AU705383B2 - Packaging of layer stacked apples - Google Patents

Description

-2- The present invention relates to improvements in/or relating to packaging, methods of packaging, and related means and methods.

Substantially spherical items such as, for example, certain items of fruit (eg.

apples) have been packaged in a number of different ways. A traditional packaging technique is to provide the items of fruit individually wrapped and positioned without other separation in cartons or boxes. More recently however there has been a trend towards the use of tray-like members that provide separation between layers within a carton. Most recently a form of trays in a corrugated paperboard having locating apertures have been offered for this purpose. See for example UK Patent Specification 2269365 (Assis Packaging South East Ltd).

Such prior art systems while allowing adherence to some degree of standardisation in carton dimensions when viewed in plan nevertheless (unless prolonged settling is permitted) give rise to stacks of a variable height. The variation in such heights using such separation techniques has given rise to the use of o15 telescopic carton structures having an open top box first component over which an inverted boxlike cover member is positioned.

There is a need to standardise the dimensions of containers of such layer stacked/separated items. However, a great difficulty arises in any effort to standardise the height of such a confinement member for layered articles (especially S 20 when, in the area of fruits, vegetables or the like) where there is a need, within standard container heights, to accommodate a number of different grades eg, counts.

The present invention therefore is directed to tray-like structures, the use of such tray-like structures, stacks of substantial articles (eg. apples) using such traylike structures, a method of packing substantial articles, confined (eg. cartoned) stacks of such packed articles, a filled container, etc. which will at least overcome 3 some of the above mentioned difficulties or provide the public with a useful choice.

According to a first aspect of the present invention provides a rectanguloid pack of articles of substantially the same size comprising a closed carton or outer package structure or assembly (hereafter "carton") defining a rectanguloid or cubic (hereinafter "rectanguloid") outer, said structure being of substantially square or rectangular horizontal 1 0 cross section and of a predetermined height when closed, as a stack in said carton, a plurality of layered arrays of said articles, each article in an array being out of phase with (ie; not vertically aligned over or under) any article of any adjacent underlying or overlying layer, and an array location member for each layer, each said location member comprising a structure at least primarily of moulded cellulosic fibres which underlies at least in part all articles of its layer and 20 provides for each article of its layer a pre-formed pocket defined by an opening having a plurality of fingers projecting radially inward of the opening and downwardly of the location member to define a bowl shape which allows the article of each to find its own level in its pocket relative to said location member, and (ii) for each article of its layer, moulded cellulosic material interposed between said article and any adjacent article of any adjacent underlying and/or overlying layer, and which substantially immediately conforms at least between and/or about said pockets in the stack of article arrays to allow, together \\MELBOI\home$\ARymer\Keep\Speci\15006-95.doc 12/03/99 4 with the article(s) making any required movement in its or their pocket(s) levelwise, closure of said carton structure at said predetermined height by allowing at least some articles of each layer to press on an article or articles of any adjacent layer through said moulded fibres.

Preferably said carton structures have a rectangular horizontal cross-section.

Preferably said carton structure is top closeable.

Oti' 10 Preferably said carton is closeable by means of Iintegral flaps.

Preferably said carton structure is of two parts, S0 a bottom part into which said stack of layered arrays can be positioned prior to the closure thereof by positioning thereover of a box like cover, such preferred form being an alternative to closure by integral flaps.

Preferably said array location members are •provided in a generally rectangular form which °r substantially coincides to a substantially rectangular horizontal cross-sectional form of said carton structure.

Preferably said array location members are rotatable by 1800 (without inversion) so as to provide for said out of phase location relative to a raise underlying or overlying the array to be located thereby.

25 Preferably said array location members are provided in at least two forms (ie. A and B forms), and the A and B forms alternate up the stack to provide said out of phase location of an array with its underlying and/or overlying layer(s).

Preferably each said pocket is formed with an opening in its bottom to which said separation, breaks and/or frangible zones extend so that each pocket is defined by a plurality of fingers that connects from the top or adjacent the top of the pocket defined thereby to allow and article to be located at a required level in said pocket.

\\MELBOl\home$\ARymer\Keep\peci\15006-95.doc 12/03/99 5 Preferably said separations, breaks and/or frangible zones are provided during the moulding of each array location member.

Preferably each said separation, break and/or frangible zone is formed by die cutting after each said array location member has been moulded.

