WO1995006603A1

WO1995006603A1 - Multiple article pack and packaging method

Info

Publication number: WO1995006603A1
Application number: PCT/CA1994/000488
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario B. Poitras
Original assignee: Mccain Foods Limited
Priority date: 1993-09-01
Filing date: 1994-08-31
Publication date: 1995-03-09
Also published as: AU7607094A

Abstract

A pack (20) comprising a plurality of aseptic juice boxes (22) which are individually separable from the pack. The boxes are bound together using pressure-sensitive adhesive tape (28) that is perforated to provide frangible areas (30) between the individual boxes, so that a box can be separated from the pack by displacing the top end of the box away from the remainder of the pack, causing the box to pivot about its bottom corner and impose tensile stresses on the tape sufficient to break the tape in said frangible areas.

Description

Title; MULTIPLE ARTICLE PACK AND PACKAGING METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the art of consumer packaging and is concerned more particularly with the packaging of articles such as cartons or cans in packs comprising at least two individual articles. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention has been devised primarily for packaging cartons containing single servings of drinks such as fruit juices (sometimes called "aseptic juice boxes") . The following description is directed to this field by way of example, and it is to be understood that the invention may be applied to the packaging of other articles. Single serving aseptic juice boxes are typically marketed in packs comprising three or more identical boxes enclosed in a shrink wrap PVC film. The wrap is transparent so that the individual boxes are visible but the boxes are held together by the wrap so that they can be handled, stored and otherwise dealt with as a unit. When one of the boxes is to be used, the shrink wrap is torn off. The integrity of the pack is then destroyed, and the boxes must be handled and stored as separate items. There are a number of disadvantages with this form of pack. One is the cost of the shrink wrapping itself. Appropriate equipment must be included in the juice box production line, and is a significant cost factor. Another disadvantage is that, when the wrap has been removed and discarded, it represents a waste disposal problem. In particular, gases that are given off when PVC film is incinerated have been determined to be hazardous, with the result that this type of packaging has in fact been banned in some countries. From the viewpoint of the consumer, it can be difficult to separate an individual box from the pack. Sometimes, it may even be necessary to use a knife or other implement to physically cut the shrink wrap, at least to remove the first box from the pack. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been devised with the aim of providing a multiple article pack and method which addresses these problems.

A pack of the form provided by the invention includes a plurality of boxes or other relatively rigid articles grouped together in a relationship suitable for presentation to a consumer, with the articles abutting one another. Tape is used to bind the articles together and the tape has characteristics selected to maintain the relationship of the articles with respect to one another at least until a first one of the articles is to be consumed. The tape characteristics provide frangible areas between the articles at which the tape can be broken by appropriate manipulation of the articles to separate from the pack an article to be consumed. In a practical embodiment as applied to aseptic juice boxes, the characteristics necessary for the tape to maintain the relationship of the articles during handling has been found in commercially available self-adhesive polypropylene tape. By using an appropriate tape width in relation to the height of the box, the boxes can be bound together sufficiently securely that the integrity of the pack is maintained and significant relative movement of the boxes prevented. It has also been found that frangible areas between the boxes can be readily provided by perforating the tape at locations between the boxes, using a single perforation generally at the center of the width of the tape. This modifies the inherent characteristics of the tape such that the tape will tear through the perforation and between the boxes if a relatively moderate amount of tensile force is applied to the tape. For example, a consumer may do this by holding one box and then pulling the adjacent box away at the top essentially pivoting the inner bottom corner of that box on the corresponding corner of the box that is being held. The disadvantages of the prior art are addressed in that the tape can be applied using what are essentially conventional tape applicators . at much less cost than shrink wrapping. Polypropylene tape does not have the hazardous waste implications of PVC film. Further, the tape adheres to the boxes and pprtions of tape that are separated from one another when the pack is opened remain on the boxes and can be disposed of with them. Also, the integrity of the pack is maintained; the remaining boxes can be handled and stored as a unit.

There is also some advantage in terms of weight as compared with a shrink wrap that completely envelops the boxes.

