EP0094530B1 - Plastic bottle case and bottle packaging obtained with this case - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a bottle crate made of plastic, in the interior of which bottle compartment spaces are free from partition walls and are formed by spacer bodies fastened to the bottom of the bottle crate and extending perpendicularly to the latter, each consisting of two columns arranged symmetrically to one another and spaced apart from one another and ending in roof-shaped surfaces are arranged in opposite gussets of the free space between four bottle storage spaces in such a way that the spaces between two columns of a pair of columns lie on an imaginary straight line that runs between two rows of bottle storage spaces.

Such a bottle crate has become known from DE-OS 2914993. The advantage of this bottle crate is that bottle groups composed of cardboard or cardboard can also be used in this bottle carrier together with this bottle carrier, whereby both bottle carriers for one row and bottle carriers for several rows of bottles can be used. These bottle carriers only have bottom holes for the spacers, but no recesses in the side walls, which is very beneficial to the stability of these bottle carriers and at the same time fully preserves the advertising surfaces on the side walls of the bottle carriers.

The present invention is concerned with solving the problem, the previous bottle crates for twenty euro bottles with a bottle diameter of 70.5 mm, in which the bottles are arranged in five rows of four bottles each and the external dimensions 400 mm x 330 mm have to be designed in such a way that the dimensions of bottles standing in straight rows can be reduced to 400 mm x 300 mm so that these bottle crates can be stacked tightly using the standardized pallet dimensions.

Many sides have attempted to solve this problem. So far, however, all attempts to arrange the bottles in straight rows have failed because the long side walls of the bottle crate had to be made too thin. Such a crate can be designed and manufactured, but it does not outlast the harsh operation to which the crates are exposed not only in the packaging and unpacking machines, but also during transport and storage in high stacks. The lack of stability of the very thin long side walls could not be avoided by special stabilization measures that z. B. can be avoided by a special design of the partition walls inside the bottle crate and special constructions for connecting these partition walls to the longitudinal side walls. For this reason, bottle crates were created in which the bottle storage spaces in the interior are not arranged in straight rows. With the honeycomb-shaped partition walls inside the bottle crate, the width of 300 mm could be achieved with sufficient stability of the long side walls, but this arrangement of the bottle storage spaces in non-straight rows has the disadvantage that the gripper heads in the packaging and unpacking machines have to be changed and then difficulties occur when gripping bottles running in straight lines to the packaging machines.

It is the object of the invention to create a bottle crate in which at least the bottles standing in rows parallel to the end walls of the bottle crate are extremely narrow without touching one another.

The invention solves this problem based on a bottle crate of the type mentioned in that each column has three corners, two corners of which are arranged on the side of the column facing the adjacent column of the pair of columns and the third corner lies on an imaginary line that perpendicular to the connecting line of the other two corners is that each column is made up of two obtuse-angled walls, which converge at an acute angle on the side away from the space between two columns of a pair of columns, and that each corner is provided with a bead running perpendicular to the box floor.

If you want to arrange bottles very closely in rows that run parallel to the end walls of a bottle crate, then you must not have partition walls inside the bottle crate, because these partition walls require three times the space between them because of the necessary play between them and the bottle circumference two bottles without a partition wall is minimally required. The invention achieves this by constructing the columns from two obtuse-angled walls, the columns also being reinforced by three beads running perpendicular to the bottom of the box. This special shape of the columns enables the distance between the individual bottles to be effectively reduced to almost 0.5 mm and this distance to be maintained even during dynamic loads during transport. As a result, the bottles are extremely tight without touching each other. The advantage is retained that bottles can be used in the bottle crate both individually and in bottle carriers with any number of rows.

For a high stability of the bottles, which are arranged directly in front of the end walls, it is particularly advantageous if a row of individually standing columns is arranged in front of each end wall, which are aligned with the rows of pairs of columns inside the box and where the apex of the angular gen cross-section is directed into the interior of the box.

In order to give the bottles adjacent to the long side wall a good stability, it is expedient if pairs of ribs are arranged on each long side wall, the gaps of which they enclose are aligned with the row of gaps between the pairs of columns.

