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(11) | EP 0 521 705 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Storage and/or transit stacking of articles |
| (57) Thermo-formed trays (3) carrying rows of bottles (1) are stacked one upon the other
with the tops of the bottles (1) on each tray engaged in channels (15) of the tray
(3) above. Each channel (15) is closed at both ends so as to hold its row of bottles
(1) tightly against one another in line. The upper-surface (6) of the tray (3) is
enclosed on three sides (7 to 9), or all four (7 to 10), by a peripheral wall (5)
and is divided into guideways for the rows by ridges (11) to restrict lateral movement
of the bottoms of the bottles (1) out of row-alignment. Lateral restraint may be provided
without ridges by abutment of the rows of bottles (35 Figures 6 to 8) with one another,
and the wall (34) may be configured to the contour of the bottles (35) in their rows.
The channels (40 Figure 8) nested on the tops of the rows of bottles (35) below, may
run slantwise of the tray (33). |
[0002] The invention is concerned especially with methods of stacking flasks or other bottles for storage and/or transit, and also with trays of the kind for use in such methods for retaining the flasks or other bottles in array as one of a plurality of such arrays that are stacked one upon the other.
[0003] Trays of the latter kind are used, for example, for the safe transport of bottles from the bottle manufacturer to drinks or other manufacturers where they are to be filled and closed. The trays of bottles are stacked one upon the other with the bottom tray standing on a pallet and each of the others resting on the tops of the bottles of the array beneath. A further tray, or a specially adapted plate, is placed on the tops of the bottles of the uppermost array to complete the stack in preparation for bonding the stack together and to the pallet, using, for example, a plastics-film envelope thermally shrunk on.
[0004] It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved method of stacking bottles or other articles, for storage and/or transit, and another object to provide an improved form of tray for use therein.
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of stacking bottles or other articles, in which a plurality of arrays of rows of the articles are stacked one upon the other with each array standing on an upper-surface of an individual tray that itself stands on the tops of the articles of an array immediately beneath it in the stack, wherein the tops of these latter articles are engaged in their rows with an under-surface of the respective tray within elongate channels individual to those rows, the engagement being such as to exert restraint against movement of those articles laterally of the rows.
[0006] The channels may have closed ends such that pushing down of the tray upon the rows of articles beneath, urges those articles together in their respective rows.
[0007] The upper-surface of the tray may be configured to divide that surface into parallel guideways for separating the rows from one another; these guideways may be defined between ridges that are upstanding from the upper-surface of the tray. The articles may in these latter circumstances be at least partly restrained from individual movement longitudinally of the rows by abutment with one another in the rows. However, separation of the rows from one another using ridges or other means, is not necessary, and the articles may in this case be restrained from individual movement laterally, and also longitudinally, of the rows by their abutment with one another.
[0008] According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a tray for use in retaining bottles or other articles in an array of rows of a plurality of such arrays stacked one upon the other for storage and/or transit of said articles, wherein one surface of the tray is adapted to receive the bottoms of the articles in their rows, and the opposite surface of the tray is configured to define a plurality of channels for receiving the tops of the articles of another of the arrays of rows of said articles with the tops of the articles of each such row engaged in a respective one of those channels.
[0009] The said one surface may be at least partly enclosed by a rim or wall upstanding from that surface, and may be configured to define (for example, by ridges upstanding from that surface) a plurality of spaced parallel guideways each of which is for receiving the bottoms of the articles of a respective one of the rows. The channels may be in register with the guideways respectively.
[0010] Methods of stacking bottles and forms of tray for use therein, both in accordance with the present invention, will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows in front elevation, part of a stack of bottle flasks, the stack being constructed, and using six identical trays of a form, according to the invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the stack of Figure 1, with one of the six trays of the stack shown in cross-section;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of one of the trays of the stack, showing it part loaded with flasks;
Figure 4 is an underneath plan view of a portion of the tray of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of tray according to the present invention;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of a second form of tray according to the present invention, for use in the stacking of bottles of circular cross-section and shown part loaded with such bottles;
Figure 7 shows the tray of Figure 6 in side elevation and partly in section, the section being taken on the line VII-VII of Figure 6 and illustrating use of the tray in the stack; and
Figure 8 is a top plan view corresponding to that of Figure 6, illustrating a modification of the tray of Figures 6 and 7.
[0011] Referring to Figure 1, more than one thousand identical glass flasks 1 are loaded together on a wooden pallet 2 to stand upright with one another in five rectangular arrays of eleven rows each, that are stacked one upon the other. Six identical moulded-sheet trays 3 are included in the stack to locate and retain the flasks 1 together in the five arrays.
