IES57897B2 - Carton divisions - Google Patents

Abstract

A carton division includes two integrally joined transverse sheets 14, 16 and a longitudinal sheet 12. A tab 24a, 24b folded from the material 18 joining the sheets 14, 16 holds cells of the division locked open for reception of articles even when the division is free-standing. The tab 24a, 24b jams against one or more faces of the erected division and is divided by a fold line into portions 24a and 24b so that it can be folded aside by insertion of articles into the division.

Description

This invention relates to divisions for sub-dividing cartons, cases or the like (hereafter called cartons”) into a number of cells for receiving individual items such as 5 bottles.

These divisions usually consist of a number of longitudinal and transverse sheets intersecting at right angles when erected in a case but which can be folded flat for transport and storage prior to use. Where there is only a 10 single longitudinal sheet (for example with six cells) the division has little lateral stability even when placed in a carton, as the transverse sheets remain free to pivot. This is a problem particularly when using automated carton filling machinery such as bottling lines, as once placed into cartons 15 and moved on a conveyor to the next packaging stage, the divisions easily become deformed to the point where articles cannot be placed within the cells. Further, with any collapsible division, automatic placement into cartons may be hindered if the divisions are not held open during insertion.

After insertion, where there is more than one longitudinal sheet, the division is of course stabilised by the surrounding carton.

It is known to stabilise six-cell divisions within a carton by forming the transverse dividing sheets as limbs of a 25 U-shaped member, the base of the U being secured to a wall of the carton, for example by glueing. However, inserting and securing such divisions within cartons is inconvenient.

It is an object of the present invention to mitigate or overcome the above disadvantages.

?() Accordingly, the present invention provides a carton division including a tab formed from the material of the division itself and which is foldable to jam against one or more faces of the erected division so as to hold cells of the division locked open for reception of articles even when the division is free-standing. Such divisions will remain stably » erect for insertion into cartons, and in the case of divisions with single longitudinal sheets the provision of a formatior as above is of particular advantage, as the sheets will remain stable within the carton for ready filling. There is no need to secure the division to the carton.

In a preferred embodiment the tab is arranged within c cell so that it can be folded aside by insertion of ar. article. The cell can be filled as normal and once insertec the article will stabilise the division in place of the tab. If desired, more than one tab may be provided.

Is The tab may jam in a cell comprising a pair of transverse sheets connected in two different planes by material of the division. In this way, a single tab can stabilise both sheets. For example, only a single tab is needed to stabilise a six-cell division.

To aid insertion of divisions into cartons it has beer, usual to provide chamfers on the lowermost corners of the dividing sheets. We have found it possible to save materia?, and provide particularly effective insertion by producing dividing sheets having tapered side edges instead.

Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of the invention provides a dividing sheet having at least one tapered side edge to facilitate insertion into a carton, corresponding pairs of the tapered edges being formed by a cut line extending obliquely across the width of a strip of stock material which is separated along the cut line to part the dividing sheet from the remaining stock material.

These and other features of the invention are described below by way of example and with reference to the drawings, in which:- Figure 1 shows a blank for an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the blank of Figure 1 assembled, erected and locked. The blank 10 of Figure 1 is for a six-cell division including a longitudinal sheet 12 and a pair of transverse 10 sheets 14, 16. The transverse sheets are joined in the blank and in the erected division by a piece of material 18. Fold lines 20 and 22 define the boundaries between the piece 18 and the sheets 14, 16. A tab 24 extends from the piece 18, to which it is attached along a fold line 26. A further fold IS line 28 extends parallel to line 26 within the body of the tab, to divide it into two parts 24a and 24b.

The longitudinal sheets 12 are separated from the transverse sheets 14 along cut lines 30 and individual division blanks 10 are separated from a stock strip along cut 20 lines 32. Lines 30 and 32 are slightly skewed as shown, so that the erected blank is tapered for easy insertion into a carton.

The longitudinal sheet is engaged with the transverse sheets by respective slots 34a, 34b and 36a, 36b of conventional form. These may be provided with LOKFAST (RTM) barbs 38 and apertures 40 for locking the assembled sheets :ogether. As shown in Figure 2, the division is erected by positioning the transverse sheets 14, 16 parallel to one another by bending them about the fold lines 20, 22. The slots 34a, 36a of the longitudinal sheet can then be engaged with the slots 34b, 36b of the transverse sheets, in the conventional manner. The piece of material 18 and the longitudinal sheet 12 in this position join the transverse sheets in different planes. With the tab 24 extending parallel to the longitudinal sheet 12, the division may be collapsed or erected as desired. To lock the division erect, r> tab 24 is folded inwardly as shown in Figure 2 to lie within the cell bounded by piece 18, to jam against sheets 14 and 16 and optionally 12. When an article is inserted into this cell, the tab 24 can bend about the fold lines 26, 28 so that panel 24fe lies against piece 18 and panel 24a lies against the 1.0 carton base.

In a modification, the tab 24 may be provided elsewhere, for example folded from the lower part or a central upper part of the longitudinal sheet 12. The piece 18 may even be omitted, if sufficient additional tabs are provided to 15 maintain desired stability. Alternatively, the piece 18 may extend between the bottom edges of the transverse sheets 14, 16 with the tab 24 being folded upwardly to jam in the associated cell.

Although the drawings illustrate six cell divisions, the 20 invention applies equally to other types, including divisions having more than one longitudinal sheet. In this case one of the longitudinal sheets may replace the piece 18.

Claims (5)

1. A carton division including a tab formed from the material of the division itself, and which is foldable to jam against one or more faces of the erected division so as tc hold cells of the division locked open for reception of 5 articles even when the division is free-standing.

2. A division as claimed in claim 1 wherein the tab can be folded aside by insertion of an article into a cell of the division including said faces.

3. A division as claimed in claim 2 wherein the tab jams in 10 a cell comprising a pair of transverse or longitudinal sheets connected in two different planes by material of the division.

4. A division as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 including a dividing sheet having at least one tapered side edge tc facilitate insertion into a carton, corresponding pairs oi 15 the tapered edges being formed by a cut line extending obliquely across ,the width of a strip of stock material which is separated along the cut line to part the dividing sheec from the remaining stock material.

5. A carton division substantially as described wit). 20 reference to or as shown by the drawings.