• a) In jeder parallel zu den Stirnseitenwänden verlaufenden Reihe von Flascheneinstellplätzen sind die Flascheneinstellplätze durch die säulenförmigen Abstandskörper mit einem Abstand von 0,5 bis 1,5 mm angeordnet.
• b) Jeder Abstandskörper besteht aus zwei zueinander symmetrischen, mit Abstand voneinander stehenden, oben in dachförmige Flächen auslaufenden Säulen, die in gegenüberliegenden Zwickeln des Freiraumes zwischen je vier Flascheneinstellplätzen derart angeordnet sind, dass die Zwischenräume zwischen je zwei Säulen eines Säulenpaares auf einer gedachten Linie liegen, die zwischen zwei Reihen von Flascheneinstellplätzen verläuft.
• c) Jede Säule ist aus zwei stumpfwinklig gegeneinander geknickten Wandungen aufgebaut.
• d) Jede Säule weist im Querschnitt drei Ecken auf, von denen zwei Ecken auf der der benachbarten Säule des Säulenpaares zugewandten Seite der Säule des Säulenpaares angeordnet sind, und die dritte Ecke auf einer gedachten Linie liegt, die senkrecht zu der Verbindungslinie der beiden anderen Ecken verläuft und jede Ecke ist mit einem Wulst versehen.
• e) Vor jeder Stirnseitenwand ist eine Reihe von einzeln stehenden Säulen angeordnet, die mit den Reihen von Säulenpaaren im Inneren des Kastens fluchten.
• f) Die Ecken des Flaschenkastens sind als Hohlecksäulen ausgebildet, deren durchgehende Innenwand in der Ecke benachbart zur Längsseitenwand angeordnete Flascheneinstellplätze teilweise umfasst.
• g) Jeder Flaschenträger aus Karton ist an seinen vertikalen Ecken zumindest im Bodenbereich abgerundet und weist Laschen auf, die die Eckflasehen bzw. Endflaschen an der Stirnseite des Trägers zumindest im Bodenbereich umfassen.

The characteristics of this bottle crate make it possible to produce a stable crate that meets all the usual stability requirements for a bottle crate and whose base area is not larger than 300 mm x 400 mm, with a straight-line arrangement of the rows for 4 x 5 = Euro bottles of one Bottle diameter of 70.5 mm. The features of this bottle crate can even be used to produce a bottle packaging, which, with these narrow dimensions, allows the bottles to be placed not only individually in the bottle crate, but even in the bottle crate that can be used in the bottoms, at least a number of bottles holding them, in their bottoms Holes are provided for the passage of the columnar spacers. This bottle packaging is characterized by the combination of the following features:

• a) In each row of bottle storage spaces running parallel to the end walls, the bottle storage spaces are arranged at a distance of 0.5 to 1.5 mm due to the columnar spacers.
• b) Each spacer consists of two mutually symmetrical, spaced-apart columns that run out into roof-shaped surfaces at the top, which are arranged in opposite gaps in the free space between four bottle storage spaces in such a way that the spaces between two columns of a pair of columns lie on an imaginary line that runs between two rows of bottle slots.
• c) Each column is made up of two obtuse-angled walls.
• d) Each column has three corners in cross section, two corners of which are arranged on the side of the column of the column pair facing the adjacent column of the column pair, and the third corner lies on an imaginary line which is perpendicular to the connecting line of the other two corners runs and each corner is provided with a bead.
• e) A row of individually standing columns is arranged in front of each end wall, which are aligned with the rows of column pairs inside the box.
• f) The corners of the bottle crate are designed as hollow corner pillars, the continuous inner wall of which partially includes bottle storage spaces arranged in the corner adjacent to the longitudinal side wall.
• g) Each bottle carrier made of cardboard is rounded at least in the bottom region at its vertical corners and has tabs which encompass the corner bottles or end bottles on the front side of the carrier at least in the bottom region.

This bottle packaging is characterized by the fact that the individual external dimensions of 300 mm x 400 mm can be maintained with full stability of the bottle crate, without the individual bottles touching during transport in cardboard packaging as individual bottles during transport.

The bottle crate of this bottle packaging receives its high stability to a large extent via the corner pillars. It is therefore expedient if the corner pillars of the bottle crate protrude upwards over the upper edge of the side walls and / or protrude downwards over the lower edge of the side walls and the bottom. Because then the loads are diverted downwards through the corner pillars alone.

In order to facilitate this stacking of the bottle crates on top of one another and to ensure that the bottle crates of a stack cannot move against one another, it is expedient if the corner pillars are directed upwards by an inward-pointing heel of the wall thickness of the corner pillars, which are in a transverse plate merges, are closed.

If the spacer columns have an angular cross section, it is expedient if each column with an angular cross section is constructed from two obtuse-angled walls which converge at an acute angle on the side remote from the space between two columns of a pair of columns. This gives these columns excellent stability against vertical loads.

It is advantageous if two pairs of ribs are arranged in the bottle crate on each longitudinal side wall, the gaps between them being aligned with the row of gaps between the pairs of columns. These ribs give the long side walls stability and the bottles guidance and stability at the same time.

