Egg packaging container and method of labeling it
The egg packaging container design with a pivotally connected hinge and label support surface addresses label management complexity and ensures stable, readable barcode placement, enhancing efficiency and reducing costs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- KURIHARA SEISAKUSHIYO
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing egg packaging containers face issues with label management, as they require separate containers for different barcode types, leading to increased complexity and labor, and existing label configurations are prone to misalignment, wrinkling, and poor shape retention, making barcode reading difficult.
A pair of container bodies and lids formed from transparent plastic sheets with a pivotally connected hinge, featuring grid-patterned egg-storage recesses and egg-covering protrusions, with a label support surface and barcode reading area, and reinforcing ribs to stabilize the label.
The solution allows for easy label application during egg sorting, reduces container types needed, ensures stable label placement for clear product information visibility, and facilitates accurate barcode reading, thereby simplifying management and reducing costs.
Smart Images
Figure 2026114145000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to an egg packaging container and a method for enclosing a label therein.
Background Art
[0002] If a label printed with a different barcode for each egg product is attached to an empty container before the eggs are packaged, the manufacturer of the egg packaging container has to separately manage and stock the egg packaging containers for each different type of barcode, even for containers of the same size and shape.
[0003] That is, since the number of types of dedicated containers corresponding to egg products increases, it is very troublesome and less convenient for the manufacturer of the egg packaging container. In addition, it is necessary to procure a label pasting machine, and there is also a problem that the label has to be peeled off for separate disposal after the container is used.
[0004] Therefore, it has been practiced to simply enclose a label printed with a barcode into the egg packaging container at the time of egg sorting and packaging at the GP center, and egg packaging containers for this purpose are disclosed in Patent Documents 1 to 3.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0005]
Patent Document 1
Patent Document 2
Patent Document 3
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] However, taking Patent Document 1 proposed by the applicant of the present invention as a typical example, the egg packaging container configuration described therein is such that the label (L) is folded into a shape that is approximately V-shaped or isosceles trapezoidal in cross-section. Therefore, it is limited to egg packaging containers in which the top surface (22) of the lid (B) is flat overall, and cannot be applied to the most widely used, inexpensive, so-called regular type egg packaging containers.
[0007] Furthermore, because the long side (42) of the label (L) is sandwiched between the top surface (22) of the lid (B) and the overall top of the egg (E), when the egg packaging containers are displayed stacked on a special rack called a roll inner, for example, it is impossible for the egg consumer (buyer) to visually check from above the product information such as the product name and expiration date printed on the surface of the wide long side (42) of the label (L). This problem also applies to Patent Document 2.
[0008] In this regard, Patent Document 3 describes a so-called regular type egg carton container, but even with a long, flat side wall (4) that removes three of the surrounding protrusions (2) for the barcode label (L), it is still small and inserted in the middle of the long side of the carton container. As a result, the barcode label (L) itself is prone to misalignment, wrinkling, and distortion, and is not stably fixed and supported between the flat side wall (4) and the egg (e), making it impossible to read the barcode quickly and reliably.
[0009] Furthermore, because the flat side walls (4) of the pack container are formed as a literally flat surface, they have poor shape retention, are easily deformed, and pose a problem as they cannot be safely grasped. [Means for solving the problem]
[0010] The present invention aims to improve upon these problems, and in order to achieve this objective, claim 1 provides a pair of container bodies and lids, each formed from a transparent plastic sheet material into a substantially rectangular planar contour shape of the same size, which are pivotally connected in an openable and closable manner by an opening and closing hinge interposed at the boundary between adjacent long sides, so that the parallel long-side edging flanges and short-side edging flanges are in surface contact in a gabled state.
[0011] Inside the container body, surrounded by the aforementioned rim flange, there are multiple egg-storage recesses that sink downward from the gabled surface, divided in a grid pattern by vertical partition walls parallel to their long sides and horizontal partition walls parallel to their short sides.
[0012] From the perpendicular point between the vertical and horizontal partition walls, an intermediate partition column is erected upward relative to the recess of the egg storage recess,
[0013] Inside the lid, surrounded by the aforementioned rim flange, multiple egg-covering protrusions, which also rise upward from the gabled surface, are divided into a grid pattern corresponding to the egg-storage recesses on the container body by vertical partition walls parallel to their long sides and horizontal partition walls parallel to their short sides.
[0014] From the perpendicular portion between the vertical and horizontal partition walls, the intermediate partition column is recessed downward relative to the upright position of the egg-shaped protrusion,
[0015] In a regular type egg packaging container, the intermediate partition pillar on the container body side and the intermediate partition pillar on the lid side are configured to be interlocked or in surface contact when the lid is closed,
[0016] The boundary where the horizontal partition wall of the above container body intersects perpendicularly with the long edge flange on the opening / closing hinge side is shaped as either a label receiving support that rises from a certain height from the gable plane, or conversely, a label receiving groove that is recessed to a certain depth,
[0017] The upright side wall surface of the egg-covering convex part of the lid facing the opening / closing hinge side is made into a flat, substantially rectangular label support surface that is continuously formed as a whole including the boundary parts between adjacent egg-covering convex parts.
[0018] Moreover, the boundary part where the horizontal partition wall of the lid intersects at a right angle with the label support surface is made into a convex step with a substantially inverted U-shaped cross-section whose back surface forms a label receiving concave groove with a certain depth, and it stands tall up to the upper long side on the label support surface. At the same time,
[0019] Either one end or the middle part in the longitudinal direction of the above-mentioned label support surface is made into a barcode reading through area with a certain area, and reinforcing ribs or concavities and convexities of the lid are provided on the remaining part of the label support surface excluding the through area. This is the gist of the present invention.
