U.S. patent application number 15/892112 was filed with the patent office on 2018-06-21 for secondary packaging, and method for providing such secondary packaging.
This patent application is currently assigned to TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A. The applicant listed for this patent is TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A. Invention is credited to Paul HAYTON, Fredrik ORREMO.
Application Number | 20180170639 15/892112 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52102654 |
Filed Date | 2018-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180170639 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HAYTON; Paul ; et
al. |
June 21, 2018 |
SECONDARY PACKAGING, AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING SUCH SECONDARY
PACKAGING
Abstract
A secondary packaging comprises a tray and an insert. The tray
is configured to localize a lower end of primary packages and the
insert is configured to localize an upper end of the primary
packages. The insert is formed from the material of the tray.
Inventors: |
HAYTON; Paul; (Bristol,
GB) ; ORREMO; Fredrik; (Malmo, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A |
Pully |
|
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE
S.A
Pully
CH
|
Family ID: |
52102654 |
Appl. No.: |
15/892112 |
Filed: |
February 8, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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15103746 |
Jun 10, 2016 |
9950847 |
|
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PCT/EP2014/076857 |
Dec 8, 2014 |
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15892112 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 2571/00993
20130101; B65D 71/70 20130101; B65D 71/42 20130101; B65D 71/10
20130101; B65D 5/5059 20130101; B65D 2301/10 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 71/70 20060101
B65D071/70; B65D 71/42 20060101 B65D071/42; B65D 71/10 20060101
B65D071/10; B65D 5/50 20060101 B65D005/50 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 13, 2013 |
SE |
1351495.5 |
Claims
1. A method comprising: removing an insert from cardboard material
to result in the insert made of the cardboard material and a tray
made of the cardboard material, the tray made of the cardboard
material including a through hole produced by the removing of the
insert; positioning a plurality of primary packages on the tray so
that at least a part of a bottom surface of a body portion of each
of the primary packages overlies a portion of the through hole in
the tray, each of the primary packages also including an upper
portion positioned above the bottom surface; and positioning the
insert so that portions of the insert engage the upper portion of
respective ones of the primary packages so that the insert
localizes the upper portions of the primary packages.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a plurality
of curvilinear recesses spaced apart around a circumference of the
insert, the positioning of the insert comprising positioning the
insert so that a part of the upper portion of each of the primary
packages is located in a respective one of the curvilinear
recesses.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the insert comprises a central
body in which the curvilinear recesses are formed, the insert also
comprising a plurality of tabs each located at a respective one of
the curvilinear recesses and projecting outwardly away from the
respective one of the curvilinear recesses, each of the tabs being
connected to the central body at a weakening line, the positioning
of the insert comprising pressing the insert between the primary
packages so that the tabs fold upwards.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the positioning of the insert
comprises pressing the insert between the primary packages so that
a part of the upper portion of each of the primary packages is
located in the respective one of the curvilinear recesses.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning of the insert
comprises pressing the insert between the primary packages.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tray is a four-sided tray
that includes four sides, the tray also comprising a sub-panel
positioned along a respective one of each of the sides and
connected to the respective side of the tray by a weakening line,
the method further comprising upwardly folding each of the
sub-panels so that the tray includes four upstanding sidewalls.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the tray includes multiple sides,
the tray also comprising a sub-panel connected to a respective side
of the tray, the method further comprising upwardly folding each of
the sub-panels so that the tray includes multiple upstanding
sidewalls.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the removing of the insert from
the cardboard material includes removing the insert from the
cardboard material so that the through hole possesses an inner
periphery outlining a shape that is the same as the shape of an
inner periphery of the through hole in the tray.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a shrink wrap
around the plurality of primary packages located on the tray after
the positioning of the insert.
10. A method for providing a secondary packaging having a tray for
localizing a lower end of a plurality of primary packages and an
insert for localizing an upper end of primary packages, the method
comprising: providing a piece of raw material; cutting the raw
material to form the insert in an area of the raw material while a
remainder of the raw material surrounds the insert, the insert
being configured to be separated from the remainder of the raw
material so that a through hole exists in the remainder of the raw
material, the cutting of the raw material to form the insert
including cutting the raw material so that the insert is configured
to engage the upper ends of the primary packages and so that the
insert possesses an outer periphery outlining a shape when
separated from the remainder of the raw material that is the same
as the shape of the inner periphery of the through hole in the
tray; forming, from the area of the raw material at which the
insert is cut, the tray for receiving the lower end of the primary
packages.
11. The method of claim 10, comprising maintaining the insert in
the area of the raw material forming the tray during a
transportation step for later separation from the tray.
