Special receptacle or package – For plural beverage-type receptacles – Coaxial – abutting receptacles
Patent
1997-05-27
1999-09-28
Fidei, David T.
Special receptacle or package
For plural beverage-type receptacles
Coaxial, abutting receptacles
206427, B65D 7500
Patent
active
059572884
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
CROSS REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims the benefit of international application Ser. No. PCT/GB95/01876, filed Aug. 9, 1995.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to divider pads for use between two or more levels of cans stacked one row above the other. Such cans can contain a variety of materials or articles such as beverages or food. Multipacks of cans are quite common in which two levels of cans are provided with a divider pad between the levels so as to prevent can to can contact. A paperboard carton then encloses all of the cans.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention includes a paperboard divider arrangement comprising a number of divider pads defining a plurality of seat areas, each of which in use is disposed between an upper can and a lower can stacked one on top of the other, said divider pads being joined together end to end.
Preferably each divider pad is separated from the next by lines of weakening such as perforations.
In one embodiment the arrangement comprises an independent strip comprising a number of divider pads for accommodating a predetermined number of cans along its length. Conveniently the predetermined number of cans, and thus seat areas, is divisible by 2, 3 and 4.
In another embodiment a number of said pads are attached to each other end to end so as to be foldable in a concertina fashion, and in yet another embodiment a number of divider pads are provided on a roll.
A preferred feature is that the divider pads provide seats for accommodating two or more rows of cans.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first paperboard divider arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a second embodiment of a paperboard divider arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a third embodiment of a paperboard divider arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In FIG. 1 there is shown a divider pad arrangement in the form of a strip 10 for disposition between two layers of vertically stacked cans (not shown). The strip 10 provides twenty four seats 11, each of which is positioned between an upper can and a lower can received on opposite sides of the divider, in use. The seats 11 substantially prevent metal to metal contact in the region of the adjoining can tops of the lower cans and the bases of the upper cans. The operation of the actual form of the seats 11, is not relevant to the present invention, and thus in use is not discussed in greater detail. It will be appreciated that other forms of seat 11 can be incorporated, which in its most basic form could be constituted by simple holes defined in the strip. The seats are not necessarily restricted to circular section cans.
When divider pads are used they are stacked individually in a magazine (not illustrated), adjacent a packaging machine (not illustrated). They are taken individually and placed in position on a first layer of lower cans before the upper layer of cans is placed on top of the divider. The twin layer arrangement of cans then proceeds and is wrapped in a carton to form a complete package. As the packaging machines run at great speed, the divider pads have to be positioned accurately on the lower layer of cans. If it is desired to change the size of the multipack from two layers of 2.times.3 cans to two layers of 2.times.4 cans, then the stack of divider pads has to be replaced with those of a different size, the magazine has to be adjusted to fit the larger divider pads, and adjustments have to be made to the machine itself so that the larger pads are taken from the magazine and placed accurately on the lower layer of cans. These steps are of course time consuming.
In FIG. 1, the strip 10 comprises four divider pads 12 each having 2.times.3 seats 11. The pads 12 are joined end to end by lines of weakening 13, such as perforations. In FI
REFERENCES:
patent: 3224575 (1965-12-01), Whiteford
patent: 3383827 (1968-05-01), Schaich
patent: 3784002 (1974-01-01), Owen
patent: 4896774 (1990-01-01), Hammett et al.
patent: 5535879 (1996-07-01), Appleton
patent: 5551566 (1996-09-01), Sutherland
patent: 5755324 (1998-05-01), Campbell
Fidei David T.
Riverwood International Corporation
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