[0012] A tray 3 of the first, bottom array of the stack stands directly on the pallet 2 with the flasks 1 of that array standing upright on the tray 3, and with a tray 3 of the second array standing on the tops of those flasks 1. The flasks 1 of the second array similarly stand upright in their tray 3, and a third tray 3 of the next, third array stands on them. This stacking arrangement in which each successive array of flasks 1 stands in its individual tray 3 on the array beneath, is repeated for the third to fifth arrays. Five trays 3 are used for the five arrays, and the sixth tray 3 stands on the tops of the flasks 1 in the fifth, uppermost array, to top off the stack. The whole, including the pallet 2, is encased in shrink-film (not shown) to hold the stack tightly together as one for secure storage and/or transit.
[0013] Referring now also to Figures 2 to 4, each tray 3 has a peripheral skirt 4 that is extended into an upstanding wall or rim 5 around the upper-surface 6 (Figure 3) of the tray 3 on three of its four sides. The upper-surface 6 is in this respect bounded by the rim 5 along one long side 7 and across the two shorter sides 8 and 9 of the tray 3, and is flat to the other long side 10 except for parallel ridges 11 and troughs 12. The ridges 11, which together with the troughs 12 run out across the tray-width towards the side 10, serve in conjunction with the rim 5 at the sides 8 and 9, to divide the upper-surface 6 into eleven parallel guideways 13 for receiving the rows of flasks 1.
[0014] The flasks 1 of each row stand in their respective guideway 13 packed tightly and nesting together along the full row-length with the first flask 1 in the row abutting the rim 5 at the side 7 and the last standing adjacent the flat side 10. The bottom of each flask 1 stands firmly on the upper-surface 6 straddling the troughs 12 and being restrained from lateral movement out of row-alignment by the ridges 11 that separate the guideways 13 from one another.
[0015] Each tray 3 is configured by the troughs 12 of its upper-surface 6, to present in its under-surface 14 (Figure 4) eleven channels 15 that extend in central register respectively with the eleven guideways 13 above. Each channel 15 is closed up at its two ends 16, and its sidewalls 17 flare down to a minimum width which is substantially the same as the diameter of the flask open-mouth top. The flaring of the side-walls 17 assists with the nesting of the tray 3 down on the tops of the flasks 1 below. More particularly, as the tray 3 is pushed down onto the array below, so the tops of the flasks 1 of each row of that array are each guided positively for firm and full reception into an individual one of the channels 15.
[0016] Any tendency for the flasks 1 to move laterally out of row alignment is positively resisted by the firm hold on their tops within the relevant channel 15. Similar restraint against movement of the row of flasks 1 longitudinally of the row, is achieved by the relationship of the length of the channel 15 to the row length, and the rounding down of the channel ends 16. These are such that the tops of all the flasks 1 in the row are accommodated in the channel 15, only if those flasks 1 are closed up hard on one another throughout the row. Thus as the tray 3 above is pushed down onto the tops of each row of flasks 1, so the flasks 1 of that row are urged hard onto one another to be held in that condition.
[0017] The flasks 1 of each individual array of rows in the stack are afforded lateral location and individual support by the tray 3 on which they stand. The fit of the flasks 1 is not in this case (illustrated in Figures 2 and 3) tight and so allows for a measure of variation in width of flask 1 loaded on the tray 3. Tighter restraint is provided by the engagement or nesting of the tops of the flasks 1 within the channels 15 of the tray 3 above. This engagement constrains the flasks 1 to tight row-alignment and abutment with one another onto the rim 5 at the side 7. Although the bottoms of the flasks 1 may not be a tight fit within the guideways 13, the fit is close enough to ensure that each flask 1 is prevented by the ridges 11 and rim 5 at the sides 8 and 9, from moving laterally to an extent that would be sufficient to bring about disengagement of the tops from the channels 15.
[0018] The absence of the rim 5 along the side 10 of the tray 3 facilitates unloading of the flasks 1 onto a conveyor, using a sweeping mechanism which simply draws the whole array of flasks 1 from the tray 3 onto the conveyor across the side 10. Where, however, a lifting mechanism is to be used instead of a sweeping mechanism, for unloading the flasks 1, the tray 3 can be modified to continue the upstanding rim 5 along the side 10. With this modification, a greater degree of restraint against possible longitudinal movement of the rows of flasks 1 is afforded, but it has been found that the absence of the upstanding rim along the side 10 is in general acceptable. Any added restraint required can in any event be afforded by the encasing shrink-film alone, or by the addition of a sheet (for example, of card or other board, or plastics material) butted against the sides 10 of the stacked trays 3 and held in place by the shrink-film encasing.
