EP0712788A1 - Container, especially returnable container - Google Patents

Abstract

The container has a base element. This consists of a bottom (1), an upper frame element (3) running round it, and at least and pref. not more than two opposite sidewalls (2), which pivot the frame element to the container bottom. The container bottom, in its middle zone running parallel to the sidewalls, can bend or has a hinge in the region of the middle axis parallel to the sidewalls. The hinge (4) and bending zones extend over the entire length of the bottom. The opposite sidewalls are basically L-shaped in cross-section and form part of the container bottom.

Description

The invention relates to a container, in particular for multi-way transport.

Container elements made of plastic, which can be stacked one inside the other for return transport, are now known, in particular for reusable transport in the retail or food trade sector. Despite the stacking, there is a comparatively large packaging volume because the side wall height for the individual container element cannot be reduced for the return transport. According to the invention, however, a container element is sought which, in the case of a lightweight but nevertheless stable construction, in particular also enables the side wall height to be reduced for the return transport. At the same time, its stackability should be guaranteed.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features contained in the characterizing part of claim 1, expedient developments of the invention being characterized by the features contained in the subclaims.

According to the invention, the bottom region of the container is designed to be foldable, in a special manner in that the bottom is designed to be foldable continuously over the length and parallel to the longitudinal side walls, either by means of a middle flexible bottom region or corresponding folding or folding joints in the Ground. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the side walls connected in an articulated manner to the upper frame part, which can optionally be used as a handle, are connected via film hinges to the base element divided by one or more film hinges, as a result of which the bottom is folded or folded into roof-like structures, with the upper part being pivoted accordingly Frame element hinged side walls is enabled. In an alternative preferred embodiment, the flexible zone in the central region of the floor is produced by appropriate choice of material or corresponding material setting of the plastic used, or the central region is formed from narrow floor strips which are connected to one another in an articulated, in particular film-hinge manner.

In the preferred embodiment, the bottom of the container has only one longitudinal joint, which is preferably designed as a film hinge. In the empty position, the floor forms a V-shape due to internal stress, with the V-tip pointing upwards. As a result, the circumferential upper frame in the region of the longitudinal side walls is slightly bulged outwards in this position, so that there is an enlarged loading opening for filling the packs to be accommodated in the container. If the packs are inserted in the container, the bottom is pressed into its flat shape, which then has the consequence that the upper frame in the region of the longitudinal side walls and the longitudinal side walls are pressed out of their bulbous position into a straight, tight position.

Such a container can be effortlessly transferred from the position in which the goods are packed, in which the container essentially forms a box open at the top, to a folded position in which the container height is reduced accordingly. Furthermore, the advantage of the invention is that the reduction in height is absorbed inwards, ie no elements protrude laterally outwards beyond the side wall. From the folded or folded position, the container can be transferred to the use position by simply pressing the floor or pulling apart the side walls. If the side walls are arranged slightly conically, stacking in the empty basic element can take place even in this position of use.

The basic elements can also be combined with one another to form packaging, but the basic element can also be used alone as a packaging element.

The preferred application of the container according to the invention is the retail trade and the food industry, the containers being used, for example, for the transport of sugar bags, cosmetic articles, UHT milk packs, coffee packs and the like. Here, the delivered container with the packaging can be immediately put on the shelf, from where the consumer takes the goods directly out of the basic element. Since the narrow side is preferably open, there is a good view of the goods even when using two basic elements, so that the contents of the container can be seen from the outside without an additional label.

In a preferred embodiment, the basic dimensions of the container are 400 mm in length and 200 mm in width and 75 mm in height, it being possible, of course, to make changes in these dimensions in adaptation to the goods to be picked up. Furthermore, the basic elements can be identical in terms of basic dimensions and height, but the height can also vary in a grid-like manner from basic element to basic element, so that part of the basic elements more the holding function in the packaging and the other part of the basic element, which has a lower height, more takes over the standing function of the goods on the shelf as a display element.

Fig.1

eine Seitenansicht eines Grundelementes des Behälters von der Schmalseite her,

Fig.2

eine Einzelheit X des Behälterbodens nach Fig. 1,

Fig.3

eine Ansicht des Behälters nach Fig. 1 von oben gesehen,

Fig.4

eine Schnittansicht längs der Linie A-A von Fig. 3,

Fig.5

eine aus zwei Grundelementen nach Fig. 1 zusammengesetzte Verpackung,

Fig.6

zwei alternative Ausführungsformen in Stapelstellung für den Leergut-Rücktransport,

Fig.7

eine Seitenansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform sowie

Fig.8

eine Draufsicht eines Teils der Ausführungsform nach Fig. 7 in Leerstellung, also ohne Packungsgut.

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the purely schematic figures of the drawing. Show in it

Fig. 1

a side view of a basic element of the container from the narrow side,

Fig. 2

a detail X of the container bottom of FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

a view of the container of FIG. 1 seen from above,

Fig. 4

3 shows a sectional view along the line AA from FIG. 3,

Fig. 5

a package composed of two basic elements according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 6

two alternative embodiments in stacked position for the return of empties,

Fig. 7

a side view of a preferred embodiment as well

Fig. 8

a plan view of part of the embodiment of FIG. 7 in the empty position, that is without packaged goods.

The base element shown in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 3 comprises a container bottom designated 1, two opposite side walls 2, which are designed here as longitudinal side walls, and an upper peripheral frame element 3, which forms the upper edge of the container or base element in the illustrated embodiment .

