MXPA99009395A - Container conveyor with panel for great labels - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a conveyor for transporting a plurality of containers, wherein the conveyor comprises: a flat sheet of a plastic material, wherein the sheet has a plurality of container receiving openings arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse columns; of the corner container of the container receiving openings located at an intersection between an outer row of the longitudinal rows and an outer column of the transversal columns, wherein the receiving opening of the corner container has a first longitudinal section defined on a major longitudinal axis, and having an outer corner in the form of a first arch having a first degree of curvature, a first longitudinal band between the container receiving openings, an interior opening receiving containers from the container receiving openings located in an inner column of the transverse columns , d The inner container receiving opening has a second longitudinal chaff defined on a major longitudinal axis, where the second longitudinal section is shorter than the first longitudinal section and has at least one corner in the form of a second arc possessing a second degree. of curvature, where the first degree of curvature is greater than the second degree of curvature, a second longitudinal band between the container receiving inner openings, where the second longitudinal band is wider than the first longitudinal band, a panel integrally formed with the sheet, wherein the panel extends outwardly from a sheet panel edge and is formed to lie flat relative to the plurality of containers, and the edge of the panel is at least partially formed on a portion of each of the container receiving openings , where the edge of the panel is placed in the longitudinal direction on a line in general rec

Description

CONTAINER CONTAINER WITH PANEL FOR LARGE LABELS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a conveyor for joining a plurality of containers, which has a plurality of openings to receive containers, and configured to allow a panel to integrate remain in a flat and adjusted position with respect to the containers. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREVIOUS TECHNIQUE Conventional container conveyors are often used to join a plurality of containers of similar sizes, as in the case of cans, bottles, jars and boxes, although other packages or containers may be used. Plastic ring conveyors and box conveyors are two examples of such conventional container conveyors. The plastic ring conveyor produces a united package of containers, using little material. However, when it is used, it only has little or no space to print advertising or promotional material. Disadvantageously, the box conveyor requires a relatively large amount of material, allows the bottles to fall if it is not held vertically and upward, and generally wraps a large part of the containers inside. Accordingly, there is a need for a package that incorporates the stability and economy of a ring conveyor, and the promotional surface of a box conveyor. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a container conveyor that unifies a plurality of containers in a tight and solid package. It is another object of the present invention to provide a container conveyor that restrains the lateral and vertical movement of the containers relative to one another. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a container conveyor that incorporates the stability and economy of a ring conveyor, and the promotional surface of a box conveyor. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a container conveyor that holds a panel in a flat configuration and adjusts relative to the attached containers. A conveyor according to the present invention transports a plurality of containers, such as cans. The conveyor comprises a flat sheet, preferably plastic, formed with a plurality of openings for receiving containers. The openings for receiving containers are formed in longitudinal rows and transverse columns. The openings for receiving containers preferably include a plurality of openings that receive receptacles at the corners, and a plurality of openings that receive internal containers. The openings receiving receptacles at the corners are preferably located at each of the four corners of the sheet, and have a first longitudinal length and a first radius. The openings receiving internal containers are preferably located in internal columns of the transverse columns and have a second longitudinal length and at least one corner with a second radius. Preferably, the first longitudinal length is of a length different from the second longitudinal length, and the first radius is greater than the second radius. A panel is integrally formed with the sheet, so that the panel extends outwardly from a panel edge of the sheet. The panel edge is formed at least partially in a generally straight line over at least a portion of each receiving opening which is adjacent to the panel. A first longitudinal band is also formed between openings that receive containers at transversely adjacent corners, while a second longitudinal band is formed between openings that receive transversely adjacent internal containers. The first longitudinal band is narrower than the second longitudinal band. In addition to the above characteristics, the conveyor can also include an integral handle, a net at one of its ends, a fin at the openings receiving receptacles at the corners, and a line of perforations formed inside the conveyor. These characteristics described above result in a conveyor configured to transport a plurality of containers. The containers are placed in each opening that receives containers to form a package having a flat panel, adjusted and parallel to the containers, and which is prominent with respect to the package. Such panel configuration results in a package of containers having a prominent surface for display, or "poster" for advertising, information, graphic designs and other marketing materials. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The aforementioned characteristics and objects of the present invention, and others, will be better understood from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, where: Figure 1 is a top view of a conveyor to hold six containers, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view of a package of containers using a conveyor according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 is a top view of a conveyor for holding six containers in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a top view of a conveyor for holding eight containers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a top view of a conveyor for holding twelve containers in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED MODALITIES Figures 1 to 5 show the conveyor 10 for transporting a plurality of containers 5. The containers which appear in Figure 2 are preferably cans. Although cans are shown in Figure 2, bottles or any other container 5 commonly attached to the conveyor 10 in accordance with the present invention may be used.

