AU2009217459A1

AU2009217459A1 - Stacking unit

Info

Publication number: AU2009217459A1
Application number: AU2009217459A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Peter Ernst; Robert Ochsenschlager
Original assignee: Aldi Einkauf GmbH and Co OHG
Current assignee: Aldi Einkauf GmbH and Co OHG
Priority date: 2008-09-24
Filing date: 2009-09-23
Publication date: 2010-04-08
Also published as: DE202008012674U1; EP2168882A2; EP2168882A3; EP2168882B1

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INVENTION TITLE: STACKING UNIT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- -2 STACKING UNIT The invention relates to a stacking unit consisting of at least two transport containers disposed one above the other, wherein the respective transport container is made of 5 cardboard, corrugated board, plastic or the like and has a base as well as transverse walls and longitudinal walls, and wherein the two transport containers are fitted at least in the area of their common stacking plane with centring means which engage in centring receptacles for mutual temporary fixing. 10 Containers made of plastic are described inter alia in the prior art, which are particularly suitable for the transport and storage of vegetables and fruit. Such goods generally require gentle handling and high stability with low weight of the related transport packaging. For this purpose, CH 517 624 proposes that the container base is equipped with groove-shaped recesses for engaging a fork lift truck. 15 In addition, collapsible boxes are known from practice as transport packagings which can be used many times and function as reusable packaging. Such reusable packagings or reusable boxes can be collapsed after removing the goods so that only a small volume is observed during their (return) transport. 20 In addition to these reusable packagings, disposable packagings are also known such as are described, for example, in the utility model DE 80 20 787 Ul. Here, projections having a triangular cross-section are provided in order to be able to exert a supporting effect on the goods located in the container. 25 Stacking units having the structure described initially are described in EP 0 394 549 Al as well as DE 696 01 474 T2. In this case, disposable packagings are used in each case. This is because the fruit or vegetable crate corresponding to EP 0 394 549 Al is made of a single-piece stamped blank of solid cardboard. In order to achieve the 30 necessary stability, two longitudinal walls, two end walls and adhesive tabs are provided for a four-corner adhesive bonding. In addition, each end wall is fitted with hollow corner supports bonded to the inside. A covering and stacking strip is folded onto the two corner supports of each end 35 wall. This covering and stacking strip has stacking locks which abut externally against end walls of a crate stacked thereon, which is equipped with recesses for this purpose. 22/09/09,va 18239 speci.doc,2 -3 Described within the scope of DE 696 01 474 T2 is a folding box fitted with reinforcing sleeves which impart sufficient strength and stiffness to the filled box in a stack. The reinforcing sleeves therefore counteract any inadmissible deformation of 5 the box and make a stack of filled boxes as stable as possible. For this purpose, attachments on the upper side of each box engage in recesses on the underside of the box located thereover. In this way, the boxes in a stack cannot slide relative to one another in the transverse direction and a higher stability of the stack can be achieved. 10 The prior art is therefore familiar, on the one hand, with disposable packagings or disposable containers predominantly of cardboard or corrugated board which can be arranged one above the other in stacks. In addition, collapsible reusable packagings in the form of transport containers of plastic which cannot be generally stacked are mostly described. This does not present a problem as long as the disposable 15 packagings and the reusable packagings move in cycles which are completely separate from one another, which hitherto was and is the case. The invention is based on the technical problem of providing a stacking unit in which the various packagings can be brought together. 20 According to the present invention there is provided a stacking unit consisting of at least two transport containers disposed one above the other, wherein the respective transport container is made of cardboard, corrugated board, plastic or the like and has a base as well as longitudinal walls and transverse walls, and wherein the two 25 transport containers are fitted at least in the area of their common stacking plane (E) with centring means which engage in centring receptacles for mutual temporary fixing, wherein one transport container is configured as disposable packaging and the other transport container is configured as reusable packaging. 30 For this purpose the two transport containers are usually made of different materials. For example, the upper transport container may consist of cardboard or corrugated material whilst the lower transport container is made of plastic or conversely. The invention therefore provides for the fist time a stack or a stacking unit of two 35 different, in particular different-material transport containers. In fact, one transport container is manufactured as disposable packaging and usually of cardboard or corrugated board. In contrast, the other transport container comprises a reusable 22/09/09,va 18239 speci.doc,3 -4 packaging which is made of plastic. Both different transport containers are now configured to be compatible to one another because they are fitted with centring means and complementary centring receptacles which engage in one another, at least in the area of their common stacking plane. This intermeshing ensures that the 5 transport containers are temporarily fixed to one another both in the transverse and longitudinal direction, i.e. a stable stack is formed or can be formed. That is to say, the invention has extended the idea of the stability of disposable packagings according to, for example, EP 0 394 549 Al to the stacking of disposable 10 packagings and reusable packagings, which assumes that the relevant packagings or transport containers have centring recesses which are compatible with one another and centring means engaging herein in the common stacking plane for mutual temporary fixing. 15 According to an advantageous embodiment, the respective longitudinal walls of the transport container are fitted with the centring means and/or centring recesses. The centring means usually comprise centring tabs which are adapted in terms of size to the centring recesses. The centring recesses themselves are generally designed as centring pockets. 