FR2508871A1 - GERBABLE AND EMBEDABLE BAC - Google Patents

Abstract

THIS PLASTIC CONTAINER INCLUDES, AT ITS TWO ENDS, COLUMNS 1A, 1B WHOSE TOPS FORM SUPPORTING SURFACES 3A, 3B, COLUMNS 1A LOCATED AT ONE END BEING OFFSET WITH THOSE 1B LOCATED AT THE OTHER END . IN THE STACKING POSITION OF THE BOTTOM PARTS 2A, 2B OF EACH CONTAINER REST ON THE SUPPORT SURFACES 3A, 3B OF THE CONTAINER LOCATED BELOW AND TURNED IN REVERSE DIRECTION. TO ENSURE THE FLOW AND EVACUATION OF LIQUIDS GIVEN BY THE CONTENTS OF THE BINS, THE INVENTION PROVIDES A BOTTOM 2 BOMB, DROPPING TOWARDS PARTS 2A, 2B IN WHICH ARE HOUSED DRAIN ORIFICES 7, AND DRAINS INCLINED 8 HOLLOWED IN THE SUPPORT SURFACES 3A, 3B ON WHICH PARTS 2A, 2B COME TO FIT. APPLICATION TO THE ELIMINATION OF MELT WATER FOR PINS RECEIVING FRESH FISH IN ICE.

Description

The present invention relates to a stackable and nestable container in

  plastic material, having on two opposite sides columns for stacking whose vertices form bearing surfaces and which also define recesses open downwards, the columns on one side of the tray being offset from the columns on the opposite side, while outlets are

arranged in the bottom of the tank.

  The stackable and stackable containers of this kind, currently well known and commonly used, can in a first position

  relative interlocking into each other by interpenetrating each other

  This allows the empty containers to be transported and stored under a minimum volume. In another relative position, called stacking position, and designed for stacking the bins in the full state, every other bin is turned. 1800 in a horizontal plane, so that each tray is in the inverted position relative to the tray located immediately below Thus, parts of the bottom of the upper tray, located outside the volume occupied by the columns of this tray, may be based on the support surfaces provided at the top of the columns of the lower tray, this because of the difference between the columns, from one side to the other of the tray In a stack of bins stacked in this way, the weight of the upper bins and their contents are not exerted on the contents of the lower bins,

  but is transmitted only to the walls of the lower bins, through

  medial abutment surfaces above.

  The stackable and interlocking bins of the kind mentioned above are among others used in the industrial fishing industry,

  to store and transport fresh fish put in ice.

  This ice melts partially, already on the boat and especially after disembarkation, waiting for the sale To evacuate the melt water, we already use stackable and nestable trays of the kind considered here, whose bottom has holes for 'water flow

distributed on a regular basis.

  This known embodiment only very imperfectly solves the problem posed by the melt water. Usually, at least six bins filled with fish and ice are stacked on top of each other. All the melt water from the upper bins is thus sent to the contents of the lower trays The more a tray is in the lower position in the stack, the more it receives meltwater which passes through it This has the consequence, for example, in the case of trays receiving fresh fish, that the fish is harder to sell than it was stored in a bin near the base of the stack The fish in the lower bins

  such a stack must be sold with significant price discounts.

  The same kind of problem also arises, each time the contents of the stacked bins are released from water or another liquid that risks

  to be harmful for this content itself.

  The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks, and its purpose is therefore to provide a stackable and nestable container, of the kind recalled in the introduction, which avoids as much as possible and in a simple way that the contents of the bins of a stack does not come in. contact with melt water or any other liquid from bins located

above.

  For this purpose, in the stacking and stackable container, object of the presentation

  According to the invention, it is provided that the bottom of the container has one or more surfaces which are lowered in the direction of at least one bottom part situated in the peripheral zone of the container, that the flow orifices are formed only in the said parts. in the stacking position of two superimposed trays, come to rest on the bearing surfaces of the lower tray, flow means being provided in the region of said

support surfaces.

  Thanks to the shape of the bottom of the tank and the special arrangement

  flow holes in the bottom, these orifices being formed only in the peripheral zone, it is obtained that the meltwater, when applied to fresh fish put in ice, is gathered near the Tray angles When several trays are stacked, in the stacking position, the melt water of a tray, even if it still reaches the inside of the tray immediately below, will remain confined near the corners of that tray. tank, so in an area where it is unlikely to come into contact with the fish in the same tank, which can be kept

in optimal conditions.

