WO2019077968A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: WO2019077968A1
Application number: PCT/JP2018/036165
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mitsuhiro Sato; Hideto Sakai; Kengo Sakai; Taiji Watanabe
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 2017-10-18
Filing date: 2018-09-28
Publication date: 2019-04-25
Anticipated expiration: 2020-04-18

Abstract

A packaging container includes a box provided with a recess and a packing member that is mounted on a packed object and accommodated in the recess. The box includes a first receiving surface and an openable and closable member swingable about a first hinge portion. The packing member includes a first buffer area, a second buffer area, and a second hinge portion. The first buffer area includes a first contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object and a first buffer portion configured to come into contact with the openable and closable member. The second buffer area includes a second contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object and a second buffer portion configured to come into contact with the first receiving surface. The second hinge portion connects the first and second buffer areas to each other.

Description

PACKAGING CONTAINER AND PACKAGE

The present invention relates to a packaging container used when an object is packed.

A packaging container is used to protect a packed object from a vibration and an impact from the outside when the packed object is transported. Examples of the packed object include a cartridge of an image-forming apparatus. Examples of the image-forming apparatus include an electrophotography copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (such as a laser beam printer and a LED printer), a facsimile machine, and a word processor. The cartridge is attachable to and detachable from the image-forming apparatus. Examples of the cartridge include a cartridge including an electrophotographic photosensitive member that is also referred to as an image-bearing member, a cartridge of a developing unit that acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and a cartridge that mainly contains a developer.

An electrophotographic image-forming apparatus (referred to below as an image-forming apparatus) such as a printer that uses an electrophotographic process uniformly charges the electrophotographic photosensitive member, or the image-bearing member, and selectively exposes the electrophotographic photosensitive member to light to form a latent image. The latent image is developed with a developer and appears as a developer image. The developer image is transferred to a recording medium.

The developer image transferred is fixed to the recording medium by being heated and pressurized, and the image is recorded. Such an existing image-forming apparatus needs supply of the developer and maintenance of various process units.

To facilitate the supply of the developer and the maintenance, some or all of the electrophotographic photosensitive member, a charging unit, the developing unit, and a cleaning member, for example, are put in a frame body to form a process cartridge. The process cartridge (referred to below as the cartridge) is attachable to and detachable from the image-forming apparatus, which is called a process cartridge method.

The process cartridge method allows a user to replace the cartridge for maintenance of the apparatus, and this greatly improves operability. Since the cartridge is attachable and detachable, and a user can replace the cartridge, the user typically detaches the cartridge from the image-forming apparatus and replaces the cartridge with a new one.

A new cartridge that is shipped is packed in a packaging container to protect the cartridge from a vibration and an impact during transportation. When the new cartridge is installed in the main body of the image-forming apparatus, a user unpacks the packaging container, takes the cartridge out of the packaging container, and installs the cartridge in the main body of the image-forming apparatus.

PTL 1 discloses a packaging container to protect a cartridge from a vibration and an impact during transportation. According toPTL 1, molded pulp packing members are mounted on a cartridge so as to interpose both side surfaces of the cartridge, and, in this state, the cartridge is packed in a packaging box.

With this structure, however, it is necessary for a user to take the packed object and the packing members out of the packaging box and remove the packing members from the object.

The present invention provides a packaging container that eliminates the need to take the packing members out of the packaging box when a user takes out the packed object.

Japanese Patent No. 3507377

The present invention provides a packaging container including a box provided with a recess and including a first receiving surface and an openable and closable member that is swingable about a first hinge portion, and a packing member configured to be mounted on a packed object and accommodated in the recess, the packing member including a first buffer area including a first contact surface and a first buffer portion, the first contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object, the first buffer portion configured to come into contact with the openable and closable member, a second buffer area including a second contact surface and a second buffer portion, the second contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object, and the second buffer portion configured to come into contact with the first receiving surface, and a second hinge portion connecting the first buffer area and the second buffer area to each other such that the first buffer area is swingable with respect to the second buffer area. The first buffer area, the second buffer area, and the second hinge portion of the packing member are integrally formed of a resin. The first buffer portion is configured to be located on an opposite side of the packed object with respect to the second hinge portion in a direction perpendicular to the first contact surface, and the second buffer portion is configured to be located on an opposite side of the packed object with respect to the second hinge portion in a direction perpendicular to the second contact surface.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

First Embodiment

A packaging container according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, a cartridge that is attachable to and detachable from an image-forming apparatus is taken as an example of a packed object that is to be packed in the packaging container. The image-forming apparatus and the cartridge, as the packed object, which is attachable to and detachable from the image-forming apparatus, will now be described. The packaging container according to the present embodiment will subsequently be described.

Image-Forming Apparatus

An image-formingapparatus 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Cartridges are attached to and detached from the image-formingapparatus 1. The image-formingapparatus 1 operates in a process cartridge method in which the cartridges of process units for image formation are detachable and detachable. In an example described below, the image-formingapparatus 1 is a full-color image-forming apparatus, and four cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, and PK) are attachable to and detachable from the image-forming apparatus.

The image-formingapparatus 1 forms a color image on a recording medium S with the cartridges P detachably attached to an apparatus main body 2. Examples of the recording medium S include recording paper, label paper, an OHP sheet, and cloth. More specifically, in the image-formingapparatus 1, the four cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, and PK) of a first cartridge PY, a second cartridge PM, a third cartridge PC, and a fourth cartridge PK are arranged in the apparatus main body 2 in the horizontal direction. The apparatus main body 2 of the image-formingapparatus 1 includes an optical unit LB, a transfer unit such astransfer rollers 10, a fixingunit 11, and afeeding unit 14 for the recording medium S in addition to the cartridges P.

