WO2015078922A1

WO2015078922A1 - Tray for handling fruits and method of its use

Info

Publication number: WO2015078922A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/075687
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dan Molander; Henrik Molander
Original assignee: Frametray Tech Ab
Priority date: 2013-11-26
Filing date: 2014-11-26
Publication date: 2015-06-04
Also published as: EP2983995A1

Abstract

A tray (1) for handling fruits (5) or similar objects has feet (2) and towers (3) for piling trays on top of each other and for keeping a distance between neighboring trays. The tray surface is provided with depressions (4) for the fruits (5) to individually rest in.

Description

TRAY FOR HANDLING FRUITS AND METHOD OF ITS USE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a tray for handling fruits or similar objects, the tray having feet and towers for piling trays on top of each other and for keeping a distance between neighboring trays. The invention also relates to a method of using such a tray.

BACKGROUND

Fruits, for example apples, are often handled in many process steps, sometimes manual, on their way from picking from their tree until a customer's purchase at a retailer. Manual picking normally occurs into a basket. From there the apples can be put into larger containers and transported to a warehouse, where they can be washed, normally in a water-bath, and provided with individual labels. The further storage and transporting through exporters, importers, wholesalers, and retailers, where the apples can be displayed in big heaps, is often in large containers or the like and is very harsh for the apples, which may reach their customers in more or less damaged condition. The waste percentage is unfortunately very high. This may for example be seen in a big heap of apples at a retailer: a large number of apples are unsellable due to physical damages and soft, brown spots.

As has already been stated, the present handling of fruits, such as apples, is irrational, often manual and in many cases damaging for the fruits, which therefore may be presented to the customer in a bad condition. Many fruits are lost in the chain from the tree to the customer, which is detrimental for the economy of the business. Hence there is room for improvements as regard efficient methods for handling fruits.

A known tray structure for fruits, which suffers from the above disadvantages, is disclosed in FR 2861367 A.

SUMMARY

A general object of the present invention is to provide a new type of tray which is improved over known techniques. This object has been obtained by the tray and method as defined in the appended independent claims, with certain embodiments set forth in the related dependent claims. A tray for handling fruits and similar objects is according to the invention characterized in that the tray surface is provided with depressions for the fruits to individually rest in.

When used for apples and similar fruits, which are generally spherical, the depressions may be part-spherical. Other depression shapes may be suitable for other fruits.

An advantageous embodiment is obtained if the bottom of each depression comprises a number of flexible tongues extending from the edge of the depression. Hereby, the fruits will rest smoothly on a flexible support and transport damages may be obviated to a great extent. Also, washing may be carried out with the fruits remaining in the tray.

The tray with its feet, towers and depressions may be made of plastic, preferably injection molded, for example of polypropylene.

Preferably, the tray is alternatingly provided with feet and towers along the tray edges and on the tray surface itself. These feet and towers are so distributed that in one position two or more trays may be stacked into each other with a minimum of height addition for each new tray in the stack, whereas in a second position 180° rotated in its plane a second tray can be piled on a first tray with all its feet supported by the towers of the first tray.

The feet and towers preferably have a frusto-conical shape, so that two trays may be stacked together with guiding by the frusto-conical shape.

In a method of using a tray according to the invention for handling fruits or similar objects, the fruits are picked from their growing spots and placed directly in the tray depressions, where they remain throughout the entire storage and transport chain to the retailer and customer.

Also the washing and labeling can occur with the fruits remaining in their tray depressions.

The fruits may even remain in the tray when on display at the retailer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention will be described in further detail below under reference to the accompanying drawings, in which

Fig 1 is an isometric view obliquely from above of two stacked trays according to a first embodiment of the invention, Fig 2 is an isometric view from above of the tray of Fig. 1 with one fruit therein,

Fig 3 is an isometric view from above of the tray of Figs 1-2 filled with fruits, Fig 4 is an isometric view from below of the tray of Fig. 3 filled with fruits, Fig 5 is an isometric side view of two piled trays according to the first embodiment of the invention filled with fruits, seen from a tray corner,

Fig 6 is an isometric view of a pallet with a number of piled, fruit-filled trays according to Figs 1-5,

