EP0011482A1 - Verpackungstablette für Eier, Früchte oder dgl. - Google Patents

Verpackungstablette für Eier, Früchte oder dgl. Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0011482A1
EP0011482A1 EP79302559A EP79302559A EP0011482A1 EP 0011482 A1 EP0011482 A1 EP 0011482A1 EP 79302559 A EP79302559 A EP 79302559A EP 79302559 A EP79302559 A EP 79302559A EP 0011482 A1 EP0011482 A1 EP 0011482A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
tray
pockets
adjacent
channels
bosses
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP79302559A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
William Robert Brown
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
AUTOBAR VENDABEKA Ltd
WILLIAM R BROWN (PACKAGING) Co Ltd
Original Assignee
AUTOBAR VENDABEKA Ltd
WILLIAM R BROWN (PACKAGING) Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by AUTOBAR VENDABEKA Ltd, WILLIAM R BROWN (PACKAGING) Co Ltd filed Critical AUTOBAR VENDABEKA Ltd
Publication of EP0011482A1 publication Critical patent/EP0011482A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/30—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure
    • B65D85/32—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for articles particularly sensitive to damage by shock or pressure for eggs
    • B65D85/322—Trays made of pressed material, e.g. paper pulp

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to trays for containing eggs, fruit or other articles and, more particularly, to such trays of the type which are moulded from plastics material and comprise a multiplicity of,article-receiving pockets disposed in an array of rows and columns in the tray. Trays of this type may be used for packaging, storing and transporting large quantities of eggs, fruit or other relatively fragile articles and must be stackable, when loaded with the articles, so as to avoid damage to the articles and permit the trays to be handled in loaded stacks.
  • plastics trays have many advantages over conventional moulded pulp trays. They are reusable to a much greater extent than moulded pulp trays. They are washable so that they can be cleaned before re-use to avoid contamination by defective or broken articles previously contained in the trays, and they do not lose their strength when dampened by liquid excreted by defective or broken articles or otherwise.
  • trays moulded from plastics material such as plastics foil or sheet material, must have a thin walled construction. Hitherto, the constructions utilised for thin walled plastics trays have, when loaded, lacked the strength and rigidity required for handling either singly or in a stack.
  • the invention consists in a tray of the type described above for containing eggs, fruit or other articles, which is thermo-formed from plastics sheet material and comprises rows and columns of article-receiving pockets defined by hollow upstanding boss portions of the tray, each pocket being interconnected with at least one adjacent pocket by a deep, generally wedge or V-shaped channel extending between adjacent upstanding boss portions.
  • the channels are of such a depth that the bottoms of the channels are disposed at a level at or adjacent the bottoms of the pockets and the channel bottoms are substantially coplanar.
  • the underneath of the tray has a grid-like configuration in which the outsides of the pockets are joined to adjacent pockets by the hollow webs formed on the underneath of the tray by the channels, these hollow webs defining square compartments of the grid-like configuration.
  • the latter serves to provide the tray with considerable strength and rigidity and enables relatively heavy articles, such as eggs, to be carried in the thin-walled tray, and the tray to support a stack of like trays, without the tray collapsing or folding when it is held at its edges.
  • the tray retains its strength even when formed from plastics sheet material as thin as 10 or 11 thou thick (approximately 250 or 280 microns) and enables increased ease and safe handling of one or more filled and stacked trays.
  • the rows and columns of article-receiving pockets comprise odd and even numbers of substantially identical pockets, whereby a plurality of like trays, loaded with articles can be stacked one on top of the other, with the bottoms of the pockets of an upper tray resting on the tops of the bosses of the adjacent lower tray, by orienting the upper tray at right angles to the lower tray.
  • the upper tray does not rest on the articles in the lower tray, with consequent risk of damage to the articles, and the underneath hollow webs formed by the channels in the upper tray span the channels in the lower tray, closely adjacent to the tops of the bosses of the lower tray, so as to provide partitions between the articles in the pockets in the lower tray and prevent the latter from touching or knocking together.
  • Opposite sides of the tray parallel to the rows or columns having the greater number of pockets may have marginal, ledge portions, formed below the rim of the tray, joining the adjacent bosses to the sides and serving as ledges on the underneath of the tray, at opposite sides thereof, by which the tray may be manually lifted.
  • These ledge portions may be formed with stiffening webs extending between the sides of the tray and the adjacent bosses, and may be moulded, particularly at their central parts where they are intended to be lifted, with additional stiffening and gripping configurations to facilitate handling of the tray.
  • the trays When unloaded and oriented similarly with respect to one another, the trays may be stacked in internested relation for the purposes of storage and transportation and supply to automatic packing machinery.
  • the trays advantageously are formed with reverse tapered stacking shoulders.
  • the construction according to the invention is particularly suitable for producing a rectangular tray adapted to contain a relatively large quantity of eggs, fruit or other articles
  • the same construction can, with advantage, also be applied to trays for carrying smaller numbers of articles, for example, to the tray part of an eggbox which is moulded in one piece with a hollow cover part and is hinged thereto so that the cover part can be folded about the hinge from an open position to a closed position in which it is inverted over the tray part and closes the open, upper ends of the pockets therein.
  • the egg tray 1 is a one piece moulding of plastics foil or sheet material.
  • it is fluid pressure-formed or vacuum-formed from high impact polystyrene or polyvinyl chloride. It is of generally square shape in plan and comprises a multiplicity of egg-receiving pockets 2 formed in an array of mutually parpandicular rows and columns. There are six egg-receiving pockets in each row parallel to the sides 3 of the tray and five in each column parallel to the sides 4, so that the tray is capable of containing thirty eggs.
  • the pockets 2 are defined by rows and columns of hollow, upstanding boss portions 5 which, with the exception of the boss portions 6 moulded along the sides 4 of the tray, are truncated, pyramid-like bosses having seven sides or faces.
  • the boss portions 6 are formed as half- bosses projecting inwardly from the sides 4, and the bosses 5 adjacent the sides 3 are connected to the adjacent sides 3 by ledge portions 7, as will hereinafter be more fully described.
  • the tops 8 of all the bosses are substantially level with the rim 9 of the tray, which is moulded with a stiffening flange 10.
  • each of the egg-receiving pockets 2 is connected to all the immediately adjacent pockets by deep wedge or V-shaped or -sectioned channels 11 extending between the bosses.
  • the pockets 2a in the central part of the tray are also connected to adjacent pockets by such V-shaped or -sectioned channels, except the central pocket 2a in the same row.
  • the latter is separated by a hollow web or partition 12 which defines a space 13 in the underneath of the tray required to permit the tray to be used with automatic egg collection and packing machinery.
  • the channels 11 are formed to such a depth that their bottoms 14 are at a level closely adjacent to the bottoms of the pockets 2,2a.
  • channel bottoms are formed by a narrow flat strip of material, rather than an apex, and are disposed in substantially the same horizontal-plane.
  • the channels are longer at their bottoms 14 than adjacent their tops.
  • the faces or sides of the bosses defining the sides of the channels may be moulded with hollow stiffening ribs 15.
  • the faces of the bosses defining the pockets are plane, save for small stiffening ribs 16 adjoining the pocket bottoms.
  • the tray is moulded with the ledge portions 7 which connect the adjacent hollow bosses to the sides of the tray.
  • the ledge portions 7 are formed below the rim 9 of the tray and the top portions of the adjacent bosses are connected to the sides 4 by hollow stiffening webs 17 formed up from the ledges.
  • the ledges have raised portions 18 moulded with depressions or cavities 19 to provide for local stiffening of the ledges and form convenient lifting points for the tray to facilitate manual handling.
  • the rim 9 of the tray is formed with rebates 20 which are required in order to permit the tray to be used with automatic egg collection and packing machinery.
  • the deep channels 11 interconnecting the egg-receiving pockets form the underneath of the tray (see Fig. 2) into a grid-like configuration in which the outsides 21 of the pockets are joined to adjacent pockets by hollow webs 22 formed by the channels, these webs defining the square compartments of the grid configuration.
  • the grid-like configuration of the underneath of the tray serves to strengthen and rigidify the tray and prevent it from folding or collapsing when carrying a full load of eggs and when lifted by its edges, particularly at the central lifting parts 18, and either by itself or with a stack of trays.
  • Like trays 1 may be stacked in internested relation for storage and transit and feeding into automatic egg packing machinery, when oriented in the:same position with respect to one another, that is, with the rows and columns of pockets 2 in adjacent trays of a stack disposed parallel with one another, respectively. In this position, the internested trays are prevented from wedging or jamming together by small reverse tapered stacking shoulders 23 moulded in the rim 9 along the sides 4 of the tray.
  • the upper tray 1a (see Fig. 3) is turned so that it is oriented at right angles to the lower tray 1, that is, with the columns of pockets in the upper tray parallel to the rows of pockets in the lower tray.
  • the bottoms 24 of the pockets in the upper tray la rest on the tops 8 of the bosses 5 in the lower tray 1 to retain the trays spaced apart and prevent the upper tray la from resting on and damaging the eggs in the lower tray, and the hollow webs 22 formed, on the underneath of the upper tray, by the channels 11 in the upper tray, prevent the eggs in the lower tray from knocking together and, perhaps, cracking or breaking.
  • trays may be constructed in a similar manner to that described above so as to contain greater or smaller quantities of eggs.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)
EP79302559A 1978-11-13 1979-11-13 Verpackungstablette für Eier, Früchte oder dgl. Withdrawn EP0011482A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB4428878 1978-11-13
GB7844288 1978-11-13

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0011482A1 true EP0011482A1 (de) 1980-05-28

Family

ID=10501007

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP79302559A Withdrawn EP0011482A1 (de) 1978-11-13 1979-11-13 Verpackungstablette für Eier, Früchte oder dgl.

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0011482A1 (de)
ES (1) ES253529Y (de)
GR (1) GR73994B (de)
ZA (1) ZA796041B (de)

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2226808A (en) * 1988-11-10 1990-07-11 Autobar Vendabeka Ltd Boxes or cartons for packaging eggs,fruits or other articles
DE4233076C1 (de) * 1992-10-01 1994-02-24 Die Skizze Gmbh Konstruktions Tragplatte für die Verpackung von Gegenständen
DE4325000A1 (de) * 1993-05-26 1994-12-01 Edda Hummer Ideale vollständig recyclebare Vorrichtung zur Verpackung, zur Beförderung und zum Stapeln von empfindlichen Gegenständen, insbesondere Obst, Gemüse oder sonstiger vergleichbarer Sachen mit Rücknahmegarantie
EP1190619A1 (de) * 2000-09-26 2002-03-27 Bachmann forming AG Anzuchtbehälter
DE102009006744A1 (de) * 2009-01-30 2010-08-19 Daimler Ag Tray

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2691456A (en) * 1952-08-14 1954-10-12 Keyes Fibre Co Pocketed egg tray
US3265281A (en) * 1963-04-26 1966-08-09 Hohnjec Zeijko Shipping tray
GB1071238A (en) * 1965-04-17 1967-06-07 Kalle Ag Packaging insert
US3416695A (en) * 1966-10-28 1968-12-17 Packaging Corp America Tray construction
GB1340715A (en) * 1970-06-29 1973-12-12 Merret Son Ltd Gordon Egg trays

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2691456A (en) * 1952-08-14 1954-10-12 Keyes Fibre Co Pocketed egg tray
US3265281A (en) * 1963-04-26 1966-08-09 Hohnjec Zeijko Shipping tray
DE1276545B (de) * 1963-04-26 1968-08-29 Ovotherm G M B H Verpackungen Versandtablett, insbesondere aus Kunststoff, fuer Eier, Fruechte od. dgl.
GB1071238A (en) * 1965-04-17 1967-06-07 Kalle Ag Packaging insert
US3416695A (en) * 1966-10-28 1968-12-17 Packaging Corp America Tray construction
GB1340715A (en) * 1970-06-29 1973-12-12 Merret Son Ltd Gordon Egg trays

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2226808A (en) * 1988-11-10 1990-07-11 Autobar Vendabeka Ltd Boxes or cartons for packaging eggs,fruits or other articles
GB2226808B (en) * 1988-11-10 1992-12-16 Autobar Vendabeka Ltd Boxes or cartons for packaging eggs,fruits or other articles
DE4233076C1 (de) * 1992-10-01 1994-02-24 Die Skizze Gmbh Konstruktions Tragplatte für die Verpackung von Gegenständen
DE4325000A1 (de) * 1993-05-26 1994-12-01 Edda Hummer Ideale vollständig recyclebare Vorrichtung zur Verpackung, zur Beförderung und zum Stapeln von empfindlichen Gegenständen, insbesondere Obst, Gemüse oder sonstiger vergleichbarer Sachen mit Rücknahmegarantie
EP1190619A1 (de) * 2000-09-26 2002-03-27 Bachmann forming AG Anzuchtbehälter
DE102009006744A1 (de) * 2009-01-30 2010-08-19 Daimler Ag Tray

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES253529U (es) 1980-12-16
ES253529Y (es) 1982-05-01
GR73994B (de) 1984-06-06
ZA796041B (en) 1981-06-24

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): BE CH DE FR GB IT LU NL SE

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19801117

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 19820407

RIN1 Information on inventor provided before grant (corrected)

Inventor name: BROWN, WILLIAM ROBERT