EP0696543B1 - Stapel von Gegenständen zur Lagerung und/oder zum Transport - Google Patents

Stapel von Gegenständen zur Lagerung und/oder zum Transport Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0696543B1
EP0696543B1 EP19950305046 EP95305046A EP0696543B1 EP 0696543 B1 EP0696543 B1 EP 0696543B1 EP 19950305046 EP19950305046 EP 19950305046 EP 95305046 A EP95305046 A EP 95305046A EP 0696543 B1 EP0696543 B1 EP 0696543B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tray
channels
stack
topping
articles
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19950305046
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0696543A1 (de
Inventor
Michael Christopher Embleton
Jeffrey Graham Pitt
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
FORMOLD Ltd
Original Assignee
FORMOLD Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by FORMOLD Ltd filed Critical FORMOLD Ltd
Publication of EP0696543A1 publication Critical patent/EP0696543A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0696543B1 publication Critical patent/EP0696543B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/70—Trays provided with projections or recesses in order to assemble multiple articles, e.g. intermediate elements for stacking

Definitions

  • This invention relates to storage and/or transit stacking of bottles or other articles, and to trays for use therein, the stack being of the kind in which the bottles or other articles stand upright side by side with one another in a plurality of arrays with the arrays stacked one upon the other on individual trays, and the tops of the articles of the uppermost array are engaged within socket recesses in the under-surface of a further tray of moulded-sheet form which tops off the stack and which includes elongate channels extending between the socket recesses.
  • a stack of said above-specified kind characterised in that the channels are in the under-surface of the topping-off tray, and that the channels intersect, and are deeper than, the socket recesses such that the channels configure upstanding ribs on the tray upper-surface that are unbroken in longitudinal continuity at the recess locations.
  • a tray for topping off a stack of bottles or other articles wherein the tray is of a moulded-sheet form having socket recesses in its under-surface to engage with the tops of the articles standing side by side with one another in the uppermost array of the stack, and elongate channels extend between the socket recesses, the tray being characterised in that the channels are in the under-surface of the topping-off tray, and that the channels intersect, and are deeper than, the socket recesses such that the channels configure upstanding ribs on the tray upper-surface that are unbroken in longitudinal continuity at the socket recess locations.
  • the topping-off tray referred to in both of the preceding paragraphs may have a down-turned peripheral rim, and may be of thermoformed sheet-plastics.
  • the socket recesses may each have a surrounding flank that flares down into the respective recess to assist with nesting the topping-off tray down onto the tops of the articles.
  • the channels may be substantially parallel to one another, and may each run unbroken in longitudinal continuity substantially the full length of the tray.
  • three hundred identical glass bottles 1 are loaded together on a wooden pallet 2 to stand upright side by side with one another in five rectangular arrays of five rows each, that are stacked one upon the other.
  • Five identical moulded-sheet trays 3 are included in the stack to locate and retain the bottles 1 together in the five arrays, and a special, sixth moulded-sheet tray 4 stands on the tops of the bottles 1 in the fifth, uppermost array, to top off the stack.
  • the stack is bonded tightly together by bands (not shown) that encircle it from top to bottom and/or within a shrink-film envelope.
  • a tray 3 of the first, bottom array of the stack stands directly on the pallet 2 with the bottles 1 of that array standing upright side by side in the tray 3, and with a tray 3 of the second array standing on the tops of those bottles 1.
  • the bottles 1 of the second array similarly stand upright in their tray 3, and a third tray 3 of the next, third array stands on them.