Fig. 7 is an isometric view obliquely from above of a tray according to a second embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 8 is an isometric view from above of the tray of Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is an isometric view from below of the tray of Figs 7-8,

Fig. 10 is an isometric view obliquely from above of five stacked trays according to Figs 7-9,

Fig. 11 is an isometric side view of two piled trays according to Figs 7-9, Fig. 12 is an isometric view of a pallet with a number of piled trays according to Figs 7-9,

Fig. 12 is an isometric view of a pallet with a number of piled trays according to Figs 7-9, and

Fig. 13 is an isometric view of a pallet with a number of stacked trays according to Figs 7-9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Shown in Fig 1 are two trays 1 according to an embodiment of the invention stacked into each other for transport or storage.

As is shown in all the different Figures, each tray 1 , which is preferably manufactured by injection molding from for example polypropylene, is provided with a number of feet 2 extending down from the tray, and a number of towers 3 extending up from the tray. Feet 2 and towers 3 may preferably be provided both along the tray edges and inside these on the tray surface itself in a manner to be described.

In the example shown in Figs 1-6, where the tray has the dimension 400x600 mm, each short side may be provided with two feet 2 and two towers 3, whereas each long side may be provided with four feet 2 and four towers 3. The height of each foot 2 and tower 3 may be 40 mm. As is explained in more detail below, the feet 2 and towers 3 have such a geometrical structure that trays 1 may be stacked, when not in use, as is shown in Fig 1. The added height for each new tray 1 in such a stack may be as little as 10 mm or even less.

An alternative dimension for the tray may be 400x300 mm. Other dimensions are of course possible.

All the feet 2 and towers 3 of the tray 1 are displaced in relation to each other

(for example at opposite edges) in such a way that a second tray when rotated 180° in its plane from the stacked position of Fig 1 can be piled on a first tray, as is shown in Fig 5, with all the feet 2 and towers 3 extending towards and engaging each other. For accomplishing a proper guiding, the feet 2 may in their ends be provided with recesses 2^' and the towers 3 with corresponding protrusions 3 ^' in their ends. These recesses and protrusions may have a generally frusto-conical shape.

The tray 1 is on its surface provided with a number of generally circular depressions 4 for objects to be carried by the tray 1, especially fruits 5, such as apples. Other objects are possible. In the shown example there are 5x8=40 depressions 4.

The depressions 4 have a part-spherical form, in the shown example with a diameter of some 70 mm, for properly supporting generally spherical objects.

Each depression 4 thus has a part-spherical bottom, which - as appears most clearly in Fig 2 - may be latticed and preferably be constituted of a number of tongues 6. In the shown example the number of tongues 6 is eight. The tongues 6 extend inwardly from the edge of the depression 4 and are integral with the tray 1. Due to their open-ended design and the material characteristics, the tongues 6 are flexible. Slots and a central opening are preferably formed between the tongues 6. The design of the tongues may vary for example depending on the intended use. The purpose of the open design is to provide a soft support for sensitive objects but also to allow for fluid to pass by the objects, as will be described below. This is an advantage if the fruits, in this case, need to be washed before e.g. transportation. All process steps from the picking of the fruit to its placement in e.g. a store may be performed with the tray 11. This means that unnecessary handling is eliminated and risk of damaging the fruit is reduced.

In the areas between the depressions 4 there are provided feet 2 and towers 3, in the shown example of Figs 1-6 fourteen feet 2 and fourteen towers 3. The result is that a tray piled upon another tray is properly supported over its entire surface and that the distance between the trays is the same over the entire surface.

The shape of the feet 2 and towers 3 is generally frusto-conical, so that when trays 1 are to be stacked as shown in Fig 1 complementary feet and towers are guided together in a smooth fashion. Fig 6 shows an example of a transport unit, comprising trays according to the first embodiment of the present invention. On a pallet 7 (provided with feet) there are loaded four piles of eighteen trays 1 each. On top of the unit there may be a cover, preferably with depressions for the feet of a further pallet to be placed thereon. Such a cover is not shown in Fig 6.

