WO2020012407A1 - Blank for forming a transport box and box formed by said blank - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a blank consisting of a sheet of extruded plastic for producing a tray (10) or a cover (12) for a transport box, both of which comprise a flat and substantially rectangular panel from the perimeter of which a transverse wall rises, said blank comprising fold lines which define: a central rectangular panel (14a, 14b), the perimeter of which has two first opposing sides (16a, 16b) and two second opposing sides (18a, 18b); two first side panels (20a, 20b) which are respectively adjacent to the two first opposing sides (16a, 16b); and two second side panels (22a, 22b) which are respectively adjacent to the two second opposing sides (18a, 18b). Each first side panel (20a, 20b) consists of a an inner flap (24a, 24b) and an outer flap (26a, 26b) defined by a fold line (28a, 28b) parallel to the first side (16a, 16b), each flap (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b) having a wing (30a, 32a; 30b, 32b) on each end, said wings being defined by the extension of the fold line separating the inner flap (24a, 24b) from the outer flap (26a, 26b) and fold lines (33a, 33b) which are othogonal in relation to the outer flap (26a, 26b). Each second side panel (22a, 22b) consists of an inner tab (34a, 34b), an intermediate tab (36a, 36b) and an outer tab (38a, 38b) defined by first (40a, 40b) and second (42a, 42b) fold lines parallel to the second side (18a, 18b), at least one tongue (44a, 44b) projecting on the free edge of the outer tab (38a, 38b), and at least one hole (46a, 46b) which is longitudinally aligned with said tongue (44a, 44b), and arranged on the fold line indicating the second side (18a, 18b). The blank has individual indentations (48a, 48b) between the side edges of each outer tab (38a, 38b) and the wings (30a, 30b) of each inner flap (24a, 24b) and is cut between the adjacent side edges (50a, 50b) of each inner tab (34a, 34b) and the wings (30a, 30b) of each inner flap (24a, 24b).

Description

 CUT TO FORM A TRANSPORT BOX AND

 BOX FORMED BY THIS CUT

[01] The present invention relates to a transport box, intended in particular to contain a plurality of small items.

[02] These latter articles - once stored and enclosed in such a box - can be handled appropriately by conventional handling devices, in particular robotic vacuum grippers. At the end of the handling process, the box is opened to allow free access to the items.

[03] The document DE 20 2015 004688 U 1 describes a cutout intended to form a housing and comprising a bottom panel hingedly connected to a first and to a second series of side panels via respective side edges, and to first and second end panels via respective end edges. Each series of side panels includes interior, center and exterior panels respectively.

[04] One of the objectives of the present invention is to provide an improved transport box of this type.

[05] To this end, the invention relates to a cut from an extruded plastic sheet for the production of a tray or a cover of a transport box, each of which comprises a flat and substantially rectangular panel from the perimeter of which a transverse wall rises, said cut having fold lines which determine:

 - a central rectangular panel whose perimeter has two opposite first sides and two opposite second sides,

 - -two first side panels adjacent to the first two opposite sides, respectively, and

- two second side panels adjacent to the two opposite second sides, respectively, where each first side panel consists of an internal flap and an external flap delimited by a fold line parallel to the first side, each flap (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b) having at each end respective wings (30a, 32a; 30b, 32b) which are defined by the extension of the fold line delimiting the internal flap of the external flap and lines of folds orthogonal to the external flap, where each second side panel consists of an internal tab, an intermediate tab and an external tab delimited by first and second fold lines parallel to the second side, at least one tongue projecting from the free edge of the outer tab and at least one hole aligned longitudinally with said tongue made in correspondence with the fold line indicating the second side, and in which cut has respective indentations between the lateral edges of each external tab and the wings of each internal flap and is cut between the adjacent lateral edges of each internal tab and the wings of each internal flap.