  The evacuation of the melt water out of the upper bins of a

  stacking of stacked bins may, according to a first embodiment of

  of the invention, be provided by providing ribs or grooves on the bearing surfaces, receiving the bottom portions in which are formed the flow holes These ribs or grooves form channels along which the water of cast iron can flow. An even faster evacuation of the melt water can be

  obtained by providing, according to another embodiment of the invention,

  In this case, the melt water coming out of a tank through the outlets of this tank does not even reach the next lower tank.

  but can arrive directly in the tank located still below.

  In an alternative to better guide the flow of melt water, and to concentrate it in specific areas, inclined guide surfaces are provided below the flow holes in the bearing surfaces. each of said guide surfaces being associated with an inlet orifice formed in the adjacent wall of the tank, said orifice directing the water towards a zone of the tank located at its periphery and near an angle, where it does not risk not come into contact with the fish contained in the

tray.

  According to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, inclined bottom gutters are dug into the bearing surfaces; these gutters are lowered towards the outside of the tray where they open, each gutter being located, in the position of

  stacking, below one of the top tray outlets.

  In this way, it is obtained that the water from a given tank can no longer reach the inside of the bins below, since it is collected in the gutters of the tray immediately below, which the Directly to the outside of the stack of bins With this arrangement, each tray of the stack is

  affected only by the meltwater released from its own

  naked, and this water is completely drained without any difficulty.

  Thus, the very harmful effect of water accumulation in the lower bins

  stacking is entirely eliminated This result is particularly

  interestingly in the case of application to tanks containing fish put in ice: as a result of the pitching motion

  of the boat, the meltwater is agitated and, even if it is theoretically

  concentrated in the peripheral areas of the lower bins, it may actually come into contact with the products stored in the bins It is understood that the evacuation of water out of the bins definitely resolves this problem due to the agitation of the It should also be noted that, in the case of this embodiment of the invention, the cost of the tooling necessary for the molding of the tank is limited, since the adaptations necessary for the formation of the gutters can be made without large complications, therefore without excessive expenditure, on existing equipment Thus, the manufacture of such a tray is hardly more complicated nor more expensive than that of stacking bins and

usual nestable.

  Gutters are preferably associated with arrangements,

  described in detail below, which contribute to the water's

  out of a given tank is unlikely to penetrate from the outside,

  inside the bins below.

  The bottom of the tank object of the invention may have a curved or pyramidal shape, so that the melt water gathers in

  the peripheral zone, where the flow orifices are formed.

  The collection of meltwater and its bringing into the peripheral zone

  that, may be further facilitated, if necessary, by

  dug in the inclined faces of the bottom of the tank.

  In any case, the invention will be better understood by means of the

  description which follows, with reference to the attached schematic drawing

  by way of non-limiting examples, several forms of

  of this stackable and nestable container:

  Figure 1 is a plan view from above, simplified, of a first

  Embodiment of the stackable and nestable container according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the tray shown in Figure

1;

  Figure 3 is a partial view, in vertical section, of two stacked bins in the stacking position; Figure 4 is another partial view, in longitudinal section, of a tray according to the preceding figures; Figures 5 and 6 are partial views, in perspective, showing the respective ends of two bins according to a second embodiment of the invention, which are superimposed in the stacking position;

  Figures 7 and 8 are end views of the tanks respectively represented

  5 and 6; Figures 9 and 10 are plan views over these arms, respectively corresponding to Figures 5 and 6; Figures 11 to 14 are very schematic plan views showing various possible arrangements of the bottom of stackable bins and embo tables in accordance with the present invention;

  Figures 15 to 19 are views in longitudinal or transverse section

  the bottom tank according to the invention, defined with respect to the preceding figures by the lines indicated XV-XV to IXX-IXX; Figures 20 and 21 are longitudinal sectional views illustrating

  two other variants of bottoms bins according to the invention.

