Packaging box including a buffering member disposed around a packaged article

A packaging box includes a bottom case, a covering case and a buffering member. The buffering member is formed with a protruding piece protruded on the bottom plate in a direction of the side plate of the bottom case. By causing the protruding piece to abut against the side plate of the bottom case, a gap into which the side plate of the covering case can be inserted is formed with respect to the side plate of the bottom case. The bottom plate is formed with a space in which the protruding piece can be housed, at a position corresponding to the protruding piece. When the side plate of the covering case is inserted inside the side plate of the bottom case, the protruding piece of the buffering member is pressed by the side plate of the covering case and then folded to be housed in the space.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application is based on and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent application No. 2014-212621 filed on Oct. 17, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a packaging box configured to protecting a packaged article during transportation or storage.

As a packaging box configured to package a packaged article, such as an image forming apparatus including a printer, a copying machine, a facsimile or a multifunction peripheral, a separate type packaging box is sometimes used. The separate type packaging box has a bottom case on which the packaged article is to be placed and a covering case to be covered on the bottom case, and is configured bypassing a joint through coupling holes formed in the respective case to couple these two cases to each other. In the separate type packaging box, the covering case is inserted into the bottom case so that the coupling holes formed in the respective cases are easily aligned with each other.

When a buffering member is interposed between such a separate type packaging box and the packaged article, the buffering member needs to be disposed inside from a side plate of the bottom case by a gap of a thickness of the side plate of the covering case. In order to position the buffering member inside of the bottom case in this manner, the buffering member is formed with a protruding piece extended in a horizontal direction. By abutting the protruding piece against the side plate of the bottom case, the buffering member can be thereby disposed inside with a gap of a length of the protruding piece from the side plate of the bottom case.

However, if such a protruding piece is formed on the buffering member, when the covering case is inserted into the bottom case, the side plate of the covering case rides on the protruding piece and the positions of the coupling holes of the respective cases are shifted to each other. Thus, as shown inFIG. 6A, in the separate type packaging box in which a side plate123of a covering case120is inserted inside a side plate113of a bottom case110, the side plate123of the covering case120may be formed with a notch125into which a protruding piece141of a buffering member140is fitted so that a coupling hole114of the bottom case110and a coupling hole124of the covering case120overlap each other.

However, in the packaging box in which the notch125is formed in the covering case120, the processing for forming the notch125in the covering case120is required or a compression strength of the covering case120lowers at a portion where the notch125is formed. Alternatively, as shown inFIG. 6B, the side plate123of the covering case120may be placed on the protruding piece141and then press it downward, and then the bottom case110and the covering case120may be coupled to each other with the protruding piece141compressed. In this instance, since the side plate123of the covering case120is applied with a load intensively at a portion where presses the protruding piece141, a compression strength of the covering case120weakens at the portion. Also, if the covering case120while riding on the compressed protruding piece141is coupled to the bottom case110, since the covering case120is lifted from the bottom case110by a thickness of the compressed protruding piece141, a posture of the covering case120becomes unstable or the positions of the coupling hole114of the bottom case110and the coupling hole124of the covering case120are shifted to each other, which make it difficult to couple the cases.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a packaging box includes a bottom case, a covering case and a buffering member. The bottom case has a bottom plate and a side plate erected from a peripheral edge of the bottom plate. A first coupling part is formed in the side plate. The covering case has a top plate and a side plate suspended from a peripheral edge of the top plate. A second coupling part is formed at a position corresponding to the first coupling part of the side plate. The buffering member is disposed around a packaged article on the bottom plate. The packaging box is configured by inserting the side plate of the covering case inside the side plate of the bottom case and then coupling the first coupling part and the second coupling part to each other. The buffering member is formed with a protruding piece. The protruding piece is protruded on the bottom plate in a direction of the side plate of the bottom case. By causing the protruding piece to abut against the side plate of the bottom case, a gap into which the side plate of the covering case can be inserted is formed with respect to the side plate of the bottom case. The bottom plate is formed with a space in which the protruding piece can be housed, at a position corresponding to the protruding piece of the buffering member. When the side plate of the covering case is inserted inside the side plate of the bottom case, the protruding piece of the buffering member is pressed by the side plate of the covering case and then folded to be housed in the space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, a packaging box according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

A packaging box according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference toFIG. 1toFIG. 3.FIG. 1is a perspective view showing the packaging box;FIG. 2AandFIG. 2Bare views each showing a bottom case of the packaging box; andFIG. 3is a view showing a buffering member installed in the bottom case.