  • the trays 3 are each, for example, of a form as described in GB-A-2240326 so that the bottoms of the bottles 1 are located within individual sockets or recesses of the tray on which they stand, and the tops of the bottles 1 in the first to fourth arrays engage in individual, cylindrical socket recesses in the trays standing upon them.
  • the tops of the bottles 1 of the fifth array engage in individual sockets recesses of the tray 4, and the resultant interlocking of the bottles 1 from tray to tray and array to array throughout the stack, endows the stack with a significant measure of inherent rigidity and stability.
  • the topping-off tray 4 is of a special form having, in particular, an enhanced rigidity as compared with the trays 3 so as to ensure that its engagement with the tops of the bottles 1 of the uppermost array is maintained during handling and transportation of the stack.
  • the tray 4 is shown in greater detail in Figures 2 to 5 and will now be described.
  • the tray 4 is of rectangular sheet form having reciprocally configured upper- and under-surfaces 5 and 6 respectively, and a down-turned peripheral rim 7.
  • the under-surface 6 is configured to define substantially-cylindrical recesses 8 that locate in register with the tops of the individual bottles 1 of the uppermost array. More particularly, each recess 8 is generally cylindrical to conform closely to the shaping of the bottle-top and has a surrounding flank 9 that flares down in diameter into the recess 8.
  • the tray 4 Strengthening of the tray 4 to ensure that engagement of the bottle-tops within the recesses 8 is maintained throughout handling and transportation of the stack, is provided by upstanding ribs 10 on its upper-surface 5.
  • the ribs 10, which have chamfered ends and run the full length of the tray 4, are configured by deep channels 11 that are moulded into the under-surface 6.
  • the channels 11 run parallel to one another along respective rows, each cutting centrally through the recesses 8 of its row.
  • the depth of the channel 11 in each case is greater than that of the recesses 8 so that the ribs 10 project above the pocket-projections 12 that are manifested on the upper-surface 5 by the recesses 8.
  • the longitudinal continuity in this respect of the channels 11 (and correspondingly of the ribs 10) through the locations of the recesses 8, enhances rigidity of the tray 4 significantly.
  • the ribs 10 enhance the rigidity of the tray 4 in withstanding the weight of other stacks loaded on top, but more particularly, assist in withstanding tendency of the uppermost tray to bow upwardly under vibration and shock experienced during handling and transportation of the stack.
  • the top tray of a stack when tightly bound has a tendency under such shock and/or vibration to bow upwardly in the middle to an extent that may be sufficient to break its engagement with the tops of the bottles of the upper array.
  • the ribs 10 running through the top-engaging recesses 8 give a continuity of strengthening along the full row-length that has been found to overcome the bowing problem to a substantial extent, in a simple and economical way.
  • the rim 7 adds to the rigidity, especially laterally of the rows.
  • the tray 4 is thermoformed from a sheet of high-impact polystyrene or of a plastics material based on a blend of polystyrene and polyethylene.
  • the sheet which for example, may have a thickness of 2 mm, is thermoformed over a male mould to the configuration of the under-surface 6.
  • the mould is located on a platform that has a thickness of some 18 mm so that the tray 4 is formed with the peripheral, downwardly depending rim 7 to that depth.
  • each recess 8 (top of the pocket-projection 12) may be ridged for strength, and its cylindrical wall may be grooved axially (as indicated in Figure 5) for restraining the engaged bottle against rotation.
  • the tops of some types of bottle have one or more vertical bars which will engage with the grooving to restrain bottle rotation.
  • bottles 1 in the example described above are empty and without closure caps, it will be appreciated that the tray described is readily adapted to the stacked storage and/or transit of filled and capped bottles.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)

Claims (12)