[0020] In that case, in claim 2, the flat label support surface of the lid has the core-to-core distance between the egg-covering convex parts located at both left and right ends in its longitudinal direction as the length of a certain long side, and the height from the palm plane to the top surface of the egg-covering convex part as the width of a certain short side, forming a rectangle.
[0021] The horizontal partition wall of the lid is sunk downward by a certain height of the convex step that stands up at the boundary with the label support surface, by a certain height that is lower than the upper long side of the rectangular label support surface, so that the certain depth of the label receiving concave groove formed on its back surface is dimensioned deeper. This is the gist of the present invention.
[0022] Also, in claim 3, the egg-covering convex part of the lid forms a frustum of a cone or a frustum of a regular pyramid having a substantially upper half with a small inclination angle intersecting the palm plane and a substantially lower half with a large inclination angle also intersecting the palm plane.
[0023] The upper long side of the rectangular label support surface of the lid is positioned and set at the same height as the bending intermediate part where the inclination angle changes in size, or at a height higher than the bending intermediate part but lower than the top surface of the egg-covering convex part. This is the gist of the present invention.
[0024] In claim 4, the barcode reading and transparent area of the flat label support surface in the egg-covering convex part of the lid body is correspondingly arranged so as to be interposed at the boundary between the egg-covering convex part located at either the left or right end in the longitudinal direction of the label support surface and the adjacent egg-covering convex part.
[0025] In claim 5, the barcode reading and transparent area of the flat label support surface in the egg-covering convex part of the lid body is correspondingly arranged such that its central part is located on the vertical center line of the egg-covering convex part.
[0026] In claim 6, at least three parallel standing ribs that concentrate on the boundary between adjacent egg-covering convex parts are provided as reinforcing ribs to be given to the remaining part excluding the barcode reading and transparent area of the rectangular label support surface in the egg-covering convex part of the lid body. All of them are arranged in a state of protruding backward from the flat label support surface, and
[0027] Among at least three parallel standing ribs, only one standing rib corresponding to the label receiving concave groove recessed from the palm plane on the container body side protrudes downward by a certain dimension from the lower long side of the label support surface, so that the protruding tip part serves as a locking claw for sandwiching the label with the label receiving concave groove.
[0028] When covering the container body by rotating the lid body around the opening and closing hinge, it is characterized in that the locking claw of the standing rib is set to be inserted and locked into the label receiving concave groove on the container body side.
[0029] Furthermore, in claim 7, the label receiving surface of the label receiving support column or the label receiving surface of the label receiving concave groove in the container body is shaped into an inclined surface substantially parallel to the flat label support surface of the lid body when covering the lid.
[0030] On the other hand, claim 8 is a method for sealing a label onto an egg packaging container according to claim 1, wherein a rectangular sheet of paper is prepared, the size of which corresponds to the flat, substantially rectangular label support surface on the egg covering protrusion of the lid, and the label is displayed on either one of its left or right ends or in the middle, and on the remaining portion, the expiration date of the eggs, the sorting and packaging company, and other various product information.
[0031] While the eggs are placed in the egg storage recess of the container body, the label is then placed into the label receiving groove on the lid, which is still in an unfolded, upside-down position. The label is then placed upright, with its display surface facing the label support surface, and leaning against the label support surface.
[0032] The lid rotates 180 degrees around the opening and closing hinge, and in the process of closing the container body from above, the upper edge of the label, which is in the inverted position described above, remains received by the label receiving groove on the lid, while the lower edge of the label is received by the label receiving support or label receiving groove on the container body, and the label is sandwiched from both sides by the circumferential surface of the egg stored in the container body and the label support surface on the lid.
[0033] In that case, claim 9 specifies that the size of the rectangular label is sized such that the length of its long side is approximately 192 mm and the width of its short side is approximately 20 to 27 mm,
[0034] The barcode displayed on either the left or right end or in the middle of the above label is characterized by having a rectangular length of approximately 30-40 mm and a width of approximately half or more of that of the label. [Effects of the Invention]
[0035] The egg packaging container described in claim 1 and the method for sealing a label onto the egg packaging container described in claim 8 have the effect of solving all of the problems of the prior art described at the beginning.
[0036] In other words, the upright side wall of the lid of a regular egg packaging container, facing the opening and closing hinge, is designed as a continuous, flat, almost rectangular label support surface, including the boundaries between adjacent egg coating protrusions. Furthermore, one end or middle section in the longitudinal direction is formed as a barcode reading area of a certain size. As a result, even with a regular egg packaging container, the entire upright side wall of the lid serves as a vast label support surface, allowing a simple flat, sheet-like label to be easily seen and confirmed by egg consumers (buyers). Moreover, the barcode printed on the label can be easily and accurately read by consumers at self-checkout counters.
[0037] In that case, since the barcode reading area forms part of the flat label support surface, even though it is flat, the remaining part of the label support surface excluding this area is provided with reinforcing ribs or irregularities on the lid, so there is no risk of the lid's shape retention strength decreasing, and the egg packaging container can be safely grasped.
