IE52962B1 - Accordian fold packaging tray - Google Patents

Abstract

An accordian fold moulded packaging tray has article engaging surfaces (14) which change orientation relative to articles (26) stored in the tray such that when articles are placed in the tray such surfaces (14) help to channel the stored articles into position within the tray and then the surfaces are folded to retain the articles during subsequent shipment and storage.

Description

The invention provides an inexpensive moulded packaging tray for snugly holding bottles or other stored articles. The overall dimension of the tray can be reduced by bending along fold lines formed in the tray after placement of articles in the tray so that such article placement and subsequent safe shipment with the articles firmly held in the tray is facilitated.

According to the invention, there is provided an accordian fold tray for packaging a plurali-ty of articles in separate compartments each having article engaging side walls bordering a base portion, said tray comprising a plurality of longitudinal rows of such compartments with a plurality of such compartments in each row, the tray being moulded to a first deeply contoured shape in which the side walls of each compartment diverge towards the open end of the compartment to permit like empty trays to be nested one within another in a stack thereof for shipment and storage, the tray, when in said first shape being capable of changing dimensions to a final shape wherein the width of the tray is decreased and the article engaging side walls become substantially vertical, the dimension changes from the first shape to the final shape occurring around spaced first longitudinal fold lines at opposed sides of said base portion and running along the bottom of each row of compartments and predetermined second longitudinal fold lines along an upper surface cf the tray between each row of compartments, the arrangement being such that the accordian bending around the first and second fold lines occurs substantially simultaneously in response to an evenly applied horizontal compressing force, and the amount of bending around each fold line to change the tray from the first shape to the final shape is no greater than about 30°. -3Numerous advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one of . ordinary skill in this art from a reading of the detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, and in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the tray of this invention in its expanded or maximum dimension position.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view and partial front elevational view, taken through Figure 1 along line 2-2, showing the tray of Figure 1 in its expanded position with articles placed therein.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the tray shown in Figures 1 and 2;.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the tray of Figure 1 in its closed or minimum dimension position; Figure 5 is a cross sectional view and partial elevational view, taken through Figure 4 along line 5-5 showing the tray of Figure 1 in its closed position with articles stored therein; Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the tray shown in Figures 4 and 5; Figure 7 is a top plan view of another embodiment of the tray of this invention in its closed or minimum dimension position with articles stored therein and placed within a carton or similar overwrap. 3962 -4Figure 8 is a cross sectional view and partial front elevational view, taken through Figure 7 along line 8-8; and Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the tray shown in Figures 7 and 8.

Figures 1-6 illustrate a tray 10 in accordance with one embodiment of this invention. As indicated therein tray 10 includes a bottom or base 12 and multiple compartments 14 each having article-engaging side walls extending from the base 12 to an upper surface 16, the compartments being arranged in a plurality of rows with a plurality of compartments in each row. As best illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the tray 10 as moulded, for example from moulded pulp, contains parallel fold lines 18, 20 in base 12 and 22, 24 in the upper surface 16. These fold lines 18, 20, 22 and 24 are formed in the moulding process, for example, by reducing the thickness of the tray 10 along these lines. This reduction of thickness can be accomplished by standard moulding techniques well-known to those skilled in the art.

The tray 10 as moulded is best illustrated in Figure 2. As shown in this Figure the side walls of the compartments.14 form an angle A* with a plane perpendicular to base 12 of 20°-30° which facilitates moulding and nesting of the tray 10 itself and, more importantly provides a lead-in for the centering of articles 26 to be stored in the compartments. This lead-in is achieved by the angulation of generally opposed article engaging side walls of the compartments 14 with the base which permits wide latitude in placing articles 26 into the tray 10. Typically, such articles 26 are placed in packing trays by mechanical packing 53962 -5devices which are difficult to adjust and keep in adjustment. Thus, the tray 10 of this invention which permits wide latitude in placement of the articles 26 therein requires less adjustment of packing machinery and therefore less maintenance.

