PACKING BOX
FIELD OF THF, INVENTION The present invention relates to a packing box for a roll of a film, such as a movie film.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is usual for photographic film manufacturers to wind a 35 mm movie film into a roll, and pack this roll in a flat metallic container, called a film can, for shipping. This film can is stacked with other film cans, and put together in a shipping box made of a corrugated paperboard. The film cans protect the movie films from shock and vibration during shipping, and also keep blank (or unexposed) movie films from light and chemical gas that may cause photographic fog and other problems.
Having a sufficient physical strength, the film cans provide sure protection of the movie films against light and moisture. The film cans are, however, relatively heavy and expensive in material cost. Actually, the weight of the film can directly affects the shipping cost because a plurality of, for example ten or more, shipping boxes each containing several film cans are stacked on a pallet for transportation in shipping.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a packing box capable of providing sufficient durability against shock and vibration during shipping while reducing material cost and shipping cost.
In order to achieve the above and other objects, the packing box according to the present invention is made of a corrugated paperboard, and includes a container portion for receiving a film roll lying flat on its side, a top panel for closing the container

portion, three fold panels and at least one finger-hanging portion . The container portion has an open top, and four side panels for surrounding front, rear, right and left sides of the film roll. The top panel is hinged through a score line to the rear side panel, and closes the open top of the container portion. The fold panels are connected through fold lines to each of the front, right and left side panels. The finger-hanging portion is provided near the score line in the top panel.
Tn a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the finger-hanging portion is located in a region not overlapping a space for receiving the film roll. It may be possible to provide the finger-hanging portion on both ends of the top panel.
The finger-hanging portion is a finger-hanging hole for holding the packing box with a finger. In another preferred embodiment, the finger-hanging portion is a substantially semicircular or circular perforation which is press-cut with a finger to define a finger-hanging hole for holding the packing box.
It is preferred to enclose the film roll in the container portion with a light-shielding and moisture-proof bag.
The packing box further includes front, right and left flaps connected through score lines to front and both lateral sides of the top panel. These flaps are inserted in the container portion upon closing the top panel. In the fully-erected packing box, flutes of the corrugated paperboard of the right and left flaps extend in a height direction of the packing box.
The packing box further includes a plurality of lock tabs and cut-outs. The lock tabs are provided on a leading edge of each of the fold panels. The cut-outs are provided in a bottom panel of the container portion, and receive the insertion of the lock tabs.
The packing box further includes a sealing label for

adhering a front end of the top panel to the front side panel. Preferably, the sealing label complies with a JXS Z 0202 drop test, and stays unbroken as the packing box is dropped from a height of 1.5 m with a 4 kg film roll packed therein.
According to the present invention, the three side walls out of the four side walls surrounding the film roll are doubled, and the top and bottom panels support the entire upper and lower surfaces of the film roll. The packing box can therefore provide sufficient durability against shock and vibration during shipping. Made of a corrugated paperboard, the packing box can not only reduce the material cost, but also reduce the shipping cost owing to its light-weight. Additionally, because of the finger-hanging hole in the top panel, it is possible to remove the packing box from the shipping box without damaging the packing box or disassembling the shipping box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a series of procedures for packing a film roll in a packing box according to the present invention and putting it In a shipping box;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank for assembly into the packing box;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the partially-unfolded packaging box;
FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the packaging box, taken along a longitudinal side;
FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the packing box containing a film roll;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the packaging box sealed

