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
  • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
  • B65D71/70—Trays provided with projections or recesses in order to assemble multiple articles, e.g. intermediate elements for stacking

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an intermediate plate for sets of stacks of honeycombed trays receiving eggs.
• honeycombed trays filled with products it is customary for such honeycombed trays filled with products to be placed inside packaging boxes for the purpose of protection during their handling. It also happens that these filled honeycomb trays are arranged in layers directly on handling pallets, and separated by dividers of smooth cardboard, which pallets are then coated with a protective means intended to retain the entire load on the pallet . It is for example an openwork plastic film, similar to a net. In the case of eggs, each tray most often has thirty cells. Usually, there are twelve stacks of six trays on a pallet so as to cover the entire surface.
• Each set therefore comprises two thousand one hundred and sixty eggs and such superimposed sets constitute the whole or the upper part of a pallet for transporting and / or storing eggs.
• This arrangement and storage technique makes it possible to save on packaging and easier handling of the eggs.
• Document US-A-5 205410 relates to an intermediate plate for sets of stacks of honeycomb trays receiving eggs.
• This plate for example made of rigid polyethylene, has a rim capable of covering and wedging on the lower layer of batteries.
• small bowls which are intended to be inserted between the pads of empty honeycomb trays, arranged above the bottom stack layer.
• Such a plate ensures the stability of the assembly during its handling.
• the use of empty trays translates, for the whole of a pallet loaded with egg trays, by a significant increase in its overall height and this also increases the cost of the whole.
• connection of the intermediate plate with the lowest plate of the upper assembly takes place only at its raised edges, so that the forces of horizontal contacts are concentrated only at these rectilinear edges.
• the material of the plate is very rigid to be able to withstand such forces.
• the bowls are fitted between the plastic studs of empty plates. Contact forces are exerted on the entire plate without friction, which are concentrated on a reduced number of stud vertices.
• the present invention overcomes these drawbacks.
• each tray comprising a plurality of cells separated by studs and each receiving a fragile article, of the type comprising suitable retaining members to ensure on the one hand the cohesion of the batteries of the same assembly and, on the other hand, the connection of the two superimposed assemblies.
• said retaining members consist of cells and studs similar to those of the honeycombed trays, so that it is adapted to rest by the bottom of its cells on the studs of the trays of the lower assembly, and for receive the trays of the upper assembly by mutual interlocking of the cells and the studs.
• the intermediate plate fits perfectly between two superimposed piles and is directly in contact with the eggs of the lower pile.
• the use of empty honeycomb trays is saved.
• the height of the building is less, in accordance with the invention.
• no obstacle prevents an automatic depalletization of a building since the intermediate plate does not have an overhang and does not occupy more space in height than a conventional honeycomb plate.
• the plate is able to cover at least part of the surface of said assemblies;
• the plate is divided into a number of elementary surfaces which corresponds to the number of piles of each set, these surfaces being separated two by two by an intermediate zone whose width is equal to the value of the spacing between two neighboring piles;
• the plate is made of cardboard or plastic.
• FIG. 1 is a very schematic view of a load of ah air trays, in place on a pallet and equipped with intermediate plates according to the invention
• FIG. 2 is a schematic view of such a plate, showing only the relative location of the stacks of beveled trays;
• FIG. 3 is a partial top view of an intermediate plate intended to be interposed between stacks of honeycomb trays receiving eggs;
• FIGS. 4 and 5 are respectively sectional views along the planes AA and BB of the plate of Figure 3;
• - Figure 6 is a partial view in vertical section of an interlayer plate, disposed between two ah ah trays receiving eggs;
• FIG. 7 is a perspective diagram illustrating the procedure for automatically discharging stacks of trays between which are interposed plates according to the invention
• FIG. 8 is a partial view in vertical section of two neighboring plates and an intermediate plate, showing the space available for the passage of the arm of a manipulator.
• FIG. 1 is shown very schematically, a load 1 of honeycomb trays receiving eggs, in place on a pallet 2.
• stacks of blister trays 5 containing eggs are distributed over the surface of the pallet.
