EP3908527A1

EP3908527A1 - Bottle crate

Info

Publication number: EP3908527A1
Application number: EP20702210.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tim Siebels
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-01-11
Filing date: 2020-01-10
Publication date: 2021-11-17
Also published as: WO2020144349A1; DE102019100684B3; DE102019100684B9

Abstract

The invention relates to a stack arrangement of at least two identical bottle crates (1) for receiving bottles (5), each bottle crate (1) comprising at least one crate bottom (7), four side walls (2) and a divider unit (3) between the side walls (2) with compartments (4) for receiving the bottles (5). According to the invention, the compartments (4) are arranged nesting within one another, and the bottle crates (1), when filled, can be stacked nesting inside one another in the vertical direction by means of rotating stacking to provide a stack arrangement of at least two identical bottle crates 1 with which the carrying capacity of a Euro pallet is increased.

Description

BOTTLE CRATE The invention relates to a stack arrangement of at least two identical bottle crates for receiving bottles according to the preamble of claim 1 and a corresponding bottle crate according to the preamble of claim 16.

Bottle crates are used in particular for returnable bottles made of glass or plastic and have been known for decades. The dimensions of today's bottle crates are based on a Euro pallet and the height of the respective bottle type. To transport and store the bottle crates, they are stacked next to each other and one above the other. A fundamental problem of the bottle crates is the volume occupied by the crates, which by no means utilizes the loading capacity of the respective transport vehicles. This applies both to the transport of empty empty bottle crates as well as to the transport of the bottle crates filled with empty bottles, but ultimately also to the transport of the bottle crates filled with full bottles. A partial solution to the transport and storage problem is known, for example, from WO 2012/010232 Ai, which discloses a stacking arrangement comprising a plurality of bottle crates in which the transport crates can be stacked nested into one another in the unfilled, that is to say bottle-free, state. The invention has for its object to provide a bottle crate and a stack arrangement of at least two identical bottle crates, with which the transport capacity of a Euro pallet is increased.

The invention achieves the object with a stack arrangement according to claim 1 and a bottle crate according to claim 16. Advantageous further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims. All of the features described, either individually or in any combination, are fundamentally the subject of the invention, regardless of how they are summarized in the claims or their relationship. The inventive stacking arrangement has at least two identical bottle crates for receiving bottles, each bottle crate comprising at least one crate bottom and four side walls and between the side walls a subdivision unit with compartments for receiving the bottles, the compartments being nesting to one another and the bottle crates in the filled state are nestable nesting in the vertical direction by means of rotary stacking.

Surprisingly, the inventive combination of nesting arrangement of the compartments and rotary stacking of the bottle crates (hereinafter also referred to as boxes) to one another has enabled the bottle crates to nest in the vertical direction. The particular advantage of the inventive stacking arrangement is thus that the bottle crates filled with empty or full bottles can be nested in one another, thereby increasing the packing density and making better use of the existing transport and storage capacities.

The nesting arrangement of the compartments is understood to mean a nesting arrangement of these compartments next to one another, that is to say transversely to the vertical direction. This means that the compartments of a bottle crate are arranged nesting to each other transversely to the vertical direction. The compartments are, for example, round or octagonal.

In order to enable the bottle crates to be nested in the vertical direction, the bottle crates have a smaller cross section in the area of a crate bottom than in the area of an upper crate edge of the side walls, which lies opposite the crate bottom. This can be achieved by a stepped design of the side walls. As an alternative or in addition, however, the side walls are arranged conically opening upwards towards the outer edge. Mixed forms, for example with two conically arranged opposite side walls and two opposite side walls with a step, are also conceivable.

The filled state of the bottle crate is present when at least one of the compartments, in particular when all the compartments are filled with bottles, ie as soon as bottles in the compartments stand on the bottom of the crate with their bottle bottoms. The bottles can either be filled with a product, for example a drink, or they can also be empty. The bottles have a different cross-section in the direction of a central longitudinal axis. The bottles usually include the bottle bottom with a bottle belly. The bottle belly is followed by a bottle neck with a bottle opening that is smaller in cross section than the bottle belly. The central longitudinal axis of the bottle is perpendicular to the bottle bottom and runs through the center of the bottle opening.

The bottles can in particular be designed as reusable bottles for drinks, for example. The bottles can be made of metal or plastic, but are mostly made of glass. The bottle crates are designed in particular for reusable beverage bottles which have the standardized shapes and sizes known from the beverage sector. The bottles are especially designed to hold standardized quantities of 0.2 liters, 0.25 liters, 0.33 liters, 0.5 liters, 0.7 liters, 0.75 liters, 1 liter or 1.5 liters . Of course, the bottle crates can also be designed for other bottle sizes with different volumes, such as 1.25 liter disposable bottles, some of which are also transported in reusable crates. A bottle crate is usually designed for a bottle size and shape.

The bottle crates are designed in particular as reusable crates, which are thus transported and stored both in the filled state and in the unfilled state. The height of the bottle crate is usually adapted to the height of the bottles to be transported in the bottle crate. The edge of the crate of a bottle crate usually protrudes only slightly in the vertical direction, for example in the range from 5% to 15% of the bottle height, over the bottle heads (closure of the bottle).

Under a rotary stacking a stack is meant in which the two identi rule bottle crates a rotation angle> 0 °, in particular of 90 ° or 180 ⁰ zueinan which exhibit. The associated axis of rotation is an axis aligned in the vertical direction V, which in particular stands up vertically on the bottom of the box. An untwisted stacking, a stacking without twisting, etc. is to be understood as meaning a stacking in which the bottle crates have an angle of rotation of 0 °, that is to say no twisting with respect to one another. A further rotation of the bottle crates about a horizontal axis oriented transversely to the vertical axis lies with the inventive stacking device. order not, ie, the angle of rotation about a horizontal axis between two bottle crates of a stacking arrangement is 0 °.

Of course, the bottle crates can not only be stacked nesting when they are filled, but also when they are not filled. The bottle crates are designed in such a way that, in addition to the nesting rotary stacking in the filled state, they can also be stacked in the unfilled state by means of rotary stacking in the vertical direction and additionally a stacking nesting in the vertical direction is possible without twisting the bottle crates with respect to one another.

The vertical direction V is the direction of extension of the bottle crate starting from the crate bottom perpendicularly in the direction of the upper crate edge of the side walls.

As already stated, the nesting arrangement of the compartments relative to one another means in particular an offset arrangement of the compartments of a single bottle crate with respect to one another. The nesting (offset) arrangement takes place in the direction transverse to the vertical direction.

The compartments of the subdivision unit are in particular arranged in such a way that they form compartment columns and compartment rows. The compartments of a compartment column are arranged offset to the compartments of an adjacent compartment column (nesting arrangement). The arrangement of the specialist lines is analogous to this. The compartment columns are arranged with their compartment column direction preferably parallel to at least one first side wall and the compartment rows parallel to at least one second side wall, the two side walls being at an angle not equal to 180 °, i.e. are not arranged parallel to one another, but preferably at an angle of approximately 90 ° to one another. In each bottle crate, both the first side wall and the second side wall can each have a parallel, spaced-apart side wall, which results in square, in particular rectangular, bottle crates.