  The stackable and stackable container shown in FIG. 1, in a strongly "shortened" manner, is provided at its two ends with columns for stacking, designated respectively by la and lb, which extend continuously from the bottom 2 from the bin to a level just below the top edge of the bin, and

  the vertices form horizontal bearing surfaces 3a and 3b

  to the upper opening of the tray Columns 1a and 1b delimit

  are also seen, from the outside, recesses respectively indicated in 4a and 4b, which are dug inwardly of the tray and open down from side to side of the tray, the columns are offset relative to the columns 1b, as shown in particular in FIG. 1 Thus, in the embodiment considered here by way of example, the columns 1b of one end are in the immediate vicinity of the corners of the tray, while the columns 1a The bottom 2 of the tray therefore has, at the ends of this tray and next to the columns 1a or between them, parts 2a and 2b sufficient to rest, in position. on the abutting abutment surfaces 3a and 3b: the bottom portions 2a rest on the corresponding abutment surfaces 3b as shown in FIG. 3, and at the other end these are the parts of the abutment.

  bottom 2b which rest on the corresponding bearing surfaces 3a.

  Because of the conical conformation of the side walls of the bins, including the columns 1a and 1b, these bins can also occupy an interlocking position, obtained by rotating 1800 in a horizontal plane one of the two bins from its stacking position, so that the columns la and lb and consequently the recesses

  4 a and 4 b of two stacked bins come exactly in coincidence.

  The bins can thus be stacked by interpenetrating strongly, so with a significant saving of space, for the transport or the storage of these bins in the empty state. When it is desired to stack bins of this kind in the full state, without the weight of the upper bins is exerted on the contents of the lower bins, each tray is placed above the bin immediately

  lower in a rotated position of 1800 compared to this inferior

  Thus, the bottom portions 2a of the upper tray rest on the bearing surfaces 3a of the lower tray, and the bottom portions 2b

  of the upper tray rest on the bearing surfaces 3a of the lower tray.

  The bottom 2 has a curved profile upwards, in all the cutting planes passing through its edges and its central region.

  support the curved area of the bottom 2, stiffening ribs are

  longitudinal and cross-sectional data 5,6, determined according to

the weight of the bin loading.

  In the case where the stackable and stackable containers of the above kind

  described for example are used to store and transport fresh fish with ice, water usually appears

  of cast iron, already on the fishing boat and anyway during the

  placing before sale, as a result of ice melting To evacuate this meltwater, or any other liquid from stored products in the case of other applications, outlets 7 are provided in the peripheral zones of the bottom 2, towards which the water naturally flows due to the curved shape of this bottom The flow orifices 7 are, more particularly, provided

  in specific parts 2a and 2b of the merits.

  In addition, gutters 8 are dug in the bearing surfaces 3a and 3b, these gutters having an inclined bottom lowering to the outside of the tray Gutters 8 pass through the upper edge of the tray to open on its side wall at both ends

from this tray.

  The provision provided is such that, from one side to the other of the tray, the flow orifices 7 are located opposite the gutters 8 Thus, when several bins are stacked in the stacking position, the flow orifices 7 each tray are located just above the upper parts of the gutters 8 dug in the bearing surfaces 3a and 3b of the tray immediately below, taking into account that the bottom portions 2a and 2b of the upper tray, which comprise the orifices 7, rest on said bearing surfaces In such a stack of stacked trays, the melt water of an upper tray thus reaches directly, through the flow orifices 7 of this tray, in

  the gutters 8 of the lower tray which evacuate this water to the outside.

  In this way, all the melt water is evacuated to the outside of the stack of tanks, the only water admitted into each tank being that which is

  clears the contents of the tray itself.

  As shown more particularly in Figures 2 and 3, the gutters 8 are delimited by walls 9, 10, and 11, inclined downwards and extending from the columns 1a and 1b and from

  bearing surfaces 3a and 3b towards the outside while crossing the upper edge

  the tray which has a return 12 directed downwards The shape of the tooling necessary for the molding of such a tray made of material

  plastic can thus remain relatively simple.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the opening through which each gutter 8 opens has its lowest point situated a little higher than the lower edge of the return 12 directed downwards, which provides a small area where In addition, the upper edge of the tray can be tilted downwardly, as shown at 13 in Figure 3, at least in its parts opposite the gutters 8. in the stacking position, the water flowing through the gutters 8 of the upper tray falls on the inclined portions 13 of the lower tray, which will guide it safely outwardly, thus preventing

  any risk of this water returning to the interior of the lower tank.

