JP7660811B2 - Packaging box with cushioning function - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging box with a cushioning function used for packaging medicines and various other items.

Generally, medical drugs such as tablets and capsules handled at medical institutions and dispensing pharmacies are stored in groups of several in a single PTP sheet, and these PTP sheets are then further packed in groups of several in a pillowcase or bound together with cable ties, and packaged together in a packaging box (individual packaging box).

As disclosed in, for example, Patent Document 1, this type of packaging box is made up of four side panels that are connected in parallel to each other to form the front, back, left side, and right side, an adhesive strip formed along one of the side edges, a pair of flaps and lids formed on both end edges of the four side panels, a canopy that forms the top surface, and a bottom lid that forms the bottom surface, and is constructed by gluing the adhesive strips on one side edge of the four side panels to the other side edge. In this way, in the process of packaging medicines, the four side panels are folded into a rectangular prism shape, the medicine is placed inside, each part of the bottom lid is folded and glued, and the top opening of the box is sealed with the canopy, and the box is assembled into a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole. In this way, the medicine is packaged.

In addition, in the past, this type of medical drug was accompanied by a package insert that described various information about the drug, such as the name of the drug, how to take it (dosage, dosage, etc.), efficacy, and handling precautions, and was packed in a packaging box. This package insert is made of relatively large paper, such as A3 size, and is folded into a long and thin shape to be placed in the box. The package insert folded in this way is relatively thick. Then, this package insert is stored in the box in a long and thin state, sandwiching the drug. In this way, the package insert holds the drug in the box and protects it from impacts from outside the box. However, due to the amendment of the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act in November 2019, this package insert is, in principle, provided by electronic means, and this will come into effect in August 2021. In other words, the attachment of package inserts to drugs will be abolished. Since the package insert will not be included in the packaging box, there will naturally be a gap inside the box to accommodate the package insert if the previous box is used as is, which could cause the medicine to rattle inside the box and reduce its protective performance. For this reason, the previous box design will need to be changed.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 6-53425

The previously mentioned conventional packaging boxes (individual packaging boxes) can be made smaller in size (dimensions) to match the overall size (dimensions) of the pharmaceutical product (a pharmaceutical product bundled together by packing multiple tablets or capsules in sealed PTP sheets in multiple units, or by binding together with cable ties), eliminating any gaps inside the box. However, changing the size of the box not only requires adjustments to the settings of the cartoner (a machine that packs items into boxes while forming packages), but also requires changes to the size of the bulk box that contains multiple individual packaging boxes, and the cardboard box that contains multiple bulk boxes. This means that the changes are widespread in the pharmaceutical packaging process, creating a large burden.

In addition, many boxes of this type have been proposed that have a cushioning function inside the box to protect the medicines. However, in many cases, in order to have a cushioning function part integrated inside the box, a lot of box material (paper material such as paperboard) is used or the box material (paper material such as paperboard) is given a complex shape, which results in a problem of higher costs compared to boxes without a cushioning function part.

The present invention solves these problems of the past by making it possible to fix medicines in this type of packaging box even if a space equivalent to the gap for inserting the previous package insert is left in the box, eliminating the need to change the size of the box and eliminating the impact on other areas that would result from changing the size of the box, and by making the cushioning function part of an extremely simple structure, without using a lot of box material inside the box or giving the box material a complex shape, thereby effectively protecting the medicines inside the box while suppressing increases in costs.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides
a top cover for covering a top opening, and a bottom cover for covering a bottom opening, the top cover comprising: four side panels formed in parallel to one another and contiguous to form a front panel, a back panel, a left side panel, and a right side panel; an adhesive piece formed in accordance with one side edge of a connecting side that is connected to a side edge of one side panel on one side of the four side panels; a pair of flaps formed in conjunction with both end edges of two of the four side panels that face each other, and a cover formed on both end edges of one side panel or two side panels other than the two side panels;
A cushioning function part capable of holding and holding an article is provided inside the box,
The buffer function portion is
A pair of extension plates are provided on both sides of the top cover and/or the bottom cover and are foldably extended to the inner surface of the cover;
a pair of push-down plates arranged between the tips of the pair of extension plates and the tips of the flaps of the top cover and/or the bottom cover so as to be capable of pushing down and guiding the flaps into the box;
The present invention is configured to include
By assembling the box, the pressing plates extending from the inner surface of the lid into the box press the flaps below the top opening and/or the bottom opening, and the flaps press and hold medicines and other various items.
The gist of the present invention is as follows.

Moreover, it is preferable that the packaging box has the following configuration.
(1) A pair of extension plates are each formed on both side edges of the lid, with the side edges serving as the lower base and the upper base biased toward the tip of the lid, in an approximately trapezoidal shape extending outside the lid, or alternatively in an approximately triangular shape, and a pair of flaps are each formed on each edge of the two side panels, with the edge serving as the lower base and the upper base biased away from the lid, in an approximately trapezoidal shape extending outside the two side panels, or alternatively in an approximately triangular shape, and a pair of push-down plates are each formed in an approximately triangular shape between the hypotenuse of each extension plate extending from the intersection of the lower base of each extension plate and the lower base of each flap and the hypotenuse of each flap.
(2) At least one of the pair of press-down plates has a portion separated from the press-down plate and the extension plate, and the portion protrudes from the oblique side of the flap as a pressing piece.
In this case, it is preferable that the pressing piece protrudes from one end side of the oblique side of the flap at the intersection point between the lower bottom of the extension plate and the lower bottom of the flap, or from the opposite other end side, or from the middle between them.
In this case, it is desirable that the pressing piece be separated from a part of the pressing plate by a cut line that is approximately U-shaped, approximately V-shaped or approximately C-shaped, and be formed into an approximately rectangular, approximately semi-oval, approximately triangular or approximately semicircular shape that continues from the hypotenuse of the flap.
In this case, it is preferable that the pressing piece is formed so that a part of the pressing piece is separated and extends from the pressing plate to the extension plate.

The cushioning packaging box of the present invention, with the above-mentioned configuration, provides the following unique and special effects.

In other words, this packaging box is equipped with a cushioning function section inside the box that can hold and hold medicines and various other items, so even if a space equivalent to the gap for inserting the previous package insert is left inside the box, the medicine can be fixed inside the box. This makes it unnecessary to change the size of the box, and eliminates the impact on other items that would result from changing the size of the box.

This cushioning function section is composed of a pair of extension plates that are foldably extended on both sides of the top and/or bottom lid to the inside of the lid, and a pair of pressing plates that are connected between the tips of the pair of extension plates and the tips of the flaps of the top and/or bottom lid so that they can press and guide each flap into the box. When the box is assembled, each pressing plate extending from the inside of the lid into the box presses each flap down below the top opening and/or bottom opening, and these flaps hold down and hold medicines and other various items. Therefore, the cushioning function section has an extremely simple structure and can be provided without using a lot of box material inside the box or giving the box material a complex shape.

Therefore, this packaging box can effectively protect medicines and various other items inside the box while minimizing increases in costs.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a packaging box with a cushioning function according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a configuration of a cushioning function part on the bottom cover side of the packaging box. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a blank sheet before assembly of the packaging box. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an overall configuration of a packaging box with a cushioning function according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a blank sheet before assembly of the packaging box. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the state of the cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box before the top lid is closed. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the state of the cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box before the top lid is closed. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the state of the cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box after the top lid is closed. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the cushioning function of the cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box. A diagram showing the procedure for resealing the top of the packaging box. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a packaging box with a cushioning function according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a blank sheet before assembly of the packaging box. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the overall configuration of a packaging box with a cushioning function according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the configuration of a cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a blank sheet before assembly of the packaging box. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing the cushioning function of the cushioning function part on the top side of the packaging box. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a modified example of a packaging box with a cushioning function according to the first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a modified example of a packaging box with a cushioning function according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

Next, the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A first embodiment is shown in Figs. 1 to 4. Fig. 1 shows the overall structure of a packaging box with a cushioning function, and Figs. 2 to 4 show the structure of the main parts of the packaging box. Fig. 5 shows the structure of a blank sheet before the packaging box is assembled. In this embodiment, the packaging box is a box made of paperboard or other paper material for packaging glass or plastic bottles (hereinafter referred to as vials) that contain medicinal liquids, and is exemplified as a box in which the vials are individually stored upright.