In addition to the arrangement of the compartments of a bottle crate nesting transversely to the vertical direction, the stack arrangement also includes an arrangement of two bottle crates stacked one inside the other in the vertical direction, that is to say adjacent bottles Gift boxes nest vertically into one another (can be stacked one inside the other), whereby the bottle crates are filled with bottles or unfilled.

The subdivision unit particularly preferably has subject lines and subject columns, with one subject and one subject rack alternatingly arranged both in the subject lines and in the subject columns. As a result, the formation of bottle crates nestable in the vertical direction is significantly simplified, and a larger number of bottles can be arranged in the bottle crates with the same external dimensions compared to other subdivisions of the subdivision unit.

The nesting arrangement of the compartments is also particularly easy to produce with the formation of subject lines and subject columns. When arranging subject lines and subject columns, the nesting arrangement means, for example, that the subjects of a first subject line are offset from the subjects of an adjacent, second subject line and the subjects of a first subject column are offset from the subjects of an adjacent, second subject column. The offset can take place, for example, in such a way that the vertical central longitudinal axis of a compartment of a first compartment row in the compartment row direction is centered between two compartments of an adjacent second compartment row or a compartment of a first compartment column in the compartment column direction is centered between two compartments of an adjacent second compartment column .

Compartment stands are understood to mean components which are arranged between the compartments or between the compartments and the side wall. These can be dome-shaped, rod-shaped or the like, for example square with rounded edges and / or as a tube which is open at least on one side. They have at least one free end that points in a direction opposite the bottom of the box.

A subject line is to be understood to mean all subjects and subject racks whose vertical central longitudinal axes are arranged along a linear line axis (subject line direction). The row axis runs parallel to a side wall.

Accordingly, a subject column is understood to mean all subjects and subject racks whose vertical central longitudinal axes run along a linear column axis (subject column direction). The column axis is aligned across the row axis and accordingly also runs parallel to a side wall.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the stacking arrangement provides that the central longitudinal axes of the compartments of a lower bottle crate, which are perpendicular to the crate bottom, are aligned with one of the central longitudinal axes of the subject stands, which are perpendicular to the crate base, of an upper bottle crate nesting in the lower crate.

Alignment means that the two central longitudinal axes are congruent, i.e. they extend in the same spatial direction. This arrangement enables a particularly good utilization of the volume of the bottle crates, since it enables in a particularly simple manner that the bottle necks of the bottles which are in the lower bottle crate can be arranged at least in sections in the space between the compartments of the second bottle crate . I.e. also that the bottle necks of the bottles in the lower bottle crate protrude at least in sections through the crate bottom of the upper stacked bottle crate. Depending on the design of the compartment racks, the bottle necks are thus arranged in sections in one of the compartment racks or under one of the compartment racks in the upper bottle crate.

It is particularly preferably provided that the subdivision unit, in addition to the compartments, also has compartment dividers, one compartment dividing two compartment stands each. These are in particular designed in such a way that the compartment webs are connected to the box bottom and the compartment stands have no direct connection to the box bottom, i.e. the compartment racks "hover" over the bottom of the box. As a result, the cleanability of the bottle crates is significantly improved and the space for arranging the bottle necks of the bottles of the lower bottle crate in the upper bottle crate is significantly increased.

In order to allow the bottle necks to project through the bottom of the box and to increase the stability of the stacking arrangement, openings in the bottom of the box which are aligned with the diameter of the bottle necks and the diameter of the shelf racks are particularly preferably arranged. The openings are arranged in such a way that in the stacked state, the bottle necks of the bottles in the lower bottle crate protrude through the openings in the upper bottle crate, while if the bottle crates are not stacked in an untwisted manner (the bottle crates are not twisted relative to one another), the compartments of the lower bottle crate protrude in sections into the upper bottle crate.

The bottom of the box usually includes a lattice structure to reduce the weight of the bottle crate and, for example, to prevent the liquid from collecting in the bottle crate when bottles are leaking. In order to improve the stability of the bottle crates in the stacked state, at least one shelf, preferably several or all shelves, has a cone-like elevation at its free end. The free end points in particular in a direction opposite the bottom of the box. The shape and size of the shop stand pins are adapted to the lattice structure of the box base, so that in the stacked condition, the shop stand pins fit into the lattice structure as precisely as possible (with slight play, e.g. in the range of o, i mm to 0.3 mm) and e.g. rest on the flanks of the lattice structure.

To the space efficiency continues to improve, according to a development of the OF INVENTION is dung provided that the bottle crates are rectangular and in the filled state by a i8o ° -Drehstapelung are nestend stackable or bottle crates are square and in the filled state by means of 90 ⁰ - Rotary stacking or i8o ° rotary stacking can be stacked nested in the vertical direction. The rectangular or square design is particularly advantageous for standardized transport on Euro pallets.

The arrangement of the number of compartment rows and compartment columns in the bottle crate is of course dependent on the size of the respective bottle crate and the respective bottle type. The ratio of the multiple columns to multiple line but is preferably such that at 180 ⁰ drehstapelbaren bottle crates, the difference between multiple rows and multiple columns is odd, while at 90 ° drehstapelbaren bottle crates, the difference between multiple rows and multiple columns is straight. With a square design of the bottle crates, dimensions of the bottle crate of maximum 400 mm x maximum 400 mm are preferred, or with a rectangular configuration of the bottle crates maximum 400 mm x maximum 300 mm. On the one hand, with both maximum formats, the space on a Euro pallet (approx. 120 cm x 80 cm) can be optimally used. On the other hand, the bottle crates are still particularly easy to transport by the end user, and the storage volume, which is limited by the maximum dimensions, guarantees that the maximum weight of the bottle crate filled with full bottles remains manageable. The preferred height of the boxes is a maximum of 335 mm. Alternatively, the outer dimensions can also be a maximum of 600 mm x a maximum of 400 mm.

A further development of the bottle crates provides that the distance between the central longitudinal axes of the compartments of a fan row which are perpendicular to the shelf is identical and the distance of the central longitudinal axes of the compartments of a compartment column which are perpendicular to the shelf is identical. As a result, in particular the design of the boxes which can be stacked in a rotary manner is significantly simplified. The distance between the compartments of a compartments row and / or the compartments of a compartment column preferably corresponds to the sum of the minimum inside diameter of an individual compartment, the minimum inside diameter of the opening at the level of an outside of the box bottom and a play of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm , preferably 0.3 mm +/- 0.1 mm.