The first to fourth cartridges P (PY, PM, PC, and PK) are formed ofrespective cleaning units 8 and respective developingdevices 9 that are coupled to each other, and include the same electrophotographic process mechanism (see Fig. 3). Thecleaning units 8 include respective photosensitive drums (electrophotographic photosensitive members) 4 (4Y, 4M, 4C, and 4K). Thecleaning units 8 also include respective charging units such as charge rollers 5 (5Y, 5M, 5C, and 5K), which are process units that act on the correspondingphotosensitive drums 4, and respective cleaning members such as cleaning blades 7 (7Y, 7M, 7C, and 7K). The developingdevices 9 include respective developing units such as development rollers (developer-bearing members) 6, which are process units that act on the correspondingphotosensitive drums 4, and respectivedevelopment frame bodies 13 that support the corresponding developing units. Thedevelopment frame bodies 13 contain a yellow (Y) toner (developer) for the first cartridge PY, a magenta (M) toner for the second cartridge PM, a cyan (C) toner for the third cartridge PC, and a black (K) toner for the fourth cartridge PK.

The surfaces of thephotosensitive drums 4 are uniformly charged by thecharge rollers 5 to which a voltage is applied from the apparatus main body 2. Laser beams L are emitted from the optical unit LB toward the chargedphotosensitive drums 4 in accordance with image information to form electrostatic latent images on thephotosensitive drums 4 in accordance with the image information. The developing units develop the electrostatic latent images with a toner to form developer images on the surfaces of thephotosensitive drums 4. In the first to fourth cartridges P, the developer images that are formed on the surfaces of thephotosensitive drums 4 in yellow, magenta, cyan, and black colors are successively primary-transferred to an intermediate transfer belt 3 to form a color developer image on the intermediate transfer belt 3.

The recording media S are separated one by one and fed in synchronism with formation of the developer image. Each recording medium S is conveyed to thetransfer rollers 10 that serve as the transfer unit. Thetransfer rollers 10 are urged so as to be in contact with surfaces of the intermediate transfer belt 3. The recording medium S passes through a nip portion that is formed by the intermediate transfer belt 3 and thetransfer rollers 10. At this time, a voltage having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the developer image is applied to thetransfer rollers 10 to transfer the color developer image that is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 3 to the recording medium S. The recording medium S to which the developer image is transferred is conveyed to the fixingunit 11. The fixingunit 11 heats and pressurizes the recording medium S to fix the developer image that is transferred to the recording medium S. Consequently, an image is formed on the recording medium S. Subsequently, the recording medium S is conveyed and discharged into adischarge unit 12.

After transfer, the surfaces of thephotosensitive drums 4 are cleaned by the cleaning blades 7. When the surfaces of thephotosensitive drums 4 are uniformly charged again by thecharge rollers 5, image formation becomes ready.

Structure of Packaging Container

During transportation, each cartridge P is accommodated in the packaging container that prevents the cartridge P from being damaged by lessening an impact that is applied from the outside to the cartridge P due to, for example, a vibration or falling. Thus, a package U is obtained. As illustrated in Fig. 1 and Figs. 5A and 5B, the package U includes the cartridge P that corresponds to a packed object, a packaging box A that accommodates the cartridge P, and packing members B (BR and BL) that are disposed between the cartridge P and the packaging box A. Fig. 1 illustrates the package U with the opening of the packaging box A opened, so that the cartridge P can be taken out. Fig. 5A illustrates a sectional view of the cartridge P that is disposed in the packaging box A together with the packing members B. Fig. 5B illustrates a sectional view of the package U taken along line VB-VB in Fig. 1 with the opening of the packaging box A opened, so that the cartridge P can be taken out.

The packaging box (box) A is made of paper such as corrugated cardboard or a material having a certain strength such as a resin. The packaging box A has a structure in the form of a box that accommodates the cartridge P. The packaging box A can absorb an impact and lessen an impact that is applied to the cartridge P by being crashed. Since the packaging box A has a structure having a certain strength, plural packaging boxes A can be stacked. The packaging box A has an improved design and a function of a product package.

The packing members B interpose the cartridge P from two opposite directions. The packing member BL is disposed on one end (left) side in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P. The packing member BR is disposed on the other end (right) side in the longitudinal direction. The cartridge P is accommodated in the packaging box A with the packing members BL and BR mounted thereon. Accordingly, the packing members BL and BR restrict movement of the cartridge P in the packaging box A and can absorb an impact that is applied from the outside. The packing members BL and BR are preferably disposed so as to support the cartridge P at positions apart from thephotosensitive drums 4 and thedevelopment roller 6.

The packing members BL and BR may be mounted after the cartridge P is accommodated in a resin bag (not illustrated) to protect the cartridge P from, for example, dust. According to the present embodiment, the packaging container (packaging container N) includes the packaging box A and the packing members B (packing members BL and BR). In some cases, the packed object includes the bag that accommodates the cartridge P. In the following description, a combination of the cartridge P and the bag that accommodates the cartridge P is also referred to simply as the cartridge P. According to the present embodiment, the package (package U) includes the packaging container (packaging container N) and the packed object (cartridge P).

