Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02629628 2008-04-21
Packaging and method for producing a packaging which is
configured as a folding box
The invention relates to a packaging according to the
precharacterizing clause of Claim 1. Furthermore, the
invention relates to a method for producing a packaging
which is configured as a folding box.
A comparable packaging of the generic type has been
disclosed, for example, by EP 1 395 500 Bl, which
packaging is produced from a single blank. The
packaging is configured as a folding box which has two
transverse side walls which are configured as hollow
side walls. The transverse side walls which are erected
perpendicularly are connected firmly to a rear side
wall via an articulated fold. A front side wall is
arranged opposite the rear side wall, which front side
wall can be folded open together with a section which
adjoins it and carries a blister. The front side wall
is connected to the transverse side wall in each case
via an articulated fold, the folded-closed section
resting on the transverse side walls and thus forming a
type of lid part. In order to produce the end position,
finally a lid section which adjoins the rear side wall
is folded closed, a plug-in tongue which is arranged on
the lid section being plugged into a slot between the
front side wall and the abovementioned section in order
to secure the end position. In practice, the handling
of the packaging has proven difficult with regard to
the manufacturing technology. High requirements are
placed on corresponding packaging lines as a result of
the fact that the transverse side walls and the rear
side wall have to be oriented and then adhesively
bonded in the same work step.
It is therefore an object of the invention to avoid the
disadvantages of the known subject matter and, in
particular, to provide a packaging of the type which is
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mentioned in the introduction, which packaging can be
produced simply.
Furthermore, the packaging is to require as few
adhesive bonds as possible. According to the invention,
this object is achieved with a packaging which has the
features in Claim 1.
The four side walls, that is to say the front side
wall, a rear side wall which lies opposite and two
transverse side walls are joined at the bottom section.
Here, each side wall can be connected to the bottom
section in an articulated manner and can be erected
from the plane of the bottom section. The latching
means which are assigned to the transverse side walls
on one side and the latching means which are assigned
to the lid part on the other side can advantageously
interact in such a way that automatic latching takes
place during the erection process and the end position
is thus secured after the latching. A sufficiently
stable end position of the folding box can be ensured
with the aid of this latching connection. It is a
further advantage of the packaging that it is simple to
handle in order to produce the end position. The
folding box preferably comprises cardboard or a
cardboard laminate and can particularly preferably be
produced from one blank.
In a first embodiment, in order to secure an
intermediate position, the bottom section, the lid
part, the front side wall and the opposite rear side
wall can be stabilized by means of securing means in
such a way that they form a prismatic hollow body.
Here, this intermediate position can be set up before
the erection of the transverse side walls. For example,
mechanical means for producing a plug-in connection or
a latching connection are suitable as securing means.
It goes without saying that a hollow body of this type
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could also be secured in a different way. For example,
the intermediate position could be secured by the use
of adhesive or adhesive strips for producing an
adhesive bond.
The rear side wall can be configured as an articulated
strip which is adjoined by a lid section which can
preferably be folded open and rests flatly on the lid
part in the intermediate position. However, a web which
can partially overlap the lid part in the intermediate
position could also adjoin the rear side wall instead
of a lid section.
As securing means, the packaging can advantageously
comprise a plug-in tongue and a corresponding slot for
receiving the plug-in tongue. These mechanical means
which interact with one another can be produced simply
and are distinguished by simple handling.
It can be particularly advantageous if at least one
plug-in tongue which can be plugged into a
corresponding slot is arranged on the lid section as
securing means. Here, the slot can preferably be
arranged in the region of the folding line which
divides the front side wall and the lid part from one
another. If the abovementioned web which can be folded
open is used, it could be advantageous if the securing
means comprised, for example, a plug-in tongue which is
arranged on the lid part and a corresponding slot; the
slot would be arranged in the region of the folding
line which divides the rear side wall and the web from
one another.
The latching means can comprise latching tongues which
are assigned to the transverse side wall or the lid
part and, in the end position, engage in each case in a
latching manner into a stop which is assigned to the
lid part or the transverse side wall. For example, at
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least one latching tongue can be arranged on each
transverse side wall. In this case, the lid part would
have corresponding stops which interact with the
respective latching tongues in order to produce the
latching connection.