[06] the invention also relates to a plate which can be obtained from a blank according to the invention, by;

 - folding of the internal flap of each first side panel around the fold line defining the respective first side and the external flap around the fold line parallel to the first side, so that the external flap is positioned parallel to the internal flap and outside of it,

 folding the wings around the fold lines orthogonal to the fold line delimiting the inner flap relative to the outer flap, so that said wings are placed above the fold line defining the respective second side,

 - folding of the internal tab of each second side panel around the fold line defining the respective second side and the external tab around the second fold line parallel to the short side, so that the external tab is placed parallel to and inside the internal tab and that said tabs (38a, 36a, 34a) surround said folded wings, and

 - Insertion of said at least one tab in the at least one hole, with the intermediate tab which is above said folded wings and substantially parallel to the central panel, in which the folded flaps and the folded tabs surrounding the folded wings form a transverse wall rising over the entire perimeter of the central panel constituting the bottom of the tray.

[07] The invention also relates to a cover obtainable from a blank according to the invention, by:

 - folding the inner flap of each first side panel around the fold line defining the respective first side and the outer flap around the fold line parallel to the first side, so that the outer flap is positioned parallel to the inner flap and inside of it,

 folding the wings around the fold lines orthogonal to the fold line delimiting the inner flap of the outer flap, so that said wings are placed above the fold line defining the respective second side,

 - folding of the internal tab of each second side panel around the fold line defining the respective second side and the external tab around the second fold line parallel to the second side, so that the external tab is positioned parallel to and inside the internal tab and said tabs (38b, 36b, 34b) surround said folded wings, and

 - insertion of said at least one tab in the at least one hole, with the intermediate tab which is above said folded wings and substantially parallel to the central panel, in which the folded flaps and the folded tabs (34b, 36b, 38b ) surrounding the folded wings form a transverse wall rising over the entire perimeter of the central panel, constituting the upper surface of the cover.

[08] The invention also relates to a transport box consisting of a tray according to the invention and a cover according to the invention, which cover is superimposed on the tray, where the bottom of the tray and the upper surface of the cover face each other and the transverse wall of the cover is arranged outside and substantially in a position parallel to the transverse wall of the tray.

[09] The reference to a “rectangular” panel includes the special case of the “square” panel, all the sides of which have the same length, so that any pair of opposite sides can be considered as either the pair of short or long sides .

[10] The expression “sheet of extruded plastic material” means, in the present description, a sheet of plastic material, for example PP, having over its entire width a plurality of longitudinal undulations, as well as a plurality tubular voids internal longitudinal parallel to the undulations.

[11] The transport box of the present invention can be easily closed by superimposing the cover on the tray, and also easily opened by tearing one side of the transverse wall of the cover.

[12] The blanks, trays, lids and boxes of the present invention are made exclusively with the aforementioned plastic sheets. Consequently, if the transport case of the present invention is used to contain pharmaceutical products, it offers the additional advantage of being quickly and easily subjected to the sanitizing and antibacterial treatments generally essential in the pharmaceutical sector, which could be very problematic for containers made of other materials.

[13] Other advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be highlighted by the detailed description below, given by way of non-exhaustive example with reference to the drawings in the appendix, in which:

 FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cutout usable for the production of a tray of a transport box according to the invention,

 FIG. 2 is a plan view of a cutout usable for the production of a cover of a transport box according to the invention,

 FIGS. 3 to 7 are perspective views of successive stages of a process for the production of a tray from the blank in FIG. 1,

 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a step in a process for manufacturing a cover from the cutout in FIG. 2 corresponding to that in FIG. 3,

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a cover obtained from the blank in FIG. 2,

 FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a transport box where the cover according to FIG. 9 is being superimposed on the tray according to FIG. 7,

FIGS. 11 and 12 are sectional views of the transport box of FIG. 10 showing the successive stages of the method of superimposing the cover on the tray, FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the break in the transverse wall of the cover of the transport box of FIG. 10, and

 - Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the extraction of the tray, once the transverse wall of the cover has been broken.

[14] A cut (see Figure 1) of extruded plastic sheet for the production of a tray of a transport box has fold lines which determine a central rectangular panel 14a, the perimeter of which has two opposite long sides 16a and two opposite short sides 18a, two first side panels 20a adjacent to the two long sides loa, respectively, and two second side panels 22a adjacent to the two short sides 18a, respectively.

