GB2403943A

GB2403943A - Container having an adjustable sized base

Info

Publication number: GB2403943A
Application number: GB0316465A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Rankine
Original assignee: Gilmour & Dean Ltd
Current assignee: Gilmour & Dean Ltd
Priority date: 2003-07-15
Filing date: 2003-07-15
Publication date: 2005-01-19
Also published as: GB0316465D0

Abstract

An adjustable container in the form of a label tray (10) comprises at least two container portions in the form of inner and outer portions (12,14) which together define a base (16) and walls (18a,18b,20a,20b) of the tray (10), the inner and outer tray portions (12,14) coupled together such that at least one dimension of the base (16) is adjustable.

Description

1 2403943

ADJUSTABLE CONTAINER

The present invention relates to an adjustable container and method of packing objects. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an adjustable label container and to a method of packing labels.

Bottling machines, such as those used for bottling alcoholic beverages, often include a labelling device which applies an adhesive backed label onto bottles. The labels are supplied from a label magazine via a series of conveyors and rollers onto a rotating bottle. The labelling device operates at a relatively high speed, typically applying labels at a rate of up to around 600 labels per minute, or 10 labelled bottles per second.

It is important that the labels loaded into the label magazine are undamaged, to ensure that the labelling device does not become jammed in use. This can easily occur at the high operating speeds of the device if a damaged label is fed into the system.

Beverage labels are typically manufactured by specialist label manufacturers and are shipped in large numbers to a bottling plant. It is important that the labels are carefully packed, to ensure that they are not damaged in transit, thus reducing the likelihood of the labelling device becoming jammed. Typically, several hundred labels are strapped together in a stack, and a number of label stacks are then packed in shallow open topped trays or boxes. The trays are then covered with protective plastic and a number of the trays are baled together and shipped to the bottling plant.

Label manufacturers may produce tens or hundreds of different types of labels, particularly for clients in the Scottish Whisky Industry, each of whom often employ a wide range of distinctly different shapes and sizes of labels. Label manufacturers have therefore had to produce a wide range of sizes and shapes of label trays, to accommodate the range of labels of their clients.

Even so, when packing the labels, there are often relatively large gaps between individually wrapped stacks of labels, which are often filled using waste paper, polystyrene, plastic bubble wrap or the like.

This causes problems including a requirement to hold large stocks of many different label trays; material wastage both due to unused space in the tray and the requirement to fill any gaps between the stacks; and difficulties in stacking labels into and removing labels from the trays without damage.

Similar problems also exist when packing other type of objects, for example, food products such as tinned, boxed or otherwise packaged foodstuffs; stationery supplies; machine or vehicle parts or components; hand held tools, components, fixings or the like.

It is amongst the objects of embodiments of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the foregoing disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable container comprising at least two container portions which together define a base and walls of the container, the container portions coupled together such that at least one dimension of the container base is adjustable.

The container may be suitable for packing a wide range of types of objects, in a preferred embodiment, labels, but alternatively food products such as tinned, boxed or otherwise packaged foodstuffs; stationery supplies; machine or vehicle parts or components; hand held tools, components, fixings or the like; or indeed any other type of object or objects typically packaged in containers, boxes and the like.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adjustable label container comprising at least two container portions which together define a base and walls of the container, the container portions coupled together in a sliding engagement such that at least one dimension of the container base is adjustable.

The invention thus provides a label container which is adjustable to accommodate labels of various different shapes and dimensions. This is facilitated by adjusting a dimension, such as a length or width, of the container base. The ability to adjust the container in this fashion allows gaps between label stacks to be taken up, to ensure the label stacks are tightly packed in the container. This avoids or reduces the requirement to pack the gaps, for example, with waste paper, and prevents or reduces the likelihood of damage to the labels, such as may occur when squeezing or jamming stacks of labels into conventional containers, or when jamming waste paper into gaps in conventional containers.

Preferably, one of the container portions is dimensioned to fit at least partly inside the other one of the container portions in a telescopic type arrangement. This facilitates sliding engagement between the container portions. The container portions may be engaged in a friction fit such that friction between the portions provides a degree of resistance to relative movement between the container portions. This assists in maintaining the container portions together during packing with labels and until such time as the filled container is bound, for example, with a covering material.

The container may comprise four walls which may define side/end walls, the walls extending from the base and typically perpendicular to the base.

