material film 13 is cut to form a substantially rectangular sheet and has dimensions which will be specified below. There is also an added plate 14 made of double-sided corrugated cardboard, the groove lines of which are arranged perpendicular to the second flaps 4 and 6.

The plate is of the same shape and substantially the same dimensions as the bottom of the half-body 1, and includes right through a longitudinal fold line 16, for example of symmetry of the plate. The fold line 16 is arranged to allow the two side panels 17 of the plate to be folded down.

It can also be off-center, its aim being to allow the plate to be folded into a Chinese hat, as shown in FIG. 3, and to allow it to be introduced without friction inside the half-body 1, for example by loading the film of plastic material. The plate also comprises third rectangular, opposite, end flaps 18, connected to the plate by third junction lines 19 arranged to coincide with the first junction lines between the first flaps and the first flaps.

These third flaps 18 are folded towards the inside of the plate, which will make it possible to keep them towards the inside of the plate during the introduction of the latter into the half-body 1.

The plate also comprises four tenons 20 located respectively in pairs and symmetrically with respect to the fold line 16 on its opposite longitudinal edges 21, perpendicular to the third junction lines 19.

The pins 20 are for example of trapezoidal, rectangular or stepped shape and are arranged to cooperate with recesses 22 located on the internal lower edge of the body at the bottom of the second flaps 4, 6, that is to say partially coinciding with the second fold lines 9 'between second flaps and second flaps.

Each recess is made astride the second corresponding fold line by providing, according to the embodiment of the invention more particularly described here, a recessed part on either side of said line in the form of a slot of equal thickness to that of the plate 14. After forming the Chinese cap of the plate 14, the latter is therefore introduced by loading the sheet of thermoplastic material 13 downwards.

As shown in FIG. 4, the sheet of thermoplastic material has curtain portions 23 of free material extending from the opposite edges 21 of the plate provided with pins 20 over a length sufficient to, at first, fall back on the exterior of the half-box above the walls formed by the second flaps 4 and 6 when the sheet of plastic material is pressed against the bottom of the half-box (see FIG. 4), and in a second step, is cover each other by fully encompassing the load and block said load 24 by thermal shrinkage of the film 13 (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

The plate 14 in a Chinese hat is pressed against the bottom of the box, until it comes to the sheet blocking position between plate and bottom, by placing said plate in abutment against the bottom of the box, the studs 20 snapping into the recesses 22 by trapping the plastic film in said snaps.

The plastic film repelled by the end of the tenons is also protected from any external contact by virtue of the external tabs 10 located opposite the recesses of the fold lines 9 ′ between second flaps and second flaps.

When the plate 14 is brought back to the horizontal, the third flaps 18 straighten out and, having been previously glued, naturally come to bond under pressure on the internal bases of the first flaps 3 and 5, consolidating the whole of the fixing plastic film on the bottom of the body.

The packaging is then finished (cf. FIGS. 7 and 8) by adding a cover 25 constituted in a manner known per se by a central flap 26 of identical shape and dimensions to those of horizontal section of the box, said central flap comprising rectangular lateral flaps 27 arranged to be bonded to the upper part of the external face of the corresponding main flaps, and small end tabs 28 arranged to be bonded to the external face of the intermediate flaps 7 of the body.

Finally, to facilitate the establishment of the box and possibly allow its easier stacking, pins 30 on the upper edge 31 of second main flaps 4 and 6 are provided, in which case complementary recesses are for example plumbed on the bottom of the body.

Recesses 32 in the form of a slot are also produced on the cover 25 at the fold lines 33 between the main flap 26 and the side flaps 27 corresponding to the upper edges provided with the pins 30 of the half-box.

FIGS. 9 and 9A show the set of blanks for producing the packaging half-box described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

The assembly comprises a first blank 40 consisting of a series of flaps 41 connected in pairs by first fold or junction lines 42, parallel to each other, said series of flaps being terminated by a bonding tab 43 and comprising two series of main flaps, namely a first series of so-called first flaps 44 and 46 and a second series of so-called second flaps 45 and 47.