[15] Each first side panel 20a consists of an internal flap 24a and an external flap 26a, delimited by a fold line 28a parallel to the long side 16a. Each flap 24a, 26a has, at each end, respective wings 30a, 32a which are defined by the extension of the fold line 28a delimiting the internal flap 24a of the external flap 26a and fold lines 33a orthogonal and parallel to the short sides L8A. The fact that the wings 30a, 32a are defined by the extensions of the fold line 28a implies - as is immediately apparent from FIG. 1 - that the adjacent lateral edges of the wings 30a, 32a are rectilinear and parallel, with no space between them in the flat configuration of the cut. The wings 32a of each outer flap 26a are higher than the outer flap 26a and about as high as the wings 30a of the inner flaps 24a.

[16] Each second side panel 22a consists of an internal tab 34a, an intermediate tab 36a and an external tab 38a, delimited by a first fold line 40a and a second fold line 42a, parallel to the side short l8a. A plurality of spaced tabs 44a protrude from the free edge of tab 38a and a plurality of spaced holes 46a aligned longitudinally with said tabs 44a is made in correspondence with the fold line indicating the short side 18a. The tongues 44a have a trapezoidal shape and the holes 46a have a semi-circular shape.

[17] The cutout has respective indentations 48a between the lateral edges of each external tab 38a and the wings 30a of the internal flaps 24a and is cut between the adjacent lateral edges 50a of each internal flap 34a and the wings 30a of each internal flap 24a. As immediately apparent from Figure 1, each indentation 48a has a depth which is longer, in particular much longer, relative to the respective width.

[18] Figure 2 shows a cut of extruded plastic sheet for the production of a cover of a transport box, having the same general structure and the same model of fold lines as the cut of Figure 1, with slightly larger dimensions, for example in the range of 2% to 4%. Consequently, the corresponding characteristics are designated in Figure 2 by the same reference numbers as those used in Figure 1, except for the replacement of the letter “a” by “b”.

[19] In addition, the fold lines 33b orthogonal to the fold lines 28b delimiting the internal flap 24b relative to the external flap 26b are pre-perforated, so that they can be easily broken when desired during the 'use.

[20] As already mentioned, the cutout shown in Figure 1 is used for the production of a tray from a transport box.

[21] For this, the internal flap 24a of each first side panel 20a is folded around the fold line defining the respective long side l6a and the external flap 26a is folded around the fold line 28a parallel to the long side l6a ( figure 3). In this way, each outer flap 24a is positioned parallel to and outside the corresponding inner flap 26a and, substantially, orthogonally to the central panel 14a.

[22] Next, the wings 30a, 32a are folded around the fold lines 33a orthogonal to the respective fold line 28a, delimiting the internal flap 24a relative to the external flap 26a, so that they are placed at the -above the fold line defining the respective short side 18a (Figure 4).

[23] Successively, the internal tab 34a of each second side panel 22a is folded around the fold line defining the respective short side 18a and the outer tab 38a is folded around the second fold line 42a, parallel to the short side 18a (Figures 5 and 6). In this way, each external tab 38a is placed in parallel position and inside the corresponding internal tab 34a, just as it is substantially in orthogonal position relative to the central panel 14a, and the tabs 38a, 36a, 34a surround the folded wings 30a, 32a.

[24] Similarly, the tabs 44a are inserted into the corresponding holes 46a, with the intermediate tab 36a which is positioned on said folded wings 30a, 32a and substantially in a parallel position relative to the central panel 14a.

[25] Consequently, the folded flaps 24a, 26a and the folded tabs 34a, 36a, 38a enclosing the folded wings 30a, 32a form a stable and firm transverse wall rising over the entire perimeter of the central panel 14a constituting the bottom of the plate 10 thus obtained (FIG. 7).

[26] On the other hand, the cutout shown in Figure 2 is used for the production of a cover 12 of a transport box by carrying out a succession of steps reflecting those described with regard to the production of the tray 10 from the cutout in Figure 1 (Figure 8).

[27] The only difference is that - after having folded the internal flap 24b of each first side panel 20b around the fold line defining the respective long side 16b - each external flap 26b is folded around the fold line 28b parallel to the long side 16b, so that the outer flap 26b is positioned parallel to and within the inner flap 24b.