Detail of Packaging Container

Figs. 4A and 4B illustrate the detailed structure of the packing members BL and BR and the packaging box A. The packaging box A has an enclosed space (recess) Ap in which the cartridge P can be inserted through the opening and includes openable and closable members that confine the recess Ap (see Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B). The recess Ap is defined by a rectangular bottom plate A9, a left-side plate A3, a right-side plate A4, a front plate A6, and a back plate A8. In other words, the recess Ap is surrounded by the rectangular bottom plate A9, the left-side plate A3, the right-side plate A4, the front plate A6, and the back plate A8. The left-side plate A3, the right-side plate A4, the front plate A6, and the back plate A8 are connected to respective sides of the bottom plate A9 and are perpendicular to the bottom plate A9. A side of the left-side plate A3 opposite the side connected to the bottom plate A9 is connected to a left-side inner flap A1 with a hinge A1h interposed therebetween. A side of the right-side plate A4 opposite the side connected to the bottom plate A9 is connected to a right-side inner flap A2 with a hinge A2h interposed therebetween. Similarly, a side of the front plate A6 opposite the side connected to the bottom plate A9 is connected to a front flap A5 with a hinge A5h interposed therebetween. A side of the back plate A8 opposite the side connected to the bottom plate A9 is connected to a back flap A7 with a hinge A7h interposed therebetween. The left-side inner flap A1, the right-side inner flap A2, the front flap A5, and the back flap A7 correspond to the openable and closable members that are swingable on the respective hinges A1h, A2h, A5h, and A7h. The left-side inner flap A1, the right-side inner flap A2, the front flap A5, and the back flap A7 can be folded so as to cover the opening from which the cartridge P that is accommodated in the packaging box A is exposed. According to the present embodiment, after the left-side inner flap A1 and the right-side inner flap A2 are folded, the front flap A5 and the back flap A7 are folded. Consequently, the front flap A5 and the back flap A7 are located above the left-side inner flap A1 and the right-side inner flap A2. Accordingly, the hinges A5h and A7h are located above the hinges A1h and A2h. According to the present embodiment, after the front flap A5 is folded, the back flap A7 (outer flap) is folded. Consequently, the back flap A7 is located above the front flap A5, which is referred to as an overflap shape. Accordingly, the hinge A7h is located above the hinge A5h. According to the present embodiment, the left-side inner flap A1 and the right-side inner flap A2 correspond to the openable and closable members. The left-side plate A3 and the right-side plate A4 correspond to first receiving surfaces. The hinge A1h and the hinge A2h correspond to first hinge portions. The bottom plate A9 corresponds to a second receiving surface.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4B, each of the packing members BL and BR is integrally molded with a resin such as polypropylene (PP). The packing members BL and BR are mounted on one end side and the other end side of the cartridge P in the longitudinal direction so as to face each other when packed together with the cartridge P as described above. When the cartridge P is accommodated in the recess Ap of the packaging box A, the packing members BL and BR are interposed between the cartridge P and the packaging box A, and the cartridge P and the packaging box A are not in direct contact with each other.

The structure of the packing member BL of the package will now be described. The packing member BL has a left-side buffer area BL1 that is to be interposed between the left-side plate A3 of the packaging box A and the cartridge P. The packing member BL has a front buffer area BL2 that is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 and that is to be interposed between the cartridge P and the front plate A6. The packing member BL also has a back buffer area BL3 that is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 and that is to be interposed between the cartridge P and the back plate A8. With this structure, the cartridge P is interposed between the front buffer area BL2 and the back buffer area BL3 that are connected to two opposing sides of the left-side buffer area BL1. The packing member BL also has a bottom buffer area BL4 that is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 and that is to be interposed between the cartridge P and the bottom plate A9. A top buffer area BL5 that is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 is to be interposed between the cartridge P and the left-side inner flap A1 with the left-side inner flap A1 and the other flaps folded to cover the opening (see Fig. 5A). With this structure, the cartridge P is interposed between the bottom buffer area BL4 and the top buffer area BL5 that are connected to two opposing sides of the left-side buffer area BL1. That is, the cartridge P is disposed between the bottom buffer area BL4 and the top buffer area BL5. According to the present embodiment, the top buffer area BL5 corresponds to a first buffer area. The left-side buffer area BL1 corresponds to a second buffer area. The bottom buffer area BL4 corresponds to a third buffer area.

According to the present embodiment, the front buffer area BL2, the back buffer area BL3, the bottom buffer area BL4, and the top buffer area BL5 are integrally formed so as to be connected to the left-side buffer area BL1. This structure enables these areas to be readily formed by injection molding with a resin such as polypropylene (PP). According to the present embodiment, the front buffer area BL2 and the bottom buffer area BL4 are connected to each other along adjoining sides thereof, and the back buffer area BL3 and the bottom buffer area BL4 are connected to each other along adjoining sides thereof. The present invention, however, is not limited thereto. The front buffer area BL2, the back buffer area BL3, and the bottom buffer area BL4 may be connected to only the left-side buffer area BL1. It is only necessary for the front buffer area BL2, the back buffer area BL3, and the bottom buffer area BL4 to be thus connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 directly or with another buffer area interposed therebetween.

According to the present embodiment, the left-side buffer area BL1 has a surface BL1a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BL1b that oppose the surface BL1a and that project toward the left-side plate A3 of the packaging box A. Similarly, the front buffer area BL2 has a surface BL2a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BL2b that oppose the surface BL2a and that project toward the front plate A6 of the packaging box A. The back buffer area BL3 has a surface BL3a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BL3b that oppose the surface BL3a and that project toward the back plate A8 of the packaging box A. The bottom buffer area BL4 has a surface BL4a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BL4b that oppose the surface BL4a and that project toward the bottom plate A9 of the packaging box A. The top buffer area BL5 has a surface BL5a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BL5b that oppose the surface BL5a and that project toward the left-side inner flap A1 of the packaging box A.

According to the present embodiment, the surface BL1a corresponds to a second contact surface. The buffer portions BL1b correspond to second buffer portions that are capable of coming into contact with the left-side plate A3. The surface BL5a corresponds to a first contact surface. The buffer portions BL5b correspond to first buffer portions that are capable of coming into contact with the left-side inner flap A1. As illustrated in Fig. 1, Figs. 4A and 4B, and Figs. 5A and 5B, the buffer portions BL1b are disposed on the side opposite the surface BL1a. Similarly, the buffer portions BL5b are disposed on the side opposite the surface BL5a. The buffer portions BL2b are disposed on the side opposite the surface BL2a. The buffer portions BL3b are disposed on the side opposite the surface BL3a. The buffer portions BL4b are disposed on the side opposite the surface BL4a.