[0038] Furthermore, in the regular type egg packaging container, the boundary where the horizontal partition wall of the container body intersects perpendicularly with the long edge flange on the opening / closing hinge side is shaped as a label receiving support that rises to a certain height from the gable plane, or conversely, as a label receiving groove that is recessed to a certain depth. On the other hand, the boundary where the horizontal partition wall of the lid intersects perpendicularly with the label support surface is shaped as a convex step with a cross-section that is almost inverted U-shaped, with its back surface (inside) being a label receiving groove of a certain depth, and is raised tall up to the upper edge (upper long side) of the rectangular label support surface.
[0039] Based on this configuration, during the process of closing the container from above, the upper edge of the label, which is in an inverted position, remains received by the label receiving groove on the lid, while the lower edge of the label is received by the label receiving support or label receiving groove on the container body. At the same time, the label is sandwiched from both sides (inside and outside) by the circumferential surface of the egg stored in the container body and the label support surface on the lid. As a result, the label can be stably sealed inside the egg packaging container, and thus the label can be reliably seen and the barcode read.
[0040] Moreover, since the labels, each printed with a different barcode for each egg product, are simply sealed into the regular egg packaging containers using the method described above during egg sorting and packaging at the GP center, the number of types of dedicated containers for each egg product is reduced, resulting in the practical benefit of saving on storage, management, inventory, and other labor costs associated with egg packaging containers. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0041] [Figure 1] This is an oblique view of an egg packaging container according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view showing the unfolded state of the egg packaging container described above. [Figure 3] This is a side view of Figure 2. [Figure 4] This is a front view showing the container body extracted from Figure 2. [Figure 5] This is a side view showing the lid extracted from Figure 2. [Figure 6] Figure 3 is a side view showing the covered state. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a front view showing the corresponding positional relationship between the egg packaging container and the label. [Figure 8] This is a front view showing a modified embodiment corresponding to Figure 7. [Figure 9] This is a side cross-sectional view of the intermediate stage in which the lid is rotated toward the container body in the lid-applying direction. [Figure 10] Figure 9 shows a side cross-sectional view of the label-filled state after the lid has been applied. [Figure 11] This is an enlarged view of the main part of Figure 10. [Figure 12] This is a side cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 10, taken by cutting along the vertical centerline of the egg. [Figure 13] This is an oblique view showing an egg packaging container according to a modified embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to Figure 1. [Figure 14] This is an oblique view showing an egg packaging container of a different modified embodiment from that shown in Figure 13 of the present invention. [Figure 15] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the unfolded state of an egg packaging container according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 16] This is a side cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 15, obtained by cutting along the horizontal dividing line between eggs. [Figure 17] Figure 16 is an enlarged plan view of the main part. [Figure 18] Figure 17 is a front view. [Figure 19] This is a cross-sectional view taken along line 19-19 in Figure 17. [Figure 20] This is a side cross-sectional view of the intermediate stage in which the lid is rotated toward the container body in the lid-applying direction. [Figure 21] This is an enlarged view of the main part of Figure 20. [Figure 22] Figure 20 shows a side cross-sectional view of the label-filled state after the lid has been applied. [Figure 23] This is an enlarged view of the main part of Figure 22. [Figure 24] This is a side cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 22, which shows the egg cut along its vertical centerline. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0042] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 14 show a regular type 10-egg packaging container according to the first embodiment, where (A) and (B) are a pair of opposing container bodies and lids, which are integrally molded from polyethylene terephthalate, polystyrene, or other thin-walled, transparent thermoplastic sheet material into a substantially rectangular planar contour shape of the same size as shown in Figure 2.
[0043] (1y)(1x) are short-side rim flanges, just like the parallel long-side rim flanges of the container body (A), and (21y)(21x) are short-side rim flanges, just like the parallel long-side rim flanges of the lid (B). The adjacent long-side rim flanges (1y)(21y) of the container body (A) and the lid (B) are pivotally connected to each other via a half-fold opening / closing hinge (2) of a constant band width (W), allowing them to be opened and closed.
[0044] When the egg (E) is placed in the egg packaging container by the automated egg (E) packaging line and the lid is closed by rotating it 180 degrees around the opening / closing hinge (2), the long edge flanges (1y)(21y) and short edge flanges (1x)(21x) of the container body (A) and the lid (B) come into surface contact with each other in a gabled state. (PP) shows the overall flat gabled surface.
[0045] Then, only the long edge flanges (1y) and (21y) on the free end side parallel to the opening / closing hinge (2) are sealed tightly together using a strip of adhesive tape, heat seal, staples, etc. (not shown), and the consumer who purchased the egg (E) will remove the egg (E) by unsealing it. However, it is also possible to provide two rows of perforations (not shown) parallel to the strip of opening / closing hinge (2), and the consumer will be required to tear between the two perforations to open the package.
[0046] The interior of the container body (A), enclosed by the flanges (1y) on both long sides and the flanges (1x) on both short sides, is roughly rectangular in plan view. Within this interior, multiple egg storage recesses (G) (10 in the illustrated example, 5 eggs in 2 rows) are partitioned in a grid-like manner, with one row of vertical partition walls (3y) arranged parallel to the long sides and multiple (4 rows) of horizontal partition walls (3x) arranged parallel to the short sides. These recesses are recessed downwards by a certain depth (d1) (for example, 37 mm) from the gabled plane (PP), and the egg storage recesses (G) are arranged in a grid-like manner, preventing adjacent eggs (E) from touching each other.