The minimum inside diameter of an individual compartment and the opening at the level of the outside of the box bottom depend on the bottle size provided for the respective bottle box. The minimum inside diameter of a compartment is usually matched to the maximum diameter of the bottle belly. The relevant inside diameter of the opening, on the other hand, depends on the bottle neck diameter and the nest height of the bottle neck in the upper bottle crate, since the bottle neck typically tapers from the bottle belly to the bottle opening. Accordingly, the compartment stand is also matched to the diameter of the bottle neck or the minimum inside diameter of the opening. The maximum width of the compartment stand at the section with which it is positioned in the opening (untwisted stacking) corresponds to the minimum inside diameter of the opening minus a slight play in the range from a maximum of 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. According to a development of the invention, it is provided that in the 180 ° stacked state, the central longitudinal axis of the first compartment of a first bottle crate formed from the first compartment column and the first compartment row is aligned with a central longitudinal axis of a compartment rack of a second bottle crate formed from the last compartment column and last compartment row , or the other way around. This enables a very general design of bottle crates which can be stacked in a particularly simple manner. In the case of bottle crates which can be stacked by 90 °, on the other hand, it is particularly preferably provided that, in the state stacked by 90 °, the central longitudinal axis of the first compartment of the first bottle crate formed from the first compartment column and the first compartment row is aligned with a central longitudinal axis of a compartment stand formed from the last compartment column and first compartment row second bottle crate is aligned or vice versa. The central longitudinal axes are understood to mean the central longitudinal axes of the compartments or the shelf racks standing perpendicularly on the box base. The first and second bottle crates can be understood to mean the upper or the lower bottle crate of the stacking arrangement, the upper bottle crate corresponding to the first or second bottle crate and vice versa, depending on whether the stacking arrangement is started with an untwisted or twisted bottle crate. According to a development of the invention, it is provided that each bottle crate has a first stacking level. The first stacking level is understood to mean a horizontal level of the bottle crate. The first stacking level is, in particular, the stacking level which is achieved when stacked together in the vertical direction of a filled or unfilled upper bottle crate in an unfilled lower bottle crate, i.e. an upper bottle crate stands on the first stacking level of the lower bottle crate in the untwisted, vertically nesting stacking. The first stack level has a vertical distance from the upper edge of the side wall of the bottle crate, which corresponds to a nest height. In the non-twisted stacked state, the upper bottle crate with its crate bottom particularly preferably stands on supporting surfaces and / or the compartment webs of the lower crate crate. The support surfaces in particular form the first stacking level. You can place the bottle crate in the vertical direction below the free end of the compartment Stand be arranged. The support surfaces are in particular formed as components with support surfaces extending in the direction of the box bottom, the support surfaces pointing in the direction of the upper edge of the box. The components with a support surface are, for example, in one piece, that is, they are designed as components of the side walls of the bottle crate. They are arranged on at least two opposite side walls, but preferably on all four side walls of the bottle crate. The support surfaces protrude from the respective side wall into the interior of the bottle crate. The bottle crate preferably stands on the support surfaces with lower contact surfaces of the crate bottom. As an alternative or in addition to the rising of the contact surfaces on the support surfaces, the upper bottle crate with its crate bottom stands on the compartment webs of the lower crate. The compartment webs can thus form the first stacking level or they form this together with the support surfaces. Accordingly, the compartment webs can end with a free end in the vertical direction at the level of the support surfaces.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that each bottle crate has a second stacking level arranged in the vertical direction above the first stacking level.

The second stacking level is also a horizontal level of the bottle crate and in particular is aligned parallel to the first stacking level. The second stacking level is formed, for example, by the compartment racks of the subdivision unit. In particular, an unfilled or filled upper bottle crate stands in the stacked state and rotated by 80 ° (rotary stacking) or, in the case of a 90 ° rotary stacking crate, rotated by 90 ° on the second stacking level of a filled lower bottle crate. This means that the bottom of the crate in the upper bottle crate stands on the shelves in the lower crate. Possibly. arranged shelf stands engage in the lattice structure of the bottom of the box. The second stacking plane has a vertical distance from the upper edge of the side wall of the bottle crate, which also corresponds to a nest height.

In order to improve the stability of the untwisted and the twisted stack arrangement, stack stands and corresponding to the stack stands are preferably designed. Dete stack recesses arranged.

The stacking stand can be arranged on the inside of at least two opposite side walls. The stacking stands are designed, for example, as part of the side wall and can protrude from it or be connected to it. The stacking stands extend in the vertical direction from the first stacking level in the direction of the upper edge of the box and are thus in particular elongated, for example in the form of a rod. The stacking stand in particular comprise an upper contact surface which is arranged inside the bottle crate.

The stacking stands are also particularly preferably designed in such a way that, in the rotationally stacked state, a lower contact surface of the upper bottle crate stands on the upper contact surface of the stacking stand of the lower bottle crate. The lower contact surface can in particular be designed as a section of the box bottom. The contact of these contact surfaces on one another in the stacked condition is provided as an alternative or in addition to the uprising of the box base on the shelf racks.

This significantly improves the stability of the stack arrangement. Preferably, the lower contact surfaces of the upper bottle crate, which stand on the upper contact surfaces of the stacking stand of the lower bottle crate, are the same lower contact surfaces with which the upper bottle crate stands up on the supporting surfaces of the lower bottle crate when the nesting is not twisted.

The stack recesses which correspond to the stack stands can be arranged on the outer sides of likewise at least two opposite side walls. A stack recess and a are preferably

Stacking stands arranged in the direction transverse to the vertical direction, one above the other and, for example, spaced apart in the vertical direction on the side wall. While the stacking stands are preferably designed as elevations extending from the inside of the side wall, the stacking recess can be designed, for example, as depressions formed on the outside of the side wall.

Corresponding is understood to mean in particular that in the untwisted, stacked state, the stacking stands of the lower bottle crate are inserted into the stack recesses. The upper bottle crate can be inserted at least in sections.

In the inserted state, in which the upper bottle crate is nested in the vertical empty direction in the lower empty bottle crate, the upper bottle crate with an upper contact surface of the stack recess can stand on the upper contact surface of the stacking stand of the lower bottle crate. This uprising can be designed in addition to the rising of the upper bottle crate on the first stacking level or the support surfaces of the first stacking level.

In addition to this supporting function, the stacking recesses and stacking stands arranged one inside the other can be designed such that they at least largely prevent movement of the bottle crates transversely to the vertical direction. For this purpose, the stacking stand and the stacking recesses can have, for example, a groove-like cross section or, for example, a T-shaped cross section.

To improve the overall structure of the side walls and Unterteilungsele element, the stacking stand are also at least partially connected to a shelf stand. This can be done, for example, by means of external compartment webs, which each connect a stacking stand to a compartment rack. The compartment webs can be arranged in the vertical direction below the outer compartment webs.

The stacking stand and the stacking recesses can be arranged on all four side walls, for example also in the corners of the side walls.

Basically, the vertical nesting of the bottle crates is not understood to mean the intermediate gripping of a section of the crate bottom of an upper bottle crate between the edge of the bottle crate arranged underneath, known from the prior art. This serves primarily the stability of the stacked stacking arrangement. The inventive vertical nesting, however, is designed to increase the transport capacity and storage capacity. In the case of vertical nesting, the nest height, that is to say the section of the side wall of the upper bottle crate that is stacked in the lower bottle crate, is at least io% of the height of a single bottle crate, regardless of whether the bottle crates are stacked in a twist or untwisted manner are stacked. Bottle crates in the filled and unfilled state are particularly preferred to nest in an identical filled bottle crate, with a nest height of advantageously at least 15%, particularly advantageously at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, particularly preferably 40% +/- 10% of the height of an individual bottle crate , stacked in a stack. In contrast, the nest height of the inventive stacking arrangement with a lower bottle crate in the unfilled state and stacked neatly into one another at least 40%, preferably at least 55%, particularly preferably 70%, +/- 10%, advantageously between 30% and 70% of the height of an individual Bottle crate. If components of the particularly preferred embodiments are included in the bottle crate, these are of course also configured accordingly.

