CN104903202A - Gripping mechanism for containers - Google Patents

Abstract

A container blank (2) for forming a container having respective opposed first and second planar surfaces and comprising a row of body portion forming panels (P1 to P4) arranged side by side, the boundaries between the panels being defined by respective lines of boundary weakness (S1 to S4) extending substantially perpendicular to the row from the top to the bottom of the panels, at least one of the body portion forming panels (P2) including a line of concavity (12) in the first surface (14), which is not visible on the respective opposed second surface (16), the line of concavity having a grip enhancing substance deposited therein.

Description

Gripping mechanism for containers

technical field

This invention relates to packaging and in particular to laminated packaging made from thermoplastic coated paperboard.

Background technique

JP-A-2003276725 discloses a paper container consisting of a laminate mainly composed of paper and having improved recesses and protrusions at the outer surface of the container for non-slip properties and design effects. The laminate is provided with an inner layer having at least a thermally adhesive resin layer on one of the paper faces and an outer layer having at least a thermally adhesive resin layer on its other face. Recesses and protrusions are provided at a part of the paper container to improve non-slip properties.

WO-A-0075038 relates to commercial packaging comprising at least one flat or curved surface and a tamper-evident band with a groove introduced into the surface in which the tamper-resistant band is seated.

EP-A-0615285 discloses an integrated circuit such as a transceiver attached to a substrate such as a cardboard packaging material, by adhering the integrated circuit to the substrate, applying a patch antenna to the substrate and the integrated circuit, and combining the integrated circuit and the antenna A sealing layer is applied over at least a portion of the . Indentations may be formed in the substrate into which integrated circuits may be placed. The patch antenna can be screen printed onto the substrate and integrated circuit using conductive ink, or can be a metal foil applied to the substrate and integrated circuit. When the integrated circuit is a transceiver, it can be programmed with the identification code before or after it is attached to the substrate.

GB-A-2471268 discloses a stackable case with upstanding tabs on the top of respective end panels, and grip tabs at the bottom of the side panels, and a notch near the center of the base of the case. Such a configuration allows for the formation of an overlapping stack of cases when the second case is placed on top of the first case, wherein the upstanding tabs of the first case engage the handle tabs of the second case and/or the notches of the second case.

Contents of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a container blank for forming a container having respective opposing first and second planar surfaces and comprising a row of side-by-side body portion forming panels with boundaries between the panels Defined by respective border weakening lines extending substantially perpendicularly to the foregoing row from the top to the bottom of the foregoing panels, at least one body-forming panel comprising in a first surface a line of indentation in a respective opposite second surface Not visible above, the recessed lines have a grip-enhancing substance deposited therein.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a container comprising a ring of body panels, boundaries between said panels being defined by respective boundary weakening lines extending substantially perpendicular to said ring from top to bottom of said panels, each body The panels have respective outer and inner planar surfaces, and the outer surface of at least one of the body panels includes indented lines not visible on the respective inner surface, the indented lines having a grip-enhancing substance deposited therein.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of forming a container blank from sheet material comprising: marking said sheet material with a pattern of lines of weakness defining body portion forming panels of the container blank, the container blank having respective opposite first and a second flat surface; forming recessed lines in the first surface of at least one of the body portion forming panels, which are not visible at corresponding locations on the second surface; and depositing grip enhancement in the aforementioned recessed lines substance.

Due to these aspects, substances with non-slip properties can be applied to the outside surface of the packaging material without interfering with any part of the container production process.

Formation of the concave line in the first planar surface of the laminate without altering the surface profile of the opposite second surface, with the inner side surface of the body that will form part of the packaging material remaining visibly smooth and free of defects caused by the packaging material Advantages of the indentations made by embossing etc. made on the first surface. This is particularly advantageous in aseptic packaging, where it is desired that the inside surface is as smooth as possible, so as not to cause any movement of the packaging material that risks damaging the barrier features of the resulting container.

In a preferred embodiment, the grip enhancing material is a friction increasing material to increase the amount of friction between the consumer's fingers and the body panel of the container. Other substances may also be used, for example, to convey information to the user, such as an indication of the temperature of the contents.

Description of drawings

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

Figure 1 is a top view of a container blank to be formed into a container,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a container constructed from the container blank of Figure 1, and

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of a packaging material suitable for use in constructing the container of FIG. 2 .