[0047] The top surfaces of the vertical and horizontal partition walls (3y)(3x) all extend to a height position recessed by the same constant depth (d2) (e.g., 17 mm) from the palisade plane (PP), and each of the egg storage recesses (G) that are recessed even deeper from this height position is approximately truncated cone or truncated regular polygonal pyramid, gradually becoming rounder as it goes downwards.
[0048] Approximately the lower half of the egg (E) is held by the egg storage recess (G) of the container body (A). More specifically, as shown in Figures 4 and 6, the egg storage recess (G) is bent at an intermediate point (4) at the same height as the top surfaces of the vertical and horizontal partition walls (3y) and (3x). Approximately the upper half from this bent intermediate point (4) is a steeply sloping wall surface (5a) with a relatively large angle (α) at which it intersects with the gable plane (PP), while the remaining approximately lower half from the bent intermediate point (4) is a gently sloping wall surface (5b) with a relatively small angle (β) at which it intersects with the gable plane (PP), thus exhibiting a difference in their inclination angles (α) and (β).
[0049] (6) is a set of intermediate partition columns (four in the illustrated example) that are erected from the perpendicular portions of the vertical and horizontal partition walls (3y) and (3x) described above, relative to the depression of the egg storage recess (G). These also serve to prevent adjacent eggs (E) from coming into contact with each other, and are, so to speak, continuous with the wall surface of the egg storage recess (G), and have a roughly truncated cone or truncated regular polygonal pyramid shape that gradually becomes rounder as it goes upwards.
[0050] In this case, all of the intermediate partition columns (6) of the container body (A) are erected to approximately the same height as the gable plane (PP), but their flat top surface is provided with a protrusion receiving groove (7) that can be fitted with the insertion protrusion on the lid (B) side, which will be described later.
[0051] (8) is a long-side partition convex wall formed at the boundary where the long-side edging flange (1y) on the free end side of the container body (A) intersects at a right angle with a plurality of (four rows in the illustrated example) horizontal partition walls (3x), and it rises from the gable plane (PP) by a certain height (h1) (for example, 5 mm), and a semi-cylindrical convex rib receiving groove (10) cut out in the insertion inclined wall surface (9) of the long-side partition convex wall (8) is designed to fit with the semi-cylindrical convex rib on the receiving inclined wall surface of the corresponding long-side partition leg of the lid (B), which will be described later.
[0052] Furthermore, at the boundary where the long edge flange (1y) on the opening / closing hinge (2) side of the container body (A) intersects at a right angle with the multiple horizontal partition walls (3x), a label receiving support column (11) is installed, rising from a certain height (h2) above the aforementioned gable plane (PP).
[0053] The standing height (h2) of this label receiving support (11) can be the same as that of the long-side partition protrusion wall (8) (5 mm as exemplified earlier), but in order to stably support the label as described later, it is desirable to make it approximately the same height (for example, 13-17 mm) as the height at which the lateral partition wall of the egg-coating protrusion on the lid (B), described later, rises from the above-mentioned gable plane (PP).
[0054] Furthermore, it is preferable that the label receiving support (11) is shaped like a pseudo-crescent moon when viewed from above, as shown in Figure 2, and has a flat inclined surface (12) facing the opening / closing hinge (2). This inclined surface (12), which is approximately parallel to the flat label support surface of the lid (B) described later, is used to receive and support the label when the lid is closed on the container body (A). The purpose is to have the inclined surface (12) function as a label receiving surface.
[0055] On the other hand, within the roughly rectangular interior enclosed by the long-edge flanges (21y) and short-edge flanges (21x) of the lid (B) of the egg packaging container, a row of vertical partition walls (22y) arranged parallel to the long sides and a row of horizontal partition walls (22x) arranged parallel to the short sides divide the interior into a grid pattern. These dividers divide the interior into a grid pattern where multiple egg covering protrusions (C) (10 in the illustrated example, 5 in 2 rows) rise a certain height (h3) (for example, 30 mm) upward from the gable plane (PP), corresponding to the egg storage recesses (G) on the container body (A), preventing adjacent eggs (E) from coming into contact with each other.
[0056] Moreover, the egg-covering protrusion (C) of the lid (B) that encloses approximately the upper half of the egg (E) is bent at an intermediate section (23) at a certain height (h4) (for example, 17-20 mm) from the palm plane (PP), as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The lower half from this bent intermediate section (23) is a steeply sloping wall surface (24b) with a relatively large angle (γ) at which it intersects with the palm plane (PP), while the remaining upper half from the same bent intermediate section (23) is a gently sloping wall surface (24a) with a relatively small angle (θ) at which it intersects with the palm plane (PP), thus exhibiting a difference in their inclination angles (γ) and (θ).
[0057] In this case, the upper half of the egg-coated protrusion (C), consisting of a gently sloping wall surface (24a), exhibits a truncated cone or truncated regular polygonal pyramid shape that gradually becomes rounder towards its apex, whereas the lower half, consisting of a steeply sloping wall surface (24b), is formed as a continuous, flat label support surface (25) on the upright side wall facing the opening / closing hinge (2), including the boundary between adjacent egg-coated protrusions (C) (the part that intersects the horizontal partition wall (22x) at a right angle).
[0058] In other words, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, when viewing the closed egg packaging container from the front on the side of the opening / closing hinge (2), the label support surface (25) is formed as an overall roughly rectangular shape, with the width (H) dimension being a constant height (h4) (e.g., 17-20 mm) from the gable plane (PP) to the middle of the bend (23) of the egg coating protrusion (C), and the length dimension being the distance between the centers of the egg coating protrusions (C) located at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the egg packaging container (L) (e.g., 186-192 mm), and the upper long side extends horizontally from the gable plane (PP) to the middle of the bend (23) of the egg coating protrusion (C).