It can be advantageous if each transverse side wall has
at least two latching tongues. This arrangement ensures
a stable position of the erected transverse side walls
in the end position.
The latching tongues can be predefined by cut lines or
by predetermined breaking lines in the connecting web.
Here, it can be possible for the latching tongues to be
folded out of the plane of the connecting web during
the erecting operation. It goes without saying that it
would also be conceivable to provide separate latching
tongues which, for example, are adhesively bonded or
attached in some other way to the respective connecting
web of the transverse side walls.
The latching tongues can adjoin the inner walls of the
transverse side walls and can be divided from the inner
walls by folding-line sections. The folding-line
sections can extend on the folding line which in each
case separates the inner wall from the connecting web.
The folding-line sections ensure that, during the
latching operation, the latching tongues can fold in
the folding-in direction at the desired point. The
folding-line sections can be predefined by a continuous
folding line. However, it can be advantageous if the
folding-line sections are weakened to a lesser extent
than the folding line, as a result of which a
sufficient restoring capability of the latching tongues
is ensured in the opposite direction to the folding-in
direction for a reliable latching connection. For
example, the folding line can be formed by a notched
line. In this case, a lower degree of weakening can be
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achieved, for example, by the fact that only a part of
the width of the folding-line sections is notched and
the remaining part is merely scored. However, there can
also be an interruption, for example, between the
folding line and the respective notched, or otherwise
scored, parts of the folding-line sections, as a result
of which the latching tongues can likewise remain
approximately in the plane of the inner wall during the
erecting operation and in this way can be folded open
automatically from the plane of the connecting web.
In a further embodiment, the lid part can be of at
least two-layer construction and can comprise a base
section and a second section for forming the second
layer. Here, the base section can adjoin the front side
wall and can preferably be connected integrally to the
latter. The second section which bears against the base
section in the folded-in position can preferably be
adhesively bonded to the base section, the stop for the
latching connection being formed by at least one edge
in the second section. An edge of this type which forms
a stop for the latching connection can be formed, for
example, by a cut-out in the second section.
As an alternative, the lid part can be of at least two-
layer construction only in lateral regions which in
each case face the latching tongues. To this end, the
packaging can have a base section and two lateral tabs
for respectively forming the second layer. The said
tabs are therefore arranged on the same side as the
transverse side walls. A respective stop for the
latching connection can be formed by at least one cut-
out in each tab. It goes without saying that the stops
do not necessarily have to be formed by corresponding
cut-outs. Therefore, side edges of the tabs can also
form stops for the latching connection instead. The
tabs can adjoin the base section laterally and be
separated from the latter in each case by folding
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lines. Therefore, these articulated tabs can be folded
in from a flat rest position and preferably connected
to the base section by adhesive bonding. This
arrangement is distinguished by a relatively low
material expenditure.
A plurality of cut-outs can be provided in the second
section, each latching tongue being assigned a
corresponding cut-out. The cut-out can be dimensioned
in each case particularly advantageously in such a way
that, in the end position, it receives or can receive
the corresponding latching tongue approximately with a
precise fit.
A blister for packaged material such as tablets,
capsules, dragees, etc. can be inserted or is inserted
in the manner of a sandwich in the lid part between the
base section and the second section. Here, the second
section can have cut-outs for receiving the bowls of
the blister and the base section can have open or
closed dispensing openings, through which the packaged
material can be removed. Blisters of this type have
been known and used for a relatively long time. The lid
part can carry, for example, a blister having packaged
material which is welded into it. Blisters of this type
are also used, in particular, for packaging
pharmaceutical products, such as pills or capsules, and
have been known and used for a long time. It goes
without saying, however, that the present packaging
according to the invention is not only suitable as a
packaging for packaging blisters. However, the lid part
can also carry at least one individual container which
can be severed at a predetermined breaking point. The
individual container can be a structure made from
plastic material in the manner of a bottle or an
ampoule. However, a film bag, tubular bag or the like
is also conceivable. Containers of this type are also
used, for example, for dispensing samples for perfume,
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ointments, etc. A further field of application of the
packaging can also be, for example, the packaging of
books.