The main flaps are also separated and / or terminated if necessary, by intermediate flaps 48 capable of forming the cut corners of the box. The blank comprises a first set of lateral flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second fold lines 49 and 49 'aligned or substantially aligned with each other, namely two first flaps 50 connected to the first flaps 44 and 46 and two second substantially rectangular flaps 51 connected to the two second flaps 45 and 47.

More precisely, the first flaps have a substantially rectangular shape comprising, near the second junction lines 49, a 45 ° oblique part extending outward from the second junction lines, then a straight part parallel to the first lines of folding 42. According to the embodiment of the invention more particularly described here, the first flaps each have respectively on the part of their two lateral sides parallel to the first folding lines 42, reinforcement tabs 52 connected to said flaps by lines folding 53 and arranged to be folded and glued on the outer face of the second main flaps 45 and 47 adjacent around said folding lines, which are simple.

In one embodiment, the lines 53 are double.

The second flaps 51 are in turn connected to the second flaps 45 and 47 by second fold lines 49 ', which are, as indicated above, aligned or substantially aligned with the second junction lines 49 between first flaps and first flaps . The second flaps have sides of complementary shape to the first flaps, to optimize the use of cardboard. The lines 49 ′ are for example double in the case in particular of thick corrugated cardboard, so as to allow the folding of the second flaps 51 to 180 ° on the internal faces of the future half-box.

The second joining or folding lines 49 ′ include, for each flap 51, two recesses 54 in the form of a slot, for example 3 cm in length and width equal to or slightly greater than two thicknesses of plate.

For example and more precisely, the recess comprises a first slit part of width equal to an added thickness of plate, hollowed out in the second flap along the first line of the double fold line 49 ', and a second part of slot of width also equal to that of the plate, hollowed out in the second adjacent flap, along the second fold line of the double line.

FIG. 9A shows a plate 55 provided with a central flap 56 of octagonal shape identical to that of the bottom of the half-body produced with the blank 40, comprising on its two longitudinal edges 57 tenons 58 arranged to cooperate with the recesses 54 On its two other opposite sides, the plate comprises respectively two third rectangular flaps 59 connected to the central flap by third junction lines 60. The plate also includes a central fold line 61 merged with the longitudinal axis of symmetry of the plate.

Finally, the plate includes a double tear strip 62 (for example a strip of plastic material inserted in the carton), which the user can grasp, for example, through the orifice 63 provided for this purpose.

By pulling on each side, it is possible to release and tear off the rest of the plate during the subsequent destruction of the packaging, such an arrangement making it possible in particular, for ecological reasons, to separate the cardboard waste from the waste made of plastic. FIG. 10 shows another embodiment of blank 66, with eight flaps.

The blank 66 has tongues 67 on the ends of the intermediate flaps 68 forming the cut corners of the box 69 of FIG. 11. FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of a plate 70 according to the invention which here comprises third double junction lines 71 and tear-off means 72 constituted in a manner known per se by a central gripping orifice connected to the four corners of the plate by frangible and / or precut lines 73, for tearing off the plate.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show an embodiment of a box 74 with four sides by winding around a mandrel 75, from a blank 80 provided with four main flaps, and a set of four corresponding flaps, the second flaps being used in double folding. More specifically, FIG. 13 shows a blank 80 provided with two first main flaps 81 and two second main flaps 82, the first main flaps being provided with first flaps 83 provided with two lateral tabs 84 and the second main flaps 82 each comprising a second flap 85 provided with recesses 86 on the second junction line 87, arranged to cooperate with the tenons facing the plate concerned, said second flaps 85 being folded (arrow 88) and glued to the internal face of the second parts 82.

The assembly thus formed as shown in FIG. 13, the first flaps being flat in the extension of the first flaps and the second flaps having been previously folded and glued to the internal face of the second flaps, the blank is rolled up (arrow 89 , FIG. 14) around the mandrel to form the half-body using for example the method and the apparatus described in patent FR 90 09457. FIG. 15 shows in exploded view and in section the detail of the latching of the plate 14 according to the embodiment of the invention of Figures 1 to 8.