Again, from the viewpoint of the consumer an individual box can easily be separated from the pack in the manner described above, without the need to remove a full wrap or use an implement such as a knife. In a second aspect, the invention provides a method of packaging articles in multiple packs. The articles are delivered seriatim to a packaging station and the following steps are repeated at that station for forming each of a succession of multiple packs. The steps involve arranging a plurality of articles in a group in a relationship suitable for presentation to a consumer and in which the articles in the group abut one another. The group of articles is then bound together using adhesive tape so as to at least substantially maintain the said relationship until a first one of the articles is to be consumed. The tape has characteristics such that the integrity of the pack is maintained during normal handling, while frangible areas are provided between the articles, at which the tape can be broken by appropriate manipulation to separate from the pack an article to be consumed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a particular preferred embodiment of the invention by way of example, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above and one end of a multiple pack of aseptic juice boxes in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a schematic elevational view corresponding to Fig. 1, illustrating the manner in which an individual box can be removed from the pack; and.

Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic top plan and side views respectively of a packaging station in a production line for the boxes.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to Fig. 1, a pack 20 of individual aseptic juice boxes is shown in the form in which it would be offered for sale to a consumer. In this case, the pack comprises three individual boxes, each denoted 22. The boxes themselves are entirely conventional and may, for example, be of the type marketed by McCain Foods Limited of Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada. Briefly, the boxes are formed from a hollow tube of laminated construction comprising a light cardboard or paper core with appropriate plastic films on its inner and outer surfaces. The tube is formed to a rectangular configuration during the box manufacturing process. The boxes are filled with juice and top and bottom flaps are formed, folded and sealed. The result is an aseptically sealed rectangular box containing juice. The plastic film at the outer surface of the box is usually printed with appropriate decoration, trade marks and other indicia.

The box as a whole is relatively rigid although there is some flexibility particularly of the front and rear faces of the box.

A drinking.straw sealed in its own aseptic pouch is usually adhered across the front face of each box, as indicated in ghost outline at 24 on one of the boxes. The straw can be used to pierce a membrane 26 covering a drinking opening in the top of the box. Pack 20 comprises three boxes grouped relatively tightly together end-to-end in a relationship suitable for presentation to a consumer. In accordance with the invention, the boxes are bound together solely by adhesive tape indicated generally by reference numeral 28. The tape maintains the said relationship of the boxes with respect to one another until a first one is to be consumed. Areas of the tape indicated at 30 between the individual boxes are frangible so that the tape can be broken by appropriate manipulation of the boxes, to separate an end one of the boxes from the pack.

Where a straw (as straw 24) is provided, the tape extends over the straw and the front face of the box deflects slightly inwardly to accommodate the straw.

As indicated previously, it has been found that a suitable tape is commercially available in the form of a self-adhesive polypropylene film of appropriate width. The frangible areas between the boxes are each provided by a single perforation P approximately at the center of the width of the tape and at a longitudinal location coincident with a plane between two adjacent boxes. The provision of a single perforation in this way has been found sufficient to modify the inherent characteristics of the tape such that the tape will tear through the perforation if a relatively moderate tensile force is applied to the tape.

As best illustrated in Fig. 2, this may conveniently be achieved by the consumer holding one of the two boxes that are to be separated and then pulling the other box away at the top by essentially pivoting the inner bottom corner of that box on the corresponding corner of the box that is being held. In Fig. 2, if the box denoted 22' is to be removed from the pack, the consumer holds the adjacent box as indicated at 32, for example by grasping the top of the box with one hand. The bottom of the box can be supported at the edge of a table or other convenient surface although this is not necessary. The other box (22') is then pulled away at the top and the inner bottom corner C of the box pivots on the corresponding corner of the adjacent box. It has been found that this will impose sufficient tensile strain on the tape to cause it to tear generally vertically through the perforation P on the tear line indicated at T in Fig. 2. The two sections of tape at the front and rear faces of the pack will tear substantially simultaneously. The portions of tape on both sides of the tears will remain with the respective boxes, to be discarded with those boxes, rather than becoming "floating" garbage.

It should be noted that the tape is not marked or otherwise modified to provide lines T; the lines simply indicate where tearing occurs.

In a particular embodiment, the boxes themselves may each have the following approximate dimensions in millimetres:

Height - 105

Width (front and rear faces) - 65

Thickness - 40 Tape width - 38.

It has been found that a 38 mm wide tape with a box of the dimensions indicated is adequate to hold the boxes in substantially fixed relative positions, maintaining the integrity of the pack under normal circumstances. The boxes will not separate or twist laterally relative to one another to any appreciable extent.

The inner surface of the tape is coated with a pressure-sensitive adhesive so that the tape adheres to the boxes over its entire surface.

In a specific embodiment, the tape has the following specifications for physical properties:

Neither the location of the perforations transversely of the tape, nor the size of the perforations themselves is believed to be critical, although it is thought preferable for the perforations to be substantially at the center of the width of the tape. In practice, each perforation is formed by a pin of approximately 5 mm in diameter with a conically shaped end that actually pierces the tape. It is believed necessary to make only a "pin prick" in the tape.