  1. Stapel, in dem Flaschen oder andere Gegenstände (1) aufrecht nebeneinander in mehreren Anordnungen stehen, wobei die Anordnungen auf einzelnen Böden (3) übereinander gestapelt sind, und die Oberteile der Gegenstände (1) der obersten Anordnung einen Eingriff mit Aufnahmeaussparungen (8) in der Unterseite (6) eines weiteren Bodens (4) in Formfolienform bzw. Formlagenform herstellen, der den Stapel oben abschließt und der längliche Kanäle (11) aufweist, die sich zwischen den Aufnahmeaussparungen (8) erstrecken, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Kanäle (11) in der Unterseite (6) des oben abschließenden Bodens (4) vorhanden sind und daß die Kanäle (11) die Aufnahmeaussparungen (8) schneiden und tiefer als diese sind, so daß die Kanäle (11) hochstehende Rippen (10) auf der Bodenoberseite (5) bilden, die im Längsverlauf an den Aussparungsstellen (12) ununterbrochen sind.
  2. Stapel nach Anspruch 1, wobei der oben abschließende Boden (4) einen nach unten umgeschlagenen Umfangsrand (7) hat.
  3. Stapel nach Anspruch 1 oder Anspruch 2, wobei die Aufnahmeaussparungen (8) jeweils eine umgebende Flanke (9) haben, die sich in die jeweilige Aussparung (8) verjüngt, um das Aufsetzen des oben abschließenden Bodens (4) auf die Oberteile der Gegenstände (1) zu unterstützen.
  4. Stapel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, wobei die Kanäle (11) im wesentlichen parallel zueinander sind.
  5. Stapel nach Anspruch 4, wobei jeder Kanal (11) ununterbrochen im Längsverlauf im wesentlichen über die volle Länge des oben abschließenden Bodens (4) verläuft.
  6. Stapel nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, wobei der oben abschließende Boden (4) aus warm geformten Kunststoffen besteht.
  7. Boden zum oberen Abschließen eines Stapels aus Flaschen oder anderen Gegenständen (1), wobei der Boden (4) eine Formfolienform bzw. Formlagenform mit Aufnahmeaussparungen (8) in seiner Unterseite (6) hat, um einen Eingriff mit den Oberteilen der Gegenstände (1) herzustellen, die nebeneinander in der obersten Anordnung des Stapels stehen, und sich längliche Kanäle (11) zwischen den Aufnahmeaussparungen (8) erstrecken, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Kanäle (11) in der Unterseite (6) des oben abschließenden Bodens vorhanden sind und daß die Kanäle (11) die Aufnahmeaussparungen (8) schneiden und tiefer als diese sind, so daß die Kanäle (11) hochstehende Rippen (10) auf der Bodenoberseite (5) bilden, die im Längsverlauf an den Aussparungsstellen (12) ununterbrochen sind.
  8. Boden nach Anspruch 7 mit einem nach unten umgeschlagenen Umfangsrand (7).
  9. Boden nach Anspruch 7 oder Anspruch 8, wobei die Aufnahmeaussparungen (8) jeweils eine umgebende Flanke (9) haben, die sich in die jeweilige Aussparung (8) verjüngt, um das Aufsetzen des Bodens (4) auf die Oberteile der Gegenstände (1) zu unterstützen.
  10. Boden nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 9, wobei die Kanäle (11) im wesentlichen parallel zueinander sind.
  11. Boden nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 9, wobei jeder Kanal (11) ununterbrochen im Längsverlauf im wesentlichen über die volle Länge des Bodens (4) verläuft.
  12. Boden nach einem der Ansprüche 7 bis 11, wobei der Boden (4) aus warm geformten Kunststoffen besteht.
EP19950305046 1994-07-19 1995-07-18 Stapel von Gegenständen zur Lagerung und/oder zum Transport Expired - Lifetime EP0696543B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9414513A GB9414513D0 (en) 1994-07-19 1994-07-19 Storage and/or transit stacking of articles
GB9414513 1994-07-19

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0696543A1 EP0696543A1 (de) 1996-02-14
EP0696543B1 true EP0696543B1 (de) 1998-10-14

Family

ID=10758535

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19950305046 Expired - Lifetime EP0696543B1 (de) 1994-07-19 1995-07-18 Stapel von Gegenständen zur Lagerung und/oder zum Transport

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0696543B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69505317T2 (de)
GB (2) GB9414513D0 (de)

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2416530B (en) * 2004-07-27 2007-12-05 Linpac Mouldings Ltd Tray
US7677405B2 (en) 2006-11-21 2010-03-16 Rehrig Pacific Company Crate for containers
US7735676B2 (en) 2008-02-18 2010-06-15 Rehrig Pacific Company Crate for containers
US10730676B2 (en) 2016-09-28 2020-08-04 Dean Foods Company Caseless container tray
USD854423S1 (en) 2016-09-28 2019-07-23 Dean Foods Company Container tray

