1、Designation: D 6804 02 (Reapproved 2007)Standard Guide forHand Hole Design in Corrugated Boxes1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6804; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A
2、 number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. Asuperscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1. Scope1.1 This standard provides guidelines for designing pre-cutapertures intended for use as hand holes in corrugated boxesduring manual hand
3、ling of boxed cargo.1.2 LimitationsThis standard offers guidance for packagedevelopment and for subsequent testing of boxes to measureperformance. It is not intended to provide specific informationon the design of hand holes.1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regardedas the standard
4、. The SI units are for information only.1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory
5、requirements prior to use.2. Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2D 585 Practice for Sampling and Accepting a Single Lot ofPaper, Paperboard, Fiberboard, and Related ProductD 996 Terminology of Packaging and Distribution Environ-mentsD 1974 Practice for Methods of Closing, Sealing, andReinforcing
6、 Fiberboard BoxesD 4332 Practice for Conditioning Containers, Packages, orPackaging Components for TestingD 5276 Test Method for Drop Test of Loaded Containers byFree FallE4 Practices for Force Verification of Testing MachinesE 122 Practice for Calculating Sample Size to Estimate,With a Specified To
7、lerable Error, the Average for aCharacteristic of a Lot or Process3. Terminology3.1 DefinitionsGeneral definitions for packaging and dis-tribution environments are found in Terminology D 996.3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:3.2.1 hand holesapertures, pre-cut in corrugated boxes byb
8、ox manufacturers, as requested by box purchasers. Theseapertures facilitate manual handling during distribution andimprove grip during handling.4. Significance and Use4.1 It may be desirable at times to provide hand holes incorrugated boxes. Package designers use hand holes to solveergonomic and han
9、dling problems associated with large orawkward containers. This guide provides an aid for properhand hole design and use.4.2 Ergonomics:4.2.1 In studying and applying ergonomic principles, ofprimary concern is the need to provide a safe work environ-ment for material handlers who may be required to
10、lift ortransport packages. A safe work environment is difficult todefine and varies with the package in question. Severalergonomic safety issues involve repetitive motions and spineloading in the lifting process. Other issues involve finger andfoot protection.4.2.2 In distribution centers or warehou
11、ses, low back disor-ders have been identified as areas of elevated risk. Low backproblems continue to represent the most common and costlymusculoskeletal disorders in the work place.34.2.3 One method used to reduce the concern of distance oflift (spinal loading) is to bring the reach of the material
12、handlers hands closer to the body. With large or awkwardboxes, placing hand holes in a more advantageous position cansolve this problem.4.3 NIOSH:4.3.1 The National Institute for Occupational Safety andHealth (NIOSH) has published Work Practices Guide forManual Lifting.4This document may be of assis
13、tance indeveloping proper hand holes and their placement for a specificpackage.4.4 Improper Use of Hand Holes:4.4.1 Because of past lawsuits involving the use and misuseof hand holes, the corrugated box industry prefers the term1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D10 on Packaging
14、andis the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D10.27 on Paper and PaperboardProducts.Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2007. Published November 2007. Originallyapproved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 6804 02.2For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org,
15、 orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org. For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information, refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3“Effects of Box Features on Spine Loading during Warehouse Order Selecting,”Marras, Granata, Davis, Allread, and Jorgensen, The I
16、nstitute for Ergonomics, OhioState University.4NIOSH Technical Report No. 81-122 from the US Department of Health andHuman Sevices.1Copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.access hole instead of hand hole on specifications. Th
17、isterminology may have to be agreed upon between supplier anduser.Fig. 14.4.2 Since all end use conditions and requirements cannotbe foreseen and since designing for worst case scenario for allapplications is prohibitively expensive, designers should fol-low best practices. The prudent designer will
18、 consider productand package weight when deciding the proper use of a handhole.5. General Design Considerations5.1 Hand holes can take many forms (see Fig. 1). They can:5.1.1 Be a simple hole in a box,5.1.2 Be a complex molded handle with a reinforcementmounted at the attaching point,5.1.3 Incorpora
19、te rope handles, and5.1.4 Be reinforced by the box maker with reinforcing tapeapplied above them.5.2 If possible, position hand holes so that product andinternal cushioning material can add support for carrying (seeFig. 2). If the box must bear all the weight, it is best to positionthe hand holes at
20、 least two (2) in. below the horizontal scoreline of end panels to distribute the compressive forces andavoid failure. When placing hand holes, consider productbalance and box closure method.FIG. 1 Common Hand Hole TypesD 6804 02 (2007)25.3 Some closure methods, such as taping, can affect handhole p
21、lacement. When a hand hole is to be used with a boxstyle such as an RSC, which is to have a tape closure (seePractice D 1974), it is best to allow enough room (2 to 212-in.)for the end-leg of the tape (see Fig. 3). For a Bliss style box,hand holes should be placed just below the top flange (see Fig.
