ES2988840A1 - STACK OF SETS OF REINFORCED CARDBOARD CONTAINERS AND PALLETS FOR THE TRANSPORT OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTS IN TRANSPORT CONTAINERS - Google Patents

Abstract

Stack for the transport of fruit and vegetable products, comprising only two or three vertically stacked sets, each set comprising only a respective pallet (70) and one or two respective reinforced containers (40) made of double-walled corrugated cardboard, with side walls (44, 45, 46) lined with parallel vertical folds (42) forming a closed lateral contour, and a partially open reinforced mouth. In each set, the one or two reinforced containers (40) are supported at the same height on the respective pallet (70), and have four column elements (60) immobilized to their body, in contact against the outer side of the lateral contour in four chamfered corner areas, by at least one respective single-wire retaining element (80) surrounding the outer lateral contour of the one or two reinforced containers (40), to keep the column elements (60) in position and facilitate the arrangement of each column element (60). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

STACK OF REINFORCED CARDBOARD CONTAINER SETS AND PALLETS

FOR THE TRANSPORT OF FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTS IN CONTAINERS

TRANSPORTATION

TECHNICAL SECTOR

The technical field of the present invention is semi-rigid containers with polygonal cross section, for example, boxes, cardboard packages, formed by folding sheets of paper base.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention presents a stack of cardboard container sets and pallets, in particular for the transport of fruit and vegetable products in transport containers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED

Documents ES2653920A1, ES2717723A1 and EP3616896B1 by the same inventor as the present application, propose different solutions for large-sized reinforced containers or drums, i.e. typically for volumes between 200 and 1500 litres, and/or 90 centimetres or more in height, to be supported on a pallet. Likewise, each of these documents discloses a machine for forming such containers.

On the other hand, document ES1215005U proposes a structural stack for the transport of fruit and vegetable products, such as melons or watermelons, which comprises three sets stacked vertically one on top of the other, each set comprising two reinforced containers and a pallet where said two reinforced containers are supported on the same level. However, this transport stack is not currently used and has the following disadvantages:

- there are currently no automatic machines on the market for forming the container body, of the type with a rectangular central bottom 1, side walls 2, 3 extending from each of the sides of the bottom 1, and lateral extensions 4 connected to the sides of the side walls by folds to form four triangular hollow columns, since the body has very considerable dimensions for both width, length and height to reduce the cardboard surface used;

- Today, the insertion of the struts/reinforcements 6 into these hollow columns is carried out only manually, resulting in a higher manufacturing cost of the container;

- there are currently no automatic machines on the market for inserting the struts/reinforcements 6 or column elements into the body;

- have a stacking support configuration at only the four corners and two edges of the mutually opposite short side walls, causing severely limited mechanical resistance to compression and/or expansion and/or swaying oscillations, and also exhibit intolerable deformations due to the semi-rigid nature of the cardboard they are made of, causing stack collapses and losses.

For all the above reasons, this stack solution is not currently used on the market because it is not viable, as it has poor structural strength, causing stack collapses and product losses, in addition to having the disadvantage of not being automatable and requiring costly manual assembly.

On the other hand, document ES1274749U, by the same inventor of the present application, proposes a palletized structural assembly for the transport and handling of fruit and vegetable products, where, instead of arranging a single stack of boxes mutually nested on the same pallet in a container of a road vehicle, the palletized structure comprises a structural stacking that includes a plurality of pallets, where each pallet supports a plurality of boxes limited in number to two or three boxes, and where each box of the polygonal bottom type and side walls extending from the sides of the bottom polygon is made from a single flat development of cardboard with five sheets joined together, three smooth sheets, and two corrugated sheets interleaved between the smooth sheets.

On the one hand, document ES1218995U, and, on the other hand, document ES1276909Y9 in Figs. 22-25, propose a reinforced container comprising a body obtained with a single cardboard strip, the body comprising:

- a side contour formed by a plurality of flat side walls, said plurality including two mutually facing larger side walls and two mutually facing smaller side walls delimiting four corner areas of the lateral contour of the body, arranged around the bottom and perpendicular to it, connected one after the other, in series, by respective vertical folds parallel to each other, and two of said mutually extreme side walls of the folded cardboard strip or development being joined by an extreme side panel or fixing/joining tab.

- a bottom, at least partially open, for fixing to a pallet, the bottom being formed by the union of lower flaps connected to the bottom of at least four side walls by lower horizontal folds; and

- a reinforced upper opening, at least partially open, delimited by upper parts of side walls of the body, where the upper opening is reinforced by eight upper flaps folded by respective eight upper horizontal folds, and where each of the eight folded upper flaps is joined by glue to the upper part of one of the eight side walls: two larger side walls, two smaller side walls and four chamfer-like walls, acting as eight individual reinforcements or slats of each of the eight side walls.

On the one hand, a drawback of reinforced containers for holding large volumes is that they must offer high mechanical resistance to both vertical compression and expansion, as well as to swaying, while at the same time having a minimum manufacturing cost: cost of raw materials and cost of assembling the container from the sheet metal, depending on manual, automatic, or partially manual and partially automatic assembly of the container.

Documents ES2749298B2, FR3085881B1, US11465382B2 and EP3795345A1, by the same inventor of the present application, disclose machines for the automatic assembly of a wide variety of reinforced containers, including containers of documents ES1218995U and ES1276909Y9.

The containers in documents ES1218995U and ES1276909Y9, although they can be produced by machine, have the disadvantage of not offering adequate behaviour under stresses and/or transport conditions that cause a swaying effect (jumping), that is, the side walls and upper mouth oscillate horizontally, from side to side, with respect to the bottom of the container, causing stacking collapses and losses of product contained in the reinforced containers.

The eight folded upper flaps of documents ES1218995U and ES1276909Y9 have clearances or separations between them, acting as respective eight reinforcing strips, in order to form the partially open mouth reinforced with said eight individual upper flaps, which has the disadvantage of causing the container to have an undesirable limited vertical resistance, causing an inadmissible deformation of the reinforced mouth and a consequent frequent collapse of the stack of containers, as well as an undesirable horizontal resistance, including a limitation against longitudinal and transverse horizontal forces, including those derived from the swaying effect, as well as a disadvantageous limitation in the width of the horizontal shelves for support in stacking.

On the other hand, in the octagonal side contour container of document ES1143633U the eight upper flaps folded to reinforce the upper mouth are interconnected with each other in a weak interlocking connection configuration by means of a triangular flap portion of the shelf flap 11 embraced between the three upper flaps connected to the chamfers 3. The configuration of this connection has the disadvantage that the folded upper flaps of some walls slide with respect to the folded upper flaps of the others, following undesirable relative horizontal movements, which do not make it possible for the reinforced container as a whole to resist vertical and horizontal loads in a stacking situation, causing undesirable side-to-side oscillations due to the swaying effect that causes the containers in the stack to collapse and the upper mouth to collapse.

Despite the documents cited above, solutions of documents ES1158212U, ES1057509U, ES2169629A1, ES1172234U or ES1211863U are still in use on the market, with four additional struts/tubes/column elements inserted in the four corners of the rectangular container, in combination with a cardboard mouth reinforced by upper flaps on the side walls.

These documents ES1158212U, ES1057509U, ES2169629A1, ES1172234U, have sectors in the corner areas of the side walls diverted towards the interior of the container volume to form internal orthogonal channels or clamps that hold the column elements in position inside the container, preventing the container from collapsing when stacked.

In said documents ES1158212U, ES1057509U, ES2169629A1, ES1172234U, the cardboard mouth reinforced by upper flaps of the side walls is supported at the lateral ends of the corner areas by four additional struts/tubes/column elements inserted in the four corners of the rectangular container.

In said document ES1172234U, the reinforced container is made of cardboard, without specifically selecting a specific cardboard from among a wide variety of types of cardboard described, and comprises in combination five pieces: a body obtained with a single sheet of corrugated cardboard, and four column elements 300 that are struts or tubular elements. The body has a rectangular lateral contour of four serialized side walls, and has clamps, called interior channels 115, 116, 117, defined by partially cut folding lines at the corners of the body of the container. The clamps serve to position the column elements 300 inside the body of the reinforced container.