12. The method of claim 10, comprising separating the insert from
the tray.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the tray of the secondary
packaging is formed from cutout material of the tray.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the cutting of the area of the
raw material to form the insert comprises cutting the raw material
so that the insert includes a plurality of curvilinear recesses
that are spaced apart around an outer circumference of the insert,
each of the curvilinear recesses being configured to receive an
upper portion of one of the primary packages, the curvilinear
recesses being spaced apart from one another by a distance allowing
each of the curvilinear recesses to receive the upper portion of
one of the plurality of primary packages so that the upper portion
of each of the plurality of primary packages is received in one of
the curvilinear recesses.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the insert comprises a central
body in which the curvilinear recesses are formed, the insert also
comprising a plurality of tabs each located at a respective one of
the curvilinear recesses and projecting outwardly away from the
respective one of the curvilinear recesses, and each of the tabs
being connected to the central body at a weakening line.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the tray is a four-sided tray
that includes four sides, the tray also comprising a sub-panel
positioned along a respective one of each of the sides of the tray
and connected to the respective side by a weakening line.
17. An insert for use in a secondary packaging, the insert
possessing an outer periphery and being obtained by cutting out the
insert from raw material to produce a through hole in the raw
material whose inner periphery is of a same shape as the outer
periphery of the insert and so that the raw material with the
through hole forms a tray configured to receive a set of primary
packages, the insert comprising recesses that are spaced apart
around the outer periphery of the insert to localize an upper end
of the set of primary packages when the insert is positioned in
engagement on and pivotable tabs for localizing the insert in
relation to the upper end of the primary packages.
18. The insert of claim 17, wherein the recesses are curvilinear
recesses that are spaced apart around a circumference of the
insert.
19. The insert of claim 17, wherein each of the tabs is located at
a respective one of the recesses and projects outwardly away from
the respective one of the recesses.
20. The insert of claim 17, wherein each of the tabs is connected
to a central body of the insert at a weakening line.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/103,746 filed on Jun. 10, 2016, which is a
U.S. National Stage application based on International Patent
Application No. PCT/EP2014/076857 filed on Dec. 8, 2014, which
claims priority to Swedish Application No. 1351495-5 filed on Dec.
13, 2013, the entire content of all three of which are incorporated
herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to secondary packaging, i.e.
packaging used in order to contain packaging containers during
transport or storage.
BACKGROUND DISCUSSION
[0003] When a product is packaged in packaging containers for
further delivery within a value chain it is common practice to
arrange the packaging containers in some sort of secondary
packaging. This secondary packaging may consist of a cardboard box,
a tray, a dispenser box or simply a plastic bag.
[0004] The present disclosure relates to secondary packaging
particularly well suited to contain packaging containers in the
form of bottles or bottle like packaging containers. The bottles
may be regular plastic bottles, glass bottles or carton bottles,
referred to as "primary packages". "Carton bottles" may be used to
describe a packaging container having the overall appearance of a
bottle, yet being made fully of cardboard, or a fusion between a
cardboard sleeve and a plastic top comprising an opening device.
Two examples of the latter would be Tetra Top.TM. and Tetra Evero
Aseptic.TM. by the present applicant.
[0005] One type of secondary packaging uses a tray in which a base
end of the primary packages is arranged, and an insert localizing a
top end of the packages.
[0006] The present disclosure relates to an improved secondary
packaging of using a tray and insert.
SUMMARY
[0007] According to a first aspect of the disclosure, a secondary
packaging comprises a tray for localizing a base end of primary
packages and an insert for localizing a top end of primary
packages, characterized in that the insert is punched.
[0008] In one or more embodiments, the insert further comprises
recesses for improved localization of the top end of the primary
packages, preferably one recess for each primary package.
[0009] In one or several embodiments, the insert further comprises
tabs for localisation of the insert in relation to a top end of the
primary packages. Each tab has one end pivotally attached to the
insert and a free end.
[0010] In one or more embodiments, the tab is formed in one piece
with the insert. In one or more related embodiments the tabs are
configured to be arranged in a position normal to a main surface of
the insert. In this way, if the tabs are bent towards the top of
the primary packages the extension of the tabs may be used to align
the insert in relation to the very top end of the packages. The
bent tabs may also increase the contact area between the insert and
the primary packages thus improving the distribution of any
load.
[0011] In any embodiment the secondary packaging may be
complimented with a wrap, such as a shrink wrap, ensuring the
integrity of the secondary packaging. The wrap will also align the
free end of the tab with the top end of a primary package.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an
insert according to the above or below description is disclosed.