• the assembly 3 is disposed a second assembly of the same type 3 ', which also receives a 3 "assembly.
• the pallet usually supports five assemblies of this type.
• this plate comprises retaining means, not shown, capable of ensuring on the one hand the cohesion of the batteries 4a, 4b, 4c of the same assembly 3, 3 ′ or 3 "and, on the other hand, the connection between two superimposed sets.
• the plate according to the invention is divided into a series of elementary surfaces 7a, 7b, 7c, etc. which correspond to the number and location of the stacks of honeycomb trays. These surfaces are separated two by two by an intermediate zone 8 whose width is equal to that which separates two neighboring stacks of honeycomb trays. This width has been deliberately exaggerated in Figure 2 to clearly highlight the location and the relative arrangement of these intermediate zones.
• FIG. 3 is shown in detail, in top view and partially, an intermediate plate according to the invention.
• the retaining members 60 of the plate consist of cells 61 and studs 62 similar to those of conventional honeycomb trays intended to receive eggs.
• the plate comprises twelve elementary surfaces 7. Only one of these 7d is shown entirely in the figure.
• the plate is adapted to rest by the bottom of its cells 61 on the pads 51 of the plates 5 of the lower assembly.
• the outline of a tray of such an assembly has been delimited in dotted lines in FIG. 3 and the eggs E which it receives, represented in the form of circles, also in dotted lines.
• the friction of the winded ah 61 on the pads 51 of the plates of the lower assembly are sufficient to ensure the cohesion of the batteries of the same assembly in a horizontal direction.
• the plate 6 is also adapted to receive the trays of the en ⁇ seems superior by mutual interlocking of the cells and the studs. This is what has been shown in Figure 6 (arrows f). To do this, the plates of this assembly are deposited after having undergone a rotation of a quarter turn relative to the plates of the lower assembly. This interlocking ensures the connection between the superimposed assemblies.
• the contact forces are distributed over 360 half-cells of 10 cm 2 , i.e. a contact surface of 3600 cm 2 . Due to the distribution of forces and the large contact surface, a weak material, such as cardboard or thin sheet polystyrene, can be used for the interlayers. The use of this material would not be possible, in accordance with the aforementioned American patent, due to the small contact surface. It will be noted that when a pallet is fully loaded, it may be surrounded by a possibly perforated plastic film, or by a strip.
• the plate according to the invention makes it possible to reduce the height of the charges by a few decimeters, which facilitates the making and the displacement thereof, by lowering of the center of gravity. In addition, this makes it easier to visually check the eggs of the upper stacks, as well as the handling of the building.
• FIG. 7 shows a building 1 of ah wind platforms in the process of unloading.
• An automatic device 9 - or remote manipulator - is used for this purpose. It comprises a base 90 capable of being moved according to the double arrow g i and controlled remotely. It is also equipped with a series of articulated and possibly telescopic arms 91 and 92, at the end of which is mounted a fork 93 with two parallel arms 94.
• the intermediate plate 6 has no projection and that it has a height substantially equal to that of a honeycomb plate 5, there is a passage F between two neighboring plates 5, of sufficient dimensions to be able to slide an arm 94 of the manipulator there.
• This preferably has, as can be seen, a bent section, so as to slide and position more easily along a plate 5.
• the mutual spacing between the arms 94 is chosen so that the latter can be place on each side of the oblique opposite edges of a honeycomb tray, slightly enclosing it.
• the length of the arms 94 can be provided, as shown in FIG. 7, in order to be able to move together several stacks 3 arranged one behind the other.
• the remote manipulator is shown discharging batteries in the lower part of assembly 1. It is obvious that we start by discharging the highest batteries.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packaging Frangible Articles (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9482289

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1995
  • 1995-08-31 FR FR9510407A patent/FR2738223B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1996
  • 1996-09-02 WO PCT/FR1996/001341 patent/WO1997008075A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1996-09-02 EP EP96930196A patent/EP0847366B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1996-09-02 DE DE69603372T patent/DE69603372D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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