An alternative tray according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs 7-11, which is similar to the first embodiment. The tray 11 includes feet 12 and towers 13 which are arranged so that the trays 11 are easy to stack on top of each other for transportation and storage, as shown in Fig. 10, and easy to pile when it contains fruit, as shown in Fig. 11.

The feet 12 extend down from the tray 11 and a number of towers 13 extend up from the tray. Feet 12 and towers 13 may preferably be provided both along the tray edges and inside these on the tray surface itself in a manner as described above with different dimensions etc. The feet 12 and towers 13 have such a geometrical design that trays 1 1 may be stacked, when not in use, as is shown in Fig 10. The added height for each new tray 1 in such a stack may be as little as 10 mm or even less.

All the feet 12 and towers 13 of the tray 11 are displaced in relation to each other (for example at opposite edges) in such a way that a second tray when rotated 180° in its plane from the stacked position of Fig 10 can be piled on a first tray, as is shown in Fig 11, with all the feet 12 and towers 13 extending towards and engaging each other. For accomplishing a proper guiding, the feet 12 may in their ends be provided with recesses 12^' and the towers 13 with corresponding protrusions 13 ^' in their ends. These recesses and protrusions may have a generally frusto -conical shape.

The tray 11 is on its surface provided with a number of generally circular depressions 14 for objects to be carried by the tray 11, especially fruits, such as apples. Other objects are possible. In the shown example there are 5x8=40 depressions 14.

The depressions 14 have a part-spherical form, in the shown example with a diameter of some 70 mm, for properly supporting generally spherical objects.

Each depression 14 thus has a part- spherical bottom, which - as appears most clearly in Fig 8 - may be latticed and preferably be constituted of a number of tongues 16. In the shown example the number of tongues 16 is eight. The tongues 16 extend inwardly from the edge of the depression 14 and are integral with the tray 1 1. Due to their open-ended design and the material characteristics, the tongues 16 are flexible. Slots and a central opening are preferably formed between the tongues 16. The design of the tongues 16 may vary for example depending on the intended use. The purpose of the open design is to provide a soft support for sensitive objects but also to allow for fluid to pass by the objects. This is an advantage if the fruit, in this case, needs to be washed before e.g. transportation. All process steps from the picking of the fruit to its placement in e.g. a store may be performed with the tray 11. This means that unnecessary handling is eliminated and risk of damaging the fruit is reduced.

In the areas between the depressions 14 the feet 12 and towers 13 are provided. The result is that a tray piled upon another tray is properly supported over its entire surface and that the distance between the trays is the same over the entire surface.

The shape of the feet 12 and towers 13 is generally frusto-conical, so that when trays 11 are to be stacked as shown in Fig 10 complementary feet and towers are guided together in a smooth fashion.

The tray 11 further comprises an edge portion 18 extending around the periphery. The edge portion 18 is in this embodiment integrated with the towers 13 placed along the edges. All towers 13 are at least partly enclosed by the edge portion 18, in this embodiment the edge portion 18 is located around the top portions of the towers 13. In an alternative embodiment, the edge portion 18 may extend from the depressions up to the top of the towers (not shown). The edge portion has a substantially flat outer and inner surface 19a, 19b, which in the shown example may be seen as a first and a second side surface. The flat surface 19a, 19b may be used as a place for customization by e.g. advertisements or branding.

The edge portion 18 may also serve as a stabilizer of the tray 11 and a handle which makes the handling and transportation of trays and load even more easily. It also protects the load, often fruit, and makes sure that it rests in the depressions 14 without falling out.

Figs 12-14 show two examples of a transport unit, one with and one without fruit, comprising trays according to an embodiment of the present invention. On a pallet 17 (provided with feet) there are loaded four piles of ten trays 1 each. On top of the unit there may be a cover 20, preferably with depressions for the feet of a further pallet to be placed thereon.

In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the cover is provided with a number of recesses on its inner surface, i.e. on the surface facing the trays to be covered. The recesses are placed and shaped such that they match the towers of the tray. Thus, they form a pattern in the surface which corresponds to the pattern of the towers. This is advantageous since the cover then rests more stable on top of the trays which makes the stacking of trays more stable which in turn means that further levels of trays may be stacked on top of each other. The design of the cover further prevents the fruit from taking up any load during stacking and more weight is carried by the cover itself. All weight is carried by the cover and trays.