22、4).5.4 Several methods are used to reinforce a box above thehand hole. For example, pressure sensitive, heat activated, andadhesive based products can be used. Some have fiberglass orpolyester yarn reinforcement, some are tensilized, and someare made of heavy kraft paper (see Fig. 5).5.5 When possib
23、le, use curved type hand holes: they willnot tear as easily as the straight top design (see Fig. 4). Thecurved design eliminates a sharp edge at the corners, resultingin a more evenly distributed lifting force across the surface.Note that a different type of grasping device will be requiredwhen test
24、ing curved hand holes as opposed to straight ones (seeX1.3, Apparatus).6. Evaluation6.1 The test methods in Appendix X1 are not ASTMstandards, but are evaluation methods to assist in determiningthe relative performance of hand holes during handling in thedistribution environment. The methods, in exp
25、erimental trials,were shown to have high variability between laboratories;however, within laboratories the methods were useful indetermining relative performance.7. Keywords7.1 corrugated boxes; distribution environment; hand holes;manual handlingFIG. 2 Box with Internal Cushioning Material, showing
26、 location above Hand Hole to provide Added Support for CarryingFIG. 3 RSC Style Box with Tape Closure, showing location ofHand Hole 2.5 in. below top edge of boxD 6804 02 (2007)3FIG. 4 Bliss Style Box showing Curved Hand Hole located just below the Top FlangeFIG. 5 RSC Style Box showing placement of
27、 Reinforcement Material around perimeter of box, just above Hand HoleD 6804 02 (2007)4APPENDIX(Nonmandatory Information)X1. EVALUATION OF PERFORMANCE OF HAND HOLES IN CORRUGATED BOXESX1.1 Summary of MethodsX1.1.1 Method A, Jerk TestUses free-fall drop test appa-ratus in conjunction with a support ap
28、paratus and graspingdevice(s), imparting a sudden sharp arrested motion (jerk) tothe hand hole area of a corrugated box. A grasping devicesimilar to that shown in Fig. X1.1 provides contact with thehand hole.X1.1.1.1 This method is applicable for testing both one- andtwo-hand lifting of boxes. It is
29、 not intended for horizontalpulling of the box (see Method B, Tensile Test).X1.1.2 Method B, Tensile TestUses tensile testing ma-chines having a constant free-running crosshead speed orconstant extension rate to determine the maximum load carry-ing ability of the hand hole(s) in the tested box. Cont
30、act withthe hand hole is provided by the same type of grasping deviceused for Method A, and the box is fixed to the stationaryportion of the machine.X1.1.2.1 With proper fixturing, this method is applicable totesting one- and two-hand lifting, and horizontal pulling ofboxes.X1.2 Significance and Use
31、X1.2.1 These test methods will assist in determiningwhether hand holes in corrugated boxes will perform tospecific level(s) of handling force(s) expected in the distribu-tion environment during manual handling. These forces can bestatic, that is, a box picked up slowly, or dynamic, a box pickedup or
32、 moved with a jerking motion. These methods may beused to compare different types of hand hole/box construction,or to measure performance to a specified level.X1.2.2 During testing, forces are applied in directions mostfrequently seen in normal manual handling. In addition to thenormal direction of
33、force (usually vertical), other directionscould be diagonal (such as when lifting a box with one hand)and at 90 (such as when boxes are pulled by the hand holerather than lifted).X1.3 ApparatusX1.3.1 Grasping Device:X1.3.1.1 The grasping device shall be similar to that shownin Fig. X1.1. The width s
34、hould be modified to match the widthof the straight portion of the hand hole, up to a maximum widthof 4 in. Hand holes having a curved top edge may requirespecial designs, to be determined by the user.X1.3.1.2 For a vertical jerk or tensile test, two graspingdevices are used, each connected to a spr
35、eader bar that supportsthe two devices at a distance such that the devices hangvertically when lightly engaging both hand holes (see Fig.X1.2).X1.3.1.3 The user must be sure that the grasping devices,spreader bar, and connecting hardware are of sufficient strengthto safely hold the load.X1.3.2 Metho