The surfaces BL1a to BL5a extend in directions that intersect the surfaces adjacent thereto (directions perpendicular to the surfaces adjacent thereto according to the present embodiment) with the top buffer area BL5 closed. The surface BL4a faces the surface BL5a. The surface BL2a faces the surface BL4a.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, Figs. 4A and 4B, and Figs. 5A and 5B, the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b are on the opposite side from the cartridge P with respect to joints (portions at which the buffer areas are connected to each other) of the adjoining buffer areas in the normal directions of the surfaces BL1a to BL5a. The normal directions of the surfaces BL1a to BL5a are perpendicular to the surfaces BL1a to BL5a. For example, the buffer portions BL1b are on the opposite side from the cartridge P with respect to a portion (hinge BLh described later) coupled to the top buffer area BL5 in the normal direction of the surface BL1a (in the direction perpendicular to the surface BL1a). Similarly, the buffer portions BL5b are on the opposite side from the cartridge P with respect to the hinge BLh in the normal direction of the surface BL5a (in the direction perpendicular to the surface BL5a) with at least the top buffer area BL5 closed.

Distances at which the front buffer area BL2, the back buffer area BL3, the bottom buffer area BL4, and the top buffer area BL5 engage the cartridge P in the longitudinal direction are longer than the distance between the left-side end of the cartridge P and the packaging box A. That is, the length of the buffer areas BL2 to BL5 that extend in the longitudinal direction on the basis of the surface BL1a of the left-side buffer area BL1 that is in contact with the cartridge P is more than the distance between the left-side end of the cartridge P and the packaging box A. This enables the packing member BL to be interposed between the cartridge P and the packaging box A even when various impacts are applied multiple times due to, for example, falling, and enables the packing member BL to absorb the impacts, so that an impact that is applied to the cartridge P can be lessened.

According to the present embodiment, the front buffer area BR2, the back buffer area BR3, the bottom buffer area BR4, and the top buffer area BR5 are integrally formed so as to be connected to the right-side buffer area BR1. This structure enables these areas to be readily formed by injection molding with a resin such as polypropylene (PP). According to the present embodiment, the front buffer area BR2 and the bottom buffer area BR4 are connected to each other along adjoining sides thereof, and the back buffer area BR3 and the bottom buffer area BR4 are connected to each other along adjoining sides thereof. The present invention, however, is not limited thereto. The front buffer area BR2, the back buffer area BR3, and the bottom buffer area BR4 may be connected to only the right-side buffer area BR1. It is only necessary for the front buffer area BR2, the back buffer area BR3, and the bottom buffer area BR4 to be thus connected to the right-side buffer area BR1 directly or with another buffer area interposed therebetween.

According to the present embodiment, the right-side buffer area BR1 has a surface BR1a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BR1b that oppose the surface BR1a and that project toward the right-side plate A4 of the packaging box A. Similarly, the front buffer area BR2 has a surface BR2a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BR2b that oppose the surface BR2a and that project toward the front plate A6 of the packaging box A. The back buffer area BR3 has a surface BR3a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BR3b that oppose the surface BR3a and that project toward the back plate A8 of the packaging box A. The bottom buffer area BR4 has a surface BR4a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BR4b that oppose the surface BR4a and that project toward the bottom plate A9 of the packaging box A. The top buffer area BR5 has a surface BR5a that comes into contact with the cartridge P, and includes buffer portions BR5b that oppose the surface BR5a and that project toward the right-side inner flap A2 of the packaging box A.

According to the present embodiment, the surface BR1a corresponds to the second contact surface. The buffer portions BR1b correspond to the second buffer portions that are capable of coming into contact with the right-side plate A4. The surface BR5a corresponds to the first contact surface. The buffer portions BR5b correspond to the first buffer portions that are capable of coming into contact with the right-side inner flap A2. As illustrated in Fig. 1, Figs. 4A and 4B, and Figs. 5A and 5B, the buffer portions BR1b are disposed on the side opposite the surface BR1a. Similarly, the buffer portions BR5b are disposed on the side opposite the surface BR5a.

The surfaces BR1a to BR5a extend in directions that intersect the surfaces adjacent thereto (directions perpendicular to the surfaces adjacent thereto according to the present embodiment) with the top buffer area BR5 closed. The surface BR4a faces the surface BR5a. The surface BR2a faces the surface BR4a.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, Figs. 4A and 4B, and Figs. 5A and 5B, the buffer portions BR1b to BR5b are on the opposite side from the cartridge P with respect to joints (portions at which the buffer areas are connected to each other) of the adjoining buffer areas in the normal directions of the surfaces BR1a to BR5a. The normal directions of the surfaces BR1a to BR5a are perpendicular to the surfaces BR1a to BR5a. For example, the buffer portions BR1b are on the opposite side from the cartridge P with respect to a portion (hinge BRh described later) coupled to the top buffer area BR5 in the normal direction of the surface BR1a (in the direction perpendicular to the surface BR1a). Similarly, the buffer portions BR5b are on the opposite side from the cartridge P with respect to the hinge BRh in the normal direction of the surface BR5a (in the direction perpendicular to the surface BR5a) with at least the top buffer area BR5 closed.

Distances at which the front buffer area BR2, the back buffer area BR3, the bottom buffer area BR4, and the top buffer area BR5 engage the cartridge P in the longitudinal direction are longer than the distance between the right-side end of the cartridge P and the packaging box A. That is, the length of the buffer areas BR2 to BR5 that project in the longitudinal direction on the basis of the surface BR1a of the right-side buffer area BR1 that is in contact with the cartridge P is more than the distance between the right-side end of the cartridge P and the packaging box A. When various impacts are applied due to, for example, falling, this enables the packing member BL to absorb the impacts.