Preferably said array location members are provided with strengthening structures at or adjacent at least some extremity or extremities thereof.

Preferably any such strengthening feature within said pack does not bear in the stack on an array location member underlying or overlying the same.

"f Preferably said articles are apples.

*Goo Preferably said apples are a graded count.

06:: 15 A further aspect of the present invention provides a method of packing articles of substantially the same size which comprises closing in a carton or equivalent structure of a predetermined height a stack of layered arrays of articles, each article being out of phase with (ie; not vertically aligned over or under) any article of any adjacent underlying or overlying layer, and being *located within its layered array by an array location member, each said location member comprising a structure at least primarily of moulded cellulosic fibres which underlies at least in part all articles of its layer and provides S. for each article of its layer a pre-formed pocket defined by an opening having a plurality of fingers projecting radially inward of the opening and downwardly of the location member to define a bowl shape which allows the article of each to find its own level in its pocket relative to said location member, and (ii) for each article of its layer, moulded cellulosic material interposed between said article and any adjacent article of any adjacent underlying and/or overlying layer, and \\MELBOI\home$\ARymer\Keep\Speci\15006-9Sdo 12/03/99 6 which substantially immediately conforms at least between and/or about said pockets in the stack of article arrays to allow, together with the article(s) making any required movement in its or their pocket(s) level-wise, closure of said carton structure at said predetermined height by allowing at least some articles of each layer to press on an article or articles of any adjacent layer.

Preferably said articles are substantially spherical like apples but may be, for example, endwise positioned kiwifruit.

o.o Preferably said method is performed substantially as hereinafter described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings.

15 In yet a further aspect the present invention consists in a pack formed by a method of the present invention.

In a further aspect, the present invention may broadly be said to consist in a tray-like structure formed of 20 moulded cellulosic fibres to have a generally rectangular or square form in plan (albeit though to there being the prospect of rounded, truncated or the like corner and/or the provision of recess for the purposes of lifting the same from within a rectangular carton), the structure being characterised in that it is provided with a plurality of structures each for pocketing a substantially spherical article from the same side with respect to the general plane of said rectangular or square form, each such structure being a pre-formed pocket defined by an opening having a plurality of fingers projecting radially inward of the opening and downwardly of the tray-like structure to define a bowl shape, said tray-like structure being conformable to allow a substantial taking of the weight in use through the articles located in said pockets said \\MELBOI\home$\ARymer\Keep\Speci\15006-95.doc 12/03/99 7 plurality of structures positioned and arranged to, upon the rotation thereof through 1800 from a first condition to a second condition about an axis substantially normal to the general plane of said rectangular or square form, position said plurality of structures in an out of phase position to said first condition.

In a further aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist a moulded paper tray-like structure of substantially rectangular from having set down from a 10 substantially general plane thereof an array of apple locating structures and peripherally of said substantially rectangular form (whether downwardly and/or upwardly of said substantially general plane) at least some strengthening features, each said apple locating structure being in the form of a pre-formed pocket defined by an opening having a plurality of fingers projecting radially inward of the opening and downwardly of the tray-like structure to define a bowl shape, each said finger being 99 located at or adjacent said substantially general plane, substantially about a circle which will surround an in use located apple, said apple being locatable on said finger at a number of different positions relative to said substantially general plane, said apple locating structures positioned and arranged to, upon the rotation of said moulded paper tray/like structure through 1800 from a first condition to a second condition about an axis substantially normal to the substantially general plane of said moulded paper tray/like structure, position the apple locating structures of said array in an out of phase position to said first condition.

In a further aspect the present invention may broadly be said to consist in a stack comprising a plurality of tray like structures and or trays as \\MELBOl\home$\ARymer\Keep\speci\15006-9 .doc 12/03/99 8 previously defined and interposed between any adjacent pair thereof, a plurality of spherical or substantially spherical articles (preferably apples) each located and/or pocketed in a said structure.

Preferably said stack has been formed inside a carton.

Preferably said carton is of an overall external height of the order of 325.

Preferably said tray like structures and/or said trays are locatable within a carton having an external plan dimension of substantially 400mm by 300mm but could be larger, eg: 600 x 400, 500 x 300 or 500 x 333mm.

In a further aspect the present invention consists in stacked one on top of another and spaced over a 15 pallet of about 1200mm by lO00mm or 1000mm by 800mm, a plurality of cartons including apples layer stacked within said cartons substantially to an external carton or case height of about 325 on tray like structures as previously set forth, or in such other way as to give rise to a carton as hereafter provided.

