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US 2003/0197051 A1Published application
Preformed bag-in-a-box container
AssigneeWeyerhaeuser Company
InventorsHerbert D. Muise, Herbert Muise JR.
Life of this patent
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AssigneeWeyerhaeuser Company
InventorsHerbert D. Muise, Herbert Muise JR.
Estimating the term…
A shipping container having an internal plastic bag is described, as is the method of forming the container A flat container blank if first formed This differs from a conventional blank only in that it has blind score lines centered vertically on each of the end panels. Adhesive strips are placed on or adjacent the major score lines separating the face and end panels of the container Either a flat or gusseted bag is then laid on the blank with a sealed bottom edge adjacent the outside edges of the bottom flaps of the container. An open end of the bag extends beyond the upper edge of the container The blank is then folded along the blind score lines to form a partially assembled container that can be shipped flat Final assembly can be readily done in the field. The container eliminates the need for field insertion of the bag where one is required
1 A method of forming a semi-finished corrugated shipping container having an integrally contained liquid impermeable bag which comprises
2 The method of claim 1 that further includes applying adhesive to the manufacturers joint panel and sealing that joint when the panels are folded
3 The method of claim 1 in which the bags are supplied from a continuous end-to-end source, the bags having a separable perforated but unsealed trailing edge;
4 The method of claim 1 in which the adhesive is applied to the container blanks along or adjacent the score lines between the face and end panels.
5 The method of claim 5 in which a small spot of adhesive is additionally placed in the center portion of the bottom flaps
6 The method of claim 1 in which the bags have a face portion and gusseted edges, the width of the face portion being essentially equal to the interior edge-to-edge length of the face panels of the container blank and the extended width of the gusseted portion being essentially equal to the interior edge-to-edge width of the end panels of the container blank
7 The method of claim 6 in which the edges of the bags are placed on the container blank along the score lines defining one of the face panels.
8 The method of claim 1 in which the bags are of flat construction with opposing face portions, the combined width of the face portions being essentially equal to the combined width of the face and end panels of the container blank
9 The method of claim 8 in which the edges of the bags are placed on the container blank along the blind score lines on the end panels of the container blank
10 A semi-finished corrugated shipping container having an integrally contained plastic bag which comprises.
11 The corrugated shipping container of claim 10 in which the adhesive is used only along the score lines between the face and end panels.
12 The corrugated shipping container of claim 10 in which the bags have a face portion and gusseted edges, the width of the face portion being essentially equal to the interior edge-to-edge length of the face panels of the container blank and the extended width of the gusseted portion being essentially equal to the interior edge-to-edge width of the end panels of the container blank
13 The corrugated shipping container of claim 12 in which the edges of the bags are located on the container blank along the score lines defining one of the face panels
14 The corrugated shipping container of claim 10 in which the bags are of flat construction with opposing face portions, the combined width of the face portions being essentially equal to the combined length of the face and end panels of the container blank
15 The corrugated shipping container of claim 14 in which the edges of the bags are located on the container blank along the blind score lines on the end panels of the container blank
16 The corrugated shipping container of claim 10 in which the bag is bonded to the container blank along or adjacent to the score lines
17 The corrugated shipping container of claim 16 in which the bag is additionally bonded by small spot of adhesive placed in the center portion of the bottom flaps
18 The corrugated shipping container of claim 10 which is set up as a box to receive its intended contents.
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Flexible linings loosely glued to the wall of the container: bags or bag-like tubes loosely glued to the wall of a "tubular" container
Cutting, e.g. perforating, punching, slitting or trimming: cutting webs
Cutting, e.g. perforating, punching, slitting or trimming: cutting webs
Rigid or semi-rigid containers made by assembling separate sheets, blanks or webs
Term end not estimated
The present invention relates to a corrugated shipping container having an integral plastic bag The container is formed so that the bag does not have to be inserted separately when the box is set up for use While not in any way so limited, the container is particularly useful for products such as moist fresh vegetables that are loaded in the field and then are subject to a vacuum cooling step
The miracle of modern transportation and storage systems has made fresh fruit and produce of the highest quality available year round. Even delicate off-season produce such as strawberries and raspberries find their way from growers in South America to tables in the United States and Canada while still in prime condition. Apples and pears are crisp and juicy six to nine months after they were picked thanks to controlled atmosphere cold storage in which oxygen level is reduced and carbon dioxide is increased Highly perishable products are fumigated periodically with sulfur dioxide during storage to prevent deterioration due to botrytis growth Field crops, such as celery and broccoli, may be stored for several days before they are shipped to market If the latter two crops may be used as examples, a critical part of maintaining them in good condition is rapid chilling as soon as possible after harvest The temperature may be brought down in chillers adjacent the growing fields Sometimes crushed ice is applied to the produce in the container to maintain the quality When ice is used, this requires a waxed container or one otherwise made water resistant, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No 6,338,234
One method of cooling involves field packing the produce in a shipping container lined with a separate plastic bag Liquid water is added, the amount depending on the ambient temperature of the produce when packed A free end of the plastic bag is then tucked in over the produce providing a loose closure Thereafter the package is palletized and inserted into a vacuum chamber where the produce temperature is rapidly reduced to its desired level for storage and shipping. A process of this type is described in detail in U.S. Pat Nos. 5,421,138 and 5,619,841
FIG. 1 represents a corrugated container blank of a type generally useful with the invention
FIG. 2 shows a container blank with a gusseted bag being applied
FIG. 3 is a similar figure showing a flat bag being applied
The invention can be readily understood by reference to the Figures In FIG. 1 is seen a corrugated container blank 2 having major or side panels 4, minor or end panels 6, and a tab or strip 8 for forming a manufacturers joint. Blank 2 further has bottom closure flaps 10 and top closure flaps 12 Major score lines 14, 16, 18 and 20 define and separate the face and end panels Blind score lines 22 and 24 bisect each of the end panels 6 A “blind score line” is one that is folded temporarily during the container manufacturing sequence but is not functional when the container is ultimately set up for use Slots, not numbered, are formed as projections of the score lines in the top and bottom closure flaps
As seen in FIG. 2, glue strips 26, 28, 30, and 32 are laid along and/or adjacent to each of major score lines 14, 16, 18, and 20. Similarly glue 34 is applied to the tab 8 that will ultimately form the manufacturers joint Alternatively, this joint may be made internally and the glue would be applied to the outer edge of right hand panel 4 rather than to tab 8 A gusseted plastic bag 36 is shown being laid down with its edges along score lines 16 and 18 so as to be in contact with glue strips 28 and 30. When extended, the width of the gusseted sections 38 are essentially equal to the width of end panels 6 The bottom of bag 36 is closed at 40, as by heat sealing, and lies closely adjacent the outer edges of the bottom flaps The top 42 of bag 36 is open
An alternative configuration is shown in FIG. 3 where a flat bag 50 is employed The edges of this bag lie along blind score lines 22 and 24 and it is again in contact with glue strips 28 and 30 Again, the bottom 52 of the bag is sealed and the top 54 remains open