In the illustrated embodiment, the floor and frame element have a rectangular plan. The side walls 2 are articulated at their upper edge at 4 to the upper frame element 3, which is expediently implemented via a film hinge. In addition, each side wall 2 is substantially L-shaped, with an L-leg 2a the longitudinal side wall and an L-leg 2b forms part of the container bottom 1. The inner edge 5 of the leg 2b, that is to say facing away from the wall 2a, is connected in an articulated manner to the rest of the container bottom, the container bottom also being designed with a joint in the region of the longitudinal central axis 6. The joints are designated by the reference numeral 4 here. As can be seen in particular from FIG. 3, the hinged joints 4 extend over the entire length of the base 1 or the side wall 2.

Appropriately, all the joints 4 according to the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 4 are formed by film hinges, which can be formed according to FIG. 2 by reducing or weakening the material. Because of these folding or folding joints 4, the container can be transferred from the receiving position for packaging goods shown in FIG. 1 into the stackable return packaging position shown in FIG. 4 by simply folding the bottom 1 upwards by light hand pressure. In this position, the height of the container is reduced, and several empty containers can be stacked one inside the other for the return transport. For the transfer to the packaging position, only the bottom needs to be pressed down, so that the container assumes the box-like position shown in FIG. 1. In this position, the container can hold packaged goods, whereby a basic element can be used alone. According to FIG. 5, two basic elements, which are identical here, can be supplemented to form packaging by one of the basic elements, namely the basic element 7 for the lower part of the packaging and the other basic element, namely the basic element 8, the upper part of the packaging Packaging forms. The basic elements unfolded into their receiving position take up a very stable position together with the packaged goods. Of course, conventional packaging can be used in connection with the basic elements, such as straps, straps and the like be used. If the packaging and basic elements are tightly fitted, these are also unnecessary.

As can best be seen from FIG. 3, the side walls are designed somewhat longer than the base length, so that on the narrow side the upper frame part 3 protrudes slightly on both sides over the base area, which forms a good gripping surface for carrying the base element. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the container is open on the narrow side, that is to say it is designed without side walls, and only the base 1 and the upper frame part 3 span the two longitudinal side walls.

In an alternative embodiment, which is shown at the top in FIG. 6, the central region of the container base 1 is designed to be flexible, which is produced here by a correspondingly soft material setting. It is also possible for the side walls 2 to be made of a stiffer material and the central region 9 to be made of another softer material.

The alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 6 below has a quasi-flexible central region, the quasi-flexibility being formed by narrow bottom strips 10 which are articulated to one another in the manner of roller shutters. Depending on the design of the flexible region, a curvature, a fold, namely upwards or downwards, can be produced, but in any case, according to the illustration in FIG. 6, the basic elements can be stacked.

The basic elements are expediently produced in one piece from plastic by injection molding. Viewing openings, not shown in the drawing, can also be formed in the side walls of the container.

Fig. 7 and 8 show a preferred embodiment of the container, the bottom of which is articulated only in the longitudinal central axis 6 4 in the manner of a film hinge, which is formed by a material reduction in the thickness of the bottom of the container. Otherwise, the side walls at 4 are connected to the upper frame 3, the frame 3 with a handle-forming shoulder 11 projecting slightly outwards over the side wall 2a. As a result, the container can be gripped not only on the narrow side walls, but also in the area of the longitudinal side walls.

Fig. 7 shows the empty state of the container in which the bottom is formed in a V-shape with a wide inner angle, the V-tip protruding upwards. In this empty position, the longitudinal side walls and the upper frame in the region of the longitudinal side walls are slightly bulged outwards due to internal stress, the greatest degree of bulging being in the region of the center of the longitudinal side walls. This results in a larger filling opening for the automatic loading or the manual setting of the goods to be transported in the container. If this is set in the container, the bottom is pressed down into its flat position, so that the longitudinal side walls and the frame running over the longitudinal side walls are in the extended position, that is to say they are straight and thus also hold the goods to be accommodated in the container. The bulbous position is shown in Fig. 8. If the material is removed, the container is again brought into the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

Claims (12)

Container, in particular for reusable transport, characterized by a base element comprising a base (1), a circumferential upper frame element (3) and at least, but preferably only two opposite side walls (2) which articulate the frame element (3) with the container base (1 ) connect, the container base (1) being flexible in its central region (9, 10) running parallel to the side walls (2) or in the region of the central axis (6) parallel to the side walls (2) with a joint (4) , wherein the joint (4) and the flexible region (9, 10) extend over the entire length of the base (1). A container according to claim 1, characterized in that the opposite side walls (2) are essentially L-shaped in cross-section and form part of the container base (1) with an L-leg (2b). Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one or three joints (4) is or are provided on the bottom, specifically in the central axis of the bottom and in the case of three joints preferably between the L-legs (2b) forming part of the bottom of the container. and the subsequent floor part and in the floor center axis. A container according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the flexible region (9, 10) of the container base (1) is formed by a roller shutter-like region made of narrow base strips (10) which are connected to one another in an articulated manner or by flexible material adjustment or choice of material. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the L-legs (2b) forming part of the container base (1) have a width equal to 1/4 the width of the container base (1) and their bottom edge (5) is at a distance from the central axis of the base (6), which is equal to 1/4 of the width of the container bottom (1). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls (2) are connected to the upper frame element (3) by joints (4). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joints (4) are formed by film hinges or as zones which are flexible due to the material setting and which extend over the length of the side wall (2) or the bottom (1). Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls are provided on the longitudinal side of the container and the narrow sides of the container are designed without side walls, the upper frame element (3) each forming a handle there. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the narrow side of the container can be closed by a cardboard insert with a tab which engages under the upper frame element (3) at the lower edge. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper frame element (3) projects somewhat outwards from the longitudinal side wall (2a) via a handle-forming shoulder. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base element as a base element (7) can be combined to form a package with a further base element as a cover element (8), the base elements (7, 8) being designed identically or with differently preferably graduated side wall heights are. Container according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side walls (2) are slightly conically inclined (Fig.1).

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