20 By attaching the centring means and centring recesses or the centring tabs and centring pockets to the respective longitudinal walls of the relevant transport container, a particularly advantageous positional fixing of the transport containers with respect to one another is achieved. This is because the centring means engaging 25 in the centring recesses and adapted thereto prevent any longitudinal movements of the transport containers with respect to one another due to their attachment to the two longitudinal walls. In addition, the size matching of the centring means and centring recesses to one another also prevents any transverse movements of the transport containers with respect to one another. 30 At the same time, both the centring means and the centring recesses have their respectively greatest extension in the longitudinal direction of the respective transport container. This results from the finding that any forces breaking up the stack or the stacking unit act predominantly in the longitudinal direction of the 35 respective transport boxes. In this longitudinal direction the respective centring means and centring recesses abut against one another over a particularly large area 22/09/09,va 18239 speci.doc.4 -5 which is why particular account is taken of these and the forces breaking up the stack and these are counteracted. In principle, the centring means and related centring recesses can, however, also each 5 be disposed above corners at the relevant at least two or all four corners of the transport container which is usually designed as an open rectangle. The respective longitudinal walls and transverse walls of the transport container are then fitted with the centring means and/or centring recesses in question. In this case, the centring means and the centring recesses are located predominantly in the area of the common 10 stacking plane of adjacent transport containers. This stacking plane is that plane which is spanned by the upper edge of the longitudinal walls and/or transverse walls or the base of the transport container located thereabove, which is located thereon. Since the centring means and centring recesses are disposed in this stacking plane, 15 they ensure that the two transport containers located one above the other experience a mutual temporary fixing with respect to one another, that is they cannot be moved with respect to one another in the stacking plane. In this case, the fixing is naturally only of a preliminary nature because the joining of the two transport containers can easily be cancelled again by, for example, removing the upper transport container 20 from the lower transport container. In order to facilitate the placement and mutual engagement of the centring means and centring recesses, it has proved successful if the respective centring means or the centring tab usually provided at this point is fitted with at least one insertion slope. 25 As soon as this insertion slope slides along an edge of the centring recess or centring tab, the centring tab is automatically inserted into the centring pocket due to this processes and engages at the end of this centring process almost positively in the centring pocket. 30 The disposable packaging generally comprises a stamped blank of corrugated cardboard and here in particular of double-corrugated board. Such double-corrugated board is characterised by a combination of two corrugations, usually a fine corrugation and a medium corrugation which are connected to one another. The fine corrugation is also designated as B corrugation whilst the medium corrugation is a C 35 corrugation. In addition, the disposable packaging comprising the stamped blank used usually has a four-corner bonding which gives it a particularly high stability in conjunction with the use of double-corrugated board. In addition, the fact that in the 22/09/09,va 18239 speci.doc,5 -6 corner region the longitudinal region is designed to be double-layered, preferably even triple-layered and the two end walls or transverse walls likewise have a double layered configuration, which is obviously not necessary, also contributes to this. 5 On the other hand, the reusable packaging is usually made of plastic, wherein a thermoplastic plastic such as, for example, polypropylene (PB) or polyethylene (PE) has proved to be particularly favourable. This is all the more so since such plastics are usually used and in large quantities for household articles and can easily be cleaned, which is essential for multiple use. 10 As a result, a stacking unit, i.e. a stack, comprising at least two transport containers disposed one above the other is protected, which is characterised in that two different transport containers, i.e. a disposable packaging and a re-usable packaging, form a stackable combination which is easily achieved as a result of the matched centring 15 means and related centring recesses. In most cases, the external dimensions of the transport containers to be stacked one above the other correspond to one another. These are in each case configured as open rectangles and in this way particularly intended for receiving fruit and vegetables. 20 Within the scope of the invention it is now possible to assemble, for example, disposable packagings and reusable packagings laden with fruit and vegetables from overseas together with fruit and vegetables from Europe contained therein. This is of particular importance for the logistics since stacks of different transport containers can now easily be formed and dispatched to individual shops. In the shops the stacks 25 can easily be unstacked again and the disposable packagings and reusable packagings can even be used for displaying goods jointly and in a stack. That is to say, the cycles of disposable packagings on the one hand and reusable packagings on the other hand, in particular for holding fruit and vegetables, are combined and the respective transport packagings combined into stacking units. The essential advantages can be 30 seen herein. The invention will be explained in detail in the following with reference to drawings showing merely one exemplary embodiment; in the figures: 35 Fig. I shows a stacking unit according to the invention or a stack according to the invention comprising two transport containers located one 22/09/09,va 18239 specidoc,6 -7 above the other, i.e. a lower disposable packaging and a reusable packaging located thereabove, Fig. 2 shows the disposable packaging in a plan view, 5 Fig. 3 shows the reusable packaging in the unfolded or folded-out state in a plan view, Fig. 4 shows the subject matter according to Fig. 3 in the collapsed state, 10 Fig. 5 shows the disposable packaging with the reusable packaging located thereabove during production of the stack and Fig. 6 shows the reusable packaging viewed from the bottom in the corner 15 area. The figures show a stacking unit or a stack of two transport containers 1, 2 disposed one above the other. Naturally, more than the two transport containers 1, 2 can be combined into a stack. In this case, the respective transport container 1, 2 is made of 20 cardboard, corrugated board, plastic or the like and has a base la or 2a and longitudinal walls lb or 2b as well as transverse walls Ic or 2c (see Figures 2 and 3). By means of a comparative examination of Figures 1 and 5 as well as 2 and 3 it is clear that the two transport containers 1, 2 are each designed as rectangles open at the 25 top and are particularly suitable for the open accommodation of fruit or vegetables. In addition, the two transport containers 1, 2 correspond to one another in terms of their external dimensions. That is, the length of the respective longitudinal walls lb or 2b and the transverse walls Ic or 2c is externally substantially the same. The area of the relevant bases I a or 2a also substantially correspond to one another. 