PACKAGING OF RECTANGULAR ARTICLES

Abstract: Arranging a group of articles to be packaged so as to include a space (16) for the insertion of a different article. All the articles (A) except one are arranged in upright position. The one article is positioned on its side, between other articles. This creates a space (16) above the one article into which a different article (16) is inserted prior to packaging the articles in a multipack carton.

Description: PACKAGING OF RECTANGULAR ARTICLES Field of the Invention This invention relates to the packaging of rectangular articles, such as aseptic cartons. More particularly, it relates to the packaging of such articles in a multipack arrangement in which one of the articles is different from the others. Background of the Invention Aseptic cartons are used for packaging liquids such as fruit juice or milk. They are normally formed of paperboard which has been coated or otherwise treated to make it liquid-tight. Each carton is conventionally in the shape of a rectangular block, which enables a number of cartons to be tightly abutted in a multipack arrangement. It is sometimes desirable for marketing purposes to include a bonus or gift in the multipack carton. This is usually done by omitting one of the aseptic cartons and replacing it with the gift package. For example, in a multipack carton holding eight aseptic cartons, the aseptic cartons are arranged as if nine cartons were being packaged in three abutting rows, each containing three cartons. The space normally occupied by the center carton in such an arrangement is instead filled by a gift carton containing something other than the liquid in the aseptic carton. This arrangement, however, creates packaging problems. The aseptic cartons are normally moved along a first path to a loading station while the gift items are moved along another path to the same station. This means that the aseptic cartons must be segregated into the final grouping of eight and moved into position while retaining intact the gap reserved for insertion of the gift. The gift must then be moved into position and inserted into the gap, after which the final grouping of aseptic cartons and gift carton is inserted into a multipack carton. These maneuvers require complicated product queuing and gift insertion machinery which, in addition to creating additional maintenance problems, tends to limit the speed with which ultipacks can be formed. It would be desirable to be able to simplify the task of grouping and moving the aseptic cartons as well as the task of inserting the gift and the final grouped cartons into a multipack carton. Brief Summary of the Invention The invention has to do with the arrangement of the packaged articles within the multipack carton. Articles of substantially the εame rectangular shape and size are arranged in a substantially rectangular group so that the bottom of each article except one is in contact with a support surface. The latter article is arranged at right angles to the other articles, with one side in contact with the support surface, so as to form a space between its opposite side and the top of an adjacent first article. Each article in the group abuts an adjacent article. A different article, such as a gift item, is then inserted into the space and the group of articles is packaged in a multipack carton. This procedure creates a space for receiving the different article but maintains the structural integrity of the group. Thus, when the group is pushed along the support surface toward a loading station, the articles do not move with respect to each other and the εpace reserved for the different article is maintained at its original size. This reduces difficulties in forming and moving the group of articles and in subsequently introducing the different article into the group. These and other features and aspects of the invention will be readily ascertained from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. Brief Description of the Drawing FIG. 1 is a pictorial schematic view of a prior art group of aseptic cartons provided with a space for receiving another carton or package prior to being loaded into a multipack carton; FIG. 2 is a pictorial schematic view of a group of aseptic cartons provided with a space in accordance with the present invention for receiving another carton or package prior to being loaded into a multipack carton; FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the group of cartons shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the group of cartons shown in FIG. 2; and FIG. 5 is a pictorial view of a multipack carton with portions of the carton removed to reveal the packaged contents. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment FIG. 1 more clearly illustrates the prior art method of including a different article with other similar articles in a multipack arrangement. Eight aseptic cartons A are grouped on a support surface S in a rectangular configuration made up of four perimeter rows of three each, so that the middle carton in each row is spaced from the opposite middle carton, thereby forming a space 10 in the center of the group of the same size as a carton A. This group of eight cartons is moved to a loading station L where the articles are inserted through the open end of the multipack carton C, after which the glue flaps 12 and the end flaps 14 of the carton are folded into place and glued to complete the formation of the final carton C. Prior to loading the aseptic cartons into the carton C a gift package G is inserted into the space 10. It can be appreciated that arranging the aseptic cartons in the pattern illustrated and then moving them toward the loading station so that the space 10 remains intact can present problems. Use of a pusher bar to move the group of cartons, for example, tendε to push the middle carton in the upstream row toward the space 10. Even if such movement is slight, the dimensions of the space are reduced, making it more difficult to insert the gift package. The solution provided by the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, which shows a group of eight aεeptic cartonε arranged in a different manner. The cartonε A are arranged in three perimeter rows which are similar to the perimeter rows in the prior art grouping. Instead of standing upright, however, the middle carton A' in the fourth row is supported