WO1992016430A1

WO1992016430A1 - Device for storing preserves

Info

Publication number: WO1992016430A1
Application number: PCT/AT1992/000034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Peter Rothauer; Josef Lahninger
Original assignee: Rothauer Hans Peter; Josef Lahninger
Priority date: 1991-03-18
Filing date: 1992-03-17
Publication date: 1992-10-01
Also published as: ES2069423T3; ATA59791A; AT401039B; DE59201153D1; ATE116618T1; EP0575468B1; DK0575468T3; AU1452592A; EP0575468A1; GR3015674T3

Abstract

A device for storing preserves (2) consists of trays (1, 1a) having centring devices (3) on their upper sides for the underside of the preserves (2) and centring devices (3) on their lower sides for the upper surfaces of the preserves (2) to form stacks of preserves. In order to ensure ease of handling without adversely affecting stackability, it is proposed that the trays (1, 1a) have a connector (5) for a carrying handle (6) fitted with a clamp (7) for the preserves and that, in order to form a stack of preserves with a base area extending over several trays (1, 1a), the trays (1, 1a) fitted between the individual stacked layers be in staggered array, at least in groups, in relation to the trays (1a or 1) of the adjacent layers.

Description

Device for storing canned goods

The invention relates to a device for storage of canned food, consisting of at least one receptacle f a group of juxtaposed canned food forming plates, the centering on the top for the lower front side of the canned food and the formation of canned food on its underside centering for the top of the canned food.

Beverage and other tins, but also canned glass, are either packed in self-supporting containers or in chess-like receptacles, which poses difficulties for the transportation and storage of such goods. The packaging in self-supporting containers not only requires comparatively complex receptacles but is also associated with the disadvantage that the storage volume of the empty receptacle corresponds to that of the full one. The use of box-like receptacles in which the preserves are held, for example with the aid of shrink wrap, Although this disadvantage can be avoided, difficulties arise when stacking the individual storage units one above the other because a side shift of the stacked storage units can hardly be prevented. A common disadvantage of these common possibilities of packaging is that individual stacks above lying storage units cannot be connected to form a stable overall stack, so that especially when transporting the packaged in such a manner, there is a risk that individual storage units will slip against each other and thereby preserve them to be damaged. This also applies to support plates with centering on their top for secure parking For example, have beer cans (GB-A-2 013 615), which by a clever arrangement of the centering on a support plate recordings for different beer can size are possible. A disadvantage of these support plates i also that they have no handle for handling the cans placed on them. If such a handle is provided (CH-A-21 785), there is no stacking option

To form stacks of bottles, it is also known (FR-B-2 450 753) to provide support plates which extend over the base of the stack and which have centerings for the bottle base on their top and centerings for the bottle neck on their underside, so that au a bottle layer inserted into such a support plate, a further support plate can be placed on which a further bottle layer is deposited in order to build up a stack of bottles in this way. With this support plate, stable bottle stacks can be built using the available space in an advantageous manner, but difficulties arise in handling the bottles after the stack has been dismantled, because the support plates, which preferably extend over a pallet, do not provide a unit-handling packaging unit for several bottles surrender.

The invention is therefore based on the object of improving a device for storing preserves of the type described at the outset with simple means in such a way that both the requirements with regard to stable stack formation and also with regard to easy-to-handle storage units are met can.

The invention solves this problem in that the support plates have a connection coupling for a carrying handle provided with at least one hold-down device for the preserves and in that to form a stack of preserves with a base surface extending over a plurality of support plates, the support plates provided between the individual stack layers being at least in groups offset from the support plates of the adjacent layers.

