WO2009051570A1

WO2009051570A1 - Process for preventing interference between contact surfaces of stackable containers where there are local rough parts on said surfaces, and the relative stackable container

Info

Publication number: WO2009051570A1
Application number: PCT/SM2007/000005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Diego Traversari; Vito Belvito
Original assignee: Asa San Marino S.A.
Priority date: 2007-10-16
Filing date: 2007-10-16
Publication date: 2009-04-23
Also published as: EP2217506B1; EP2217506A1

Abstract

A process for preventing interference between contact surfaces of stackable containers where there are local rough parts on said surfaces comprises the steps of identifying the local rough parts (3), angling the containers (1) and altering the contact surface (2). The stackable container (1) obtained has a contact surface (2) consisting of a rib, in which the portions (6) comprising rough parts (3) are staggered or eliminated, which may involve reducing the rib to a moderate set of projections (5) which are without rough parts.

Description

Process for preventing interference between contact surfaces of stackable containers where there are local rough parts on said surfaces, and the relative stackable container

Technical Field

The invention relates to a process for preventing interference between contact surfaces of stackable containers where there are local rough parts on said surfaces, and the stackable container obtained using this process.

Background Art

A huge number of products, subject to lengthy transfers, are packaged in steel container: especially for liquid products of the most diverse types, from paints to chemical substances, to foodstuffs, it is essential that interaction between the inside of the container and the liquid transported does not cause any type of alteration of the materials in contact.

For example, liquids containing a predetermined percentage of water could cause oxidation of the steel, or the oxidised steel could cause an alteration in the organoleptic properties of the foodstuffs transported, such as olive oils or tomato sauces.

The process for making most of these containers involves preparing rectangular steel plates, coated, at least on what will be the inner face, with protective paints or with a plastic material. The plates are welded at two opposite edges so that they take on a tubular shape, then the base is joined to them. If necessary, the container obtained in this way is angled, using the joining zone as a reference, to allow the application of a handle on it in a standardised position.

To limit the dimensions of such containers when they are empty, so as to minimise transfer costs, whilst still allowing them to be separated from one another rapidly and easily, the containers are often made having the shape of a truncated cone, so that they can be inserted in one another. Moreover, on the upper portion of the outer surface a circumferential rib is made, or a different widening of the section, which, during stacking, at a predetermined height stops the fall of one container into another.

The advantage derived from the fact that the empty containers occupy an extremely low volume compared with their capacity is obvious, as is the simplicity of the procedure for separating them from one another. However, the movements, sometimes sudden, to which the containers are subjected during transportation, may cause scratching of the protection applied inside when the rib portion of a first container at the weld scrapes against the inside of a second container in which it is stacked. This circumstance is a serious disadvantage, since, for the reasons explained above, it causes an irreparable loss of container functional qualities.

Disclosure of the Invention

The aim of the present invention is, therefore, to eliminate the above- mentioned disadvantages.

This is achieved thanks to a process which prevents interference between contact surfaces of stackable containers where there are local rough parts.

The main advantage of the present invention is basically the fact that, even after sudden movements, jolts and jerks, abrasions of the protection applied in the containers by the portion of rib on top of the weld zone are avoided.

Consequently, container damage is avoided which could even compromise the properties of the substance contained in it, especially if it is in a fluid state.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further advantages and features of the invention are more apparent in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment without limiting the scope of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates the invention respectively in a top plan view (Figure Ia) and a front view (Figure Ib);

Figure 2 is a front view of a first embodiment of a detail of the invention; Figure 3 illustrates the detail of Figure 2 according to the cross-section HI - m;

Figure 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of a detail of the invention; Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the detail of Figure 4 according to the cross- sections V - V and VI - VI; Figure 7 illustrates a third embodiment of a detail of the invention, similar to the previous one;

Figure 8 illustrates a fourth embodiment of a detail of the invention; Figure 9 illustrates a fifth embodiment of a detail of the invention, similar to the previous one.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention relates to a stackable container and a processing process for preventing interference between contact surfaces of stackable containers where there are local rough parts on said surfaces. In order to constantly achieve the predetermined result, the process must comprise at least the following steps: identification of local rough parts (3); angling of the containers (1); alteration of the contact surface (2) at least close to the local rough parts (3).