30 Both transport containers 1, 2 now have according to the invention centring means 3 on the one hand and centring receptacles 4 on the other hand, as can be seen most clearly in Figures 5 and 6. The centring means 3 comprise centring tabs 3. The centring receptacles 4 are configured as centring pockets 4. 35 The centring means or centring tabs 3 engage in the centring receptacles or centring pockets 4 for the mutual temporary fixing of the two transport container 1, 2 to one 22/09/09,va 18239 speci.doc.7 -8 another. In this way, the two transport containers 1, 2 can form the stack shown or the stacking unit and are compatible to one another. This is notable insofar as the lower transport container 1 is made as a disposable packaging I of cardboard, in particular corrugated board whilst the transport container 2 placed thereon comprises 5 a reusable packaging 2 of plastic. Within the scope of the exemplary embodiment and not restrictively, the disposable packaging I is formed dimensionally stably from cardboard. on the other hand, the reusable packaging 2 can be folded together, as a comparison of Figures 3 and 4 makes clear. 10 In particular, Figure 5 shows that the centring means 3 and centring recesses 4 are each located on the longitudinal walls lb or 2b of the relevant transport container 1, 2. In the exemplary embodiment and not restrictively, the respective longitudinal wall I b of the disposable packaging I is fitted with the centring means or centring tabs 3 whereas the centring recesses 4 are located on the relevant longitudinal wall 15 2b of the reusable packaging 2. Naturally, the converse procedure can also be followed. In one way or the other, the centring means 3 and centring receptacles 4 are located in a common stacking plane E and engage fixingly into one another here. This stacking plane E is spanned on the one hand by the lower edge of the base 2a of 20 the reusable packaging 2 and on the other hand the upper edge of the longitudinal walls l b or the transverse walls Ic of the disposable packaging 1. As soon as the two transport containers 1, 2 have been stacked on one another, the upper edge of the longitudinal walls lb or transverse walls le of the disposable packaging I abuts against the base 2a of the reusable packaging 2. 25 It can be seen from Figure 2 that the centring means or centring tabs 3 are each connected near the corners and at the upper edge side to the longitudinal walls lb of the disposable packaging 1. In this region the disposable packaging 1 made of double corrugated board is additionally designed to be double-layered or even triple-layered 30 in the exemplary embodiment. That is, two or three layers of the double corrugated board are found in the area of the corners. In addition, the individual layers of the corrugated board are bonded together because the disposable packaging as a whole is made of a stamped blank of the double-corrugated board. The double-corrugated board comprises a so-called BC corrugation, that is a combination of a fine 35 corrugation and a medium corrugation which are joined together. This is naturally not essential. The four corners or the cardboard walls are each bonded together at this 2 2 /0 91 0 9 ,va 18239 speci.doc.8 -9 point so that the stamped blank and consequently the disposable packaging I achieves its dimensional stability. The reusable packaging 2 is made of plastic, in the present case a thermoplastic 5 plastic such as polypropylene or polyethylene for example. It can be seen from a comparative examination of Figures 3 and 4 that the reusable packaging 2 can be folded. For this purpose the longitudinal walls 2b there and also the transverse walls 2c are foldably connected to the base 2a and in the erected position according to Figure 3, can be detachably connected to one another at the corners so that the 10 interior of a transport box executed in such a manner can be used for holding goods. When the goods are removed, both the longitudinal walls 2b and also the transverse walls 2c can be folded onto the base 2a as shown in Figure 4. As a result, the reusable packaging 2 has a significantly smaller volume for its return transport for refilling than would be the case in the folded down state of the longitudinal walls 2b 15 and transverse walls 2c. It can be seen within the scope of Figure 6 that the longitudinal walls 2b or the base 2a are fitted with the centring recesses 4 which in the present case are configured as centring pockets 4. The centring means or centring tabs 3 on the disposable 20 packaging 1 engage in these centring pockets 4 or centring tabs 3 of another reusable packaging 2 not shown can naturally also find space here. In order to facilitate the placement of the reusable packaging 2 on the disposable packaging I in the exemplary case, the respective centring tab 3 has an insertion slope 5 as is evidenced in Figure 5. 25 In this case, the insertion slopes 5 of the four centring tabs 3 in total are disposed facing one another at the respective longitudinal walls lb of the disposable packaging I (cf. Fig. 2). In this way, the insertion slopes 5 slide along the inner edges of the insertion pockets 4 of the reusable packaging 2 and ensure that the reusable 30 packaging 2 is centred when placed on the disposable packaging 1. As soon as the centring tab 3 has dipped completely into the centring pocket 4, the centring recess 4 and the centring tab or the centring means 4 abut against one another with their greatest extension respectively in the longitudinal direction of the relevant transport container 1, 2. As a result, the two transport containers 1, 2 are perfectly aligned with 35 respect to one another in the longitudinal direction. An alignment in the transverse direction also takes place because the length of the centring tab 3 is adapted to the length of the centring tab 4 in the longitudinal direction of the two transport 22/09/09,va 18239 speci.doc,9 -10 containers 1, 2. In any case, the two transport containers 1, 2 experience a mutual and temporary fixing to one another and can be stacked easily and alternately or form the claimed stacking unit. 5 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. 10 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. 15 22/09/09,va 18239 spcci.doc.10