• Fig. 1 eine Ansicht des Flaschenkastens von oben;
• Fig. 2 einen Querschnitt durch Abstandskörper längs der Linie II-II;
• Fig. 3 eine Ansicht eines Abstandskörpers entsprechend einem Querschnitt längs der Linie 111-111;
• Fig. 4 eine Ansicht einer Säule eines Abstandskörpers entsprechend einem Querschnitt IV-IV;
• Fig. 5 eine Ansicht von oben auf ein Viertel eines Flaschenkastens;
• Fig. 6 eine Ansicht von unten auf ein Viertel des Bodens eines Flaschenkastens;
• Fig. 7 einen Querschnitt durch ein Viertel eines Flaschenkastens oberhalb des Flaschenkastenbodens;
• Fig. 8 eine Ansicht eines einreihigen Flaschenträgers;
• Fig. 9 eine Ansicht des Bodenteiles des Kartonzuschnittes dieses Flaschenträgers;
• Fig. 10 eine Ansicht eines zweireihigen Flaschenträgers;
• Fig. 11 eine Ansicht des Bodenteiles des Kartonzuschnittes des Flaschenträgers;
• Fig. 12 eine Seitenansicht des Flaschenkastens der Fig. 1.

The essence of the invention is explained below with reference to an embodiment shown schematically in the drawing. Show it:

• Figure 1 is a view of the bottle crate from above.
• 2 shows a cross section through spacers along the line II-II.
• Figure 3 is a view of a spacer according to a cross section along the line 111-111.
• Figure 4 is a view of a column of a spacer according to a cross section IV-IV.
• Figure 5 is a top view of a quarter of a bottle crate.
• Figure 6 is a bottom view of a quarter of the bottom of a bottle crate.
• 7 shows a cross section through a quarter of a bottle crate above the bottle crate bottom;
• 8 is a view of a single-row bottle carrier;
• 9 is a view of the bottom part of the cardboard blank of this bottle carrier;
• 10 is a view of a two-row bottle carrier;
• 11 is a view of the bottom part of the carton blank of the bottle carrier;
• 12 is a side view of the bottle crate of FIG. 1.

The bottle crate has end side walls 1 and longitudinal side walls 2 and a bottom which is formed from annular webs 3 and straight webs 4. The annular webs 3 are connected by the individual straight web pieces 4, further straight web pieces 4 connect annular web pieces to the longitudinal side walls 2. Semicircular web pieces 31 connect to the end wall 1. The annular and annular web pieces 3, 31 carry the spacers in the form of the columns 5. These columns 5 are arranged in pairs and enclose a free space 6 between them, which, when bottles packed in bottle carriers are used in the bottle crate, the side walls of the Bottle carrier can accommodate. At its lower end, the two columns 5 pass directly into the ring web 3 through horizontally extending surface pieces 7. Correspondingly, the individual columns 5 are arranged on the semicircular webs 31 in front of the end faces 1 of the bottle crate with a distance 61, so that in this intermediate space 61 between the inside of the end wall 1 and the outward-facing side of the column 5 there is a sufficient gap for receiving the side wall a bottle carrier is created.

In order to give the bottle crate sufficient stability, the corners in particular are made very strong. This is done in that the bottle crate located in the corner is surrounded on the outside by a double-walled corner pillar which is formed from the inner wall 8 and the outer wall 9 and encloses a cavity which is formed from the two parts 101, 102 which are connected to one another , of which the part 101 lies directly in the corner, while the cavity 102 extends into the gusset between the two bottles standing in the corner on the longitudinal side wall. The inner wall 8 nestles against the bottle storage locations 10 shown in dashed lines.

In the line of alignment 11 of the interspaces 6 between each pair of columns 5, on the longitudinal side wall there is the interspace between two ribs 12 formed in an inclined position on the longitudinal side wall, which end in a vertically extending bead 13.

Each column 5 is constructed from two obtuse-angled walls 14, which converge at an acute angle on the side remote from the free space 6 between two columns 5 and are provided with a bead 15 at this point forming a corner of the column. The two other free ends of the obtuse-angled walls 14 are also each provided with a bead 16. In the walls 14 there is a narrow, elongated recess which serves to save weight.

Each bottle carrier 18 has openings 19 in its bottom for the passage of the columns 5 when it is placed in the bottle crate. On the end faces of the bottom, tabs 20 are attached, which after the bottles have been placed on the floor are pushed upwards and pressed against the cylindrical part of the bottle wall before the side walls are pushed upwards. As a result, the corners of the bottle carrier are somewhat rounded, so that such bottle carriers can be used well in the bottle crate shown here in the drawing.