In particular in connection with the aforementioned preferred dimensions of the bottle crates of a maximum of 400 mm x a maximum of 300 mm in the case of rectangular crates, or in the case of square crates of a maximum of 400 mm x a maximum of 400 mm and a height of a maximum of 335 mm, the invention provides for a further development that the bottle crates in the filled state with a nest height A of preferably 5 cm to 12 cm, particularly preferably 7 cm to 11 cm, preferably 9 cm +/- 1 cm are stackable in one another and / or the bottle crates in the unfilled state with a nest height B of preferably 10-23 cm, particularly preferably 11 cm to 19 cm and preferably 15 cm +/- 3 cm can be stacked one inside the other without being twisted.

The preferred nest heights have been found to be particularly suitable, since they allow particularly good use of the areas between the bottles with the preferred maximum external dimensions of the bottle crates and the known standardized bottle sizes and bottle dimensions, and the previously common total stack height of known bottle crates on a Euro pallet between 130 cm and 160 cm is also particularly easy to manufacture.

Also particularly in connection with the aforementioned preferred dimen solutions of the bottle crates of maximum 400 mm x maximum 300 mm for rectangular bottle crates or square crates of maximum 400 mm x maximum 400 mm and a maximum height of 335 mm is according to a development of the invention provided that for square bottle crates the ratio of compartment rows to compartment columns is 5: 6, 6: 6 or 6: 7, while for rectangular bottle crates the ratio of compartment rows to compartment columns is 3: 4, 4: 5, 3: 6, 4: 7 , 5: 8 or 6: 7. The number of rows and columns is particularly dependent on the proposed standardized bottle size. In the stacked state, these preferred conditions significantly improve the usability of the available volume in a stacking arrangement of at least two bottle crates and also ensure that the bottle crates continue to not exceed the preferred dimensions and are particularly simple on standardized euro pallets and with a higher packing density than the bottle crates from the State of the art can be stacked.

The invention is further achieved by a bottle crate for receiving bottles with at least one crate bottom, four side walls and between the side walls of a partitioning unit with compartments for receiving the bottles, the compartments being arranged nesting to one another and the bottle crate in the filled state in the vertical direction by means of rotary stacking nesting in a second identical bottle crate is stackable.

An important aspect of the invention is that the subdivision unit of an individual bottle crate is not constructed as usual mirror-symmetrically about a longitudinal and transverse axis, but, completely unusual for a person skilled in the art, asymmetrically or only mirror-symmetrically about a longitudinal axis or transverse axis. It is accepted that a single bottle crate has fewer compartments to hold bottles while the external dimensions remain the same, but the nested stackability means that a greater bottle packing density (number of bottles / volume) is achieved compared to non-nested bottle crates (conventional bottle crates).

In the nesting arrangement of the compartments of the individual bottle crates, the compartments are arranged in a horizontal direction, that is to say transversely to the vertical direction or also transversely to an axis that is perpendicular to the bottom of the crate, it being noted that preferably compartment columns and compartment rows of the subdivision unit are each parallel are arranged to two side walls. As already explained for the stack arrangement, the bottle crates have a smaller cross-section in the area of the crate bottom than in the area of the upper edge. For this purpose, the side walls can be arranged to open conically in the direction of the upper edge. However, it is particularly preferably provided that the side walls are arranged perpendicular to a box base. As a result, the stability of a stack arrangement from several bottle crates is significantly increased, since pressure loads on the upper bottle crates of a stack of crates on the lower bottle crates occur only vertically, ie in the vertical direction V. Preferably, all four Seitenwän de the bottle crates are arranged perpendicular to the crate bottom. In addition, the side walls have a step, as a result of which the cross section in the area of the crate bottom is smaller than the cross section of the bottle crates in the area of the upper edge. Each side wall can thus have an upper region which extends from the step to the upper edge and a lower region which extends from the step to the box bottom.

For a special stabilization of the side walls of a bottle crate, according to a further development it is provided that outside support struts and inside support strut receptacles corresponding to the support struts are arranged on the side walls. Outside is understood to mean the side of the side wall facing away from the subdivision unit, while inside is understood to mean the side of the side wall facing the subdivision unit. The arrangement of the support struts and the support strut receptacles is such that, in the case of a nesting in the vertical direction, the rotary stacking, the support struts of a first filled bottle crate are inserted into the support strut receptacles of a second filled bottle crate. Preferably, the arrangement is such that even with a nesting stack (without rotation) of unfilled bottle crates, the support struts of the upper first bottle crates are inserted into the support strut receptacle of the lower second bottle crates. The outside support struts are arranged on two opposite side walls, in particular two short side walls of the bottle crates. In particular, two support struts are carried out on each side wall, each having a support strut in a connection area of the short side wall to a long side wall, that is to say arranged in the area of a bottle crate corner. In addition, the support struts are carried out in particular in the lower region of the bottle crates Preferably extend from the step at least largely to the bottom of the box. In a horizontal cross section, the support struts and the support strut receptacles preferably have a rectangular, in particular rectangular, cross section.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that on the side walls inside struts and corresponding to the struts outside outside Strebenauf are arranged. The inner struts are preferably arranged in an upper region of the bottle crate and in particular extend from a stacking stand to an upper edge of the bottle crate. Accordingly, the strut recordings are seen in particular in a lower area of the bottle crate and extend, for example, from the step towards the bottom of the crate. The struts and the strut receptacles are likewise preferably arranged on two opposite the side walls of the bottle crates, if present, on the long side walls. The struts and the strut receptacles have, in particular, a triangular cross section in a horizontal cross section. For example, they can have the shape of an isosceles triangle in cross section. For a particularly good and easy cleanability of the bottle crates, both the support struts with the corresponding support strut receptacles and the struts with the corresponding strut receptacles in the horizontal cross section can be arch-shaped, for example in the form of an arcuate or semicircular.

In principle, it is possible to design support struts, support strut seats, struts and / or strut seats simultaneously. It is also possible, for example, to arrange struts with support strut holders on two opposite side walls or struts with strut receivers on two opposite side walls. However, support struts and Stützstrebenaufnah men are preferably arranged on two opposite, for example the short side walls and struts and strut receptacles on the other two opposite side walls, for example the long side walls.

The bottle crate according to the invention, whether with side walls that open conically in the direction of the upper edge, with vertically aligned side walls with a step or in a mixed form with two opposite side walls with steps and two opposite conical side walls corresponds to the bottle bottle described above from the stacking arrangement. In this respect, reference is made to the features and developments of the stack arrangement described above with regard to the individual features and the possible embodiments.

The invention is explained in more detail using several exemplary embodiments. 1 shows schematically a perspective view of a first embodiment of a bottle crate with bottles;

2a, 2b schematically in a top view the bottle crate from FIG. 1 in the unfilled and filled state;

Fig. 3 shows schematically in a perspective view the underside of Fla fla boxes from Figures 1 to 2b.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a perspective view of two of the bottle crates shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, which are rotatably stacked one inside the other in the vertical direction;

Fig. 5 schematically in a perspective view of the bottle crates

Fig.i to 4 in the unfilled state and in the vertical direction rotated nesting nested into each other;

Fig. 6 shows schematically in a cross section two vertically nested nesting nesting bottle crates from Figures 1 to 5 in unfilled th state.

