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
  • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
  • B65D85/30—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure
  • B65D85/34—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure for fruit, e.g. apples, oranges or tomatoes
• • 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
  • B65D21/00—Nestable, stackable or joinable containers; Containers of variable capacity
  • B65D21/02—Containers specially shaped, or provided with fittings or attachments, to facilitate nesting, stacking, or joining together
  • B65D21/04—Open-ended containers shaped to be nested when empty and to be superposed when full
  • B65D21/043—Identical stackable containers specially adapted for nesting after rotation around a vertical axis
  • B65D21/045—Identical stackable containers specially adapted for nesting after rotation around a vertical axis about 180° only
• • 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
  • B65D25/00—Details of other kinds or types of rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65D25/14—Linings or internal coatings
  • B65D25/16—Loose, or loosely-attached, linings

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a device for packaging and handling fragile objects, in particular fruit or vegetables, of the type having a plurality of cells and spacer means for maintaining a distance between two superimposed devices.
• the main object of the invention is to provide devices capable of being reconditioned many times without producing waste or effluents during reconditioning.
• the device must be robust enough to allow a large number of handling and storage cycles, can be transported between two uses in a form in which the size is reduced and is determined in its form and in the materials used so as to allow a discount in standard of hygiene concerning in particular food products, by simple, rapid and non-polluting operations.
• the devices of the state of the art do not achieve these goals.
• French patent FR2669309 describes a wedging element for trays containing fragile products.
• the invention disclosed by this document relates to a packaging element consisting of a plate having a set of cells capable of receiving by interlocking and of retaining each a tray, this plate being provided with a series of spacers for stacking several elements on top of each other while keeping the trays of two overlapping plates spaced apart.
• the patent US4101049 has also been proposed in the state of the art.
• This patent discloses a fruit pallet having a plurality of intermediate pads. In a first orientation, the pallets are superimposed, preserving an intermediate space in which the fruit can be housed. By changing the relative orientation of two consecutive pallets, these are fitted together to present a reduced volume. Furthermore, the complex shapes of the intermediate pads define recesses which it is impossible to clean with a view to reconditioning products requiring compliance with food-type hygiene standards.
• a first object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing devices of great rigidity for transporting and storing fragile articles.
• the object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing devices of great rigidity for transporting and storing fragile articles, and generating no waste, ensuring optimal protection of the products and a reduced bulk after use.
• the devices are reusable on the one hand a hundred times after cleaning, and on the other hand, being made of a single material, are easily recyclable.
• the invention relates more particularly to a device for packaging and handling fragile objects, in particular fruit or vegetables, of the type having a plurality of cells and spacer means for maintaining a distance between two superimposed devices, made exclusively of a rigid plastic sheet.
• This sheet has a central zone of shape, deformed with respect to the median plane to form said cells.
• the central zone is bordered laterally by a hollow peripheral belt and extending substantially perpendicularly to the median plane of the central zone, and presenting means for determining between the central zones of two superimposed devices a first interval when the two plates are in a first relative orientation, and a second interval less than the first interval, when the two plates have a different relative orientation.
• the form of the central area can be circular or rectangular, or polygonal.
• the angular difference between the two types of orientation is 180 °, but it can take any other value, for example 90 ° for square devices, or a fraction of 360 ° for polygonal or circular devices.
• the cells are hemispherical in shape to achieve both a good setting of the transported fruit, and allow easy cleaning of the trays for reconditioning. By stacking trays in one of the possible directions, a stackable set of trays is effectively protected. After use, the trays are turned 180 ° to present them in a reverse relative orientation, which allows them to fit together and reduce the total height of the trays to a height hardly exceeding the cumulative thicknesses of the thermoformed sheets.
• the device can be produced by any known manufacturing means, in particular by injection or by thermoforming.
• the plastic used is preferably a single impact material, such as high density polyethylene or food grade ABS.
• the device according to the invention consists of thermoforming a sheet of polyethylene.
• This material although it is not used in the packaging industry, makes it possible to produce tinted devices in the mass which are totally recyclable by grinding and integration into the material constituting the thermoformable sheets. In addition, it has sufficient rigidity to produce self-supporting trays.
• polyethylene is resistant to many chemical agents, including most acids, as well as water vapor, and the devices can therefore easily be cleaned and sterilized. Cleaning and sterilization are carried out by any known method, in particular by steam, or by the use of chemicals. It is therefore possible to reuse the devices after washing and possibly after sterilization, 50 to 100 times, then to fully recycle the material of the used devices.