Buffer Performance of Packing member

Fig. 6A illustrates the package U with the packing members B according to the present embodiment before the package U falls. Figs. 6B and 6C illustrate the package U with the packing members B according to the present embodiment after the package U has fallen. In the following description, the x-direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cartridge P and extends from the front toward the back, and the y-direction is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the x-direction and extends from the bottom toward the top.

According to the present embodiment, the buffer areas BL1 to BL5 have the respective contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a that come into contact with the cartridge P and include the respective buffer portions BL1b to BL5b that oppose the corresponding contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a and that project toward the packaging box A (see Fig. 6A). In Figs. 6A to 6C, the left-side buffer area BL1 is concealed by the cartridge P. The cartridge P is surrounded by the contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a with the cartridge P packed into the package. In this state, the weight of the cartridge P is supported by the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b. For example, when the cartridge P falls with the bottom buffer area BL4 located below the cartridge P in the direction of W25 (see Fig. 6B), the buffer portions BL4b are deformed or crashed. This enables an impact that is applied to the cartridge P to be absorbed or lessened.

According to the present embodiment, the relationship of relative positions between the cartridge P and the contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a and thus between the cartridge P and the packing members B does not change even when the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b are crashed, and a space t1 is formed between one of the packing members B and the packaging box A (see Fig. 6C). Accordingly, the cartridge P is still in contact with the contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a of the packing members B even when the cartridge P falls again with the bottom buffer area BL4 located below the cartridge P. For this reason, deformation of the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b in contact with the packaging box A inhibits the cartridge P from being strongly impacted. With the structure of the packing members B according to the present embodiment, the cartridge P can be protected even when the package U is impacted multiple times.

The present invention is not limited to the present embodiment. As illustrated in Fig. 7, the buffer areas BL1 to BL5 may have respective contact surfaces BL1a' to BL5a' that come into contact with the packaging box A and may include respective buffer portions BL1b' to BL5b' that oppose the corresponding contact surfaces BL1a' to BL5a' and that project toward the cartridge P. For example, when the cartridge P falls with the bottom buffer area BL4 located below the cartridge P as illustrated in Fig. 7, the buffer portions BL1b' to BL5b' of the bottom buffer area BL4 are deformed or crashed as in the present embodiment. This enables an impact that is applied to the cartridge P to be absorbed or lessened.

However, when the buffer portions BL4b' in Fig. 7, for example, are deformed, the position of the cartridge P relative to the buffer portions BL1b' to BL3b' and BL5b' changes. Consequently, in some cases, the cartridge P and the buffer portions BL1b' to BL3b' and BL5b' are not in contact with each other at the optimum positions. In the case where the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b are located outside the surface BL1a to BL5a as described above, the positional relationship between the cartridge P and the packing member BL can be inhibited from changing even when the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b are deformed.

The packing member BL that is disposed one end (left) side of the cartridge P in the longitudinal direction is described above. The packing member BR on the other end (right) side has the same buffer structure as the packing member BL, where the buffer portions BR1b to BR5b correspond to the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b, and the contact surfaces BR1a to BR5a correspond to the contact surfaces BL1a to BL5a. That is, the packing member BR can lessen an impact in a manner in which the cartridge P is impacted with the cartridge P in contact with the contact surfaces BR1a to BR5a and the buffer portions BR1b to BR5b are deformed.

Method of Unpacking Packing member

The opening of the packaging box A is covered by swinging the left-side inner flap A1, the right-side inner flap A2, the front flap A5, and the back flap A7 on the respective hinges A1h, A2h, A5h, and A7h. The cartridge P that is accommodated in the recess Ap can be held from the opening. A user can hold the cartridge P and take the cartridge P out of the packaging box A to the outside (in the direction of W1) through the opening (see Figs. 5A and 5B). The direction of W1 is a direction in which the cartridge P is taken out of the recess Ap of the packaging box A.

According to the present embodiment, the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b and BR1b to BR5b are located outside the surfaces BL1a to BL5a and BR1a to BR5a as described above. This inhibits the positional relationship between the cartridge P and the packing members BL and BR from changing even when the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b and BR1b to BR5b are deformed. According to the present embodiment, the buffer portions BL1b to BL5b and BR1b to BR5b are disposed such that the spaces are formed between the buffer portions BL5b and BR5b and the packaging box A when the top buffer areas BL5 and BR5 swing. This enables the cartridge P to be readily taken out while the buffer performance of the packing members BL and BR is maintained.

According to the present embodiment, the protrusion length BL5W of the buffer portions BL5b of the top buffer area BL5 from the contact surface BL5a is shorter than the protrusion length BL1W of the buffer portions BL1b of the left-side buffer area BL1 from the contact surface BL1a. This enables the top buffer area BL5 of the packing member BL to swing greatly (more than 90 degrees) on the hinge BLh. Similarly, the protrusion length BR5W of the buffer portions BR5b of the top buffer area BR5 of the packing member BR from the contact surface BR5a is shorter than the protrusion length BR1W of the buffer portions BR1b of the right-side buffer area BR1 from the contact surface BR1a. This enables the top buffer area BR5 of the packing member BR to swing greatly (more than 90 degrees) on the hinge BRh. With the above structure, the top buffer area BR5 and the top buffer area BL5 can be greatly swung even when the hinges A1h, A2h, A5h, and A7h are located on the downstream side of the hinges BLh and BRh of the packing members BL and BR in the direction of W1.

With the structure according to the present embodiment, the cartridge P can be taken out of the package U by extracting the cartridge P after the packaging box A is opened. This eliminates conventional work of taking the cartridge P and the packing members out of the package U, removing the packing members from the cartridge P, and clearing the packing members that are removed, and consequently, usability can be improved.

