GB2263882A

GB2263882A - Making a cardboard carton from a flat blank

Info

Publication number: GB2263882A
Application number: GB9202191A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Hinchliffe
Original assignee: WEST RIDING PRINTERS Ltd
Current assignee: WEST RIDING PRINTERS Ltd
Priority date: 1992-02-01
Filing date: 1992-02-01
Publication date: 1993-08-11
Also published as: GB9202191D0

Abstract

A method of manufacturing a cardboard carton 30, the method including the steps of stamping out a flat blank 10 having a main body portion, a lid portion 14 and two or more end flaps 16 which, in the erected carton form the side, front and back walls, the lid and the base, respectively, scoring the blank along proposed fold lines, applying glue to at least a region 12e of said main body portion and folding the body portion double but still flat such that the glue adheres where necessary to form an endless loop of cardboard, and erecting the canon into three dimensions by pushing opposite sides of the body portion towards each other to form the side, front and back walls of the carton and bringing the end flaps together to form the base. <IMAGE>

Description

CARDBOARD CARTON The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a cardboard carton of the type having a base, side, front and back walls and a lid.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a cardboard carton, the method including the steps of : stamping out a flat blank having a main body portion, a lid portion and two or more end flaps which, in the erected carton form the side, front and back walls, the lid and the base, respectively; scoring the blank along proposed fold lines; applying glue to at least a region of said main body portion and folding the body portion double but still flat such that the glue adheres where necesary to form an endless loop of cardboard; erecting the carton into three dimensions by pushing opposite sides of the body portion towards each other to form the side, front and back walls of the carton and bringing the end flaps together to form the base.

Preferably, the lid portion also has glue applied to at least a region thereof, a part of the lid portion being folded back on itself to form a tube extending across the width of the carton, the ends of which serve to retain corner portions of the lid when the corner portions are pushed into the ends of the tube which is then flattened to trap the corner portions of the lid.

Preferably, the end flaps are tucked inside the main body portion when the latter is formed into an endless loop and are arranged so that they automatically lock together to form the base as the carton is erected.

Conveniently, this is achieved by gluing parts of adjacent end flaps together and having interlocking notches i-n the end flaps.

Preferably, one or more of said folding and gluing steps are effected as the blank travels through a gluing machine.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a carton manufactured in accordance with any one of the second to sixth paragraphs hereof.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a flat blank for erection into a three-dimensional carton, the blank comprising a main body portion, a lid portion and two more end flaps which, in the erected carton form the side, front and back walls, the lid and the base, respectively, said blank being scored along proposed fold lines and having areas thereof defined as glue reception areas.

Whilst the blank could be supplied in its completely flat form for subsequent gluing, folding and erecting, it is preferred that the blank is supplied glued and partially folded (but still flat) to be erected at the point of use. In this case, the blank would be supplied with the end flaps tucked inside the main body portion, the latter being glued and folded back on itself to form a flattened tube.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of the opened-out blank; Figure 2 shows how a part of the lid portion is folded back on itself and glued; Figure 2A illustrates the blank in its glued form; Figure 2B illustrates how the corners of the lid are tucked into and retained by the tube; Figure 3 illustrates the erected carton with the lid open; and Figure 4 illustrates the erected carton with the lid closed.

Referring to the drawings, a carton 30 is manufactured from a blank 10 which has a main body portion comprising parts 12a, 12b, 12c and 12d and edge flap 12e, as well as a lid portion 14 and end flaps 16. The blank is scored along the proposed fold lines as shown in figure 1.

As shown in figure 2, glue is applied to an edge portion 14a of lid 14, and the lid is folded back on itself so that the glue adheres, thereby forming an open-ended tube 15 which can be pressed flat as shown in figure 2 or opened out as shown in figure 2B.

The end flaps 16 comprise two main end flaps 16b, 16d and two side flaps 16a, 16c. Each main end flap 16b, 16d has a notch 16bl and 16dl and a tongue lEb2, 16d2. Tongue 16b2 is glued to side end flap 16a such that they substantially overlap each other, and tongue lEd2 is similarly glued to side end flap 16c.

Glue is applied to edge 12e and the blank is then folded double such that the glue on edge 12e adheres to portion 12a. The end flaps are tucked inside the endless loop so formed, and the blank can then be made to assume the partially folded but still flat condition shown in figure 2a.

When it is desired to erect the carton into its three dimensional form shown in figures 3 and 4, the opposites sides of the partially folded blank are pushed towards each other, and as this is done the end flaps 16b, 16d move towards each other, gradually forming a flat base until the interlocking notches 16by, 16dl catch each other to retain the end flaps together. Then, the lid portion 14 is erected by opening out the tube 15 and tucking each corner portion 13, which is first folded about lines 13a, 13b, into a respective tube end. The tube 15 is then knocked flat again, trapping the corners 13 inside as shown in figure 3. Once erected, the lid is simply folded over to close the carton, as shown in figure 4.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a carton, the method including the steps of : stamping out a flat blank having a main body portion, a lid portion and two or more end flaps which, in the erected carton form the side, front and back walls, the lid and the base, respectively; scoring the blank along proposed fold lines; applying glue to at least a region of said main body portion and folding the body portion double but still flat such that the glue adheres where necesary to form an endless loop of cardboard; erecting the carton into three dimensions by pushing opposite sides of the body portion towards each other to form the side, front and back walls of the carton and bringing the end flaps together to form the base.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the lid portion also has glue applied to at least a region thereof, a part of the lid portion being folded back on itself to form a tube extending across the width of the carton, the ends of which serve to retain corner portions of the lid when the corner portions are pushed into the ends of the tube which is then flattened to trap the corner portions of the lid.

3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the end flaps are tucked inside the main body portion when the latter is formed into an endless loop and are arranged so that they automatically lock together to form the base as the carton is erected.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said automatic locking together of the end flaps is achieved by gluing parts of adjacent end flaps together and having interlocking notches in the end flaps.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or more of said folding and gluing steps are effected as the blank travels through a gluing machine.

6. A carton manufactured in accordance with any one of the preceding claims.

7. A blank for erection into a carton according to claim 6, the blank being in flat form and comprising a main body portion, a lid portion and two more end flaps which, in the erected carton form the side, front and back walls, the lid and the base, respectively, said blank being scored along proposed fold lines and having areas thereof defined as glue reception areas.

8. A blank according to claim 7, wherein the end flaps are tucked inside the main body portion, the latter being glued and folded back on itself to form a flattened tube.

9. A method of manufacturing a carton substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

10. A carton substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

11. A blank for erection into a carton, the blank being substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.