DK2815991T3 - Bottle tray that can be used on both sides - Google Patents

Description

Description

The present invention relates to a bottle tray for storing and/or transporting bottles according to the preamble of claim 1.

Bottles are transported by means of extremely different carriers. The most well-known form is certainly the bottle crate in which generally from 6 to 24 bottles are completely received in a state separated from each other in a slip-resistant manner in a plastics crate having a framework constructed or partitioning sleeves provided therein. Bottle crates can be stacked one above the other without additional securing means.

Another transport method type is provided by so-called trays which are flat, pallet-like structures with corresponding receiving members for the bottles. At the lower side of the trays, there are corresponding receiving members for the bottle heads so that a plurality of trays filled with bottles can be stacked one above the other. Since the bottles are retained via the trays only at the base and at the head or neck, the entire assembly is generally wrapped with a film in addition or secured with hooping straps.

The advantage of such trays is that they are generally lighter and in the empty state have a smaller spatial requirement than bottle crates.

Various trays are known from the prior art. EP0383838 A1 sets out, for example, a tray in which the bottles of two trays stacked one above the other are located directly one above the other. EP0662915 A1 and DE 10 2007 050 061 A1 disclose trays in which the receiving members for the bottle heads are arranged so as to be offset between the receiving members for the bottle bases in order thus to reduce the height of the stack overall. To this end, the trays which are arranged one above the other have to be arranged so as to be rotated through 180° about the vertical axis relative to each other.

In order to ensure that the bottles do not rotate in the tray during transport, there have been proposed resilient retention members which project inwards and which retain the containers in a rotationally secure manner in the compartment (EPO921989 A1 and GB 2476270 A) .

Trays nowadays are only configured for a specific bottle size and number. Although the two solutions proposed in EP0921989 A1 and GB 2476270 A are also suitable for bottles of different sizes, they are suitable only in the case of the same number of bottles. The solutions proposed therein are only intended to be able to compensate for relatively small differences in the bottle diameter and do not make it possible for providing the tray once with narrow 0.5 litre bottles and, on a different occasion, with large 1.5 litre bottles, let alone in a compact assembly using the space available per layer.

The publication US 5,071,026 A discloses a bottle crate, the side walls of which, although the crate is suitable for stacking different bottles in two different orientations, are constructed to be so high that bottles which are gripped between two such containers cannot be loaded explicitly by stacking forces. Consequently, the publication US 5,071,026 A does not relate to bottle trays.

The publication DE 2005 029 304 Al discloses a bottle tray according to the preamble of claim 1 which has bottle head receiving members only at one side, whereas only receiving members for corresponding bottle assemblies are provided at the other side.

Since the great variety of bottle sizes and units on the market is constantly increasing and a higher level of flexibility with regard to a variable supply is demanded on the part of the drinks suppliers, an object of the present invention is to provide a bottle tray which has a broader range of uses.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous developments. A bottle tray according to the invention which is suitable for storing and/or transporting bottles, cans or similar containers has on a first side or upper side first storing positions for first bottles and on a second side or lower side a corresponding number of first receiving members for precisely receiving bottle heads and, if applicable, bottle necks or bottle caps and/or bottle shoulders of the first bottles. Furthermore, the bottle tray further also has on its second side or lower side second storing positions for second bottles and on its first side or upper side a corresponding number of second receiving members for precisely receiving bottle heads and, if applicable, bottle necks or bottle caps and/or bottle shoulders of the second bottles.

The first bottles and the second bottles may be of the same bottle type or different bottle types.

In this case, the first storing positions at one side are aligned with the first receiving members at the second side and the second storing positions at the second side are aligned with the second receiving members at the first side.

This means that the bottle tray according to the invention can be used at both sides since corresponding storing positions of one bottle and bottle head receiving members of the other bottle are provided or integrated in each side.

More specifically, a first number of identical bottles are placed at one side of the bottle tray and a structurally identical bottle tray are placed with the other side thereof on the bottle heads. If the bottle tray is turned round, it is possible to place a second number of identical bottles at the other side of the bottle tray and to place a structurally identical bottle tray with one side thereof on the bottle heads .