As shown inFIG. 1, a packaging box1has: a bottom case10; a covering case20inserted inside the bottom case10; a joint30to couple the bottom case10and the covering case20to each other; and a pair of buffering members40installed in the bottom case10. The bottom case10and the covering case20each are made of a high strength packaging material, such as a cardboard, and the buffering member40is made of pulp mold, for example. A packaged article is a multifunction peripheral formed in a substantially cubic shape, for example.

The bottom case10has: a substantially square-shaped bottom plate11; and horizontally long rectangular side plates13which are erected from peripheral edges12of the bottom plate11. At a substantial center of the side plate13, a coupling hole14(a first coupling part) configured to couple the bottom case10with the covering case20is opened. Also, on an under face of the bottom plate11, a pallet15engaging with an engaging part of a forklift when being conveyed by the forklift or the like is provided. Incidentally, the pallet15may not be provided.

As shown inFIG. 2AandFIG. 2B, at four corners of the bottom plate11, an elongated hole16in parallel with the peripheral edge12is opened slightly inside from each of the adjacent peripheral edges12. Each of the elongated holes16is formed inside by an interval D1(for example, 3 mm) of about a thickness of the side plate13from the peripheral edge12. Each elongated hole16has a predetermined length along the peripheral edge12and has a predetermined length D2(for example, 15 mm to 40 mm) in an orthogonal direction to the peripheral edge12. With such a configuration, when the bottom case10is assembled, each elongated hole16is formed inside by the interval D1of the thickness of the side plate13from the peripheral edge12.

The covering case20has: a substantially square-shaped top plate21; and substantially square-shaped side plates23which are suspended from peripheral edges22of the top plate21. At a position close to a lower edge of the side plate23, a coupling hole24(a second coupling part) is opened corresponding to the coupling hole14of the bottom case10when the covering case20is fitted into the bottom case10. Also, in the respective one of the side plates23, a gripping hole or an opening in which an object packaged together with the packaged article is to be packed may be formed.

The joint30is inserted and engagingly locked with the coupling hole14that is formed in each side plate13of the bottom case10and the coupling hole24that is formed in each side plate23of the covering case20so as to thereby couple each side plate13of the bottom case10and each side plate24of the covering case20to each other. As the joint30, for example, a hinge joint can be used.

As shown inFIG. 3AandFIG. 3B, the buffering member40is formed with protruding pieces41extending in a horizontal direction on the bottom plate11of the bottom case10toward the adjacent side plates13of the bottom case10. By abutting each the protruding piece41against each side plate13, each of the buffering members is positioned on the bottom plate11of the bottom case10. Incidentally,FIG. 3Bshows the bottom case10by the double-dotted chain line for easy understanding. Each protruding piece41is formed at a position corresponding to each elongated hole16formed in the bottom plate11when the buffering member40is positioned on the bottom plate11of the bottom case10. Each protruding piece41has a length in the direction along the peripheral edge12of the bottom case10smaller than a length of the elongated hole16and a length in the orthogonal direction to the peripheral edge12larger than a thickness of the side plate23of the covering case20. Therefore, if each protruding piece41abuts against each side plate13, a gap which is wider than the thickness of the side plate23of the covering case20is formed between each buffering member40and each side plate13. Incidentally, the shape of the buffering member40is appropriately changed according to the shape or strength of the packaged article. Also, an opening or a space may be formed in consideration of reduction of material costs or the like.

A procedure for packaging an packaged article in the packaging box1having the configuration as mentioned above will be described with reference toFIG. 4AandFIG. 4B. First, on the bottom plate11of the bottom case10, the pair of buffering members40is disposed oppositely each other. At this juncture, as shown inFIG. 4A, each protruding piece41of each buffering member40is caused to abut against each side plate13of the bottom case10, and each buffering member40is therefore positioned on the bottom case10. Then, each protruding piece41is positioned above the corresponding elongated hole16of the bottom plate11and a gap G of the length of each protruding piece41is formed between the buffering member40and each side plate13. Next, on the bottom case10, the packaged article is placed via the buffering members40, and then the bottom case10is covered with the covering case20. At this juncture, each side plate23of the covering case20is inserted into the gap between each side plate13and each buffering member40on the bottom case10.