In said document ES2169629A1 it discloses a reinforced container 1 comprising a rectangular body with a partially open upper mouth and four tubular struts 4 located in the corners or angles of the body to support vertical forces, when stacking a container full of goods one on top of another, and to stabilize the body avoiding undesirable deformations due to the flexibility of the semi-rigid material - preformed folded die-cut corrugated cardboard plate - with which the body is made. At the corners of the body, pairs of cuts 8 are made (Fig. 1) that delimit sectors of material deviated towards the interior of the container that form orthogonal clamps 9 at these corners to keep the struts 4 erect. At each corner, openings 5 folded towards the interior of the sectors displaced towards the interior of the container, leave exposed parts of the struts 4 that serve as support and sliding surface for the tensioning and closing of straps or bands 3 that surround the container 1, ensuring stability and avoiding deformations due to expansion efforts of the side walls of the container body. Stability and mitigation of deformation due to expansion are avoided thanks to the fact that the straps 3 are not located in the four edge portions of the corner of the rectangular body, but are located in each corner or three straps 3 are located in correspondence with three openings 5 of the equidistant clamps 9 (Fig. 2).

Some disadvantages of the reinforced containers currently used to be arranged on pallets in container and pallet sets, such as, for example, the aforementioned types ES1158212U, ES1057509U, ES2169629A1, ES1172234U, ES1218995U, and ES1143633U, are that:

- currently the assembly of such struts / column elements is carried out only manually, resulting in higher manufacturing costs of the container; - there are currently no automatic machines on the market to insert the struts or column elements into the body, nor are there automatic machines to subsequently fold the upper flaps of the reinforced mouth once the struts / tubes are inserted into the body (see Fig. 3 document ES1211863U, and Figs. 1-10 of document ES1172234U);

- They have a severely limited mechanical resistance to compression and/or expansion and/or to bending oscillations, and also exhibit intolerable deformations due to the semi-rigid nature of the cardboard they are made of, causing stack collapses and losses.

This limited mechanical strength means that, for the transport of certain products, for example a wide range of fruits and/or vegetables, the height of the container is typically limited to around 60 centimetres.

Another drawback is that, for the transport of certain products, for example, a wide range of fruits and/or vegetables, each assembly (structure) of pallet and reinforced container on pallet is generally only stacked two high in practice, although due to the dimensions of the container, the container and pallet assemblies can be stacked three high, to avoid frequent losses of the contained product due to the poor mechanical resistance of the reinforced containers.

These practices of stacking at two heights are very frequent and common for a wide range of fruits and/or vegetables, for example, for the transport of melons and watermelons, and a very considerable part of the volume of the container of the land transport vehicle is empty, said empty transport volume is of the order of 33.33% and only around the remaining 66.66% is usually occupied by cargo, undesirably increasing the transport costs of containers full of product.

Also, this non-optimized transport with empty transport volumes of product results in an increase in the cost of the carbon footprint (polluting emissions) of each kilogram of product transported in the reinforced container.

The technical problem to be solved is how to obtain a stack made up of sets of reinforced cardboard containers and pallets for the transport of fruit and vegetable products in transport containers that offers high mechanical resistance while at the same time being at minimum cost.

This minimum cost includes both a minimum manufacturing cost (easily obtainable both manually and at least partially by machine, versatile) and a minimum cost of placement at the point of sale, reducing the carbon footprint per kilogram of product contained in the reinforced container, transported and placed at the point of sale.

The preamble of claim 1 includes features disclosed in document ES1215005U, which is considered the closest document to the state of the art.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention presents a stack of reinforced cardboard container sets and pallets for the transport of fruit and vegetable products in transport containers.

The stack comprises only two or three sets stacked vertically on top of each other. Each set comprises only one or two respective reinforced containers and one respective pallet. On each respective pallet of each set said one or two respective reinforced containers are supported on the pallet at the same level or height, one next to the other.

Each reinforced container in the stack comprises a body made from a single die-cut strip of double-walled corrugated cardboard, with only three smooth sheets and two corrugated sheets arranged between two of the smooth sheets.

Each reinforced container comprises a body obtained from a single strip of die-cut cardboard.

Cardboard is a material that has the advantage of being recyclable and also having a reduced biodegradation time, compared, for example, with the long biodegradation times of plastic materials, including extruded or molded plastic materials, or metallic materials.

In the stack, the body of each container comprises a side contour, a bottom and an upper mouth.

The lateral contour comprises eight sides. The sides of the lateral contour are formed by at least eight side walls connected one after the other, in series, by respective vertical folds parallel to each other.

At the lateral contour two mutually extreme side walls of the folded strip are mutually joined.

Optionally, the two mutually extreme side walls of the folded strip are mutually joined by a connecting side panel, in the form of a tab.

Said at least eight side walls include two mutually facing first flat side walls and two mutually facing second flat side walls delimiting four corner areas. Said at least eight side walls further include at least four minor side walls.

At least one respective minor side wall is in each of the four corner areas forming a respective chamfer, and the two corrugated sheets form vertical grooves in the eight side walls, to compressively reinforce each reinforced container.

At least one minor side wall is sandwiched between each first side wall and each second side wall in each of the four corner areas, in the manner of a chamfer. In each of the four corner areas, the chamfer is arranged diagonally with respect to the first and second side walls adjacent to the corner area.

Preferably, in each reinforced container of the stack, the minor side walls are flat and the chamfers are flat.

Optionally, the flat minor side walls and flat chamfers form a straight diagonal relative to the first and second adjacent side walls in each corner area.

Alternatively, in each reinforced container of the stack, the minor side walls are curved and the chamfers are curved, forming a curved diagonal joining the curved chamfer to the first and second adjacent side walls at each corner area.

In each reinforced container in the stack, each flat side wall and each vertical body fold has a continuous vertical extension extending from the bottom to the top mouth, to reinforce the reinforced container against vertical and horizontal stresses.

Thus, in the present invention, it will be understood that the vertical folds of each container of the palletized structure have an extension corresponding to the height of the container, the folds not having any gaps or separations.

Thus, in the present invention, it will be understood that the side walls include at least some continuous vertical sectors from the bottom to the upper mouth.

Preferably, some side walls, in addition to the aforementioned continuous vertical sectors, may also include ventilation holes for the product to be contained in other sectors of some of the side walls.

The bottom is perpendicular to the at least eight side walls. The bottom is configured to be supported on a pallet. The bottom is formed by bottom flaps connected to the bottom of at least the first and second side walls by bottom horizontal folds.

The upper mouth is partially open and is formed by at least two or at least four upper flaps folded towards the inside of the container.

Said at least two or four top flaps include two first top flaps attached to the tops of the first side walls and/or two second top flaps attached to the tops of the second side walls.

Optionally, the upper mouth is reinforced only by at least two or at least four upper flaps, two first upper flaps attached to the upper part of the first side walls and/or two second upper flaps attached to the upper parts of the second side walls, to minimize assembly times, to simplify the assembly of the upper flaps, saving manufacturing costs of the container.

Each first and/or second upper flap comprises two respective flaps, folded by respective upper horizontal folds perpendicular to the vertical folds.

Said two flaps include a horizontal shelf flap for stacking support, and an end flap for attachment to a respective top of a first or second side wall.

Optionally, each upper flap comprises three respective serial flaps folded by respective upper horizontal folds perpendicular to the vertical folds. Said three optional flaps correspond to the horizontal shelf flap, an intermediate flap inserted between the horizontal shelf flap and the end flap, and said end joining flap.

Likewise, in each reinforced container of the stack, on the outer side of the lateral contour of each corner zone, each respective outer side of the chamfer positionally delimits a respective outer free space.

In each reinforced container of the stack, each respective free space is of continuous vertical extension from the bottom to the upper mouth, each respective free space having arranged, in contact with a respective chamfer, a respective column element, elongated, additional to the body.

In each reinforced container of the stack, each column element has a vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the top mouth.

Preferably, each of said column elements is a slender piece of constant cross section, either of closed cross section or of open cross section in the shape of a V or L, etc.

These column elements are preferably made of cardboard or several sheets of paper joined together, that is, of a material with several layers of superimposed paper, therefore including cases of corrugated cardboard, laminated/compact cardboard, cardboard, among others.

Alternatively, the column elements can be made of plastic, preferably extruded or injection moulded.

In each reinforced container of the stack, each free space is accessible by the outer side of the lateral contour of the body to facilitate the arrangement of each column element in each free space.

In the stack, the column elements of each of the reinforced containers supported at the same height on a respective pallet, of each set, are immobilized to the body, in contact against the outer side of the chamfers, by at least one respective single-wire retaining element that surrounds each of the one or both reinforced containers by the outer lateral contour thereof to keep the column elements in position.