As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the packaging box B1 with a cushioning function (hereinafter simply referred to as packaging box B1 or box B1) comprises four side panels 11-14 formed in parallel and connected to each other to form a front portion, a back portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion, an adhesive piece 15 formed in accordance with one side edge of a connecting side that is connected to a side edge of one side panel on one side of the four side panels 11-14 on the other side, a pair of flaps 16RF, 16LF, 17FF, 17RF formed in connection to both end edges of two side panels facing each other among the four side panels 11-14, and It is composed of one other side panel other than the two side panels or lids 16C, 18L, 18R formed on both end edges of the two side panels, a top cover 16 that covers the top opening, and a bottom cover 17 that covers the bottom opening, and an adhesive piece 15 is joined to one side panel on the other side of the four side panels 11-14 to connect one side edge of the connecting side of one side panel on one side to the side edge of the connecting side of one side panel on the other side , and by closing the bottom opening with the bottom cover 17 and closing the top opening with the top cover 16, the whole is assembled into a box having an approximately rectangular parallelepiped shape for packaging vials.

In the case of this box B1, the four side panels 11-14, prior to assembly into box B1, are, in order from the left, the front panel 11, the right side panel 12, the back panel 13, and the left side panel 14, with one side panel on one side (in this case, the left side) of the four side panels 11-14 being the front panel 11, and one side panel on the other side (in this case, the other right side) being the left side panel 14. The front panel 11 and the back panel 13 are each vertically long rectangles of the same size, and the left and right side panels 12, 14 are each vertically long rectangles of the same size but slightly narrower than the front panel 11 and the back panel 13. The adhesive strip 15 is about one-third the width of each of the left and right side panels 12, 14, and extends from the side edge of the front panel 11 on the left side panel 14 side into a roughly trapezoidal shape with this edge as the base. Thus, the outer surface of the adhesive strip 15 is glued to the inner surface of the left side panel 14 on the side of the front panel 11 (the right side before assembly), and the four side panels 11-14 before assembly are assembled into a cylindrical shape with a roughly rectangular horizontal cross section.

In the case of this box B1, the canopy 16 is of a three-flap type, with a pair of upper flaps 16LF, 16RF formed on the upper edges of two of the four side panels 11-14 that face each other, and an upper cover 16C formed on the upper edge of another side panel other than these two side panels.

In this case, the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF are formed continuously with the upper edges of the side panels constituting the left and right sides, i.e., the left side panel 14 and the right side panel 12. In this box B1, a composite plate 16S is integrally provided between both left and right side edges of the top cover 16C and the upper edges of the left and right side panels 14, 12, and each upper flap 16LF, 16RF is formed in a generally trapezoidal shape extending upward and outwardly of each side panel 14, 12 on part of the composite plate 16S, with the upper edges of the left and right side panels 14, 12 as its lower base and offset to one side so that the upper base faces one end side away from the top cover 16C. Here, the height of each of the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF (height between the upper and lower bases) is formed to be slightly shorter than half the dimension between the upper edges of the left and right side panels 14, 12 after assembly to the box B1 (the dimension in the width direction (left and right direction) of the top opening), so that each of the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF partially covers both the left and right sides of the top opening of the box B1.

In this case, the top cover 16C is a side panel that forms the back portion, that is, it is formed into a roughly square shape that is continuous with the upper edge of the back panel 13 and has this upper edge as one side, and an insertion piece 16C1 is formed at the tip in a semi-racetrack shape.

The bottom cover 17 is of a four-flap type, with a pair of lower flaps 17FF, 17RF formed on the lower edges of two of the four side panels 11-14 that face each other, and a pair of lower covers 18L, 18R formed on the lower edges of two other side panels aside from these two side panels.

In this case, the lower flaps 17FF and 17RF are formed continuously with the lower edges of the front panel 11 and the back panel 13. In this box B1, the lower edges of the front panel 11 and the back panel 13 are integrally provided with a composite plate 17S that is approximately rectangular in shape, and the lower flaps 17FF and 17RF are formed in a part of the composite plate 17S in an approximately trapezoidal shape that extends downward and outward from the front panel 11 and the back panel 13, with the lower edge of the front panel 11 and the back panel 13 as the lower base and a position at a predetermined height from the lower base as the upper base. Here, the lower flaps 17FF and 17RF are formed to have the same height (the height between the upper base and the lower base is the same) and are slightly shorter than half the dimension between the lower edges of the front panel 11 and the back panel 13 after assembly to the box B1 (the dimension in the depth direction (front-to-back direction) of the bottom opening), and the lower flaps 17FF and 17RF are arranged to partially cover both the front and back sides of the bottom opening of the box B1.

In this case, each of the lower covers 18L, 18R is formed into a trapezoid that is contiguous with the lower edges of the left side panel 14 and the right side panel 12 and approximates a right-angled triangle with the lower ends as the bottom base. In this box B1, the lower cover 18L on the left side panel 14 side has one corner on the rear panel 13 side that forms a nearly right angle, and the lower cover 18R on the right side panel 12 side has one corner on the front panel 11 side that forms a nearly right angle. Each of the lower covers 18L, 18R has fold lines L16, L17 perpendicular to the hypotenuse from the nearly right angle corner so that they can be folded into the inside of box B1 along one diagonal of the bottom opening together with the lower flaps 17FF, 17RF. Each lower cover 18L, 18R is placed on the outside of each lower flap 17RF, 17FF so that the oblique side is positioned along the other diagonal of the bottom opening, and the inner surface of each lower cover 18L, 18R from the fold lines L16, L17 to the tip side is glued to the outer surface of each lower flap 17RF, 17FF using glue.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, inside the box B1, the bottom lid 17 is provided with a bottom lid side buffer function section 3 capable of supporting a vial, and the top lid 16 is provided with a top lid side buffer function section 2 capable of holding the vial from above.

As shown in Figures 2 and 5, the buffer function section 3 on the bottom lid side is configured to be able to hold the bottom and outer periphery of the vial on the bottom lid 17 inside the box B1. In the case of this box B1, the buffer function section 3 is provided on the inner surface of a pair of lower flaps 17FF, 17RF with a buffer space 30 between them, and is configured by a pair of pedestals 31 having a support groove 310 capable of supporting the bottom of the vial and a holding groove 312 capable of holding the outer periphery of the vial.

In this case, the pair of bases 31 are formed on the remaining part of the composite plate 17S which is integrally formed on the lower edge of the front panel 11 and the rear panel 13, respectively, as an extension of each lower flap 17FF, 17RF. Each base 31 comprises a pair of vertical support plates 311 that are continuous with the tips of the respective lower flaps 17FF, 17RF, are raised from each tip at approximately a right angle toward the inside of the box B1 to a predetermined height, and have a support groove 310 extending downward from the upper end; a pair of horizontal support plates 313 that extend from the upper end of each vertical support plate 311 parallel to each lower flap 17FF, 17RF to each side panel 11, 13, and have a support groove 312 at one end corresponding to the upper end side of each vertical support plate 311 that is continuous with the support groove 310 of the vertical support plate 311; and a pair of fixing plates 314 that extend from the other end of each horizontal support plate 313 on the side panel 11, 13 side along each side panel 11, 13 to each lower flap 17FF, 17RF or in the direction of each lower flap 17FF, 17RF, and whose outer surfaces abut against the inner surfaces of each side panel 11, 13. In this case, each support groove 310 is a square groove capable of supporting the bottom of a vial, and the holding groove 312 is an arc-shaped groove capable of holding the outer periphery of a vial. The outer surface of each fixing plate 314 of each pedestal 31 is fixed to the inner surface of each side plate 11, 13 via glue, and is configured on each lower flap 17FF, 17RF as a groove shape that is approximately U-shaped in plan view relative to the front plate 11 and rear plate 13. Thus, a pair of pedestals 31 are formed on each lower flap 17FF, 17RF with a buffer space 30 between them, and a vial storage section 315 is formed between each pedestal 31.