Fig. 7 schematically in a cross section two nesting in the vertical direction

bottle crates stacked one inside the other from FIGS. 1 to 6 in the filled state;

Fig. 8 shows schematically in a plan view a further embodiment of the

Bottle crate for 20 bottles;

Fig. 9 shows schematically in a plan view a further embodiment of the

Bottle crate for 14 bottles;

Fig. Io schematically in a plan view of another embodiment of the

Bottle crate for 21 bottles; 11 schematically shows a top view of a further embodiment of the bottle crate for 6 bottles;

Fig. 12 shows schematically in a plan view a further embodiment of the

Bottle crate for 9 bottles;

13 schematically shows a further embodiment of the in a top view

Bottle crate for 10 bottles;

14 schematically shows a further embodiment of the in a top view

Bottle crate for 15 bottles;

15 schematically shows a top view of a further embodiment of the

Bottle crate for 18 bottles;

Figure 16 schematically in a perspective view another embodiment form of a bottle crate;

17 schematically shows a short side wall of the bottle crate from FIG. 16 in a side view;

18 schematically shows a long side wall of the bottle crate from FIGS. 16 and 17 in a side view.

Figure 1 shows schematically in a perspective view a first embodiment of the inventive bottle crate 1 (hereinafter also called crate) with four side walls 2 and a subdivision unit 3, which divides the inside of the bottle crate 1 into individual compartments 4. In the individual compartments 4 bottles 5 are shown in a standing position.

The subdivision unit 3 divides the bottle crate 1 into 21 compartments 4. The bottle crate 1 has a length of 400 mm and a width of 300 mm on its upper edge 6. Starting from the upper edge 6, the short side walls 2a are designed to converge in the direction of the crate bottom 7 of the bottle crate 1, the long side walls 2b each have a step 19. Due to the level 19 and the conical design, the bottle crate 1 is narrower and shorter in the area of its crate bottom 7 than in the area of its upper edge 6. Alternatively, the short side walls 2a could have a level 19 instead of a conical arrangement and / or the long side walls 2b be arranged conically instead of a step 19. On the short side walls 2a, handles 8 for carrying the bottle crates 1 are introduced into the side walls 2a. The bottle crate 1 is designed to hold bottles 5, here standardized beverage bottles for, for example, beer with a volume of 0.33 liters and a corresponding bottle belly 9 (see FIG. 7) and bottle neck 10 (see FIG. 7).

On the side walls 2 stack recesses 11 are arranged on the outside (see Figure 3). These are designed to insert stacking stands 12 (see FIG. 2a). Stacking stand 12 and stacking recesses 11 are arranged on all four side walls 2 and formed corresponding to each other. Thus, a stack stand 12 is also arranged transversely to the vertical direction at the same location with a stack recess 11 and in the vertical direction above a stack recess 11.

FIG. 2a schematically shows a top view of the unfilled bottle crate 1 from FIG. 1. The compartments 4 formed by the subdivision unit 3, which are arranged transversely to the vertical direction, are nesting relative to one another. The subdivision unit 3 comprises the already mentioned stacking stands 12 on the inner sides 14 of the bottle crate 1, compartment stands 13, outer compartment webs 23, which connect some of the stacking stands 12 with an adjacent compartment stand 13 each and which interconnects the compartment stands 13 arranged as a grid floor 16 box bottom 7, on which the bottles 5 stand with their bottle bottom.

The compartments 13 are hollow (tubular). At the free end 13a of the shelf racks 13 there is one shelf rivet 13b each. The Gefachstän derzapfen 13b are for engagement in the lattice structure, i.e. formed in the openings 16a (see Figure 3) of the grid floor 16. While the compartment webs 15 stand up on the box base 7, the compartment racks 13 are not directly connected to the box base 7.

FIG. 2a also shows support surfaces 22 inside the bottle crate 1. The support surfaces 22 are provided for setting up an upper bottle crate ta (see FIG. 5), which is stacked in an unfilled lower bottle crate 1b (see FIG. 5), without twisting and nesting. The support surfaces 22 form a first stacking level EST (see FIG. 6). Unfilled bottle crates 1 can thus nest in one another in the vertical direction be stacked.

FIG. 2b schematically shows a top view of the bottle crate 1 from FIG. 2a in the filled state. The bottles 5 with their bottle bellies 9 and bottle neck 10 are clearly visible in the compartments 4. As already stated, these are standardized 0.33 liter reusable beverage bottles, which are also shown schematically.

The compartments 4 in the bottle crate 1 are arranged in compartment rows Z1-Z6 and compartment columns Spi-Sp7. The subject columns Spi-Sp7 each have 3 subjects and the subject lines Z1-Z6 alternately 4 and 3 subjects, a total of 21 subjects.

While the columns Spi to Sp7 are arranged mirror-symmetrically about a central longitudinal axis L of the bottle crate 1, there is no symmetry with the central transverse axis Q in the rows Zi to Z6. The compartments 4 are each arranged nesting to one another.

The compartments 4 are arranged in such a way that, when stacked at 80 ° (see FIGS. 4 and 7), the compartment 4 in position Zi, spi a lower bottle crate 1b with its bottle neck 10 from below into the upper bottle crate ta, below the compartment rack 13 immersed in position Z6, Sp7. The nest height A, i.e. the length with which the upper bottle crate ta dips into the lower bottle crate lb, is approximately 9 cm here (see FIGS. 4 and 7). In this stacked position, the upper bottle crate ta stands on a second stacking level ZST (see FIG. 7). In other words, the upper bottle crate ta stands with its lower contact surfaces 20 (see FIG. 3) on the upper contact surfaces 17 (see FIGS. 2a and 2b) of the stacking stand 12 and the crate bottom 7 stands on the free ends 13a of the compartment stand 13. The shop stand pins 13b also engage in the openings 16a of the lattice structure of the box base 7. The central longitudinal axes (not shown here) of the compartments 4 of the lower bottle crate 1b are aligned with the central longitudinal axes (not shown here) of the compartments 13 of the upper bottle crate ta and vice versa.

Fig. 3 shows the bottle crate 1 from Figure 1, 2a and 2b from the bottom. The stack recesses 11 with the upper contact surfaces 21 are clearly visible on the outside long side wall 2b and the openings 18 in the grid floor 16 for pushing through the bottle necks io a lower bottle crate lb when rotating stacking filled bottle crates l, or for pushing through the shelf racks 13 when stacking without twisting the crates 1 against each other.

The recesses 11 and thus also the stacking stands 12 on the long side walls 2b are not arranged directly opposite one another, but offset to one another and in each case symmetrically to the longitudinal axis L (see FIG. 2b). The recesses 11 and stacking stands 12 on the short side walls 2a, on the other hand, are arranged directly opposite one another, but are not aligned symmetrically to the central transverse axis Q (see FIG. 2b). This arrangement is particularly suitable for optimal use of space (as many bottles per box as possible) of the bottle boxes 1, but could also be done the other way round, for example.

As already mentioned, Figure 4 and Figure 7 show two stacked bottle crates 1, Figure 4 in perspective, Figure 7 in cross section. The two bottle crates 1 are filled with the bottles 5. The two bottle crates 1 are stacked one inside the other, ie they nest in the vertical direction V (shown here by an arrow). The nest A in this embodiment is approximately 9 cm. The upper crate ta is opposite the lower crate lb rotated 180 ^0th There is therefore a rotary stacking. The upper bottle crate ta stands on a second stacking level ZST formed by the shelf racks 13 and the stacking racks 12 of the lower bottle crate 1b.