Detailed ways

Referring to FIG. 1 , a container blank 2 having a first planar surface that will form the outer surface of the constructed container and a second planar surface that will form the inner surface of the constructed container is made of a respective outermost and Laminate composition of the innermost layer (with the possible insertion of an oxygen barrier layer such as aluminum foil between the substrate and the innermost thermoplastic layer). The gable-top container 4 or the carton formed therefrom (shown in Figure 2) is used for the packaging of liquids such as milk or fruit juice, and in particular for the aseptic packaging of such liquids.

To produce the container blank 2, a sheet of packaging material can be passed in a known manner between a pair of rollers, which cut the material around the edges of the blank and form a line of weakness in the blank that will form the outer surface of the final container. Visible both on the first planar surface of the container and on the second planar surface of the blank that will form the inside surface of the final container.

The blank 2 consists of four body parts forming panels P1-P4 with a fifth standard sealing panel delimited by weakening lines in the form of scoring lines S1, S2, S3 and S4 therebetween. The body panels P1 to P4 are delimited at their lower edges by further lines of weakness in the form of score lines S5 to S8 and are thereby separated from the row of end cap portions P6 to P9 . Similarly, the rows of body panels P1 to P4 are delimited at their upper edges by further lines of weakness in the form of score lines S9 to S11 and thus separated from the row of top closure panels P10, P11 and P13. Top closure panel P12 is not separated by a physical score line from adjacent body portion P3 located directly inwardly from it, but there is an invisible line of weakness at the boundary between panels P3 and P12 where when container 4 is removed from the container blank 2 When constructed, the top closure panel P12 will fold relative to the body panel P3. Panels P10 and P12 are quadrangular and form the respective quadrangular roof panels of the gable-topped container 4, while panels P11 and P13 are also quadrangular but are each divided into three by respective oblique dashes S12, S13, S14 and S15. Substantially triangular sub-panels P11a to P11c and P13a to P13c. The rows of top closure panels P10 to P13 are delimited at their upper edges by a row of top closure panels P14 to P17 to form the sealing flap 6 of the container 4 (see FIG. 2 ). The front, top closure panel P12 is formed with a perforation 8 (or alternatively, a weakened ring in the case of an aseptic package) to which a pour spout fitting 10 is applied (see FIG. 2 ).

When a container 4 is produced from the blank 2 shown in FIG. 1, the blank 2 is transformed into a container sleeve, which has a rectangular cross-section, and wherein the body panels P1 to P4 form a ring around the sleeve and the top lid panels P10 to P13 form a ring around the sleeve. Sleeve ring. End closure panels P6 to P9 are folded over a mandrel to form the end closure. After folding of the end closure panels P6 to P9, these panels are sealed on the mandrel to form the bottom closure. Sealing involves heating and pressing the panels P6 to P9 together so that the thermoplastic layers are tacky to create a sealed bottom cover. Alternatively, other sealing methods could be used, such as gluing, in which case heating would not be necessary. After filling of the container 4, the lid is formed by forming a sheet seal 6 in a known manner. The flange of the pour spout fitting 10 (see FIG. 2 ) may then be attached to the outside surface of the top closure sub-panel P12 by, for example, ultrasonic welding on the weakening ring 8 . Alternatively, the flange of the pour spout fitting 10 may be applied to the interior of the sub-panel P12 prior to filling the pour spout protruding through the hole 8 . The container 4 will be suitable for use in aseptic or non-sterile packaging of liquids.

Referring to FIG. 3, the laminate packaging material comprises a paperboard substrate 100, an outer layer 102 of thermoplastic material, an inner layer 104 of thermoplastic material and, for example, an oxygen barrier layer disposed between the paperboard substrate 100 and the inner layer 104 of thermoplastic material. The barrier layer 106. After the formation of the container blank 2, the pair of rollers between which the packaging material passes may be arranged (by compression of the outer layer 1025 of thermoplastic and the surface of the paperboard layer 100 facing the outer layer 102 of thermoplastic) to At least one concave line 12 is made in the surface of the material forming the outer side surface 14 of the final container, while the corresponding inner side surface 16 remains smooth and planar. This can be achieved by having the desired pattern made by one or more press-in devices on one of the rollers that will contact the outer surface 14, while the corresponding location on the other roller is smooth. In this way, the indented line 12 will be visible on the outside surface but not on the inside surface.

