EP1326779B1

EP1326779B1 - Carton and carton blank

Info

Publication number: EP1326779B1
Application number: EP01981493A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Jean-Michel Auclair; Alain Saulas
Original assignee: Meadwestvaco Packaging Systems LLC
Current assignee: WestRock Packaging Systems LLC
Priority date: 2000-10-13
Filing date: 2001-10-12
Publication date: 2005-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2021-10-12
Also published as: AU2002213130A1; ES2240533T3; ATE290984T1; WO2002030765A2; CA2433318A1; DE60109475D1; EP1326779A2; DE60109475T2; CA2433318C; WO2002030765A3; PT1326779E

Abstract

A carton and blank for forming a carton for accommodating one or more articles which carton is provided with an access structure (54, 238) for the removal of articles from within the carton. The access structure comprises a closure panel (56, 156, 224, 424) hinged to a carton wall (14, 114, 212, 412) for forward and backward pivotal movement and a movable platform hinged to the closure panel for moving the contents of the carton forward for their removal in response to the forward pivotal movement of the closure panel. The invention is also directed to a divisible carton and blank for forming a divisible carton comprising two modular boxes (B, B1) for packaging articles, such as tablets (A) for example. Each modular box having a structure to access the box interior and a common outer upper cover (260, 360, 460) arranged so as to secure the boxes together. A tear strip (266; 371, 375; 466) is provided so as to permit the boxes to be separated.

Description

The invention relates to a carton for accommodating one or more articles, for example washing powder tablets, which carton is provided with an access structure for the introduction to or removal of the articles from the carton and an article feeder to assist in the removal of articles.

It is known from, for example, US 5,458,272 to produce a carton having a swingable closure panel and a pair of wing flaps, each wing flaps having stopper elements limiting outward movement of the closure panel. In US 4,752,029 defining the preamble of claim 1 there is shown a carton including a swingable closure panel hinged at its lower edge to a front wall for forward and backward pivotal movement and a dispensing device for gravity feeding the contents of the carton.

A first aspect of the invention provides a carton for accommodating one or more articles which carton is provided with an access structure for the removal of articles from within the carton, the access structure comprising a closure panel hinged to a carton wall for forward and backward pivotal movement to open and close an access aperture and a moveable platform hinged to the closure panel for movement therewith for moving the contents of the carton forward for their removal in response to the forward pivotal movement of the closure panel.

According to an optional feature of the first aspect of the invention the platform may comprise a platform panel adapted to move forwardly and downwardly to present the articles thereon for removal as the closure panel is swung open to a dispensing position. Preferably, the movable platform is hinged to the closure panel along a fold line spaced above lower edge of the closure panel. More preferably, the platform is spaced from the base of the carton by a spacer panel.

Preferably, there further comprises a pusher element linked to the closure panel to push an article held within the carton forward in response to forward movement of the closure panel.

Optionally the pusher element is hinged at its lower edge to the carton wall. The pusher element may be linked to the closure panel by a connecting panel spaced from the carton wall. Articles held within the carton may be placed upon the connecting panel.

At least one wing flap may be hinged to the closure panel and extending into the carton for movement along with the closure. The one wing flap may have an anchoring element for engaging with a carton wall to retain the closure panel in a closed position.

The at least one wing flap may further comprises a stopper element spaced from the anchoring element which stopper element limits the outward movement of the closure panel. Optionally, the anchoring element and/or the stopper element comprises a protrusion positioned on an upper edge of at least one wing flap.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a blank for forming a carton according to any one of the six immediately preceding paragraphs.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

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

FIGURES 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D illustrate the construction of the carton from the blank shown in Figure 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view showing the carton in a set up and loaded condition;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the carton blank of Figure 1, illustrating the access structure in an open position;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section of the carton shown in Figure 3, with the access structure in a closed position;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section of the carton with the access structure in an open position, shown in Figure 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a cross-section of another embodiment of dispensing device.

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of a blank for forming a modular box according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 9 is a plan view of a blank for forming an outer cover to be used with the blank illustrated in Figure 8;

FIGURES 10A, 10B, 11 and 12 illustrate the construction of the divisible carton from the blanks of Figures 8 and 9; and

FIGURES 13 and 14 illustrate the separation of the divisible carton of Figure 12 and the opening of the access structure also shown in Figure 7.