The trays 1, 11 are preferably made of a 100% recyclable plastic material, e.g. polypropylene which means that used trays may be sent back to the store to be grind down and then remade into a new tray. The tray in its structure and its material also eliminates the need of using additional layers of e.g. paper or wood, which is an advantage from a hygienic point of view. It is also easy to wash and dry so that it may be used again.

The design of the tray makes sure that it carries all the weight so that the fruit does not carry any weight.

A tray of the type described above can be used in the following way, the exemplary use being for handling apples. It is, however, equally usable for any other fruit or other similar object.

The tray may be brought out into the apple farm, where the apples may be picked from the trees and directly placed in the depressions in the tray. The picking may be facilitated by the provision of a carrier sling for the tray to be laid over the shoulders and neck of the picker.

The tray with its apples may then be brought into a washing device, where washing fluid may be flushed over the apples both from above and from below. The effectivity of the washing is enhanced by the open depressions in the tray, where the apples rest softly on the flexible tongues.

It is customary to provide apples with individual labels. Such a label application may be performed by a labeling robot, while the apples still rest in their tray depressions.

The entire following process with storage and transport to a final retailer (most often via an importer and a wholesaler) may be accomplished with the apples softly resting in the tray depressions and without any contact with a human hand.

Instead of putting apples in large heaps at the retailer, which is very detrimental for the apple quality, the tray itself with its untouched apples can be exposed to the customer at the retailer. This will greatly facilitate the handling for the retailer, and the apple quality will improve considerably. Besides, the exposure to the eye of the customer is very positive. Especially if the apples are grown at a great distance from the retailer, it may be most effective to grind down the used trays at the retailer or possibly the local wholesaler and to recycle the used plastic material to a manufacturer of plastic products.

Modifications are possible within the scope of the amended claims.

Claims

1. A tray for handling fruits (5) or similar objects, the tray (1; 11) having feet (2; 12) and towers (3; 13) for piling trays (1; 11) on top of each other and for keeping a distance between neighboring trays, characterized in that the tray (1; 11) surface is provided with depressions (4; 14) for the fruits (5) to individually rest in.

2. The tray according to claim 1, wherein the depressions (4; 14) are generally part-spherical.

3. The tray according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom of each depression (4; 14) comprises a number of flexible tongues (6; 16) extending from the edge of the depression (4; 14).

4. The tray according to any one of the claims 1-3, wherein the tray (1; 11) with its feet (2; 12), towers (3; 13), and depressions (4; 14) is made of plastic, preferably injection molded, for example of polypropylene.

5. The tray according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tray (1; 11) is alternatingly provided with feet (2; 12) and towers (3; 13) along the tray edges and on the tray surface itself.

6. The tray according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the feet (2; 12) and towers (3; 13) have a frusto-conical shape.

7. The tray according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an edge portion (18) which at least partly encloses the feet (2; 12) of the tray (1; 11).

8. The tray according to claim 7, wherein the edge portion (18) extends around the periphery of the tray (1 ; 11).

9. The tray according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the edge portion (18) comprises a flat outer surface (19a).

10. A tray according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with a cover, wherein the cover comprises, on an inner surface facing the tray, at least one recess configured to receive one tower (3; 13) of the tray (1; 11).

11. The tray in combination with the cover according to claim 10, wherein the cover comprises a number of recesses which corresponds to the number of towers (3; 13) of the tray (1, 11), and wherein the pattern of the placements of the recesses corresponds to the pattern of the placement of the towers (3, 13).

12. A method of using a tray (1; 11) according to any one of the preceding claims for handling fruits (5) or similar objects, characterized in that the fruits (5) are picked from their growing spots and placed directly in the depressions (4; 14), where they remain throughout the entire storage and transport chain to the retailer.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein washing and labeling occurs with the fruits (5) remaining in their tray depressions (4; 14).

14. The method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the fruits (5) remain in the tray (1; 11) when on display at the retailer.