TRAY FOR PACKAGING BOTTLES IN SUPERPOSED LAYERS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to the packaging of bottles in superposed layers in the form of palletizable loads. In particular it relates to a tray separating the layers of bottles in such a packaging.

[0002] A known method for packaging bottles comprises the following steps. A first tray, generally produced from plastic, is placed on a platform such as a pallet or a dolly and is filled with bottles. The bottles stand upright and form a layer. Then the layer is covered by an intermediate tray and another layer of bottles is formed on it. Layers are superposed to obtain the desired package.

[0003] The intermediate or separating tray is adapted to allow the formation of a stable superposed layer. It comprises a plate incorporating first housings on one surface for the bottom of the bottles. The dimensions and shape of the housings conform substantially to the shape of the bottles to be used in association to the plate. The plate incorporates second housings on the surface opposite to said one surface. The second housings are disposed between the first housings, and are adapted to receive the top of the bottles of the layer under the tray.

[0004] WO 91/064 87 A1 discloses a tray for packaging bottles according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] Within the UK market, carbonated flavoured mineral water and mixers (e.g. tonic water, bitter lemon, ginger ale, soda water etc) are commonly sold in one litre plastic bottles, for home consumption.

[0006] At first glance these bottles may seem to have a similar appearance, however their diameter, neck profile and cap design are often subtly different. These variances exist both within a retailer category and within different fulfillers.

[0007] It is therefore necessary that the housings are sufficiently wide so as to be able to receive the bottles of different sizes commonly on the market. But if they are too wide the bottles are not sufficiently maintained in their housing, and the superposed trays would not be stable. The problem is thus to build palletizable loads made of superposed layers of such bottles that are stable.

[0008] The invention fulfills the objective with a tray for packaging bottles as claimed in claim 1.

[0009] In particular the resilient element forms a part of the wall portion and in a preferred embodiment it includes a flexible leg directed toward the base of the first housing, which hinges around an axis parallel to the bottom of the housing. The invention includes also more generally the case wherein the resilient element includes a flexible leg that hinges around an axis non parallel, in particular perpendicular, to the base of the first housing.

[0010] The solution of the invention enables compensating for the diameter of the base or bottom of the bottle placed on the tray adapting for the subtle differences in bottle design, height and shape; moreover the resilient element exerting a force back onto the bottle makes it more stable within the first housing, thus increasing pack stability when the loaded merchandisable unit is being moved

[0011] The resilient element displaces into the adjacent second housing and contacts with the neck of the bottle from the layer below, or reduces the gap from the neck of the bottle to the edge of the second housing. By reducing this gap between the neck of the bottle and the second housing it creates greater stability in the overall stack.

[0012] According to an embodiment the resilient element is shaped so as to comprise a bulbous contact surface. In particular the resilient element forms abutting and introducing ramps for the bottles.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment the second housings are arranged so that the bottom or portions forming abutments of it come to bear on the cap of bottles that are introduced, the load being transferred to the bottles by the cap in a manner so as not to cause deformation or aesthetic damage to the neck area of the bottles.

[0014] The bottle tray of the invention will be described in more detail in the following, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which

Figure 1 shows a package made of two layers of bottles collated and stacked in trays of the invention;

Figure 2 shows a detail of the upper surface of a tray of the invention with first housings for receiving bottles upright;

Figure 3 shows a cross section of a protuberance between adjacent first housings and forming a second housing for the top of a bottle bellow;

Figure 4 shows the protuberance of figure 3 with two bottles entering the adjacent first housings;

Figure 5 shows the bottles of figure 4 in place;

Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the resilient member;

Figure 7 shows a detail on the periphery of the tray of the invention.

[0015] Figure 1 shows a package with layers of bottles 1 disposed upright on trays 2 within individual housings. The trays 2 are preferably produced from plastic and allow bottles to be collated into layers and then stacked two or more layers high on typical merchandisable distribution platforms, such as pallets and dollies.