After placement of the articles 26 in the tray 10 one overall dimension of the tray 10 is reduced to bring article engaging side walls of the compartments into engagement with or close proximity to the stored articles 26. This is achieved by pushing the two ends 28 and 30 of the tray 10 towards each other, for example, by placing the tray 10 on a conveyor belt which passes through an area having sidewalls which taper inward as the tray 10 passes through that area (not illustrated). The sidewalls straddling the conveyor would push the ends 28 and 30 of tray 10 together which in turn would cause the tray 10 to bend along fold lines 18, 20, 22 and 24 in accordian-like fashion. As this occurs, angle A decreases and the article engaging side walls of the compartments 14 become steeper relative to the base 12. The angle A is preferably decreased and one overall dimension of the tray 10 decreased until the article engaging side walls are in engagement with or close proximity to the stored articles 26. (See figures 3-6). At this point in the packaging process the tray 10 acts to secure the stored articles 26 in place within the tray 10 and isolate the stored articles 26 from each other and external forces. The latter feature is particularly important where the stored articles are made of glass or other breakable material. After the tray 10 is suitably compressed to hold the stored articles 26 in place the compressed tray may then be placed in a suitable carton 32 (see Figure 7) or other overwrap for shipment to the consumer. -6The article engaging compartments 14 shown in the embodiment o£ this invention illustrated in Figures 1-6 are formed essentially by L-shaped surfaces 34 extending between fold lines 18 and 20 in the base 12 and fold lines 22 and 24 in the upper surface 16 (or ends 28 and 30) with projections 36 extending from this surface 34 into the areas between adjoining articles 26 stored in tray 10. As illustrated in Figures 1-6 these projections 36 are triangular shaped when viewed from the top of the tray 10, however, these projections 36 may be of any shape which will best conform to the shape of the stored articles 26.

Figures 1-6 are directed to the practice of the invention wherein the article engaging compartments 14 have projections 36 which extend into areas between adjacent stored articles 26 on two sides of such articles 26. The invention, however, may also be practiced in other manners. For example, Figures 7-9 illustrate the practice of the invention where article engaging compartments 14A contain no projections but rather a cutout 38 in one of such areas 14A which cutout generally corresponds to the configuration of the stored article 26. This cutout 38 is formed in the area between adjacent fold lines 22A and 24A in the upper surface 16A of the tray 10A of this embodiment or between one of these fold lines and end skirt 44. In this embodiment when the overall dimension of the tray 10A is reduced the stored articles 26A are held from moving lengthwise along the tray 10A by the multipoint engagement of the cutout 38 with the stored article 26A and are restrained in the other direction by the vertical surfaces 40 and 42 of the complementary article engaging compartments 14A (see Figure 7). In this embodiment a single thickness of the article engaging compartment 14A separates adjoining articles -7stored in the tray 10a thereby maximising the number of articles 26A which may be stored in a given tray area.

The remaining structure and function of this alternate embodiment of the invention is generally similar to the prior embodiment and accordingly like reference numerals have been used for like parts but designated by the suffix *A*.

As is apparent the invention may be practiced in various manners including the particularly illustrated embodiments. For example, various configurations of articles engaging compartments may be utilised depending upon the shapes and si2es of articles being stored and shipped in the tray.

Claims (5)

CLAIMS.

1. An accordian fold tray for packaging a plurality of articles in separate compartments each having article engaging side walls bordering a base portion, the tray comprising a plurality of longitudinal rows of such - compartments with a plurality of such compartments in each row, the tray being moulded to a first deeply contoured shape in which the side walls of each compartment diverge towards the open end of the compartment to permit like empty trays to be nested one within another in a stack thereof for shipment and storage, the tray, when in said first shape being capable of changing dimensions to a final shape wherein the width of the tray is decreased and the article engaging side walls become substantially vertical, the dimension changes from the first shape to the final shape occurring around spaced first longitudinal fold lines at opposed sides of said base portion and running along the bottom of each row of compartments and predetermined second longitudinal fold lines along an upper surface of the tray between each row of compartments, the arrangement being such that the accordian bending around the first and second fold lines occurs substantially simultaneously in response to an evenly applied horizontal compressing force, and the amount of bending around each fold line to change the tray from the first shape to the final shape is no greater than about 30°.

2. A packaging tray as in Claim 1 wherein the amount of bending around the fold lines along the bottom of each row of compartments, and the amount of bending around the fold lines along the upper surface between each row of compartments, is substantially equal. -93. A packaging tray as in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the decrease in the width of the tray is accompanied by a commensurate increase in the effective depth of the article compartments.

3. 5 4. A packaging tray as in any one of the preceding claims wherein the tray is moulded to its first deeply contoured shape from fibrous pulp material. 5. A packaging tray as in Claim 5 wherein the substantially vertical article engaging side walls 10 include generally triangular ribs separating the compartments.

4. 6. A packaging tray as in any one- of the preceding claims wherein the substantially vertical article engaging side walls of the compartments include the 15 edges of openings through the tray.

5. 7. An acoordian fold packaging tray according to Claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 or Figures 7 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.