CPC Definition - Subclass B31B
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Classification in indexing codes B31B 2100/00 - B31B 2170/00 is mandatory.
Classification in indexing code B31B 2247/00 is recommended.
All aspects disclosed by the documents must be classified (deep-indexing).
Example illustrating deep-indexing:
"A device for forming a multi-layered tubular web into flat bags. In one embodiment a handle is formed by punching".
This document will be given the following classification:
B31B 2160/10 and
All relevant information contained in a document must be classified, irrespective of its position in the document: description, claims or figures are to be treated with equal importance.
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
blanks | sheets pre-cut or creased for being folded into an individual container |
boxes or cartons | rigid or semi-rigid containers, also bags formed similarly to cartons, trays, barrels, tubes or cups, other than articles formed by winding |
envelopes or bags | essentially flexible containers, the final shape of which is determined by their contents |
mandrel | an object such as a block, cylinder or cone having a shape used for forming a container by wrapping a sheet or blank around said object |
plunger | means for forming a container shape by driving an object into a sheet or a blank such that the sheet or blank is pushed into or through folding dies or cavities to form the shape |
sheet | individual pre-cut sections of material used for forming a blank or for producing a single container |
web | continuous material used for forming blanks or for producing containers |
Documents relating to box making must be classified in at least one sub-group of B31B 50/00 and at least one of the sub-groups of B31B 2100/00 - B31B 2120/00
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Breaking creases to facilitate setting-up boxes in relation to packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Machines and devices for opening pre-formed flattened containers into three-dimensional or 3D articles | |
Machines, apparatus or devices for, or methods of, packaging articles or materials; Unpacking |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Closing boxes in relation to packaging operations |
This place covers:
Specific control aspects, e.g. sensors, being used for performing control operations or quality control.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Automatic control, checking, warning or safety devices |
Documents which merely mention an automatic control without providing specific details should not be classified in this group.
This place covers:
Holders for the work piece.
Holders carrying feeding and guiding means.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Feeding articles |
This place covers:
Driving systems for continuous or intermittent advancement of webs. Systems for supplying webs from rolls or stacks of fan-folded material. Temporary storage of webs in accumulators or buffer units.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Advancing webs |
This place covers:
Cutting sheets, blanks or webs.
This place does not cover:
Cutting window openings |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Cutting, e.g. perforating, punching, slitting or trimming | |
Cutting per se | |
Means for removing cut-out material or waste |
This place covers:
Also, separation of blanks or sections from perforated webs by tearing.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
The Figure illustrates a laser (26) transversely cutting a web (30) into blanks (16).
This place covers:
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
The Figure illustrates a web (154) which is cut longitudinally (152).
This place covers:
Making blanks from sheets or making additional cuts or perforations in blanks, e.g. to form box flaps. Also, separation of blanks or sections from perforated sheets by tearing.
Illustrative examples of subject matter classified in this place:
1.
2.
Figure 1 illustrates a sheet (28) being cut. The sheet is formed into a blank (30) with cutout holes for hands (36), flaps (34) and cut lines (32) in Figure 2 after cutting.
If appropriate, classification should also be made in groups B31B 50/142, B31B 50/144 or B31B 50/146.
This place covers:
Ruling devices or methods for defining or forming weakening lines such as fold lines in sheets, blanks or webs with or without removing material.
The weakening lines are being formed by e.g. creasing, scoring, grooving, incising, engraving, marking or milling.
Illustrative examples of subject matter classified in this place:
1.
2.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Ruling | |
Creasing not limited to box or bag making |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Folding thin material |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Wrapping as packaging operation consisting of folding sheet material around a product |
This place covers:
Materials that are folded while being conveyed.
Illustrative examples of subject matter classified in this place:
1.
2a.
2b.
2c.
Figures 2a, 2b and 2c illustrate the progression as flap (334) of blank (S) is folded by being guided along stationary guiding surfaces (114a,115a).