[0016] Tray 2 comprises a plate with an upper surface with first housings 30 shaped to receive the bottom part of the bottles and a lower surface, opposite to the upper surface, with second housings 40 shaped to receive the top part of the bottles in the layer under.

[0017] The upper surface of tray 2 is shown in detail in figure 2 without bottles. The first housings 30 and the inverse second housings 40 between them are disposed in rows and columns. The first housings 30 comprise a base 31, a circular lateral wall 32 and an intermediate round wall portion 33 connecting the base 31 to the lateral wall 32. The dimensions and shape of said first housings substantially conform to the shape of the bottom portion of the bottles 1. The second housings 40 are formed inside protuberances 35 located in the space between adjacent first housings 30. It is noted that the protuberances 35 are at a higher level than the lateral walls 32 of the first housings. A function of the protuberances is also to guide the bottles within the first housings.

[0018] Resilient elements 36 are positioned in a portion 32' of the lateral wall 32 of first housings 30 that forms a separation wall portion with the adjacent second housing 40. As shown in figure 3, the resilient elements 36 comprise an elastic leg 36a and are arranged in an opening in the separation wall so as to protrude at rest within the first housing 30 adjacent to the separation wall. The resilient elements 36 are capable of compensating for the diameter of the bottom of a bottle, e.g. from approx 79 to 844mm diameter. They are shaped so as to form a bulbous contact surface 36b along or at the free end of the flexible leg 36a.

[0019] As shown in figures 4 and 5 when a bottle is placed into the tray, the bottle displaces the resilient elements 36 protruding in the first housing 30. At least a part of the first housings 30 of the tray comprise such resilient element. For instance the resilient element can be arranged in the first housings located at the periphery of the tray. When provided there are thus from one to four resilient element in a first housing 30.

[0020] The resilient element 36 is exerting a force back onto the bottle, which makes the bottle more stable within the first housing. When the bottle is exerting the force onto the resilient element 36, the resilient element 36 displaces into the second housing 40 adjacent to the first housing 30. This second housing 40 is a pocket that contains the neck and cap of bottles of the layer of bottles below. As the resilient element 36 is displaced into the pocket, it either contacts with the neck of the bottle from the layer below, or reduces the gap from the neck of the bottle to the edge of the pocket, fig. 5. By reducing this gap between the neck of the bottle and the location pocket it creates greater stability in the overall stack.

[0021] According to another feature of the invention shown in figure 6 the resilient element 36 forms abutting and introducing ramp 36c for the bottles.

[0022] According to another feature of the invention, the portions 35a of the wall of the protuberances forming the base of the second housings 40 are shaped so as to form abutments for bottle caps and are arranged to be in contact with the cap of the bottle below. The tray transfers the load to the bottles below via the cap. This method does not create any undue stress around the neck of the bottle.

[0023] According to another feature also shown in figure 6 the free end 36d of the resilient element 36 is curved toward the center of the first housing 30 so as to allow the top of the bottle to enter even if the resilient element has been deformed inwards

[0024] According to another feature of the invention exemplified with figure 7, the protuberances 35' on the periphery of the tray 2 have been so designed to improve the stability of the loaded unit by preventing the bottles from passing between them by making the gap smaller than the bottle.

[0025] Each first housing 30 may contain one or more of the features described. It may not be necessary to have these features in every first housing of the tray and therefore only selected first housings in the tray may contain the features - first housing around the edge of the tray for example.

[0026] The tray of the invention would generally be reused, however it may also be used for only one trip.

[0027] The tray of the invention may be adapted to any sized footprint. A 600x400mm footprint has been used as an example. Any bottle sizes and capacities, such as 0.50L, 0.75L, 1.5L and 2L capacities are possible. The diameter of such bottles will vary according to the capacity nd individual style.