In addition, the pair of bases 31 have locking pieces 316 protruding from the lower end of each vertical support plate 311 between the lower flaps 17FF and 17RF so that they can be engaged with each other. In this case, the locking piece 316 of one vertical support plate 311 is formed by cutting a cutting line in the shape of a blade (the cutting edge of a sword) into the lower half of the bottom of the support groove 310, in this case, the left half, to the lower end of this vertical support plate 311, and protruding from the tip of one lower flap 17RF toward the other lower flap 17FF. Similarly, the locking piece 316 of the other vertical support plate 311 is formed by cutting a cutting line in the shape of a blade (the cutting edge of a sword) into the lower half of the bottom of the support groove 310, in this case, the left half, to the lower end of this vertical support plate 311, and protruding from the tip of the other lower flap 17FF toward one lower flap 17RF. The engagement of these locking pieces 316 maintains the bottom cover 17 shape of the box B1 in the assembled state and the vial storage section 315 shape between the pair of pedestals 31.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the cushioning function section 2 on the canopy side is configured to be able to hold the vial from above inside the box B1. In the case of this box B1, the cushioning function section 2 is configured with a pair of extension plates 21 that are foldably extended to the inner surface of the upper lid 16C of the canopy 16 on both sides of the upper lid 16C of the canopy 16, and a pair of pressing plates 22 that are connected between the tips of the pair of extension plates 21 and the tips of each upper flaps 16LF, 16RF of the canopy 16 so as to be able to press and guide each upper flaps 16LF, 16RF into the box.

In this case, the pair of extension plates 21 and the pair of push-down plates 22 are formed together with the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF of the canopy 16 on the composite plates 16S that are integrally provided between the left and right side edges of the top cover 16C and the upper edges of the left and right side panels 14, 12.

The pair of extension plates 21 are formed in a generally trapezoid shape extending outward from the upper cover 16C, in this case to the left and right outside, with the lower base being the left and right side edges of the upper cover 16C of each composite plate 16S, and the upper base being biased upward so as to face the tip end of the left and right side edges of the upper cover 16C. The pair of push-down plates 22 are formed in a generally triangular shape between the oblique side of each extension plate 21 extending from the intersection X of the lower base of each extension plate 21 and the lower base of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF of each composite plate 16S and the oblique side of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF.

Thus, the pair of extension plates 21 each follow the opening and closing movement of the top lid 16C, using the left and right side edges of the top lid 16C as fulcrums, and when the top lid 16C is opened and raised onto the back panel 13, they are spaced 90° apart from the inner surface of the top lid 16C and extend approximately parallel to the left and right side panels 14, 12 from both the left and right sides of the top lid 16C, and when the top lid 16C is closed and the top lid 16C is lowered onto the top opening of the box B1, they are folded onto the inner surface of the top lid 16C and can be stacked. In response to this, the pair of push-down plates 22 are linked to the movement of each extension plate 21, with the oblique sides of each extension plate 21 serving as fulcrums, and each extension plate 21 extends from both left and right side edges of the top lid 16C approximately parallel to the left and right side panels 14, 12, so that they extend approximately parallel to the left and right side panels 14, 12 below each extension plate 21, and each extension plate 21 is folded and overlapped onto the inner surface of the top lid 16C, so that they extend from the oblique sides of each extension plate 21 perpendicular to the inner surface of the top lid 16C below the top opening of the box B1, and are configured to be able to push down the tips of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF below the top opening.

By assembling the box B1 in this way, a pair of pedestals 31 that form the buffer function section 3 on the inner bottom lid 17 of the box B1 are raised, and the vial is stored and held in the storage section 315 of these pedestals 31, and the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF are pressed down below the top opening by each of the push-down plates 22 that extend from the inner surface of the top lid 16 into the box B1, and these upper flaps 16LF, 16RF press and hold the vial from above.

As shown in FIG. 5, the box B1 is made of a blank sheet P1 that is formed integrally with the buffer sections 2 and 3 by punching out a base paper or a printed copy. The blank sheet P1 has the following structure:

On one side of the left side, a front plate shape portion 11P is formed as a vertically long rectangle of a predetermined size that forms the front part of the box B1, and on one long side of the right side of this front plate shape portion 11P, a right side plate shape portion 12P having approximately the same size and shape as the front plate shape portion P11 and forming the right side part, a back plate shape portion 13P having approximately the same size and shape as the front plate shape portion 11P and forming the back part, and a left side plate shape portion 14P having approximately the same size and shape as the front plate shape portion 11P and forming the left side part are successively formed in succession via fold lines L1, L2, and L3, and on the other long side of the left side of the front plate shape portion 11P, an adhesive piece shape portion 15P that forms the adhesive piece 15 is formed in a vertically long band shape, in this case, approximately trapezoidal with this long side as the base, and is formed in succession via fold line L4.

A vertically long, approximately rectangular composite plate portion 17SP is formed continuously on the other short side of the lower side of the front plate portion 11P and the other short side of the lower side of the back plate portion 13P, and lower flap portion 171P, 172P, which form lower flaps 17FF, 17RF, are formed continuously on the ends of the front plate portion 11P side and the back plate portion 13P side of these composite plate portions 17SP via fold lines L12, L13, respectively, with the other short side of the lower side of the front plate portion 11P and the other short side of the lower side of the back plate portion 13P as the lower base, and are approximately trapezoidal with a length slightly shorter than half the length of the front-to-rear direction of the bottom opening.

A lower cover portion 192P, which is a trapezoidal shape resembling a right-angled triangle protruding at a right angle from the end of the rear plate portion 13P and which constitutes the left lower cover 18L, is formed continuously via a fold line L14 on the other short side of the lower side of the left side panel portion 14P. Similarly, a lower cover portion 191P, which is a trapezoidal shape resembling a right-angled triangle protruding at a right angle from the end of the front plate portion 11P and which constitutes the right lower cover 18R, is formed continuously via a fold line L15 on the other short side of the lower side of the right side panel portion 12P. Each lower cover portion 192P, 191P has a fold line L16, L17 at a right angle from one corner that forms a right angle toward the hypotenuse.

The tip of each lower flap-shaped portion 171P, 172P, i.e., the remaining portion of each composite plate-shaped portion 17SP, is also formed with a pedestal-shaped portion 31P that forms a pair of pedestals 31 that constitute the bottom cover side cushioning function portion 3. Each pedestal-shaped portion 31P has the same size and shape, and is formed so that the entire portion can be folded into a roughly inverted U-shape on each lower flap-shaped portion 171P, 172P, and is composed of a vertical holding plate portion 311P, a horizontal holding plate portion 313P, and a fixing plate portion 314P.

Each vertical support plate portion 311P is formed into a substantially rectangular shape of a predetermined length, continuing from the tip of each lower flap-shaped portion 171P, 172P via fold lines L18, L19.

Each horizontal support plate portion 313P is connected to the tip of each vertical support plate portion 311P via fold lines L20, L21 and is formed into a roughly rectangular shape of the same length as each lower flap-shaped portion 171P, 172P.