Claims

1. A stacking unit consisting of at least two transport containers disposed one above the other, wherein the respective transport container is made of 5 cardboard, corrugated board, plastic or the like and has a base as well as longitudinal walls and transverse walls, and wherein the two transport containers are fitted at least in the area of their common stacking plane (E) with centring means which engage in centring receptacles for mutual temporary fixing, wherein one transport container is configured as disposable 10 packaging and the other transport container is configured as reusable packaging.

2. The stacking unit according to claim 1, wherein the two transport containers are made of different materials, for example, the upper transport container is 15 made of plastic and the lower transport container of cardboard or corrugated board, or conversely.

3. The stacking unit according to claim I or 2, wherein the respective longitudinal walls of the transport container are fitted with the centring means 20 and/or centring recesses.

4. The stacking unit according to any one of claims I to 3, wherein four centring means connected to the longitudinal walls are provided on the upper edge side respectively near the corners, which means engage in related four 25 centring recesses on the lower edge side of the longitudinal walls.

5. The stacking unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the centring means are configured as centring tabs adapted to the centring recesses. 30

6. The stacking unit according to any one of claims I to 5, wherein the centring recesses are designed as centring pockets.

7. The stacking unit according to any one of claims I to 6, wherein the respective centring means has at least one insertion slope. 35 22/09/09,va 18239 speci.doc,I I - 12

8. The stacking unit according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the disposable packaging is made from a stamped blank of preferably double corrugated board. 5

9. The stacking unit according to claim 8, wherein the double-corrugated board is configured as BC corrugated.

10. The stacking unit according to any one of claims I to 9, wherein the reusable packaging is made of plastic, in particular a thermoplastic plastic such as PP 10 etc.

11. The stacking unit according to any one of claims I to 10, wherein the centring recess and the centring means have their greatest extension in the longitudinal direction of the respective transport container. 15

12. The stacking unit according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the disposable packaging equipped to be double-layered, preferably even triple layered, at least in the corner region. 22/09/09.va 18239 speci.doc.12