The plate 14 here comprises on each of its longitudinal edges 21, two tenons 20 called double bearing, namely a first bearing 20 'and an end bearing 20''.

On the side of the wall of the body, there is a first recess 22 ′ formed above the second junction line 9 ′ in the second flap 11 which is folded over, of a shape complementary to the first part of the stud forming the first bearing, and a second recess 22 '' of complementary shape and coming to cooperate with the second bearing 20 '', the second recess being in the second flap 4 facing one another allowing penetration of the post on two thicknesses of cardboard wall.

In FIG. 16, it can thus be seen that the double landing makes it possible to penetrate deep into the wall of the box, the tabs 10 for the fold-over of the first flaps, glued to the external face of the second flap 4 making it possible to protect the recesses thus produced and film wedged between plate and wall (not shown). FIG. 17 shows a device 100 for manufacturing a cardboard packaging box or the like for transporting a load, said box being formed from a half-box 101 comprising a lateral belt 102 formed from at least four vertical walls and a horizontal bottom 103 secured to said belt by junction lines 104 and a film 105 of heat-shrinkable plastic material intended for packaging and holding the load in place. The device comprises means (not shown) for forming the bottom and the vertical walls of the box, for example comprising a mandrel as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, means 106 for bringing the semi-crate into the setting position. place of the plate for example comprising a conveyor belt 107 in noria, with stop 108 for holding the body, and means 109 (see FIG. 22) for taking up the half-body provided with its plastic film towards the station filling the load (not shown).

The device 100 includes means 111 for presenting the film 105 in plastic material above the box, for example by means of rollers 113 pulling the film continuously above the box and means for cutting the film at dimensions and of the perforated part (not shown) known in themselves.

Means 114 for preparing the plate 115 according to the invention with vertical positioning of the third flaps 116 are provided.

They comprise jacks 117 for straightening the third flaps 116, then for folding towards the center of the plate, and gluing means (not shown) from above said third flaps.

The device (see FIGS. 19 and 20) comprises means 118 for folding in a Chinese hat, around a longitudinal folding line 119, of the plate, for example above the film. The folding means 118 comprise for example (see FIG. 20) two rollers 120 and a retractable counter roller 120 '.

Cylinders 121 mounted on a carriage back and forth allow the positioning of the plate above the plastic film.

The device 100 includes means 122 for inserting the plate held in a Chinese hat, for example loading the film into the box.

In an advantageous embodiment, the device comprises means (not shown) for introducing the plastic film separately from the plate, allowing the film to be placed in the box before the introduction of the plate in a Chinese hat.

The means for introducing in particular the plate comprise for example a piston 123, said means then being suitable for pressing the plate on the bottom of the half-body 101, by pressing on it until it encloses the central part of the heat shrinkable film under pressure on the internal face of the bottom, letting the portions of curtains 124 of free plastic material escape on either side, extending from the opposite edges of the plate over a length sufficient to eventually exit the box in a first time, and then cover the load by completely enveloping it. Gluing means (not shown) are also provided at the appropriate location by glue, for example of the "Hot melt" type in English language, either from the bottom surface of the plate, or from the bottom of the box, on the appropriate surface.

In fact, it should be remembered that the device advantageously comprises means for cutting (not shown) at least one orifice in the plastic film, for fixing the lower face of the plate to the bottom of the half-case in vis- opposite, through this orifice.

The device further comprises means 125 for introducing the load into the box known in themselves, means (not shown) for folding down the curtain portions on the load and heating means, for example by moving in a heating tunnel, film, for thermal shrinkage on the load. The packaging is then closed by a cover of the type described above in a manner known per se.

Advantageously in the case more particularly described here where the plate has third flaps, these can either be shaped and pressed against the internal face of the corresponding flaps by simple natural straightening of said third flaps during vertical compression, and therefore flattening the plate, and / or can be plated by means of push cylinders horizontal introduced into the half-body before removal of the vertical cylinder, of the piston type (not shown).

We will now describe a first embodiment of the method of positioning the plate according to the invention with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, and to FIGS. 17 to 22.