Preferably said fingers of said trays and/or the plurality of breaks or frangible zones of each said bowl of the like shaped structures are provided with about six or eight fingers in the "star burst" type bowl or pocket form.

Preferably the pockets have an open bottom.

9 Preferably said tray like structures and/or trays have a water content in the range of from 5% to about by weight.

Preferably said tray like structures and/or trays are of the order of 10% by weight water prior to association with said articles (preferably apples) and preferably about 20% in use.

Preferably the weight is of the order of about 13 to 15 kg for a 400 x 300 x 325mm carton.

Preferred forms of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; \\MEL01\home\ARymer\Keep\Speci\15006-95.doc 12/03/99 9 Figure 1A is a plan view of a tray-like structure suitable for transporting articles, each pocket being shown with an open bottom and having the separations extending from the top or each pocket to said opening, said separations having being formed by a moulding process, Figure 1B is part of the tray-like structure of Figure 1 showing how the pockets differ slightly in configuration if the separations are die-cut after moulding of the pocket, Figure 1C is a side elevation view of the traylike structure of Figure 1A, the tray-like structure of Figures 1A through 1C being rotatable by 1800 so as to allow the same tray to be used throughout a stack of the o articles, S. 15 Figure 2A through 2C are corresponding views of a .different form of tray to that of Figure 1A to 1C, this form of tray being one that requires an and a form since it is not useable in adjacent layers by simple 1800 rotation, 20 Figure 3A through 3C corresponds to the tray of Figures 2A through 2C and is the form to be associated with form of Figures 2A through 2C, 9 Figure 4A through 4C and 5A through 5C correspond to a tray-like structure as described by reference to Figures 2A through 2C and 3A through 3C, Figures 4A through S* 4C showing an form and 5A through a form, (THE NEXT PAGE IS PAGE (THE NEXT PAGE IS PAGE 11) \\MELB01\homeS\ARymer\Keep\Speci\15006- 95 .doc 12/03/99 10 THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY

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*9999 \\MEtBOI\home$\A.~yrer\Kep\Speci\ 1 5 0 0 6 9 5 .doc 12/03/99 -11- Figure 6 is a side elevation view of a stack of articles (eg; apples) in accordance with the present invention confined within a carton, showing how by a combination of each apple finding its own level in its respective pocket and the conforming of the tray-like structure between pockets, each apple in an array above the bottom array is capable of transferring at least some of its weight through the moulded fibre material to an underlying apple or apples, such an arrangement making it possible to have immediacy of position determined such that a predetermined stack height is provided without any requirement to await settlement of the stack before closure of the carton, and Figure 7 is a view of a single piece carton of a predetermined height showing how immediately upon stacking by any conventional means in such a carton, case or the like outer structure, the enclosure can be closed to a predetermined height.

It has been common to load into cases or cartons (whether of wood, paperboard or other construction) volumes of articles, eg; eggs, fruits, vegetables, etc.

With graded articles it has been usual to locate such articles in trays such as, by way of example, the well known plastics film grading trays for kiwifruit or the moulded fibre trays for eggs.

More recently structures of a tray-like nature made from corrugated boards have been mooted. One such example is that disclosed in US Patent Specification 2269365 of Assi Packaging South East Ltd which relies upon die-cut forms in a sheet of corrugated board capable of being deformed by graded item such as an apple.

Such tray forms however, have necessitated a period of settling after the location of a number of super imposed arrays of the articles in a stack before a predetermined height of either the stack itself or a carton within which the stack can be enclosed can -12be established. Such delays lead to handling difficulties and delays in a packing house.

Hitherto, such packing delays have been overcome by the provision of telescopic type carton structures where an open top boxed form has located thereover an inverted box form such that after a period of settlement within a stack the telescopic enclosure locates to a height that reflects the settlement of the articles in the stack within the variable height container.

Forms of article location tray-like member, such as disclosed in New Zealand Registered Design No. 25290 (Kiwi Packaging Limited), again shows reliance upon 10 indexing and location of tray-like members one on top of another in such stacks.

Any indexing or spacing of one tray directly to another means that there will be settlement of articles after a stack of arrays is established but there will nevertheless .be a set height owing to the spacing provided for by the indexed tray-like structures.

Such arrangements however waste space since the articles will not have been 15 enclosed in a carton of the minimum height for the quantity of articles being transported.