This double-sided ability to use the bottle tray affords a number of possibilities.

While the bottles can be adjusted only at one side or at the upper side in the case of the known bottle trays and for stacking can be placed on a full bottle tray only with a specific side, that is to say, the lower side, the bottle tray according to the invention makes it easier to automatically fill and stack the bottle trays without the trays having to be placed on a specific side beforehand because both sides of the tray have corresponding storing positions and receiving members. Naturally, this reguires that the bottle storing positions and receiving members be constructed and arranged identically at both sides of the bottle tray.

However, a significant advantage of this solution involves providing at the two sides bottle storing positions and receiving members of different sizes and arrangements in order to be able to use the same bottle tray depending on the orientation for at least two different bottle types with a packaging unit which is of a single origin. According to the invention, therefore, the number of first storing positions and first receiving members differ from the number of second storing positions and second receiving members.

According to an aspect of the invention, the number of first storing positions and first receiving members may be twice as high as the number of second storing positions and second receiving members. For example, one side of the bottle tray has 24 storing positions for smaller bottles and the opposite side of the bottle tray accordingly has 24 receiving members for the bottle heads of the bottle assembly arranged below in respect of a structurally identical bottle tray. If the bottle tray is turned to the other side, this other side has storing positions for 12 large bottles, for example, 1.5 litre or 2 litre bottles. The corresponding 12 bottle head receiving members are again constructed at the correspondingly opposite side. This allows, depending on the orientation of the bottle tray and with optimum utilisation of the dimensions of the bottle tray, that is to say, in a tightly packed packing form of a single origin, either a larger number of smaller (thinner) bottles, for example, 24 x 0.5 litre bottles, or a smaller number of larger (wider) bottles, for example, 12 x 1.5 litre bottles, to be able to be stacked one above the other and stored or transported.

Consequently, the first bottle and the second bottle may be different in terms of diameter, height, volume and/or quantity.

According to an aspect of the invention, a peripheral first edge can be constructed on the first side and a peripheral second edge can be constructed on the second side. This edge ensures that the bottles do not laterally slip off the tray before the assembly stack is wrapped with a stretch or shrink-wrap film or after it has been removed. The bottles which are positioned close together can thus be fixed in the desired positions thereof by means of the peripheral edge.

In order to even further improve the retention, the first edge can be adapted to selected positions of the outer contour of the first bottles and/or the second edge can be adapted to selected positions of the outer contour of the second bottles. The outer row of bottles is thus partially engaged round by the edge and fixed in a specific position. Furthermore, an even more compact construction type is achieved.

Even if, as mentioned above, a peripheral edge can retain the bottles in a specific position, according to an aspect of the invention, additionally or alternatively, a number of first positioning devices can be provided at the first side in order to define the first storing positions and to laterally support the first bottles and a number of second positioning devices can be provided at the second side in order to define the second storing positions and to laterally support the second bottles. Those positioning devices which can substantially support only a base portion of the bottles can also be constructed so that they retain the bottles with slight spacing in order to prevent the bottles from striking or rubbing against each other during the transport.

According to an aspect of the invention, those positioning devices can be constructed as moulds, walls, framework bases, and/or partitioning sleeves. In addition to the number, the type of positioning devices at the two sides of the bottle tray can also be different if different guide or support elements are found to be more suitable for the different types and arrangement of bottles, respectively.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first positioning devices and first receiving members are configured for only a first bottle type and the second positioning devices and second receiving members are configured for only a second bottle type which is different from the first one. As a result of the optimum and very specific adaptation of the positioning devices and receiving members for a very specific bottle type, an optimum securing of the bottles during transport is achieved and the bottles are prevented from striking each other.