It should of course be noted that the specific dimensions and specifications are given by way of example and may apply only to the particular application being described. For example, if tape of a different type of plastic material were used (e.g. polyethylene) other considerations might well apply. It might then be necessary to provide a line of spaced perforations extending across the entire width of the tape.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 4, the method of packaging provided by the invention will now be described. Reference numeral 34 illustrates a belt conveyor that delivers individual filled and sealed juice boxes seriatim to a packaging station indicated by reference numeral 36. At this point, the packages are completely separate from one another and must be grouped together as appropriate to the particular configuration of pack being produced (in this case three boxes per pack) .

This accomplished by a collating unit indicated at 38. The individual boxes accumulate one behind the other against a stop 40. When a sensor detects that three boxes are present, a pneumatic cylinder 42 displaces all three boxes laterally and into line with an adjacent and parallel conveyor 44 through the intermediary of a pusher head 46. A further cylinder 47 then pushes the assembled group of boxes onto conveyor 44. In other words, the boxes are transferred in groups of three laterally onto conveyor 44. Conveyor 44 is a belt conveyor and the boxes essentially ride on the top run of the belt. A second similar conveyor (indicated in ghost outline at 48 in Fig. 4) engages the tops of the boxes and ensures that the boxes are held in the proper relationship as they are conveyed.

The two conveyors move the group of boxes through a tape applicator 50 and a perforator 52. Referring primarily to Fig. 3, two conventional tape heads 54 and 56 are positioned on respectively opposite sides of the two conveyors for applying lengths of tape to the laterally directed faces of the assembled boxes (i.e. the front and rear faces as seen in Fig. 1). Tape head 54 is representative of both tape heads and includes, a supply of tape in roll form is indicated at 58, from which tape is led to and passes around a tape applying roller 60. Roller 60 is carried by a spring biassed arm (not shown) which urges the roller inwardly of the two conveyors and therefore into the path of an approaching group of boxes. The leading end face of the first box contacts the roller and as it were "picks up" the tape. As the boxes continue to advance, the roller is deflected aside against its spring biassing and rolls along the faces of the boxes at that side of the conveyor, applying tape as the boxes pass by. As the trailing end of the last box moves past the roller, the roller is again urged inwardly by its spring biassing so that the tape wraps around to the trailing end of the box. A knife (not shown) cuts the tape while leaving the leading end portion of the next succeeding piece of tape adhered to roller 60. A separate presser roller 62 also forms part of the tape head and acts to press the tape against the box for promoting secure adhesion.

The other tape head 56 is essentially the same as tape head 54 and operates to apply a length of tape to the opposite faces of the boxes.. It will be seen that the two tape heads are longitudinally staggered with respect to the two conveyors 44 and 48 so that tape head 54 begins to apply tape first (to the same group of boxes) and finishes first, with tape head 56 beginning its application in the interval and finishing after the length of tape from tape head 54 has been severed. The two tape heads are arranged so that the portions of tape that are applied across the leading and trailing end faces of the groups of boxes extend over more than half the width of those faces and therefore overlap, as indicated at 63 in Fig. 1. In this embodiment, because of the way the tape heads are arranged, the tape from head 56 will overlap the tape from head 54 at both ends of the group of boxes.

The two tape heads 54 and 56 are conventional and have therefore not been show or described in detail. It should also be noted that other methods could be used for applying the tape. For example, the assembled boxes could be encircled by a single continuous length of tape. At the location of perforator 52, the group of boxes is temporarily arrested on the conveyors by a retractable stop (not shown) that positions the boxes precisely between a pair of perforating heads 64 and 66 actuated by respective pneumatic cylinders 68 and 70. Each head comprises a pair of plates having inner faces that are parallel to one another and parallel to the front and rear faces of the boxes, with inturned end portions 64a and 66a that in effect shape the head so that they embrace the boxes when the heads are advanced. The inner surfaces of the heads are resiliently padded to resiliently press the tape 28 against the boxes with the aim of further assuring proper adhesion of the tape to the boxes.

Respective pins for forming the perforations P project inwardly from the respective heads 64 and 66, through the padding and are visible at 72. The two heads momentarily advance, form the perforations and retract, and the packages are then released to continue their travel and pass onto a curved conveyor 74 that forms part of the normal production line. It will of course be appreciated that the preceding description relates to a particular preferred embodiment of the invention and that many modifications are possible. A number of those modifications have already been indicated and others will be apparent to a person skilled in the art. In particular, it should be emphasized that the invention may be applied to the packaging of articles other than aseptic juice boxes. For example, cans (even cylindrical cans) or other relatively rigid articles could be packaged. The articles should be in a single row only, otherwise the integrity of the pack will be destroyed when one or more articles are removed.