The present invention avoids the directional stability provided between popout pocket structures that corrugated sheets of paperboard inevitably provides to thus further delay settling and also avoids tray-like structure mutual indexing or spacing extensions.

The present invention provides structures, methods, etc which provide an alternative to such systems and which provides immediacy in predetermining stack and/or carton closure heights.

Figures 1A through 5A show a variety of different configurations for the tray-like element of the present invention, -13- Figure 1A and 1 C shows a fully moulded form of the present invention having a 180° reversible tray arrangement. The particular size depicted is 388 x 288mm with the central holes having an approximate diameter of 29mm. The central holes 1 of each pocket 2 obviously can vary from a point type diameter through to even a larger diameter.

Figure 1B shows a die-cut form of pockets 2.

Such strengthening, beading, flanging or the like 3 provided in the moulded fibre tray is for the purpose of handling regidity only and is not such as to prevent conformation of the trays as required and as shown in Figure 6.

10 Figures 2A through 3C shows a tray of an A form and a B form, again of a size of 388 by 288, but this time with the central holes being shown with a diameter of the order of about 18.5mm.

Figures 4A through 5C shows another A form and B form type tray, ie; not S reversible as with the tray of Figures 1A through 1C. In this particular embodiment S* 15 the tray size is 388 x 288mm with a central hole size of the order of 17.3mm.

The tray-like members of the present invention are preferably each formed with S..i a star-burst pattern for the pockets 2 such that there are typically defined in each pocket 2 six or eight fingers.

The water content is typically up to 20% by weight in use but ideally is of the order of about 10% by weight prior to packing.

For a carton size of 400mm x 300mm x 325mm high, when being used for, for example, apples, typically the stack of, for example, apples would come in at an overall weight of the order of 13 to 15 kg although weights of 17.5 and 18 kg would apply to larger carton sizes. Larger carton sizes could rather than have the 400 x 300mm horizontal cross section, be of dimensions of the order of 600 x 400, 500 x -14- 300 and 500 x 333. The preferred height is of the order of 325mm but it could be any other height that fits in with standard carton sizes and/or standard container heights when positioned on a pallet.

The present invention provides for each count or grade of articles to be stacked a predetermined height. The stack height is substantially immediately settled thus making it possible for a stack to be immediately closed in a carton of a predetermined size.

For each count the stack height will be the same but stack heights between counts may differ (preferably slightly). Effectively a carton to suit the largest stack height for a range of counts of related articles would be used for all counts with load passing spacers taking up the free space in stacks of counts which have lower stack heights to thus allow weight to be transferred through the stack.

Alternatively, over a range of counts more than one height carton may be used.

Where a target is even weight changes from count to count, and reasonably uniform 15 net weight per carton over all of the different counts, it is not possible to get exactly the same height for each count.

A feature of the present invention however is the ability, unlike pre-existent tray-like elements referred to above, for arrays to be located as layers in a stack structure inside a container (such as a carton] or to be enclosed by such a (carton] structure and to enable closure of the one or several part enclosure to a height permitted by the predetermined height of the stack.

In Figure 6 there is shown a one piece flap closed carton 4 with the lid flaps open showing a top most tray-like element 6 having apples located thereon. Such a tray-like element 6 can conform in any of the ways shown for the tray-like elements 7 in the stack of figure 6, ie; articles progressing into its pockets to a level to be determined in the stack with conformation of the tray element itself under the effect of the neighbouring articles in the stack so that by in large there is an immediate bearing of weight through the articles via the moulded fibre material (preferably recycled paper).

Preferably the thickness of the moulded fibre tray-like structure is sufficient to provide some structural integrity but not to prevent such deformation, eg; of the order of about that used for egg trays or slightly less.

Unlike systems as disclosed in the aforementioned ASSI Packaging South East Ltd UK Patent Specification No. 2269365 and exemplified by Kiwi Packaging Limited New Zealand Registered Design No. 25290 there is in the present invention no reliance on enaging spacer elements between the tray-like elements, such spacer elements being carried by each tray-like element, nor any real directional stability of a kind provided by corrugated core paperboard laminate.

It is possible with certainty with the present to ensure an interposing of the 15 moulded fibre between the articles (of any pocketable form) when located accurately in a stack so that weight can be carried through the stack. It is also possible for a carton to be closed thereon and subsequently for weight to be carried through the stack, where required, should cartons be stacked one on top of the another as is expected on a pallet.