[0059] Furthermore, one end of the label support surface (25) in the longitudinal direction is preferably positioned to interpose with the boundary between an egg-coated protrusion (C) located at the same end and an adjacent egg-coated protrusion (C), forming a substantially rectangular barcode reading transparency area (Z) with a certain area.
[0060] However, as shown in the modified embodiment in Figure 8 corresponding to Figure 7, the barcode reading transparency area (Z) may be installed in the middle of the rectangular label support surface (25) such that the center of the transparency area (Z) is located on the vertical center line (OO) of the egg-coated protrusion (C).
[0061] In any case, if the barcode reading transparency area (Z) of the label support surface (25) is positioned on the vertical center line (OO) of the egg covering protrusion (C), as suggested in Figure 8, then the transparency area (Z) will be in close contact with the widest circumferential surface of the stored egg (E), allowing for easy and accurate reading of the barcode printed on the label, as described later.
[0062] The barcode reading transparent area (Z) remains flat as part of the surface of the label support surface (25) itself, but the vast remaining portion of the label support surface (25) excluding the transparent area (Z) is formed with multiple lid reinforcing ribs (26) or numerous lid reinforcing bumps (not shown) to prevent deformation of the label support surface (25).
[0063] As for the reinforcing ribs (26), it is preferable to have at least three ribs each that rise parallel to the lower long side of the label support surface (25) (the long side edging flange (21y) on the opening / closing hinge (2) side), as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 7, 8, and that are arranged and concentrated at the boundary between adjacent egg-coated protrusions (C).
[0064] Furthermore, regarding the top surfaces of the vertical and horizontal partition walls (22y) (22x) described above, it is acceptable to have them all have equal height dimensions and extend them to the same height as the mid-bend portion (23) of the egg-coated protrusion (C) (a certain height (h4) from the gable plane (PP)). However, in particular, for the top surfaces of the portions where multiple horizontal partition walls (22x) (the four rows exemplified earlier) partition the egg-coated protrusion (C) facing the opening / closing hinge (2), it is preferable to make them recessed by a certain dimension (d3) (for example, 4-5 mm) lower than the top surface of the portion partitioning the egg-coated protrusion (C) facing the free end. This allows the boundary where the lower top surface of the horizontal partition wall (22x) intersects the label support surface (25) at a right angle to be made into a roughly inverted U-shaped protruding step (27) as shown in Figure 11, and to make it stand relatively tall up to the upper long side of the rectangular label support surface (25).
[0065] The protruding step (27) of the egg packaging container, which has a cross-section that is almost inverted U-shaped when the lid (B) is opened and facing inward, forms a label receiving groove (28) of a certain depth (d3) that is recessed by the aforementioned 4-5 mm. This allows the label described later to be reliably dropped into the groove and kept in an upright position that naturally leans against the back surface of the label support surface (25).
[0066] However, if a protruding step (27) with a cross-section that is approximately an inverted U shape can be formed at the boundary where the horizontal partition wall (22x) and the label support surface (25) intersect at a right angle, which will serve as a recessed groove (28) for receiving the label in the reversed state described above, then the top surface of the part of the horizontal partition wall (22x) that partitions the egg-coated protrusion (C) facing the free end side may also be lowered to the same height as the top surface of the part that partitions the egg-coated protrusion (C) facing the opening / closing hinge (2) side.
[0067] In short, the upper long side of the rectangular label support surface (25) is extended to the same height as the mid-bend (23) of the egg-coated protrusion (C), and the top surface of the horizontal partition wall (22x) that intersects the label support surface (25) at a right angle is recessed by a certain dimension (d3). This creates a roughly inverted U-shaped protrusion (27) at the intersection of the horizontal partition wall (22x) and the label support surface (25), which can function as a label receiving groove (28) in the inverted state as shown in Figure 11. However, for example, the upper long side of the label support surface (25) remains at the above height, and the top surface of the horizontal partition wall (22x) is further reduced. By either making it even lower, or by maintaining the top surface of the horizontal partition wall (22x) at the same height, the upper long side of the label support surface (25) can be positioned at a height higher than the intermediate bending portion (23) of the egg-coated protrusion (C) but lower than the top surface of the egg-coated protrusion (C), as shown in the modified embodiment of Figure 13 corresponding to Figure 1, or at the same maximum height as the top surface of the egg-coated protrusion (C), as shown in another modified embodiment of Figure 14, the constant depth (d3) of the label receiving groove (28) formed on the back surface of the protrusion step (27) can be set even deeper, which helps in the increasingly stable receiving and support of the label described later.
[0068] In that case, the length (L) dimension of the longer side of the label support surface (25) in both modified embodiments of Figures 13 and 14 remains the same as that shown in Figures 1, 7, and 8. However, the width (H) dimension of the shorter side of the label support surface (25) is, for example, 25 mm in the modified embodiment of Figure 13, and for example, 29 mm in the other modified embodiment of Figure 14. In both cases, it is wider (taller) than that shown in Figure 1, and therefore it can support larger labels.