Furthermore, the stack of reinforced cardboard containers for transporting fruit and vegetable products in transport containers of the present invention has the following advantages to improve the mechanical strength of the stack at a minimum cost:

- corrugated cardboard is especially attractive for its lightness, compared to containers reinforced with plastic or metal bodies;

- since each container is reinforced with a respective single cardboard strip, it simplifies stock management for the agent in charge of assembling the stack that includes a plurality of reinforced cardboard containers;

- this at least one smaller side wall in each of the four corner areas is of a smaller width than the first and second side walls, in order to strategically arrange these structural pillars that form the chamfers in the corners, while the development on the surface of the cardboard is minimal to optimize production costs.

- each of the corner areas, which includes the chamfer delimited by vertical folds, act as vertical cornered pillars with increased resistance, both to vertical compression forces and to horizontal expansion forces;

- advantageously, the increased resistance to expansion and the lower deformation of the side walls under expansion stresses is due to the fact that, in the lateral contour of the body, the linear distance between adjacent vertical folds is reduced, as well as the transverse or longitudinal measurement of the first and second walls is reduced, for example, compared to a conventional container with a rectangular lateral contour, free of chamfered reinforcing pillars formed with the band constituting the body;

- in each reinforced container, the deliberate direction of the grooves of the two corrugated sheets, together with the serial configuration of side walls by vertical connecting folds, and the arrangement of the chamfers, synergistically provides high compressive strength of each reinforced container, i.e. to withstand vertical loads in the stack;

- in each reinforced container of the stack, the choice of the structure of said double-walled corrugated cardboard, with only five sheets, has the advantage of providing an optimal relationship between the mechanical resistance of the container and that required by a minimum development of the surface of the band with which the body is obtained, also enabling the production of the band easily in conventional corrugated cardboard installations, both by development measurements and by the structure of the cardboard, at reduced costs;

- the continuity of the side walls and the vertical folds significantly increases the compression and expansion resistance of each of the reinforced containers in the stack, and decreases the deformation of the side walls of said containers under stress in the stacking situation in the stack. That is, in the stacking situation in the stack, the continuity of the side walls and folds ensures that the compression stresses are transmitted between the upper mouth and the bottom in the reinforced containers, distributed by the reinforcement points, like cardboard pillars, which form said minor reinforcement side walls and said vertical folds;

- the at least partially open mouth has the advantage of providing a minimum development of cardboard for the single band constituting the body, minimising production costs of the palletised structure, whilst maintaining the structural strength of the reinforced containers of the stack to withstand the stresses to which it is subjected during stacking;

- each of the reinforced containers does not have a height - distance between bottom and upper opening - limited to about 60 centimetres, this distance can be any distance between 50 and 120 centimetres, or even more, thus increasing the variety of heights of the reinforced container;

- containers can be stacked in sets either two or three high, one on top of the other, each reinforced container being supported at the same level on a respective pallet, for example, reinforced containers can be stacked in two sets, and also reinforced containers can be stacked in three sets;

- makes it possible to optimize in practice the useful volume occupied in a transport container when transporting containers filled with product, thanks to the fact that the volume occupied in the transport containers is increased, and the cost associated with the development of cardboard (cardboard strip) necessary per kilo of product transported can be optimized, all of the above contributing to the carbon footprint per kilo of product transported;

- enables to minimise assembly times of the reinforced mouth (manual, automatic, and/or a combination of these), since it allows to obtain the container by folding at least two or at least four upper flaps to obtain the reinforced upper mouth, enabling a reduction in costs in the production of the reinforced container;

- allows for easy manual and/or automatic assembly/arrangement of the column elements, on the outside of the lateral contour, in the corner areas in contact with the body; for example, the column elements can be arranged according to a lateral movement (horizontal, diagonal and/or a combination of these), resulting in shorter assembly times and/or simpler automation of the container manufacturing, reducing manufacturing costs;

- allows for simple automatic assembly of the container, since the column elements can be arranged in the free spaces, on the outside of the corner areas, before, and/or during, and/or after the folding of the upper flaps constituting the reinforced mouth, making said folding and arrangement operations independent;

- it is possible, optionally, if desired, to obtain greater measurements in the width of the shelf flaps for stacking support, because the container may comprise a reduced number of upper flaps (at least two or at least four and not necessarily eight upper flaps), independently of the interlocking, glue and/or interlocking and glue union of the upper flaps to the first and/or second side walls; and

- the distance between vertical folds / width of each smaller side wall can be selected, optionally, from a wider range of measurements, allowing for optimization of the raw material of the container and the internal volume of the container to be filled with product, due to the reduced number of upper flaps (at least two or at least four and not necessarily eight upper flaps);

- the deformations of the two respective vertical folds delimiting at least two or four chamfers are minimized, when the single-line element is tightened, since the tightening of the at least one retaining element is distributed between part of the lateral contour and at least a plurality of retaining elements, resulting in an increase in the compressive strength; and

- The single-wire retaining elements can be positioned in the reinforced containers at any level/height with respect to the bottom to avoid deforming the vertical folds thanks to the integral external arrangement of the column elements, providing versatility and simplicity in assembly.

Throughout this document the terms glue, adhesive and glue are synonyms.

Optionally, in the folded band constituting the body of each reinforced container, the two corrugated sheets have different corrugation widths between them, to increase the resistance of the container to vertical stresses and to reduce the deformation of the reinforced container at the upper mouth and the side walls to horizontal stresses.

Other optional features of the invention are described in the detailed description of preferred embodiments, together with their respective technical effects/advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other advantages and features will be more fully understood from the following detailed lists of embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, which should be taken as illustrative and not limiting, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of the stack of the invention according to a first embodiment;

Fig. 2 is the other side view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of the stack of the first aspect, according to a second embodiment;

Fig. 4 is the other side view of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a schematic side view of the stack of the first aspect of the invention according to a third embodiment;

Fig. 6 is the other side view of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 shows a side view of the stack of the invention according to a fourth embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the single band with which the body of each reinforced container of Fig. 18, of the stack of the present invention, is obtained;

Fig. 9 is a cross section of a top plan view of a reinforced stack container, according to any one of embodiments 1-7, obtained with the band of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross section of a plan view of the reinforced stack container, obtained with the band of Fig. 8, which includes all the characteristics of the reinforced container of Fig. 9 except for the shape of the four column elements;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of several punched sheets from which the single band of Fig. 12 is obtained;

Fig. 12 is the plan view of the band, obtained with the plates of Fig. 11, with which the reinforced container of Fig. 18 can be obtained;

Fig. 13 is a top perspective view of the partially formed reinforced container of the stack of the present invention, obtained with the strip of Fig. 8 or 11, during the folding of the body from the initial strip, two of said mutually extreme side walls of the folded strip being joined forming a closed tubular side contour, which can be flattened and unfolded by two vertical folds whose side walls form 180 degrees;

Fig. 14 is a top perspective view of the reinforced container of Fig. 13 with the side contour and bottom already formed, and where some circular/circumferential section column elements are also shown to be arranged in the free spaces of the corner areas, corresponding to Fig. 9;

Fig. 15 is a cross section of the upper flaps folded by horizontal folds at the upper mouth of the reinforced container of Fig. 18;

Fig. 16 is a cross section of an alternative embodiment of folded top flaps at the top mouth of the reinforced container of Fig. 18;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged view of the double-wall corrugated cardboard structure from which the die-cut body strip is formed in all embodiments;

Fig. 18 is a schematic top perspective view of the reinforced container corresponding to Fig. 14;

Fig. 19 is a top perspective detail view of a corner area of the reinforced container of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the single band with which the body of the reinforced container of Fig. 21 is obtained;

Fig. 21 is a top perspective detail view of a corner area of the reinforced container obtained with the band of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a plan view of the strip with which the body of the reinforced container of Figs. 27, 31 and 33 of the stack is obtained, according to any one of embodiments 1-7;

Fig. 23 is a top perspective view of the partially formed reinforced container obtained with the strip of Fig. 8 during the folding of the body from the initial strip, two of said mutually extreme side walls of the folded strip being joined together forming a closed tubular side contour, which can be flattened and unfolded by two vertical folds whose side walls form 180 degrees, and where there are also shown column elements of circular / circumferential section to be arranged in the free spaces of the corner areas, corresponding to Fig. 33;

Figs. 24, 25 and 26 show respective alternative embodiments of the column elements of the reinforced containers of the stack of the present invention;

Fig. 27 is a top perspective view of one of the containers reinforced with the band of Fig. 22, which forms an integral part of any one of the embodiments of the stack of Figs. 1-7;