The present invention therefore relates to a method of transporting where stacks of cartons are positioned one top of another and in each carton there is a stack of articles as previously set forth and an ability for the weight to be passed through the articles.

Such a system of carriage differs from that that has previously been utilised for such articles and indeed, unlike prior art structures, as for example, with eggs, no -16provision is made to avoid the prospect of weight immediately and substantially without exception being carried through the articles.

17- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A rectanguloid pack of articles of substantially the same size comprising a closed carton or outer package structure or assembly (hereafter "carton") defining a rectanguloid or cubic (hereinafter "rectanguloid") outer, said structure being of substantially square or rectangular horizontal cross section and of a predetermined height when closed, as a stack in said carton, a plurality of layered arrays of said articles, each article in an array being out of phase with (ie; not vertically aligned over or under) any article of any adjacent underlying or overlying layer, S*and 15 an array location member for each layer, each said location member comprising a structure at least primarily of moulded cellulosic fibres which underlies at least in part all articles of its layer and provides 20 for each article of its layer a pre-formed pocket defined by an opening having a plurality of fingers projecting radially inward of the opening and downwardly of the location member to define a bowl shape which allows the article of each to find its own level in its pocket 25 relative to said location member, and (ii) for each article of its layer, moulded cellulosic material interposed between said article and any adjacent article of any adjacent underlying and/or overlying layer, and which \\MELB01\homeS\ARymer\Keep\Speci\15006-95.doc 12/03/99

Claims (20)

