PUNCHED BLANK FOR A TRAY-LIKE PACKAGING

Abstract: The invention relates to a punched blank for a tray-like package. It comprises a bottom part (1), two long sides (2) and two short sides (3) in one piece with the bottom part (1) and marked with respect to this by fold lines (6, 7). The long and short sides (2, 3) are intended to be folded up and united with each other at the ends. The invention is characterized in that the fold lines (7) between the bottom part (1) and at least the long sides (2) are directed inwardly at the ends and form an angle between the middle part (6) of the fold lines of 2-20 DEG .

Description: PUNCHED BLANK FOR A TRAY-LIKE PACKAGING TECHNICAL FIELD: The present invention relates to a punched blank which is intended to form a tray comprising a bottom part, two long sides and two short sides, which sides are folded up from the bottom part and united at their ends for completion of the tray. The planar blank is primarily intended to consist of cardboard or corrugated fibreboard. PRIOR ART: Trays of fibreboard or other materials are well known. They are typically produced by punching a blank of corrugated fibreboard which is provided with folding lines for the short and long sides, whereupon these sides are folded up and united to each other at the ends and thereby form vertical corners compared to the bottom part. The blank is usually punched out and provided with narrow recesses between the intended long sides and the intended short sides at the corners of the bottom part, in such a way that the long sides get their final length and the short sides are thereby provided with flaps which are folded in inside the long sides after folding up. These flaps are provided with glue and glued to the long sides after folding. The folding, and accordingly the completion, of the tray normally occurs automatically and the glue is cured after a few seconds, whereby the tray gets its strength. If materials other than corrugated fibreboard are used, it is possible to proceed in the same way as above, although completely different production methods can also be used. The trays which are produced according to said methods and which preferably consist of fibreboard are used for differ¬ ent purposes. They may for example be used to carry beer cans or completely different objects, such as vegetables. TECHNICAL PROBLEM: When a tray of the aforementioned type has been made of corrugated fibreboard and used for example for tomatoes the trays are usually stacked in racks and are supported at their ends. The bottom must then carry the whole weight of the tomato load and this results in the bottom starting to sink down and become bowl-shaped after a certain storage some time. This is especially the case if humidity also enters the stack. Such a bowl-shaping of the bottom is of course serious since it may result in the breaking of the bottom. It has therefore long been a desire to construct a tray where this bowl-shaping of the bottom is counteracted by simple constructive means. THE SOLUTION: According to the present invention the above problem has been solved and the desire has been fulfilled by creating a punched blank for a tray comprising a bottom part, two long sides and two short sides in one piece with the bottom part and marked with respect to this by fold lines and intended to be folded up and united to each other at the ends, which blank is characterized in that the fold lines between the bottom part and at least the long sides are directed inwardly at the ends and form an angle with the middle part of the fold lines of 2-20°. According to the invention it is suitable if the fold lines between the bottom part and both the short and long sides are directed inwardly at the ends. According to the invention it is suitable that the blank consists of corrugated fibreboard, plastics or the like. Further according to the invention, the short sides are shorter than the width of the bottom part. FIGURE DESCRIPTION: The invention will now be described in more detail in connection with the enclosed figure which shows a punched blank according to the invention comprising pressed fold lines. DETAILED DESCRIPTION: In the figure a punched blank of corrugated fibreboard for a tray is shown, which comprises a bottom part 1, two long sides 2 and two short sides 3. Between the long sides 2 and the short sides 3, slots 4 have been made which divide these from each other. The long sides 2 have thereby been given their final length whereas the short sides 3 have been provided with flaps 5 which are foldable inwardly and which, after the long sides and short sides have been folded up from the bottom part 1, are intended to be folded in at the inside of the long sides 2. Glue is applied on the flaps 5 on their outside so that these will be glued against the long sides 2 and the tray will get its final shape and strength. The long sides 2 and the short sides 3 are marked with respect to the bottom part 1 by pressed fold lines which substantially form a rectangle. A middle part 6 of the fold lines has been drawn straight in the figure, but it may also consist of a part of a circle having a large radius which gives a practically straight line for the circular arc. At the ends 7 of the fold lines these have, however, been directed inwardly at an angle which deviates from the direction of the middle part 6 by 2-20°. It is especially at the longer sides that these inwardly directed parts 7 of the folding lines should be made. These may be left out at the short sides according to the invention, if such is desired. When the fold lines are shaped according to the invention with inwardly directed ends 7, the advantage is then obtained that the bottom of the completed tray will be kept somewhat upwardly and inwardly in the tray. Thereby the downwardly operating force due to the load will be counter¬ acted and the tray according to the invention may be supported at the edges in a track during a longer time with a reduced sagging at a certain time. This is particularly an advantage when storing vegetables such as tomatoes or the like, especially in a humid climate. The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown but can be varied in different ways within the scope of the claims. It is thus unnecessary that the flaps 5 be glued against the long sides 2 and they may be fastened in another way, for example by stapling.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. Punched blank for a tray-like package comprising a bottom part (1), two long sides (2) and two short sides (3) in one piece with the bottom part (1) and marked with respect to this by fold lines (6, 7) and intended to be folded up and united with each other at the ends, c h a r - a c t e r i z e d i n that the fold lines (7) between the bottom part (1) and at least the long sides (2) are directed inwardly at the ends and form an angle with the middle part (6) of the fold lines of 2-20°. 2. Punched blank according to claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d i n that the fold lines (7) between the bottom part (1) and both the short and the long sides (3, 2) are directed inwardly at the ends. 3. Punched blank according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d i n that the blank consists of corru¬ gated fibreboard, plastics or the like. 4. Punched blank according to any one of claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the short sides (3) are shorter than the width of the bottom part (1).

Inventors: SABATIER DENIS, SABATIER, DENIS
Applicants: SABATIER DENIS, SCA PACKAGING HOLDING BV, SABATIER, DENIS, SCA PACKAGING HOLDING B.V.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: B65D5
IPC codes: B65D5