Fig. 28 is a cross section of the upper flaps folded by horizontal creases at the upper mouth of the reinforced container of Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a cross section of an alternative embodiment of folded top flaps at the top mouth of the reinforced container of Fig. 27;

Fig. 30 is an enlarged view of detail IV of Fig. 23, showing the double-wall corrugated cardboard structure with which the die-cut band of the body of each of the containers in the stack is formed, in all embodiments;

Fig. 31 is another top perspective view of the reinforced container of Fig. 27;

Fig. 32 is an enlarged view of detail V of Fig. 31, showing an enlarged top perspective of a corner area of each reinforced container in the stack;

Fig. 33 is a schematic cross section of each of the reinforced containers of the stack with the column elements arranged in the free spaces, corresponding to Fig. 27;

Fig. 34 is another schematic cross section of each of the reinforced containers of the stack with the column elements arranged in the free spaces, according to an alternative embodiment of the stack of the present invention;

Fig. 35 is yet another schematic cross section of each of the reinforced containers of the stack with the column elements arranged in the free spaces, according to another alternative embodiment of the stack of the present invention;

DETAILED EXPOSURE OF PREFERRED REALIZATIONS

The present invention presents a stack of reinforced cardboard containers (40) for the transport of fruit and vegetable products, whose embodiments are shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

In Figs. 1-7, the stack comprises only two or three assemblies, stacked vertically one on top of the other.

In said Figs. 1-7, each assembly comprises only one or two of the reinforced containers (40) and a pallet (70) wherein said one or two reinforced containers (40) are supported at the same level or height.

That is, the stack is a structure that comprises two or three heights or levels of said sets.

In the first embodiment of Figs. 1-2, the stack has only three heights, with only one reinforced container (40) supported on each pallet (70) at the same level, side by side. In the first embodiment of Figs. 1-2, the vertical distance (D1) between the bottom and the upper opening of each reinforced container (40) - corresponding to the height of the reinforced container (40) - is preferably between 500 and 700 mm, for example, said vertical distance (D1) is 600 mm.

In the second embodiment of Figs. 3-4, the stack has only two heights, with only one reinforced container (40) supported on each pallet (70) at the same level, side by side. In the second embodiment of Figs. 3-4, the vertical distance (D1) between the bottom and the upper mouth of each reinforced container (40) is preferably between 850 and 1200 mm, for example, said vertical distance (D1) is between 900 and 1000 mm.

In the third embodiment of Figs. 5-6, the stack has only three heights, with only two reinforced containers (40) supported on each pallet (70) at the same level, side by side. In the third embodiment of Figs. 5-6, the vertical distance (D1) between the bottom and the upper mouth of each reinforced container (40) is preferably between 500 and 700 mm, for example, said vertical distance (D1) is 600 mm.

In the fourth embodiment of Figs. 6-7, the stack has only two heights, with only one reinforced container (40) supported on each pallet (70) at the same level, side by side. In the fourth embodiment of Figs. 6-7, the vertical distance (D1) between the bottom and the upper mouth of each reinforced container (40) is preferably between 850 and 1200 mm, for example, said vertical distance (D1) is between 900 and 1000 mm.

In Figs. 1-7, each reinforced container (40) of the stack comprises a body obtained with a single band (20) die-cut from double-walled corrugated cardboard, with only three smooth sheets (21) and two corrugated sheets (22) arranged between two of the smooth sheets (21), as detailed in Figs. 17, 18, 27 and 30.

Common to all embodiments, Figs. 18-35 show that, in the stack, the body of each reinforced container (40) comprises a side contour, a bottom and an upper mouth.

Common to all embodiments, Figs. 18-35 show that the lateral contour comprises eight sides. The sides of the lateral contour are formed by at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) connected one after another, in series, by respective vertical folds (42) parallel to each other.

Optionally, Figs. 18, 27 and 33-35 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the side contour is octagonal. Furthermore, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the side contour is formed by only eight side walls (44, 45, 46) connected one after the other, in series, each corner zone comprising only one minor side wall (46) for forming the chamfer.

Advantageously, the costs of the raw materials used are minimized, while maintaining high structural resistance.

Alternatively, in an option not shown, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the side contour is dodecagonal, with two minor side walls (46) forming a chamfer in each of the four corner zones. Furthermore, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the side contour is formed by only twelve side walls (44, 45, 46) connected one after the other, in series, each corner zone comprising two minor side walls (46) forming the chamfer.

According to another alternative option not shown, in the reinforced container (40), the side contour has sixteen angles, with three minor side walls (46) forming a chamfer in each of the four corner areas. Furthermore, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the side contour is formed by only sixteen side walls (44, 45, 46) connected one after the other, in series, each corner area comprising three minor side walls (46) forming the chamfer.

Advantageously, a twelve or sixteen angle contour increases the interior volume of each reinforced container (40), allowing for a greater quantity of product contained in each reinforced container (40), with the same effective floor area occupied by the stack for storage and/or transportation purposes.

Common to all embodiments, Figs. 18-35 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the pallet structure, on the lateral contour two mutually extreme side walls of the folded strip (20) are mutually joined.

Optionally, in Figs. 13-19, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the two mutually extreme side walls correspond to a minor side wall (46) and a first side wall (44) that will be described later.

Optionally, in Figs. 20-32, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the two mutually extreme side walls correspond to a minor side wall (46) and a second side wall (45) that will be described later.

Optionally, in Figs. 13-35, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the two mutually extreme side walls of the folded strip (20) are mutually joined by a flange-like joining side panel (43).

Optionally, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, said end side walls (44, 46) may be joined by a flange-like end side joining panel (3) of the unfolded strip (20) shown in Fig. 22, the body forming a lateral contour of a cross section closed by a joining side panel (43), as shown in Figs. 27 and 32, to increase the resistance of the reinforced container (40) to horizontal stresses, for example, radial horizontal stresses caused by the product contained in the interior volume of the reinforced container (40) delimited by the lateral contour, the bottom and the upper mouth.

Optionally, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, this union of mutually extreme side walls may be by gluing and/or stapling, as shown in Figs. 18-35, among other joining options.

Alternatively, in an option not shown, each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the band (20) may lack said joining side panel (3) and the two mutually extreme side walls may be joined butt-to-butt, with adjacent end edges joined, for example, by a double-sided adhesive strip with adhesive/glue joining both ends of the band (20).

In all embodiments, Figs. 13-35 show that in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, said at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) include two mutually facing flat first side walls (44) and two mutually facing flat second side walls (45) delimiting four corner zones. Said at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) further include at least four minor side walls (46).

In each reinforced container (40) of the stack, Figs. 14, 18, 21, 23, 27, 32 show that at least one respective minor side wall (46) is in each of the four corner areas forming a respective chamfer, and the two corrugated sheets (22) form vertical grooves (23) in the eight side walls (44, 45, 46), arranged perpendicularly to the bottom, to reinforce each reinforced container (40) in compression.

Optionally, Fig. 10 shows that the corrugated sheets (22) are of different corrugation widths from each other to increase the mechanical strength of the reinforced container (40).

In each reinforced container (40) of the stack, Figs. 9, 10, 18, 27 and 33-35 show that at least one minor side wall (46) is sandwiched between each first side wall (44) and each second side wall (45) in each of the four corner areas, in the manner of a chamfer. In each of the four corner areas, the chamfer is arranged diagonally with respect to the first and second side walls (44, 45) adjacent to the corner area.

Continuing in all embodiments, Figs. 13-35 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, this at least one minor side wall (46) in each of the four corner areas is of smaller width than the first and second side walls (44, 45), i.e. the perpendicular distance between each pair of vertical folds (42) delimiting the minor side walls (46) is smaller than that of the first and second side walls (44, 45).

Preferably, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the minor side walls (46) are flat and the chamfers are flat, as shown in Figs. 13-35.

Optionally, Figs. 18-35 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the flat minor side walls (46) and flat chamfers form a straight diagonal with respect to the first and second adjacent side walls (44, 45) in each corner area.

Alternatively, in an option not shown, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the minor side walls are curved and the chamfers are curved, forming a curved diagonal joining the curved chamfer to the first and second adjacent side walls at each corner area.

Common to all embodiments, Figs. 18-35 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each flat side wall (44, 45, 46) and each vertical fold (42) of the body has a continuous vertical extension extending from the bottom to the top mouth, to reinforce the reinforced container (40) against vertical and horizontal stresses.

In Figs. 13-19 and 22-33, the first and second side walls (44, 45) are delimited superiorly by respective upper horizontal folds (53) formed around respective upper weakened horizontal lines (13) punched out of the band (20).

