Method for Making a Can Carrier

The spiralling costs of paperboard and like packaging materials has dictated the need for can carriers which can be constructed from a minimum amount of material. Whereas certain prior art can carrier constructions attempt to achieve such material savings, they oftentimes impair the structural integrity of the carrier and require complicated apparatus and methods for making the same. Wrap-around carriers of this type are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,656,960; 2,722,365; 2,790,590; 2,812,105; 2,834,508; 2,839,235; 2,980,249; 3,161,344; and 3,283,990.

An object of this invention is to provide an economical carrier for cans and like articles which exhibits a high degree of structural integrity and a method for making the same expeditiously. The carrier comprises top and bottom panels connected together by a pair of end panels and a pair of upstanding partitions disposed in parallel relationship with respect to the end panels to define three article-carrying cells in the carrier. A flap secures the bottom panel to each of the partitions and a bridging panel, interconnecting the upper ends of the partitions, is secured to an underside of the top panel. The carrier is formed by moving the carrier's one-piece blank along a linear path and by sequentially folding and securing such panels together during such movement.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a three cell wrap-around can carrier embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan, isometric view of a one-piece blank utilized to make the FIG. 1 carrier; and

FIGS. 3-5 sequentially illustrate folding and gluing steps for making the FIG. 1 erected carrier from the FIG. 2 blank;

A three-cell wrap-around can carrier 10, illustrated in FIG. 1, is adapted to be made from the one-piece paperboard blank illustrated in FIG. 2. The carrier comprises a top panel 11, a bottom panel 12, including a pair of co-planar panel portions 13 and 14, and a pair of upstanding end panels 15 and 16 integrally connected to the top and bottom panels. A pair of upstanding first and second partitions 17 and 18 are secured between the top and bottom panels and are disposed in parallel relationship between the end panels to define three cubical cells 19, 20 and 21, each adapted to retain a pair of articles (not shown) therein.

Such articles may comprise cylindrical cans having the chines thereof retained in the carrier by retention means, including pairs of arcuate lock tabs 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27. In particular, each lock tab is adapted to be reverse-folded inwardly of the carrier on a respective top or bottom panel to engage an interior portion of a respective chine in the manner illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 2,839,235, for example. In addition, the top panel and partitions may have finger holes 28 formed therethrough adapted to facilitate transportation of the carrier.

Referring to FIG. 2, the blank preferably comprises a one-piece paperboard blank suitably cut and scored to adapt it for expeditious formation into the FIG. 1 carrier by suitably modified conventional apparatus. The blank sequentially comprises a first flap 29 articulated to bottom panel portion 13 by a first scoreline 30, second and third scorelines 31 and 32 articulating end panel 16 to bottom panel portion 13 and top panel 11, fourth and fifth scorelines 33 and 34 articulating end panel 15 to the top panel and bottom panel portion 14, sixth and seventh scorelines 35 and 36 articulating first partition 17 to bottom panel portion 14 and a bridging panel 37, and eighth and ninth scorelines 38 and 39 articulating second partition 18 to the bridging panel and to a second flap 40 forming a part of partition 18.

FIGS. 2-5 sequentially illustrate folding and gluing steps employed during a converting operation to form the FIG. 1 carrier, wherein the blank is continuously moved along a linear path P. The first step in such method comprises applying an adhesive pattern 41, such as a standard glue, to the mid-portion of the underside of top panel 11, as shown in FIG. 2. The blank is then folded in the direction of arrow A to break it at scoreline 34 to secure bridging panel 37 to the underside of the top panel at adhesive pattern 41.

A second adhesive pattern 42 is then applied to the free end of flap 40 (FIG. 3) and the blank is folded in the direction of arrow B, at broken scoreline 31, to secure such flap to bottom panel portion 13 (FIG. 4). A third adhesive pattern 43 is then applied to the free end of flap 29 and the multi-layered blank is folded in the direction of arrow C in FIG. 4 to break the four scorelines 33-36 and to secure flap 29 to a lower inner surface portion of partition 17 (FIG. 1) to increase the structural integrity of the carrier thereat, i.e., the adhesive bond between partition 17 and flap 29 will be placed in shear when subjected to the vertical downward load of cans retained in cell 20 of the erected carrier. The completed carrier can be shipped to a packaging facility in its flattened condition and erected thereat and thereafter filled with a pair of cans in each of cells 19, 20 and 21 to form a six-pack.