DE102011106254B4 - Beverage crate - Google Patents

Abstract

Bottle crate (1) for receiving bottles of predetermined dimensions, the bottles being combined in container carriers (40; 50; 60; 70) to form bottle units, comprising a crate frame (2) which specifies the external dimensions of the bottle crate (1) and a the bottom (3) delimiting the box frame (2), - at least one partition (10) protruding from the bottom (3) to form receiving spaces inside the box frame (2), - at least one quill (3) protruding from the bottom (3) 11, 13) per receiving space for spacing the bottles that have been received, characterized in that the partition (10) is arranged along a longitudinal axis (32) of the bottle crate (1) in its center and the bottle crate (1) is approximately 50% of its length in runs through the center, with a web quill (33) with an orientation running along the longitudinal axis (32) being provided on both sides along the longitudinal axis (32) in continuation of the intermediate wall (10), u m both a receptacle for 3 container carriers (40; 50; 60; 70), each with 8 bottles arranged therein, as well as the inclusion of 4 container carriers each with 6 bottles arranged therein.

Description

The invention relates to a bottle crate for receiving bottles of predetermined sizes, the bottles being combined in container carriers.

In the beverage trade, it is common practice to hold and sell bottled beverages in defined container sizes. The characteristic container sizes represent container carriers made of a foldable flat material, in particular cardboard with four or six bottles or known plastic crates with a larger number of bottles (20 or 24 pieces). The plastic crates are dimensioned in a standardized grid so that they can are easy to stack for logistical purposes and can be supplied to a uniform return deposit system.

From the prior art, for example from the DE 38 06 924 Al, bottle crates are known which have a box frame surrounding an interior space and a bottom delimiting this interior space on the underside. Starting from the floor, quills and / or partitions are usually arranged, which hold individual bottles received in the bottle crate in their position, so that contact between the bottles during the transport of the bottle crates is largely avoided. This is particularly advantageous for reducing the generation of noise due to bottles hitting one another, but also for reducing the risk of defects.

Furthermore, from the prior art, for example from EP 1 112 393 B1 , from the EP 1 958 886 B1 as well as from the DE 695 03 294 T2 Container carriers are known which are constructed from a foldable flat material, offer compartments for receiving containers, in particular bottles, and are suitable for receiving in larger transport boxes.

Furthermore, further examples of known bottle crates are known from the prior art, for example from DE 73 33 931 U , in which a bottle crate made of plastic is described, the bottom of which has ribs or webs and whose side walls, which are provided with openings and have ribs on the outside, merge into corner columns that are open at the bottom and at the top by a box that forms the upper edge of the box and runs around the entire box Rib are finished, each corner pillar is formed in the cross-sectional shape of a part of a polygon in that the corner pillar wall merges from the side edge lying behind the outer ribs into a surface lying in the plane in front of the ribs, which then extends at a distance up to the corner, to run here at an angle of 45 ° into a sloping corner surface in front of the corner and then at an angle of 45 ° into a flat outer surface again lying in a plane with or in front of the outer ribs, which is offset by 90 ° to the the first-mentioned flat outer surface is arranged. In addition, from the WO 2011/050828 A1 a transport and presentation box known, with a bottom and at least two pairs of opposite side walls, a first of the side walls is designed so that it enables removal of the products contained in the box. For this purpose, the first side wall extends from the bottom in the vertical direction at least partially only by a lower removal height upwards, which is smaller than the height of one or more of the remaining side walls, with a removal height being determined such that a lateral one of the first side wall Opening is defined with a dimension that allows access or removal of products contained in the box through the side opening.

The consumer sales market requires the manufacturer to provide increased flexibility in the dimensioning of the units to be removed from beverage bottles. The classic beverage crate, which with a number of twenty or 24 bottles often represents too large a container quantity, is increasingly facing competition from the sale of so-called six-packs. On the other hand, smaller container quantities in the form of so-called six-packs often pose the problem for retailers of handling these smaller quantities simply and efficiently and, if necessary, being able to offer them combined to form larger containers.

For beverage fillers, there is still an interest in being able to accommodate small containers in pieces in a standardized beverage crate without having to keep different beverage crates for different container sizes.

Proceeding from the stated prior art and its disadvantages, the invention is therefore based on the object of providing a uniform beverage crate for receiving container carriers with different container sizes.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1.

