Carton

Abstract

According to a first aspect of the present teachings there is provided a partially-assembled carton for the sealed containment of food, the partially-assembled carton comprising a base panel and a rear panel, wherein the base panel and the rear panel are substantially rectangular; and a first side panel extending between the base panel and the rear panel and a second side panel extending between the base panel and the rear panel, wherein the first and second side panels are substantially triangular. At least one of the base panel, the rear panel, the first side panel and the second side panel comprises a first portion hingedly connected to another one of the base panel, the rear panel, the first side panel and the second side panel, and a second portion hingedly connected to a further one of the base panel, the rear panel, the first side panel and the second side panel. The first portion and the second portion are joined to one another at a first seam. The first seam is adhesively secured.

1 . A partially-assembled carton for the sealed containment of food, the partially-assembled carton comprising:
 a base panel and a rear panel, wherein the base panel and the rear panel are substantially rectangular; and   a first side panel extending between the base panel and the rear panel and a second side panel extending between the base panel and the rear panel, wherein the first and second side panels are substantially triangular;   wherein at least one of the base panel, the rear panel, the first side panel and the second side panel comprises a first portion hingedly connected to another one of the base panel, the rear panel, the first side panel and the second side panel, and a second portion hingedly connected to a further one of the base panel, the rear panel, the first side panel and the second side panel;   wherein the first portion and the second portion are joined to one another at a first seam; and   wherein the first seam is adhesively secured.   
     
     
         2 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the base panel or the rear panel comprises the first portion and the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises an overlap portion, and wherein the first portion overlies the overlap portion. 
     
     
         4 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the partially-assembled carton comprises a second seam, and wherein the second seam is heat sealed. 
     
     
         5 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 4 , wherein said at least one of the base panel, the rear panel, the first side panel and the second side panel that comprises the first portion and the second portion further comprises a first flange, and a further one of the base panel, the rear panel, the first side panel and the second side panel comprises a second flange; wherein the second seam is between the first flange and the second flange. 
     
     
         6 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 5 , wherein one of the base panel or the rear panel comprises the first portion and the second portion, and the other of the base panel or the rear panel comprises the second seam. 
     
     
         7 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 5 , wherein the first flange and the second flange extend outwardly in relation to an interior of the partially-assembled carton. 
     
     
         8 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 1 , further comprising a front panel. 
     
     
         9 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 8 , wherein the front panel is hingedly connected to the first side panel or the second side panel. 
     
     
         10 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 8 , wherein the front panel defines a window. 
     
     
         11 . The partially-assembled carton according to  claim 1 , wherein the partially assembled carton is of laminated with a barrier film, for use with modified atmosphere packaging. 
     
     
         12 . A blank for forming a partially-assembled carton according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a partially-assembled carton according to  claim 1  from a blank, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a blank for forming a partially-assembled carton according to  claim 1 ; 
 b) applying adhesive to the second portion at a seam region; 
 c) folding the first portion to meet the second portion at the seam region; and 
 d) applying pressure to the seam region to form a first seam. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising the step of:
 e) heat sealing opposing faces of the blank to form a second seam.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein step e) succeeds steps a) to d), and further comprising the steps of:
 f) before step b), orienting the blank in a first orientation for the application of adhesive; and   g) after step d) and before step e), orienting the blank in a second orientation for heat sealing.   
     
     
         16 . A method of forming a partially-assembled carton for the sealed containment of food from a blank, the method comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a blank comprising a base panel and a rear panel, wherein the base panel and the rear panel are substantially rectangular; and a first side panel between the base panel and the rear panel and a second side panel between the base panel and the rear panel, wherein the first and second side panels are substantially triangular;   b) applying adhesive to a first seam region of the blank;   c) folding the blank such that a second seam region meets the first seam region;   d) applying pressure to the seam region to form a first seam; and   e) heat sealing opposing faces of the blank to form a second seam.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 f) before step b), orienting the blank in a first orientation for the application of adhesive; and   g) after step d) and before step e), orienting the blank in a second orientation for heat sealing.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein steps b) to d) take place in a single pass of the blank through a process station. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein step e) takes place in a second pass of the blank through a die station. 
     
     
         20 . A press apparatus for performing the method of  claim 13 .