[0069] (29) is a plurality of intermediate partition pillars (four in the illustrated example) that are recessed downward relative to the upright position of the egg covering protrusion (C) from the perpendicular portions of the vertical and horizontal partition walls (22y) (22x) in the lid (B), and these also serve to prevent adjacent eggs (E) from coming into contact with each other, and are continuous with the wall surface of the egg covering protrusion (C), forming a roughly truncated cone or truncated regular polygonal pyramid that gradually becomes rounder as it goes downwards.
[0070] In this case, the intermediate partition pillars (29) of the lid (B) are all recessed to approximately the same depth as the gable surface (PP), and insertable protrusions (30) that can be fitted into the protrusion receiving grooves (7) on the container body (A) are provided protruding upward from their flat bottom surface.
[0071] However, the male-female (concave and convex) relationship may be reversed, with the protruding part (30) being inserted from the top surface of the intermediate partition column (6) on the container body (A) side and the groove (7) that receives the protruding part being recessed upward from the bottom surface of the intermediate partition column (29) on the lid (B) side. Furthermore, instead of this concave-convex fitting, the top surface of the intermediate partition column (6) on the container body (A) side and the bottom surface of the intermediate partition column (29) on the lid (B) side may be made to be in surface contact.
[0072] (31) is a plurality (four in the illustrated example) of long-side partition legs located in a position corresponding to the long-side partition protruding wall (8) on the container body (A) side, and the semi-cylindrical protruding ribs (33) formed on the receiving inclined wall surface (32) thereon are such that they can fit into the protruding rib receiving grooves (10) of the long-side partition protruding wall (8) on the container body (A) side when the lid is closed.
[0073] Furthermore, (M) is a label used for sealing in an egg packaging container, and consists of a single sheet of paper (ordinary paper or preferably fine paper) that is approximately the same size and shape as the label support surface (25) of the lid (B), and is in the form of an unfolded, flat film.
[0074] As suggested in Figures 7 and 8, on either the left or right end or in the middle along its longitudinal direction, a barcode (including a 2D barcode) (34) is printed on the front side (one side) displaying the size of the egg (E), whether it is a so-called red egg or a white egg, the place of origin, and other necessary product information. On the other large remaining area, the expiration date of the egg (E), product name, person responsible for weighing, sorting and packaging person, storage method, and other various product information (35) are printed. The back side is a free space where, for example, egg recipes, campaigns, and event information can be posted.
[0075] The size of the label (M) corresponds to that of the label support surface (25), for example, the length of its long side (L1) is approximately 186-192 mm and the width of its short side (H1) is approximately 20-27 mm. The size of the barcode (34) displayed on the label (M) is such that it fits within the barcode reading area (Z) of the label support surface (25), for example, the length of its long side (L2) is approximately 30-40 mm, preferably 35 mm, and the width of its short side (height) (H2) is approximately half or more of that of the label (M), preferably 15 mm, and it is printed in a clearly visible upper position on the label (M) as shown in Figure 7.
[0076] The egg packaging container according to the first embodiment of the present invention has the above configuration, and the label can be automatically and mechanically inserted into the container while the eggs (E) are being transported on an automated packaging line (not shown).
[0077] In other words, to explain the method of sealing the label (M) onto the egg packaging container, while the empty egg packaging container, which is unfolded and upside down, is being automatically transported, multiple eggs (10 in the diagram) (E) are first inserted simultaneously from above into the egg storage recess (G) of the container body (A). The eggs (E) are then stored in two rows of five.
[0078] Subsequently, a flat film-shaped label (M) is placed in an inverted position, as shown in Figure 9, with the upper long side (upper edge) of its rectangle becoming the lower long side (lower edge), and with the surface (display surface) printed with the barcode (34) and various product information (35) facing the flat label support surface (25) of the lid (B). It is then dropped from above into the label receiving groove (28) of the lid (B), and the label (M) temporarily stands upright, leaning against the label support surface (25).
[0079] Then, as the egg packaging container in that state moves in the transport direction, the lid (B) rotates 180 degrees around the opening and closing hinge (2) with the container body (A), so that in the process of closing the container body (A) from above as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the upper edge of the label (M), which is in the inverted position, remains caught in the label receiving groove (28) of the lid (B), while the lower edge of the label (M) naturally slides down onto the long edge flange (1y) on the opening and closing hinge (2) side of the container body (A), and is caught on the inclined receiving surface (12) of the label receiving support column (11) on the container body (A).
[0080] Furthermore, as the rotation of the lid (B) continues and the lid is applied to the container body (A), the label (M) is sandwiched from both sides by the flat label support surface (25) of the lid (B) and the circumferential surface of the egg (E) stored in the egg storage recess (G) of the container body (A), as shown in Figures 10-12. At the same time, the barcode (34) on the label (M) is automatically positioned correctly in the barcode reading area (Z) of the label support surface (25).
[0081] As a result, even when egg packaging containers are displayed in a stacked state, consumers of eggs (E) can clearly see and confirm the various product information (35) displayed on the label (M), especially the expiration date, from outside the lid (B). Furthermore, the barcode reading area (Z) of the label support surface (25) on the lid (B) is kept flat without any reinforcing ribs (26) or unevenness, which has the advantage of making it easy for consumers at so-called self-checkout counters to read the barcode.
[0082] Next, Figures 15 to 24 show an egg packaging container according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and the differences in its configuration from the first embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 14 are as follows.