The insert may be used in combination with the tray as disclosed or
in combination with any other tray, or even without a tray.
[0012] Still another aspect involves a method for manufacturing a
secondary packaging according to any previous or following
description. In particular such a method may include punching an
insert from a tray. The method may also comprise punching the tray
from a larger piece of material, as well as folding the sides of
the tray to make it more adapted to localize and protect the base
end of primary packages arranged therein.
[0013] A secondary packaging comprising a tray and an insert,
wherein the tray is configured to localize a lower end of primary
packages and the insert is configured to localize an upper end of
the primary packages, wherein the insert is formed from cutout
material of the tray.
[0014] The insert may comprise recesses for localizing an upper end
of the primary packages.
[0015] The insert may comprise tabs formed in one piece with the
insert, wherein the tabs has a free end and are pivotally
associated with the insert.
[0016] The tabs may be arranged in recesses for localizing an upper
end of the primary packages.
[0017] The tabs may be positioned to, in a use position, engage the
primary packages.
[0018] The tabs may be positioned to engage a neck or an opening
device of the primary packages.
[0019] An insert for use in a secondary packaging may comprise
recesses for localizing an upper end of primary packages and
pivotable tabs for localizing the insert in relation to the upper
end of the primary packages.
[0020] According to another aspect, the disclosure relates to a
method for manufacturing a secondary packaging having a tray for
localizing a lower end of primary packages and an insert for
localizing an upper end of primary packages, said method
comprising: providing a piece of raw material, cutting the insert
from the raw material, thus forming a cutout in the raw material,
forming the tray from an area of the raw material comprising the
cutout.
[0021] According to one or more embodiments the insert may be
maintained positioned in the cutout of the tray in a transportation
step, for later separation.
[0022] In one or more embodiments the insert may be separated from
the tray, either before or after having transported the secondary
packaging to a location in which it will be used for its ultimate
purpose.
[0023] Another aspect involves a method that comprises: removing an
insert from cardboard material to result in the insert made of the
cardboard material and a tray made of the cardboard material, with
the tray made of the cardboard material including a through hole
produced by the removing of the insert; positioning a plurality of
primary packages on the tray so that at least a part of a bottom
surface of a body portion of each of the primary packages overlies
a portion of the through hole in the tray, with each of the primary
packages also including an upper portion positioned above the
bottom surface; and positioning the insert so that portions of the
insert engage the upper portion of respective ones of the primary
packages so that the insert localizes the upper portions of the
primary packages.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIGS. 1 and 2 are plan views illustrating a secondary
packaging according to a first embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a number of primary packages
arranged in a secondary packaging according to the first
embodiment.
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the present
invention, in a schematic, yet clear manner. A piece of raw
material 100, such as a rectangle made from cardboard, is used as a
starting point during the manufacture of the secondary packaging of
the present embodiment. An insert 200 is punched out from the raw
material 100, effectively dividing it into the insert 200 and a
tray, also designated with the reference numeral 100. To punch the
shape with a knife or stamp is one option available to the skilled
person, yet there are numerous other ways to cut out shapes in a
material such as cardboard. The present invention should therefore
not be limited to a single cutting method, and the present
disclosure does not relate to novel methods of cutting cardboard
but to a particular secondary packaging.
[0028] In the present embodiment the tray 100 is provided with sub
panels, 102, 104, 106, 108, which may be separated from a main body
of the tray 100 by means of creasing lines or "weakening lines"
indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 1. The weakening lines may be
accomplished by pressing or deforming the material locally in a
manner commonly used in manufacture of cardboard boxes of various
types. The sub panels 106 and 108 are also provided with creasing
lines and cuts (the latter indicated by full lines) separating them
from the neighbouring panels 102, 104. This arrangement makes it
easy to fold the sub panels to a standing position, normal to the
plane of the main body, thus forming sidewalls of the tray 100. The
cuts and creases may instead be arranged in the panels 102, 104 and
in other embodiments it is enough with creasing lines to form the
sidewalls. In still other embodiments the sidewalls may be left
out, leaving the main body of the tray only. The sidewalls may be
secured in a raised state by means of an adhesive such as a
hotmelt, yet they may also be forced and maintained in a raised
state by a wrap arranged around the secondary packaging once the
primary packages are arranged therein. One example of such wrap may
be a shrink wrap or other plastic commonly used in relation to
secondary packaging.