• - einen Kastenrahmen, welcher die Außenabmessungen des Flaschenkastens vorgibt sowie einen den Kastenrahmen unterseitig begrenzenden Boden,
• - mindestens eine von dem Boden abstehende Zwischenwand zur Bildung von Aufnahmeräumen im Inneren des Kastenrahmens,
• - mindestens eine von dem Boden abstehende Pinole je Aufnahmeraum zur Beabstandung von aufgenommenen Flaschen,
• - wobei die Zwischenwand entlang einer Längsachse des Flaschenkastens in dessen Mitte angeordnet ist und den Flaschenkasten auf ca. 50% seiner Länge in der Mitte durchläuft,
• - wobei auf beiden Seiten entlang der Längsachse in Fortsetzung der Zwischenwand jeweils eine Stegpinole mit einer entlang der Längsachse verlaufenden Orientierung vorgesehen ist, um sowohl eine Aufnahme von 3 Behälterträgern mit jeweils 8 darin angeordneten Flaschen als auch eine Aufnahme von 4 Behälterträgern mit jeweils 6 darin angeordneten Flaschen zu ermöglichen.

The bottle crate according to the invention for receiving bottles with predetermined dimensions, the bottles being combined in container carriers to form bottle units, comprises the features of claim 1, ie:

• - a crate frame, which specifies the external dimensions of the bottle crate, and a base delimiting the crate frame on the underside,
• - at least one partition wall protruding from the floor to form accommodation spaces inside the box frame,
• - at least one quill protruding from the floor per receiving space for spacing the bottles received,
• - wherein the partition is arranged along a longitudinal axis of the bottle crate in its center and runs through the bottle crate for about 50% of its length in the middle,
• - A bar quill with an orientation running along the longitudinal axis is provided on both sides along the longitudinal axis in continuation of the partition wall to accommodate both 3 container carriers with 8 bottles each and a receptacle for 4 container carriers with 6 each Allow bottles.

The handling of pack sizes of 8 carriers, which were not previously available on the market, requires an arrangement of the components of a beverage crate that is modified compared to the prior art. The crate according to the invention offers the possibility of completely filling a bottle crate, in particular with 0.331 bottles and a capacity of 24 bottles per crate, with 8-bottle carriers. For this purpose, the bundles are either arranged in three rows parallel to the transverse direction of the box or two bundles in the longitudinal direction and one in the transverse direction. The at least one partition, which extends from the floor and at least partially separates the receiving spaces inside the box from one another, also takes on the task of giving the loaded box sufficient rigidity, depending on the material thickness of the box frame, so that safe and stable transport can be guaranteed. For this purpose, several components of the floor, which is usually constructed in the manner of a grid, are connected by the partition wall and thereby form a stiffener.

Quills are to be understood as peg-like elevations which extend from the bottom of the crate and space bottles accommodated in the bottle crate from one another during transport. The quills can be designed as cross quills, in which two crossed webs are rounded in their transition areas, and when viewed from above, they form the shape of a diamond.

According to the invention, bar quills are to be understood as meaning quills which are arranged as a single flat web, preferably with extensions for stiffening along their central axis starting from the bottom. The bar quills essentially only offer stabilization of the bottles received in the direction perpendicular to their surface, but allow for a direct support of the walls of a container carrier on the respective surface. In this way, the container carriers can be accommodated without having to provide significant space for quills between the container carriers.

As a result of the arrangement described, if sufficient static stability of the bottle crate is provided, it is achieved that an 8-piece carrier that can be received in the transverse direction can be used on both longitudinal sides of the bottle crate. This creates degrees of freedom in the machine filling.

In a further embodiment it is provided that the arrangement of the partition and the quills is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis, a transverse axis and preferably with respect to both diagonal axes.

The symmetrical design of the arrangement of the partition and quills, in particular as a 2-fold 180 ° symmetry, offers the advantage that it is irrelevant how the bottle crate is oriented during filling. This is particularly advantageous when filling with containers of different sizes, for example when filling with three 8-packs and four 6-packs on the same system. However, other container combinations are also conceivable.

A further expedient embodiment relates to a bottle crate in which the arrangement of the partition wall and the quills also allows an arrangement of 2 and / or 4 and / or 12 container carriers.

The flexibility of an individual bottle crate, which is often required in the market, to accommodate different containers increases the economic relevance through high quantities and the resulting reduced costs.

Furthermore, a container carrier for bottles not covered by the present invention is also described here, with a bottle neck and a receiving space, the container carrier being made of a foldable flat material and receiving 8 bottles at least in the area of their receiving space.

