Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Paperboard box – A sidewall includes a folded lateral extension of an...
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-24
2002-12-03
Elkins, Gary E. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Paperboard box
A sidewall includes a folded lateral extension of an...
C229S005840, C229S120000, C229S190000, C229S941000, C493S063000, C493S128000, C493S151000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06488201
ABSTRACT:
According to a first main aspect the invention relates to a method for forming a corner join at a comer of a box,
wherein the box has been/is formed from a blank comprising a base panel, a first side wall panel joined to said base panel via a first panel fold line, a second side wall panel joined to said base panel via a second panel fold line and a joining flap joined to the first side wall panel via a joining flap fold line;
wherein the joining flap fold line essentially determines the corner when the corner join has been formed;
wherein the first and second panel fold lines and the joining flap fold line essentially intersect one another at the bottom of the comer at the base panel and the first and second side wall panels extend as far as the corner when the comer join has been formed, and
wherein the first side wall panel is joined to the second side wall panel by placing the joining flap such that it overlaps the second side wall panel in an overlap area on the second side wall panel and fixing it thereto.
A method of this type is generally known. With this arrangement, both according to the prior art and also according to the invention still to be described below, the joining flap can either be placed with its inside against the outside of the second side wall panel and fixed thereto, for example by gluing or stapling, or placed with its outside against the inside of the second side wall panel and fixed thereto, for example by gluing or stapling. Placing the joining flap with the outside against the inside of the second side wall panel is preferred since the box to be obtained is then as flat as possible on the outside, which is practical for further manipulation and further handling of the box.
One problem with corner joins formed in this way is that the box is not completely gas- and liquid-tight at the corner. In general, a free flow channel from the interior of the box to the exterior of the box and vice versa remains through the corner point of the corner join located at a base panel. This is, in particular, a significant disadvantage when forming boxes which have to have a controllable interior atmosphere since the more or less free, uncontrolled communication between the interior and the exterior of the box disturbs the control of the atmosphere in the interior of the box and makes this appreciably more difficult and frequently even impossible.
According to the first main aspect, the invention relates in particular to a method of the type mentioned at the start, wherein, in addition, a mastic-like filler is applied, preferably in the form of a bead, in or on the inside of the second panel fold line, at the location of the overlap area.
Such a method is disclosed in FR 2 178 687, which corresponds to NL-A 73.03732. NL-A 73.03732 discloses, in FIGS. 4 and 5 and the associated part of the description, a method corresponding to the pre-characterising clause of Claim 1. According to NL-A 73.03732 a filling consisting of a tacky mixture is injected into each of the overlap join locations after the box has been fully folded and after the side wall panels have been fixed to one another by means of the joining flap, in order to make the box light-tight in the corners. This method has a number of disadvantages. As a result of injecting the filling consisting of a tacky mixture only after setting up the box and fixing the side wall panels to one another an additional subsequent operation is required which prolongs the time needed for production of one box and thus makes the production speed slower. A further disadvantage is that although a light-tight corner join can allegedly be achieved by the method according to NL-A 73.03732, it is not possible to produce a reliable light-tight corner join by this method.
The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved method for forming a corner join at a corner of a box, in particular a box for use under so-called controlled atmospheric conditions, which method results in an essentially gas- and/or liquid-tight corner join.
The abovementioned aim is achieved according to the invention in that the mastic-like filler is applied to the blank before the joining flap is placed against the second side wall panel and fixed thereto. Said mastic-like filler can be applied to the flat blank before folding the box, but it is also entirely conceivable that the mastic-like filler is applied after partially folding the box from the blank prior to fixing the joining flap to the second side wall panel. Especially in the case where the joining flap is placed with its outside against the inside of the second side wall panel and is fixed thereto, it is also conceivable that the mastic-like filler is initially applied to the underside of the joining flap and that the mastic-like filler is automatically transferred into or onto the inside of the second panel fold line at the location of the overlap area on placing the joining flap against the second side wall panel and pressing onto the latter for fixing, for example in that the mastic-like filler has been applied to the downward-facing bottom edge of the joining flap or in that the mastic-like filler has been applied in excess to the bottom of the outside of the joining flap and on pressing the joining flap against the inside of the second side wall panel is expressed between the two and transferred into or onto the inside of the second panel fold line. The essential feature is that the mastic-like filler, which, as can be seen from the above, can thus also be the adhesive for joining the joining flap to the second side wall panel, forms a sealing plug or seal, which, in particular, ensures that the join is sealed from the outside via the socalled corner point, that essentially is located on or close to the point of intersection of the first panel fold line, the second panel fold line and the joining flap fold line, towards the interior of the box and vice versa, by the mastic-like filler, which if appropriate can also be an optionally setting adhesive. Because the mastic-like filler is applied to a suitable position on the blank even before the joining flap is placed against the second side wall panel and is fixed thereto, this operation can be carried out simultaneously with another operation for forming the box, in particular if the formation of a box from a blank is automated. The mastic-like filler can be applied simultaneously with the application of further adhesive tracks or adhesive strips or simultaneously with certain folding operations. A further advantage of the application of the mastic-like filler prior to fixing the joining flap to the second side wall panel is that the air seal, or at least the reliable and simple production thereof, can be improved in this way. Specifically, the mastic-like filler will then be expressed on producing the corner join, that is to say joining the joining flap and the second side wall panel to one another, and will thus be distributed over a larger area and improve the liquid and gas seal. Said expression takes place in particular if the bottom edge of the joining flap which faces the base panel is in contact with or close to the base panel when the box is in the assembled state.
According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the blank is based on board or paper. However, the essence of the invention can also very readily be applied when forming corner joins in a box which is formed from a blank of a completely different type of material, such as, for example, plastic or metal.
In order to obtain a good and reliable seal it is particularly advantageous according to the invention if the filler is at least applied in or on that end of the second panel fold line which faces towards the corner.
It is particularly advantageous according to the invention if the mastic-like filler is applied to the blank before the first side wall panel is raised with respect to the base panel by folding about the first panel fold line. This is because the blank is then relatively most easily accessible for administration means for applying the mastic-like fi
Van Eijndhoven Peter Paul
Van Gurp Paulus Maria
Vos Richard
Elkins Gary E.
Kappa Packaging Development Center B.V.
Sughrue & Mion, PLLC
LandOfFree
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