The half-body 1 or 101 is first of all formed, for example around a mandrel. The film is cut, perforated, and then placed above the half-body, the bottom of which has been previously glued.

The plate is then presented previously shaped as a Chinese hat, above the plastic film (see FIGS. 2 and 20), the plate being for example taken by means of suction cups (not shown) and it is placed above the plastic sheet.

Then we introduce the plate (Figure 3) in a Chinese hat in the box, for example by loading the plastic sheet until it comes to the blocking position of the sheet between the plate and the bottom by placing the plate in horizontal position. and latching of the tenons in the recesses provided for this purpose, the ends of curtain portions then falling and for example outside the box above the walls.

They can also fall back inside but this requires them to be moved aside to introduce the load with spreading means, for example by suction or manually.

The third flaps are then glued to the internal faces of the first flaps, then the load is put in place.

The curtain portions are then closed on the load, then the assembly is thermally restricted and the packaging is finished by placing the cover as indicated above. FIGS. 23 to 28 show a box 201 for packaging a load obtained from a tray comprising a bottom 202 and four side walls, namely two first opposite walls 203 and two second opposite walls 204, a film 205 of heat-shrinkable plastic material, in rectangular ply, provided with an orifice 206, for example in the form of a rectangular and / or oval slot two to three centimeters wide and 5 to 10 cm long. The box comprises an attached plate 207, rectangular, of the same dimension as the section of the box, comprising a median line 208 of provisional longitudinal folding of the plate in a Chinese hat, parallel to the two second walls 204 of the tray.

The Chinese hat is folded at an angle sufficiently acute, for example less than 60 °, for example 40 ° or less, to leave on either side of its edges 209 an empty space large enough to avoid any damage to the plastic film 205, and allow movement of the lowering arm and application of the film on either side of the inverted V plate. The process for manufacturing the box corresponding to FIGS. 23 to 28 will now be described in more detail.

The tray 201 being formed, and the bottom 202 previously glued to the right of the slot 206, the plastic film is brought in and shaped in a U or V shape below the open face of the tray (see FIG. 24).

The plastic film thus formed is lowered to the bottom 202 of the tray. The plate 207 shaped like a Chinese hat is then lowered in turn, until its edges 209 abut on the plastic film against which they slide until the plate 207 is horizontal and comes to stick on the bottom. 202 through hole 206.

The plastic film is then blocked on the bottom while being sandwiched between the bottom and the plate.

As is evident and as it follows moreover from what precedes the present invention is not limited to the embodiments more particularly described.

On the contrary, it embraces all the variants, and in particular those where the plate is devoid of a third flap, that where the second flaps are deprived of second flaps, or those where the median line is replaced by two or three parallel median fold lines, close enough to conform the plate substantially in the form of a Chinese hat.

Claims

1. Cardboard packaging box for the transport of a load, comprising a bottom, at least four side walls, namely two opposite first walls (203) and two opposite second walls (204), a film (13, 105; 205) of heat-shrinkable plastic material intended for packaging and holding the load (24) and the means for fixing said film on the bottom of the box comprising an attached plate (14, 55, 70, 115, 207) horizontal, flattening and holding the heat-shrinkable film flat on the internal face of the bottom of the box, characterized in that the plate has a median line (16, 61, 208) or substantially median of provisional longitudinal folding of the plate in Chinese hat, with a crest (209) directed towards the top of the body, said center line being parallel to the two second walls.

2. Box according to claim 1, characterized in that the film (13, 105, 205) is in the form of a rectangular curtain of heat-shrinkable plastic material in one piece, escaping on either side of the two opposite edges vis-à-vis said plate parallel to the center fold line, and extending from said edges over a length sufficient to overlap one on the other by wrapping said load and blocking it by thermal shrinkage of the film.

3. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (14, 55, 70, 115, 207) is inserted between the two second opposite side walls of the box, so that the edges of the plate are in contact via the plastic film with at least part of the internal lower edges of the box at the bottom of said second walls.

4. Box according to claim 3, characterized in that the plate is inserted by force between said internal lower edges of the box in contact with the plastic film, at the bottom of said second walls.

5. Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate (14, 55, 70, 115) has on at least one of its two opposite edges located on the side of the second walls, at least one tenon , (20, 20 ', 20' '; 58) said post collaborating with a corresponding recess (22, 22', 22 ''; 54) produced at the level of the lower internal edge of the body, at the bottom of said second corresponding walls, once the plate is in place against the bottom of the box.

6. Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate is made of corrugated cardboard, the direction of the grooves is perpendicular to the contact lines with the second walls between which said plate is inserted.

7. Packaging box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower face of the plate is at least partly directly glued to the upper face of the bottom of the box, through at least one hollowed out part. (13 ') of the film of heat-shrinkable material which is in one piece.

8. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate completely covers the bottom of the box to form a double bottom.

9. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the plate comprises means (62, 63, 72, 73) for tearing off said plate relative to the bottom, allowing manual separation between the cardboard parts and releasing the plastic material.

10. Box according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a series of shutters (3, 4, 5, 6;

44, 45, 46, 47, 48; 81, 82) forming the side walls of the body, linked in pairs by first junction lines (2, 42) parallel to each other, said series of flaps comprising two series of two main flaps opposite in pairs, and a first set of side flaps (8,

11; 50, 51; 83, 85) arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second junction lines (9, 9 '; 49, 49'; 87), perpendicular to the first junction lines, and comprising at least two opposite first flaps (8, 50, 83) forming at least in part the bottom of the body, the first two flaps (8, 50, 83) each comprising, respectively on their two lateral sides, reinforcement tabs (10, 52, 84) folded down and glued to the external face of the main flaps (4, 6 ; 45; 47; 82), called second main flaps, corresponding to the second walls adjacent to the main flaps corresponding to said first flaps, said first main flaps and corresponding to said first walls. 11. Box according to claim 10, characterized in that the set of lateral flaps comprises second opposite flaps connected to the second main flaps by second junction lines (9 ', 49').

12. Box according to claim 11, characterized in that the second flaps (11, 85) are folded 180 ° around their second junction lines (9 ', 86) and glued to the inner face of the corresponding second main flap.

13. Box according to claim 12 dependent on claim 5, characterized in that the pins (20) have a periphery having two successive bearings (20, 20 '') and in that the recesses (22) are constituted by grooves (22 ', 22'') of complementary shape to the tenons successively passing right through the second flaps (11) and second flaps (4, 6) corresponding in the thickness direction.

14. Packaging box according to any one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the first flaps (8, 50, 83) are joined at their ends opposite to the second junction lines with the first flaps.

15. Box according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the plate comprises two third flaps (18, 59) opposite end connected to the latter by third junction lines (19), coinciding with the first junction lines (9, 49) between first flaps and first flaps, said third flaps being pressed and glued on the inner face of said first flaps facing each other.

16. Packaging box according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the series of flaps is terminated by a fixing tab (43), said second junction lines are aligned or substantially aligned and the box is arranged to be mounted automatically by folding down said flaps and flaps of said first assembly around a mandrel, the end flap of the series of flaps and the tongue on the one hand, and the tabs of the first flaps and the the external face of the second adjacent flaps on the other hand, being fixed to each other by gluing to form said box.

17. Box according to claim 16, characterized in that the series comprises eight components, namely four main components separated two by two by four intermediate components.

18. Set of blanks for producing a packaging box comprising a first blank comprising a series of flaps suitable for forming the side walls of the box, connected in pairs by first junction lines parallel to each other, said series of flaps being terminated by a bonding tab (43) and comprising two series of two main flaps, and a first set of lateral flaps arranged on one side and connected to the main flaps by second junction lines (9, 9 '; 49, 49'; 86), perpendicular to the first junction lines, namely two first flaps (8, 50, 83) and two second flaps (11, 85) intended to form the bottom of the body, characterized in that that the first two flaps each comprise respectively on their two lateral sides reinforcement tabs arranged to be folded down and glued to the external face of the main flaps, called second main flaps, adjacent to the flights ands main corresponding to said first flaps once the box formed, in that the second junction lines with the second main flaps each comprise at least one recess and in that said assembly comprises a second blank in the form of a substantially rectangular plate provided on its longitudinal edges with at least one stud capable of cooperating with said recess and on each of its transverse edges of a tab capable of cooperating with the internal face of a first flap once the body has been formed, said plate comprising a median or substantially median line for longitudinal folding of the plate in a Chinese hat, parallel to the longitudinal edges of said plate.