36、d A, Jerk Test (see Fig. X1.2):X1.3.2.1 Drop Test Apparatus, with a platform or otherfeature which supports a corrugated box, such that the box maybe released for free-fall from a specified height. Supportapparatus for the grasping device must suspend the box at least6 in. (150 mm) above the floor o
37、r test apparatus base. Thesupport apparatus must secure the grasping device(s) soessentially no yielding or elastic stretch occurs when the boxfalls and its motion is arrested by the device(s). A chain orflexible steel cable suspended from a rigid support or overheadhoist may be used for this purpos
38、e.X1.3.2.2 An elastic cord may be used to take up the slack inthe chain or cable to make sure the grasping device(s) stays inthe hand hole(s). The cord shall be stiff enough to just supportthe weight of the fixture at the desired drop height and yetimpart no significant additional force at the botto
39、m of travel,that is, when there is no slack in the chain.X1.3.3 Method B, Tensile Test (see Fig. X1.3):X1.3.3.1 A tensile testing machine capable of producing aconstant cross-head speed or rate of extension shall be used.X1.3.3.2 Machines used for tensile testing shall conform tothe requirements of
40、Practice E4. The forces used in determin-ing the tensile strength shall be within the verified forceapplication range of the testing machine as defined in PracticeE4.X1.3.3.3 A method to determine and record the maximumforce applied during the test shall be provided.NOTE X1.1It may be of interest to
41、 record the amount of energyrequired to cause failure.X1.4 Sampling and Test SpecimensX1.4.1 Selection of a sampling plan depends on the purposeof the testing. The sampling plan from Appendix X2.2.2 ofPractice D 585 is recommended for acceptance criteria. Forpurposes other than acceptance criteria,
42、Practice E 122 isrecommended.X1.4.2 Pack the box with either the actual contents, or adummy load simulating the contents with respect to dimen-sions, weight, center of gravity, moment of inertia, and flowcharacteristics. Close the box the same way it will be used forshipment.X1.4.2.1 For tensile tes
43、ts, fixturing may make it impossibleto use actual contents. The weight, center of gravity, moment ofinertia, and flow characteristics of the contents are not signifi-cant parameters for tensile tests. However, fixturing andcontents must be such that the deformation of the box andstrength of the hand
44、 holes are not affected.X1.5 ConditioningX1.5.1 All test specimens shall be preconditioned, condi-tioned, and tested in accordance with Practice D 4332, or otherspecial conditions as required.D 6804 02 (2007)5FIG. X1.1 Grasping DeviceD 6804 02 (2007)6FIG. X1.2 Jerk Test ConfigurationsD 6804 02 (2007
45、)7FIG. X1.3 Tensile Test ConfigurationsD 6804 02 (2007)8X1.6 ProcedureX1.6.1 Method A, Jerk Test:X1.6.1.1 Insert the grasping device(s) in the hand hole(s),and raise the filled box so that it is suspended at least 6 in. (150mm) above the floor or drop apparatus base. Note the distancefrom the floor
46、or base to the box, and then use the drop testapparatus to raise the box to the desired free-fall drop height,relative to the free suspended position. An elastic cord may beused to take up the slack in the chain or cable to hold thegrasping device(s) in the hand hole(s). Refer to Fig. X1.2 forgraphi
47、c descriptions of the test configuration.X1.6.1.2 The spreader bar (see Fig. X1.2) must remain in ahorizontal and level position during the test.X1.6.1.3 When conducting the One-Hand Jerk test, the boxclosure method must be the same as intended for actual use.X1.6.1.4 Release the drop test apparatus
48、, allowing the boxto free-fall for the desired drop height until stopped by thegrasping device(s). (WarningWhen a hand hole fails ineither a two-hand or one-hand test, the box and graspingdevices may move in a violent and unpredictable manner.X1.6.1.5 Perform the jerk tests to a prescribed sequence,
49、using a single or multiple constant drop height procedure, or aprogressive drop height procedure. Refer to Test MethodD 5276 Annex A2 for guidance on drop test cycles andprocedures. Typical drop heights for jerk testing range from 0.5to 8 in. (13 to 200 mm), sufficient to produce 40 to 60 in.-lbf(4.5 to 6.8 J) of energy (gross weight 3 drop height). Energylevels may be lower for multiple drop sequences, perhaps aslow as 5 in.-lbf (0.6 J) for repeated drops of a lightly loadedbox.X1.6.1.6 Note the condition of the hand hole area after eachtest, and compare it to