The conical arrangement of the short side walls 2a of the two bottle crates 1 can be clearly seen. In cross section (FIG. 7) it can also be seen that the bottle necks 10 of the bottles 5 in the lower bottle crate 1b protrude through the openings 18 in the crate bottom 7 of the upper bottle crate ta and are arranged below the compartment rack 13 of the upper bottle crate ta. In addition, the shelf stand pins 13b of the lower bottle case 1b, which engage in the openings 16a of the grid floor 16 of the upper bottle case ta, can be seen. It can also be seen that the compartment stands 13 and the compartment stand pins 13b are hollow in order to improve the cleanability. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the stack arrangement with two stacked bottle crates 1 from FIGS. 1-4. The bottle crates 1 are unfilled in the two figures shown, ie there are no bottles 5 in the compartments 4. The two bottle boxes 1 nest into each other, that is, they are stacked in the vertical direction V. Because the lower bottle crate 1b is unfilled, the two bottle crates 1 could be stacked one inside the other without rotary stacking. The nest B in this embodiment is approximately 15 cm. The upper bottle crate la stands on the first stacking level EST, ie the upper bottle crate la stands with its crate bottom 7 on the support surfaces 22 of the lower bottle crate 1b and with the upper contact surfaces 21 of its stacking recesses 11 on the upper contact surfaces 17 of the stacking stand 12 lower bottle crate lb on. The shelf racks 13 of the lower bottle crate lb protrude through the openings 18 of the grid floor 16 of the upper bottle crate ta and are arranged below the shelf racks 13 of the upper bottle crate ta.

FIGS. 8-15 schematically show alternative designs of the bottle crate 1 for different bottle sizes and in this respect for different bottle numbers in the bottle crates 1. The compartments 4 of the subdivision unit 3 are not shown, but only the bottles 5 standing in the compartments 4. However, the number of bottles 5 shown always corresponds to the corresponding number of compartments 4 of the subdivision unit 3. All subdivision units 3 of the embodiments shown in FIGS stand nesting to each other in the respective bottle crate 1.

While FIGS. 1-7 relate to a rectangular design of bottle crate 1 designed for 0.33 liter reusable bottles with external dimensions in the area of the upper edge 6 of 40 cm × 30 cm and a height of approx. 27 cm, FIGS. 15 represent both rectangular (FIGS. 8, 9, 11, 12, 13) and square (FIGS. 10, 14, 15) embodiments with different bottle crate sizes and / or for different bottle sizes. However, all of the bottle crates 1 shown are of the size and shape of usual standard beverage bottles, especially standard dard reusable beverage bottles, aligned. While in the embodiments shown in Figures 1-14 bottle crates 1 takes place in the vertical Rich V tung nest end stacking in the filled state by a 180 ⁰ -Drehstapelung that shown in Figure 15 square crate 1 in the filled state over a 90 ° -Drehstapelung in the vertical direction is Vested nesting one inside the other.

The nesting of the unfilled bottle crates 1 in the vertical direction V can take place in all the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 15 without rotary stacking of the bottle crates 1 with respect to one another.

The structural structure of the bottle crates 1 shown in FIGS. 8-15 relates to the nesting stackability and basically corresponds to the structural structure of the structural designs with the respective features shown in detail in FIGS. 1-7. An essential difference between the individual embodiments lies in the external dimensions of the bottle crates, the size of the compartments 4 and the associated number of compartments 4 of the subdivision unit 3.

It should also be noted that the dimensions of the bottle crates 1 indicated in the figure descriptions always refer to the widest dimensions that are usually present in the area of the upper edge 6 of the respective bottle crate 1.

FIG. 8 schematically shows an alternative embodiment of a bottle crate 1 with the external dimensions 40 cm x 26.6 cm and a height of 27 cm. The bottle crate 1 comprises five compartment rows Zi to Z5 and eight compartment columns Spi to Sp8. The respective compartments 4 are arranged nesting to one another. Bottle crate 1 is designed to hold 20 standard bottles with a volume of 0.33 liters. The structural structure of the bottle crate 1 corresponds to the aforementioned structure of the bottle crate 1 from FIGS. 1-7. Due to the nestability compared to standard boxes with an external dimension of 40 cm x 30 cm x 27 cm (length x width x height) with the same stacking height, two stacking layers can be realized based on a Euro pallet. Due to the reduced base area compared to conventional bottle crates 1 can be used instead of usually Transport or deposit eight filled bottle crates l nine filled bottle crates l per stacking layer on a Euro pallet. In this respect, 63 bottle crates 1 can be transported with this embodiment of the bottle crates 1 instead of the previously usual 40 crates per Euro pallet when filled. With regard to unfilled bottle crates 1, instead of the previous 40 crates per Euro pallet, 90 crates per Euro pallet can be transported or deposited.

FIG. 9 schematically shows a further alternative embodiment of a bottle crate 1 with the external dimensions 40 cm x 24 cm x 30 cm (length x width x height). The bottle crate 1 provides four compartment rows Zi to Z4 and seven compartment columns Spi to Sp7 for a total of 14 bottles 5 with a volume of 0.5 liters. In the filled state, the vertical nestability of the bottle crate 1 takes place via a stacking of 180 °, with a nest height A of approx. 10 cm.

Arranged on a Euro pallet, with this embodiment ten bottle crates 1 can be set up per stacking level, again two stacking layers compared to today's standard crates for 0.5 liter returnable bottles with the dimensions 40 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm (length x width x Height) can be realized with the same stack height.

This embodiment enables the transport and storage of 70 filled bottle crates 1, i.e. H. 980 bottles 5 per Euro pallet. With regard to the unfilled bottle crates 1, 100 bottle crates 1 can be arranged on a euro pallet with a constant stack height.

FIG. 10 shows a further embodiment of the bottle crate 1 for 0.5 liter standard reusable bottles. The bottle crate 1 has seven compartment columns Spi to Sp7 and six compartment rows Zi to Z6 for a total of 21 bottles 5 with external dimensions of 40 cm x 40 cm and a height of 30 cm. The compartments 4 are arranged nesting to one another. Again, compared to the previous standard bottle crates for 0.5 liter reusable bottles, two stack levels on one Euro pallet are possible. Thus, this embodiment makes it possible to arrange 882 bottles 5 or 42 bottle crates 1 on a euro pallet with a constant stack height. In the unfilled state, 60 Transport or store bottle crates l per Euro pallet.

The bottle crates 1 shown in FIGS. 15 to 15 relate to standard bottles with a volume of 0.7 liters, 0.75 liters or 1 liter.

The bottle crate 1 shown in FIG. 11 has external dimensions of 26.6 cm x 24 cm x 32.5 cm (length x width x height). It comprises three compartment rows Zi to Z3 and four compartment columns Spi to Sp4 with a total of 6 compartments 4 nesting to each other. With a constant stack height compared to the standard boxes for this bottle size, six stack layers with fifteen filled bottle boxes 1 per stack layer are possible. This embodiment thus enables the transport and storage of 540 bottles 5 on a Euro pallet. When empty, 150 bottle crates 1 per Euro pallet can be arranged with the stack height remaining the same.

The bottle crate 1 shown in FIG. 12 has external dimensions of 40 cm x 24 cm x 32.5 cm (length x width x height), so that on a Euro pallet with a constant stack height compared to the standard crates for this bottle size, six stack layers with 10 bottle crates 1 each are realized can be. The bottle crate 1 comprises three compartment rows Zi to Z3 and six compartment columns Spi to Sp6 for a total of 9 bottles 5. The compartments 4 are arranged nesting to one another, the compartment rows Zi to Z3 each having 3 compartments 4 and the compartment columns Spi to Sp6 alternately 2 compartments 4 and include a compartment 4. This embodiment enables six stack layers with filled bottle crates 1 and thus a total of 540 bottles 5 per Euro pallet to be transported and stored with a constant stack height. In the unfilled state, 100 bottle crates 1 of this embodiment per Europalet te can be transported or deposited at a constant stack height.