The containers 5 are preferably of similar sizes within a single conveyor 10. The conveyor 10 unifies a plurality of containers 5 to create the package 1, like the package 1 shown in Figure 2. The conveyor 10 comprises a flat sheet 15 preferably constructed from a flexible and resistant material, such as a plastic. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sheet 15 is made of low density polyethylene. The sheet 15 preferably comprises two transverse edges 17 and two longitudinal edges 18. The sheet 15 of material is preferably cut, using devices known to those skilled in the art, as dies, to form a plurality of openings receiving containers 20 in the sheet 15. Preferably six or more openings are formed to receive containers 20 in the sheet 15, in longitudinal rows and transverse columns. Preferably, the openings receiving containers 20 are formed in two rows and three columns or in two rows and three columns. The sheet 15 may include other configurations of openings receiving containers 20, the desired size depending on the package 1. The openings receiving containers 20 preferably comprise a plurality of openings receiving containers at the corners 25, and a plurality of openings that they receive internal containers 40. The openings that receive containers 20 are preferably longer in a longitudinal direction than wide in a transverse direction. The openings that receive containers at the corners 25 are located at an intersection between an outer row of the longitudinal rows, and an outer column of the transverse columns. Each conveyor 10 includes four openings that receive containers at the corners 25, located at the four corners of the sheet 15. The openings that receive containers at the corners 25 have a first longitudinal length 28. The openings that receive containers at the corners 25 also they include an outer corner 30 having a first radius 33. The openings for receiving internal containers 40 are located in an internal column of the transverse columns. Depending on the capacity of the conveyor 10, the sheet 15 preferably includes two or more internal openings for receiving containers 40. The internal openings for receiving containers 20 have a second longitudinal length 43. The internal openings for receiving containers 40 also include at least one corner, and preferably two corners, with a second radius 45. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first radius 33 is greater than the second radius 45. Specifically, the first radius 33 is preferably approximately 2 centimeters or more, and the second radius 45 is preferably about 0.6 centimeters or more. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the panel 5o is integrally formed with the sheet 15. The panel 50 preferably has a generally longitudinal panel length less than the overall length of the longitudinal edge 18. The panel 50 preferably accommodates, on one or both sides, bar codes and purchase tags, graphic designs and promotional and other information related to the content or ingredients of the package 1. Panel 50 is preferably and generally continuous and uninterrupted, without cuts or openings , in all its defined surface. The panel 50 preferably extends outwardly from the longitudinal edge 18 of the sheet 15. Specifically, the panel 50 preferably extends outwardly from the edge of the panel 55 of the sheet 15. As shown in Figures 1 and 3 to 5, the edge of the panel 55 is formed at least partially on a portion of each receiving opening 20 that is adjacent to the panel 50. The panel edge 55 is preferably placed in a longitudinal direction on a generally straight line. The generally straight line of the panel edge 55 is formed to correspond to the longitudinal length 53 of the panel 50. The first longitudinal band 60 is preferably formed between openings for receiving containers at the transversely adjacent corners 25. The second longitudinal band 65 is preferably formed between the openings for receiving internal containers 40. In addition, the transverse bands 68 are formed between each opening to receive longitudinally adjacent containers 20. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first longitudinal band 60 is narrower than the second longitudinal band 65. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in Figure 4, the conveyor 10 further comprises the network end 75 positioned on each of the two transverse edges 17 of the sheet 15. The final net 75 preferably comprises a band of material extending between the openings for receiving containers at the corners 25 on the transverse edges 17 of the sheet 15 As shown in Figures 1 to 3, in a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the conveyor 10 comprises the sheet 15 having six openings for receiving containers 20. In this preferred embodiment, the first longitudinal length 28 of the opening for receiving containers at the corners 25 is preferably greater than the second longitudinal length 43 of the internal opening for receiving containers 40. In alter modes native to the present invention, the first longitudinal length 28 of the opening for receiving containers at the corners 25 is approximately equal to the second longitudinal length 43 of the internal opening for receiving containers 40. As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the conveyor 10 comprises the sheet 15 having eight or more openings for receiving containers 20. In this preferred embodiment, the second longitudinal length 43 is preferably larger than the first longitudinal length 28. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second longitudinal length 43 is about 8% larger than the first longitudinal length 28. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is shown in Figures 3 and 5, the conveyor 10 further comprises an integral handle 12 positioned on an opposite longitudinal edge 18 as an edge of panel 55 of the sheet 15. The handle 12 is particularly important in configurations of the conveyor 10 which contains several openings. to receive containers 20, to facilitate the handling of the package 1. As shown in Figure 2, the container 5 is placed in each opening to receive containers 20 to form the package 1. The panel 50 is preferably flat and parallel to to the containers 5, and prominently to the package 1. If the panel 50 is rolled or folded in a position perpendicular to the package 1, then the advertising or other material placed on the panel will not be readable by the consumer. In addition, a panel 50 protruding from package 1 will create difficulties in packaging, handling and stacking of packages 1, due to interference between the panels 50 of the adjacent packages 1, as well as between the panel 50 and the packaging equipment. Several of the above-described characteristics of the conveyor 10 facilitate a flat and prominent panel 50 with respect to the package 1. For example, the generally straight line formed by the panel edge 55 causes the panel 50 to have a generally flat position with respect to the containers 5 in the package 1. In addition, the relative difference between the first longitudinal length 28 of the openings for receiving containers in the corners 25 and the second longitudinal length 43 of the internal openings for receiving containers 40, thereby creating an irregular longitudinal angle between the openings for receiving containers 20, also helps in that the panel 50 remains relatively flat with respect to the package 1. The relative difference in width between the first longitudinal band 60 and the second longitudinal band 65 also creates a closer fitting block of containers 5 within package 1, specifically at transverse edges 17, where it is more possible for panel 50 to be wound. The result of a tightly bonded block of containers 5 is a flat panel 50 relative to the package 1. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, shown in Figure 4, the sheet 15 further comprises the flap 70 positioned on the transverse web 68 adjacent to one or more openings for receiving containers at the corners 25. The flap 70 is preferably placed on a transverse band 68 adjacent to an opening for receiving containers at the corners 25. The flap 70 functions as a wedge between the container 5 and the openings for receiving containers in the corners 25, thereby allowing the cross band 68 to bend in the band cut 69, which further forces the panel 50 to assume a flat position. According to a preferred embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 3 to 5, the conveyor 10 further comprises at least one perforation line 80 adjacent to the openings for receiving containers 20. The perforation lines 80, preferably in combination with the removal cuts 85, are preferably placed from an outer edge of the sheet 15, such as the transverse edge 17, to an edge of an opening for receiving containers 20. Therefore, when the perforation line 80 is separated, it can be removed more easily the container 5 of the conveyor 10.

Although in the above specification the present invention was described in relation to certain preferred embodiments of the present, and many details were described for the purpose of illustration, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the conveyor 10 is susceptible to additional embodiments, and that certain details described herein may vary considerably without departing from the basic principles of the present invention.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS 1. A conveyor for transporting a plurality of containers, wherein the conveyor comprises: a flat sheet of plastic material, wherein the sheet has a plurality of openings for receiving containers arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse columns; an opening for receiving containers in the corner of the openings for receiving containers, located at an intersection between an outer row of the longitudinal rows, and an external column of the transversal columns, where the opening for receiving containers in the corner has a first long longitudinal and having an external corner with a first radius; an internal opening for receiving containers of the openings for receiving containers located in an internal column of the transverse columns, wherein the internal opening for receiving containers has a second longitudinal length and which has at least one corner with a second radius; a panel integrally formed with the sheet, wherein the panel extends outwardly from a panel edge of the sheet; and the edge of the panel is at least partially formed on a portion of each of the openings for receiving containers, where the panel edge is placed in a longitudinal direction on a generally straight line. The conveyor of claim 1, having a first longitudinal band between the openings for receiving containers at the corners, and a second longitudinal band between the internal openings for receiving containers. 3. The conveyor of claim 2, wherein the first longitudinal band is narrower than the second longitudinal band. 4. The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the first radius is greater than the second radius. The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the blade further comprises a fin positioned in the opening for receiving containers at the corners. The conveyor of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal length of the panel is less than a longitudinal length of the sheet. The conveyor of claim 1, further comprising a final net positioned on each of the two transverse edges of the sheet. The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the sheet has six openings for receiving containers. The conveyor of claim 8, wherein the first longitudinal length is greater than the second longitudinal length. The conveyor of claim 1, wherein the sheet has eight openings for receiving containers. 11. The conveyor of claim 10, wherein the second longitudinal length is greater than the first longitudinal length. The conveyor of claim 1, further comprising a line of perforations adjacent to the openings for receiving containers. The conveyor of claim 1, further comprising an integral handle positioned on an edge opposite the panel edge of the sheet. 14. A conveyor for transporting a plurality of containers, wherein the conveyor comprises: a flat sheet of plastic material, wherein the sheet has a plurality of openings for receiving containers arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse columns; an opening for receiving containers in the corner of the openings for receiving containers, located at an intersection between an outer row of the longitudinal rows, and an external column of the transversal columns, where the opening for receiving containers in the corner has a first long longitudinal; a first longitudinal band between the openings to receive containers at the corners; an internal opening for receiving containers of the openings for receiving containers located in an internal column of the transverse columns, where the internal opening for receiving containers has a second longitudinal length; a second longitudinal band between the internal openings to receive containers; the sheet has an integrally formed panel extending outward from a panel edge of the sheet, where the integral panel has a general longitudinal length of panel less than a general longitudinal length of sheet; and the edge of the panel is at least partially formed on a portion of each of the openings for receiving containers, where the panel edge is placed in a longitudinal direction on a generally straight line. The conveyor of claim 14, wherein the first longitudinal band is narrower than the second longitudinal band. 16. The conveyor of claim 14, wherein the first radius is greater than the second radius. The conveyor of claim 14, wherein the sheet further comprises a fin positioned in the opening to receive containers at the corners. 18. The conveyor of claim 14, further comprising a final net positioned on each of the two transverse edges of the sheet.