Preferably, the container portions are slidable relative to each other in a single plane. This allows adjustment of a dimension of the base, preferably a length or width, whilst maintaining other dimensions of the base. It will be understood that adjustment in a dimension of the base separates opposed walls of the container, effectively adjusting the volume defined by the container. Preferably also, at least two side walls of the container are adjustable in length. This accommodates adjustment of a dimension of the base whilst maintaining integrity of the container, ensuring containment of the labels.

Each container portion may comprise a base part, an end wall and two side wall parts. The base part and side wall parts of each container portion may be adapted to cooperate with the respective base part and side wall parts of the other container portion, to form the base and two side walls of the container when the container portions are coupled together. It will be understood that each container portion may alternatively comprise a base part, a side wall and two end wall parts, depending upon the overall shape/dimensions of the container.

Indeed, reference to end walls of the container are to walls which form ends of the container in a direction of a greatest dimension direction of the base (for example, a length direction of a rectangular container).

The container may comprise at least one, preferably a plurality of guides for guiding the container portions during sliding engagement. It will be understood that the guide allows relative movement of the container portions in a selected direction o-r directions, whilst preventing or restricting movement in other directions.

Also, the guide may provide a friction fit between the container portions, as discussed above. The guide may be formed integrally with or coupled to one of the container portions, or both container portions may include one or more guides. Preferably however, where the container includes a plurality of guides, the guides are provided on one of the container portions. Thus, the guides may act to guide the other container portion during sliding engagement with the container portion carrying the guides. The guide may comprise a channel, slot, groove, flap, tooth, arm, finger, leg or the like for receiving and guiding part of a container portion. In a preferred embodiment, where the container portions each include two side wall parts, at least one side wall part, and preferably both side wall parts of a container portion, are shaped to define a guide. The side wall part may be folded to define a guide channel or the like for receiving the side wall part of the other container portion in a sliding engagement.

The container portions may be provided/manufactured as a flat sheet or plate and adapted to be folded to form the container portions. This allows the container portions to be flat packed for storage until required.

Accordingly, the container portions are preferably of a material suitable for folding, such as a paper-based material, for example, card or cardboard, or of a plastics material. Alternatively, the container portions may be moulded or otherwise formed and thus of a material such as a suitable plastics.

Preferably, the container is open-topped, facilitating packing of labels in the container.

However, the container may alternatively comprise a cover, which may comprise cover portions provided on each of the container portions and which together define the cover when coupled together. The cover parts may be hinged or otherwise coupled to the respective container portion to allow packing of labels in the container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of packing objects, the method comprising the steps of: coupling at least two container portions together in a sliding engagement to form a container, the container having a base and walls formed by the container portions; packing a plurality of objects in the container; and slidably moving at least one of the container portions relative to the other container portion to adjust at least one dimension of the container base.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of packing labels, the method comprising the steps of: coupling at least two container portions together in a sliding engagement to form a container, the container having a base and walls formed by the container portions; packing a plurality of labels in the container; and slidably moving at least one of the container portions relative to the other container portion to adjust at least one dimension of the container base.

The method may comprise coupling the container portions together, packing the labels in the container and subsequently adjusting at least one dimension of the container base. This allows labels to be packed in the container and the container to then be adjusted to ensure a tight or snug fit. The method may comprise adjusting the at least one dimension of the container base to define a first container volume prior to packing the labels in the container, and subsequently adjusting the at least one dimension of the container base to reduce the volume of the container.

The container portions may be slidably moved in a single direction or plane relative to each other.

Adjustment of the at least one dimension of the container base may also adjust a length of side walls of the container.

The method may comprise providing at least one of the container portions with a guide and slidably engaging the other container portion with the guide. Preferably the method comprises providing one of the container portions with a plurality of guides and slidably engaging the other container portion with the guides.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable label container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a view of the adjustable label container of Fig. 1 following adjustment to a dimension of a base of the container; Figs. 3 and 4 are views of container portions forming the container of Fig. 1; Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of the container portions of Figs. 3 and 4, respectively, shown prior to assembly to form the container portions; Fig. 7 (presented on same sheet as Fig. 2) is a perspective view of a stack of labels to be packed into the container of Fig. 1; and Figs. 8 and 9 are views of the container of Fig. 1 following packing of a number of stacks of labels into the container, prior to and following subsequent adjustment to a dimension of the base of the container, respectively.