Each fixing plate portion 314P is connected to the tip of each horizontal holding plate portion 313P via bend lines L22 and L23 and is formed into a roughly rectangular shape that is the same length as or slightly shorter than each vertical holding plate portion 311P.

Then, on each of the bent lines L20 and L21 between each of the vertical holding plate sections 311P and each of the horizontal holding plate sections 313P, the vertical holding plate section 311P side is cut into a U-shape from two specific points on both ends, and the horizontal holding plate section 313P side is cut into an arc shape from the same two points, forming a U-shaped support groove 310 in each of the vertical holding plate sections 311P, and an arc-shaped holding groove 312 in each of the horizontal holding plate sections 313P.

A top cover shaped portion 18P that is approximately the same size as the top opening and is a square that forms the top cover 16C is formed continuously on one of the upper short sides of the back panel shaped portion 13P via a fold line L5, and on the extension of the tip of the top cover shaped portion 18P, a horizontally elongated band-like (semi-racetrack-shaped) insertion piece shaped portion 181P that forms the insertion piece 16C1 of the top cover 16C is formed continuously on the extension of the tip of the top cover 18P via a fold line L6.

A pair of composite plate-shaped portions 16SP are integrally formed between the left and right side edges of the top cover portion 18P and the upper edges of the left and right side plate-shaped portions 14P, 12P.

On the left side of the composite plate part 16SP, an upper flap part 162P is formed on a part of the left side panel part 14P side, with one upper short side of the left side panel part 14P as the bottom base, and is a trapezoid slightly shorter than half the length of the top cover 16C, and is continuous with the left side of the composite plate part 16SP via a fold line L7. On the right side of the composite plate part 16SP, an upper flap part 161P is formed on a part of the right side panel part 12P side, with one upper short side of the right side panel part 12P as the bottom base, and is a trapezoid slightly shorter than half the length of the top cover 16C, and is continuous with the right side of the composite plate part 16SP via a fold line L8.

The tip of each upper flap-shaped portion 162P, 161P, i.e., the remaining portion of each composite plate-shaped portion 16SP, is formed with a pair of extension plates 21 constituting the canopy-side buffer function portion 2, a pair of extension plate-shaped portions 21P constituting a pair of depression plates 22, and a pair of depression plate-shaped portions 22P.

The pair of extension plate-shaped portions 21P are formed in a generally trapezoidal shape that extends outward from the upper lid portion 18P, in this case to the left and right, with each side edge serving as the lower base and each upper base being biased upward so as to face the tip end of each of the left and right side edges of the upper lid portion 18P, via fold lines L9, L10 in each composite plate-shaped portion 16SP.

The pair of push-down plate-shaped portions 22P are each formed in a substantially triangular shape between the hypotenuse of each extension plate-shaped portion 21P and the hypotenuse of each upper flap-shaped portion 162P, 161P, which extends from the intersection point X between the lower base of each extension plate-shaped portion 21P and the lower base of each upper flap-shaped portion 162P, 161P in each composite plate-shaped portion 16SP.

While this blank sheet P1 is transported in the forward direction by a pasting machine (not shown), glue is applied to each of the specified parts and each part is folded in sequence as follows. Note that this blank sheet P1 is transported with the front side (printed side) facing downwards, with each pedestal-shaped portion 31P at the tip of each lower flap-shaped portion 171P, 172P facing in the forward direction.

First, the blank sheet P1 is folded 180 degrees along the fold lines L20 and L21 so that the back surfaces of the base-shaped portions 31P (the surfaces that will be on the inside when assembled into the box B1 (i.e., the inner surfaces)) are aligned. Then, glue is applied to the center of the front surface side of each fixing plate portion 314P.

Next, the blank sheet P1 is folded 180 degrees along the fold lines L12 and L13 so that the front surface of each fixed plate portion 314P after folding of each pedestal portion 31P is aligned with the back surface of the front plate portion 11P and the back surface of the back plate portion 13P. This causes the front surface of each fixed plate portion 314P to be glued to the back surface of the front plate portion 11P and the back surface of the back plate portion 13P with glue.

Then, the blank sheet P1 is folded 180 degrees along the fold lines L14 and L15 to make mountain folds so that the backsides of the lower lid portions 192P and 191P and the backsides of the left and right side panel portions 14P and 12P meet. At roughly the same time, the blank sheet P1 is folded 180 degrees along the fold lines L16 and L17 to make valley folds so that the front surfaces of the lower lid portions 192P and 191P meet.

Here, glue is applied to the center of the front side of the lower flap-shaped portion 171P and the center of the rear side of the lower lid-shaped portion 191P, which is closer to the tip than the fold line L17. At roughly the same time, glue is applied to the front side of the adhesive piece-shaped portion 15P in a long, parallel strip along the fold line L4.

Then, the blank sheet P1 is folded 180 degrees along the fold line L1 so that the back surface of the front plate portion 11P is aligned with the back surface of the right side plate portion 12P via the base portion 31P and the lower cover portion 191P.

Then, the blank sheet P1 is folded 180 degrees along the fold line L3 so that the back surface of the left side panel portion 14P is aligned with the back surface of the back panel portion 13P via the lower cover portion 192P, the adhesive piece portion 15P, and the base portion 31P.

In this way, the blank sheet P1 is folded flat, and sufficient pressure is applied to the entire blank sheet P1. As a result, the portion of blank sheet P1 to which glue has been applied and the portion overlapping this portion are pressed together and adhered. That is, the front side of lower flap portion 171P and the back side of lower lid portion 191P are aligned at the leading edge side of fold line L17, and the front side of lower flap portion 172P and the back side of lower lid portion 192P are aligned at the leading edge side of fold line L16, and are adhered together with glue. Then, the front side of adhesive piece portion 15P and the back side of left side panel portion 14P are aligned and adhered together with glue.

The blank sheet P1 is thus folded flat so that it can be assembled into a box B1. This flat unassembled box B1 is then packed in cardboard or the like and shipped to the pharmaceutical company.

Then, during the process of packaging the vials at the pharmaceutical company, this flattened unassembled box B1 is erected into a box shape as shown in Figure 2, and the vials are stored inside box B1.

In the vial packaging process, the flat unassembled box B1 is raised into a box shape with an open top by applying pressure from the outside to the inside of the box B1 along the fold lines L1 and L3.

That is, between the front plate portion 11P and the back plate portion 13P, the left side plate portion 14P and the right side plate portion 12P are raised at approximately right angles to the front plate portion 11P and the back plate portion 13P, respectively, and the front plate portion 11P, the back plate portion 13P, the left side plate portion 14P and the right side plate portion 12P are assembled as four continuous side panels 11, 13, 14, 12 that form the front portion, the back portion, the left side portion and the right side portion, respectively.

In conjunction with the raising of the left side panel 14 and the right side panel 12, the lower lid shaped portions 192P, 191P are raised at approximately right angles to the left side panel 14 and the right side panel 12 to form the lower lids 18L, 18R. These lower lids 18L, 18R are assembled into an approximately rectangular shape by aligning the oblique sides of the lower lids 18L, 18R with one diagonal of the bottom opening under the lower flaps 17RF, 17FF in the bottom opening of the box B1. In this case, the backsides of the portions of the lower lids 18L, 18R from the fold lines L16, L17 to the tip side are glued and fixed to the surface of the lower flaps 17RF, 17FF via glue.