Before the container blank 2 is converted into a container sleeve, a grip enhancing substance 18 may be deposited into the recessed line(s) 12 such that the substance 18 is contained within the recessed line(s) 12 and does not overflow to the outside surface 14 on the outermost surface. The substance may be in the form of a friction increasing substance. In this way, the friction increasing substance 18 is retained where it is most needed.

In filling machines, container blanks with different surface friction properties (for example when gripping elements etc. Different properties in the filling machine when blanks are removed from cassettes, blanks are loaded onto the mandrel, containers are transferred off the mandrel into chain bags, the orientation of the containers in chain bags throughout the filling machine and finally top sealing. The combination of the indented line(s) 12 and the friction increasing substance 18 contained within the indented line(s 12) will have no detrimental effect on the performance of the filling machine.

The friction increasing substance 18 is advantageously a fluid substance such as a high friction ink or varnish before it is applied. High friction inks or varnishes consist of modified acrylic resins which behave like a rubber material (relatively very elastic with a relatively high degree of flexibility), resulting in non-slip properties. Furthermore, the high friction ink or varnish does not contain any silicones or waxes known as slip agents.

The friction increasing substance 18 may be deposited in the indented line(s) 12 during the same process as other inks used for the decoration of the container are applied eg a UV printing process carried out at a separate ink station. Ultraviolet (UV) printing is a relatively quick process because there is no waiting for the ink to dry. Thus, the friction increasing substance 18 can be chosen to cure when it is exposed to UV radiation like the inks used in the process. However, other methods of printing container decorations can be used with a suitable friction increasing substance 18 which can be selected accordingly.

As such, the friction increasing substance 18 may be applied in various degrees to have different degrees of friction and/or friction zones, as well as other tactile characteristics that do not interfere with the manufacturing process. This facilitates stacking and cancellation of flat container blanks or sleeves as the friction increasing substance 18 is completely contained within the recessed line(s) 12 and does not interfere with the machining of another adjacent container blank or sleeve stack.

By obtaining such a container 4, the consumer will experience an enhanced grip on the container. It is especially beneficial for consumers who may have visual and/or physical impairments. The use of the container 4 reduces the risk of splashing of the liquid food contents and the risk of dropping the container 4 during pouring.

The recessed line(s) 12 can be configured in a specific desired pattern to obtain optimum grip characteristics, much like the tread of a vehicle tire designed to provide a surface to grip the ground along which the vehicle is advancing. In this way, the indented line(s) 12 clearly indicate how the container 4 should be handled by the consumer.

Since the inner side surface 16 of the material is not doped with the concave line(s) 12, it remains smooth and flat such that the surface can be efficiently sterilized. Such a smooth and flat inner side surface is ideal for the sterilization process because there are no ridges or wrinkles in the packaging material where bacteria and other microbial organisms can survive after sterilization.

The depth of the indented line(s) 12 is preferably less than half the thickness of the cardboard ply, and most preferably less than a quarter of the thickness of the cardboard ply, in order to ensure that a minimum amount of substance 18 is used and that it does not interfere with the skin of the consumer's fingers and Sufficient contact between substances 18 exists.

The area of the outside surface 14 that is not compressed to form the concave line(s) 12 remains relatively smooth as in known containers of this kind. Thus, the recessed line(s) 12 visually and/or tactilely delineate one or more gripping areas 20 for the consumer for advantageous manipulation of the container 4 .

The container 4 of FIG. 2 has a side panel P2 with a plurality of gripping areas 20 delineated by a plurality of indented line(s) 12 . One gripping area 20 is formed by a pattern of substantially circular indented lines 12 and the other is formed by a pattern of multiple (multiple) undulating indented lines 12 . The opposing side panels may be given the same pattern or a different pattern to take into account the way the user's fingers are positioned during handling of the container 4 . The position and pattern of the indented line(s) 12 on the body panel P2 may also vary depending on the size of the container 4 . The different gripping areas 20 shown need not be provided together so that they are independent of each other and can have any desired shape and pattern. The substantially circular pattern of recessed lines 12 is shown as being slightly inclined relative to the horizontal from the junction between the side body panels P2 and rear body panel P1 to the junction between the side body panels P2 and front body panel P3. This enables the consumer to obtain a natural grip of the container 4 . The respective opposing side panels P2 and P4 and respective opposing top closure panels P11b and P13b may further include a linear point of weakness 22 to indicate to the consumer where to fold the container 4 once it has been emptied of all its liquid food contents For waste disposal/recycling, or for the facilitation of complete emptying of relatively highly viscous liquids (eg yoghurt) from the container 4 by squeezing any remaining liquid contents from the collapsed container 4 . The linear weakening point 22 does not pass through the grip area 20 but indicates to the consumer the general fold line for crushing the container 4 .