Turning firstly to Fig. 1, there is shown an adjustable label container in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the container taking the form of a tray indicated generally by reference numeral 10.

It will be understood that whilst the invention is described and illustrated with reference to containers for labels, the principles involved in construction of the container may be employed in constructing containers of various shapes and dimensions, for use in packing objects such as goods or products of many different kinds. For example, the container may be suitable for, inter alla, food products such as tinned, boxed or otherwise packaged foodstuffs; stationery supplies; machine or vehicle parts or components; hand held tools, components, fixings or the like; or indeed any other type of object or objects typically packaged in containers, boxes and the like.

The tray 10 comprises at least two container portions, in the illustrated embodiment, a first or inner portion 12 and a second or outer portion 14. The inner and outer container or tray portions 12, 14 together define a base 16 and opposite walls 18a, 18b and 20a, 20b of the tray, respectively. Furthermore, the inner and outer tray portions 12, 14 are coupled together in a sliding engagement such that at least one dimension of the tray base 16 is adjustable.

The inner tray portion 12 is thus slidably mounted with respect to the outer tray portion 14, for movement towards and away from the outer tray portion in the direction of the arrows A and B. respectively. The tray is shown in Fig. 2 following movement of the inner tray portion 12 towards the outer tray portion 14 in the direction of the arrow A. The inner and outer tray portions 12, 14 are shown in more detail in the views of Figs. 3 and 4, respectively. It will be noted that the inner portion 12 is of slightly smaller width than the outer portion 14, such that the inner portion may fit within the outer portion. The inner portion 12 includes a base part 22 and side wall parts 24a, 24b. In a similar fashion, the outer portion 14 includes a base part 26 and side wall parts 28a, 28b, as well as two guides in the form of channels 30a, 30b. The inner and outer tray portions 12, 14 are assembled from flat packed sheets 34, 36 illustrated in the plan views of Figs. 5 and 6. Each of the sheets 34 and 36 are typically manufactured from a paper based material, such as cardboard, and are creased as illustrated in the Figures, to facilitate folding of the sheets to form the inner and outer tray portions 12, 14. The sheet 34 includes a flap 38 which is creased at 40, and two engaging tongues 42. On assembly, the flap 38 is folded about the crease 40, capturing flaps 44a, 44b extending from the portions which will form the side walls 24a, 24b, to hold the side walls in an upright position. The tongues 42 are then engaged in slots 46 and the flap 38 thus defines the end wall 18a of the inner tray portion 12.

The outer tray portion 14 is of a similar structure to the inner portion 12, except that the sheet 36 includes flaps 48a, 48b, creased at 50a, bob. When folded, the flaps 48a, 48b form the side walls 28a, 28b and the channels 30a, 30b of the outer tray portion 14.

Also, the flaps 48a, 48b include tongues 52a, 52b which engage in slots 54a, 54b to lock the side walls in the upright position.

The channels 30a, 30b of the outer tray portion 14 receive the side wall parts 24a and 24b, respectively, of the inner portion 12, as shown in Figs. 10 and 2, when the inner and outer tray portions 12, 14 are coupled together. The base parts 22, 26 then together define the base 16 of the tray 10, whilst the side wall parts 24a, 28a and 24b, 28b together define the side walls 20a, 20b of the tray. It will therefore be understood that the base 16 and each of the side walls 20a, 20b are adjustable in length. The sliding engagement between the tray portions 12, 14 allows a volume defined by the tray to be adjusted, depending upon the size and shape of the labels to be packed in the tray.

The method of assembling the tray 10 and packing labels in the tray will now be described in more detail with reference also to Fig. 7, which illustrates a typical stack of labels 32 to be packed into the tray 10, and to Figs. 8 and 9. Figs. 8 and 9 are views of the tray following location of a number of stacks of labels 32 in the tray, and following subsequent adjustment of a dimension of the tray base.

The tray 10 is assembled by folding the flat pack sheets 34 and 36 to form the inner and outer tray portions 12, 14, which are then coupled together as shown in Fig. 1. A number of stacks of labels 32, such as that shown in Fig. 7, are then packed into the tray 10, as shown in Fig. 8. The shape and dimensions of the label stacks 32 are such that a relatively large gap 56 exists between the stacks of labels 32 and the end wall 18a of the inner tray portion 12. This gap 56 is taken up by adjusting the length of the base 16 of the tray 10. This is achieved by sliding the inner tray portion 12 in the direction of the arrow A, shortening the distance between the end walls 18a and lab. The label stacks 32 are then held in a relatively tight fit within the tray 10, any additional minor gaps being packed with a filler material such as waste paper, polystyrene, plastic bubble wrap or the like, if required. The full tray 10 is then wrapped in a covering material such as a sheet of plastic and is ready for shipping.