[0083] In other words, in the configuration of the first embodiment described above, a label receiving support column (11) is installed at the boundary where the long edge flange (1y) on the opening / closing hinge (2) side of the container body (A) intersects with the multiple horizontal partition walls (3x), and the label (M) is received by the flat label receiving surface (12) which is inclined to be parallel to the label support surface (25) when the lid of the container body (A) is closed, and the label support surface (2 5) In combination with the above, the label (M) is sandwiched from both the front and back sides. However, in the configuration of the second embodiment, a label receiving groove (36) is installed at the same boundary as above, which is recessed from the girdle plane (PP) to a certain depth (d4) (for example, 5 mm), and a flat label receiving surface (37) is formed in the label receiving groove (36) in a sloping state parallel to the label support surface (25) in combination with the label support surface (25) of the lid (B) when the lid is applied, sandwiching the label (M) from both the front and back sides.
[0084] Furthermore, in the configuration of the first embodiment described above, at least three reinforcing upright ribs (26) are arranged in a reverse-facing, protruding state in the remaining portion of the flat label support surface (25) of the lid (B), excluding the barcode reading transparent area (Z), preferably converging at the boundaries between adjacent egg-coated protrusions (C). However, in the configuration of the second embodiment, as is clear from Figures 17-19, of the at least three upright ribs (26) arranged in a row, the label receiving ribs of the container body (A) Only one upright rib (26c) corresponding to the recessed groove (36) is made to protrude downward by a certain dimension (h5) (for example, 2 mm) from the lower long side of the rectangular label support surface (25), and the protruding tip (lower end) of the upright rib (26c) is used as a locking claw (38) for clamping the label with the label receiving recessed groove (36), so that when the lid is closed, the locking claw (38) of the upright rib (26c) is inserted into the label receiving recessed groove (36) of the container body (A) and locked in place.
[0085] As the label (M) is dropped from above into the label receiving groove (28) of the unfolded, inverted lid (B), and the lid (B) rotates 180 degrees around the opening / closing hinge (2) with the container body (A) from an upright position leaning against the label support surface (25) of the lid (B), the label (M) will naturally slide down from the label support surface (25) of the lid (B) into the label receiving groove (36) of the container body (A) as shown in Figures 20-24. Immediately afterward, the locking claws (38) of the upright rib (26c) are also inserted into and locked into the label receiving groove (36). As a result, the label (M) is sandwiched from both sides by the locking claws (38) of the upright rib (26c) that protrude backward from the label support surface (25) of the lid (B), and the label receiving surface (37) of the label receiving groove (36) in the container body (A), thereby achieving the same label (M) sealing state as in the first embodiment.
[0086] Since the other components of the container body (A) and lid (B) of the second embodiment, as well as the method of sealing the label (M), are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, we will simply use the same reference numerals in Figures 15-24 as in Figures 1-14, and omit a detailed explanation. [Explanation of symbols]
[0087] (1y)(21y)····Long edge edging flange (1x)(21x)····Short edge edging flange (2)··········Opening and closing hinge (3y)(22y)····Vertical partition wall (3x)(22x)····Horizontal partition wall (4)(23)...Midway part of bending (5a)(24a)...Top half (5b)(24b)...lower half (6)(29)······Intermediate partition column (11)·········Label support post (12)(37)·····Label receiving surface (25)·········Label support surface (26) ········· Ribs for reinforcing the lid (27)... Convex step (28)(36)·····Label receiving groove (34)·········Barcode (35)...Various product information (38)·········Locking claw (A)··········Container body (B) Lid body (C)········································································································ ············································································· · · · · · · · · Egg-coated convex portion (E) · · · · · · · Egg (G)··········Egg storage recess (H)··········Width (short side) (L)··········Length (long side) (M only··········Label (Z)··········Barcode reading X-ray area (O-O)... Vertical center line (P-P)... Gassho plane
Claims
1. A pair of container bodies (A) and lids (B), each formed from a transparent plastic sheet material into a roughly rectangular planar contour shape of the same size, are pivotally connected in an openable and closable manner by an opening and closing hinge (2) interposed at the boundary between adjacent long sides, so that the parallel long-side edging flanges (1y) (21y) and short-side edging flanges (1x) (21x) are in surface contact with each other in a gabled state. Inside the container body (A), surrounded by the aforementioned rim flanges (1y) (1x), there are multiple egg storage recesses (G) that sink downward from the gable plane (P-P), which are divided in a grid pattern by vertical partition walls (3y) parallel to their long sides and horizontal partition walls (3x) parallel to their short sides. From the perpendicular portion between the vertical partition wall (3y) and the horizontal partition wall (3x), the intermediate partition column (6) is erected upward relative to the recess of the egg storage recess (G), Inside the lid (B), surrounded by the aforementioned edging flanges (21y) (21x), a plurality of egg-covering protrusions (C) that rise upward from the gable plane (P-P) are divided into a grid pattern corresponding to the egg-storage recess (G) on the container body (A) by vertical partition walls (22y) parallel to their long sides and horizontal partition walls (22x) parallel to their short sides. From the perpendicular portion between the vertical partition wall (22y) and the horizontal partition wall (22x), the intermediate partition column (29) is recessed downward relative to the upright position of the egg-shaped protrusion (C), In a regular type egg packaging container, the intermediate partition pillar (6) on the container body (A) side and the intermediate partition pillar (29) on the lid (B) side are configured to be interlocked or in surface contact when the lid is closed, The boundary where the horizontal partition wall (3x) of the container body (A) intersects perpendicularly with the long edge flange (1y) on the opening / closing hinge (2) side is formed as either a label receiving support (11) that rises from a certain height (h2) from the gable plane (P-P) or, conversely, a label receiving groove (36) that is recessed to a certain depth (d4), The upright side wall surface of the lid (B) facing the opening / closing hinge (2) is made into a generally continuous, flat, approximately rectangular label support surface (25), including the boundaries between adjacent egg-coating protrusions (C). Moreover, the boundary where the lateral partition wall (22x) of the lid (B) intersects its label support surface (25) at a right angle is made into a roughly inverted U-shaped convex step (27) with a label receiving groove (28) of a certain depth (d3) on its back surface, and is made to stand tall up to the upper long side of the label support surface (25), An egg packaging container characterized in that one end or middle portion of the label support surface (25) in the longitudinal direction is designated as a barcode reading transparency area (Z) of a certain area, and reinforcing ribs (26) or irregularities of the lid (B) are provided on the remaining portion of the label support surface (25) excluding the transparency area (Z).