According to the present embodiment, the packing members BL and BR are composed of a resin such that the postures in which the packing members BL and BR are mounted on the cartridge P in the packaging box A can be maintained. Accordingly, the top buffer area BL5 of the packing member BL and the top buffer area BR5 of the packing member BR are located on the upper surface of the cartridge P due to the elasticity of the resin material. The present invention, however, is not limited thereto. For example, the top buffer area BL5 of the packing member BL and the top buffer area BR5 of the packing member BR may maintain the postures in which the cartridge P can be taken out due to the elasticity of the resin material. In this case, when the left-side inner flap A1 of the packaging box A is closed, the top buffer area BL5 is located between the cartridge P and the left-side inner flap A1, and, when the right-side inner flap A2 of the packaging box A is closed, the top buffer area BR5 is located between the cartridge P and the right-side inner flap A2.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 8A to 8C. According to the first embodiment, the length of the buffer portions BL5b of the top buffer area BL5 of the packing member BL from the contact surface BL5a is shorter than the length of the buffer portions BL1b of the left-side buffer area BL1 from the contact surface BL1a. The length of the buffer portions BR5b of the top buffer area BR5 of the packing member BR from the contact surface BR5a is shorter than the length of the buffer portions BR1b of the right-side buffer area BR1 from the contact surface BR1a. Thus, the top buffer area BL5 of the packing member BL and the top buffer area BR5 of the packing member BR can be swung greatly (more than 90 degrees) on the respective hinges BLh and BRh, and the cartridge P is easily taken out.

There is a need to decrease the size of the package U and thus the packaging box A, and accordingly, the length of the buffer portions BL1b of the left-side buffer area BL1 from the contact surface BL1a is decreased while ensuring that the buffer portions can be crushed to achieve the required buffer performance.

In view of this, according to the present embodiment, two-stage hinges are used instead of the hinges BLh and BRh according to the first embodiment. This enables the cartridge P to be easily taken out even though the length of the buffer portions BL5b of the top buffer area BL5 of the packing member BL is not shorter than the length of the buffer portions BL1b of the left-side buffer area BL1. Similarly, the cartridge P can be easily taken out even though the length of the buffer portions BR5b of the top buffer area BR5 of the packing member BR is not shorter than the length of the buffer portions BR1b of the right-side buffer area BR1. Differences between the present embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described. Components like to those in the first embodiment are designated by like reference numbers, and a description thereof is omitted. Fig. 8A illustrates the package U with the opening of the packaging box A opened, so that the cartridge P can be taken out. Fig. 8B is a sectional view of the cartridge P that is disposed in the packaging box A together with the packing members B. Fig. 8C illustrates the package U taken along line VIIIC-VIIIC in Fig. 8A with the opening of the packaging box A opened, so that the cartridge P can be taken out.

According to the present embodiment, as illustrated in Figs. 8A to 8C, the packing member BL includes a top buffer area BL7 that is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 with a flat joint BL6 interposed therebetween. More specifically, the joint BL6 is connected to the left-side buffer area BL1 at an edge with a hinge BL6h interposed therebetween and is connected to the top buffer area BL7 at another edge with a hinge BL7h interposed therebetween. The top buffer area BL7 has a surface BL7a that faces the joint BL6 and includes buffer portions BL7b that oppose the surface BL7a and that project. The buffer portions BL7b can come into contact with the left-side inner flap A1. It can also be said that the joint BL6 is a part of the top buffer area BL7. The joint BL6 has the first contact surface that comes into contact with the cartridge P as described later. The joint BL6 includes the hinge BL7h (third hinge portion). The hinge BL6h couples the top buffer area BL7 to the left-side buffer area BL1. The hinge BL7h couples the buffer portions BL7b to the joint BL6 with the surface BL7a interposed therebetween. This enables the buffer portions BL7b to swing on the hinge BL7h with respect to the joint BL6.

The hinge BL6h is bent in a clockwise direction so as to follow the shape of the cartridge P, and the joint BL6 extends in the longitudinal direction with the packing member BL mounted on the cartridge P in the packaging box A (in a state of the package U). That is, the joint BL6 has the contact surface (first contact surface) that comes into contact with the cartridge P. The hinge BL7h is bent in the direction (counterclockwise direction) opposite the direction in which the hinge BLh is bent such that the joint BL6 faces the surface BL7a of the top buffer area BL7. The joint BL6 and the top buffer area BL7 are thus stacked in this order on the cartridge P. The buffer portions BL7b of the top buffer area BL7 project toward the left-side inner flap A1 of the packaging box A. In other words, the top buffer area BL7 is pressed by the left-side inner flap A1 with the packing member BL accommodated in the recess Ap, and accordingly, the joint BL6 is located between the left-side inner flap A1 and the cartridge P. According to the present embodiment, the top buffer area BL7 is folded on the hinge BL7h with respect to the joint BL6, and the joint BL6 and the surface BL7a of the top buffer area BL7 come into contact with each other. The present invention, however, is not limited thereto. The hinge BL6h and the hinge BL7h may be bent without contact and absorb an impact.

The packing member BR includes a top buffer area BR7 that is connected to the right-side buffer area BR1 with a flat joint BR6 interposed therebetween as in the packing member BL. More specifically, the joint BR6 is connected to the right-side buffer area BR1 at an edge with a hinge BR6h interposed therebetween and is connected to the top buffer area BR7 at another edge with a hinge BR7h interposed therebetween. The top buffer area BR7 has a surface BR7a that faces the joint BR6 and includes buffer portions BR7b that oppose the surface BR7a and that project. The buffer portions BR7b can come into contact with the right-side inner flap A2. It can also be said that the joint BR6 is a part of the top buffer area BR7. The joint BR6 has the first contact surface that comes into contact with the cartridge P as described later. The joint BR6 includes the hinge BR7h (third hinge portion). The hinge BR6h couples the top buffer area BR7 to the right-side buffer area BR1. The hinge BR7h couples the buffer portions BR7b to the joint BR6 with the surface BR7a interposed therebetween. This enables the buffer portions BR7b to swing on the hinge BR7h with respect to the joint BR6.