[0029] Turning to the insert 200, it may be described as having a
rectangular shape in a central body 202 and being provided with
recesses 204 or cutouts. A purpose of the recesses 204 is to
localize or position the neck of a primary package, such as the
neck of a bottle. In one or more of the recesses 204, preferably
though not necessarily all, a tab 206 is arranged. The tab 206 is
readily formed during the manufacturing process. Each tab 206 has a
free end and a weakening line may be arranged at the end which is
connected to the central body 202. For the sake of simplicity it is
preferred that the tabs 206 are formed in the same piece with the
central body 202. The weakening line, also indicated by a dotted
line, helps the tab 206 to pivot, and though it is not absolutely
crucial it does add to the functionality of the tab 206, and as
such it ensures a reliable function. A length of the tab 206 is
defined as the extension from the free end to the pivot axis (the
weakening line if there is one). The length of the tabs 206, as
will be explained in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4, will have a
beneficial effect. The insert as described above and below may be
used without the tray 100, since it does have functional advantages
beyond the beneficial effect of saving raw material. The particular
location of the tabs as illustrated in the drawings also has the
effect that the tabs are located as close to the centre of the
central body as possibly, thus minimizing torsion effects.
[0030] In FIG. 2 it is indicated how the insert 100 is lifted from
the tray 200. The secondary package will be used when arranging the
primary packages therein, i.e. after filling of the primary
packages. The manufacture of the secondary packaging may be
performed in close proximity of where it will be used, yet it may
also be performed at another site, if that is considered more
efficient.
[0031] FIG. 3 is a plan view of six primary packages 300 arranged
in a secondary packaging comprising a tray 100 and an insert 200.
The primary packages comprise a shoulder portion 302 and an opening
device 304. After having arranged the primary packages 300 in the
tray 100, or at least having arranged them in a similar
configuration, the insert 200 is pressed down between the primary
packages 300 by means of a relative motion. When doing this the
tabs 206 will fold upwards. When doing so they may act as a
positioning means for the insert in relation to the top of the
primary packages 300. The shape of the primary packages 300 may
prevent the insert 200 from sliding downwards, and in combination
with the tabs 206 the insert 200 will be localized with great
precision such that the insert 200 may fulfil its ultimate purpose
of localizing the primary packages such as to protect them from
damage during transportation and storage. FIG. 3 contains more
reference numerals than what has been referred to here, yet for
those reference numerals reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0032] FIG. 4 is a side view of the arrangement of FIG. 3. The
primary packages 300 are shown as carton bottles, having an opening
device 304, a shoulder portion 302 made from plastic and a body
portion 306 formed from a packaging laminate based on a paper core
with plastic layers laminated thereto. This is merely an example,
and it is apparent that present secondary packaging may be used for
other containers such as bottles made from plastic, PET, glass,
etc. The tray 100 will in this example localize the primary
packages both by restricting their motion in a lateral direction
and of course by aligning the bottom of the primary packages since
they are all resting on the tray. In other embodiment only one of
the localization effects may be utilized, and in still other
embodiments where the tray is omitted the localization effect may
be accomplished by other means, for example by a shrink wrap.
[0033] In the view of FIG. 4 a wrap, such as a shrink wrap 400 is
indicated. This shrink wrap 400 will localise the free end of the
tabs 206 and thereby the insert 200 as such. The same effect could
be accomplished by arranging a further tray 100 on top of the first
one, or by arranging the primary packages 300 in a cardboard box
(not shown) with a closed lid, etc. This highlights that for the
present secondary packaging the insert 200 does not necessarily
have to be used in combination with the tray, although the
disclosed way of manufacturing the insert from the tray still is
beneficial.
[0034] A suitable material for the secondary packaging is cardboard
or any similar material, and for the wrap any material commonly
used as shrink wrap may be used.
[0035] It should be appreciated that the present disclosure has the
purpose of explaining a few examples of the present invention in
order to enable for the skilled person to practise it within the
full scope. The fact that not all possible embodiments and uses
have not been disclosed should not be interpreted as limiting for
the scope of the present disclosure as defined only by the claims
in the form they may have. For example, the disclosed position of
the tabs results in a number of effects. This does not remove the
fact that one or more tabs arranged at other positions, instead or
in combination with the original tabs, may result in part of the
same effects. The fact that cardboard is the only material
explicitly mentioned does not remove the possibilities of using
other materials having suitable properties. "Suitable properties"
may in this respect refer to rigidity, stiffness, durability, cost,
etc. Furthermore, the drawings only illustrate an example with six
primary packages, yet it does not exclude examples having 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, 8, 9 . . . etc primary packages from the scope of the
claims.
[0036] Additionally, although individual features may be included
in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined,
and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a
combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In
addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms
"a", "an", "first", "second" etc do not preclude a plurality.
Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying
example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the
claims in any way.
* * * * *