In Figs. 13-19 and 22-33, the first and second side walls (44, 45) are delimited inferiorly by respective lower horizontal folds (49) formed around respective lower weakened horizontal lines (9) punched out of the band (20).

In the particular case of the embodiments of Figs. 8-10 and 13-35, in the reinforced container (40), the corrugated cardboard strip (20) constituting the body is optionally a single die-cut sheet (10) that includes at least eight panel sectors (4, 5, 6) in series, the at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) of the body being formed by said at least eight panel sectors (4, 5, 6).

The option of the previous paragraph maintains all the advantages related to improved resistance, while optimizing the manufacturing costs of each reinforced container (40) of the stack, by using a single die-cut starting piece to obtain the body of the reinforced container (40).

Additionally, in all embodiments, in the double-wall corrugated cardboard band (20) constituting the body, the at least eight panel sectors (4, 5, 6) are connected by respective die-cut weakened vertical lines (2), parallel to each other, which define in the folded body the vertical folds (42) that connect one of said at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) with others.

The weakened vertical lines (2) die-cut facilitate the correct folding of some parts of the band with respect to others to obtain the container, which is of utmost importance to accurately and reliably define the positions of the body parts to successfully undertake manual and/or automatic assembly.

In another particular option shown in Figs. 11-19, corresponding to a variant of the first embodiment of each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the double-wall corrugated cardboard strip (20) constituting the body is several die-cut sheets (10) of double-wall corrugated cardboard with end panels (3) for joining each sheet (10) joined together. In the strip (20) constituting the body, each of the sheets (10) comprises a plurality of panel sectors (4, 5, 6), the at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) of the body being formed by the pluralities of panel sectors (4, 5, 6) of the sheets (10).

This option of band (20) made up of several sheets (10) has the advantage of simplifying production, improving handling, and therefore the production costs, of reinforced containers (40) of a development of considerable measurements, for example, those reinforced containers (40) with measurements such that their internal volume covers at least 80% of the surface area of a pallet (70) of measurements of approximately 1000 x 800 millimetres, 1000 x 1200 millimetres or 1140 x 1140 millimetres.

Continuing in all the embodiments, Figs. 14, 18, 27 and 33-35 show that the bottom is perpendicular to the at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46), which are arranged around the bottom, surrounding it, defining the lateral contour.

In the stack embodiments of Figs. 1-7, the bottom of each container (40) is supported on one of the pallets (70), referred to above.

The bottom is formed by lower flaps (47, 48) connected to the bottom of at least the first and second side walls (44, 45) by lower horizontal folds (49).

Advantageously, the serial configuration of side walls (44,45,46) of the lateral contour and the configuration of the bottom that can be supported on a pallet (70), optionally allow obtaining a partially open bottom, using a minimum of raw material for the reinforced containers (40), via an optimization of the surface required for the lower flaps (47,48), and also optionally allow obtaining a closed bottom, according to the needs.

Optionally, in the embodiments of the figures, in the band (20) with weakened fold and cut lines, the bottom is formed by folding two first long bottom panels (7) and two short bottom panels (8), around respective die-cut lower weakened horizontal lines (9), becoming two short bottom flaps (48) and two long bottom flaps (47) perpendicular to the side walls (44, 45, 46) of the body, folded around the respective lower horizontal folds (49), as shown for example in Figs. 8-33.

Optionally, the embodiments of Figs. 18, 27 and 33-35 show the bottom is at least partially open, advantageously optimizing the raw material used (double-wall corrugated cardboard surface).

Alternatively, in an option not shown in the figures, the width of the lower flaps (47, 48) of the figures may be increased until the two or all four lower flaps (47, 48) abut and/or provide at least one overlapping contact zone between at least two mutually opposite lower flaps (47, 48).

Optionally, the lower flaps (47, 48) are joined together preferably by gluing as shown in Figs. 9-10, 18, 27, 33-35, and/or snap-fitting (not shown).

Common to all embodiments, the upper mouth is partially open and is formed by at least two or four upper flaps (51, 52, 58) folded towards the interior of the container. Said at least two or four upper flaps (51, 52) include two first upper flaps (51) attached to the upper part of the first side walls (44) and/or two second upper flaps (52) attached to the upper parts of the second side walls (45).

In the particular embodiment of Figs. 20-21, the upper mouth is reinforced by two upper flaps (51, 52), specifically by the first two upper flaps (51) attached to the upper parts of the first side walls (44).

In the options of Figs. 13-19 and 23-35, the upper mouth is partially open and is formed by four upper flaps (51, 52), two first upper flaps (51) attached to the top of the first side walls (44) and two second upper flaps (52) attached to the tops of the second side walls (45).

In the options of Figs. 22-35, the upper mouth is partially open and is formed by eight upper flaps (51, 52, 58) folded towards the interior of the container. Said eight upper flaps (51, 52, 58) include said two first and two second upper flaps (51, 52) associated with the first and second side walls (44, 45). Furthermore, the mouth is formed by four third upper flaps (58), each of them connected to the upper part of the chamfer, preferably by a weakened upper horizontal fold line (13).

Common to all embodiments, Figs. 18, 21, 27 and 33 show that each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) comprises two respective flaps (54, 55), folded by respective upper horizontal folds (53) perpendicular to the vertical folds (42).

Optionally, in the specific cases of Figs. 16 and 29, which are embodiments similar to those of Figs. 18 and 27, respectively, each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) comprises two serial flaps (54, 55) folded by respective upper horizontal folds (53) perpendicular to the vertical folds (42). Each of the two serial flaps (54, 55) includes a horizontal shelf flap (54) for support in stacking, and said end flap (55) for joining a respective upper flap (51, 52) to a respective upper part of a first or second side wall (44, 45).

Optionally, in the specific case of Figs. 15, 18, 21, 27, 28 and 33-35, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) comprises three serial flaps (54, 55, 56) folded by respective upper horizontal folds (53) perpendicular to the vertical folds (42). Each of the three serial flaps (54, 55, 56) includes a horizontal shelf flap (54) for support in stacking, an intermediate flap (56), inserted between the horizontal shelf flap (54) and an end flap (55), and said end flap (55) for joining a respective upper flap (51, 52) to a respective upper part of a first or second side wall (44, 45).

Additionally, in the specific case of Figs. 15, 18, 21, 27, 28 and 33-35, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) comprising said three serial flaps (54, 55, 56) a triangular section in the upper part of each first and/or second side wall (44, 45).

Advantageously, the triangular section confers increased resistance to compression, and provides a stable support surface at the reinforced mouth, for stacking the reinforced containers (40) in the stack, to avoid collapses due to horizontal stresses and/or oscillations (swaying effect) during handling, storage and/or transport of the stack.

Optionally, Figs. 15, 18, 21, 27, 28 and 33-35 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, said triangular section forms an isosceles right triangle, its sides forming two 45 degree angles and one 90 degree angle.

Advantageously, since the upper mouth does not necessarily comprise eight upper flaps, but at least two or four (see Figs. 18-21) the upper mouth can adopt angles and measurements to provide greater strength and improved stability of the reinforced containers (40) in the stack.

Preferably, the perpendicular distance between horizontal folds (53) delimiting the shelf flap (54) can be comprised in any measurement between 15 and 150 millimeters, and the union of the upper flaps (51, 52) to the upper parts of the first and/or second side walls (44, 45) can be selected between a glue union (CC) as shown in Figs. 13-21, a snap union (not shown) and/or a combination of these unions.

In addition, Figs. 15, 18, 21, 27, 28 and 33-35 in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each upper flap (51, 52) comprises only said three serialized flaps (54, 55, 56). Advantageously, the quantity of raw material used for each reinforced container (40) of the stack is optimized, reducing production costs of the stack.

In Figs. 8, 11, 20 and 22 of the unfolded die-cut strips (20) from which the reinforced container bodies (40) shown in Figs. 18, 21, 27 and 33-35 are obtained, each first upper flap (51) and/or each second upper flap (52) is formed from in-line upper panels (14, 15, 16) which are connected to the top of the first and/or second side walls (44, 45) by respective die-cut upper weakened horizontal lines (13).

Continuing in the bands (20) of these embodiments, each of said upper series panels (14, 15, 16) includes a shelf flap (14) that will form the folded shelf flap (54), an end panel (15) that will form the folded end flap (55), as well as an intermediate panel (16) that will form an intermediate flap (56).