Furthermore, in conjunction with the raising of the lower covers 18L, 18R, the lower flap-shaped portions 172P, 171P are raised at approximately right angles to the rear panel 13 and front panel 11 to form the lower flaps 17RF, 17FF. At the same time, the pedestal-shaped portions 31P are assembled in an approximately inverted U-shape on the rear surfaces of the lower flaps 17RF, 17FF as the pedestals 31. In this case, each pedestal 31 has a vertical holding plate portion 311P raised at a substantially right angle to each lower flap 17RF, 17FF to form a vertical holding plate 311 having a support groove 310 extending downward from the upper end at the tip of each lower flap 17RF, 17FF, and each horizontal holding plate portion 313P raised at a substantially right angle to each vertical holding plate 311 and substantially parallel to each lower flap 17RF, 17FF to form a horizontal holding plate 313 having a holding groove 312 at one end continuing to the support groove 310 of each vertical holding plate 311, continuing to the upper end of each vertical holding plate 311. In this case, each fixing plate portion 314P serves as a fixing plate 314, the surface of which is fixed to the rear plate 13 and the rear surface of the front plate 11 via glue. Thus, a pair of pedestals 31 are formed on each lower flap 17RF, 17FF of the bottom lid 17 with a buffer space 30 between them, and a vial storage section 315 is formed between each pedestal 31 in the center of the bottom lid 17.

In this way, the main body of the box B1 is assembled, except for the top opening, and the vial is then stored in the storage section 315 at the top center of the bottom lid 17 through the top opening of the box B1.

When a vial is stored in the storage section 315 through the top opening of the box B1, the weight of the vial holds the lower flaps 17FF, 17RF at right angles to the front plate 11 and back plate 13, and holds the cushioning function section 3 (each pedestal 31) of the bottom lid 17 in its original shape. At this time, each locking piece 316 of each pedestal 31 engages in the center of the bottom lid 17, stably maintaining the shape of the bottom lid 17.

When the vial is thus stored inside the box B1, the upper flap-shaped portions 162P, 161P of the composite-shaped portions 16SP on the top lid 16 side are then folded at approximately right angles to the left side panel 14 and the right side panel 12 as the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF, respectively, and the top opening of the box B1 is closed by the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF. At the same time, the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF pull the push-down plate-shaped portions 22P and the extension plate-shaped portions 21P, so that the push-down plate-shaped portions 22P are raised above the tips of the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF as the push-down plates 22, and the extension plate-shaped portions 21P are extended diagonally as the extension plates 21 from both the left and right sides of the top lid-shaped portion 18P toward the inner surface of the top lid-shaped portion 18P.

Then, the top lid shaped portion 18P is bent at a substantially right angle relative to the back panel 13 toward the top opening of the box B1 to form the top lid 16C. By bending the top lid 16C in this manner, as shown in FIG. 3, the extension plates 21 are folded and overlapped on the inner surface of the top lid 16C, and the top lid 16C and the extension plates 21 push the push plates 22 toward the top opening of the box B1.

When the top cover 16C is folded up to the top opening of the box B1 together with the extension plates 21 and the top opening is closed, the push-down plates 22 push the tips of the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF below the top opening, and the whole is pushed down into the box B1, and the tips of the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF press down the top of the vial stored in the box B1 from above. In the case of this box B1, as shown in FIG. 4, the tips of the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF, together with the tips of the push-down plates 22, form an approximately V-shape from the front panel 11 side of the box B1 to the back panel 13 side, and the tips of the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF press and hold the top of the vial from above. These extension plates 21, push-down plates 22, and upper flaps 16LF, 16RF act as cushioning materials in place of the package inserts that were previously included.

At the same time that the top opening of box B1 is closed by the top lid, the insertion piece shaped portion 181P of the top lid 16C is bent inward at a substantially right angle to form an insertion piece 16C1, which is inserted into the inside of the front plate 11, and the center of this insertion piece 16C1 is glued and fixed to the upper center of the front plate 11. By fixing the top lid 16C in this way, the extension plates 21, push-down plates 22, and upper flaps 16LF and 16RF on the inside of the top lid 16C hold down the top of the vial. In this way, the vial is sealed in the box B1, and inside the box B1, the bottom surface of the vial is supported by the support grooves 310 of the vertical holding plates 311 of the pedestals 31, the outer periphery is held by the holding grooves 312 of the horizontal holding parts 313, and the top of the vial is pressed and held by the extension plates 21, the push-down plates 22, and the upper flaps 16LF and 16RF on the inside of the top lid 16C. As a result, the vial is cushioned by the pedestals 31 on the bottom lid 17 and the extension plates 21, the push-down plates 22, and the upper flaps 16LF and 16RF on the top lid 16 side, sufficiently mitigating impacts from outside the box B1 and reliably protecting it.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper part of the front panel 11 of the packaging box B1 has a trapezoidal perforated cut running downward from the upper edge, forming a break line C1 for opening. To open the box B1, the opening surrounded by the break line C1 is pressed and broken. This separates the adhesive portion between the top cover 16C and the front panel 11, and the top opening of the box B1 can be opened by pulling the top cover 16C upward.

As explained above, this packaging box B1 is provided with a cushioning function part 2 capable of holding the top of the vial from above inside the box B1, so that the vial can be fixed inside the box B1 even if a space equivalent to the gap for inserting the previous package insert remains inside the box B1. This eliminates the need to change the size of the box B1, and eliminates other effects that would result from changing the size of the box B1, such as the need to adjust the settings of the cartoner, the need to change the size of the bulk box that contains multiple individual packaging boxes, and the size of the cardboard box that contains multiple bulk boxes, and other problems such as the large burden of making extensive changes to the vial packaging process.

The buffer function unit 2 is composed of a pair of extension plates 21 that are foldably extended to the inner surface of the top cover 16C of the canopy 16 on both the left and right sides of the top cover 16C, and a pair of push-down plates 22 that are connected between the tips of the pair of extension plates 21 and the tips of the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF of the canopy 16 so as to push down and guide the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF into the box B1. When the box B1 is assembled, the push-down plates 22 extending from the inner surface of the canopy 16 into the box B1 push down the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF below the top opening, and the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF hold down and hold the top of the vial. Therefore, the buffer function unit 2 has an extremely simple structure and can be provided in the box B1 without using a lot of box material or giving the box material a complex shape.

In particular, in this packaging box B1, a composite plate 16S is formed between the left and right side edges of the top cover 16C and the upper edges of the left and right side panels 14, 12, respectively, and in each composite plate 16S, a pair of extension plates 21 are formed on the left and right side edges of the top cover 16C with these side edges as the lower base and the upper base being biased toward the tip side of the top cover 16C and extending to the outside of the top cover 16C, and a pair of upper flaps 16LF, 16RF are formed on the left and right side panels 14, 12, respectively. These upper edges form the bottom base, and the top base is biased toward the end away from the top cover 16C, forming a roughly trapezoidal shape that extends upward and outward from each of the left and right side panels 14, 12. Each push-down plate 22 is formed in a roughly triangular shape between the hypotenuse of each extension plate 21 that extends from the intersection X between the bottom base of each extension plate 21 and the bottom base of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, and the hypotenuse of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, so that each part of the cushioning function can be realized with as simple a structure as possible.

Therefore, this packaging box B1 can effectively protect the vials inside the box B1 while minimizing increases in costs.

This packaging box B1 is also equipped with a top-side buffering section 2 and a bottom-side buffering section 3, which hold the vial from three directions: the top, the outer periphery, and the bottom. This allows the vial to be protected from impacts from the outside of the box B1 with certainty. Furthermore, since the top-side buffering section 2 is formed separately from the bottom-side buffering section 3, the top-side buffering section 2 can be easily and inexpensively installed in boxes having bottom-side buffering sections of various other shapes than the bottom-side buffering section 3 shown here, and similar effects can be achieved. In this case, the bottom-side buffering section of the other shapes includes a type that supports only the bottom of the vial in the box and a type that holds only the outer periphery of the vial.

Furthermore, this packaging box B1 can be formed from a single sheet of paperboard P1, including each of the cushioning sections 2 and 3, which simplifies the manufacturing process and helps reduce costs.