[0019] The tray 3 is thermo-formed from a sheet of high-impact polystyrene. The sheet, which for example, may have a thickness of 2 mm, is thermo-formed over a mould that conforms positively, with allowance for sheet thickness, to the configuration of the under-surface 14 required. A modified form of tray that is thermo-formed over a mould conforming positively to its upper-surface, is illustrated in Figure 5, and will now be described.
[0020] Referring to Figure 5, the upper-surface 20 of the modified form of tray, like the upper-surface 6 of the tray 3 described above, is divided into parallel guideways 21 for receiving the rows of flasks. However, in this case the ridges 22 (only one shown) which separate the guideways 21 from one another, are lower than the ridges 11, and the wall or rim 23 of the tray where it bounds the shorter sides 24 (only one shown) is sloping. In the latter respect, the rim 23 at its full height along one long side 25 of the rectangular tray, is higher than the rim 5 of the tray 3, but slopes down progressively along the shorter sides 24 to run out to the other long side 26.
[0021] The channels in the under-surface 27 of the tray, required to receive and constrain the tops of the flasks, are configured by troughs 28 in the upper-surface 20. The troughs 28 are steeper-sided than the corresponding troughs 12 of the tray 3 in order that the channels provide tighter constraint on the engaged flask-tops. The walls of these channels are in this respect also strengthened by the provision of ribs 29 on the under-surface 27. The ribs 29 are configured by grooves 30 in the upper-surface 20, which run transversely of the ridges 22 from each wall-defining trough 28 to the next.
[0022] The tray of Figure 5, like the tray 3 described above with reference to Figures 1 to 4, is for use where flasks are to be unloaded using a sweeping mechanism, such mechanism being used to discharge the flasks from the guideways 21 across the side 26. If a lifting mechanism is to be used instead, then the upstanding wall or rim 23 of the tray may be extended from the side 25 along the other three sides 24 and 26 at the full height, to afford greater restraint on the flasks.
[0023] The trays described above are used in the stacked storage and/or transit of bottles in the form of flasks, however, the principles embodied in the trays and their use are equally applicable to the provision of trays adapted to the stacked storage and/or transit of other forms of bottle. A form of tray for use in the stacking of bottles of circular cross-section, is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, and will now be described. The bottles are loaded on this tray in staggered rows with each bottle within the array abutting not only the adjacent bottles of its row, but also the adjacent bottles of the two adjoining rows.
[0024] Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the upper-surface 32 of the rectangular tray 33 in this case has an upstanding peripheral wall 34 that is configured to the bounding contour of the array of bottles 35 in their staggered rows. The peripheral wall 34 confines the bottoms of the bottles 35 to remain in their respective rows on the surface 32. The location of the bottles 35 in the staggered rows during loading on the surface 32, and their retention in that array, is in this respect defined and enhanced by the wall-contouring.
[0025] The upper-surface 32 is flat apart from troughs 36 that run lengthwise of the rows and configure the under-surface 37 to present channels 38 in central register respectively, with the rows above. Each channel 38 is closed at both, rounded ends and receives the tops of the bottles of a respective row of bottles 35 of the tray beneath in the stack; the walls of the channels 38 are flared slightly to ease bottle-top entry. The channel-length and -width are just sufficient to accommodate the tops of the bottles 35 of the respective row. Thus, not only are the bottoms of the bottles 35 in each row of the stack held firmly against movement in any direction by the confinement of the array exercised by the surrounding wall 34 of the tray on which those bottles 35 stand, but the tops are also held against movement laterally and longitudinally of the row by their nesting engagement in the channel 38 of the tray above in the stack.
[0026] The abutting and closely-staggered formation of the bottles 35 provided by the rectangular tray 33, allows diagonal- or slanting-row patterns to be identified in the array, as well as rows running lengthwise or widthwise. The channels 38 in the under-surface 37 may run parallel to any such pattern of rows, and the tray 33 may be modified in this respect as illustrated in Figure 8, where a diagonal or slanting disposition of troughs 39 in the upper-surface 32 presents slanting channels, indicated by broken lines 40, in the under-surface.
[0027] The wall 34 need not be configured to conform to the outer contour of the array of bottles 35, but may be straight. Furthermore, the wall 34, rather than completely enclosing the upper-surface 32 of the tray 33, may be modified to extend along just three sides so as to allow for the bottles 35 to be swept from the tray 33 during unloading; clearly, the wall 34 is in this case desirably straight along at least the two sides parallel to the direction of sweeping.