Referring to the drawings there is shown a carton and a carton blank for forming the carton. The blank and carton are formed from paperboard or other suitable foldable sheet material, that has been cut and fold lines added. The carton is used to hold a plurality of articles, for example, washing powder tablets or the like, and to dispense the articles. Whilst in the illustrated embodiment, a unitary blank is used to make a single carton, it is envisaged that two or more blanks may be employed, for example to provide the access structure 54 or feed means 80, described in more detail below.

Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown a blank for forming a carton with an access structure. The blank 10 comprises in series, a first side wall panel 12, base panel 14, a second side wall panel 16, and a top panel 18, hingedly connected together along

fold lines

20, 22 and 24 respectively.

The blank also comprises opposed

end wall panels

26 and 28. End wall panel 26 is hingedly connected to a longitudinal edge of side wall panel 12 along the fold line 30 and opposed second end wall panel 28 is hingedly connected to a side wall panel 12 along fold line 32. In order to secure the panels of the carton together there further comprises a series of securing flaps. It will be seen that end wall panel 26 is secured to side wall panel 16 by securing flap 34 which is hingedly connected to end wall panel 26 along fold line 36. Similarly, a securing flap 38 is hingedly connected to side wall panel 28 along fold line 40.

In order to construct the top wall structure, securing

flaps

42, 44 and 46 are provided which are hingedly connected to end wall panel 26, side wall panel 12 and second end wall panel 28 respectively along

fold lines

48, 50 and 52.

An access structure 54 is provided to gain access to the interior of the carton to retrieve articles contained therein. In one class of embodiments, there comprises a dispensing drawer provided by a swingable closure panel 56 hingedly connected to one of the outer panels of the carton, for example base wall panel 14 along fold line 58. There may further comprise one or

more wing flaps

60 and 62, which in this embodiment are provided on each side of the closure panel 56.

Wing flaps

60 and 62 are hingedly connected thereto along

fold lines

64 and 66 respectively. Each wing flap is optionally provided with a

stopper element

97, 99 to limit the outward movement of the respective closure panel 56. One or

more anchor elements

96, 98 are provided to retain the closure panel in a closed position. Preferably, the stopper and anchor elements protrude from the upper edge of the respective wing flaps.

The set up carton C (Figure 3) is supplied to the end user with the closure panel 56 secured in a closed position. To achieve this, a securing panel 68is provided and frangible connecting portion 70 hingedly is connected to the closure panel 56 along

frangible lines

76 and 78 respectively. In this embodiment, a tab 72 is provided together with cut line 74 so as to provide a recess in the set up carton to make it easier for a user to grip the dispensing drawer.

The article feeder 80 is provided with a platform upon which the articles A (Figure 5) are placed. The platform is connected to the closure panel 56 and is moveable within the carton. In Figure 1, the platform is provided by a spacer panel 82, a platform panel 84 and securing means for securing the platform panel 84 to the closure panel 56. The spacer panel 82 is connected to base panel 14 along fold line 83 and platform panel 84 is hingedly connected to spacer panel 82 along fold line 88. The securing means is, in this embodiment, provided by a securing flap 86 which is hingedly connected to the opposing end edge of platform panel 84 along fold line 90.

There may further comprise a pusher element 92 which is linked to the closure panel 56 to push the contents of the carton forward in response to forward movement of the closure panel 56. The pusher element 92 may be provided by a separate arrangement or, as in this embodiment, linked to the platform. Thus, there is provided a pusher tab 92 which is an extension of spacer panel 82. Pusher element 92 is separated from platform panel 84 by aperture 94 or a cut line. Thus, the pusher element 92 pivots about fold line 83.

Turning to the construction of the carton illustrated in Figures 2 to 6, it is envisaged that the carton of the present invention can be formed by a series of sequential folding and gluing operations to be performed in a straight line machine, so that the carton is not required to be rotated or inverted to complete its construction. The folding and-construction process -is not limited to that described below and can be altered according to particular manufacturing requirements.