Where the articles are rectangular boxes as shown in the drawings, they should preferably be arranged end-to-end with their narrowest faces abutting, although again this could be different for different articles.

The tape can be printed or otherwise provided with appropriate indicia, decoration or the like. For example, graphics illustrating the method of separating a box from the pack could be included, along the lines of Fig. 2. The tape will normally be transparent although opaque or specially coloured tape could also be used.

More than one tape could be used to bind the articles together although it is believed that a single tape is preferable. The frangible areas in the tape will normally be provided by one or more perforations although other methods could be used, for example, a chemical treatment or special shaping or other modification of the tape in manufacture to provide weakened areas. While self-adhesive pressure sensitive plastic tape is preferred, there are other possibilities. For example, glue could be applied to the tape during the packaging operation. Also, tapes made of fabrics or other materials could be used. Preferably, the tape adheres to the articles but this is not essential, e.g. the tape could be simply wrapped around the articles and end portions of the tape adhered together. Tape in the form of conventional shrink wrap plastic film could be used to bind the articles together, without adhesive.

Claims

I CLAIM;

1. A multiple-article pack comprising a plurality of relatively rigid articles grouped together in a relationship suitable for presentation to a consumer and in which the articles abut one another, wherein the articles are bound together solely by tape having characteristics selected to at least substantially maintain said relationship of the articles with respect to one another until a first one of the articles is to be consumed, said characteristics providing frangible areas between the articles at which the tape can be broken by appropriate manipulation of the articles to separate from the pack an article to be consumed.

2. A pack as claimed in claim 1, wherein said articles are identical rectangular boxes, each having relatively wide front and rear faces and narrower end faces, and are arranged with their end faces in abutment, and wherein the tape encircles the front and rear and exposed end faces of the group of boxes and is located approximately at the center of the height of the group of boxes.

3. A pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein said tape is a self-adhesive polypropylene tape, and wherein each of the said frangible areas is provided by a single perforation through the tape located in a plane containing the abutting faces of two adjacent boxes.

4. A pack as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tape has a width of approximately 38 mm and each box has the following approximate dimensions: Height - 105 mm

Width (front and rear faces) - 65 mm Thickness - 40 mm.

5. A pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein the adhesive tape comprises two separate lengths of tape extending over the front and rear faces of the boxes respectively and across portions of the exposed end faces, with the portions of the respective lengths of tape overlapping on said end faces.

6. A pack as claimed in claim 2, wherein said boxes are aseptic boxes containing drinks.

7. A method of packaging articles in multiple packs, comprising the steps of: delivering articles to be packaged seriatim to a packaging station; at said station, repeating the following steps for forming each of a succession of said multiple packs: arranging a plurality of said articles in a group, in a relationship suitable for presentation to a consumer, and in which the articles in said group abut one another; binding the group of articles together using adhesive tape so as to at least substantially maintain said relationship until a first one of the articles is to be consumed; and, selecting characteristics for the tape to maintain the integrity of the pack during normal handling, while providing frangible areas between the articles at which the tape can be broken by appropriate manipulation of the articles to separate from the pack an article to be consumed.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the tape is a polypropylene pressure-sensitive adhesive tape, and wherein said frangible areas are provided by modifying the inherent characteristics of the tape by providing a single perforation through the tape at each of a series of locations in planes in which said articles abut one another.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said articles are identical rectangular boxes, each having relatively wide front and rear faces and narrower end faces, and are arranged with their end faces in abutment, and wherein said step of binding the articles together is performed by encircling the front and rear and exposed end faces of the group of boxes with tape located approximately at the center of the height of the group of boxes.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said tape is a self-adhesive polypropylene tape, and wherein each of the said frangible areas is provided by a single perforation through the tape located in a plane containing the abutting faces of two adjacent boxes, and wherein the tape has a width of approximately 38 mm and each box has the following approximate dimensions: Height - 105 mm

Width (front and rear faces) - 65 mm Thickness - 40 mm.

11. A method as claimed in claim 9, wherein said binding step is performed by applying two separate lengths of tape across the front and rear faces of the boxes respectively and partially across each exposed end of the endmost boxes, so that portions of the tape at said ends overlap.