Continuing in the bands (20) of these embodiments, each of said upper serial panels (14, 15, 16) are connected in series to each other by respective upper weakened horizontal lines (13) die-cut around which the respective upper horizontal folds (53) of the first and/or second upper flaps (51, 52) will be located.

In an option not shown in the figures, each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) may be joined to a respective first and/or second side wall (44, 45) by snap-fitting, with at least one respective portion of the end flap inserted into at least one respective die-cut cutout (not shown) made in the first and/or second side wall (44, 45).

Preferably, Figs. 13, 14, 18, 23 and 27 show that each first and/or second top flap (51, 52) can be joined to a respective first and/or second side wall (44, 45) by gluing, with glue (CC), arranged on the joining flaps (55) and/or on at least the portion of each side wall where the joining flap is in contact for said joining, using glue (CC) applied manually and/or by machine, using adhesive strips, hot-melt glue (Figs. 14-18), among other options.

In Figs. 18 and 27 said tail for joining the upper flaps (51, 52) has been represented visibly artificially, for the sake of greater clarity, although the tail is not visible due to the arrangement described above.

Optionally, Figs. 13, 14, 18, 23 and 27 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each of the at least two or at least four upper flaps (51, 52) are attached to the tops of the first and/or second side walls by a respective plurality of cords of thermo-fusible glue (CC) parallel to the vertical folds (42).

Advantageously, this type of joining of the upper flaps can be carried out on a machine at very low costs, since thanks to the configuration of the pluralities of glue parallel to the vertical folds (42) it can be carried out on an economical and compact machine at high speeds, with a relative vertical movement between glue injectors and upper flaps, resulting in a considerable reduction in stack costs. Furthermore, the specific choice of thermo-fusible glue enables the formation of the upper flaps (51, 52) reliably and at high speeds.

Additionally, Figs. 13, 14, 18, 23 and 27 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each of the third upper flaps (58) are joined to the upper parts of the minor side walls (46), at the chamfers, by a respective plurality of thermo-fusible glue cords (CC) parallel to the vertical folds (42).

In one option, in the stack, the upper mouth is configured to support a reinforced container (40) and pallet (70) assembly in stacking, in the three-high stacks of Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

In another option, in the stack, the upper mouth is configured to support two reinforced container (40) and pallet assemblies in stacking, in the two-high stacks of Figs. 3, 4 and 7.

Optionally, Figs. 18 and 27 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the lower flaps (47, 48) of the bottom are joined by gluing, by a plurality of glue cords (CC) perpendicular to the vertical folds (42).

Advantageously, this type of joining of the lower flaps (47, 48) of the bottom can be carried out by machine at very low costs, resulting in a considerable reduction in the costs of the stack.

Optionally, the glue (CC) applied to some and/or all parts of each reinforced container (40) of the stack is applied by machine without horizontal movement of the reinforced container (40).

Additionally, Figs. 18 and 27 show that the lower flaps (47, 48) may be joined together by gluing using a plurality of glue cords (CC) perpendicular to the vertical folds (42), arranged in four overlapping zones of the lower flaps (47, 48).

Alternatively, in an option not shown, the bottom flaps (47, 48) may be glued to the bottom of the first and second side walls (44, 45) by a plurality of glue beads (CC) parallel to the vertical folds (42).

Common to all embodiments, in Figs. 13-35, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, on the outer side of the lateral contour of each corner zone, each respective outer side of the chamfer positionally delimits a respective outer free space (50).

Figs. 1-7 and 18, 19, 21 and 33-35, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each respective free space (50) is of continuous vertical extension from the bottom to the upper mouth, each respective free space (50) having, in contact with a respective chamfer, a respective column element (60), elongated, additional to the body.

In each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each column element (60) has a vertical extension that extends from the bottom to the upper mouth, as shown in Figs. 14, 18, 21, 23 and 33-35.

In each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each free space (50) is accessible by the outer side of the lateral contour of the body to facilitate the arrangement of each column element (60) in each free space.

Preferably, in the stack, each of said column elements (60) is a slender piece of constant and closed cross section.

According to a first option, each of said column elements (60) of Figs. 13-33 is a slender piece of constant and closed circular/circumferential cross section.

According to a second option, each of said column elements (60) of Figs. 10 and 34 is a slender piece of constant and closed triangular cross section.

According to other options, each of said column elements (60) may be of polygonal cross section with a number of sides greater than three: rectangular (as shown in Fig. 35), hexagonal (not shown), etc.

According to other alternatives, each of said column elements (60) can be solid pieces, as shown by the different embodiments of column elements (60) in Fig. 25, or hollow, as shown in Figs. 14, 18, 23, 33-35.

Alternatively, each of said column elements (60) may be of open cross section, for example, L-shaped as shown in Fig. 26, or V-shaped (not shown) among other options.

Preferably, in the stack, said column elements (60) are made of cardboard or several sheets of paper joined together, i.e. of a material with several layers of paper superimposed. For example, the column elements (60) of the figures may be made of corrugated cardboard, laminated/compact cardboard, cardboard, and/or a combination of these.

These column elements (60) are preferably made of cardboard or several sheets of paper joined together, that is, of a material with several layers of superimposed paper, therefore including cases of corrugated cardboard, laminated/compact cardboard, cardboard, among others.

Optionally, in Figs. 18-35, in each reinforced container (40), the union of some parts of the band (20) constituting the body with others is by glue and/or interlocking, and the folded band (20) constituting the body and the column elements (60) are formed by several sheets of paper base joined together, and are jointly devoid of plastic covering sheets and/or internal plastic sheets.

Advantageously, in this option, recycling of the constituent materials of each reinforced container (40) of the stack is simplified, reducing recycling costs to produce new reinforced containers (40) of the stack, resulting in a lower carbon footprint for the manufacture of the reinforced containers (40) of the stack. On the one hand, glue bonding (CC) has the advantage that the joined parts are completely immobilized, without gaps, increasing the strength of the reinforced containers (40) of the stack. On the other hand, snap-fitting bonding has the advantage of not needing a consumable material, reducing the manufacturing costs of each reinforced container (40) of the stack in manual and/or automatic assembly.

Alternatively, in the stack, the column elements (60) may be made of plastic, preferably extruded or injection molded.

Common to all embodiments, Figs. 1-7 show that, in the stack, the column elements (60) of each of the reinforced containers (40) supported at the same height on a respective pallet (70), of each set, are immobilized to the body, in contact against the outer side of the chamfers, by at least one respective single-wire retaining element (80) that surrounds each of the one or both reinforced containers (40) by the outer lateral contour thereof to keep the column elements (40) in position.

In the stack options of Figs. 1-7, a plurality of single-wire retaining elements (80) completely surround the outer lateral contour of the reinforced container body (40), surrounding the four column elements (40), to maintain the column elements (40) in position in contact against the chamfers on the outside of the lateral contour under horizontal forces.

In the stack options of Figs. 5-6, a single-line retaining element (80) partially surrounds the outer lateral contour of two reinforced containers (40), surrounding two of the four column elements (40) of one reinforced container (40), and two column elements (40) of another reinforced container (40), to maintain the column elements (40) arranged on the outside of the lateral contour in position against horizontal forces.

Preferably, the single-wire retaining elements are strips (80) and/or an equivalent element.

In Figs. 1 to 4, the column elements (40) are immobilized to the body by straps, corresponding to the retaining element (80), which tightly and completely surround the outer lateral contour of the body.

In Figs. 5 to 7, in each reinforced container (40), the column elements (60) are immobilized to the body (40) by straps, corresponding to the retaining element (80), two straps, the lower and upper, tightly and completely surround the outer lateral contour of the body. In Figs. 5 to 7, the intermediate strap tightly and partially surrounds the outer lateral contour of each reinforced container, since it surrounds two reinforced containers (40) to join two reinforced containers (40) supported at the same height on the pallet (70).

Preferably, the reinforced container(s) (40) supported on the pallet (70) at the same level or height occupy at least 80% of the base surface of the pallet (70), that is, the outer lateral contour of the pallet (70) occupies at least 80% of said base surface of the pallet (70).

Preferably, the base surface of the pallet (70) of Figs. 1-7 may be any one of the following (measured in millimeters by millimeters): 800 x 600, 1000 x 800, 1200 x 1000, and 1140 x 1140, i.e. the largest lateral measurement of the pallet (70) is between 800 and 1200 mm, and the smallest lateral measurement of the pallet (70) perpendicular to the largest lateral measurement is between 600 and 1140 mm.