Instead of configuring the respective positioning devices and receiving members for a plurality of bottle types and therefore risking poorer securing of the bottles, the flexible use of the bottle tray according to the invention is ensured by the ability of the bottle tray to be turned round and the associated ability to be adapted to two different bottle types.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first storing positions, the second storing positions, the first receiving members and/or the second receiving members or the tray as a whole can be symmetrically arranged. This makes automation easier since - unlike the above-described prior art - no specific orientation (about the vertical axis) is necessary during stacking.

The bottle tray can be produced integrally with an injectionmoulding method. According to an aspect of the invention, however, the bottle tray can also be constructed from two detachably or form-fittingly connectable mould halves. In particular, this facilitates the production of the respective bottle tray half, particularly if larger or more complex formations are intended to be formed at the two sides in order to define the storing positions, such as, for example, partitioning sleeves, which cannot be produced in a single forming method, or can be produced only with increased complexity. In this case, each half can be produced per se and subsequently assembled to form the bottle tray.

According to an aspect of the invention, the bottle tray may have a modular construction and may have a base frame (or a base platform), into which a first insert having first positioning devices and second receiving members can be inserted on one side, and a second insert having second positioning devices and second receiving members can be inserted on the second side and can be connected to the base frame (base platform) in a detachable or non-detachable manner. This simplifies not only the production of the individual components, but also further the flexibility when the bottle tray is used as a result of it being easier to be able to combine the inserts.

According to an aspect of the invention, the different tray halves or inserts can be different in terms of the colour thereof. It is thereby possible to better distinguish the sides of the tray, which simplifies the handling thereof, in particular the intended positioning thereof.

According to an aspect of the invention, the bottle tray is configured so that two structurally identical bottle trays can be nested one inside the other in order to ensure an even more space-saving storage in the empty state or an even more space-saving return transport after the drinks are supplied.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first side of an empty bottle tray according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows the bottle tray of Figure 1 in the state filled with a first bottle size and an additional bottle tray which is placed on the bottles;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second side of the empty bottle tray according to the invention;

Figure 4 shows the bottle tray of Figure 1 in the state filled with a second bottle size and an additional bottle tray which is placed on the bottles;

Figure 5 is a lateral cross-section of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a perspective cross-section of two empty bottle trays which are stacked one above the other in the longitudinal direction;

Figure 7 is a perspective cross-section of two empty bottle trays which are stacked one above the other in the width direction; and

Figure 8 is a lateral cross-section of two empty bottle trays which are stacked one above the other.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a transport layer according to the invention or a bottle tray 2 according to the invention which is suitable for transporting and storing bottles .

The bottle tray 2 is preferably produced from plastics material, in particular from a thermoplastic plastics material.

The bottle tray 2 has a substantially rectangular layer or plate having two surfaces 6 and 8 of which in the perspective view of Figure 1 only the surface 6 is directed upwards and can be seen. The surfaces 6 and 8 are each delimited by a peripheral, substantially perpendicular edge 10 and 12. The bottle tray 2 or the surfaces 6 and 8 are constructed in such a manner that the bottle tray 2 can be used at both sides and bottles can be placed both on the surface 6 and on the surface 8.

The surface 6 is constructed in such a manner that it provides, as shown in Figure 2, storing positions 14 for a total of 24 (6x4) identical bottles 16 of a first size. However, the surface 8 is constructed differently and provides storing positions 18 for a total of 12 (4x3) identical bottles 20 of a second size. The bottles 16 are 24 0.5 litre bottles having a base diameter of approximately 65.90 mm and the bottles 20 are 12 1.5 litre bottles having a base diameter of approximately 95.25 mm.

In order to fix the bottles 16 and 20 in position, positioning devices in the form of vertically projecting ribs or framework bases 22 or 24 which laterally support the 24 bottles 16 or the 12 bottles 20 at the base portions thereof and secure them against slipping are constructed on the surfaces 6 and 8. Furthermore, the bottles 16 and 20 are slightly spaced apart from each other by the framework bases 22 and 24. Furthermore, the edges 10 and 12 have cylindrical balancing portions 26 and 28 which partially engage round the outer row of bottles 16 and 20, respectively, and thereby retain them at the desired position thereof.