19. The assembly of claim 18, characterized in that the plate comprises means for tearing said plate by traction.

20. A method of forming a cardboard packaging box or the like for transporting a load, in which the bottom and the vertical walls of a box are formed which are left open on top, characterized in that , there is a plate of longitudinal dimensions substantially equal to those of the bottom, said plate comprising a median or substantially median fold line parallel to its longitudinal sides which are adapted to cooperate with two opposite vertical walls of the body, called second walls, the plate is folded in the form of a Chinese hat around said fold line, said plate being placed above a sheet of plastic material arranged to let escape on either side of the two opposite edges opposite of the plate, portions of curtain of free material extending from said edges over a length sufficient to, firstly fall back outside the box above the walls when the sheet of plastic material is pressed against the bottom of the box, and in a second step cover each other by completely enveloping the load and block said load by thermal shrinkage of the film, the plastic sheet and the Chinese hat plate are introduced into the box until coming into blocking position of said sheet between plate and bottom by placing the plate horizontally in abutment against the bottom of the box, the ends of the curtain portions falling outside of the box above the walls, the load is introduced into the box and said curtain portions are closed on said load before blocking by thermal retraction and closing of the box cover.

21. Method according to claim 20, characterized in that the sheet of plastic material comprising at least one perforated part, the underside of the plate or the internal face of the bottom is previously glued facing the perforated part, and the plate is glued to the bottom through said perforated part when the plate is brought into abutment against the bottom.

22. Method according to any one of claims 20 and 21, characterized in that the plate comprising two lateral flaps, called third flaps suitable for being pressed on two opposite walls opposite the body perpendicular to the line of folding of the plate, said third flaps are folded against the upper face of the plate before introduction of the plate into the box and the plating faces of said third flaps are glued then, after introduction of the plate into the box, said faces are placed in pressure for bonding against the walls by automatic straightening of the third flaps when the plate is pressed against the bottom.

23. A method of forming a box according to any one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that the bottom and the walls of the box are formed around a mandrel.

24. Method according to any one of claims 20 to 23, characterized in that, the bottom of the box comprising two first flaps and two second flaps, the second flaps are folded 180 ° around their junction lines with the walls and they are glued to the internal face of the adjacent walls.

25. Device for manufacturing a cardboard or similar packaging case for transporting a load, said case comprising a lateral belt formed by at least four vertical walls and a horizontal bottom secured to said belt via lines junction, and a heat-shrinkable plastic film material for packaging and holding in place of said load, characterized in that it comprises means for forming the bottom and vertical walls of the box, presentation means d '' a plastic film above said box, means for presenting a plate previously folded in the shape of a Chinese hat around a longitudinal fold line of said plate above said film and means for introducing the film in the crate and for inserting the plate in a Chinese hat into said crate, said means being suitable for pressing said plate by pressing on it, until pressing the wire m heat-shrinkable on the internal face of the bottom of the body while letting escape on either side of two opposite edges opposite said plate, curtain portions of free material extending from said edges over a length sufficient to exit the box in a first and overlap each other in a second step by completely enveloping the load.

26. Device according to claim 25, characterized in that it comprises means for cutting at least one orifice in the film of plastic material and for gluing the underside of the plate or the bottom of the body opposite. screw of said orifice after introduction of said film into the box.

27. Device according to any one of claims 25 and 26, characterized in that it further comprises means for introducing the load into the body, means for folding down the curtain portions on the load and heating means film for thermal shrinkage on the load.

28. Device according to any one of claims 24 to 27, characterized in that it comprises means for forming the bottom and the walls of the box around a mandrel.

29. Device according to any one of claims 25 to 28, characterized in that, the plate comprising third lateral flaps, it comprises means for folding these flaps against the upper face of the plate and for gluing said third flaps .