In addition or as an alternative to the abovementioned
embodiment, a blister for packaged material can be
inserted or is inserted in the manner of a sandwich
between the bottom section and a further section. Here,
the further section can have cut-outs for receiving the
bowls of the blister and the bottom section can have
open or closed dispensing openings, through which the
packaged material can be removed.
The invention can also relate to a blank for the
packaging which is described in the preceding text.
Here, the blank can comprise the bottom section, the
four side walls and at least the base section of the
lid part, the individual sections being defined by
folding lines. Furthermore, the blank can comprise the
lid section. It would then also even be possible in
principle to configure the second section of the lid
part to be articulated on the base section and to
assign it to the blank.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a method
for producing a packaging which is configured as a
folding box according to Claim 16. The method is
distinguished substantially by two method steps. In the
first step, a stable prismatic hollow body is produced
from the bottom section, the lid part, the front side
wall and the opposite rear side wall. The position, in
which a stable prismatic hollow body is present, is
denoted as intermediate position. In the second method
step, the transverse side walls are erected from the
plane of the bottom section, the transverse side walls
being connected in a latching manner to the lid part
during the erecting operation. The end position can
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therefore be achieved in a particularly simple way in
only two method steps.
Further advantages and individual features of the
invention result from the following description of
exemplary embodiments and from the drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective illustration of a
packaging according to the invention having a
folded-open lid part and lid section,
Figure 2 shows the packaging according to Figure 1 in
an intermediate position having partially
erected transverse side walls shortly before
an end position is reached,
Figure 3 shows the packaging according to Figure 1 in
the end position,
Figure 4 shows a blank for the packaging according to
Figure 1,
Figure 5 shows a second section for the lid part of
the packaging according to Figure 1,
Figure 6 shows a further section which can be attached
to a bottom section of the blank according to
Figure 4,
Figure 7 shows a flat arrangement which has been
prepared by means of folding and adhesive
bonding operations, produced from the blank
according to Figure 4 and the sections
according to Figures 5 and 6,
Figure 8 shows a part detail of a cross section
through a packaging according to the
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invention having a partially erected
transverse side wall,
Figure 9 shows the packaging according to Figure 8 in
the end position,
Figure 10 shows a blank of a packaging according to a
second embodiment having an opened section,
Figure 11 shows a further blank of a packaging
according to the invention,
Figure 12 shows the blank according to Figure 11 having
an alternative lid part in a part detail,
Figure 13 shows a flat arrangement comprising the blank
according to Figure 12, having a lid part
which has been prepared by means of folding
and adhesive bonding operations, and
Figure 14 shows an alternative embodiment of the
packaging according to Figure 1.
Figure 1 shows a packaging which is denoted by 1 for
packaging blisters. The bowls of the two blisters are
denoted firstly by 23 and secondly by 27. However, the
packaging is suitable not only for packaging blisters,
but also for other packaged material. The packaging can
also be used, for example, for packaging books (see,
for example, Fig. 10).
As is apparent from Figure 1, the packaging comprises a
bottom part, four side walls 4, 5, 6, a lid part 3
having a blister which is inserted into it in the
manner of a sandwich, and a lid section 9. As can be
seen, the side walls 6 which are denoted in the
following text as transverse side walls are configured
as prismatic hollow side walls. Here, each hollow side
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wall comprises an inner wall 11, an outer wall 13 and a
connecting web 12 which connects them. In Figure 1, the
transverse side walls 6 are erected almost completely
for the purpose of improved illustration. Before an
intermediate position which will be described in
greater detail in the following text is reached,
however, the transverse side walls 6 would as a rule
remain in the plane of the bottom part.
Furthermore, in the position according to Figure 1, the
latching tongues which are denoted by 7 can be seen
clearly. As can be seen, each transverse side wall 6
has two latching tongues 7 which are folded open in
each case with respect to the plane of the connecting
web 12. Corresponding cut-outs 8 which interact with
the latching tongues 7 in order to produce a latching
connection which will be described in greater detail in
the following text can be seen on the lid part 3.