with a sealing label;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the packing box being removed from the shipping box;
fIG. 8 is a partial plan view of the packing box showing a finger hanging portion;
FIG. 9 is a partial plan view showing a finger hanging portion according to another embodiment; and
fIG. 10 is a plan view of a large shipping box holding two packing boxes side by side.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, a packing box 10 encloses a film roll
12 lying flat on a side. The film roll 12 is a roll of an unexposed
movie film 11, about 35 mm in width and 610 m (2000 feet) in length,
wound around a hub (core) 13 and fastened with an adhesive tape
15 on a distal end 14 . The film roll 12 is put into a light-shielding
and moisture-proof plastic bag 16. This plastic bag 16 is then folded from an opening edge 17 thereof, and this folded portion 18 is closed with an adhesive tape 19 to become a filled bag 20. The filled bag 20 is packed in the packing box 10. In place of the plastic bag 16, any conventional bag having light-shielding and moisture-proof properties may be used.
The packing box 10 includes a container portion 21 for receiving the filled bag 20. The container portion 21 has inner dimensions of, for example, 335 mm in length, 335 nm in width and 38 mm in depth, and opens on the top. This opening is closed by a top panel 22. The top panel 22 is fastened, or sealed, with a sealing label 23. The packing box 10 is stacked with other packing boxes 10, and this stack of the packing boxes 10 is put in a shipping box 24. The shipping box 24 has inner dimensions of, for example, 363 mm in length, 385 nm in width and 168 mm in depth, and is made of a corrugated paperboard. The shipping box 24 is configured to

i i
encase four packing boxes 10. |
As shown in FIG. 2, the packing box 10 is made by folding i
a corrugated paperboard into a box. The packing box 10 has a {
rectangular bottom panel 27 with a length L and width W. A front side panel 33, left and right side panels 34, 35 and a rear side panel 36 of the same height H extend from the bottom panel 27 along score lines 28-31 to be bent at a right angle. The front side panel 33, the left side panel 34 and the right side panel 35 are connected to a front fold panel 40, a left fold panel 41 and a right fold panel 42 respectively through lines 37-39 (shown by dual dashed lines) to be folded. These fold panels 40-42 have a pair of lock tabs 46-48 projecting from leading edges 43-45 that touch the bottom panel 27. The lock tabs 46-48 are Inserted Into cut-outs 50-52 extending along the score lines 28-30 of the bottom panel 27. The fold panels 40-42 double the front and lateral walls of the container portion 21 as they are folded, and provide compression strength and reopenability.
The front side panel 33 and the rear side panel 36 have two insert tabs 54-57 extending horizontally. These insert tabs 54-57 are inserted between the left side panel 34 and the left fold panel 41 or the right side panel 35 and the right fold panel 42. The insert tabs 54-57 reinforce the corners of the container portion 21, and improve the compression strength of the packing box 10. Additionally, in the blank for the packing box 10, the flutes of: the corrugated paperboard extend in a direction of the length L. In the fully-erected packing box 10, the flutes on the lateral walls of the container portion 21 extend in the height direction of the packing box 10, and increase the strength to support the top panel 22, The compression strength of the packing box 10 is more improved accordingly.
As better seen in FIG. 3, the top panel 22 is connected to the rear side panel 36 through a score line 60. Front, left and

right; flaps 61-63 extend from the top panel 22 along score lines 64-66 respectively. In the assembled box, the front flap 61 is inserted alongside the front fold panel 40. The left and right flaps 62, 63 are inserted alongside the left and right fold panels 41, 42 respectively. These flaps 61-63 have the height identical to the heights H of the front, rear, left and right side panels 33-36. The height H corresponds to the width of the movie film 11, and as shown in FIG. 4, an undersurface of the top panel 22 makes full contact with an upper surface of the laid-down filled bag 20. Additionally, because of the flaps 61-63 that make contact by their leading edge.s with the bottom panel 27, the top panel
22 has strength against a pressing force from above the packing
box 10.
As shown in FIG. 5, the filled bag 20 generally touches the front flap 61, the left and right flaps 62, 63 and the rear side panel 36. The packing box 10 protects the front side of the filled bag 20 by means of three panels, or namely the front side panel 33, the front fold panel 40 and the front flap 61, and protects each lateral side of the filled bag 20 by means of three panels, or namely the left side panel 34, the left fold panel 41 and the left flap 62 or the right side panel 35, the right fold panel 42 and the right flap 63. As a result, the filled bag 20 is effectively protocLed from the force in the radial direction.
As shown in FIG. 6, the top panel 22 is adhered to the front side panel 33 by means of a sealing label 23. The sealing label
23 carries product information 70, 71 printed at the positions
corresponding to top and front surfaces of the packing box 10.
The product information 70, 71 represents such attributes of the
content (movie film) as, a type of a film {for example, negative
film), an emulsion side of the film (for example, inside), a
perforation pitch, a film identification number, a film length
and a type of film emulsion. The sealing label 23 complies with

