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BR-112022003771-B1 - TRANSPORTER OF ARTICLE AND RAW BLOCK FOR THE SAME

BR112022003771B1BR 112022003771 B1BR112022003771 B1BR 112022003771B1BR-112022003771-B1

Abstract

ARTICLE CONVEYOR AND RAW BLOCK THEREOF. This is a package, an article conveyor for packaging a plurality of articles, and a raw block for forming the article conveyor. The article conveyor comprises a plurality of panels forming a tubular structure to encircle at least two articles, each having a recess. The article conveyor comprises a pair of article retention devices, each comprising a fin (80) for engaging the recess of a respective article among said at least two articles to inhibit their movement. The fins are articulated by a respective articulated connection to a panel among the plurality of opposing panels. The article conveyor comprises a pair of handle openings (A4) defined in said panel among the plurality of panels. The handle openings and the fins define a handle in said panel among the plurality of panels.

Inventors

  • Arnaud DEMANGE
  • RICHARD C. MERREYWETHER
  • JULIEN D. MERZEAU

Assignees

  • WESTROCK PACKAGING SYSTEMS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20200716
Priority Date
20190826

Claims (20)

  1. 1. Article conveyor (90) for packing at least two articles, each having a recess, wherein the article conveyor is characterized in that it comprises a plurality of panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128) forming a tubular structure to encircle the at least two articles (B) and a pair of article retention devices (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) each comprising a fin (70, 80; 170, 180) for engaging a recess of a respective of said at least two articles to inhibit movement of the articles in the tubular structure, wherein the fins are articulatedly connected by a the respective articulated connection to a panel among the plurality of panels in opposition to each other, the article carrier further comprising a pair of handle openings defined in said panel among the plurality of panels, the handle openings and the fins defining a handle (H) in said panel among the plurality of panels, wherein the handle is coupled or connected to said panel among the plurality of panels by four arms, wherein each arm is defined by a region of said panel among the plurality of panels disposed between one of the handle openings and one of the fins.
  2. 2. Article conveyor, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular structure is at least partially open at each end and a tubular geometric axis is defined between said ends and in which the articulated connection between the fins (70, 80; 170, 180) and a panel among the plurality of panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128) is either parallel to the tubular geometric axis or oblique to the tubular geometric axis.
  3. 3. Article carrier, according to claim 1, characterized in that said one panel among the plurality of panels is an upper panel (20,120).
  4. 4. Article carrier, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fins (80; 180) are articulated to said one panel among the plurality of panels by an articulated connection in the form of a first fold line (71, 81; 171, 181).
  5. 5. Article conveyor, according to claim 4, characterized in that the plurality of panels includes a pair of opposite side walls (16, 24; 116, 124) and the fins (70, 80; 170, 180) fold towards a respective of the opposite side walls.
  6. 6. Article conveyor according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a dispenser feature having an access panel (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6), and at least one additional article retention device (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) comprising an engagement fin (70, 80; 170, 180), wherein the engagement fin is articulatedly connected to the access panel so as to provide a tear initiation device for the dispenser.
  7. 7. Article conveyor according to claim 6, characterized in that the access panel (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6) is defined at one end of the article conveyor (90), wherein the access panel (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6) is defined in part by a free end edge of the article conveyor and in part by a separable line extending from the engagement flap.
  8. 8. Article conveyor according to claim 6, characterized in that the access panel (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6) is defined in an intermediate portion of the article conveyor (90), wherein the access panel (D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6) is defined at least in part by a pair of separable lines extending from the engagement fin (80, 180), wherein the pair of separable lines is separated from each end of the article conveyor.
  9. 9. Article carrier, according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises at least one additional article retention device (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) comprising an engagement fin (70, 80; 170, 180) articulatedly connected by a hinged connection to a panel among a plurality of panels, wherein the engagement fin comprises a hinged edge defined by the hinged connection and a free edge, wherein the free edge extends from a first end of the hinged connection to a second end of the hinged connection, and wherein the free edge is arched or curved through or along its entire length.
  10. 10. Article carrier according to claim 9, characterized in that the hinged edge of the engagement fin (70, 80; 170, 180) is disposed closer to a pair of opposite side walls (16, 24; 116, 124) than the free edge in an unfolded condition.
  11. 11. Article conveyor according to claim 9, characterized in that the engagement fin (70, 80; 170, 180) in an operating condition is folded in reverse with respect to face to face with an inner surface of the panel (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128) to which it is articulated, in the operating position, the free edge of the engagement fin (70, 80; 170, 180) is disposed closer to a pair of opposite side walls (16, 24; 116, 124) than the articulated edge.
  12. 12. Article carrier (90), according to claim 9, characterized in that the articulated connection is oriented in at least one of the following ways: (i) not parallel to an open end of the tubular structure, (ii) oriented obliquely to an open end of the tubular structure, and (iii) oriented perpendicularly to an open end of the tubular structure.
  13. 13. Article carrier according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one additional article retention device (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) is located entirely within a recess (R7, R8) defined at one end of said panel among the plurality of panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128).
  14. 14. Article carrier, according to claim 13, characterized in that said one panel of the plurality of panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128) is an upper panel (20, 120), and the upper panel comprises at least one recessed end edge to which at least one additional article retaining device (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) is articulatedly connected.
  15. 15. Article carrier, according to claim 14, characterized in that the engagement fin partially defines at least one recessed end edge of the top panel (20, 120) in an unfolded condition.
  16. 16. Article carrier according to claim 13, characterized in that at least one additional article retention device (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) comprises a pair of article retention devices (T1/T2, T3/T4) at one end of said one panel among the plurality of panels, and wherein the pair of article retention devices (T1/T2, T3/T4) is separated from each other by a recess (R7, R8) formed from or defined on an end edge of said one panel of the plurality of panels.
  17. 17. Article carrier, according to claim 16, characterized in that each of the pair of article retention devices (T1/T2, T3/T4) is articulated to said one panel of the plurality of panels by a respective bend line (71), wherein said bend lines (71) are arranged divergently from one another.
  18. 18. Article carrier according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one additional article retention device (T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6) comprises a bend line (73, 83) defined on the engagement fin (70, 80; 170, 180) and forms a keel.
  19. 19. Article carrier, according to claim 18, characterized in that the folding line (73, 83) defines in part a wing flap (70b, 80b), the wing flap being coupled to said one panel among the plurality of panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128) only through its articulated connection to the engagement flap (70, 80; 170, 180).
  20. 20. Article carrier according to claim 9, characterized in that the engagement fin (70, 80; 170, 180) of at least one additional article retention device is contained entirely within the base of said one panel among the plurality of panels (12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28; 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128).