Preferably, Figs. 1-7 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the column elements (60) are immobilized to the body of each reinforced container (40), in the corner areas that include the chamfers, by a second retaining element, said second retaining element being configured to maintain the column elements (60) in position, in contact with the chamfers, prior to, and/or during, and/or subsequent to the provision of the at least one single-wire retaining element (80).

Advantageously, the second retaining element simplifies the manual and/or automatic machine assembly of the column elements (60) in the free spaces (50) of the corner areas, reducing production costs of the stack.

Advantageously, unwanted displacements of the column elements (60) are avoided when the at least one single-wire element (80) is tightened, thanks to the immobilization of the second retaining element.

In one option, not shown in the figures, each second retaining element includes tongue-and-groove snap-fit tabs disposed between the outer side contour of the body, on an outer side of a chamfered minor side wall (46), and each column element (60).

The options in Figs. 13, 14 and 23 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack of Figs. 1-7, each second additional retaining element includes glue (CC) disposed between each chamfer of each corner zone and each column element (60) in contact with the chamfer.

Advantageously, said tail (CC) as a second retaining element provides improved immobilization, compared to other solutions, for example, by interlocking, in addition to providing a simple and easy immobilization of the column elements (60), both manually and/or automatically.

According to one option, said glue (CC) of each second element includes adhesive/glue (CC) of a double-sided adhesive tape arranged in the minor sectors (6) of formation of the minor side walls (6).

According to a preferable option, said tail (CC) of each second element includes at least one bead of heat-meltable glue (CC), preferably parallel to the vertical folds (42).

Alternatively, in an option not shown, said tail (CC) of each second element includes a plurality of tail cords (CC) perpendicular to the vertical folds (42).

The option of the tail cord as a second retaining element simplifies the automatic assembly of the reinforced containers (40) that make up the stack.

Optionally, in one option shown in the figures, said tail of each second element includes a plurality of cords of thermo-fusible glue (CC) parallel to the vertical folds (42).

Preferably, Figs. 9, 10, 19, 21, 33-35 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, the minor side walls (46) are flat to hold the column elements (60) in position in contact with the chamfers.

Advantageously, the flatness of the side walls (46) provides reliable positioning of the column elements (60) and provides simplicity for manual and/or automatic machine assembly of the column elements (60) in the free external spaces (50).

Advantageously, the free spaces (50) and the flat chamfers arranged diagonally with respect to the first and second side walls (44, 45) provide the possibility of arranging column elements with a wide range of shapes: triangular section (Figs.

10 and 34), rectangular (Fig. 35), circular (Figs. 9, 18 and 33), V-shaped, L-shaped (Fig. 26), etc., allowing a wide contact surface, if desired, against the flat face of the at least one minor side wall (46) of the chamfer, ensuring the positioning of the column elements (60), all of which results in improved resistance of each reinforced container (40), and, therefore, of the stack.

Optionally, Figs. 10 and 34 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each column element (60) includes at least one prism of hollow triangular section, with one of the sides of the prism in contact with a respective chamfer.

Advantageously, the flat contact side of the prism provides reliable positioning of the column elements (60), simplifies manual and/or automatic machine assembly of the column elements (60) in the free spaces (50) in contact with the chamfers, reducing production costs of the stack that includes such reinforced containers (40).

In addition, Figs. 10 and 34 show that, in each reinforced container (40) of the stack, each column element (60) comprises only one prism with a section in the shape of a hollow right triangle. The two extreme vertices of the prism side, in contact with a respective flat chamfer, coincide with the vertical folds (42) delimiting the chamfer, in order to minimize the deformations of the vertical folds (42) delimiting the four chamfers when the at least one single-wire retaining element (80) is tightened.

Advantageously, the rectangular triangular shape of the only column element (60) per corner area minimises raw material, further simplifies manual and/or automatic machine assembly of the column elements (60) in the free spaces (50) of the corner areas, reducing production costs, and optimises volumes occupied in stacking since the body and the column elements (60) can be inscribed in a rectangle.

The manufacture of a stack of reinforced cardboard containers (40) for the transport of fruit and vegetable products is described.

Figs. 1-7 show four embodiments of such a stack, where reference 40 designates a reinforced container, reference 70 designates a pallet and reference 80 designates a single-wire retaining element.

The manufacturing of the stack includes manufacturing the reinforced containers (40), surrounding the reinforced containers (40) with single-wire retaining elements (80), and stacking the reinforced containers (40) forming the stack.

Each reinforced container (40) of the stack comprises a body obtained from a single strip (20) of die-cut cardboard. Examples of such strips (20) are shown in Figs. 8, 12, 20 and 22, and examples of such bodies are shown in Figs. 18, 21,27 and 31-35.

As shown in Figs. 8-35, the band (20) of each of the containers (40) is made of double-walled corrugated cardboard, with only three smooth sheets (21) and two corrugated sheets (22) arranged between two of the smooth sheets (21), the two corrugated sheets (22) forming vertical grooves (23), in at least eight panel sectors (4, 5, 6) of the band (20) connected in series by respective vertical die-cut weakened lines (2) parallel to each other, which will form in the band (20) at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) connected in series by respective vertical folds (42) parallel to each other.

To manufacture each of the reinforced containers (40) of the stack, said strip (20), which has a closed lateral contour by mutually joined lateral ends thereof, is deployed, from a flattened configuration (not shown) to an at least partially folded configuration shown for example in Fig. 13, to form a closed tubular lateral contour.

Express reference is made to the embodiment of Figs. 8, 9, 13-19, although the features described are common to all embodiments, unless otherwise indicated.

In the flattened configuration of the strip (20), a plurality of the at least eight panel sectors (4, 5, 6) of Fig. 1 is configured to be coplanar with respect to another plurality of the at least eight panel sectors (4, 5, 6) of the strip (20) of Fig. 1, thus minimizing storage and/or transportation volumes and costs of the strips (20).

In the flattened configuration of the strip (20), a plurality of the at least eight panel sectors (4, 5, 6) is configured to be coplanar with respect to another plurality of the at least eight panel sectors (4, 5, 6) of the strip (20), thus minimizing storage and/or transportation volumes and costs of the strips (20).

In the flattened configuration the band (20) has a closed flattened lateral contour with mutually joined ends, and is obtained from the flat configuration of the band (20) of Fig. 1.

In the flattened configuration of the closed lateral contour of the band (20), two mutually extreme side panels of the band (20) are joined through the lateral joining portion (3). In this particular case of Fig. 1 said side panels are a second side panel (5) and a smaller side panel (6).

In the flattened configuration of the strip (20), in addition to the ends of the strip (20) being joined, the strip (20) has a flattened configuration (not shown) when folded along two weakened vertical die-cut lines (2), forming two vertical folds (42) whose adjacent side walls form approximately 180 degrees, such that a plurality of panel sectors (4, 5, 6) of the flat strip (20) of Fig. 1 are configured to be coplanar, during stacking and/or transport conditions, with another plurality of panel sectors (4, 5, 6) of the flat strip (20) of Fig. 1, to optimize storage and/or transport volumes and costs.

In the particular example of Fig. 1, in the flattened configuration of the band (20), the plurality of panel sectors formed by a first lateral sector (4), a second lateral sector (5) and a smaller lateral sector (6) are configured to remain coplanar, during stacking and/or transport conditions, with another plurality of panel sectors formed by a first lateral sector (4), a second lateral sector (5) and a smaller lateral sector (6).

Figs. 13 and 14 show the at least partially folded configuration of the strip (20) for manufacturing each of the reinforced containers (40), wherein the strip (20) forms a tubular side contour comprising eight sides formed by said at least eight series-formed side walls (44, 45, 46).

Continuing in Figs. 13 and 14 of the at least partially folded configuration of the strip (20) for manufacturing each of the reinforced containers (40), two mutually facing flat first side walls (44), two mutually facing flat second side walls (45), and at least four minor side walls (46). At least one respective minor side wall (46) forms a respective chamfer in each of the four corner areas delimited by the first and second side walls (45).

Continuing in Figs. 13 and 14 of the at least partially folded configuration of the band (20) for the manufacture of each of the reinforced containers (40), each side wall (44, 45, 46) and each vertical fold (42) of the body has a continuous vertical extension corresponding to the height of the reinforced container (40), to reinforce the reinforced container (40) against vertical and horizontal stresses.

After unfolding the strip (20), Figs. 13, 14 and 18 show that, to manufacture each of the reinforced containers (40) of the stack, a respective column element (60), elongated, additional to the body, of extension corresponding to the height of the reinforced container (40), is arranged in respective free external spaces (50) arranged in the corner areas, positionally delimited by an outer side of the chamfer accessible by the outer side of the lateral contour of the body and of continuous vertical extension corresponding to the height of the reinforced container (40), to reinforce the reinforced container (40) against vertical and horizontal forces.