The version of an 8-pack for bottles, which was previously unknown on the market, stands for a steadily increasing demand for trade, especially 0.331 bottles. These Container carriers represent various possibilities for providing these containers, whereby, depending on the market requirements, the bottles are accommodated in compartments, the bottles are completely wrapped with the container carrier or the bottles are only partially enveloped while the container is stabilized.

The bottle crate according to the invention as well as patterns of container carriers likewise described herein and not encompassed by the present invention are described in more detail below. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. Rather, it also includes those statements which make use of the inventive concept as defined in the claims.

• 1 eine Frontansicht einer Querseite des Flaschenkastens,
• 2 eine Frontansicht einer Längsseite des Flaschenkastens,
• 3 eine Draufsicht des Flaschenkastens,
• 4-7 Ansichten verschiedener Schnittmuster für nicht von der vorliegenden Erfindung umfasste Behälterträger.

It show

• 1 a front view of a transverse side of the bottle crate,
• 2 a front view of a long side of the bottle crate,
• 3 a top view of the bottle crate,
• 4-7 Views of various cutting patterns for container carriers not encompassed by the present invention.

Shows in detail 1 a front view of the transverse side of a bottle crate according to the invention 1 . The box is rectangular in shape, as shown later in 3 is made clear.

The bottle crate 1 includes a frame 2 and a floor 3 . The frame 2 has recessed grips 4th on, through which a handle in the upper frame section 5 for handling the bottle crate 1 arises. In addition, the frame has two advertising spaces 6th which can be labeled with the relevant manufacturer information for the products included.

For improved stability are on the bottle crate 1 Structures 7th provided, which, as material reinforcements, achieve increased torsional rigidity.

The floor 3 shows an offset in its edge areas 8th on, which is roughly an opening in its dimensions 9 corresponds to the top of the bottle crate, whereby an orderly stacking is made possible. These features are already known from the prior art.

2 shows a front view of the long side of the bottle crate according to the invention. On the already in 1 mentioned components are referred to.

The bottle crate includes a partition 10 , which extends from the center of the bottle crate in the longitudinal direction on both sides equally far.

In the direction of the illustration in front of the partition there are crossed quills on both outer areas of the interior 11 with crossed bars 12th arranged. In front of the partition 10 are 3 bar quills 13th arranged, the web orientation perpendicular to the partition 10 is oriented.

3 shows a plan view of the bottle crate according to the invention. The bottle crate 1 has a rectangular shape with one long side 31 and a transverse side 30th . Parallel to the long side 31 the partition extends 10 starting from the middle of fasting along a longitudinal axis 32 . In the present case, the dimension of the wall comprises approx. 50% of the length of the interior space. A bar quill connects to the partition wall 33 whose web orientation is parallel to the partition 10 along the longitudinal axis 32 runs.

Perpendicular to the partition 10 are also bar quills on both sides in the transverse direction 13th arranged, which in their web orientation perpendicular to the partition 10 are oriented. Both the bar quills 33 as well as the bar quills 13th have an extension on each side perpendicular to their webs 35 on, which is used to stiffen the web quills.

The arrangement of 8 packs is done according to the dashed lines 37 , the transverse arrangement on both transverse sides of the bottle crate 1 can be included.

In a secondary image 38 in 3 the arrangement of four 6-packs is shown as an example, which is indicated by the dashed line in the secondary illustration 38 is symbolized.

The arrangement of the partition 10 and the quills in the bottle crate according to the invention 1 is both to the longitudinal axis 32 as well as a transverse axis 36 as well as symmetrical to both diagonals. In this way, the orientation with respect to the machine is not important, particularly when such a bottle crate is filled by machine.

In the following, various designs of the container carriers likewise described herein are shown.

A flat cardboard box or a correspondingly comparable printable plastic material is preferably used as the material for all container carriers.

4th shows an exemplary container carrier 40 in the pattern.

The pattern has a bottom wall 41 , Longitudinal walls 42 and end walls 43 as well as one to both longitudinal walls 42 parallel middle wall part 44 in the carrier. The middle wall part 44 has a handle in an upper section 45 and includes to the end walls 43 parallel crossbars 46 between the middle wall part 44 and the longitudinal walls 42 for the formation of compartments in the carrier for receiving containers, in particular bottles.