This place covers:
Folding blanks, e.g. the blanks comprising fold lines, without compressing the blanks during folding operation.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
1a.
1b.
1c.
Figures 1a, 1b and 1c illustrate the progression as plunger (84) moves into the blank (L1), pushing the blank into the folding die (74).
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Connecting surfaces or edges by interengaging tongues and flaps |
This place covers:
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
1a.
1b.
Figures 1a and 1b illustrate folding of flap (10) against a jig (12) by means of pivoting (2 through 8) a folding lever (1).
This place does not cover:
Folding sheets, blanks or webs by plungers moving through folding dies |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Folding sheets, blanks or webs around mandrels moving in circular paths |
This place does not cover:
Folding sheets, blanks or webs | |
Embossing of rigid or semi-rigid containers |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Dry-forming cellulose substrates from loose fibres (air-laid substrates) and subsequent moulding or pressing the substrates | |
Deep-drawing between complementary mould parts using mechanical means only | |
Making three-dimensional or 3D articles by multi-step processes including pressing | |
Shaping by using deep-drawing techniques | |
Fibreboard manufacturing processes comprising sheet forming and subsequent moulding/pressing |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Modifying the shape of tubular paper products |
This place covers:
Attaching edges or surfaces together or taping.
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
opposing surfaces | any facing surfaces that are in contact. For example, overlapping edge surfaces or the facing surfaces of double-walled containers. |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Joining articles by injection moulding |
This place covers:
Also, the lining of formed boxes or trays or the liner being applied during forming operation.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Coating; Impregnating; Waterproofing; De-coating | |
Spraying or atomising in general; Applying fluent materials to surfaces in general | |
Coated paper; Coating material | |
Paper-impregnating or coating material | |
Physical treatment of coated paper | |
Impregnated or coated fibreboard |
Classification in indexing code B31B 2120/40 is mandatory.
This place covers:
Expanding flat tubular shapes into an open configuration in the process of forming a volumetric container.
Illustrative examples of subject matter classified in this place:
1.
2.
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the progress of erecting a flattened box into a 3D shape having a volume.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Folding sheets, blanks or webs, e.g. folding a flat blank into a container form or a 3D shape | |
Opening or setting-up boxes in relation to packaging operations |
This place covers:
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
1a., 1b. and 1c.
Figures 1a, 1b and 1c illustrate the progression as the flattened box blank (2) with top surface (29), side surface (27) and folding line (8) is pushed against fingers (67) to form an open box.
This place covers:
The use of air to assist in erecting a container, for example, by blown air, suction or suction cups for gripping or manipulating the flattened articles.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
1a.
1b.
1c.
Figures 1a, 1b and 1c illustrate the progression as the flattened box blank (8) is formed into an open box via pneumatic suction means (10 and 11)
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Auxiliary devices operating on sheets, blanks, webs, containers, or packages in relation to packaging operations |
This place covers:
Also, the wrapping of formed boxes with a (decorative) covering sheet.
Classification in indexing code B31B 2120/50 is mandatory.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Patches or strips having the function of uniting opposed surfaces or edges | |
Applying tear-strips or tear-tape in relation to packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Patches having the function of uniting opposed surfaces or edges |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Strips having the function of uniting opposed surfaces or edges |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Applying tabs over discharge openings in relation to packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Applying or incorporating rigid fittings, e.g. discharge spouts, in relation to packaging operations |
This place covers:
Means or methods for handling finished boxes, e.g. any combination of removing a completed box from the machine, stacking, counting or other means of preparing the finished boxes for stock, storage or transport.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Delivering sheets or thin material from machines |
Documents relating to bag making must be classified in at least one subgroup of B31B 70/00 and in at least one of the subgroups of B31B 2150/00 - B31B 2170/00.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Shaping sheet material under pressure | |
Deep-drawing between complementary mould parts using mechanical means only | |
Fibreboard manufacturing processes comprising sheet forming and subsequent moulding/pressing |
This place covers:
Mechanical, pneumatic or manual opening means.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
1a.