1. 5. a S. S. *S S S as S a aS S *55~55 S N~, \\MELBOI\home0\ARY~er\Keep\Speci\15006-95 doc 12/03/99 -18- 2. A pack as claimed in claim 1 wherein said carton structure is one having a rectangular horizontal cross section. 3. A pack as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said carton structure is top closeable. 4. A pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said carton is closeable by means of integral flaps. 5. A pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said carton 10 structure is of two parts, a bottom part into which said stack of layered arrays can be positioned prior to the closure thereof by positioning thereover of a box like cover,
2. 6. A pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said array location members are provided in a generally rectangular form which substantially coincides to a substantially rectangular horizontal cross sectional form of said carton a. structure.
3. 7. A pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said array location members are rotatable by 180" (without inversion) so as to provide for said out of phase location relative to arrays underlying or overlying the array to be located thereby.
4. 8. A pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein said array location members are provided in at least two forms (ie; A and B forms), and the A and B forms alternate up the stack to provide said outer phase location of an array with its underlying and/or overlying layer(s). 19
5. 9. A pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said fingers are provided during the moulding of each array location member.
6. 10. A pack as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein each said finger is formed by die cutting after each said array location member has been moulded.
7. 11. A pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said array location members are provided with strengthening structures at or adjacent at least some o- extremity or extremities thereof.
8. 12. A pack as claimed in claim 11 wherein any such 15 strengthening feature within said pack does not bear in the stack on an array location member underlying or overlying the same.
9. 13. A pack a claimed in any one of the preceding 20 claims wherein said articles are apples.
10. 14. A pack as claimed in claim 13 wherein said apples are of a graded count. 25 15. A pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims substantially as herein before described with reference to any or more of the accompanying drawings.
11. 16. In combination a carton structure and a plurality of array location members capable of being configured in conjunction with a plurality of appropriate articles to provide a rectanguloid pack as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. \\MELOI\home\ARymer\Keep\Speci\15006-95.doc 12/03/99 20
12. 17. A method of packing articles of substantially the same size which comprises closing in a carton or equivalent structure of a predetermined height a stack of layered arrays of articles, each article being out of phase with (ie; not vertically aligned over or under) any article of any adjacent underlying or overlying layer, and being located within its layered array by an array location member, each said location member comprising a structure at least primarily of moulded cellulosic fibres which underlies at least in part all articles of its layer and provides for each article of its layer a pre-formed pocket defined by an opening having a plurality of fingers 15 projecting radially inward of the opening and downwardly of the location member to define a bowl shape which allows the article of each to find its own level in its pocket relative to said location member, and (ii) for each article of its layer, moulded cellulosic material interposed between said article and any adjacent article of any adjacent underlying and/or overlying layer, and which substantially immediately conforms at least between and/or about said 25 pockets in the stack of article arrays to allow, together with the article(s) making any required movement in its or their pocket(s) level-wise, closure of said carton structure at said predetermined height by allowing at least some articles of each layer to press on an article or articles of any adjacent layer.
13. 18. A method as claimed in claim 17 when performed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any or more of the accompanying drawings. j RA4 \\MELBO1\homeS\ARymer\Keep\Speci\15006-95.doc 12/03/99 21
14. 19. A pack formed by a method as claimed in claim 17 or 18. A tray-like structure formed of moulded cellulosic fibres to have a generally rectangular or square form in plan (albeit though to there being the prospect of rounded, truncated or the like corner and/or the provision of recess for the purposes of lifting the same from within a rectangular carton), the structure being characterised in that it is provided with a plurality of structures each for pocketing a substantially spherical article from the same side with respect to the general plane of said rectangular or square form, each such structure being a pre-formed pocket defined by an opening having a plurality of fingers projecting radially inward of the opening and downwardly of 15 the tray-like structure to define a bowl shape, said tray- like structure being conformable to allow a substantial taking of the weight in use through the articles located in said pockets said plurality of structures positioned and arranged to, upon the rotation thereof through 180° from a first condition to a second condition about an axis substantially normal to the general plane of said rectangular or square form, position said plurality of structures in an out of phase position to said first condition. 25 21. A moulded paper tray-like structure of substantially rectangular from having set down from a substantially general plane thereof an array of apple locating structures and peripherally of said substantially rectangular form (whether downwardly and/or upwardly of said substantially general plane) at least some strengthening features, each said apple locating structure being in the form of a pre-formed pocket defined by an opening having a plurality of fingers projecting radially \\MELBOI\homeS\Aymer\Keep\Speci\15006-95.doc 12/03/99 22 inward of the opening and downwardly of the tray-like structure to define a bowl shape, each said finger being located at or adjacent said substantially general plane, substantially about a circle which will surround an in use located apple, said apple being locatable on said finger at a number of different positions relative to said substantially general plane, said apple locating structures positioned and arranged to, upon the rotation of said moulded paper tray/like structure through 1800 from a 1 0 first condition to a second condition about an axis substantially normal to the substantially general plane of said moulded paper tray/like structure, position the apple a locating structures of said array in an out of phase a. position to said first condition. S 15 22. A stack comprising a plurality of tray like structures and or trays as claimed in claim 20 or 21 and interposed between any adjacent pair thereof, a plurality of spherical or substantially spherical articles (preferably apples) each located and/or pocketed in a said structure.
15. 23. A stack of claim 22 wherein said stack has been formed inside a carton.
16. 24. A stack of claim 23 wherein said carton is of an overall external height of the order of 325mm. 25 25. Stacked one on top of another and spaced over a pallet of about 1200mm by 1000mm or 1000mm by 800mm, a plurality of packs as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
17. 26. A stack of claim 25 wherein each pack is of a height of about 325mm.
18. 27. A pack substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. \\MELB01\homeS\ARymer\Keep\Speci\15006-95.doc 12/03/99 23
19. 28. A method of packing articles substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
20. 29. A tray like structure substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 12th day of March 1999 CARTER HOLT HARVEY LIMITED By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia 4. 0* a 00 00... *0 \\MELBOI\home$\ARyiner\Keep\Speci\15006-95 .doc 12/03/99 rf ABSTRACT A method of packing articles of substantially the same size which comprises closing in a carton or equivalent structure a stack of layered arrays of articles, each article being out of phase with (ie; not vertically aligned over or under) any article of any adjacent underlying or overlying layer, and being located within its layered array by an array location member, each said location member comprising a structure at least primarily of moulded cellulosic fibres which underlies at least in part all articles .of its layer and provides 10 for each article of its layer a bowl of the like shaped pocket having formed therein a plurality of separations, breaks and/or frangible zones extending at least towards the bottom (if any) of the bowl or the like shaped pocket from at least adjacent the top of each said pocket which allows the article of each to find its own level in its pocket re[ative to said location member, and (ii) for each article of its layer, moulded cellulosic material interposed between said article and any adjacent article of any adjacent underlying and/or overlying layer, and which substantially immediately conforms at least between and/or about said pockets in the stack of article arrays to allow, together with the article(s) making any required movement in its or their pocket(s) level-wise, closure of said carton structure at said predetermined height by allowing at least some articles of each layer to press on an article or articles of any adjacent layer.