The bottom wall 47 has on at least one of its sides running parallel to the end walls, in the area of the fold 48 or butt joint of the respective end wall a bulge 49 showing a dipping of the fold 48 or butt joint of the end wall in a bottom surface formed by the corners of the longitudinal walls and the side walls.

A flat cardboard box or a correspondingly comparable printable plastic material is preferably used as the material for all container carriers.

5 shows a container carrier 50 , in which the bottles are completely surrounded by the foldable flat material. The bottom part 51 carries the bottles. Starting from the bottom part 51 are side walls 52 provided, which in a top wall 53 with handle holes arranged therein 54 pass over. There is a perforation in the area of one side wall 55 for an opening 56 provided through which the in the container carrier 50 recorded bottles can be removed.

6th shows a container carrier 60 , in which the bottles in two parallel rows of four bottles each are surrounded by foldable flat material on the long side of the rows. The bottom part 61 carries the bottles. Starting from the bottom part 61 are side walls 62 provided, which in a top wall 63 with handle holes arranged therein 64 pass over.

The bottles received usually have a slightly curved bottle base and a bottle neck with a closure arranged on it. The side walls 62 have openings for receiving and stabilizing the bottles, with the bottom part 61 connected recordings for bottle bottoms 65 and on the top wall 63 connected recordings for bottle necks 66 are provided. The recordings 65 and 66 are modeled on the shape of the bottle, so that the bottles received are at least partially held in a form-fitting manner.

7th shows another of a container carrier 70 , where present in contrast to the execution after 6th the bottom part 61 is not designed as a one-piece section, but must be connected to enclose the bottles received. The other components are analogous to those in 6th illustrated embodiment formed.

All of the container carriers described have quill openings in their bottom surfaces 100 through which the quills arranged in the bottle crate can reach and support the bottles within the container carrier during transport in the bottle crate, spacing them apart and stabilizing them.

List of reference symbols

1

Bottle crate

2

frame

3

floor

4th

Recessed grip

5

handle

6th

Advertising space

7th

structure

8th

Offset

9

opening

10

Partition wall

11

Cross quill

12th

web

13th

Bar quill

30th

Transverse side

31

Long side

32

Longitudinal axis

33

Bar quill

35

Appendix

36

Transverse axis

37

dashed lines

38

Secondary representation

40

Container carrier

41

Bottom wall

42

Longitudinal wall

43

Front wall

44

Middle wall part

45

Handle

46

Cross bars

47

Bottom wall

48

Fold

49

bulge

50

Container carrier

51

Bottom part

52

Side wall

53

Top wall

54

Finger holes

55

perforation

56

opening

60

Container carrier

61

Bottom part

62

Side wall

63

Top wall

64

Finger holes

65

Holder for bottle bottoms

66

Holder for bottle neck

70

Container carrier

100

Quill openings

Claims (5)

Bottle crate (1) for receiving bottles of predetermined dimensions, the bottles being combined in container carriers (40; 50; 60; 70) to form bottle units, comprising a crate frame (2) which defines the external dimensions of the bottle crate (1) and a the bottom (3) delimiting the box frame (2), - at least one partition (10) protruding from the bottom (3) to form accommodation spaces inside the box frame (2), - at least one sleeve (3) protruding from the bottom (3) 11, 13) per receiving space for spacing the bottles received, characterized in that the partition (10) is arranged along a longitudinal axis (32) of the bottle crate (1) in its center and the bottle crate (1) is approximately 50% of its length runs through the middle, with a web quill (33) with an orientation running along the longitudinal axis (32) being provided on both sides along the longitudinal axis (32) in continuation of the intermediate wall (10) is to both a receptacle of 3 container carriers (40; 50; 60; 70), each with 8 bottles arranged therein, as well as the inclusion of 4 container carriers each with 6 bottles arranged therein. Bottle crate (1) Claim 1 , characterized in that web quills (13) are provided transversely to the intermediate wall (10) with an orientation perpendicular to the intermediate wall (10). Bottle crate (1) after one of the Claims 1 and 2 , characterized in that the arrangement of the partition (10) and the quills (11, 13, 33) is symmetrical with respect to the longitudinal axis (32) and the transverse axis (36). Bottle crate (1) Claim 3 , characterized in that the arrangement of the partition (10) and the quills (11, 13, 33) is symmetrical with respect to both diagonal axes. Bottle crate (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 4th , characterized in that the arrangement of the partition (10) and the quills (11, 13, 33) also allows 2 and / or 4 and / or 12 container carriers to be accommodated.

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