1b.
Figures 1a and 1b illustrate the opening of a flattened bag via pneumatic suction means (6 and 7).
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Opening or setting-up bags in relation to packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Closing bags in relation to packaging operations |
This place does not cover:
Reinforcing by applying patches or by folding in connection with forming or mounting handles |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Feeding articles |
This place covers:
Driving systems for continuous and intermittent advancement of webs.
Systems for supplying webs from rolls or stacks of fan-folded material.
Temporary storage of webs in accumulators or buffer units.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Advancing webs |
This place covers:
Cutting sheets, blanks or webs.
This place does not cover:
Cutting window openings |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Cutting sheets, blanks or webs for rigid containers | |
Forming integral handles by punching or cutting | |
Cutting per se | |
Means for removing cut-out material or waste |
This place covers:
Also, the separation of blanks or sections from perforated webs by tearing.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
The Figure illustrates cutting means (1).
This place covers:
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
This place covers:
Also, the separation of blanks or sections from perforated sheets by tearing.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
The Figure illustrates drum (3) which rotates with cutting die having a cutter (13) and passes over the blank (10) to trim the edge of the blank (13').
This place covers:
Ruling devices or methods for defining or forming weakening lines such as fold lines in sheets, blanks or webs with or without removing material.
The weakening lines are being formed by e.g. creasing, scoring, grooving, incising, engraving, marking or milling.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
1a. and 1b.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Surface scoring of sheets, blanks or webs for rigid containers | |
Cutting, e.g. perforating, punching, slitting or trimming | |
Creasing not limited to box or bag making |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Folding thin material |
This place covers:
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
1a.
1b.
1c.
1d.
1e.
Figures 1a-1e illustrate the progress of flexible blank being wrapped around mandrel (F).
This place covers:
Materials that are folded while being continuously conveyed, e.g. edges are folded by being guided along stationary members that urge the edges into a folded configuration.
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
The Figure illustrates stationary members (64) folding continuously fed material.
This place covers:
Illustrative example of subject matter classified in this place:
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Coating; Impregnating; Waterproofing; De-coating | |
Spraying or atomising in general; Applying fluent materials to surfaces, in general | |
Coated paper; Coating material | |
Paper-impregnating or coating material | |
Physical treatment of coated paper | |
Impregnated or coated fibreboard |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Patches as reinforcement for handles | |
Applying tear-strips or tear-tape in relation to packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Applying tabs over discharge openings in relation to packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Applying or incorporating profile-strips, e.g. for reclosable bags, in relation to packaging operations |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Machine direction | indicates the main direction of transport of the sheets or webs through the machine |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Cross direction | indicates a direction perpendicular to the main direction of transport or the sheets of webs through the machine |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Machine direction | indicates the main direction of transport of the sheets or webs through the machine |
In this place, the following terms or expressions are used with the meaning indicated:
Cross direction | indicates a direction perpendicular to the main direction of transport of the sheets or webs through the machine |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Applying or incorporating rigid fittings, e.g. discharge spouts in relation to packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Making separate handles |
This place covers:
Methods for readying formed bags (flexible containers) into a state where they are in condition for shipping, storage or filling, including means or methods for removing a finished bag from the machine, transporting the finished bags to a processing machine, e.g. providing bags in stacks, in a roll or wicketing.
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Filling or other packaging operations | |
Delivering sheets or web material from machines |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Making boxes in relation with packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Making bags having multilayered walls from webs | |
Forming bags from single sheets in relation with packaging operations |
This place covers:
The longitudinal axis of a container is the axis that intersects the bottom and opening of the container.
Illustrative example of the subject matter classified in this place:
This place covers:
The longitudinal axis of a container which is the axis that intersects the bottom and opening of the container.
Illustrative example of the subject matter classified in this place:
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Forming bags from webs in relation with packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Forming bags from several webs in relation with packaging operations |
Attention is drawn to the following places, which may be of interest for search:
Suction cleaner bags |