[28] Finally and analogously to the plate 10, the folded flaps 24b, 26b and the folded tabs 34b, 36b, 38b enclosing the folded wings 30b, 32b form a transverse wall rising over the entire perimeter of the central panel l4b constituting the top surface of the cover. The flaps 26b are nevertheless placed on the internal face of the transverse wall of the cover 12, unlike the flaps 26a which are positioned on the external face of the transverse wall of the plate 10. [29] Tray 10 can be used to hold a plurality of small items (not shown in the figures for clarity) and, when filled, is closed (Figures 10-12) by the cover 12 which is superimposed on the tray 10, forming a transport box, in which the bottom of the tray 10 and the upper surface of the cover 12 face each other and the transverse wall of the cover 12 is arranged outside and parallel to the transverse wall of the tray 10.

[30] The box remains normally closed and automatically sealed due to the engagement between the outer flaps 26a of the tray 10 and the outer flaps 26b of the cover 12 along the long sides of the box. By pressing down, the cover 12 automatically causes it to be locked on the plate 10 due to the engagement between the respective flaps 26a and 26b.

[31] When it is desired to access the small articles inside the box, the pre-perforated fold lines 33b which are orthogonal to the fold line 28b delimiting the internal flap 24b of the external flap 26b are broken (Figure 13) in correspondence with at least one side of the cover 12. Then, it is possible to raise the folded flaps 24b, 26b and extract them by sliding, outside the cover 12, the tray 10 containing the small items (Figure 14).

[32] Naturally, the principles of the invention remaining the same, the construction details and the embodiments can be very varied compared to those which are described by way of pure example, without departing from the scope. claims. For example, the first side panels 20a, 20b may be adjacent to the two short sides 18a, 18b respectively, and the two second side panels 22a, 22b may be adjacent to the two long sides 18a, 18b.