It can be seen from Figure 1 that a plug-in tongue 14
is arranged on the lid section 9. A slot 15 which
corresponds with it is arranged in the region of a
folding line which separates the front side wall 4 and
a base section of the lid part 3. After the lid part 3
is folded in, the lid section 9 can subsequently be
folded in from the other side and, finally, the plug-in
tongue 14 can be plugged into the slot 15. In this way,
a stable, prismatic hollow body is produced. An
intermediate position of this type is shown in Figure
2. The transverse side walls 6 have already been
partially erected in Figure 2, as can be seen. In order
to erect the transverse side walls, the outer wall 13
can be loaded with an erecting force which is indicated
by the arrow F.
As can be seen, the latching tongues 7 which are folded
up with respect to the plane of the connecting web 12
protrude away from the connecting web. During further
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erection in the F direction, the latching tongues would
be pressed down by the lid part 3 until finally the
latching tongues 7 latch into the corresponding cut-
outs (cf. Figure 1; for the precise method of
functioning, see subsequent Figures 8 and 9). After the
transverse side walls are latched to the lid part, a
completely closed folding box is present. Figure 3
shows the packaging 1 in an end position of this type.
Figure 4 shows a blank 34 for the packaging which is
described in the preceding text. A bottom section 2 has
closed dispensing openings which are closed by means of
securing segments 29 which can be ripped off. It goes
without saying that the dispensing openings can also be
of open configuration. Together with a blister and a
further section (see Figure 6), the bottom section 2
forms the bottom part of the packaging. The respective
side walls which are separated from the bottom section
in each case by folding lines adjoin the bottom section
2 in each case laterally. The strip-shaped sections 13,
12, 11 and 36 are provided for the transverse side
walls. The section 36 is an adhesive tab which serves
as an adhesive surface for fastening to the bottom
section 2 (cf. Figure 7).
As can be seen, the latching tongues 7 are formed by
approximately U-shaped cut lines. The latching tongues
7 are separated from the section 11 for the inner wall
of the transverse side walls by folding-line sections
19. The folding line and the respective folding-line
sections 19 advantageously have different degrees of
material weakening. The folding-line sections 19 are
weakened to a lesser extent than the folding line, as a
result of which there is a restoring capability of the
latching tongues 7 in the opposite direction to the
folding-in direction. The folding line can be formed,
for example, by a notched line. The folding-line
sections 19 are then notched only partially, while the
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remaining part is merely scored (or simply interrupted
without material weakening). It is possible in this way
that the latching tongues 7 would remain approximately
in the plane of the inner wall during the erecting
operation and in this way can be folded out of the
plane of the connecting web automatically.
Furthermore, the folding-line sections 19 configured in
this way ensure defined folding-in of the latching
tongues during the latching-in process.
Figure 5 shows a blank 21 for a second section which is
adhesively bonded to the base section 20 (Figure 4) in
order to receive a blister. This blank 21 has cut-outs
24, through which the bowls of a blister can be guided.
Furthermore, cut-outs 8 which are arranged in the
corners and serve as latching means which interact with
the latching tongues can be seen in Figure 4. The blank
can comprise cardboard or a cardboard laminate. It goes
without saying that it would also be conceivable to
produce the blank from a comparatively rigid plastic
film.
Figure 7 shows a premanufactured flat arrangement
having the blank according to Figure 4 and the blanks
or sections which are adhesively bonded to the former
in each case according to Figures 5 and 6 (without an
inserted blister for the sake of simplicity). It can be
seen that the sections 12, 11 and 36 have been folded
inwards and the adhesive tab 36 has been adhesively
bonded to the bottom section 2. A premanufactured
arrangement of this type (naturally then with blisters)
can be introduced on the inlet side into a packaging
line in order to produce the packaging. Depending on
the intended use of the packaging (for example,
packaging for books), it goes without saying that the
section 35 could be omitted. Furthermore, a single-
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piece embodiment would also be conceivable (cf. Figure
10) instead of a separate section 21.