Figure 13 shows another embodiment of the bottle crate 1 with the outer dimensions of 40 cm x 26.6 cm x 32.5 cm (length x width x height). With a constant stack height compared to the standard boxes for this bottle size, six stack layers with nine filled bottle boxes 1 per stack layer can be realized. The embodiment has four compartment rows Zi to Z4 and five compartment columns Spi to Sp5, so that the bottle crate 1 can hold ten bottles 5. While the specialist ten Spi to Sp5 each comprise two subjects 4, the subject lines Zi to Z4 alternately have three and two subjects 4. When empty, 90 crates per Europa lette can be transported or deposited with the stack height remaining the same.

Figure 14 shows a further embodiment of the bottle crate 1 with the outer dimensions of 40 cm x 40 cm at a height of 32.5 cm. Here too, six stacking layers with filled bottle crates 1 can be realized on a Europa lette while the stack height remains the same as for the standard crates for this bottle size. The bottle crate 1 has five compartment rows Zi to Z5 and six compartment columns Spi to Sp6 and can hold five ten bottles 5. The rows Zi to Z5 each comprise three compartments 4, the compartment columns Spi to Sp6 alternately three compartments 4 and two compartments 4. The bottles 5 are arranged nesting to one another.

In the filled state, 36 bottle crates 1 with 540 bottles 5 can be transported at a constant stack height compared to the standard crates for this bottle size. When empty, 60 bottle crates 1 per Euro pallet can be transported or stored, also with a constant stack height. Although forms out square, this bottle crate 1 is designed for 180 ⁰ rotary stacking.

FIG. 15, like FIG. 14, also shows a square embodiment of the bottle crate 1 with the external dimensions of likewise 40 cm × 40 cm and a height of 32.5 cm. From this bottle crate 1, six stack layers of filled bottle crates 1 can be realized on a Euro pallet with a constant stack height compared to the standard crates for this bottle size. In contrast to the embodiment from FIG. 14, this embodiment has six compartment rows Zi to Z6 and also six compartment columns Spi to Sp6. In addition, both the specialist rows Zi to Z6 and the specialist columns Spi to Sp6 each comprise three compartments 4, which are also arranged nesting with respect to one another. This embodiment of the bottle crate 1 can thus accommodate eighteen bottles 5, whereby the simultaneous transport of 648 bottles 5 per euro pallet is possible with the stack height remaining the same. In the unfilled state, 60 bottle crates can be stacked on a Euro pallet from this embodiment. The special feature of this embodiment lies in the rotary stacking of the filled bottle crates 1, because in this embodiment one instead of a 180 ° rotary stacking 90 ° rotary stacking of the bottle crates 1 is carried out in order to place them nesting in the vertical direction.

Furthermore, the last compartment column SpX and the last compartment row ZX can be seen in FIGS. 2b and 8 to 15.

FIG. 16 shows a further embodiment of the bottle crate 1 according to the invention, with which an inventive stacking arrangement can be produced. The bottle crate 1 has a smaller cross section in the area of the crate bottom 7 than in the area of the upper edge 6, i.e. at the top of the box. For this purpose, all four side walls 2 of the bottle crate 1 are formed in stages, that is, none of the side walls 2 is designed to open conically to the upper edge 6, but rather all side walls 2 are perpendicular to the crate bottom 7. All side walls 2 point between the crate bottom 7 and the upper edge 6 a level 19.

Outside support struts 25 are arranged on the outside on the short side walls 2a.

The outer support struts 25 extend over a lower region 26 of the fla crate 1, which is present between the crate bottom 7 and the step 19. These outer support struts 25 stabilize the short side walls 2a.

In an upper region 27 of the bottle crate 1, which is formed between the step 19 and the upper edge 6, inside support strut receptacles 28 are arranged, which are designed to correspond to the support struts 25.

The outer support struts 25 and the inner support strut receptacles 28 are arranged on the short side walls 2a and here in the region of the opposite bottle crate corners 24.

To stabilize the long side walls 2b, inner struts 29 are also provided on the inside in the upper region 27 of the long side walls 2b. Strut receptacles 30 corresponding to these inner struts 29 are arranged in the lower region 26 of the long side walls 2b. The struts 29 extend from the upper edge 6 in the vertical direction V down to the compartment 13 and here beyond their free end 13a towards box bottom 7.

While the support struts 25 and the corresponding support strut benaufnahm 28 are rectangular in horizontal cross section, here rectangular, the struts 29 with the associated strut seats 30 have a triangular shape in horizontal cross section, here the shape of isosceles triangles.

The arrangement and design of the support struts 25, the struts 29 and the respectively corresponding support strut receptacles 28 and strut receptacles 30 take place in such a way that the support struts 25 and the struts 29 both in the stacked and non-stacked state, that is to say when the bottle crates are simply stacked one on top of the other 1 without rotating one of the bottle crates 1 about a vertical axis V, into which strut receptacles 30 or the support strut receptacles 28 can be inserted.

The formation of the crate bottom 7, of stack recesses 11 and a sub-division unit 3 with the stacking stands 12, partitions 13, parting post 13b and the partitions 15 can be carried out analogously to the embodiments described in FIGS. 1 to 15.

FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 show the embodiment of the bottle crate 1 from FIG. 16 in a side view of the short side wall 2a (FIG. 17) and the long side wall 2b (FIG. 18).

It can be clearly seen in both figures that both the short side walls 2a and the long side walls 2b are perpendicular to the box base 7, i. H. are arranged aligned in the vertical direction V. The bottle crate 1 has a lower region 26 and an upper region 27 in the vertical direction V. A step 19 is formed between the two areas 26, 27, so that the upper area 27 of a side wall 2a, 2b projects above the respective lower area 26 of the side wall 2a, 2b.

The support struts 25 arranged on the outside for stabilization are also clearly visible. tion of the short side wall 2a. Also present in this embodiment are the stack recesses n, both on the long and on the short side walls 2a, 2b, which are designed corresponding to the stacking stands 12 (see FIG. 16) inside the bottle crate 1.

According to the embodiment from FIG. 1-15, the embodiment from FIG. 16 also forms a first stacking level (EST) for stacking unfilled bottle crates, which is formed by the compartment webs 15 and the support surfaces 22. In this embodiment and the bottle crate 1 shown here, which is designed to hold 0.33 1 returnable bottles, a nest height B of approximately 12 cm is reached via the first stacking level (EST). Compared to a comparable bottle crate 1 according to the embodiments from FIGS. 1-7, the nest height B is thus only slightly (approx. 3 cm) lower. However, the bottle crate has a much higher stability overall.

In addition to the first stacking level (EST), a second stacking level (ZST) is also formed for stacking filled bottle crates 1 by means of the stacking stands 12, compartment stands 13 and the outer compartment webs 23. In the case of the bottle crate 1 shown and the embodiment from FIGS. 16 to 18, a nest height A of approximately 9 cm is also achieved, corresponding to the embodiments of the bottle crates from FIGS. 1-7

In addition to the significantly improved stability of the side walls 2, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16-18 is highly compatible with bottle crates (conventional bottle crates) known from the prior art and not intended for nesting stacking. As a result, the conventional bottle crates (not shown here) can be stacked on the inventive bottle crate 1 or the inventive bottle crate 1 on the corresponding conventional bottle crates.