Claims

1. A cut in extruded plastic sheet for the production of a tray (10) or a cover (12) of a transport box, each of which comprises a flat and substantially rectangular panel from the perimeter of which a wall transverse rises, said cut having fold lines which determine:  - a central rectangular panel (l4a, l4b) whose perimeter has two opposite first sides (l6a, l6b) and two opposite second sides (l8a, l8b),  - -two first side panels (20a, 20b) adjacent to the first two opposite sides (lôa, lôb), respectively, and  - two second side panels (22a, 22b) adjacent to the two opposite second sides (18a, 18b), respectively, where each first side panel (20a, 20b) consists of an inner flap (24a, 24b) and an outer flap (26a , 26b) delimited by a fold line (28a, 28b) parallel to the first side (l6a, l6b), each flap (24a, 26a; 24b, 26b) having at each end respective wings (30a, 32a; 30b, 32b ) which are defined by the extension of the fold line delimiting the internal flap (24a, 24b) of the external flap (26a, 26b) and of the fold lines (33a, 33b) orthogonal to the external flap (26a, 26b ), where each second side panel (22a, 22b) consists of an internal tab (34a, 34b), an intermediate tab (36a, 36b) and an external tab (38a, 38b) delimited by first ones (40a, 40b) and second (42a, 42b) fold lines parallel to the second side (l8a, l8b), at least one tongue (44a, 44b) projecting from the free edge of the 'external tab (38a, 38b) and at least one hole (46a, 46b) aligned longitudinally with said tongue (44a, 44b) made in correspondence with the fold line indicating the second side (18a, 18b), and in which the cutout has respective indentations (48a, 48b) between the side edges of each outer tab (38a, 38b) and the wings (30a, 30b) of each inner flap (24a, 24b) and is cut between the adjacent side edges (50a , 50b) of each internal tab (34a, 34b) and the wings (30a, 30b) of each internal flap (24a, 24b). 2. Cutout according to claim 1, wherein said two opposite first sides (16a, 16b) are long sides and said two opposite second sides (18a, 18b) are short sides said central rectangular panel (l4a, l4b). 3. Cutout according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of spaced tabs (44a, 44b) protrudes from the free edge of each outer tab (38a, 38b) and a plurality of spaced holes (46a, 46b) aligned longitudinally with said tongues (44a, 44b) is practiced in correspondence with the fold lines determining each second side (18a, 18b). 4. Cutout according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said tongues (44a, 44b) have a trapezoidal shape and / or said holes (46a, 46b) have a semi-circular shape. 5. Cutout according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the wings (32a, 32b) of each external flap (26a, 26b) are higher than the external flap (26a, 26b) and about as high as the wings (30a, 30b) of the internal flaps (24a, 24b). 6. Cutout according to any one of the preceding claims for producing a cover (12) of a transport box, where the fold lines (33b) orthogonal to the fold line (28b) delimiting the internal flap (24b ) from the outer flap (26b) are pre-perforated, so that they can be easily broken when desired. 7. Tray (10) obtainable from a cutout according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 5, by;  - folding of the internal flap (24a) of each first side panel (20a) around the fold line defining the respective first side (16a) and the external flap (26a) around the fold line (28a) parallel to the first side (16a), so that the external flap (26a) is positioned parallel to the external flap (24a) and outside of it,  - folding the wings (30a, 32a) around the fold lines (33a) orthogonal to the fold line (28a) delimiting the internal flap (24a) relative to the external flap (26a), so that said wings ( 30a, 32a) are placed above the fold line defining the respective second side (18a), - folding of the internal tab (34a) of each second side panel (22a) around the fold line defining the respective second side (18a) and the outer tab (38a) around the second fold line (42a) parallel to the short side (18a), so that the outer tab (38a) is placed parallel to and inside the internal tab (34a) and that said tabs (38a, 36a, 34a) surround said folded wings (30a, 32a), and  - insertion of said at least one tongue (44a) into the at least one hole (46a), with the intermediate tab (36a) which is above said folded wings (30a, 32a) and substantially parallel to the central panel (l4a ), in which the folded flaps (24a, 26a) and the folded tabs (34a, 36a, 38a) surrounding the folded wings (30a, 32a) form a transverse wall rising over the entire perimeter of the central panel (14a) constituting the bottom of the plate (10). 8. Cover (12) obtainable from a cutout according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, by:  - folding of the internal flap (24b) of each first side panel (20b) around the fold line defining the respective first side (16b) and the external flap (26b) around the fold line (28b) parallel to the first side (16b), so that the external flap (26b) is positioned parallel to and inside the internal flap (24b),  folding of the wings (30b, 32b) around the fold lines (33a) orthogonal to the fold line (28b) delimiting the internal flap (24b) of the external flap (26b), so that said wings (30b, 32b) are placed above the fold line defining the respective second side (18b),  - folding of the internal tab (34b) of each second side panel (22b) around the fold line defining the respective second side (18b) and the external tab (38a) around the second fold line (42b) parallel to the second side (18a), so that the outer tab (38b) is positioned parallel to and within the inner tab (34b) and said tabs (38b, 36b, 34b) surround said folded wings ( 30b, 32b), and - insertion of said at least one tongue (44b) into the at least one hole (46b), with the intermediate tab (36b) which is above said folded wings (30b, 32b) and substantially parallel to the central panel (l4b ), in which the folded flaps (24b, 26b) and the folded tabs (34b, 36b, 38b) surrounding the folded wings (30b, 32b) form a transverse wall rising over the entire perimeter of the central panel (14b) constituting the upper surface of the cover. 9. Transport box consisting of a tray (10) according to claim 7 and a cover (12) according to claim 8, which cover (12) is superimposed on the tray (10), where the bottom of the tray ( 10) and the upper surface of the cover (12) face each other and the transverse wall of the cover (12) is arranged outside and substantially in parallel position with respect to the transverse wall of the tray ( 10). 10. Transport box according to claim 9, wherein the cover (12) is automatically locked on the tray (12) due to the engagement between the outer flaps (26a) of the tray (10) and the outer flaps (26b ) of the cover (12). 11. Transport box according to claim 9 or 10, in which the pre-perforated fold lines (33b) orthogonal to the fold line (28b) delimiting the internal flap (24b) of the external flap (26b) are broken in correspondence d '' at least one side of the cover (12), so that it is possible to lift the corresponding folded flaps (24b, 26b) and extract them by sliding the tray (10) outside the cover (12) .