• the production tool for manufacturing thermoformed devices is relatively inexpensive, and makes it possible to manufacture limited series of devices adapted to a particular type of product, in particular as regards the shape and size of the cells.
• a pallet having an upper surface complementary with the lower part of a device according to the invention is adaptable to ensure perfect stability of a set of stacked devices.
• the hollow peripheral belt bordering the central zone have a succession of hollow blocks having walls converging towards the front face opposite to an open face, said hollow blocks being separated by empty intervals.
• the devices according to the German utility model G9209188.1 in particular have the disadvantage of not allowing the flow of liquids and therefore make satisfactory repackaging impossible.
• the lateral hollow blocks of one of the hollow peripheral belt bordering at least the central zone are offset by half a step relative to
• the edges of the central zone have projecting parts capable of cooperating with the upper part of the hollow blocks of the following device.
• the hollow blocks have at their upper part lateral notches of shape complementary to the protruding parts of the edges of the central zone.
• the invention also relates to a packaging system for fragile products comprising a plurality of devices as well as a pallet consisting of a plate having on its upper surface complementary means for positioning the lower device of a stack.
• the general shape of the pallet is also of known type, and for example has legs or housings for the installation of handling claw.
• a second important object of the invention according to a particular embodiment is to remedy the drawbacks of the devices of the prior art with regard to their reduced possibilities of recycling.
• the devices of the prior art certainly allow recycling and therefore reuse. It is nevertheless necessary to carry out a cleaning of the conditioning device, which requires significant quantities of water, and sometimes exceeding the quantities admissible with regard to the regulations relating to the use of aquatic resources. In addition, cleaning leads to the discharge of polluted liquids which may require costly treatment.
• the second object of the invention is to propose a packaging device overcoming these drawbacks by allowing recycling without cleaning, and incidentally allowing personalization of the packaging. device according to the user, this personalization being modifiable at each cycle of use.
• the invention according to this alternative embodiment relates more particularly to a device for packaging a plurality of products consisting of a rigid structure having a general form of tray whose surface intended to receive the products has a plurality of housings whose dimensions and shape correspond substantially to those of the products to be packaged, said surface being coated with at least one film of detachable plastic material.
• the film is a flexible film having a thickness of less than 30 microns, and preferably less than 15 microns.
• the film is removed between each use cycle and is replaced by a new film.
• the film can be used as an advertising or information medium, and therefore allows the packaging to be personalized.
• the small thickness of the film also makes it possible to considerably reduce the small volume of waste, the weight of the film removed being only a few grams for a package of usual size.
• the rigid structure is coated with a plurality of layers of peelable films. It is thus possible to remove the upper layer and immediately find a reconditioned device.
• the device consists of a rigid structure surrounded by a film of detachable waterproof plastic. This film is pressed against the surface of the rigid structure by suction of the air between the rigid structure and the film.
• the rigid structure is constituted by a sheet of rigid plastic material having a central zone deformed relative to the median plane to form cells, said central zone being extended laterally by a hollow peripheral belt bordering the central zone extending substantially perpendicularly by relative to the median plane of the central zone, and presenting means for determining between the central zones of two superimposed devices a first interval when the two plates are in a first relative orientation, and a second interval less than the first interval, when the two plates have an inverted relative orientation.
• the rigid structure is formed by thermoforming a sheet of polyethylene.
• the hollow peripheral belt bordering the lateral central zone of the rigid structure has a succession of hollow blocks having walls converging towards the front face opposite to an open face, said hollow blocks being separated by empty intervals.
• the lateral hollow blocks of one of the hollow peripheral belt bordering at least the central zone are offset by half a step with respect to the blocks of the hollow peripheral belt bordering the opposite central zone.
• the edges of the central zone have projecting parts capable of cooperating with the upper part of the hollow blocks of the following device.
• the invention also relates to a product packaging system comprising a plurality of devices as well as at least one pallet consisting of a plate having on its upper surface complementary means for positioning the lower device of a stack.
• the invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a device for packaging products of the type constituted by a rigid structure surrounded by an impermeable film consisting in introducing the rigid structure into a cover formed by a plastic film, and in connecting the volume between the outer surface of the rigid structure and the inner surface of the cover to a source of vacuum.
• the invention also relates to an arrangement for the presentation for sale of products consisting of a stack of devices for packaging products.
• the invention finally relates to a method for packaging products intended for self-service sales, consisting in preparing a packaging device constituted by a rigid structure having a plurality of cells of shape complementary to the shape of the products to be conditioned, the structure being coated with a flexible waterproof film conforming to the surface of the rigid structure, arranging the products to be packaged in the cells of the device, and stacking the packaging devices thus prepared.