The wavy lines of the recesses 12 may be continuous as shown, or they may be discontinuous.

The grip area 20 may also form an area for specific printing, which may take the form of text and/or images, relating to the handling of the container.

Claims (22)

1. A container blank for forming a container having opposing first and second planar surfaces, respectively, and comprising a row of side-by-side arranged body portion forming panels, the boundaries between the panels being defined by a boundary substantially perpendicular to the The row of respective boundary weakening lines extending from the top to the bottom of said panels is defined by at least one body forming panel comprising a recessed line in said first surface on a respective opposite second surface Not visible, the indented lines have a grip-enhancing substance deposited therein. 2. A container blank according to claim 1, wherein the grip enhancing substance is a friction increasing material. 3. Container blank according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grip enhancing substance is a high friction ink or varnish. 4. The container blank of claim 3, wherein the high friction ink or varnish is composed of a modified acrylic resin. 5. A container blank according to any preceding claim, wherein said blank consists of a laminated packaging material comprising a paperboard substrate, a first layer of thermoplastic material on said first planar surface, and a second layer of thermoplastic material on said second planar surface and a barrier layer disposed between said cardboard substrate and said second layer of thermoplastic material, said indented lines in said first layer of thermoplastic material and formed in the surface of the paperboard layer facing the first layer of thermoplastic. 6. A container blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the grip enhancing substance is completely contained within the line of indentation. 7. A container blank according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the depth of the indented line is less than half the thickness of the paperboard substrate. 8. A container blank according to any preceding claim, wherein a plurality of lines of indentation form one or more gripping areas on the at least one body portion forming panel. 9. A container blank according to any preceding claim, wherein the recessed lines are present in the rows of first, second, third and fourth body portion forming panels formed in the second and fourth body portions. panel. 10. A container comprising a ring of body panels, boundaries between said panels being defined by respective boundary weakening lines extending substantially perpendicular to said ring from top to bottom of said panels, each body panel having a respective outer side and an inner planar surface, the outer surface of at least one of the body panels including a recessed line not visible on the respective inner surface, the recessed line having a grip deposited therein Reinforcement substances. 11. A container blank according to claim 10, wherein the grip enhancing substance is a friction increasing material. 12. A container according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the grip enhancing substance is a high friction ink or varnish. 13. The container of claim 12, wherein the high friction ink or varnish is comprised of a modified acrylic resin. 14. The container of any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the container is comprised of a laminated packaging material comprising a paperboard base, a first layer of thermoplastic on the first planar surface. plastic material, and a second layer of thermoplastic material on said second planar surface and a barrier layer disposed between said cardboard substrate and said second layer of thermoplastic material, said line of indentations on said second layer of thermoplastic material A layer of thermoplastic is formed in the surface of the paperboard layer facing the first layer of thermoplastic. 15. A container as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the grip enhancing substance is completely contained within the line of indentation. 16. A container according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the depth of the indented line is less than half the thickness of the paperboard substrate. 17. The container of any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein a plurality of lines of indentation form one or more gripping areas on the at least one body panel. 18. A container as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 17 wherein the lines of indentation are present on opposing body panels in the ring. 19. A method of forming a container blank from a sheet of material, comprising: marking said sheet of material with a pattern defining lines of weakness of body portion forming panels of said container blank, said container blank having respective opposing first and second a flat surface; forming recessed lines in said first surface of at least one of said body portion forming panels, which are not visible at corresponding locations on said second surface; and depositing in said recessed lines Grip enhancing substances. 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the container blank comprises a laminated packaging material comprising a paperboard substrate, a first layer of thermoplastic material on the first planar surface, and a layer of thermoplastic material on the first planar surface. a second layer of thermoplastic material on a second planar surface and a barrier layer disposed between said paperboard substrate and said second layer of thermoplastic material, said line of indentations being formed through said first layer of thermoplastic material and compression of the surface of the paperboard layer facing the first layer of thermoplastic. 21. The method of claim 20, wherein said compressing comprises compressing said indented lines to a depth less than half the thickness of said paperboard substrate. 22. A method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the deposition of the grip enhancing substance is by a UV printing process.