The connection coupling for a carrying handle provided with at least one holder for the preserves ensures an easily manageable packaging unit for each carrying plate equipped with preserves, because the hold-down device holds the preserves in the centering of the supporting plate and prevents the preserves from being displaced. In this way, i can advantageously obtain sales packs for several preserves without endangering the formation of stable stacks with a base area extending over several support plates, because the support plates provided between the individual stack layers can be arranged at least in groups offset from the support plates of the adjacent layers. By such a measure it is achieved that the support plates placed on a preserve layer serve to collect the cons in a different selection from the support plates on the underside of the preserve layer, so that a subdivision of the entire stack i single stack is prevented, although the preserves axia one above the other are arranged. Particularly advantageous stacking ratios result if the supporting plates in parallel longitudinal rows of supporting plates are arranged within one layer and with respect to the supporting plates of adjacent supporting plates, at least in groups, at right angles to one another, because in this case not only a row-wise displacement of the supporting plates in an adjacent position is achieved , but a corresponding offset across the base of the stack.

The centering on the support plates can be set to a unique canned shape and size. The possible uses of the support plates are considerably expanded - lr -

tert if the support plates have centerings for at least two groups of preserves of different sizes. The formation of the centering plays a subordinate role in this connection if a non-displaceable holding of the preserves on the supporting plates is guaranteed. However, particularly simple constructional conditions result if the centerings consist of receiving grooves for an axially projecting end edge of the preserves, because in this case centering can be provided on a support plate for very different preserve sizes. In addition, these receiving grooves offer an advantageous possibility of recognizing damaged preserves which, due to a deformation of the projecting front edge, do not fit into the receiving grooves.

Suitable hold-downs for the preserves of a support plate representing a sales unit are, for example, spring elements supported on the support handle. Particularly stable packaging units result, however, if the hold-down consists of a support plate, which forms centering on the underside for the top end of the preserves.

The stackability of the support plates themselves can be improved in a simple manner in that each support plate has at least one centering shoulder and at least one centering receptacle for such a centering shoulder opposite this centering shoulder in the direction of the plate thickness, so that when the supporting plates are superimposed, the centering shoulders in each case engage the centering fixtures of the subsequent plates and connect the support plates to form a stable stack.

In order to be able to connect the carrying handle to the supporting plates in a simple manner via the connecting coupling, the connecting coupling as a plug-in coupling can be connected to at least one Carrying handle arranged support sleeve may be formed, which passes through the support plate in an undercut coupling recess and which has an undercut, undercut coupling engagement, releasable lock. Since the Konse ven are generally circular cylindrical, result between benches for the preserves in the support plates from above accessible gusset areas through which the support sleeve of a handle between the preserves can be inserted into the undercut coupling recess and locked in this recess, which ensures easy handling. To remove the handles only the lock needs to be released to pull the support sleeve out of the coupling recess. The lock can be designed in different ways, for example as an expanding mandrel that interacts with the support sleeve formed as an expanding sleeve. Another possibility is to provide a rotatable locking cam as a lock. In both cases, the lock can be actuated by the sleeve from the carrying handle if the carrying sleeve takes a corresponding expanding mandrel or an adjusting shaft.

The design of the connection coupling for the handle as a plug-in coupling also offers the advantageous possibility of connecting empty support plates combined into a stack when the support sleeve of the handle passes through the aligned coupling recesses of the support plates of the stack and locks it to the bottom support plate becomes. The stacked support plates are held between the lowest support plate and the hold-down device. With a carrying handle with two support sleeves two Tragpla tenstapel can be connected to each other, resulting in stable support plate stack over larger areas.

The subject matter of the invention is shown in the drawing, for example. Show it 1 shows a device according to the invention for the storage of canned goods in a schematic top view, FIG. 2 shows this device in a section along the line II-II of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 shows a construction variant of a device according to the invention in a longitudinal section, FIG. 4 shows the device 3 in a section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 on a small scale, Fig. 5 shows a connector for a handle in an axial section on a larger scale, Fig. 6 shows a stack of several support plates in a cal Matic section, Fig. 7 shows a variety of support plates Kon serving stack in a schematic vertical section and Fig. 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7 i on a smaller scale.