on its side, so that it extends toward the middle carton in the opposite row. This creates an elongated opening or space 16 into which the gift package can be inserted. Becauεe this arrangement does not create a space extending down to the support surface S, the space 16 cannot be distorted by a pusher bar puεhing against the upstream perimeter row of the group. The space 16 is the same shape and size as the space 10 of the prior art, except that it is oriented differently. After insertion of the gift package G, the group of cartons is loaded into the open-ended multipack carton C and the end panels of the carton are then formed as in the prior art practice, reεulting in the package illustrated in FIG. 5. For the purpose of illustration, the gift G is shown as being inserted downwardly into the εpace 16. It will be appreciated, however, that since the εpace iε open to one side of the group, the gift could just as readily be inserted from the εide. Although the carton C is illuεtrated aε being a sleeve-type carton, the invention obviously is not limited by the type of multipack carton in which the aseptic cartons are packaged. Nor is the invention limited by the type of gift package or other item introduced into the space provided in the aseptic carton grouping. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the height of the aseptic cartons A illustrated in the drawing is twice their width. With this arrangement the inner end of the carton lying on its εide abutε the side of the opposite carton and the outer end of the carton is aligned with the outer sides of the other cartons in the same perimeter row. The resulting solid arrangement of abutting cartons requires simpler machinery for queuing the cartonε and inserting the gift package into the space provided, and also eliminates the prior art tendency of the cartonε adjacent the εpace in the grouping to move into the εpace. The invention may be employed with cartonε of other dimensions, but the height of such cartons cannot be greater than the width of the rectangular group of cartons. Otherwise the carton lying on its side would extend beyond one side of the group of cartons and would not be conducive to packaging in the larger multipack carton. Although the invention has been described in connection with the packaging of aseptic cartons, it may also be uεed in connection with the packaging of any type of article which iε rectangular in tranεverεe cross section where it is desired to introduce a different article into the space created in the group. The invention need not be limited to the packaging of an item with a group of eight similar articles as illustrated. Other arrangements made up of a different number of articleε, but with a εpace created by one of the articleε lying on its side, may also be employed as long aε the maximum allowable height of the article referred to above iε not exceeded. Although the invention could be carried out by hand, it is contemplated that elements of a packaging machine would form the articles into a group, puεh the group of articleε downstream, inεert a package into the εpace created in the group and load the group into a carton. The deεign and operation of εuch machinery iε well within the εcope of current packaging technology and iε not neceεεary to an understanding of the invention. It is contemplated that the invention need not necessarily be limited to all the specific features of the preferred embodiment, but that changes which do not alter the overall basic function and concept of the invention may be made without departing from the εpirit and εcope of the invention defined in the appended claimε.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A package, compriεing: a plurality of first articles, each having a top, bottom and sideε, contained in a rectilinear multipack carton, each firεt article being of εubεtantially the same shape and εize and being rectangular in tranεverse crosε-εection; each of the first articles except one being arranged with its bottom in contact with a common panel of the multipack carton; said one first article being arranged at right angles to the other firεt articleε, with a side in contact with said common panel; the first articles abutting adjacent firεt articles; and a second article different from the firεt articles εupported on εaid one firεt article. 2. A package aε defined in claim 1, wherein εaid one firεt article iε located between two other firεt articleε. 3. A package as defined in claim 2, wherein the multipack carton contains eight first articles and the second article. 4. A package as defined in claim 1, wherein the height of the firεt articleε is twice the width of the first articles. 5. A package as defined in claim 1, wherein the first articleε are aεeptic cartonε. 6. A method of packaging a plurality of articleε in a multipack carton, compriεing: providing a plurality of firεt articles, each having a top, bottom and εides, each firεt article being of substantially the same shape and size and being rectangular in transverεe croεε-section; arranging the first articles in a substantially rectangular group so that the bottom of each first article except one is in contact with a support surface; arranging said one first article at right angles to the other first articles, with a side of εaid one first article in contact with the support surface, so as to form a space between said one first article and the top of an adjacent first article, the first articles abutting adjacent first articles; introducing a second article different from the firεt articleε into said space; and packaging the group of articleε in a multipack carton. 7. A method aε defined in claim 6, wherein said one first article iε located between two other first articles. 8. A method as defined in claim 7, wherein the group of articleε iε compriεed of eight firεt articleε and the εecond article. 9. A method aε defined in claim 6, wherein the height of the firεt articleε iε not greater than the width of the rectangular group of articleε. 10. A method aε defined in claim 6, wherein the height of the firεt articles is twice the width of the first articleε. 11. A method aε defined in claim 6, wherein the first articleε are aseptic cartons.

Inventors: FORD COLIN, FORD, COLIN
Applicants: RIVERWOOD INT CORP, RIVERWOOD INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D71
IPC codes: B65D77