Family Cites Families (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3338406A (en) * 1965-12-20 1967-08-29 Dow Chemical Co Carton construction
GB1197059A (en) * 1966-11-18 1970-07-01 Reginald Hobbs Packaging of Containers
US3650395A (en) * 1970-01-22 1972-03-21 Reginald John Hobbs Shrink wrap package having the containers therein in contacting relation
IT1037841B (it) * 1975-05-05 1979-11-20 Anic Spa Metodo per l imballaggio di supporti di filo continuo
US4213529A (en) * 1979-04-20 1980-07-22 Frank B. Robb Means for stacking and shipping containers in multiples
US4911300A (en) * 1987-07-27 1990-03-27 Ralph Colonna Container packaging system
GB9001825D0 (en) * 1990-01-26 1990-03-28 Formold Ltd Article-retaining trays
DE69204581T2 (de) * 1991-07-02 1996-04-18 Formold Ltd Stapeln von Gegenständen zur Lagerung und/oder zum Transit.
FR2679878B1 (fr) * 1991-07-31 1993-10-29 Saint Gobain Emballage Plateaux de palettisation.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9414513D0 (en) 1994-09-07
EP0696543A1 (de) 1996-02-14
DE69505317D1 (de) 1998-11-19
GB2291408B (en) 1997-11-05
GB2291408A (en) 1996-01-24
DE69505317T2 (de) 1999-06-10
GB9514666D0 (en) 1995-09-13

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US9321572B2 (en) Nestable crate for containers
US3332574A (en) Bottled beverage case
US5031774A (en) Nestable beverage can tray
US5184748A (en) Low-depth nestable tray for fluid containers
US4538742A (en) Plastic bottle case and bottle packaging with such case
US7677405B2 (en) Crate for containers
US4416373A (en) Interlocking stackable bottles
US5772070A (en) High-strength gusseted lid for a food container
AU2002347901A1 (en) Nestable crate for containers
CA2783321A1 (en) Apparatus and method for aligning and holding egg cartons
GB2240326A (en) Article-retaining trays
EP0521705B1 (de) Stapeln von Gegenständen zur Lagerung und/oder zum Transit
EP0696543B1 (de) Stapel von Gegenständen zur Lagerung und/oder zum Transport
US5695060A (en) Tray for receiving containers, in particular yogurt cups
CA3141095A1 (en) Egg carton with dual handles
WO1999006299A1 (en) Article-retaining trays
EP0610100B1 (de) Schale zum Lagern und Stapeln von Gegenständen
GB2257121A (en) Storage and/or transit stacking of articles
GB2274833A (en) Storage and/or transit stacking of articles
GB2327941A (en) Article-retaining trays
EP0521572A1 (de) Kunststoffträger zum Tragen von Flaschen an ihren Hälsen
AU694791B2 (en) Improvements relating to the stacking of containers
CA2037694A1 (en) Containers
SE506986C2 (sv) Dunk med organ för fixering av spännband för sammanhållande av flera dunkar
EP0542328A1 (de) Ineinander stapelbare Tragschale mit querstabilen Seitenwänden im gestapelten Zustand

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR IT PT

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19960729

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 19970523

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: B1

Designated state(s): DE ES FR IT PT

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: IT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT;WARNING: LAPSES OF ITALIAN PATENTS WITH EFFECTIVE DATE BEFORE 2007 MAY HAVE OCCURRED AT ANY TIME BEFORE 2007. THE CORRECT EFFECTIVE DATE MAY BE DIFFERENT FROM THE ONE RECORDED.

Effective date: 19981014

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: THE PATENT HAS BEEN ANNULLED BY A DECISION OF A NATIONAL AUTHORITY

Effective date: 19981014

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69505317

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 19981119

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF FAILURE TO SUBMIT A TRANSLATION OF THE DESCRIPTION OR TO PAY THE FEE WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED TIME-LIMIT

Effective date: 19990114

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed
PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20000724

Year of fee payment: 6

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Payment date: 20000929

Year of fee payment: 6

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020329

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20020501

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST