WO2022259010A1

WO2022259010A1 - Container

Info

Publication number: WO2022259010A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/054957
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dante Mele
Original assignee: Md Consulting Di Mele Dante
Priority date: 2021-06-07
Filing date: 2021-06-07
Publication date: 2022-12-15

Abstract

A crate (1) of plastic material, of a parallelepipedal shape is disclosed. Two opposite faces thereof (3) have inserts (5; 6) of a mutually different geometry and preferably consist of closely spaced ribs (5) and distanced ribs (6).

Description

CONTAINER

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a container, particularly to a case, preferably of a plastic material, of the type normally used for transporting food products, such as fish and fruit and vegetable products, although it can be used also for different purposes than these.

The transport of produced goods has always represented a fundamental step of production, especially of the industrial one or the one similar thereto. As a matter of fact, once a product has been produced, it should be delivered - through one or more transportation steps - to the buyer. Transportation occur by means of containers which can be of different types. In particular, crates, trunks, cases, boxes, packages and so on are known for solids.

In the food field, crates are particularly used, especially for relatively bulky transports.

Crates, used for a variety of goods, even though especially for fruit and vegetables and fresh fish, were initially made of wood. Subsequently, crates made of cardboard and plastic crates have appeared. These more recent crates have taken hold especially for the lower cost thereof and their lightness. In particular, plastic crates are mechanically at least as sturdy as wooden ones and even more wear resistant; in particular, they are much more resistant to humidity, a feature which characterises many of the goods commonly transported in this type of crates and which leads the wood to rot in a shorter or longer time.

As regards fish, foamed polystyrene boxes have recently taken hold which in fact have almost fully replaced plastic crates. They are very light, inexpensive and are generally discarded after the first use. This contributes a lot to the problem of soiling due to plastic material which is increasingly affecting our planet, as well as, these boxes often being disposed of into the sea, contributing to the phenomenon of so- called microplastic, with negative consequences also on health; for this reason, it would be suitable to go back to conventional plastic crates, slightly more expensive, but reusable multiple times, banally also in order to amortise the purchase cost thereof.

Patent W02009/087695 discloses a container consisting of an outer sheath, perforated for letting air flow and of an inner tray, for depositing the goods, so as to be able to be used both for fruit, vegetables and for fish. However, this construction is rather cumbersome and it would be desirable to be able to have a more agile structure.

One of the aspects which arises to those who use crates is that if they are stackable, they cannot normally be stacked introducing them one into the other and viceversa. In fact, it would be a good thing to be able to place the empty crates one into the other to bring them back to the warehouse after use and stack the full ones without having to add any insert: both these layouts allow to reduce to minimise bulks during the transport thereof.

US 7784 615 discloses a container comprising a flat base, with a plurality of protrusions which start from said base with curved and sloping walls; it provides feet and stacking recesses.

EP 0 758 612 discloses a divergent wall container with stacking means, consisting of protrusions and recesses, arranged so as to allow the stacking with the same orientation.

EP 0 292 787 discloses a container with stacking means consisting of protrusions and recesses, at the top and at the base, respectively.

The problem at the base of the invention is to propose a container structure which overcomes the mentioned drawbacks and which allows to transport food products of any kind, allowing liquid draining, if necessary, and being able to be stacked with other similar containers without damaging the goods, if full, and to be inserted into other similar containers to reduce the overall volume to be transported, when they are empty. This object is achieved through a crate, of a parallelepipedal shape without the upper face, wherein two opposite side faces thereof have on one of the short side faces closely spaced ribs, while on the other one spaced ribs are present, characterised in that said closely spaced ribs have an upper surface, within the crate. The dependent claims describe preferential features of the invention.

Further features and advantages of the invention are in any case more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, given purely as a non-limiting example and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein: fig. 1 represents a side view of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention, in two positions, one upside down with respect to the other, A and B, as well as plan view, C; fig. 2 is a side view of two containers according to the present invention, stacked one on top of the other; fig. 3 is a perspective image of the containers of fig. 2; fig. 4 is a detail of the stacking system; fig. 5 is a detail of a container according to the present invention; fig. 6 is an image like fig. 3, enlarged; fig. 7 is a side view of two containers one in in the other; fig. 8 shows a detail of fig. 7; fig. 9 shows a detail of a container according to the present invention; fig. 10A shows ten containers according to the present invention, one in the other; fig. 10B shows the same ten containers of fig. 10A, but stacked; fig. 11 shows a container according to the present invention, with accessories for a preferred use thereof; fig. 12 shows a view according to fig. 11, but during a different step of use; fig. 13 is a side view of a part of the container, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; fig. 14 is a side view of a container according to the embodiment of fig. 13; fig. 15 is a side view of a series of containers according to fig. 14, stacked one on the other; and fig. 16 is a view, partly in section, of an example of use of the container according to the present invention.

The container according to the present invention is represented in the attached drawings as a crate, preferably of plastic material. Preferably, the crate is made of polypropylene, more preferably of isotactic polypropylene, both for economic and sturdiness reasons.

A crate 1 has, in a known manner, a parallelepipedal shape, without the upper face. In particular, crate 1 has two long side faces 2, two short side faces 3 and a bottom 4. Both faces 2 and bottom 4 can be solid or perforated, depending on the type of crate 1 which one wants to use. Preferably, faces 2 and 3 and the bottom 4 are solid, however, having an opening on each one of the short faces 3, to grip and transport crate 1. Thereby, crates 1 are particularly suited to the transport and sale of fish goods.

On one of the short side faces 3 closely spaced ribs 5 are present, while on the other one spaced ribs 6 are present. Ribs 5 have each an upper surface 5A, within crate 1. Among ribs 6 a resting surface 6A is instead present within crate 1. Both ribs 5 and ribs 6 have, in correspondence of the end thereof adjacent to bottom 4, resting feet, as shown in detail in fig. 5.

Between long faces 2 and bottom 4 slits 7 for the draining of any liquids can be arranged, so as to allow a better preservation of the product contained.

Based on a preferred embodiment, one of the short faces 3 carries, preferably on the upper side thereof, a suitable pocket 8 for the insertion of a crate recognition device, such as a chip of a RFID or a QR code. Preferably, pocket 8 is formed as a closed welded pocket or closed by other similar means, hence it is made so that it is not possible to take or remove the recognition device without damaging it in a conspicuous manner. Thereby an irregular disposal of the crate or the removal from the rightful owner is more difficult, if not impossible, who will thus be able to ask for the reason to whom has it at that time.

According to a preferred embodiment, pocket 8 is coloured in different colours.

The container 1 according to the present invention can be used as such or with some accessories. In particular, a cover 9 can be provided, as shown in figs. 1C, 11 and 12. Moreover, an ice compartment 10 can be provided, too. Ice compartment 10 abuts against the upper edges of crate 1 due to a sideboard 11 with teeth 12, which creates a locking in position by shape coupling of compartment 10 with crate 1. In addition to that, a tray 200 for the collection of liquids can be advantageously provided, into which to arrange corresponding crate 1. Tray 200 for the collection of liquids, as suggests its name, is designed to collect the liquids - which are possibly produced in the foods contained in container 1 - which come out of the slits 7 of the same containers 1, so that if the containers are stacked, the underlying containers are not contaminated by the liquid of the above-lying containers. Trays 200 can, for example, prevent the liquid coming from the cuttlefish - black ink - stains cods - white fish - in an underlying crate 1.

The arrangement of ribs 5, more closely spaced, on a short side and of ribs 6, further apart, on the other one and the presence of surfaces 5A and 6A allow to obtain the stacking or the insertion of two or more containers 1.

If the two containers are positioned in a staggered arrangement, for example underlying container 1 with ribs 5 on the right hand-side and ribs 6 on the left hand-side and another container 1 rests on top of it with ribs 5 on the left hand-side and ribs 6 on the right hand-side, the ribs 6 of the above-lying container rest on the surfaces 5A of underlying container 1 and above-lying ribs 5 on the resting surface 6A between two ribs 6 and stacking is thus obtained, as can be seen in figs. 2 to 6. In this condition, crates 1 can be filled, possibly after sanitation, for example with ozone. To insert the goods in crate 1 into a container which can be flexible and disposable or reusable, more rigid can also be provided. A drain hole 13 can be noticed at the bottom of each rib 5, 6.

On the contrary, by arranging the ribs 5 of the above-lying container on the same side as the ribs 5 of the underlying one and the ribs 6 of the above-lying container in correspondence of the ribs 6 of the underlying one, the above-lying ribs slide with no opposition in the identical underlying ones and an insertion of one container into the other is obtained, as can be seen in figs. 7 and 8.

As can be seen in the example of figs. 21 and 22, tray 200 for the collection of liquids preferably has similar features to container 1 in terms of ribs, since on one of the short side faces 203 closely spaced ribs 205 are present, while on the other one distanced ribs 206 are present. Ribs 205 have each an upper surface 205A, within the crate, while between ribs 206 a resting surface 206A is instead present within crate 1. Also trays 200 for the collection of liquids can be put inside one another and stacked.

Trays 200 for the collection of liquids are preferably designed so that they can be put inside one another only and not into containers 1, even though ribs 5 and 6 coincide with ribs 205 and 206, as seen in fig 23.

In order to stack a tray 200 for the collection of liquids under a container 1, tray 200 and container 1 must be arranged offset, so that the ribs 5 of container 1 rest on surface 205A while ribs 6 rest on surface 206A as seen in fig 24.

On the other hand, if it is wished to arrange a container 1 under a tray 200 carried by another above-lying container 1, the same logic used for putting containers 1 into one another must be followed, that is placing above-lying container 1 offset with respect to underlying container 1. Thereby ribs 205 will be resting on surface 5A and ribs 206 on surface 6A.

As can be seen in the example of figs. 10A and 10B, in the two cases there is a remarkable bulk difference, as well as a difference in terms of transport ease. In fig. 10A, each container 1 protrudes from the underlying one by mm 43.96 and the ten (empty) crates inside one another have an overall bulk volume of mm 524.64. In fig. 10B, the same containers are stacked (full). Each one protrudes from the underlying one by mm 111.29 and the overall bulk of the stack is mm 1130.62. It must be taken into account that the maximum height of each crate 1 used according to this example is mm 129.00. That is, the space saving for the transport of void crates is remarkable, with a marked advantage for operators. However, also the stacking of full crates, despite a certainly larger bulk, allows to optimise the spaces occupied in the transport of goods.

The presence of the chip or of another similar device in the suitable pocket 8 allows to use these containers in container handling systems which require to continuously have information at least about the position of container 1 at any time. The use of pockets 8 of a different colour allows to uniquely match a colour with a product, so as to always use the same crate 1 for the same product. That allows a more agile and faster handling of the containers and the maintenance of a higher standard of hygiene.

The presence of an ice compartment 10 and possibly of cover 9 allow to keep the goods cool, in case of necessity, even on hot or indeed very hot days, or, in a known manner, allow the reduction of the bacterial load of the goods contained in crate 1. The position of ice compartment 10 allows to exploit the physical properties which adjust heat exchanges: compartment 10 is normally arranged above the goods (for example, of fish), so that the heat which must be removed from the goods, naturally tending to rise, is removed by the ice contained in ice compartment 10 at a high speed; low temperatures can thus be obtained within a very short time. Cover 9 allows, if compartment 10 is present, to maintain the low temperature for longer and to further accelerate the reduction thereof. In any case, it can protect the goods contained in container 1 from what is present outside, so as to avoid damage thereof. Based on an example, at an outside temperature of 13.8°C it has been possible to bring the goods contained in crate 1 to a temperature of 4.4°C, by using ice compartment 10 and cover 9.

In the absence of ice compartment 10, cover 9 nevertheless allows to cause crate 1 to reach - according to the present invention - if the surfaces thereof are solid, the same standard of thermal insulation typical of the boxes of foamed polystyrene, maintaining in addition the opportunity of liquid draining.

The container according to the present invention allows to brilliantly solve the problems which have arisen with this type of containers so far, obtaining the stacking and the insertion into one another by the simple rotation of a container 1 with respect to another, without further operations. In particular, it allows more massive transports for each trip, because of the limited bulk.

The crate according to the present invention can be advantageously used instead of the foamed polystyrene boxes for transporting fish, with ecologic advantages due to the possible reuse of the container and due to the fact that it requires lower energy consumption in the cooling chain (the reduction with containers of this type in the ways seen before occurs in 15 minutes instead of in 6-8 hours as required by the - strongly insulated - foamed polystyrene boxes).

However, it is understood that the invention must not be considered limited to the particular arrangement illustrated above, which makes up only an exemplifying embodiment thereof, but that different variants are possible, all within the reach of a person skilled in the field, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the following claims. LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 1 Crate

2 Long side faces (of 1)

3 Short side faces (of 1)

4 Bottom (of 1) 5 Ribs (of 3)

5A Upper face (of 5) 6 Ribs (of 3)

6A Resting surface

7 Slits for drainage 8 Pocket

9 Cover

10 Ice compartment 11 Sideboard (of 10) 12 Tooth (of 11) 13 Drainage hole

200 Tray for the collection of liquids 203 Side face (of 200) 205 Closely spaced ribs (of 200) 205A Upper surface (of 205) 206 Distanced ribs (of 200)

206A Upper surface (of 206)

Claims

1) Crate (1), of a parallelepipedal shape without the upper face, wherein two opposite side faces (3) thereof have on one of the short side faces (3) closely spaced ribs (5), while on the other one spaced ribs (6) are present, characterised in that said closely spaced ribs (5) have an upper surface (5A), within the crate (1).

2) Crate as in 1), characterised in that it is made of plastic material.

3) Crate (1) as in 1) or in 2), characterised in that between the spaced ribs (6) a resting surface (6A) is present within the crate (1).

4) Crate (1) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that one of the short faces (3) thereof carries a suitable pocket (8) for the insertion of a crate (1) recognition device, such as a chip of a RFID or a QR code.

5) Crate (1) as in 6), characterised in that the pocket (8) is formed as a closed welded pocket.

6) Crate as in 4) or in 5), characterised in that said pocket (8) is coloured in a different colour for each crate (1).

7) Crate (1) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the side faces (2; 3) and the bottom (4) of the crate (1) are solid, however, having a horizontal slit on each of the short faces (3), for gripping and transporting the crate (1).

8) Crate (1) as in 7), characterised in that between the long faces (2) and the bottom (4) slits (7) for the draining of any liquids are arranged.

9) Crate (1) as in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises an ice compartment (10), arranged as a closing of the upper face.

10) Crate as in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it furthermore provides a tray (200) for the collection of liquids.

11) Crate as in 10), characterised in that the tray (200) for the collection of liquids has closely spaced ribs (205) on one of the short side faces (203), while on the other one distanced ribs (206) are present.

12) Crate as in 11), characterised in that the closely spaced ribs (205) have each an upper surface (205A), within the crate, while between the distanced ribs (206) a resting surface (206A) is instead present.

13) Crate as in any one of claims 10) to 12), characterised in that the trays (200) for the collection of liquids are designed and sized so as to be able to be inserted only into one another and not into the containers (1).