requirements of a JIS (Japanese Industrial Standards) 7, 0202 drop test, and does not break, or tear upon dropping the packing box 10 holding a 4 kg movie film from a height of 1.5 rn. Thie sealing label 23 preferably has a double-layer structure of a synthetic paper and a high-quality paper. This double-layer structure is durable for shipping and handling. Additionally, the high-quality paper placed on top allows the product information 70, 71 to be easily printed thereon by an Inkjet printer or a rubber stamp. If the sealing label 23 is made only of a high-quality paper, the vibration during shipping may break the sealing label 23. Additionally, if a synthetic paper is placed on top of a high-quality paper, the product information 70, 71 is hardly printed with a normal ink.
The packing box 10 is tightly packed in the shipping box 24. This prevents the packing box 10 from bouncing in the shipping box 24 during shipping, and protects the movie film 11 from damaging. However, this tightly-packed packing box 10 cannot be removed easily with hands from the shipping box 24. In view of this, the top panel 22 is provided with a finger-hanging hole 80.
To prevent a finger tip from touching the movie film 11, the finger-hanging hole 80 is positioned in a region 81 (see, FIG. 5), or a corner of the packing box 10, apart from the space for receiving the movie film 11. Additionally, to provent the top panel 22 from opening as the packing box 10 is lifted, the finger-hanging hole 80 is closed to the score line 60. In the present embodiment, the finger-hanging hole 80 is positioned to touch the score line 60. For removing the packing box 10 from the shipping box 24, the finger-hanging hole 80 receives a finger, and allows for holding the packing box 10 with the finger.
As shown in FIG. 8, a finger-hanging portion 91 composed of a perforation (cut-off line) 90 in a substantially semicircular or U shape in place of the finger-hanging hole 80. Upon pressing ,

of the finger-hanginq portion 91 with a finger tip, a part of the top panel 22 is cut off along the perforation 90, and folded to define a semicircular finger-hanging hole.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 9, a finger-hanging portion 93 composed of a circular perforation 92 may be used. Upon pressing of the finger-hanging portion 93 with a finger tip, a part of the top panel 22 is cut off along the perforation 92 to define a circular finger-hanging hole.
It is preferred to locate the finger-hanging hole 80 and the finger-hanging portions 91, 93 to the position near the score line 60 and not overlapping the space for receiving the movie film 11. Specifically, the position near the score line 60 is a region approximately within 13 cm, or preferably 8 cm, from the score line 60. The movie film 11 requires extreme care in handling, and easily causes a photographic fog due to pressure upon physical contact with a finger. This problem can be prevented by locating the finger-hanging hole 80 and the finger-hanging portions 91, 93 to the position outside the space for receiving the movie film 11. It is possible to provide the top panel 22 with two or more finger-hanging holes 80 or the finger-hanging portions 91, 93. In this case, the finger-hanging holes or portions are preferably located on both sides of the space for receiving the movie film 11.
As shown in FIG. 10, it is also possible to use a horizontally-long shipping box 124 that holds stacks of two abreast packing boxes. It is convenient in this case to use packing boxes 94 having two finger-hanging holes 80 on both ends of the top panel, and orient two abreast packing boxes 94 to adjoin the finger-hanging holes 80 in the shipping box 124. By inserting fingers of one hand into two adjoining finger-hanging holes 80 and nipping the side walls between these holes 80, two packing boxes 94 can be lifted at once.