The balancing portions 26 and 28 further have a given reinforcement function of the edges 10 and 12 so that the respective edge (edge 12 in Figure 2 and edge 10 in Figure 4) does not bend when the edge placed on the base has to carry the load of the bottle tray 2 which is filled and stacked above it.

Figures 1 and 3 further show that the bottle tray 2 has at the surface 6 thereof 12 cylindrical recesses or indentations 30 in a matrix arrangement and at the surface 8 thereof 24 recesses or indentations 32. The recesses 30 in the surface 6 serve to receive the bottle heads 34 of the larger bottles 20 and the recesses 32 in the surface 8 serve to receive the bottle heads (not illustrated) of the smaller bottles 16 so that an additional bottle tray 2 or an additional transport layer, which can in turn be filled with bottles 16 or 20, can be positioned on a bottle tray 2 which is filled with bottles 16 or 20 (see Figures 2, 4 and 5).

As a result of the form-fitting between the bottle heads 34 and recesses 30 or 32, on the one hand, it is ensured that the bottle heads 34 and thereabove the bottles 16 or 20 are retained and, on the other hand, the stacked bottle trays 2 are prevented from slipping off the stack.

The surface 6 has, on the one hand, an edge 10 and framework bases 22 for supporting the base portions of the smaller bottles 16 and, on the other hand, 12 receiving members 30 for the bottle heads 34 of the larger 1.5 1 bottles 20. However, the surface 8 has an edge 12 and framework bases 24 which define the storing positions 18 for 12 large bottles 20 and, on the other hand, 24 receiving members 32 for the bottle heads 34 for the 0.5 1 bottles 16. That is to say, guides or support elements 22, 24 for bottle bases and receiving members 30, 32 for bottle heads 34 are integrated at each side or surface 6 and 8 of the bottle tray 2, respectively, only for different bottle types.

The receiving members for the bottle heads 32 on the surface 8 correspond to the storing positions 14 of the surface 6 and the receiving members 30 for the bottle heads 34 on the surface 6 correspond to the storing positions 16 on the surface 8. As a result of this pairing, the bottle tray 2 according to the invention allows the use thereof for two different bottle sizes with optimum utilisation of the dimensions of the bottle tray 2.

Against this background, the framework bases 22 and 24 of one bottle assembly are intended to be positioned and configured in such a manner that they do not interfere with the receiving members 30 of the other bottle assembly. It can be seen in Figure 3 that some of the framework bases 24 are interrupted at the locations of the recesses 32 for the bottle heads 34.

Instead of the rib-like framework bases 22 and 24 shown, the surfaces 6 and 8 can also have moulds, partitioning sleeves or other support or guide elements in order to define the respective storing positions 14 and 16 and to retain the bottles 16 and 20 at the lower side, respectively.

Figure 5 shows that the receiving members 30 receive only an upper portion of the bottle cap 34 in a precisely fitting manner. In place of a so-called cap receiving member, other solutions known from the prior art can also be produced in the bottle tray 2 according to the invention, for example, receiving members in which the upper bottle tray 2 is supported on the bottle shoulders or on both the bottle closure cap and the bottle shoulder.

Figures 6 and 7 show a stack comprising two empty bottle trays 2. In this case, it can be seen that the bottle trays 2 can be nested so that the empty stack height can be reduced by approximately 25%. If the bottle tray 2 according to the invention has a height of 90 mm, the total height of two bottle trays nested one inside the other is only 135 mm. This is made possible in that the edges 10 and 12, if the bottle trays 2 are placed one over the other, engage round each other, more specifically, mutually engage round each other.

As can be seen in Figure 6, the edge 10 engages round the edge 12 at the short sides of the bottle trays 2, while the edge 12 engages round the edge 10 at the long sides, as can be seen in Figure 7. In order to allow the change of the respective edge portions 10 and 12 in an outward direction, there are provided in the four corner regions of the edges 10 and 12 four recesses 36 and 38 which engage one in the other in the stack layer (see Figure 8). It is thereby ensured that the bottle trays 2 can also be stacked securely without bottles and cannot slip off each other.