A side view of the bottle crate is shown in FIG. It can be seen here that the longitudinal side wall surfaces 2 in the area of the corner pillars each have an upward extension above the upper edge 22 of the longitudinal side wall 2, which ends in a shoulder 23, which serves to center a bottle crate stacked above it. The paragraph 23 is closed at the top by a horizontal plate. This paragraph 23 and the horizontal plate adjoining it enter the corner column of the bottle crate stacked above from below. With 24 a handle hole in the side wall 2 is designated.

Claims (10)

1. A plastics bottle crate, in whose interior, which is free from partitions, bottle insertion places (10) are formed by spacers which are secured to the floor of the bottle crate and extend at right angles thereto, wherein each spacer consists of two symmetrically arranged columns (5) which are spaced from one another and end in roof-shaped surfaces at the top and which are in each case arranged in oppositely-disposed wedge-shaped portions of the free space between four bottle insertion places in such manner that the gaps (6) between two columns of a pair of columns are arranged on an imaginary straight line (11) extending between two rows of bottle insertion places, characterised in that each column (5) has three corners, two of which are arranged on the side of the column (5) which faces the adjacent column (5) of the pair of columns, and the third corner of which lies on an imaginary line (22) which extends at right angles to the connecting line of the two other corners; that each column consists of two walls (14) which are angled at an obtuse angle to one another and which on the side facing away from the gap (6) between two columns (5) of a pair, converge at an acute angle, and that each corner is provided with a beading (15, 16) extending at right angles to the floor of the crate.

2. A bottle crate as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a narrow, longitudinal opening (21) is arranged in at least one wall (14) ofthe column (5).

3. A bottle crate as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that a row of separate columns (5), which is in alignment with the rows of column pairs (5). inside the crate, is arranged in front of each end wall (1).

4. A bottle crate as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that on each wall (2) of the longitudinal sides, pairs of ribs (12) are arranged, the spaces enclosed between which are in alignment with the row of gaps (6) between the column pairs (5).

5. A bottle packaging consisting of a bottle crate which is provided with straight rows of bottle insertion places (10) and which is made of synthetic resin, without partitions inside, but having column-shaped spacers which are secured to its floor, extend at right angles to the floor and are arranged in free spaces between the bottle insertion places; and of cardboard packagings (18) which can be inserted into said bottle crate and accommodate at least one row of bottles and in the bottom of which apertures (19) are provided for the passage of the spacers, characterised by the combination of the following features:

a) In each row of bottle insertion places (10) which extends parallel to the end walls (1), said bottle insertion places (10) are spaced by means of the column-shaped spacers (5) at a distance of 0,5 to 1,5 mm.

b) Each spacer consists of two columns (5) which are symmetrical with one another and spaced from one another and end in roof-shaped surfaces at the top and which are respectively arranged in oppositely-disposed wedge-shaped portions of the free space between four bottle insertion places (10) in such manner that the gaps between two columns (5) of a pair of columns lie on an imaginary line (11) which extends between two rows of bottle insertion places (10).

c) Each column (5) consists of two walls which are bent at an obtuse angle to one another.

d) Each column (5) has three corners in cross-section, two of which corners are arranged on the side of the column (5) which faces the adjacent column (5) of the column pair, and the tird corner of which lies on an imaginary line (22) which extends at right angles to the line connecting the two other corners, and each corner is provided with a beading (15,16).

e) A row of separate columns (5) which are in alignment with the rows of column pairs inside the crate, are arranged in front of each end wall (1

f) The corners of the bottle crate are designed as hollow corner columns, whose continuous inner wall (2) partially surrounds bottle insertion places which are arranged in the corner adjacent to the longitudinal side wall.

g) At its vertical corners, at least in the floor region, each cardboard bottle carrier is rounded and has lugs (20) which surround the corner bottles or end bottles on the end face of the carrier at least in the region of the floor.

6. A bottle packaging as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the corner columns of the bottle crate protrude upwards above the upper edge of the lateral walls (1, 2) and/or protrude downwardly beyond the lower edge of the lateral walls and the floor.

7. A bottle packaging as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that the corner columns are closed at the top by an inwardly-directed shoulder of the wall of the corner columns, which wall changes into a transversely extending plate.

8. A bottle packaging as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that each column (5), which is angular in cross-section, consists of two walls (14) which are bent at an obtuse angle and which converge at an acute angle on the side which faces away from the gap (6) between two columns (5) of a column pair.

9. A bottle packaging as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that a narrow longitudinal opening (17) is arranged in at least one wall (14) of the column (5).

10. A bottle packaging as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that on each longitudinal side wall (2), there are arranged two pairs (12) of ribs, the spaces between which are in alignment with the row of gaps (6) between the column pairs (5).

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