2. The flat label support surface (25) of the lid (B) has a rectangle whose long side length is determined by the distance (L) between the centers of the egg-coated protrusions (C) located at both ends in the longitudinal direction, and whose short side width is determined by the height (H) which is the maximum limit from the girdle plane (P-P) to the top surface of the egg-coated protrusion (C). The egg packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral partition wall (22x) of the lid (B) is recessed to a certain height by a certain amount of the height of a protruding step (27) that stands at the boundary with the label support surface (25), and is lower than the upper long side of the rectangular label support surface (25), thereby increasing the certain depth (d3) of the label receiving groove (28) formed on its back surface.
3. The egg covering projection (C) of the lid (B) has a truncated cone or truncated regular polygonal pyramidal shape, comprising a nearly upper half (24a) with a small inclination angle (θ) intersecting the palm plane (P-P), and a nearly lower half (24b) with a large inclination angle (γ) intersecting the palm plane (P-P). The egg packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper long side of the rectangular label support surface (25) of the lid (B) is positioned at the same height as the intermediate bending portion (23) where the inclination angle (γ)(θ) changes, or at a height higher than the intermediate bending portion (23) but lower than the top surface of the egg coating protrusion (C).
4. The egg packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that the barcode reading transparency area (Z) of the flat label support surface (25) on the egg coating protrusion (C) of the lid (B) is positioned to correspond to the boundary between the egg coating protrusion (C) located at either the left or right end in the longitudinal direction of the label support surface (25) and the adjacent egg coating protrusion (C).
5. The egg packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that the barcode reading transparency area (Z) of the flat label support surface (25) on the egg coating protrusion (C) of the lid (B) is positioned such that its central portion lies on the vertical center line (O-O) of the egg coating protrusion (C).
6. The reinforcing ribs (26) provided to the remaining portion of the rectangular label support surface (25) of the egg coating protrusion (C) of the lid (B), excluding the barcode reading transparent area (Z), are arranged as at least three parallel upright ribs concentrated at the boundary between adjacent egg coating protrusions (C), all of which are positioned to protrude inward from the flat label support surface (25), Of the three parallel upright ribs (26) on the container body (A) side, only one upright rib (26c) that corresponds to the label receiving groove (36) recessed from the girdle plane (P-P) is made to protrude downward by a certain distance (h5) from the lower long side of the label support surface (25), so that its protruding tip acts as a label-clamping locking claw (38) with the label receiving groove (36). The egg packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that when the container body (A) is closed by the rotation of the lid (B) centered on the opening and closing hinge (2), the locking claws (38) of the upright ribs (26c) are inserted into and locked into the label receiving grooves (36) on the container body (A) side.
7. The egg packaging container according to claim 1, characterized in that the label receiving surface (12) of the label receiving support column (11) or the label receiving surface (37) of the label receiving groove (36) in the container body (A) is formed into an inclined surface that is substantially parallel to the flat label support surface (25) of the lid (B) when the lid is closed.
8. A method for sealing a label into an egg packaging container according to claim 1, wherein a rectangular sheet of paper is prepared, the size of which corresponds to the flat, substantially rectangular label support surface (25) on the egg covering protrusion (C) of the lid (B), and a label (M) is prepared on which a barcode (34) is located at either the left or right end or in the middle and various product information (35) of the egg (E) such as the expiration date, sorting and packaging company, and other various product information is displayed on the remaining part. Although the egg (E) is placed in the egg storage recess (G) of the container body (A), the label (M) is then placed into the label receiving groove (28) on the lid (B), which is still in an unfolded, upside-down position, with its display surface facing the label support surface (25), and is dropped into an upright position leaning against the label support surface (25). A method for sealing a label into an egg packaging container, characterized in that, as the lid (B) rotates 180 degrees around the opening and closing hinge (2) to seal the container body (A) from above, the upper edge of the label (M), which is in the inverted position, remains received by the label receiving groove (28) on the lid (B), while the lower edge of the label (M) is received by the label receiving support (11) or label receiving groove (36) on the container body (A), and the label (M) is sandwiched from both sides by the circumferential surface of the egg (E) stored in the container body (A) and the label support surface (25) on the lid (B).
9. The dimensions of the rectangular label (M) are defined as having a long side length (L1) of approximately 192 mm and a short side width (H1) of approximately 20-27 mm. The method for sealing a label into an egg packaging container according to claim 8, characterized in that the size of the barcode (34) displayed on either the left or right end or in the middle of the label (M) is sized such that the length of the long side (L2) of the rectangle is approximately 30 to 40 mm and the width (H2) of the short side is approximately half or more of that of the label (M).