Figures 6, 7 and 8 further show that the edge 12 which supports the larger bottles 20 in the base region is slightly higher than the edge 10 so that the surface 6 of the upper bottle tray 2 is supported on the rim of the edge 12. In order to further prevent bending of the bottle tray 2 in the central region, the framework bases 22 and 24 are adapted to each other in terms of the height thereof so that they also move into abutment and support each other in the empty-stacked state, as shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8.

The bottle tray 2 according to the invention has been described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment. This allows a range of applications for two types of bottle with a packing unit which is of a single origin.

However, the bottle tray 2 according to the invention can also be constructed differently. Thus, all conventional standard dimensions, such as 400 x 300 mm, 600 x 400 mm and 800 x 600 mm, are conceivable with a corresponding, different number of bottles.

Instead of the combination of 24 x 0.5 1 bottles and 12 x 1.5 1 bottles, other combinations are also conceivable, such as 24 x 0.5 1 bottles and 12 x 2 1 bottles, or combinations of 0.33 1 bottles with 0.7 1 bottles, etc.

The integral bottle tray 2 can be produced from two tray halves which have a separation line in the region of the plate 4 and which are subsequently joined in a detachable or materially engaging manner, for example, clip-fitted, adhesively bonded or welded.

Claims (11)

Bottle tray (2) for storing and / or transporting bottles (16, 20) having on a first side (6) a plurality of first stills (14) for first bottles (16) and on a second side (8) has a corresponding number of first recordings (32) for accurately capturing bottle bodies (34) and optionally bottlenecks or bottle caps and / or bottle shoulders of the first bottles (16) to be able to stack multiple bottle trays (2) filled with first bottles ( 16), one above the other, wherein the bottle tray (2) on the other side (8) has a plurality of second still places (18) for second bottles (20), characterized in that the bottle tray on its first side (6) has a corresponding number of second recordings (30) for accurately capturing bottle bodies (34) and optionally bottlenecks or bottle caps and / or bottle shoulders of the second bottles (20) to be able to use the bottle tray (2) on both sides, wherein the number of the first still locations (14) and first recordings (32) differ from the number of second stills dser (18) and second recordings (30), and the size of the first stills (14) for the first bottles (16), in particular 0.5 liter bottles, and the size of the second stills (18) for the second bottles ( 20), especially 1.5 liter bottles, differ. Bottle tray (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of the first stills (14) and first recordings (32) is twice the number of the second stills (18) and second recordings (30). Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the first side (6) first positioning devices (22, 26) are provided for defining the first still places (14) and for lateral support of the first bottles. (16) and on the other side (8), second positioning means (24, 28) are provided for defining the second still locations (18) and for lateral support of the second bottles (20). Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the first side (6) a circumferential first edge (10) and on the second side (8) a circumferential second edge (12) is formed, wherein the first edge (10) is adapted to selected locations (26) of the outer contour of the first bottles (16) and / or the second edge (12) is adapted to selected locations (28) of the outer contour of the second bottles (20). Bottle tray (2) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the first positioning devices (22, 26) are formed by mold holes, walls, frame elevations (22, 24) and / or pinholes. Bottle tray (2) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the first positioning devices (22, 26) and first receptacles (32) are intended for a first bottle type, and the second positioning devices (24, 28) and second recordings (30) are intended for a second bottle type different from the first bottle type. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottle tray (2) is formed of two mold halves which can be releasably or materially connected to each other. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottle tray (2) is modularly constructed and has a basic frame in which, on the one hand, a first insert with first positioning devices and second receptacles can be inserted, and thereon the other side may be inserted a second insert with second positioning devices and first recordings, the first insert and the second insert being releasably or firmly connected to the base frame. Bottle tray (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the different tray halves or inserts have different colors. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two constructionally similar bottle trays (2) can be arranged within each other. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first still places (14), the second still places (18), the first recordings (32) and / or the second recordings (30) are arranged symmetrically.