It will be understood that the tray 10 can readily be adjusted in dimensions to suit labels of a number of different types and dimensions, for example, square, oval, circular or any other geometric shape, by careful packing of the labels and subsequent adjustment of the dimensions of the tray to take up any gaps.

Various modifications may be made to the foregoing within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An adjustable container comprising at least two container portions which together define a base and walls of the container, the container portions coupled together such that at least one dimension of the container base is

adjustable.

2. A container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the container portions are coupled together in a sliding engagement.

3. A container as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2, wherein the container is an adjustable label container.

4. A container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the container is adjustable to accommodate labels of different shapes and dimensions.

5. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least one of a length and width of the container base is adjustable.

6. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein one of the container portions is dimensioned to l fit at least partly inside the other one of the container portions in a telescopic type arrangement.

7. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container portions are adapted to be engaged in a friction fit such that friction between the portions provides a degree of resistance to relative movement between the container portions.

8. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container portions are slidable relative to each other in a single plane.

9. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein at least two side walls of the container are adjustable in length, to facilitate adjustment of a dimension of the base whilst maintaining integrity of the container.

10. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each container portion comprises a base part, an end wall and two side wall parts.

11. A container as claimed in claim 10, wherein the base part and side wall parts of each container portion are adapted to cooperate with the respective base part and side wall parts of the other container portion, to form a base and side walls of the container when the container portions are coupled together.

12. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, comprising at least one guide for guiding the container portions during engagement.

13. A container as claimed in claim 12, wherein the guide comprises a channel for receiving and guiding part of a container portion.

14. A container as claimed in either of claims 12 or 13, wherein the container portions are adapted to be engaged in a friction fit such that friction between the portions provides a degree of resistance to relative movement between the container portions, and wherein the at least one guide provides the friction fit.

15. A container as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the guide is formed integrally with a container portion.

16. A container as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, wherein the guide is provided as a separate component and is coupled to a container portion.

17. A container as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein a selected one of the container portions includes a plurality of guides.

18. A container as claimed in claim 17, wherein the container portions each include two side wall parts, and wherein both side wall parts of the selected container portion are shaped to define a guide.

19. A container as claimed in claim 18, wherein the respective side wall parts are folded to define a guide channel for receiving the side wall part of the other container portion in a sliding engagement.

20. A container as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein both container portions each include at least one guide.

21. A container as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the container portions are provided as flat sheets and adapted to be folded to form the container portions.

22. A container as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein the container portions are of a moulded plastics material.

23. A method of packing objects, the method comprising the steps of: coupling at least two container portions together in a sliding engagement to form a container, the container having a base and walls formed by the container portions; packing a plurality of objects in the container; and slidably moving at least one of the container portions relative to the other container portion to adjust at least one dimension of the container base.

24. A method of packing labels, the method comprising the steps of: coupling at least two container portions together in a sliding engagement to form a container, the container having a base and walls formed by the container portions; packing a plurality of labels in the container; and slidably moving at least one of the container portions relative to the other container portion to adjust at least one dimension of the container base.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24, comprising coupling the container portions together, then packing the labels in the container and subsequently adjusting at least one dimension of the container base.

26. A method as claimed in either of claims 24 or 25, comprising adjusting the at least one dimension of the container base to define a first container volume prior to packing the labels in the container, and subsequently adjusting the at least one dimension of the container base to reduce the volume of the container.

27. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 26, comprising slidably moving the container portions in a single plane relative to each other.

28. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 27, wherein adjustment of the at least one dimension of the container base also adjusts a length of side walls of the container.

29. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 28, comprising providing at least one of the container portions with a guide and slidably engaging the other container portion with the guide.

30. A method as claimed in any one of claims 24 to 29, comprising providing one of the container portions with a I plurality of guides and slidably engaging the other container portion with the guides.

31. An adjustable label container comprising at least two container portions which together define a base and walls of the container, the container portions coupled together in a sliding engagement such that at least one dimension of the container base is adjustable.

32. An adjustable container substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.