Claims

1. Tray for packaging bottles (1) in superposed layers, comprising a plate provided with first housings (30) on one surface for receiving each the bottom of a bottle placed on the tray and second housings (40) on the surface opposite to said one surface of the plate for receiving the top of the bottles of the layer under the tray, at least a part of said first housings (30) with a lateral wall (32) comprising at least a portion (32') of the lateral wall (32) provided with a resilient element (36) protruding from said wall portion (32) so as to engage the bottle with push fit, wherein said wall portion (32) provided with a resilient element forms a wall of separation between said first housing (30) and a second housing (40), characterized in that said resilient element (36) forms a part of the wall portion (32') and includes a flexible leg (36a) that hinges around an axis, is arranged to protrude inside the second housing (40) when pushed by a bottle within the first housing (30) and either contacts the neck of the bottle from the layer below or reduces the gap from the neck of the bottle to the edge of the second housing (40).

2. Tray according to the preceding claim wherein the flexible leg (36a) is directed toward the base (31) of the first housing (30) and can rotate around an axis parallel to the base of the housing.

3. Tray according to claim 1 wherein the flexible leg (36a) hinges around an axis non parallel, in particular perpendicular to the base of the first housing.

4. Tray according to anyone of claims 2 or 3 wherein the resilient element (36) is shaped so as to form a bulbous contact surface (36b) along or at the free end of the flexible leg (36a).

5. Tray according to the preceding claim wherein the resilient element (36) forms abutting and introducing ramp (36c) for the bottles.

6. Tray according to the preceding claim wherein the free end (36d) of the resilient element (36) is curved toward the center of the first housing (30).

7. Tray according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein the second housings (40) are arranged to contain the cap of a bottle of a layer under the tray.

8. Tray according to the preceding claim wherein the second housings (40) are arranged so that the base (35a) of them comes to bear on the cap of bottles that are introduced, the load being transferred to the bottles by the cap.

9. Tray according to claim 7 or 8, the resilient element (36) being arranged after having been pushed in the direction of the second housing to either contact with the neck of the bottle from the layer under the tray or to reduce the gap from said neck to the edge of the second housing.

Ansprüche

1. Schale zum Verpacken von Flaschen (1) in übereinanderliegenden Schichten, die eine Platte umfassen, welche mit ersten Aufnahmen (30) auf einer Fläche zum Aufnehmen jedes Bodens einer Flasche vorgesehen ist, die auf die Schale gestellt wird, und mit zweiten Aufnahmen (40) auf der Fläche versehen ist, die entgegengesetzt zu der einen Fläche der Platte zum Aufnehmen der Oberseite der Flaschen der Schicht unter der Schale liegt, wobei mindestens ein Teil der ersten Aufnahmen (30) mit einer Seitenwand (32) mindestens einen Teil (32') der Seitenwand (32) umfasst, welche mit einem elastischen Element (36) versehen ist, das aus dem Wandteil (32) vorragt, umso die Flasche in eine Steckverbindung einzurasten, wobei der Wandteil (32), der mit einem elastischen Element versehen ist, eine Trennwand zwischen der ersten Aufnahme (30) und einer zweiten Aufnahme (40) bildet, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das elastische Element (36) einen Teil des Wandteils (32') bildet und ein flexibles Bein (36a) enthält, das um eine Achse schwenkbar ist, dafür ausgelegt ist, in die zweite Aufnahme (40) vorzuragen, wenn sie durch eine Flasche innerhalb der ersten Aufnahme (30) gedrückt wird, und entweder den Hals der Flasche von der Schicht darunter kontaktiert oder den Spalt vom Hals der Flasche zur Kante der zweiten Aufnahme (40) reduziert.

2. Schale nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei das flexible Bein (36a) zur Basis (31) der ersten Aufnahme (30) gerichtet ist und um eine Achse parallel zur Basis der Aufnahme rotieren kann.

3. Schale nach Anspruch 1, wobei das flexible Bein (36a) um eine Achse schwenkt, die nicht parallel ist, insbesondere senkrecht zur Basis der ersten Aufnahme ist.

4. Schale nach einem der Ansprüche 2 oder 3, wobei das elastische Element (36) so geformt ist, dass es eine knollige Kontaktfläche (36b) entlang des flexiblen Beins (36a) oder am freien Ende desselben bildet.

