WO1995032899A1

WO1995032899A1 - Blank, box and a method for making the box using the blank

Info

Publication number: WO1995032899A1
Application number: PCT/NL1995/000148
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johannes Fredericus Spronk
Original assignee: Crystal B.V.
Priority date: 1994-05-30
Filing date: 1995-04-21
Publication date: 1995-12-07
Also published as: AU2319395A

Abstract

The invention relates to a blank (1) from foldable material, such as for instance cardboard, for manufacturing a completely airtight and dustproof box (100) whose potential leakage openings are covered with flexible material strips (5). The invention further relates to a box (100) which has been obtained from a blank (1) according to the invention by folding and adhesion and to a method for manufacturing a completely airtight and dustproof box (100).

Description

Title: Blank, box and a method for making the box using the blank

The invention relates to a blank according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the manufacture of boxes from blanks of the type described in the preamble of claim 1, the drawback arises tha the corner points of boxes obtained from such blanks are not airtight and moisture-proof. This may give rise to spillage o material stored in the box. Moreover, the quality of the material stored in the box may deteriorate by the action of moisture which is present in the ambient air of the box and which enters the interior of the box through leaks . In this connection, there is a further possibility that vermin will affect the contents of a box which is not airtight. Firstly, vermin will be attracted by the smell of the contents of the box which can emanate through the leaks and, secondly, the leakage openings can provide a working point for the vermin, whence they can gain access to the box. The fact is that cutting edges of the foldable material, such as for instance cardboard, which are exposed to the environment are present at the location of the corner points. Although the surface of the cardboard is typically prepared against moisture action by means of a protective layer, such as for instance a layer of ink or a layer of foil, this protective layer is broken at the location of the cutting edges and there the cardboard is accessible to moisture and also to vermin. This drawback of moisture action but also grease action also applies to the cutting edges of the cardboard of the blank that are located in the interior of the box in the folded condition of the blank.

In order to remove the above-described drawbacks, heretofore often use has been made of a so-called inner bag which is included in the box. Such an inner bag is priorly filled with the material to be packaged and then accommodated in the box. Such an inner bag renders the package expensive and moreover it takes a great deal of time to accommodate the bag in the box, which has an adverse effect on the costs of the packaging process.

The object of the invention is to provide a blank by means of which a box can be manufactured which is completely airtight without use being made of a costly inner bag, which makes the filling process more difficult. To that end the blank is characterized by the features of claim 1.

Because at the location of each point of intersection of fold lines, which forms a corner point of the box in the. condition of the blank wherein it is folded into a box, a flexible material strip is provided, in such a manner that the point of intersection is completely covered by the material strip, the corner point of the box will be covered by the material strip and be closed airtightly when the blank has been folded into a box.

The invention further relates to a box which has been made from a blank according to the invention by folding and adhesion.

It goes without saying that the box which has been made from such a blank provides the advantages contemplated, viz. a completely airtight and dustproof box which is not accessible to vermin and whose contents will not be affected by moisture originating from the ambient air or by grease and moisture originating from the packaged product . The invention also relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 16. Using this known method, a box is obtained which is not airtight and accordingly suffers from the disadvantages described hereinabove with reference to the known blank. In order to be able to produce a completely airtight and dustproof box, the method is characterized by the features from the characterizing portion of claim 16.

With such a method, a box is obtained which has the above-described advantages of the box according to the invention. Further elaborations of the invention are described in the subclaims and will be further clarified with reference to the drawings .

Fig. 1 shows a blank according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2a shows a blank according to a second exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2b shows a side elevation of the blank of Fig. 2a folded into a box; Fig. 3 shows a partial elevation of a blank according to a third exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a blank;

Fig. 5a shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of a blank; and Fig. 5b shows a perspective view of the blank shown in

Fig. 5a, partly folded into a box.

Figs. 1, 2a, 3, 4 and 5a show exemplary embodiments of blanks according to the invention for the purpose of making boxes according to the invention. The blanks are all produced from foldable material, such as for instance cardboard. From the blank a box is made by folding and adhesion. The blank 1 is provided with pre-creased fold lines F which bound different blank panels P .