Figures 6 to 14 show the second embodiment. Figure 6 shows the overall configuration of the packaging box with cushioning function, and Figures 7 and 8 show the configuration of the main parts of the packaging box. Figure 9 shows the configuration of the blank sheet before the packaging box is assembled. This packaging box is the same as the first embodiment except that a new configuration has been added to the cushioning function section on the canopy side, and apart from this new configuration, it has the same configuration as the first embodiment. Therefore, in the explanation of this embodiment, the same reference numerals will be used to designate the same configuration as the first embodiment and redundant explanations will be omitted, and the new configuration of the cushioning function section on the canopy side will be explained using new reference numerals.

As shown in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, in a packaging box B2 with a cushioning function (hereinafter simply referred to as packaging box B2 or box B2), at least one of a pair of press plates 22 is partially detached from the press plate 22 and the extension plate 21, and this portion protrudes from the oblique side of the upper flap as a pressing piece 221. In the case of this box B2, both portions of the pair of press plates 22 are detached from each press plate 22 and each extension plate 21, and each portion protrudes from the oblique side of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF as a pressing piece 221. In this case, each pressing piece 221 protrudes from one end side of the oblique side of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF on the side of each intersection X described above, or the opposite other end side, or the middle between them.

In this case, each pressing piece 221 is separated from a part of the middle part of each pressing plate 22, in other words, between the middle part (approximately the center) of the hypotenuse of each extension plate 21 and the middle part (approximately the center) of the hypotenuse of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF by an approximately C-shaped cut line 220 that spans each extension plate 21, and is formed into an approximately rectangular shape that continues to the hypotenuse of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, i.e., to (a part of) the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF. More specifically, when viewed from each intersection point X, each of these cut lines 220 has one outer end on the oblique side of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, and the other inner end on the oblique side of each extension plate 21, forming a roughly U-shape overall. From the other end of each of these cut lines 220, the cut lines 220 extend slightly away from the oblique sides of each extension plate 21 to a position slightly toward the other end side of each intersection point X side of each left and right side edge of the top cover 16C, and are formed from there to each intersection point X. Each pressing piece 221 extends from the center of the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, and one side edge of each pressing piece is supported by a protruding edge 222 that protrudes from the end side edge on the intersection point X side at the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF.

In this way, as shown in Figures 10 to 12, when the top cover 16C is folded together with the extension plates 21 up to the top opening of the box B2 and the top opening is closed, the tips of the top flaps 16LF, 16RF are pressed down below the top opening by the pressing plates 22, and the entire top flaps 16LF, 16RF are pressed down diagonally into the box. As a result, as shown in Figure 13, the pressing pieces 221 extending from the center of the tips of the top flaps 16LF, 16RF press down the upper surface of the top of the vial stored in the center of the box B2, and the top of the vial stored in the box B2 is pressed down from above by the tips of the top flaps 16LF, 16RF.

This can achieve the same effect as the first embodiment, and in this embodiment in particular, each pressing piece 221 presses down on the upper surface of the vial, expanding the pressing area on the upper part of the vial and allowing the vial to be more securely pressed and held.

In addition, in the case of this box B2, after opening the canopy 16, when closing the canopy 16, as shown in FIG. 14(1), the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF of the canopy 16 are pushed toward the top opening of the box B2 with the thumb or index finger, and as shown in FIG. 14(2), the top cover 16C is pushed down onto the top opening of the box B2 with the thumb, and the insertion piece 16C1 of the top cover 16C is inserted inside the front panel 11, allowing the canopy 16 to be closed and resealed.

Figures 15 to 17 show the third embodiment. Figure 15 shows the overall configuration of the packaging box with a cushioning function, and Figure 16 shows the configuration of the main parts of the packaging box. Figure 17 shows the configuration of the blank sheet before assembly of the packaging box. In this packaging box, each upper flap is formed into a substantially triangular shape instead of the substantially trapezoidal shape in the second embodiment, and a new configuration slightly different from that of the second embodiment is added to the cushioning function part on the top side. In addition, the bottom lid is composed of four flaps, and the cushioning function part is not provided on this bottom lid. In this box, the vial is stored by being placed directly on the bottom lid inside the box. In other words, this box has a configuration in which a part of the cushioning function part on the top side and the bottom lid have a different configuration from the first embodiment, and the other parts have a common configuration with the second embodiment. Therefore, in the description of this embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to the components common to the second embodiment, and the overlapping description is omitted, and new reference numerals are given to the components of the cushioning function part on the top side and the bottom lid.

As shown in Figures 15, 16 and 17, in a packaging box B3 with a cushioning function (hereinafter simply referred to as packaging box B3 or box B3), at least one of a pair of press plates 22 is partially detached from the press plate 22 and the extension plate 21, and this portion protrudes from the oblique side of the upper flap as a pressing piece 221. In the case of this box B3, both portions of the pair of press plates 22 are detached from each press plate 22 and each extension plate 21, and each portion protrudes from the oblique side of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF as a pressing piece 221. In this case, each pressing piece 221 protrudes from one end side of the oblique side of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF on the side of each intersection X described above, or the opposite other end side, or the middle between them.

In the case of this box B3, each pressing piece 221 is separated into an approximately V-shape as a whole by a substantially straight cut line 220 that partially spans the extension plate 21 between the other end side opposite the one end side of each intersection point X of each pressing plate 22, in other words, between the other end side opposite the one end side of each intersection point X of the hypotenuse of each extension plate 21 and the other end side opposite the one end side of each intersection point X of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, and is formed into an approximately triangular shape that continues to the hypotenuse of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, i.e., (part of) the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF.

In addition, in the case of this box B3, an approximately U-shaped cut line 230, part of which spans the extension plate 21, is formed on one end side of each intersection point X of each push-down plate 22, in other words, between one end side of each intersection point X of the hypotenuse of each extension plate 21 and one end side of each intersection point X of the hypotenuse of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, and an approximately rectangular protruding edge portion 231 is formed continuing from the hypotenuse of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, i.e., from (part of) the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF. More specifically, each of these cut lines 230 has an outer end on the oblique side of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF when viewed from the intersection point X side, and an inner end on the oblique side of each extension plate 221 at the end of each intersection point X side, forming a generally horizontally long trapezoidal shape. In this case, a part of the cut line 230 that corresponds to the upper base of the trapezoid is slightly off the oblique side of each extension plate 21 and extends to a position slightly toward the other end side than the end of each intersection point X side of each left and right side edge of the upper cover 16C, and is formed from there to each intersection point X along each left and right side edge of the upper cover 16C. Thus, each protruding edge 231 is formed in a generally trapezoidal shape from the center of the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF to the end on the intersection point X side.

In the case of box B3, the bottom cover 4 is connected to the lower edges of the four side panels 11-14 (in this case, the lower edges of the front panel 11 and back panel 13) via fold lines L12, L13, and is a pair of bottom panels 41 with a composite shape having a convex portion E1 and a concave portion E2 at the tip that can close approximately half of the front and rear sides of the bottom opening of box B3, and a pair of left and right lower flaps 42 that are connected to the lower edges of the left and right side panels 14, 12 via fold lines L14, L12 and are approximately trapezoidal and can close both the left and right sides of the bottom opening of box B3. At the bottom opening of box B3, each bottom panel 41 is glued to the left and right lower flaps 42, and the convex portions E1 and concave portions E2 of each bottom panel 41 are mutually engaged, and each bottom panel 41 is combined into a horizontally long rectangle.

Thus, box B3 is folded flat as described above. Then, in the vial packaging process, it is turned upright into a box shape and the vials are placed inside the box B3 through the top opening. After the vials are placed inside, the top opening is closed with the top cover 16.