The stacking of conventional bottle crates onto the inventive bottle crate 1 is facilitated, inter alia, by the high stability of the side walls 2a, 2b due to the struts 29 and support struts 25. Conventional bottle crates or loaded pallets (not shown here) can thus be placed on the upper edge 6 of the inventive bottles. gift boxes 1 can be set up. This creates a third stacking level (not shown here) on the upper edge 6 of the inventive bottle crate 1.

The other way round, the inventive bottle crates 1 can be stacked on conventional bottle crates. For this purpose, the inventive bottle crates 1 with their support struts 25 are set up on the short side walls 2a on the upper edge (not shown here) of the conventional bottle crates, so that a fourth stacking level (not shown here) is formed on the lower edge 25a of the support struts 25. In order to prevent the inventive bottle crates 1 from slipping on the conventional bottle crates, a stacking edge 32 can also be provided on the inventive bottle crates 1. Such a stacking edge 32 can be present on both the long and the short side walls 2a, 2b and is generated in particular by a box base 7 which projects over the lower edge 31 of the long side walls 2b or over the lower edge 25a of the support struts 25.

Reference list

1 bottle crate

ia top bottle crate

ib lower bottle crate

2 side walls

2a short side wall

2b long side wall

3 subdivision unit

4 compartments

5 bottles

6 top edge

7 box bottom

8 handles

9 bottle belly

10 bottle neck

11 stack recesses

12 stacking stands

13 compartments

13a free end compartment rack

13b shelf stand pin

14 inside pages

15 compartment

16 grid floor

16a openings grid floor

17 upper contact surface stacking stand

18 breakthroughs

19 level

20 bottle crate contact surface

21 upper contact surface recess

22 support surface

23 outer compartment

24 bottle crate corners 25 support struts

25a lower edge of support struts

26 lower area

27 upper area

28 support strut mount

29 striving

30 strut shots

31 lower edge of long side wall

32 stacking edge

Q central transverse axis

L central longitudinal axis

V vertical direction

EST first stack level

ZST second stacking level

Z1-Z6 technical lines

Spi-Sp8 compartment columns

SpX last subject column

ZX last subject line

A nest height

B nest height

Claims

(17262.3) claims

1. stack arrangement of at least two identical bottle crates (1) for receiving bottles (5), each bottle crate (1)

at least one box bottom (7) and four side walls (2) and

between the side walls (2) a subdivision unit (3) with compartments (4) for

Has receptacle of the bottles (5),

characterized in that

the compartments (4) are arranged nesting to one another and

the bottle crates (1) can be stacked nestingly in the vertical direction (V) by means of a rotary stack.

2. Stack arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the subdivision unit (3) has compartment rows (Z1-Z6) and compartment columns (Spi-Sp8), both in the compartment rows (Z1-Z6) and in the compartment columns (Spi- Sp8) a compartment (4) and a compartment rack (13) are alternately arranged.

3. Stacking arrangement according to at least one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the vertical longitudinal axes of the compartments (4) of the compartments (4) of a lower bottle crate (lb) are aligned with each of the vertically on the crate bottom (7) 7) standing central longitudinal axes of one of the compartments (13) in the lower bottle crate (lb) nesting, rotatably stacked upper bottle crate (ta).

4. Stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the subdivision unit (3) has compartment racks (13) and compartment ridges (15), a compartment ridge (15) connecting two compartment racks (13).

5. Stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that on the diameter of the bottle necks (10) and the diameter of the compartments (13) aligned openings (18) in the box bottom (7) are arranged.

6. Stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the bottle crates (1) are rectangular and in the filled state can be stacked one inside the other using i8o ° rotary stacking, or in that the bottle crates (1) are square and in the filled state using 90 ° rotary stacking or i8o ° rotary stacking nesting into each other are stackable.

7. Stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that, in the 180 ⁰ stacked state, the central longitudinal axis of the first compartment (4) of a first bottle crate (1) formed from the first compartment column (Spi) and the first compartment row (Zi) is aligned with a central longitudinal axis of one from the last compartment column (SpX) and last compartment line (FX) formed compartment rack (13) a second bottle crate (1) is aligned.

8. stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that, in the stacked state at 90 °, the central longitudinal axis of the first compartment (4) of a first bottle crate (1) formed from the first compartment column (Spi) and the first compartment row (Zi) is aligned with a central longitudinal axis of one from the last compartment column (SpX) and first compartment line (Zi) formed shelf stand (13) of a second bottle crate (1) is aligned.

9. stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that each bottle crate (1) has a first stacking level (EST).

10. Stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that in the non-twisted stacked state, the upper bottle crate (ta) with its crate bottom (7) stands on supporting surfaces (22) and / or on the compartment bars (15) of the lower crate (lb).

11. Stacking arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each bottle crate (l) has a second stacking level (ZST) arranged in the vertical direction (V) above the first stacking level (EST).

12. Stacking arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper bottle crate (1 a) in the stacked state with a lower contact surface (20) on an upper contact surface (17) of the stacking stand (12) of the lower bottle crate (lb).

13. Stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the upper bottle crate (la) in the filled and unfilled state in the identical filled lower bottle crate (lb) nests, with a nest height of at least 10%, advantageously at least 15% , Be particularly advantageously at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, particularly preferably 40%, +/- 10% of the height of an individual bottle crate (1), can be stacked in a rotationally stacked manner.

14. Stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottle crates (1) in the filled state with a nest height A of preferably 5 cm to 12 cm, particularly preferably 7 cm to 11 cm, preferably 9 cm +/- 1 cm are stackable in one another and / or the bottle crates in the unfilled state with a nest height B of preferably 10- 23 cm, particularly preferably 11 cm to 119 cm and preferably 15 cm +/- 3 cm can be stacked one inside the other without being twisted.

15. Stack arrangement according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the case of square bottle crates (1) the ratio of the specialist rows (Z1-Z6) to specialist columns (Spi-Sp8) is 5: 6, 6: 6 or 6: 7, while in the case of rectangular bottle crates (1), the ratio of the compartment rows (Zi- Z6) to compartment columns (Spi-Sp8) is 3: 4, 4: 5, 3: 6, 4: 7, 5: 8 or 6: 7.

16. bottle crate for receiving bottles (5) with at least one crate bottom (7), four side walls (2) and one between the side walls (2) arranged subdivision unit (3) with compartments (4) for receiving the bottles (5) , characterized in that the compartments (4) are arranged nesting to one another and the bottle crate (1) in the vertical direction (V) by means of a rotary stacking nesting in an identical second filled bottle crate (1) is stackable.

17. Bottle crate according to claim 16, characterized in that the side walls (2a, 2b) are arranged perpendicular to a crate bottom (7).

18. Bottle crate according to at least claims 16 or 17, characterized in that on the side walls 2a, 2b outside support struts (25) and to the support struts (25) corresponding inside support strut receptacles (28) are arranged.

19. Bottle crate according to at least one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that on the side walls 2a, 2b inside struts (29) and to the struts (29) corresponding outside strut receptacles (30) are angeord net.