In accordance with the invention, at the location of each point of intersection I of fold lines F, which point of intersection forms a corner point C of the box 100 in the condition of the blank 1 when folded into a box, a flexible material strip S is at least partly connected with each of the blank panels P adjoining the point of intersection I by adhesive or by a sealing operation, in such a manner that the point of intersection I is completely covered by the material strip S.

The exemplary embodiment of the blank shown in Fig. 2a and the right-hand corner points of the blank shown in Fig. 5a are characterized in that the point of intersection I is defined by a first and a second fold line Fl and F2, respectively, with the point of intersection I being adjoined by a first, a second and a third blank panel PI, P2, P3. The first blank panel PI is connected with the second blank panel P2 through the first fold line Fl, and the second blank panel P2 is connected with the third blank panel P3 through the second fold line F2. A material strip S is at least partly connected with each of the blank panels PI, P2, P3 by adhesion or by sealing. The recess 2, which is bounded by the free edge El of the first blank panel PI and by a free edge E3 of the third blank panel P3, which free edges El, E3 start from the point of intersection I, is bridged and at least partly covered by the material strip S.

When the blank shown in Fig. 2a is folded up, a box as shown in Fig. 2b is obtained. The panels PI and P3 have been bent over an angle of 90° relative to the bottom panel P2. As a result, the free edges El, E3, starting from the point of intersection I, end up in abutment and the flexible material strip S is creased. The flexible material strip S can be creased towards the interior of the box or, as shown in Fig. 2b, be secured on the outside of the box against one of the sidewall panels PI or P3. Of course, when the material strip S is creased into the interior of the box, this material strip S can be fixed against a sidewall PI or P3. The box 100 can for instance be fitted with a similarly designed cover which, after being placed in or over the bottom part 100, is connected therewith through an adhesive strip or through a sealed strip, so as to obtain a completely closed box.

Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5a show blanks comprising at least one point of intersection I which is formed by a first, a second and a third fold line Fl, F2, F3. In that case, the point of intersection I is adjoined by a first, a second, a third and a fourth blank panel PI, P2, P3, P4, respectively. The first panel PI is connected with the second panel P2 through the first fold line Fl, the second panel P2 is connected with the third panel P3 through the second fold line F2, and the third panel P3 is connected with the fourth panel P4 through a third fold line F3. The first and the fourth blank panel PI and P4, respectively, are not connected with each other through a fold line. The material strip S and the fourth blank panel P4 are designed and interconnected in such a manner that three of the four blank panels can already be folded at the relative angle desired in the folded condition of box 100. This is particularly advantageous, since in that case the blank panels to be folded relative to each other can be folded over in turn, without requiring any complicated, composite movement of a number of blank panels simultaneously. This is of particular importance in the automatic manufacture and closure of box-shaped packages.

In order to realize this possibility, two alternative exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described below.

The first alternative is characterized in that the free edge E4 of the fourth blank panel P4, which free edge E4 starts from the point of intersection I, includes a right or acute angle with the third fold line F3, while a free edge El of the first blank panel, which free edge El starts from the point of intersection I, includes a right or acute angle with the first fold line, in such a manner that the two free edges El, E4 bound a triangular recess 2. The material strip S is provided in such a manner that the triangular recess 2 is bridged and at least partly covered by the material strip S, while further the material strip S is at least partly connected with each of the four blank panels PI, P2, P3, P4 by adhesive. In a rectangular box, the free edges El, E4 of the first and the fourth blank panel PI and P4, respectively, which free edges El, E4 start from the point of intersection I, will include an angle of 45°. At this angle, it is possible, when the sidewalls PI, P3 of the box are perpendicular to each other, to fold the top walls PI, P4 independently over an angle of 90° relative to the sidewall panels P2 and P3, respectively, with which they are connected. The second alternative embodiment, which is shown in Fig. 3, is characterized in that a free edge E4 of the fourth blank panel P4, which free edge E4 starts from the point of intersection I, includes a substantially right angle with the third fold line F3, while a free edge El of the first blank panel PI, which free edge El starts from the point of intersection I, likewise includes a substantially right angle with the first fold line Fl, with the first and the third fold line Fl and F3 being substantially in line with each other, the material strip portions SI, S2, S3, which are located on the first, second and third blank panel PI, P2, P3, respectively, being completely connected with these blank panels by adhesive or by a sealing operation, while material strip portion S4, which is located on the fourth blank panel