1. A method of stacking bottles or other articles, in which a plurality of arrays of
rows of the articles (1; 35) are stacked one upon the other with each array standing
on an upper-surface of an individual tray (3; 33) that itself stands on the tops of
the articles (1; 35) of an array immediately beneath it in the stack, wherein the
tops of these latter articles (1; 35) are engaged in their rows with an under-surface
(14; 27; 37) of the respective tray (3; 33) within elongate channels (15; 38) individual
to those rows, the engagement being such as to exert restraint against movement of
those articles (1; 35) laterally of the rows.
2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the channels (15; 38) have closed ends such
that pushing down of the tray (3; 33) upon the rows of articles (1; 35) beneath, urges
those articles (1; 35) to close up together in their respective rows.
3. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the upper-surface (6; 20) of the
tray (3) is configured to divide that surface (6; 20) into parallel guideways (13;
21) for separating the rows of the respective array, from one another.
4. A method according to Claim 3 wherein the guideways (13; 21) are defined between ridges
(11; 22) that are upstanding from the upper-surface (6; 20) of the tray (3).
5. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the articles (1; 35) are at
least partly restrained from individual movement longitudinally of the rows by abutment
with one another within the rows.
6. A method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the articles (35) are at least partly
restrained from individual movement laterally and longitudinally of the rows by abutment
with one another.
7. A tray for use in retaining bottles or other articles in an array of rows of a plurality
of such arrays stacked one upon the other for storage and/or transit of said articles,
wherein one surface (6; 20; 32) of the tray (3; 33) is adapted to receive the bottoms
of the articles (1; 35) in their rows, and the opposite surface (14; 27; 37) of the
tray (3; 33) is configured to define a plurality of channels (15; 38) for receiving
the tops of the articles (1; 35) of another of the arrays of rows of said articles
(1; 35) with the tops of the articles (1; 35) of each such row engaged in a respective
one of those channels (15; 38).
8. A tray according to Claim 7 wherein each channel (15; 38) has closed ends such that
engagement of the tops of the articles (1; 35) of the respective row with that channel
(15; 38) restrains them from movement together longitudinally of that row.
9. A tray according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein said one surface (6; 20; 32) is at
least partly enclosed by a rim or wall (5; 23; 34) upstanding from that surface (6;
20; 32).
10. A tray for use in retaining bottles or other articles, in an array of rows as one
of a plurality of such arrays stacked one upon the other for storage and/or transit
of said articles, wherein an upper-surface (6; 20) of the tray (3) is configured to
define a plurality of spaced parallel guideways (13; 21) each of which is for receiving
the bottoms of the articles (1) of a respective one of the rows, and an under-surface
(14; 27) of the tray (3) is configured to define a plurality of channels (15) in register
with the upper-surface guideways (13; 21) respectively, for nesting the tray (3) on
the tops of a corresponding array of rows of said articles (1) beneath, with the tops
of the articles (1) of each such row engaged in a respective one of those channels
(15).
11. A tray according to Claim 10 wherein the guideways (13; 21) are defined between ridges
(11; 22) that are upstanding from the upper-surface (6; 20) of the tray (3).
12. A tray for use in retaining bottles or other articles in an array of rows as one of
a plurality of such arrays stacked one upon the other for storage and/or transit of
said articles, wherein an upper-surface (6; 20; 32) of the tray (3; 20; 33) for receiving
the bottoms of the articles (1; 35) in their rows, has an upstanding wall (5; 23;
34) that extends around all or a substantial part of the periphery of that surface
(6; 20; 32) for restraining the articles (1; 35) from movement from the upper-surface
(6; 20; 32) laterally of the rows, and the under-surface (14; 27; 37) of the tray
(3; 33) is configured to define a plurality of channels (15; 38) for nesting the tray
(3; 33) on the tops of a corresponding array of rows of said articles (1; 35) beneath,
with the tops of the articles (1; 35) of each such row engaged in a respective one
of those channels (15; 38).
13. A tray according to Claim 12 wherein the wall (34) is at least partly configured such
as to conform to the contour of the articles (35) in their rows.
14. A tray according to any one of Claims 10 to 13 wherein the channels (15; 27; 37) have
closed ends such that pushing down of the tray (3; 33) upon the rows of articles (1;
35) beneath, urges those articles (1; 35) to close up together in their respective
rows.
15. A tray according to any one of Claims 7 to 14 of thermo-formed plastics construction.