Packaging unit for products like eggs, and mould and method there for

Abstract

Packaging units for products like eggs, and a mould and method therefore, are disclosed. According to one embodiment a packaging unit for products like eggs includes a carton made of moulded pulp with a bottom part including compartments for individual products, and a cover part including top, front and rear surfaces, and a label made of paperboard.

Claims

1. A packaging unit comprising: a carton made of moulded pulp with a bottom part comprising compartments for individual products, and a cover part comprising top, front and rear surfaces, wherein the cover part is hingedly connected to the bottom part; and a label made of paperboard, the label comprising an extended front surface extending over the front surface of the cover part, the extended front surface comprising a groove, opening, or notch corresponding to a projection provided on the bottom part, the projection being configured to extend through the groove, opening, or notch such that a lock can be achieved between the label and the projection.

2. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the paperboard comprises folding carton.

3. The packaging according to claim 1, wherein the label is attached to at least a top surface of the cover part.

4. The packaging unit according to claim 3, wherein the cover part comprises one or more openings such that a back side of the label is visible from an inside of the cover part.

5. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the cover part comprises an indent such that a front surface of the packaging unit is supported.

6. The packaging unit according to claim 5, wherein the indent is egg-shaped.

7. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the extended front surface of the label comprises a folding line.

8. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the top surface of the cover part comprises enforcing ribs.

9. The packaging unit according to claim 8, wherein the enforcing ribs are provided on a location of the cover part such that the ribs engage support cones of the bottom part in a closed position of the packaging unit.

10. The packaging unit according to claim 8, wherein at least part of the enforcing ribs is formed by a label part.

11. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the cover part comprises denest nocks.

12. A mould for a packaging unit according to claim 1.

13. A method for packing products, comprising a step of providing a packaging unit according to claim 1.

14. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the label has a thickness greater than 0.25 mm.

15. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the label has a thickness greater than 0.3 mm.

16. The packaging unit according to claim 2, wherein the weight of the folding carton is greater than 200 g/m.sup.2 and less than 600 g/m.sup.2.

17. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the paperboard has a weight per surface area greater than 179 g/m.sup.2.

18. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the paperboard has a weight per surface area greater than 250 g/m.sup.2.

19. The packaging unit according to claim 5, wherein the indent is positioned on an edge where the top surface and the front surface of the cover part meet each other.

20. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the extending front surface of label comprises a folding line such a portion of the extending front surface is flexible about the folding line.

21. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the extending front surface extends over at least a portion of a front surface of the bottom part.

22. The packaging unit according to claim 1, wherein the projection extends outward of the front surface of the cover part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, features and details of the invention are elucidated on the basis of preferred embodiments thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a hybrid pack embodiment of the packaging unit according to the invention in a closed position;

(3) FIG. 2 shows the packaging unit of FIG. 1 in an open position;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B show a cross-sectional view of the packaging unit of FIGS. 1 and 2;

(5) FIGS. 4 and 5A show a packaging unit with an enforcing rib;

(6) FIG. 5B shows an alternative embodiment with enforcing ribs;

(7) FIG. 6-8 show a triangular packaging unit; and

(8) FIG. 9 shows a denest nock.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) A hybrid pack 2 (FIG. 1) comprises a first packaging unit 4 and a second packaging unit 6 according to the invention. First and second packaging units 4, 6 are connected with a bridging part 8. Bottom part 10 comprises a front surface 12, two side surfaces 14, a back side 15, and a bottom side 16. Cover part 18 is hingedly connected to bottom part 10 and comprises a front surface 20, two side surfaces 22, a back side surface 24 and a top surface 26. Packaging units 4, 6 are provided with a label 28 that is provided with a top surface 30 on which text 32 is printed. In the illustrated embodiment label 28 is provided with a front surface 34, and an extended part 36 for front side 34. Extended part 36 and front surface 34 are connected with folding line 38. Edge 40 defines the transition between top surface 30 and front surface 34. Packaging units 4, 6 are provided with an indent 42 having an egg-shape 44. In the illustrated embodiments label 28 is provided with corresponding cut-out 46.

(10) On the inside of bottom part 10 (FIG. 2) compartments 48 are provided having contours matching at least partially the outer contours of eggs P. Support cones 50 are provided to add stability and strength to packaging units 4, 6. Lip 52 is hingedly connected to front surface 12 of bottom part 10 and is provided with a cut-out 54. Along the edge of cut-out 54 there is provided a support edge 56 for distributing loads. In addition, a support nock 58 is provided. Cover part 18 and bottom part 10 are hingedly connected via hinge 60. Cover part 18 is provided with a window opening 62 through which the back side 64 of label 28 is visible. In the illustrated embodiment back side 64 of label 28 is provided with text and/or images 66. Alternatively, label 28 is provided with transparent material for window opening 62.

(11) Front 20 of cover part 18 is provided with edge, protrusion, or projection 70 (FIGS. 3A and B) that fits in notch 68 that is provided in front surface 34 of label 28 together providing lock 72 that can be provided in the label and/or the moulded fiber material.

(12) Hybrid pack 74 (FIGS. 4 and 5A) comprises a first unit 76 and a second unit 78. Label 80 provides enforcing rib 82. In a closed position rib 82 is located in an opening 84 in cover part 86 and engages support cone 88. Rib 82 can be provided with text and/or images. In an alternative embodiment two ribs 83a, 83b (FIG. 5B) are provided on a profiled inside label 85. Providing two ribs 83a, 83b additionally has a centring function such that the overall stability in a closed position of the packaging unit is improved. It is noted that also hybrid pack 74 can be provided with two ribs 82 (not shown) thereby also providing the above centring function. A profiled inside label 85 with one, two, or more ribs 83a, 83b can also be applied to conventional packaging units.

(13) In the illustrated embodiment top 90 of rib 82 engages opening 92 provided in the top surface of support cone 88. This provides additional support for cover 86 thereby protecting products P in hybrid pack 74. Label 80 has a front surface 94 that is provided with an upper part 96 and a lower part 98 that are connected via folding line 100. Front surface 94 is provided with a notch or groove capable of forming a lock in a closed position of hybrid pack 74.

(14) A triangular shaped packaging unit 106 (FIG. 6-8) is provided with a label 108, an egg-shaped indent 110, and an opening 114 in cover part 112. Unit 106 can be combined with one or more of the features described and illustrated for the rectangular shaped unit 2, thereby achieving most of the above described advantages in relation to the packaging unit according to the present invention.

(15) For denesting a first packaging unit 116 from another packaging unit 118 (FIG. 9) denesting nocks 120 are provided. In the illustrated embodiment nocks 120 are shaped as indents 122 in the moulded fiber material with the label 124 extending over indent 122. Preferably, label 124 covers indent 122 on the outside of packaging units 116, 118. In the illustrated embodiment the stacking height is in the range of 7-7.5 mm. This stacking height essentially is the distance between the covers of the packaging units 116 and 118.

(16) The present invention is by no means limited to the above described preferred embodiments thereof. The rights sought are defined by the following claims, within the scope of which many modifications are possible. It is thus possible for instance to apply one or more of the features described in relation to the present invention in conventional packaging units. As an example, it is possible to use the egg-shaped indent in conventional packaging units without the use of the label according to the present invention.