P4, is connected only partly with the fourth blank panel P4 by adhesive or by a sealing operation, in such a manner that no adhesive is present on a triangular material strip portion S4a which is designated in the drawing by a different type of hatching and which is bounded by the free edge El of the first blank panel PI and by an imaginary line L extending over the fourth blank panel P4, which includes an acute angle with the free edge E4 and the third fold line F3. Although this manner of providing material strips S is somewhat more complicated because adhesive is to be applied only locally on the material strip or on the panel P4 or sealing is to occur only locally, the resultant achievement is also that three of the four blank panels can already be folded at the relative angle desired in the folded condition of the box 100. If a blank for a rectangular box is involved, as shown in Fig. 3, the imaginary line L will include an angle of 45° with the free edge E4 and the third fold line F3. With a so designed attachment of the material strip S to the blank 1, it is possible, when the blank panels P2 and P3 are at a relative angle of 90°, to fold over the blank panel PI independently of the blank panel P4 at an angle of 90° relative to the blank panel P2. Accordingly, this second alternative embodiment also enables the box to be folded and closed automatically in a simple manner.

Preferably, the material strips S are provided on that side of the blank 1 that faces inwards in the condition of the blank 1 wherein it has been folded into box 100. Firstly, this prevents visibility of the material strip on the outside of the box. Secondly, what is moreover effected is that exposed cutting edges of the blank, which are sensitive to moisture action and grease action, if any, due to the contents of the box, are covered by a material strip, so that this moisture action or grease action is prevented or in any case is limited to a considerable extent.

In order to further enhance this effect, it is particularly advantageous when, in accordance with a further elaboration of the invention, flexible material strips S are also provided on the remaining free edges E of the blank 1, such as for instance the free edge E5 of a blank panel serving as an adhesive strip P5. An example of this is shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

The exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 5 has a further particular feature in that the material strips S for a number of intersections have been integrated into a single material strip S. It will be clear that the provision of a single material strip S rather than a number of material strips, i.e. for each corner point 1, can be effected more simply and faster.

Of course, the blank may be provided with a score pattern which forms a dispensing opening provision in the condition of the blank when folded into a box. In order to ensure that such a score pattern is fully leakage proof, it can, in accordance with a further elaboration of the invention, be covered with a material strip S which is connected with the blank by adhesive.

In general, it can be stated that the flexible material strips are made from paper, such as for instance grease-proof paper, or from a foil. It is of importance that the material strips are resistant to moisture action and are not air-permeable and moreover are flexible enough to be simply creased during the folding process.

When adhesive is used, it is preferably designed as a non-hardening adhesive, so that vermin trying to break through the material strip must first pass the non-hardening adhesive layer. Non-hardening adhesive has been found to be an insurmountable barrier to most kinds of vermin.

As already indicated in the foregoing, the invention also relates to boxes which have been manufactured from a blank according to the invention by folding and adhesion. Such boxes are shown in Figs. 2b and 5b, the box 100 shown in Fig. 5b not having been closed entirely yet. Such boxes 100 have the advantage that they are fully dustproof and moisture proof and moreover are inaccessible to vermin. According to a further elaboration of the invention, during the folding operations for the formation of the box 100, the material strip portions S which in the blank are not connected with blank panels P by adhesive or by a sealing operation are clamped between and adhered to the different blank panels P disposed against each other. What is thus achieved is that no loose material strip parts extend in the interior of the box to undesirably retain contents of the box there. In addition, the clamping of the loose material strip parts between the blank panels provides for an even better sealing of the box.