That is, when the top cover 16C is folded together with the extension plates 21 up to the top opening of the box B3 and the top opening is closed, as shown in FIG. 16, the tips of the top flaps 16LF, 16RF are pushed down below the top opening by the push-down plates 22, and the entire top flaps 16LF, 16RF are pushed down diagonally into the box B3. As a result, the upper surfaces of the upper parts of the vials stored in the box B3 are pressed down by the pressing pieces 221 that extend from approximately the center of the tips of the top flaps 16LF, 16RF to the ends on the front panel 11 side, and the tops of the vials stored in the box B3 are pressed down and held from above by the tips of the top flaps 16LF, 16RF.

Even in this way, the same effect as in the second embodiment (excluding the effect of the buffer function part on the bottom lid side) can be achieved. In particular, in the case of this box B3, each pressing piece 221 extends from the center of the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF to the end on the front plate 11 side, so when the vial is stored in box B3 closer to the front plate 11 side than the center of box B3, each pressing piece 221 can reliably press down the upper surface of the upper part of the vial.

In the case of this box B3, when closing the canopy 16 after opening it, as in the second embodiment, the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF of the canopy 16 are pushed toward the top opening of the box B3 with the thumb or index finger, the top cover 16C is pushed down onto the top opening of the box B3 with the thumb, and the insertion piece 16C1 of the top cover 16C is inserted inside the front panel 11, and the canopy 16 can be closed and resealed.

The fourth embodiment is shown in Figures 18 to 21. Figure 18 shows the overall configuration of the packaging box with cushioning function, and Figure 19 shows the configuration of the main parts of the packaging box. Figure 20 shows the configuration of the blank sheet before the packaging box is assembled. In this packaging box, part of the configuration of the four side panels, part of the configuration of the cushioning function part on the top side, and the configuration of the bottom lid and the cushioning function part on the bottom lid side are different from the first embodiment. Therefore, in the explanation of this embodiment, the same symbols are used for the components that are common to the first embodiment and redundant explanations are omitted, and only the different components are explained using new symbols.

As shown in Figures 18 and 20, in the cushioning packaging box B4 (hereinafter simply referred to as packaging box B4 or box B4), the arrangement of the four side panels 11-14 is slightly different from that of the first embodiment, and in this case, the front panel 11 is positioned on one side to the right of the four side panels 11-14. This is the only difference, and the size and shape of each side panel 11-14 are the same as in the first embodiment.

As shown in Figures 19 and 20, in the case of this box B4, each pressing piece 221 is separated by an approximately U-shaped cut line 220, part of which spans the extension plate 21, at one end side of each of the aforementioned intersection points X of each press-down plate 22, in other words, between one end side of each of the intersection points X of the hypotenuse of each extension plate 21 and one end side of each of the intersection points X of the hypotenuse of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, and is formed into an approximately rectangular shape continuing to the hypotenuse of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF, i.e., (part of) the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF. More specifically, each of these cut lines 220 has an outer end, as viewed from the intersection point X side, on the opposite end side of the hypotenuse of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF from the end of each intersection point X side, and an inner end at the middle (approximately the center) of the hypotenuse of each extension plate 21, forming a relatively long, approximately U-shaped shape overall, and from the other end of this cut line 220, it extends slightly away from the hypotenuse of each extension plate 21 to a position slightly toward the other end side than the end of each intersection point X side of each left and right side edge of the upper cover 16C, and is formed from there to each intersection X along each left and right side edge of the upper cover 16C. In this way, each pressing piece 221 extends from the center of the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF toward the back panel 13 side.

In the case of this box B3, as shown in Fig. 20, the bottom cover 5 has a front panel side bottom plate 51 and a rear panel side bottom plate 52 that extend from the front panel 11 and the rear panel 13 via fold lines L12 and L13, respectively, and a left lower flap 53 and a right lower flap 54 that extend from the left panel 14 and the right panel 12 via fold lines L14 and L15 and have adhesive pieces 531 and 541 that are adhesively fixed to the front panel side bottom plate 51 and the rear panel side bottom plate 52, respectively. In this case, the front panel side bottom plate 51 is formed into a roughly T-shape in a plan view. In addition, a lock claw 511 is also provided in a convex shape toward the left panel 14 at the tip (lower end) of the front panel side bottom plate 51 at the corner on the left panel 14 side. The bottom plate 52 on the rear plate side is formed at the rear plate side end (part of the composite plate 52S) of the composite plate 52S extending from the lower edge of the rear plate 13, into a substantially trapezoidal shape with the lower edge of the rear plate 13 as the bottom base. The left and right lower flaps 53, 54 are formed at the lower edges of the left side plate 14 and the right side plate 12 into a substantially trapezoidal shape with the lower edges of the left side plate 14 and the right side plate 12 as the bottom base. In the left lower flap 53, an adhesive piece 531 is formed extending vertically from the oblique side on the front plate 11 side in a substantially rectangular shape, and in the right lower flap 54, an adhesive piece 541 is formed extending vertically from the oblique side on the rear plate 13 side in a substantially rectangular shape. Note that folding lines 530, 540 are provided between the left and right lower flaps 53, 54 and the adhesive pieces 531, 541. Thus, the left lower flap 53 is adhesively fixed to the outer surface of the bottom plate 51 on the front panel side via an adhesive piece 531, and the right lower flap 54 is adhesively fixed to the outer surface of the bottom plate 52 on the back panel side via an adhesive piece 541.

The bottom cover side buffer function part 6 is formed in the remaining part of the composite plate 52S extending from the lower edge of the back plate 13. In this case, the composite plate 52S has a substantially rectangular rising part 61 which is raised continuously from the tip (lower end) of the bottom plate 52 on the back plate side and has a substantially rectangular opening 610 in the height direction from the bottom plate 52 on the back plate side, a substantially square flat part 62 which extends continuously from the rising part 61 toward the back plate 13 and has a substantially annular opening 620 cut out in a substantially annular shape through a tapered opening 6201 which is continuous with the opening 610 of the rising part 61, and a substantially rectangular fixing part 63 which is continuous with the flat part 62 and is adhesively fixed to the inner surface of the back plate 13. In this case, the opening 610 of the rising part 61 is cut out in a substantially rectangular shape so that a vial can be inserted, and the substantially annular opening 620 of the flat part 62 is formed in a substantially arc shape so that it can be engaged along the body of the vial.

Thus, box B4 is folded flat as described above. Then, in the vial packaging process, it is turned upright into a box shape, and the vials are placed into the cushioning function section 6 on the bottom lid side through the top opening of box B4, and after the vials are placed inside, the top opening is closed by the lid 16.

That is, when the top cover 16C is folded up to the top opening of the box B4 together with the extension plates 21 and the top opening is closed, as shown in FIG. 19, the tips of the top flaps 16LF, 16RF are pushed down below the top opening by the push-down plates 22, and the entire top flaps 16LF, 16RF are pushed down diagonally into the box B4. As a result, as shown in FIG. 21, the upper surfaces of the upper parts of the vials stored in the box B4 are pressed down by the pressing pieces 221 extending from the center of the tips of the top flaps 16LF, 16RF toward the back panel 13, and the tops of the vials stored in the box are pressed down and held from above by the tips of the top flaps 16LF, 16RF.

Even in this way, the same effect as in the second embodiment can be achieved. In particular, in the case of this box B4, since each pressing piece 221 extends from the center of the tip of each upper flap 16LF, 16RF toward the back panel 13, when the vial is stored in box B4 closer to the back panel 13 than the center of box B4, each pressing piece 221 can reliably press down the upper surface of the upper part of the vial.

In the case of this box B4, when closing the canopy 16 after opening it, as in the second embodiment, the upper flaps 16LF, 16RF of the canopy 16 are pushed toward the top opening of the box B4 with the thumb or index finger, the top cover 16C is pushed down onto the top opening of the box B4 with the thumb, and the insertion piece 16C1 of the top cover 16C is inserted inside the front panel 11, and the canopy 16 can be closed and resealed.