In Figure 8, the bottom section 2, the front and rear
side walls (not shown) and the lid part are situated in
the intermediate position, in which they form a stable,
prismatic hollow body. The lid section 6 which is
plugged via its plug-in tongue into the corresponding
slot in order to secure the intermediate position (not
shown) rests flatly over the second section 21 of the
lid part 3. As can be seen, the transverse side wall 6
of prismatic configuration can be erected from the
plane of the bottom section 2 in the manner of a
parallelogram. During the erecting operation, the
latching tongue 7 extends, at least in a first phase,
approximately in the plane of the inner wall 11. As can
be seen, a corresponding cut-out in the connecting web
12 is produced by the folding up of the latching tongue
7.
Figure 9 shows the transverse side wall 6 in a
completely erected position (end position) . In the end
position, the front end of the latching tongue 7 rests
on the stop 17, formed by the cut-out 8, and therefore
prevents the hollow side wall from pivoting to the
outside. On account of the restoring capability of the
latching tongues, they are pressed against the lid part
(that is to say, upwards in Figure 9) , as a result of
which a reliable latching connection is ensured.
As Figure 10 shows, the packaging can also be defined
by a single blank. No further separate sections made
from cardboard or cardboard laminate have to be
fastened to the blank 34. The second section 21 is
connected integrally to the base section 20 and is
separated from the latter only by a folding line, as
can be seen. The bottom of the packaging is defined by
the bottom section 2. The blank 34 according to Figure
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then differs from the blank according to Figure 4 in
that lug sections 37 are arranged in each case on both
sides of the outer walls 13, which lug sections 37
protrude in each case with respect to the folding line
5 which separates the bottom section 2 and the front side
wall 4 on one side and the bottom section 2 and the
rear side wall 5 on the other side from one another.
The lug sections 37 serve for ensuring that, in the
erected position of the transverse side walls, the
10 latter cannot be pressed further to the inside. The
respective edges of the front side wall 4 and the rear
side wall 5 form stops here for the lug sections 37 of
the transverse side walls in order to limit the
pivoting movement to the inside. As can be seen, the
edges of the front side wall 4 and the rear side wall 5
are set back in each case to the inside, with the
result that the four indentations 38 which are denoted
by 38 are formed. During the erecting operation, these
indentations 38 permit a pivoting movement which goes
somewhat beyond 90 , as a result of which a reliable
latching action can be ensured.
Instead of the separate or articulated second sections
which were shown in the preceding text and are equipped
with cut-outs for bowls, the arrangement for latching
in of the transverse side walls can also be configured
in another way. Figure 11 shows an alternative solution
by way of example. As is apparent from Figure 11, tabs
39 which can be folded inwards on both sides adjoin the
base section 20 for the lid part, it being intended for
the folded-in tabs to be connected to the base section
20 by adhesive bonding. As can be seen, these tabs 39
which are articulated laterally on the base section 20
are separated from the base section 20 in each case by
folding lines (shown as double dot-dashed line) . Each
tab 39 has two cut-outs 8 which interact with the
latching tongues 7 for the latching connection.
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As is apparent from Figures 12 and 13, cut-outs which
interact with the latching tongues 7 are not
necessarily required. The tabs 39 of the blank 34
according to Figure 12 are configured as narrow strips.
The tabs 39 have side edges which, in the folded-in
position, form in each case stops 17 for the latching
tongues 7. In Figure 13, a flat arrangement can be seen
which is denoted by 34', has been partially prepared by
means of folding and adhesive bonding operations and
has a lid part which comprises a base section 20 and
tabs 39 which are fastened to the latter by adhesive
bonding.
Figure 14 shows one embodiment of the packaging 1 which
could be used, for example, for packaging books. A book
would only have to be inserted onto the bottom part
between the transverse side walls 6 and the folding box
would only finally have to be closed. A further
difference to the exemplary embodiment according to
Figures 1 to 7 exists, for example, in the fact that,
instead of a lid section, a web 30 is provided which
adjoins the rear side wall 5 in an articulated manner.
A slot 32, into which a plug-in tongue 31 of the lid
part 3 can be plugged, is arranged approximately in the
region of the folding line between the web 30 and the
rear side wall 5. In the intermediate position, the web
would be arranged on the inside and would bear flatly
against the lid part 3. The transverse side walls 6 are
of substantially identical configuration, as in the
abovementioned exemplary embodiment.