It will be clear that the box according to the invention may be provided with a dispensing opening provision for forming a sprinkling or pouring opening. Preferably, such a dispensing opening provision is covered on the inside of the box with a material strip portion which is connected by adhesive with the blank panel in which the dispensing opening provision is situated. Preferably, the material strip S and the dispensing opening provision are so designed that the material strip S is automatically broken when the dispensing opening provision is opened for forming a dispensing opening. The invention further relates to a method for making a box from foldable material, such as for instance cardboard, in which in a blank manufacturing step first a blank 1 is cut out and is provided with fold lines F, and then in a box manufacturing step the blank 1 is formed into a box by folding and adhesion. According to the invention, the method is characterized in that, for the purpose of rendering the box 100 airtight, between the blank manufacturing step and the box manufacturing step, at each point of intersection I of the fold lines F, which, in a condition of the blank 1 wherein it has been folded into a box 100, forms a corner point C of the box 100, a flexible material strip S is provided, which material strip S is at least partly connected with each of the blank panels PI, P2, P3, and optionally P4, adjoining the point of intersection I, by adhesive or by a sealing operation. Such a method provides an airtight and dustproof box in a simple and inexpensive manner, without requiring that in packaging the product use has to be made of costly inner bags which render the filling process more difficult.

Optionally, in accordance with a further elaboration of the method, material strips S can also be provided at other potentially leakage-sensitive places, such as for instance a score pattern for the purpose of a dispensing opening provision and/or the free edges E5 of a blank panel P5 serving as an adhesive strip. As already explained hereinabove, the resultant achievement is also that the cutting edges which are sensitive to moisture and/or grease action are covered by the material strip, so that such moisture and/or grease action are prevented.

It will be clear that the invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described, but various modifications are possible within the concept of the invention.

Claims

1. A blank from foldable material, such as for instance cardboard, which blank (1) is intended for manufacturing a box (100) by folding and adhesion, the blank (1) comprising pre- creased fold lines (F) which bound different blank panels (P), characterized in that at the location of each point of intersection (I) of fold lines, which, in the condition of the blank (1) wherein it has been folded into a box, forms a corner point (C) of the box (100) , a flexible material strip (S) is at least partly connected with each of the blank panels (P) adjoining the point of intersection (I) by adhesive or by a sealing operation, in such a manner that the point of intersection (I) is completely covered by the material strip (S) .

2. A blank according to claim 1, characterized in that the point of intersection (I) of a first and a second fold line (Fl, F2, respectively) is adjoined by a first, a second and a third blank panel (PI, P2, P3, respectively), with the first blank panel (PI) being connected with the second blank panel (P2) through the first fold line (Fl) , the second blank panel (P2) being connected with the third blank panel (P3) through the second fold line (F2), while the material strip (S) is connected at least partly with each of the blank panels (PI, P2, P3) by adhesion or by sealing, and a recess (2) , which is bounded by a free edge (El) of the first blank panel (PI) and by a free edge (E3) of the third blank panel (P3) , which free edges (El, E3) start from the point of intersection (I), is bridged and at least partly covered by the material strip (S) .

3. A blank according to claim 1, characterized in that if the point of intersection (I) of a first, a second and a third fold line (Fl, F2, F3, respectively), is adjoined by a first, a second, a third and a fourth blank panel (PI, P2, P3, P4, respectively) with the first panel (Pi) being connected with the second panel (P2) through the first fold line (Fl) , the second panel (P2) being connected with the third panel (P3) through the second fold line (F2) , and the third panel (P3) being connected with the fourth panel (P4) through the third fold line (F3), while the first and the fourth blank panel (PI and P4, respectively) are not connected with each other through a fold line, the material strip (S) and the fourth blank panel (P4) are designed and interconnected in such a manner that three of the four blank panels (P) can already be folded at the relative angle desired in the folded condition of the box (100) .