In each of the above embodiments, the pair of extension plates and the pair of upper flaps are each formed in an approximately trapezoidal shape (excluding the pair of upper flaps in the third embodiment), but these extension plates and upper flaps may each be formed in an approximately triangular shape instead of an approximately trapezoidal shape.
Even in this case, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be achieved.

In each of the above embodiments, each pressing piece is formed into an approximately rectangular or approximately triangular shape that continues to a portion of each upper flap by being separated from a portion of each presser plate by a roughly U-shaped or straight cut line that spans the extension plate, but each pressing piece may also be formed into an approximately semi-oval, approximately triangular, or approximately semicircular shape that continues to a portion of each upper flap by being separated from a portion of each presser plate by a roughly U-shaped, approximately V-shaped, or approximately C-shaped cut line that spans the extension plate.
Even in this case, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be achieved.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, the cushioning function part on the canopy side is naturally provided on both sides of the upper lid of the canopy, but this cushioning function part may be provided on both sides of the lower lid of the bottom lid, or on both sides of the upper lid of the canopy, or on both sides of the lower lid of the bottom lid, instead of the cushioning function part on the bottom lid side already described. In this case, it is preferable when packaging a medicine pack (a plurality of tablets or capsules stored in a single PTP sheet, and this PTP sheet is further pillow-packaged in multiple sheets or bound with a cable tie to form a bundle), etc. Specific examples are shown in Figures 22 and 23.

22 and 23, the four side panels 11-14, the canopy 16, and the canopy-side cushioning function section 2 are the same as in the first embodiment, and in this case, the bottom lid 16D and the bottom lid-side cushioning function section 2D are formed symmetrically with the canopy 16 and the canopy-side cushioning function section 2. Note that the box in Fig. 22 has a three-flap format, while the box in Fig. 23 has a four-flap format, with the box in Fig. 22 having no flaps above or below the front panel, and the box in Fig. 23 having inner lids above and below the back panel and outer lids above and below the front panel, and these are the points in which the two differ.
Thus, the medicine packs etc. stored in the box are held down from above and below by the upper and lower flaps on the top and bottom lid sides.
By doing so, it is possible to achieve the same or greater effects as those of the above-described embodiments with respect to the pharmaceutical packs in the box.
The box of the third embodiment can be applied to packaging of medicine packs and the like in the same configuration, not limited to packaging of vials, and can achieve the same effects. In this case, the bottom lid and the buffer functional part on the bottom lid side may be formed symmetrically with the canopy and the buffer functional part on the canopy side, and even in this case, the medicine packs stored in the box can be pressed and held from above and below by the upper and lower flaps on the canopy side and the bottom lid side, and the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be achieved for the medicine packs in the box.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the canopy 16 is in the form of three flaps, but it may also be in the form of four flaps, that is, having a pair of upper flaps formed respectively connected to the upper ends of two of the four side panels that face each other, and an outer lid and an inner lid formed respectively connected to the upper ends of two other side panels other than these two side panels, and even in such a four-flap form, the cushioning function section 2 can be similarly provided on the canopy (inner lid).
Even in this case, the same effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be achieved.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, the boxes are exemplified as packaging vials, pharmaceutical packs, etc., but each box may also be used to package various items other than vials and pharmaceutical packs. Similar effects can be achieved with various other items.

B1, B2, B3, B4 Packaging boxes with top cushioning function (packaging boxes, boxes)
11 Front panel C1 Fracture line 12 Right side panel 13 Rear panel 14 Left side panel 15 Adhesive piece 16 Top cover 16S Composite panel 16LF Top flap 16RF Top flap 16C Top cover 16C1 Insert piece 17 Bottom cover 17S Composite panel 17RF Bottom flap 17FF Bottom flap 18L Bottom cover 18R Bottom cover 2 Buffer function part 21 Extension plate 22 Pressing plate 220 Cut line 221 Pressing piece 222 Protruding edge 230 Cut line 231 Protruding edge 3 Buffer function part 30 Buffer space 31 Base 310 Support groove 311 Vertical holding plate 312 Holding groove 313 Horizontal holding plate 314 Fixing plate 315 Storage section 316 Locking piece 4 Bottom cover 41 Bottom plate 42 Lower flap 5 Bottom cover 51, 52 Bottom plate 511 Locking claw 52S Composite plate 53, 54 Lower flap 531, 541 Adhesive piece 6 Cushioning function section 61 Rising section 610 Opening 62 Planar section 620 Opening 6201 Opening 63 Fixing section P1, P2, P3, P4 Blank sheet 11P Front plate shape section 12P Right side plate shape section 13P Rear plate shape section 14P Left side plate shape section 15P Adhesive piece shape section 16SP Composite plate shape section 161P Upper flap shape section 162P Upper flap shape section 17SP Composite plate shape section 171P Lower flap shape section 172P Lower flap portion 18P Upper cover portion 181P Insert piece portion 191P Lower cover portion 192P Lower cover portion 31P Pedestal portion 311P Vertical holding plate portion 313P Horizontal holding plate portion 314P Fixing plate portion L1-L10 Folding line L12-L23 Folding line

Claims (6)

a top cover for covering a top opening, and a bottom cover for covering a bottom opening, the top cover comprising: four side panels formed in parallel to one another and contiguous to form a front panel, a back panel, a left side panel, and a right side panel; an adhesive piece formed in accordance with one side edge of a connecting side that is connected to a side edge of one side panel on one side of the four side panels; a pair of flaps formed in conjunction with both end edges of two of the four side panels that face each other, and a cover formed on both end edges of one side panel or two side panels other than the two side panels;
A cushioning function part capable of holding and holding an article is provided inside the box,
The buffer function portion is
A pair of extension plates are provided on both sides of the top cover and/or the bottom cover and are foldably extended to the inner surface of the cover;
a pair of push-down plates arranged between the tips of the pair of extension plates and the tips of the flaps of the top cover and/or the bottom cover so as to be capable of pushing down and guiding the flaps into the box;
The present invention is configured to include
By assembling the box, the pressing plates extending from the inner surface of the lid into the box press the flaps below the top opening and/or the bottom opening, and the flaps press and hold medicines and other various items.
A packaging box with a cushioning function. The packaging box with cushioning function according to claim 1, wherein the pair of extension plates are formed on both side edges of the lid, with the side edges as the lower base and the upper base biased toward the tip of the lid, in a generally trapezoidal shape extending outside the lid, or alternatively in a generally triangular shape, and the pair of flaps are formed on the respective edges of the two side panels, with the edge as the lower base and the upper base biased toward the side away from the lid, in a generally trapezoidal shape extending outside the two side panels, or alternatively in a generally triangular shape, and the pair of pressing plates are formed on the respective edges of the two side panels, with the lower edges as the lower base and the upper base biased toward the side away from the lid, in a generally triangular shape between the oblique sides of the extension plates and the oblique sides of the flaps, which extend from the intersections of the lower bases of the extension plates and the lower bases of the flaps. The packaging box with cushioning function according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the pair of pressure plates is partially separated from the pressure plate and the extension plate, and the portion protrudes from the oblique side of the flap as a pressing piece. The packaging box with cushioning function according to claim 3, wherein the pressing piece is an oblique side of the flap and protrudes from one end side of the intersection between the bottom of the extension plate and the bottom of the flap, or the opposite end side, or the middle between them. The cushioning packaging box according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the pressing piece is separated from a part of the pressing plate by a roughly U-shaped, roughly V-shaped or roughly C-shaped cut line, and is formed into a roughly rectangular, roughly semi-oval, roughly triangular or roughly semicircular shape that continues to the oblique side of the flap. The packaging box with cushioning function according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the pressing piece is formed by cutting a part of the pressing piece across the extension plate from the pressing plate.