5. Schale nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei das elastische Element (36) eine angrenzende und einführende Rampe (36c) für die Flaschen bildet.

6. Schale nach dem vorhergehenden Element, wobei das freie Ende (36d) des elastischen Elementes (36) zur Mitte der ersten Aufnahme (30) hin gekrümmt ist.

7. Schale nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die zweiten Aufnahmen (40) dafür ausgelegt sind, die Kappe einer Flasche einer Schicht unter der Schale zu enthalten.

8. Schale nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, wobei die zweiten Aufnahmen (40) so ausgelegt sind, dass ihre Basis (35a) auf die Kappe von Flaschen drückt, die eingesetzt werden, wobei die Last auf die Flaschen durch die Kappe übertragen wird.

9. Schale nach Anspruch 7 oder 8, wobei das elastische Element (36), nachdem es in die Richtung des der zweiten Aufnahme gedrückt wurde, so angeordnet ist, dass es entweder in Kontakt mit dem Hals der Flasche aus der Schicht unter der Schale kommt oder den Spalt vom Hals bis zur Kante der zweiten Aufnahme reduziert.

Revendications

1. Plateau de conditionnement de bouteilles (1) en couches superposées, comprenant une plaque pourvue de premiers logements (30) sur une surface pour recevoir chacun le fond d'une bouteille placée sur le plateau et de deuxièmes logements (40) sur la surface opposée à ladite une surface de la plaque afin de recevoir le sommet des bouteilles de la couche en dessous du plateau, au moins une partie desdits premiers logements (30) ayant une paroi latérale (32) comprenant au moins une partie (32') de la paroi latérale (32) qui est pourvue d'un élément élastique (36) faisant saillie de ladite partie de paroi (32) de manière à s'engager sur la bouteille par pression, dans lequel ladite partie de paroi (32) pourvue d'un élément élastique forme une paroi de séparation entre ledit premier logement (30) et un deuxième logement (40), caractérisé en ce que ledit élément élastique (36) fait partie de la partie de paroi (32') et comprend un pied flexible (36a) qui s'articule autour d'un axe, est aménagé pour faire saillie à l'intérieur du deuxième boîtier (40) lorsqu'il est poussé par une bouteille dans le premier logement (30) et vient en contact avec le goulot de la bouteille de la couche en dessous ou réduit l'intervalle entre le goulot de la bouteille et le bord du deuxième logement (40).

2. Plateau selon la revendication précédente, dans lequel le pied flexible (36a) est dirigé vers la base (31) du premier logement (30) et peut tourner autour d'un axe parallèle à la base du logement.

3. Plateau selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le pied flexible (36a) s'articule autour d'un axe non parallèle, en particulier perpendiculaire à la base du premier logement.

4. Plateau selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2 ou 3, dans lequel l'élément flexible (36) est conformé de manière à former une surface de contact en bulbe (36b) le long de l'extrémité libre du pied flexible (36a) ou sur celle-ci.

5. Plateau selon la revendication précédente, dans lequel l'élément élastique (36) forme une rampe d'aboutement et d'introduction (36c) pour les bouteilles.

6. Plateau selon la revendication précédente, dans lequel l'extrémité libre (36d) de l'élément élastique (36) est recourbée vers le centre du premier logement (30).

7. Plateau selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédente, dans lequel les deuxièmes boîtiers (40) sont aménagés pour contenir le bouchon d'une bouteille d'une couche en dessous du plateau.

8. Plateau selon la revendication précédente, dans lequel les deuxièmes boîtiers (40) sont aménagés de sorte que leur base (35a) vienne s'appuyer sur le bouchon des bouteilles qui sont introduites, la charge étant transférée aux bouteilles par le bouchon.

9. Plateau selon la revendication 7 ou la revendication 8, l'élément élastique (36) étant aménagé après avoir été poussé dans la direction du deuxième logement pour venir en contact avec le goulot de la bouteille de la couche en dessous du plateau ou pour réduire l'intervalle entre ledit goulot et le bord du deuxième logement.

Drawing