The device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has two matching support plates 1 for receiving jars 2 placed next to one another, which are indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 2. Essential for the holder of the canned food 2 are provided on the support plates 1 centering 3, which can be formed by centering approaches or centering recesses. Since canned goods often form an axially protruding end edge, particularly favorable centering conditions result if the centerings 3 consist of receiving grooves -4 for these end edges. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, circular-cylindrical cans are to be stored, so that circular grooves are obtained as centering means, which are arranged opposite one another on the upper and lower side of the supporting plates, the centering means 3 on the upper side of the supporting plates 1 the lower one Pick up the front of the canned food 2. On the preserves 2 inserted in this way into the lower support plate 1 a further support plate can then be placed, with the upper ends of the preserves 2 engaging in the centering 3 on the underside of the upper support plates 1. This opens up the advantageous possibility of building a further preserve layer on the first preserve layer and firmly supporting the individual preserve layers against one another .

As can be seen in particular in Fig. 1, the support plates have not only centering for a single canned size, but for four different canning diameter. The arrangement is such that there are two parallel rows of cans, each comprising three cans for the two larger canned diameters and four cans each for the two smaller canned diameters. The support plates 1 can therefore be used for storing four different canned sizes.

The invention is of course not limited to support plates for receiving cylindrical preserves. If the preserves have a different shape or size in the area of their lower and upper end faces, the centering of the supporting plates on the upper and lower sides of the supporting plates must be designed differently in order to insert such preserves into each supporting plate and in such a way summarized Preserve group to be able to put on another support plate.

So that the can group determined by a support plate 1 forms an advantageously manageable packaging unit, the support plates 1 have a connection coupling 5 for a handle 6, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. A holding-down device 7 for the preserves 2 is supported on the carrying handle 6, so that the preserves 2 used in the centering 3 of the supporting plate 1 are kept displaceable between the supporting plate 1 and the holding-down device 7. The Lower Holder 7 according to the embodiment can also be replaced by a support plate 1, which brings with it particularly advantageous mounting conditions.

The connector 5 for the handle 6 can be designed differently. In order to ensure simple handling, the connection coupling 5 is designed according to the exemplary embodiment as a plug-in coupling with a slotted expansion sleeve 8, which is inserted from above into an undercut coupling recess 9 in the support plate 1 and then adjustable with the aid of an axia relative to the expansion sleeve 8 Expanding mandrel 10 can be spread, as shown in FIG. 5. Since the holding-down devices 7, each carrying an expansion sleeve 8, are supported by compression springs 11 on the carrying handle connected to the expanding mandrels 10, a positive connection between the carrying handle and the supporting plate is automatically established when the carrying handle 6 is released due to the spring force.

The coupling recesses 9 of the carrier plates 1 can advantageously serve as centering receptacles for centering projections 12 provided on the top of the carrier plates 1. With this measure, it is possible in a simple manner to store a plurality of support plates 1 one above the other to form a stack which is fixed against displacement, as is indicated in FIG. 6. The centering shoulder 12 on the top of each support plate 1 engages in a form-fitting manner in the coupling recess 9 on the underside of the respective support plates 1 above it, so that mutual displacement of the individual support plates is excluded.

7 and 8 show one of several possibilities for producing a stable stack of preserves from a multiplicity of preserves 2 with the aid of the carrier plates 1. For this purpose, a pallet 13 used for transporting the stack of preserves is first covered with support plates 1 into which Preserves 2 are used for the first stack layer 14. The arrangement of the support plates 1 on the pallet 13 is made in such a way that there is a largely uniform distribution of Kon in longitudinal and transverse rows. This is necessary in order to be able to place support plates 14 on this first canned layer 14, which, although they correspond to the support plates 1, are arranged offset with respect to the support plates 1, not only in the direction of the resulting rows of support plates, but also offset by 90 ^* , as can be seen in particular from FIG. 8. It is thus possible to avoid running joints within the stack of tins over the length or width of the pallet, which is an essential prerequisite for a stable stack structure. In this context, it should be noted that both the support plates 1 a are offset in groups relative to the support plates 1 and the support plates 1 a and the support plates 1 are offset in groups, so that even within a position of the support plates 1 or 1 a there are no over the continuous pallet width or length joints are formed between the support plates.