The hinge BR6h is bent in a counterclockwise direction so as to follow the shape of the cartridge P, and the joint BR6 extends in the longitudinal direction with the packing member BR mounted on the cartridge P in the packaging box A (in a state of the package U). That is, the joint BR6 has the contact surface (first contact surface) that comes into contact with the cartridge P. The hinge BR7h is bent in the direction (clockwise direction) opposite the direction in which the hinge BRh is bent such that the joint BR6 faces the surface BR7a of the top buffer area BR7. The joint BR6 and the top buffer area BR7 are thus stacked in this order on the cartridge P. The buffer portions BR7b of the top buffer area BR7 project toward the right-side inner flap A2 of the packaging box A. In other words, the top buffer area BR7 is pressed by the right-side inner flap A2 with the packing member BR accommodated in the recess Ap, and accordingly, the joint BR6 is located between the right-side inner flap A2 and the cartridge P. According to the present embodiment, the top buffer area BR7 is folded on the hinge BR7h with respect to the joint BR6, and the joint BR6 and the surface BR7a of the top buffer area BR7 come into contact with each other. The present invention, however, is not limited thereto. The hinge BR6h and the hinge BR7h may be bent without contact and absorb an impact.

In the case of the package U according to the present embodiment, the opening of the packaging box A is covered by swinging the left-side inner flap A1, the right-side inner flap A2, the front flap A5, and the back flap A7 on the respective hinges A1h, A2h, A5h, and A7h as in the first embodiment. The cartridge P that is accommodated in the recess Ap can be held from the opening. An angle formed between the joint BL6 and the top buffer area BL7 of the packing member BL about the hinge BL7h and an angle formed between the joint BR6 and the top buffer area BR7 of the packing member BR about the hinge BR7h are obtuse angles with no force acting thereon. That is, according to the present embodiment, when the left-side inner flap A1 is closed, the packing member BL is deformed, and the joint BL6 and the top buffer area BL7 are located between the cartridge P and the left-side inner flap A1. Similarly, when the right-side inner flap A2 is closed, the packing member BR is deformed, and the joint BR6 and the top buffer area BR7 are located between the cartridge P and the right-side inner flap A2. Accordingly, when the left-side inner flap A1 and the right-side inner flap A2 are swung on the hinges A1h and A2h, the packing members BL and BR are automatically unfolded such that the angles about the hinges BL7h and BR7h become obtuse angles due to the elasticity of the resin material. This allows a user to take the cartridge P out of the packaging box A to the outside through the opening by holding the cartridge P and extracting the cartridge P after swinging the left-side inner flap A1 and the right-side inner flap A2.

With the structure according to the present embodiment, the cartridge P can be taken out of the package U by extracting the cartridge P after the packaging box A is opened as in the first embodiment. This eliminates conventional work of taking the cartridge P and the packing members out of the package U, removing the packing members from the cartridge P, and clearing the packing members that are removed, and consequently, usability can be improved.

In addition, with the structure according to the present embodiment, the length of the buffer portions BL7b and BR7b of the top buffer areas BL7 and BR7 can be determined without depending on the length of the buffer portions BR1b and BL1b. Accordingly, the length of the buffer portions BR1b and BL1b can be decreased to decrease the length of the package U in the longitudinal direction, and the length of the buffer portions BR1b and BL1b can be increased to improve the buffer performance.

Third Embodiment

A third embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figs. 9A, 9B, and 9C. With the structure described below, the size of the package U and thus the size of the packaging box A can be decreased, and the required buffer performance can be achieved as in the second embodiment.

In the packaging box A according to the present embodiment, the left-side inner flap and the right-side inner flap are bent (include bent portions), and the hinge that is connected to the left-side inner flap and the hinge that is connected to the right-side inner flap are located below the hinge that is connected to the front flap and the hinge that is connected to the back flap. Differences between the present embodiment and the first embodiment will be mainly described. Components like to those in the first embodiment are designated by like reference numbers, and a description thereof is omitted. Fig. 9A illustrates the package U with the opening of the packaging box A opened, so that the cartridge P can be taken out. Fig. 9B is a sectional view of the cartridge P that is disposed in the packaging box A together with the packing members B. Fig. 9C illustrates the package U taken along line IXC-IXC in Fig. 9A with the opening of the packaging box A opened, so that the cartridge P can be taken out.

According to the present embodiment, the packing members B (BL and BR) are the same as those in the first embodiment. However, the length of the buffer portions BL5b of the top buffer area BL5 of the packing member BL may be determined without depending on the length of the buffer portions BL1b of the left-side buffer area BL1 unlike the first embodiment. Similarly, the length of the buffer portions BR5b of the top buffer area BR5 of the packing member BR from the contact surface BR5a may be determined without depending on the length of the buffer portions BR1b of the right-side buffer area BR1 from the contact surface BR1a, which is a difference from the first embodiment.

The left-side inner flap A1 of the packaging box A according to the present embodiment is bent to locate the hinge A1h that is disposed between the left-side plate A3 and the left-side inner flap A1 at a position lower than that in the first embodiment. This enables the hinge A1h that is disposed between the left-side plate A3 and the left-side inner flap A1 of the packaging box A to be nearer than that in the first embodiment to the hinge BLh on which the top buffer area BL5 swings. Consequently, a user can further swing the top buffer area BL5 on the hinge BLh by holding the cartridge P and extracting the cartridge P out of the packaging box A. Accordingly, the length of the buffer portions BL5b of the top buffer area BL5 can be increased without increasing the length of the buffer portions BL1b of the left-side buffer area BL1 more than necessary, and the buffer performance can be improved.