Referring to Figures 2A to 2D, the platform is constructed first, whereby spacer panel 82, platform panel 84 and securing flap 86 are folded in direction Y about fold line 83 and into face contacting arrangement with base panel 14 and access closure panel 56. Securing flap 86 is secured to closure panel 56 by suitable securing means, for example glue G or other means known in the art. In Figure 2B, side panel 12 and the associated

end wall panels

26 and 28 are folded in an upward direction Z along fold line 20 and end wall panel 26 is folded out of alignment with side wall panel 12 along fold line 30, so as to receive the securing flap 68 of the access structure 54.

The access structure 54 is formed by inwardly folding wing flaps 60 and 62 along

fold lines

64 and 66 respectively in directions Z' and Z". Closure panel 56 is then folded in direction W about fold line 58 and securing flap 68 is secured to a lower portion of end wall panel 26 as is shown in Figure 2C. It will be seen that the folding action of closure panel 56 causes pusher element 92 to be erected and for the platform panel 84 to be folded out of alignment with spacer panel 82. Thus the article feeder 80 and access structure 54 are placed in the set up condition.

The remaining panels of the outer carton are formed whereby the opposing end panel 28 is folded into an substantially perpendicular relationship with side wall panel 12 along fold line 32. Securing flaps 34 and 38 are folded along

fold lines

36 and 40 into position and side wall panel 16 is folded along fold line 22 into face contacting arrangement. Side wall panel 16 is secured to securing

flaps

34 and 38 by glue G or other suitable means known in the art.

Finally the articles are loaded into the carton C by a relative vertical movement between the carton and the articles during continuous forward feed, as is well known, and the top wall is formed by top panel 18 secured to securing

flaps

42, 44 and 46 to complete the construction of the carton C as illustrated in Figure 3. It is envisaged that the carton could be placed on its side or end and articles inserted from the side or the end prior to completing construction, as is well known in the beverage packaging industry.

The carton in Figure 3 is supplied to an end user. In order to gain access to the interior of the carton, the access structure 54 is used. More particular, the access structure 54 provides temporary access to the interior of the carton by creating an opening in one of the end walls. In order to move the closure panel 56 from closed position to an open position, the frangible panel 70 is removed from the carton by tearing along

frangible lines

76 and 78 to reveal an aperture. The user can then pull on the closure panel 56 to cause it to pivot about fold line 58 shown in Figure 4. Closure panel 56 is pivoted to a predetermined position defined by the anchoring

elements

97 and 99 as mentioned above, the anchor elements come into abutment with end wall panel 26 as is shown in Figure 6, to prevent further movement of closure panel 56.

To reclose the access structure 54, the closure panel 56 is pushed inwardly and engaging elements 98 are pushed beyond end wall panel 26 in the carton to provide an interference type fit, thereby to prevent closure panel 56 from inadvertently opening as shown in Figure 5.

It will be seen from Figures 5 and 6 that the article feeder operates when the closure panel 56 is moved between closed and open positions. Thus, the platform panel 84 is moveable in a forward and backward direction so that an article A on platform panel 84 will be moved forward with respect to other articles contained in the carton thereby allowing easier access to remove it from the carton. In order to assist the forward movement, the pusher element 92 abuts a rear portion of the article and is pivoted about fold line 83 during the forward movement of the closure panel to push the contents of the carton forward, as is shown in Figure 6. In one class of embodiments, the platform panel is oriented in a downward plane toward the closure panel 56 when the closure panel 56 is in an open position. This is achieved by securing the flap 86 towards the bottom of closure panel 56. Of course, in other embodiments, the platform panel 86 can be oriented to remain in a substantially horizontal plane to maintain the articles in the same plane during their removal.

A second embodiment is illustrated in Figure 7 and is similar to the first embodiment so like references have been used with the prefix "1". It will be seen that the dispensing drawer is provided with a closure panel 156 hingedly connected to base 114. Wing flaps 162 are provided with anchoring elements 196. In this embodiment, anchoring element 196 is adapted to provide an interference type fit with the lower edge of end wall panel 126.

A platform is provided for moving articles A contained in the carton forward during forward movement of the closure panel 156. The platform comprises a platform panel 184 hingedly connected to closure panel 156 and a spacer panel 182 interconnecting platform panel 184 and base 114.

In use the platform operates in like manner to the first embodiment, so shall not be described in any greater detail.