A further layer of preserves 15 can then be placed on the support plates 1 a, which in turn receives a layer of support plates 1 in order to build up another layer of preserves 16, which is closed at the top by support plates 1 a. After the desired stack height has been reached, the canned stack can be connected to the pallet 13 by means of tensioning straps or the like. These stacks of preserves are not susceptible to vibrations and shock loads and are therefore particularly suitable for the transport of preserves in vehicles. However, the preserve stacks can also be stored as a whole for the group-wise removal of the preserves, because each preserve group determined by a support plate can be removed from the stack via the support plate, for example with the aid of a handle 6. When stacking preserves 2, which protrude beyond the longitudinal edge of the support plates 1, 1 a, as is shown, for example, in FIGS. 7 and 8, the support plate must have a corresponding distance from one another. With the exception of the lowest position of the support plates, maintaining this distance is easy because this distance results automatically from the preserves on which the support plates are placed. So that the lowest position of the support plates can be placed on the pallet 13 at the required mutual spacing without cumbersome measuring processes, a base plate extending over the stack base area can be provided, which is provided with appropriate spacers or receptacles for has the support plates at appropriate intervals. In the simplest case, the distance between the support plates can be determined by interposed spacers.

As can be seen directly from FIGS. 4 to 6, the handles 6 can also be used to connect the support plates 1 placed one on top of the other in a stack. For this purpose, the sleeves 8 of the carrying handles 6 only need to be inserted through the aligned coupling recesses 9 of the supporting plates and locked with the lowest supporting plates. Through the use of several carrying handles and an offset of the support plate stack, stable stacks can thus be erected, which extend over a large base area.

Claims

P a t e n t a n s r u c h e:

1. Device for storing canned goods (2) consist of at least one receptacle for a group of juxtaposed canned goods (2) forming support plates (1, la), di on their top centering (3) for the lower end face of the canned goods (2nd ) and to form tinned stacks on their underside centering (3) for the upper end face of the tinned food (2), characterized in that the support plates (1, la) a connection coupling (5) for one with at least one hold-down device (7) for the Konser ven (2) provided carrying handle (6) and that for the formation of a canned food stack with a plate extending over several tra (1) extending the base between the individual stack layers provided support plates (1, la) against the support plates (la or 1) the adjacent layers are arranged at least in groups offset.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plates (1, la) centering (3) for at least two groups of preserves (2) have different sizes or shapes. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the centering (3) of receiving grooves (Ψ for an axially projecting end edge of the canned food (2) be available.

<.. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the handle (6) associated with the holder never consists of a support plate (1).

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to, dadurc characterized in that the preserves (2) in parallel longitudinal rows receiving support plates (1 or la) within a stack and with respect to the support plates (la or 1) adjacent support plate layers against each other at least in groups are arranged offset at right angles.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, dadurc characterized in that the support plates (1, la) at least one Centering lug (12) and at least one centering receptacle (12) opposite this centering lug (12) in the direction of the plate thickness for such a centering lug (12). 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, dadurc characterized in that the connecting coupling (5) for the Trag¬ handle (6) is designed as a plug-in coupling with at least one on the carrying handle (6) arranged support sleeve (8) which the support plate (1) passes through in an undercut coupling recess (9) and has a releasable lock which engages behind the undercut of the coupling recess (9). 8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that a plurality of stacked support plates (1) can be connected by a carrying handle (6), the support sleeve (8), the aligned coupling recesses (9) of the support plates (1) of the stack enforced.