It is not necessary for a user to take the packing members out of the packaging box of the packaging container that is provided according to the present invention as described above.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2017-202088, filed October 18, 2017 and No. 2018-168159, filed September 7, 2018, which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

Claims

A packaging container comprising:
a box provided with a recess and including a first receiving surface and an openable and closable member, the openable and closable member being swingable about a first hinge portion; and
a packing member configured to be mounted on a packed object and accommodated in the recess, the packing member including:
a first buffer area including a first contact surface and a first buffer portion, the first contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object, the first buffer portion configured to come into contact with the openable and closable member;
a second buffer area including a second contact surface and a second buffer portion, the second contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object, and the second buffer portion configured to come into contact with the first receiving surface; and
a second hinge portion connecting the first buffer area and the second buffer area to each other such that the first buffer area is swingable with respect to the second buffer area,
wherein the first buffer area, the second buffer area, and the second hinge portion of the packing member are integrally formed of a resin, and
wherein the first buffer portion is configured to be located on an opposite side of the packed object with respect to the second hinge portion in a direction perpendicular to the first contact surface, and the second buffer portion is configured to be located on an opposite side of the packed object with respect to the second hinge portion in a direction perpendicular to the second contact surface.
The packaging container according to Claim 1,
wherein the packing member includes a third buffer area configured to be located between the box and the packed object, and the first buffer area and the third buffer area are arranged such that the packed object is to be located between the first buffer area and the third buffer area.
The packaging container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, a protrusion length of the first buffer portion from the first contact surface is shorter than a protrusion length of the second buffer portion from the second contact surface.
The packaging container according to any one of Claims 1 to 3,
wherein the first hinge portion is located on a downstream side of the second hinge portion in a direction in which the packed object is taken out of the box with the packing member accommodated in the recess.
The packaging container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2,
wherein the first buffer area includes a joint that is connected to the second hinge portion, the joint has the first contact surface and includes a third hinge portion that is located between the first buffer portion and the first contact surface, and the joint is configured to be located between the openable and closable member and the packed object with the packing member accommodated in the recess.
The packaging container according to Claim 5,
wherein the joint is configured to be located between the openable and closable member and the packed object when the openable and closable member urges the first buffer area with the packing member accommodated in the recess.
The packaging container according to Claim 1 or Claim 2,
wherein the openable and closable member includes a bent portion.
The packaging container according to Claim 7,
wherein a protrusion length of the first buffer portion from the first contact surface is longer than a protrusion length of the second buffer portion from the second contact surface.
A packaging container comprising:
a box provided with a recess and including a first receiving surface and an openable and closable member, the openable and closable member being swingable about a first hinge portion; and
a packing member configured to be mounted on a packed object and accommodated in the recess, the packing member including:
a first buffer area including a first contact surface and a first buffer portion, the first contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object, the first buffer portion configured to come into contact with the openable and closable member;
a second buffer area including a second contact surface and a second buffer portion, the second contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object, and the second buffer portion configured to come into contact with the first receiving surface; and
a second hinge portion connecting the first buffer area and the second buffer area to each other such that the first buffer area is swingable with respect to the second buffer area,
wherein the first buffer area, the second buffer area, and the second hinge portion of the packing member are integrally formed of a resin, and
wherein the first hinge portion is located on a downstream side of the second hinge portion in a direction in which the packed object is taken out of the box with the packing member accommodated in the recess.
The packaging container according to Claim 9,
wherein the packing member includes a third buffer area configured to be located between the box and the packed object, and the first buffer area and the third buffer area are arranged such that the packed object is to be located between the first buffer area and the third buffer area.
The packaging container according to Claim 9 or Claim 10, a protrusion length of the first buffer portion from the first contact surface is shorter than a protrusion length of the second buffer portion from the second contact surface.
The packaging container according to Claim 9 or Claim 10,
wherein the first buffer area includes a joint that is connected to the second hinge portion, the joint has the first contact surface and includes a third hinge portion that is located between the first buffer portion and the first contact surface, and the joint is configured to be located between the openable and closable member and the packed object with the packing member accommodated in the recess.
The packaging container according to Claim 12,
wherein the joint is configured to be located between the openable and closable member and the packed object when the openable and closable member urges the first buffer area with the packing member accommodated in the recess.
A packaging container comprising:
a box that provided with a recess and including a first receiving surface and an openable and closable member, the openable and closable member being swingable about a first hinge portion; and
a packing member configured to be mounted on a packed object and accommodated in the recess, the packing member including:
a first buffer area including a first contact surface and a first buffer portion, the first contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object, the first buffer portion configured to come into contact with the openable and closable member;
a second buffer area including a second contact surface and a second buffer portion, the second contact surface configured to come into contact with the packed object, and the second buffer portion configured to come into contact with the first receiving surface; and
a second hinge portion connecting the first buffer area and the second buffer area to each other such that the first buffer area is swingable with respect to the second buffer area,
wherein the first buffer area, the second buffer area, and the second hinge portion of the packing member are integrally formed of a resin, and
wherein the openable and closable member includes a bent portion.
The packaging container according to Claim 14,
wherein a protrusion length of the first buffer portion from the first contact surface is longer than a protrusion length of the second buffer portion from the second contact surface.
A package comprising:
a packed object; and
the packaging container according to any one of Claims 1 to 15,
wherein the packed object presses the first buffer area such that the first buffer area is swingable with respect to the second buffer area when the packed object is taken out with the packing member accommodated in the recess.
The package according to Claim 16,
wherein the packed object is a cartridge that is attachable to and detachable from an image-forming apparatus.