  The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 10 is designed according to the same constructive principles as that described

  previously at both ends of the tank are here also,

  1a and 4b columns, which extend from the bottom 2 of the tray to a level just below the upper edge of the tray, and whose vertices are bearing surfaces 3a, 3b These columns intended for stacking always define recesses

  4 a 'and 4 b', dug into the tray and open down.

  The columns 1 'of one end of the tray are offset relative to the columns lb' of the other end, and the bottom has portions 2 a 'and 2 b' whose arrangement corresponds to that of the bearing surfaces 3 a 'and 3b', which allows to nest the bins interpenetration for empty transport, or to stack them in the full state, in the manner

previously described.

  In the bottom portions 2a 'and 2b', near the four corners of the tank, are also as previously provided flow orifices

  7, for melting water or any other liquid to be discharged.

  The embodiment according to Figures 5 to 10 differs from the first in that the water flow means are formed in the form of holes L, formed in the bearing surfaces 3 a 'and 3 b At the top of the columns 1a and 1b 'When two bales are superimposed in the stacking position, the holes 8' of the lower pan are exactly below the flow holes 7 'of the upper pan, arranged in the parts corresponding bottom 2 aÉ, 2 b 'of the upper tray: The melt water from the upper tray can not reach the interior of the lower tray on which the upper tray rests This melt water is only cross very partially the lower tray, through the holes È, to then reach the peripheral area of the tray still below in the order of the stacking Since this may eventually create problems for the control of the evacuation of water it is also p First of all, the bins can comprise, for example, below each flow hole 8 'formed in a surface of the beaker in the tray immediately below. support 3a 'or 3', an inclined guide surface 14 which collects the meltwater and directs it to an inlet 15 in the adjacent portion of the tank wall, so that the water is brought inside the lower tray of the stack, however in a peripheral region

  and near an angle of the tank, directly above a

  In this case, meltwater flows into an area where it can only have a very negligible influence on the fish.

fresh content in the bin.

  As a variant of the embodiment which has just been described, the flow at the bearing surfaces situated at the top of the guide columns can be ensured, more simply, by providing on these surfaces ribs or grooves, forming channels through which the melt water flows from an upper tray to the peripheral regions and near the corners of the tray immediately below An arrangement such as that of the bearing surface 3 b of

  lower tray visible in Figure 3 can be adopted in this case.

  For the sake of simplification, the details of the bottom of the tanks have not been shown in FIGS. 5 to 10. Various possible arrangements of this bottom are illustrated by the following figures 11 to 21. In FIGS. dotted the contours of the bearing surfaces, with their flow holes t on which rest the bottom portions 2 a 'and 2 b' in which are formed the orifices

  7 for the discharge of melt water.

  In the embodiment according to Figure 11, the bottom of the tray

  has two inclined flat faces 1617, which respectively lower

  in the direction of the end portions 2 a ', 2 b' at the ends

  of the ferry, and which connect in a straight line 18 located

  the middle of the length of the container (see also the longitudinal sectional view

dinal of Figure 15).

  In the embodiment according to FIG. 12, the bottom of the tank is divided into four inclined flat faces 19 20, 21 and 22, with a pyramid arrangement whose top is situated in the middle of the tank (see also the view in FIG. cross section of Figure 16) The four inclined faces 19 to 22 are connected in pairs along straight edges 23, 24, 25 and 26 It should be noted that Figure 15 can be

  also interpreted as a longitudinal section of the pyramid tray bottom

-dal of Figure 12.

  The embodiment according to FIG. 13 differs from that of FIG. 11 in that, in the two inclined faces 16 and 17, channels 27 are dug parallel to the connecting line 8, and having extensions 28 which are perpendicular to line 18 and leading directly to the outlets

  7 These channels 27, 28 constitute collectors allowing evacuation

  Faster in the melt water Figures 17 and 18 are cross-sectional views through the inclined planes, respectively

16 and 17.

  In the embodiment according to FIG. 14, channels

  are provided on a bottom conformation similar to that of Figure 12 These channels have sections 29 which lead directly to the flow orifices 7 and which are formed on the outer portions of the connecting edges 23, 24, 25, 26 the four inclined faces 19, 20, 21, 22 The two inclined faces 19 and 21 comprise transverse channel sections, respectively and 31, which connect together in pairs, the sections 29 (see also

  the cross-sectional view of Figure 19).