4. A blank according to claim 3, characterized in that a free edge (E4) of the fourth blank panel (P4), which free edge (E4) starts from the point of intersection (I), includes a right or acute angle with the third fold line (F3) , while a free edge (El) of the first blank panel (PI), which free edge (El) starts from the point of intersection (I), includes a right or acute angle with the first fold line, in such a manner that the two free edges (El, E4) bound a triangular recess (2) , the material strip (S) being provided in such a manner that the triangular recess (2) is bridged and at least partly covered by the material strip (S) , while further the material strip (S) is at least partly connected with each of the four blank panels (PI, P2, P3, P4) by adhesive or by a sealing operation.

5. A blank according to claim 3, characterized in that a free edge (E4) of the fourth blank panel (P4), which free edge (E4) starts from the point of intersection (I), includes a substantially right angle with the third fold line (F3) , while a free edge (El) of the first blank panel (PI) , which free edge (El) starts from the point of intersection (I) , likewise includes a substantially right angle with the first fold line (Fl) , with the first and the third fold line (Fl and F3, respectively) being substantially in line with each other, the material strip portions (SI, S2, S3) which are located on the first, second and third blank panel (PI, P2, P3) being completely connected with these blank panels by adhesive or by a sealing operation, while the material strip portion (S4) which is located on the fourth blank panel (P4) is partly connected with this fourth blank panel (P4) by adhesive or by a sealing operation, in such a manner that no adhesive joint or seal joint exists at the location of a triangular material strip portion (S4a) which is bounded by said free edge (E4) of the fourth blank panel (P4) and by an imaginary line (L) extending over the fourth blank panel (P4), which includes an acute angle with said free edge (E4) and the third fold line (F3) .

6. A blank according to claim 1, characterized in that the material strips (S) are provided on that side of the blank (1) which faces inwards in the condition of the blank (1) when folded into a box (100) .

7. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material strips (S) for a number of points of intersection have been integrated into a single material strip (S) .

8. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a flexible material strip (S) is also provided at the location of at least one remaining free edge (E) of the blank, such as for instance the free edge (E5) of a blank panel serving as an adhesive strip (P5) .

9. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided with a score pattern which forms a dispensing opening provision in the condition of the blank when folded into a box.

10. A blank according to claim 9, characterized in that the score pattern is covered with a material strip (S) which is connected with the blank (1) by adhesive or a sealing operation.

11. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the flexible material strips (S) are made from paper, such as for instance grease-proof paper, or from a foil.

12. A blank according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adhesive used for connecting the material strips with the blank is a non-hardening adhesive.

13. A box which has been made from a blank according to any one of the preceding claims by folding and adhesion.

14. A box according to claim 13, characterized in that during the folding operations for forming the box (100), the material strip portions (S) which in the blank are not connected with the blank panels (P) by adhesive or by a seal joint are clamped between and adhered to different blank panels (P) disposed against each other.

15. A box according to any one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that it is provided with a dispensing opening provision.

16. A box according to claim 15, characterized in that it is manufactured from a blank according to claim 10, with the material ^' strip (S) and the dispensing opening provision being designed in such a manner that the material strip (S) is broken when the dispensing opening provision is opened for forming a dispensing opening.

17. A method for manufacturing a box from foldable material, such as for instance cardboard, in which in a blank manufacturing step first a blank (1) is cut out and provided with fold lines (F) , and then in a box manufacturing step the blank (1) is formed into a box (100) by folding and adhesion, characterized in that for the purpose of rendering the box airtight, between the blank manufacturing step and the box manufacturing step, at each point of intersection (I) of the fold lines (F) , which, in a condition of the blank (1) when folded into a box (100), forms a corner point (C) of the box (100), a flexible material strip (S) is provided, which material strip (S) is at least partly connected with each of the blank panels (PI, P2, P3, and optionally P4) adjoining the point of intersection (I) by adhesive or by a seal joint.

18. A method according to claim 17, characterized in that material strips (S) are also provided at other potentially leakage-sensitive places, such as for instance a score pattern for the purpose of a dispensing opening provision and the free edges (E5) of a blank panel (P5) serving as an adhesive strip.