Obviously, even without the first two operations it would still be possible to achieve a more or less acceptable practical result, depending on the number local rough parts (3) present on the contact surface (2) of the container (1) and their dimensions: for example, in cases such as those illustrated, there would be a high probability of achieving a satisfactory result even with random alterations to the contact surface (2). However, such a way of proceeding would not constitute anything other than a change which worsens the process that is the subject matter of the present invention, imitating the basics of its inventive concept.

The containers (1) referred to usually have the shape of a truncated cone and stacking is made possible by the presence of a contact surface (2) having the shape of a circumferential rib positioned close to the upper edge of the container (1).

The contact surface (2) close to local rough parts (3) can be altered in various ways: the accompanying drawings represent a predetermined number of technical solutions, all covered by the same inventive concept. The rough parts (3) present on the contact surface (2) represented originate from the weld which allows the container (1) to take on the shape of a truncated cone. Therefore, they will be localised at the intersection between the weld and the rib which constitutes the contact surface (2).

A first solution, shown in Figures 2 and 3, is provided by an interruption of the contact surface (2) at the rough part (3). If, like the case illustrated in Figure 8, there are two or more rough parts (3), the solution is modified to become a plurality of interruptions of the contact surface (2), created at the local rough parts

(3).

According to a second solution, illustrated in Figures 4 to 7, the alteration of the container (1) contact surface (2) close to the local rough parts (3) comprises one or more deformations of the contact surface (2) close to the rough parts (3), so that the rough parts (3) do not interfere with the inner surface of another container in which that illustrated will be stacked.

Finally, Figure 9 illustrates a container (1) in which the contact surface (2), originally consisting of a circumferential rib, is reduced to a predetermined number of local projections (5) distributed on the circumference, the projections obviously being without rough parts and having dimensions greater than the rough parts (3) present on the container (1) contact surface (2).

The stackable container (1) obtained using the process described above therefore in general comprises a contact surface (2) with at least one local rough part (3), there being at least one alteration in shape on the contact surface (2), at least close to the rough part (3), so as to prevent contact between the rough part and the inside of the container in which it will be stacked.

In the cases illustrated, in which the contact surface (2) comprises a rib, the latter has interruptions or staggered portions (6), at least at local rough parts (3). The interruptions may reduce the rib to a reduced number of projections (5), also distributed around the circumference.

The invention described above may be modified and adapted in several ways without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements. Obviously, in practice modifications and/or improvements are possible, all covered by the claims herein.

Claims

1. A process for preventing interference between contact surfaces of stackable containers where there are local rough parts on said surfaces, characterised in that it comprises the following steps: identifying the local rough parts (3); angling the containers (1); altering the contact surface (2) at least close to the local rough parts (3).

2. The process according to claim 1, characterised in that the alteration of the contact surface (2) close to the local rough parts (3) comprises at least one interruption of the contact surface (2) at least at one of the local rough parts (3).

3. The process according to claim 2, characterised in that the alteration of the contact surface (2) close to the local rough parts (3) comprises a plurality of interruptions of the contact surface (2) at least at the local rough parts (3).

4. The process according to claim 1, characterised in that the alteration of the contact surface (2) close to the local rough parts (3) comprises at least one deformation of the contact surface (2) close to at least one of the local rough parts (3), so that the rough part (3) does not interfere with the inner surface of another container.

5. A stackable container obtained using the process in accordance with any of the foregoing claims, comprising a contact surface (2) with at least one local rough part (3), characterised in that the contact surface (2) comprises at least one alteration of its shape at least close to the rough part (3), so as to prevent contact between the rough part (3) and the inside of another container in which the container (1) is stacked.

6. The stackable container according to claim 5, characterised in that the contact surface (2) comprises a rib with staggered portions (6) at the local rough parts (3).

7. The stackable container according to claim 5, characterised in that the contact surface (2) comprises a rib interrupted at least at local rough parts (3).

8. The stackable container according to claim 5, characterised in that the contact surface (2) comprises a plurality of projections (5) without rough parts which are distributed on a circumference.