Description

FIELD OF TECHNIQUE [0001] The present invention relates to article conveyors and blanks for forming them. More specifically, but not exclusively, the invention relates to an enveloping conveyor having a conveying handle. Aspects of the invention relate to an article retention structure that includes an engagement device for securing an upper end of an article. Additionally or alternatively, the invention relates to an enveloping conveyor having a dispensing feature for accessing the contents of the conveyor. BACKGROUND [0002] In the field of packaging, it is common to provide cartons or article carriers to transport multiple articles. Cartons are known in the art and are useful for enabling consumers to transport, store, and access a group of articles for consumption. Considering cost and environmental impact, it is necessary that such cartons or carriers be formed from the minimum possible amount of material and cause the least possible waste of the materials from which they are formed. The carton's strength and suitability for securing and transporting heavy weights of articles are also considered. It is desirable that the carton include a carrying handle sufficiently strong to support the load of the carton and its contents. [0003] It is desirable that the items kept inside a box are securely fixed and protected during transport. It is desirable that the items inside a box can be readily accessed. [0004] The present invention aims to provide an improvement in the field of boxes, typically formed from cardboard or similar materials. SUMMARY [0005] A first aspect of the invention provides an article conveyor for packaging at least two articles, each having a recess. The article conveyor comprises a plurality of panels forming a tubular structure to enclose at least two articles and a pair of article retention devices, each comprising a fin for engaging a recess of a respective article among said at least two articles to inhibit movement of the articles within the tubular structure. The fins are articulated by a respective articulated connection to one of the plurality of panels opposite each other. The article conveyor comprises a pair of handle openings defined in said one panel among the plurality of panels. The handle openings and the fins define a handle in said one panel among the plurality of panels. The handle is coupled or connected to said one panel among the plurality of panels by four arms. Each arm is provided by a region of said panel from among the plurality of panels arranged or defined between one of the handle openings and one of the fins. [0006] Optionally, the tubular structure is open at least partially at each end, and a tubular geometric axis is defined between said ends and in which the articulated connection between the fins and a panel among the plurality of panels is parallel to the tubular geometric axis. [0007] Optionally, the tubular structure is open at least partially at each end, and a tubular geometric axis is defined between said ends and in which the articulated connection between the fins and one panel among the plurality of panels is oblique to the tubular geometric axis. [0008] Optionally, the aforementioned panel among the plurality is a superior panel. [0009] Optionally, the fins are articulated to said panel among the plurality by an articulated connection in the form of a first fold line. [0010] Optionally, the plurality of panels includes a pair of opposite side walls and the fins fold towards a respective wall between the opposite side walls. [0011] A second aspect of the invention provides an article conveyor for packaging one or more articles, each having a recess, wherein the article conveyor comprises a plurality of panels forming a tubular structure to encircle the one or more articles and an article retention device for engaging a recess in one article among the one or more articles to inhibit the movement of said article within the tubular structure, wherein the article retention device comprises a fin articulatedly connected to a panel among the plurality of panels, the article conveyor further comprises a dispensing feature having an access panel, and wherein the fin is articulatedly connected to the access panel to provide a tear initiation device for the dispenser. [0012] Optionally, the access panel is defined at one end of the article conveyor, wherein the access panel is defined, in part, by a free end edge of the article conveyor and, in part, by a separable line extending from the fin. [0013] Optionally, the access panel is defined in an intermediate portion of the article conveyor, wherein the access panel is defined, at least in part, by a pair of separable lines extending from the fin, wherein the pair of separable lines are separated from each end of the article conveyor. [0014] A third aspect of the invention provides an article carrier for packing one or more articles each having a recess, wherein the article carrier comprises a plurality of