Turning to the third embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 to 14 there comprises a pair of

blanks

410 and 460 for forming the modular box and outer cover respectively. The

blanks

410 and 460 are substantially identical to the first embodiment and therefore like parts have been designated by like reference numerals and prefixed with the number "4". Therefore only the differences shall be described in any greater detail below.

In this embodiment there comprises a platform structure, described in more detail above. The platform comprises a spacer panel 452, a platform panel 453 and a securing flap 455 hingedly connected together along

fold lines

458 and 459 respectively.

The construction of the divisible carton from the

blanks

410 and 460 shown in Figures 10A, 10B, 11 and 12 are substantially identical to that described in the first embodiment of divisible carton shown in Figure 8; the only difference being that the platform 450 is first folded along fold lines 457 and securing flaps 455 is secured to cover panel 424 by glue or other suitable means known in the art.

Similarly, when the end user wants to gain access to the interior of the carton, the frangible connecting panel 466 is removed from the outer cover as shown in Figure 13 and the closure panel 424 is opened in a similar manner to that described above. The pivoting action of closure panel 424 causes the platform 453 to move forward thereby to assist in moving the articles in direction Z so as to be removed more easily by the end user as shown in Figure 14 and described above with reference to the cartons shown in Figures 1 to 7.

It will also be recognised that as used herein, directional references such as "top", "base", "end", "side", "lateral", "longitudinal", "upper" and "lower" do not limit the respective panels to such orientation, but merely serve to distinguish these panels one from another. Any reference to hinged connection should not be construed as necessarily referring to a single fold line only: indeed it is envisaged that hinged connection can be formed from one or more of one of the following, a score line, a frangible line or a fold line, without departing from the scope of invention.

The present invention and its preferred embodiment relates to an article carrier that is shaped to provide satisfactory strength to hold articles securely, but with a degree of flexibility so that during transit the articles are retained within the carrier. The shape of the blank minimises the amount of paperboard required and the carrier can be applied to one or more articles by hand or automatic machinery. It is anticipated that the invention can be applied to a variety of carriers and is not limited to those of the fully enclosed type hereinabove described. Further or alternatively, the carton may be adapted to carry a greater number of articles without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

A carton for accommodating one or more articles which carton is provided with an access structure (54) for the removal of articles from within the carton, the access structure comprising a closure panel (56, 156) hinged to a carton wall for forward and backward pivotal movement to open and close an access aperture (54) characterised in that there further comprises a moveable platform mounted within the carton and hinged to the closure panel (56) for movement therewith, which platform supports the contents of the carton when the closure panel (56) is in the closed position and is moved towards the access aperture (54) to move the contents of the carton forward for their removal in response to the forward pivotal movement of the closure panel (56).
The carton as claimed in claim 1 wherein the platform comprises a platform panel (84, 184) adapted to move forwardly and downwardly to present the articles thereon for removal as the closure panel is swung open to a dispensing position.
A carton as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the movable platform is hinged to the closure panel along a fold line (90) spaced above lower edge of the closure panel.
A carton as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the platform is spaced from the base (14, 114) of the carton by a spacer panel (82, 182).
A carton as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising a pusher element (92) linked to the closure panel to push an article held within the carton forward in response to forward movement of the closure panel.
The carton as claimed in claim 5 wherein the pusher element (92) is hinged at its lower edge to the carton wall (14).
The carton as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 wherein the pusher element (92) is linked to the closure panel by a connecting panel spaced from the carton wall (14).
The carton as claimed in claim 7 wherein articles held within the carton are placed upon the connecting panel.
A carton as claimed in any of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one wing flap (60, 62, 162) hinged to the closure panel and extending into the carton for movement along with the closure panel wherein the one wing flap has an anchoring element (96, 98, 196) for engaging with a carton wall to retain the closure panel in a closed position.
The carton as claimed in claim 9 wherein at least one wing flap (60, 62) further comprises a stopper element (97, 99) spaced from the anchoring element which stopper element limits the outward movement of the closure panel.
The carton as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the anchoring element (96,98) and/or the stopper element (97, 99) comprises a protrusion positioned on an upper edge of at least one wing flap (60, 62).
A blank cut and scored for forming a carton according to any of the preceding claims.