  FIG. 20 is a longitudinal sectional view similar to FIG. 15 and showing yet another variant in which, beneath the raised portion of the bottom formed by the inclined faces 16 and 17, there is provided a kind of double infusion. constituted by a plane element 32, which forms the bottom bearing surface of the tank Finally, FIG. 21 illustrates a last variant, in which the two inclined faces 16 and 17 belong to a solid bottom 33, having a plane lower face similar to element 32 of the

previous figure.

Claims (14)

  1 Stackable and stackable plastic stacking container, comprising on two opposite sides stacking columns whose tops form bearing surfaces and which also define recesses open downwards, the columns on one side of the tray being offset by relative to the columns on the opposite side, while outlets are provided in the bottom of the tank, in particular for the discharge of the melt water in the   case of a tank used for fresh fish put in ice,   in that the bottom of the container (2; 16; 17; 19 to 22) has one or more surfaces which are lowered towards at least one bottom portion (2 a, 2 b; 2 a ', 2). b ') located in the peripheral zone of the tank, in that the outlets (7) are provided only in said bottom portions (2a, 2b; 2a', 2b '), and in that these bottom parts (2a, 2b, 2a ', 2b') are those which, in the stacking position of two superposed bins, rest on the bearing surfaces (3a, 3b, 3a). ', 3b') of the lower tray, flow means (8, 8 ')   being provided in the region of said bearing surfaces.   Stackable and stackable container according to claim 1,   characterized in that the aforesaid flow means consist of ribs or grooves provided on the bearing surfaces (3 a ', 3b ').   Stackable and stackable container according to claim 1, characterized   in that the above-mentioned flow means are constituted by   flow holes (8 ') formed in the bearing faces (3 a', 3 b ').   Stackable and stackable container according to claim 3, characterized   characterized in that inclined guide surfaces (14) are provided below the flow holes (8 ') in the bearing surfaces (3a', 3b '), each of said guide surfaces (14) being also associated with an inlet (15) formed in the adjacent portion of the wall of the tank.   Stackable and stackable container according to claim 1, characterized in that the aforesaid flow means are constituted by inclined bottom channels (8) hollowed out in the bearing surfaces (3a, 3b) and lowering towards the outside of the tray where they open, each gutter (8) being, in the stacking position, below   one of the flow holes (7) of the upper tray.   Stackable and nestable container according to claim 5, characterized   in that the gutters (8) are delimited by walls (9, 10, 11) inclined downwards and passing through a return (12) directed towards the bottom, the upper edge of the tray.   Stackable and stackable container according to claim 6, characterized in that the opening through which each channel (8) opens out to its lowest point higher than the lower edge.   said return (12) directed downwards.   Stackable and stackable container according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that its upper edge has inclined portions (13), which are lowered outwards, at least opposite the gutters (8).   Stackable and nestable container according to any one of the   cations I to 8, characterized in that its bottom (2) has a curved profile upwards, in all the cutting planes passing through its edges and its central region.   Gerbabie and nestable container according to any one of   Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that its bottom has two   inclined plane faces (16,17), lowering towards the ends   of the tray and connecting in a straight line (18).   11 Stackable and stackable container according to any one of   Claims I to 8, characterized in that its bottom has a shape   pyramidal, with four flat, inclined faces (19,20,21,22) converging towards the middle of the tank.   Stackable and stackable container according to Claim 10, characterized in that transversal channels (27) having extensions (28) terminating directly at the outlets   (7), are dug in the two inclined faces (16,17) of the bottom.   Stacking and stacking container according to claim 11, characterized   characterized in that grooves (29) are provided on the outer portions of the connecting edges (23, 24, 25, 26) of the four inclined faces   (19,20,21,22) from the bottom, these channels (29) leading to the   (7) and being interconnected, two by two, by transversal (30,31).   14 Stackable and nestable container according to any one of   Claims 9 to 13, characterized in that its bottom (2) is stiffened   by longitudinal and / or transverse ribs (5, 6), located under this background.   Stackable and nestable container according to any one of   claims 9 to 13, characterized in that its bottom comprises a   planar underside (32) below its raised portion, such as curved or pyramidal, the assembly being able to constitute a kind of "double bottom".   16 Stacking container and embo table according to any one of   claims 9, 10, 11 and 5, characterized in that its bottom possesses   a massive structure, below its elevated part, such as curved or pyramidal.