Figs. 13, 14 and 18 show that the manufacture of each of the reinforced containers (40), before, and/or during and/or after the arrangement of the column elements (60) in the free spaces (50), further comprises forming a bottom perpendicular to the at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46), configured to be supported on a pallet (70).

Figs. 13, 14 and 18 show that the formation of the bottom is by folding lower flaps (47, 48) connected to the bottom of at least the first and second side walls (44, 45) by lower horizontal folds (49).

Figs. 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19 show that the manufacture of each of the reinforced containers (40), before and/or during and/or after the arrangement of the column elements (60) in the free spaces (50), further comprises reinforcing an upper mouth, delimited by upper parts of the side walls (44, 45, 46), with at least two or four upper flaps (51, 52), two first upper flaps (51) attached to the upper part of the first side walls (44) and/or two second upper flaps (52) attached to the upper parts of the second side walls (45).

Continuing with these figures, the reinforcement of the upper mouthpiece includes:

- folding on each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) two respective flaps (54, 55) folded by respective upper horizontal folds (53): a horizontal shelf flap (54) for stacking support, and an end flap (55) for joining to a respective upper part of a first or second side wall (44, 45); and

- joining on each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) an end flap (55) for joining to a respective upper part of a first or second side wall (44, 45).

Preferably, the reinforcement of the upper mouth is carried out after the arrangement of the column elements (60) in the free spaces (50).

Optionally, the formation of the bottom and the reinforcement of the upper mouth are carried out after the arrangement of the column elements (60) in the free spaces (50).

Preferably, the deployment and reinforcement of the upper mouth are carried out with the band (20) housed in the same operational space, that is, in the same work station.

Optionally, the unfolding, the formation of the bottom, and the reinforcement of the upper mouth are carried out with the band (20) housed in the same operational space, that is, in the same work station.

Optionally, the arrangement of the column elements (60) in the free spaces (50) is carried out in a second work station located after the work station.

The embodiments of Figs. 1-7 show that one or two reinforced containers (40) to be supported at the same height on a respective pallet (70) are surrounded by at least one respective single-wire retaining element (80), along the outer lateral contour thereof to hold the column elements (40) in position, immobilizing the column elements (60) of each of the reinforced containers (40) in contact against the outer side of the chamfers.

Preferably, the single-wire retaining element (80) of Figs. 1-7 is a strip or the like.

The embodiments of Figs. 1-7 show that only two or three assemblies are stacked vertically on top of each other, each assembly comprising only one or two respective reinforced containers (40) and a respective pallet (70) wherein said one or two respective reinforced containers (40) are supported on the same level.

The scope of the present invention is given by the following claims.

Claims (18)

1.- Stack of sets of reinforced cardboard containers (40) and pallets (70) for the transport of fruit and vegetable products in transport containers, comprising only two or three sets stacked vertically one on top of the other, each set comprising only one or two reinforced containers (40) and a pallet (70) where said one or two respective reinforced containers (40) are supported on the same level; characterized in that each reinforced container (40) comprises a body obtained with a single band (20) die-cut from double-walled corrugated cardboard, with only three smooth sheets (21) and two corrugated sheets (22) arranged between two of the smooth sheets (21), the body comprising: - a lateral contour comprising at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) lined one after the other by vertical folds (42) parallel to each other, two mutually extreme side walls of the folded strip (20) being mutually joined; said at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) including two mutually facing flat first side walls (44) and two mutually facing flat second side walls (45) delimiting four corner areas, and at least four minor side walls (46), at least one respective minor side wall (46) in each of the four corner areas forming chamfers, the two corrugated sheets (22) forming vertical grooves (23) in the eight side walls (44, 45, 46), to reinforce the reinforced container (40) by compression, each flat side wall (44, 45, 46) and each vertical fold (42) of the body having a continuous vertical extension from a bottom to an upper mouth of the body, to reinforce the reinforced container (40) against vertical and horizontal stresses; - wherein said bottom, perpendicular to the at least eight side walls (44, 45, 46) and supported on one of said pallets (70), is formed by lower flaps (47, 48) connected to the bottom of at least the first and second side walls (44, 45) by lower horizontal folds (49); - wherein the upper mouth is partially open and formed by at least two or four upper flaps (51, 52) folded towards the inside of the container, two first upper flaps (51) attached to the top of the first side walls (44) and/or two second upper flaps (52) attached to the tops of the second side walls (45), each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) comprising two flaps (54, 55), folded by upper horizontal folds (53), including a horizontal shelf flap (54) for support in stacking, and an end flap (55) for attachment to an upper part of a first or second side wall (44, 45); because the stack comprises elongated column elements (60), additional to the body, with a vertical extension from the bottom to the upper mouth, arranged in free spaces (50) with a continuous vertical extension from the bottom to the upper mouth located on the outer side of the lateral contour of each corner area, the free spaces (50) facilitating the arrangement of the column elements (60); and because the stack comprises single-wire retaining elements (80), such that in each set at least one single-wire retaining element (80) surrounds one or both reinforced containers (40) along its lateral contour to keep the column elements (60) in position, immobilizing them by contact against the outer sides of the chamfers. 2. - Stack according to claim 1, wherein the column elements (60) are immobilized to the body of each reinforced container (40), in the corner areas that include the chamfers, by a second retaining element, said second retaining element being configured to maintain the column elements (60) in position, in contact with the chamfers, previously, and/or during, and/or subsequently to the arrangement of the at least one single-line retaining element (80). 3. - Stack according to claim 2, wherein each second additional retaining element includes a tail (CC) arranged between each chamfer of each corner zone and each column element (60) in contact with the chamfer. 4. - Battery according to claim 3, wherein said glue (CC) of each second element includes adhesive/glue (CC) of a double-sided adhesive tape. 5. - Battery according to claim 3, wherein said tail (CC) of each second element includes at least one bead of thermo-fusible glue, preferably parallel to the vertical folds (42). 6. - Stack according to claim 5, wherein said tail of each second element includes a plurality of cords of thermo-fusible glue (CC) parallel to the vertical folds (42). 7. - Stack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), the minor side walls (46) are flat to keep the column elements (60) in position in contact with the chamfers. 8. - Stack according to claim 7, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), each column element (60) includes at least one prism of hollow triangular section, with one of the sides of the prism in contact with a respective chamfer. 9. - Stack according to claim 8, wherein each column element (60) comprises only one prism with a section in the shape of a hollow right triangle, the two extreme vertices on the side of the prism being in contact with a respective flat chamfer, coinciding with the vertical folds (42) delimiting the chamfer, to minimize the deformations of the vertical folds (42) delimiting the four chamfers when the at least one single-wire retaining element (80) is tightened. 10. - Stack according to any one of the preceding claims 3 to 9, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), each of the at least two or at least four upper flaps (51, 52) are joined to the upper parts of the first and/or second side walls by a respective plurality of thermo-fusible glue cords (CC) parallel to the vertical folds (42). 11. - Stack according to claim 10, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), the lower flaps (47, 48) are joined by gluing, by a plurality of glue cords (CC) perpendicular to the vertical folds (42). 12. - Stack according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), the union of some parts of the band (20) constituting the body with others is by glue and/or interlocking, and the folded band (20) constituting the body and the column elements (60) are formed by several sheets of paper base joined together, and are jointly devoid of plastic covering sheets and/or internal plastic sheets. 13. - Stack according to claim 12, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), the bottom of each reinforced container (40) is at least partially open. 14. - Stack according to claim 13, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), the lower flaps (47, 48) of each reinforced container are joined together. 15. - Stack according to any one of claims 13 or 14, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), the lateral contour is octagonal and is formed by only eight side walls (44, 45, 46) connected one after the other, in series, each corner zone comprising only one smaller side wall (46) for forming the chamfer. 16. - Stack according to claim 15, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) further comprises an intermediate flap (56) sandwiched between the shelf flap and the joining flap (55), folded by horizontal folds (53), each first and/or second upper flap (51, 52) forming a triangular section at the top of each first and/or second side wall (44, 45). 17. - Stack according to claim 16, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), said triangular section forms an isosceles right triangle, its sides forming two 45 degree angles and one 90 degree angle. 18. A stack according to claim 16 or 17, wherein, in each reinforced container (40), each upper flap (51, 52) comprises only said three seam-sealed flaps (54, 55, 56).