A typica.]. movie film 11 is roughly 35 mm in width, 610 m (2000 feet) in length and 3 kg or more in weight. Consequently, resin coating may be applied around the finger-hanging hole 80. ■The resin coating reinforces the finger-hanging hole 80 to keep it from breaking as the packing boxes 10, 94 are removed from the shipping box even with the movie film 11 of 3 kg or heavier. Instead of the resin coating, the rim of the finger-hanging hole BO may be thickened. With the movie film 11 of 3 kg or heavier, the sealing label 23 may be breakable in removing the packing boxes 10, 94 from the shipping box. In view of this, the sealing label 23 is formed of the synthetic and high-quality papers into a double-layer structure that can prevent the breakage of the sealing label 23.
To evaluate the strength of the sealing label 23, a drop test specified by JIS Z 0202, or simply JIS Z 0202 drop test was conducted. In particular, the movie film 11 of 35 mm in width, 610 m (2000 feet) in length and 4 kg in weight was packed in the packing boxes 10, 94. The top panels 22 were adhered to the container portions 21, and these packing boxes 10, 94 were dropped from a height of 1.5m. The sealing label 23 having the double-layer structure of the synthetic and high-quality papers did not break in the test (experiment 1) . The sealing label 23 having a single-layer structure of the high-quality paper, by contrast, broke in the test (experiment 2). An additional drop test was conducted under the same condition as the experiment 2 using empty packing boxes 10, 94. The sealing label 23 having the single-layer structure of the high-quality paper did not break in the test (experiment 3). These results concluded that the sealing label 23 having the double-layer structure of the synthetic and high-quality papers was suitable for packing the generally heavy movie films 11.
Although the above embodiments illustrate the packing box

for the film roll 12 of the movie film 11, the packing box of the present invention can be used for film rolls of magnetic film and other types of films. The packing box 10 is particularly suitable for such film rolls that are relatively heavy and require extreme care in handling. The packing box 10 can also be used as a returnable container for exposed movie films. In this case, from a durability standpoint, the movie film is preferably put into a light-shielding and moisture-proof plastic bag, and packed in the packing box 10.
Although the present invention has been fully described by the way of the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, various changes and modifications will be apparent to those having skill in this field. Therefore, unless otherwise these changes and modifications depart from the scope of the present invention, they should be construed as included therein.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A.packing box composed of a corrugated paperboard for
packing a film roll, said packing box comprising:
d container portion for receiving said film roll lying flat on its side, said container portion having an open top and four side panels for surrounding front, rear, right and left sides of said film roll;
a top panel connected through a score line to said rear side panel in an openable manner, and for closing said open top of said container portion;
three fold panels connected through fold lines to each of said front, right and left side panels; and
at least one finger-hanging portion provided near said score line in said top panel.
2. The packing box of claim 1, wherein said finger-hanging portion is located in a region not overlapping a space for receiving said film roll.
3. The packing box of claim 2, wherein said finger-hanging portion is provided on both lateral ends of said top panel.
4. The packing box ot claim 2, wherein said finger-hanging portion comprises a finger-hanging hole for holding said packing box:
5. The packing box of claim 2, wherein said finger-hanging portion is a substantially semicircular or circular perforation which is press-cut with a finger to define a finger-hanging hole for holding said packing box.
6. The packing box of claim 2, further comprising a

liqht-shieldinq and moisture-proof bag for enclosing said film roll in said container portion.
7. The packing box of claim 1, further comprising:
5 front, right and left flaps connected through score lines to front and both lateral sides of said top panel, said flaps being inserted in said container portion upon closing said top panel, and
wherein flutes of said corrugated paperboard of said right 10 and left flaps extend in a height direction of said packing box in a fully-erected state.
8. The packing box of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of lock tabs provided on a leading edge of each 15 of said fold panels; and
a plurality of cut-outs provided in a bottom pane) of said container portion, and for receiving said lock tabs.
9. The packing box of claim 1, further comprising a sealing
20 label for adhering a front end of said top panel to said front
side panel, said sealing label complying with requirements of a JIS 7, 0202 drop test and staying unbroken as said packing box is dropped from a height of 1.5 with a 4 kg film roll packed therein.