When each side plate23of the covering case20is inserted into the gap G, a lower edge23aof each side plate23abuts against an upper face of the protruding piece41of each buffering member40. In this state, since a gap of the thickness of the protruding piece41is formed between the lower edge23aof each side plate23of the covering case20and the upper face11aof the bottom plate11of the bottom case10, the positions of the coupling hole14of the bottom case10and the coupling hole24of the covering case20are shifted to each other in a vertical direction. From this state, as indicated by the outlined arrow ofFIG. 4B, if the covering case20is pressed downward, each protruding piece41is pressed by each side plate23, is folded downward and then engages into each elongated hole16formed in the bottom plate11of the bottom case10. Here, since the elongated hole16has a length in the direction along the peripheral edge12of the bottom plate11of the bottom case10larger than a length of the protruding piece41and a comparatively long length D2in the orthogonal direction to the peripheral edge12of 15 mm to 40 mm, the protruding piece41is completely engaged into the elongated hole16. Then, the lower edge23aof each side plate23of the covering case20abuts against the upper face11aof the bottom plate11of the bottom case10and, therefore, the positions of the coupling hole14of the bottom case10and the coupling hole24of the covering case20overlap each other in the vertical direction.

Lastly, the side plates13,23are coupled to each other by inserting the joint30into the coupling holes14,24that are respectively formed in the side plates13,23of the bottom case10and the covering case20, thereby coupling the bottom case10and the covering case20into the packaging box1.

As has been described hereinabove, in the packaging box1according to the embodiment, even if the protruding piece41is formed for positioning of the buffering members40, the covering case20can be inserted into the bottom case10without any interference with the protruding piece41. That is, while positioning the buffering members40on the bottom case10, the lower edge23aof the side plate23of the covering case20is caused to abut against the upper face11aof the bottom plate11of the bottom case10so that the coupling holes14,24of the bottom case10and the covering case20can be precisely positioned, respectively. Therefore, the coupling work employing the joint30can be smoothly carried out.

In addition, although the elongated hole16is formed in the bottom plate11of the bottom case10, since no portion to be compressed in the vertical direction is formed in the bottom case10and the covering case20, a portion at which the compression strength in the vertical direction lowers is not produced. Therefore, the strength of the packaging box1can be ensured. Further, since the protruding piece41of the buffering member40is folded by the work of inserting the covering case20into the bottom case10, a specific work for folding the protruding piece41is not required and the workability at the packaging does not lower.

Next, with reference toFIG. 5AandFIG. 5B, a packaging box according to a second embodiment will be described. In the embodiment, in order to house the protruding piece41of the buffering member40, in place of the elongated hole16, a depression17is formed in the upper face11aof the bottom plate11of the bottom case10. The depression17is formed by compressing the top face11aof the bottom plate11downward by a pressing die so as to have a depth of about the thickness of the protruding piece41.

In the embodiment as well, as shown inFIG. 5A, when the lower edge23aof each side plate23of the covering case20is caused to abut against the upper face of the protruding piece41of each buffering member40and then, as shown inFIG. 5B, the covering case20is pressed downward, each protruding piece41is pressed by each side plate23, is folded downward and then engages into each depression17formed in the bottom plate11of the bottom case10. Then, the lower edge23aof each side plate23of the covering case20abuts against the upper face11aof the bottom plate11of the bottom case10.

By employing the depression17as a space in which the protruding piece41of the buffering member40is to be housed, an opening is not formed in the bottom plate11. This makes it possible to prevent intrusion of dust or the like into the packaging box1, and, therefore, is preferred in particular for a packaging box not provided with the pallet15.

In addition, in the buffering member40, in order to easily fold the protruding piece1, the protruding piece41may be formed via a fold line or a connecting part with its low strength.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to be restricted by the embodiments. It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.