• FIG. 2 shows a sectional view along a vertical plane AA 'of a device according to the invention
• FIG. 3 shows a sectional view along a vertical plane BB 'of a device according to the invention
• FIG. 4 shows a side view of a set of sheaf devices according to the invention
• FIG. 5 shows a side view of a set of devices stacked according to the invention
• - Figure 6 shows a top view of a device according to the invention
• - Figure 6 shows a sectional view along a vertical plane AA 'of a device according to the invention
• FIG. 7 shows a sectional view along a vertical plane BB 'of a device according to the invention.
• the device consists of a polyethylene sheet with a thickness of 4 millimeters thermoformed. It has cells (1) of hemispherical shapes having holes in the bottom (2) for the evacuation of liquids and for the aeration of the stored products.
• the hollow peripheral belt bordering the central zone of the plate is raised and has on the two longest edges hollow blocks (3), and corner blocks (4, 5, 6, 7).
• the two lateral edges have hollow blocks (8) of different shapes and dimensions in the example described.
• the long edges have a succession of blocks (3) spaced by empty intervals (11), visible from the front in FIGS. 4 and 5.
• the plate has, in these empty intervals (11), protrusions (12) extending in the median plane (13) of the plate.
• the upper part of the blocks (3) have a recess (14) capable of cooperating with the protrusions (12) when two devices are stacked.
• the angular blocks (4, 7) of one of the lateral edges have a wing (15, 16) whose dimensions are substantially identical to those of the blocks (3).
• the angular blocks (5, 6) of the opposite lateral edge have a wing (17, 18), the width of which corresponds substantially to the width of the intervals (11).
• FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the device along a plane A-A 'passing through the two short edges.
• the hollow block (8) has lateral faces converging towards the top (20). The blocks can therefore fit into each other when several devices are stacked.
• the lower device rests on a pallet (25) also produced by thermoforming a sheet of polyethylene. This pallet (25) has a profile complementary to the lower surface of the device and is intended to ensure the stability of the stack of devices.
• the storage system comprising: - a plurality of stackable and built-in devices, a pallet consisting of parts all made of a single material, which facilitates the elimination of waste and reprocessing at the end of the use cycle.
• Figure 3 shows a plan view
• the blocks (8) are also formed by deformation of a sheet to forming side walls converging towards the top (21) so as to allow nesting of the blocks when devices are stacked.
• the blocks also have reinforcing ribs, not shown, to improve the rigidity of the hollow peripheral belt bordering the central lateral zone, in order to give the device a self-supporting character, even for handling heavy objects.
• Figure 4 shows three stacked devices. For this, the devices are presented one above the other, with an orientation in which the identical long edges are superimposed. The blocks (3) and (8) can therefore fit together. The protrusions (12) are positioned in the voids (11). The devices can thus be embedded in each other so that the assembly has a reduced bulk.
• Figure 5 shows two sheaf devices.
• the devices are presented one above the other in an orientation opposite to the previous one, that is to say an orientation in which the long edge of a device is presented above the long edge of the following device having blocks (3) offset by half a step. Therefore, the protrusions (12) come into contact with the recesses (14) provided at the top of the hollow block (3) located vertically, to form a spacer separating the cells from the consecutive devices.
• Figure 6 shows a sectional view of the device along a plane AA 'passing through the two short edges.
• the thermoformed sheet is surrounded by a thin and flexible cover constituted by a waterproof and impermeable film (102) of polyethylene with a thickness of 15 microns.
• the thermoformed sheet is introduced into the cover with an open edge allowing the introduction of the thermoformed sheet.
• the cover is then connected to a source of vacuum causing the film (102) to adhere to the exterior surface of the thermoformed sheet.
• the storage system comprising:
• FIG. 7 represents a view according to a plane B-B 'passing through the short edges.
• the blocks (108) are also formed by deformation of a sheet to form side walls converging towards the top.
• the blocks also have reinforcing ribs, not shown, to improve the rigidity of the side edges, in order to give the device a self-supporting character, even for handling heavy objects.
• a set of packaging sheaves constitutes an arrangement for the sale of self-service products with satisfactory aesthetic qualities. Such an arrangement also reduces the need for storage area, the lower packaging constituting the stock of products displayed for sale in the upper packaging. When the latter is empty, it can be returned to the underside of the stack of wreath packaging, the following packaging then being accessible.
• the resulting saving in store furnishings can be passed on to suppliers in the form of partial or total coverage of the packaging price.
• Such a mode of presentation is moreover compatible with forms of presentation of products consisting in misting them to keep them a pleasant appearance.

Landscapes

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

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26230460

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 1994
  • 1994-07-05 AU AU72302/94A patent/AU7230294A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-07-05 WO PCT/FR1994/000826 patent/WO1995001916A2/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-07-05 EP EP94921684A patent/EP0706485A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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