EP2733083B1 - Crate - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a tray. Such crates are used, for example, to transport food. Risers are open at the top and have handles on the side.

It has been trying for some time to deliver foods of a full range by mail. This has proven to be extremely difficult, since full-range suppliers have both heavy, hard objects, such as tins, as well as pressure-sensitive products, such as fruit, on offer. Another problem is that the purchase of a supermarket on the Internet by the customers is not yet accepted. The reasons for this restraint are not yet known satisfactory, so that it is also unclear how the problem could be solved.

From the DE 88 14 572 a transport container is known in which an opening in the side walls is present. This opening is reinforced by a tab is collapsed parallel to the side wall on which a tongue is formed. This tongue is pressed by the recess in the side wall. In this way, the hand can be engaged in the opening without the edge of the opening cutting into the palm of the hand, since the sharp edges of the recess are covered by the tongue. Such a construction does not allow stacking a plurality of similar objects without concentrating the weight force on the ceiling wall or the tongue protruding upward, which is undesirable.

From the DE 196 36 262 A1 a folding machine is known which has a Vorfaltklappe. By means of this Vorfaltklappe a tab can be bent by 90 °. The known machine is not suitable for producing a glued three-layer reinforcement in the ceiling area.

From the GB 1 440 764 , of the FR 2 252 960 and the DE 28 05 690 cardboard risers are known in which a double cardboard layer reinforces the ceiling wall. Such a crate is difficult to reach from the top.

In the US 4,946,093 a cardboard container is described which has a lid and has a lateral grip slot.

From the FR 2 363 489 a tray is known which has an engagement in the ceiling wall, so that a reinforced bearing surface for stacking several crates arises.

The invention has for its object to propose a crate, which reduces disadvantages in the prior art.

The invention solves the problem by a tray with the features of claim 1.

An advantage of this tray is that the ceiling wall can be made very narrow. This in turn allows the customer to capture almost all goods at a glance.

It is a further advantage that the reinforced ceiling wall makes it possible to provide a recess running in the ceiling wall, by means of which the crate can be gripped from above without having to grasp a side wall. This is particularly advantageous if the crate is arranged in a carton, since the crate can then be removed particularly easily.

Finally, it is advantageous that the improved acceptance of the crate and the easier handling can be achieved with technically very simple means are. So the crate can be made in very good approximation to the same cost as a conventional crate.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least the bottom and the edge are made in one piece from a piece of cardboard. In particular, the entire tray is made in one piece from a cardboard box. Of course, connecting materials, such as glue or metal staples, additionally present, but it is relevant that the production of the one piece of cardboard results in a light and stable crate at the same time.

It is of course possible that additional paperboard layers are present, for example, a fourth paperboard layer.

The advantage of this is that the crate can be made with a particularly narrow handle. The fact that at least three layers of cardboard are present, the width of the handle can be selected particularly narrow. This makes it particularly easy to remove the goods received in the crate from the crate, since the handle protrudes only slightly over the surface on which the products stored in the crate lie. Another advantage is that the goods received in the crate are particularly visible because they are covered only to a very small extent by the handle. This leads to the visual impression that the crate is particularly well filled, which is favorable for the presentation of goods. The assembly, especially by means of a robot, is so simple.

The provision of three cardboard layers one above the other has not yet been attempted, since an additional bond is necessary. But this increases the packing time during production. Because of the high price pressure, the focus was therefore always on using as simple as possible to produce crates. However, it has been shown that by a suitable climbing erecting machine A tray with three layers of cardboard can be produced in such a simple way that no additional costs are incurred.

If the second paperboard layer is integrally connected to the first paperboard layer by a first perforation and the first paperboard layer is integrally connected to the third paperboard layer by a second perforation, three layers of paperboard can be produced with good process reliability.

It is favorable if the carton has an outer cardboard layer of corrugated cardboard and an inner cardboard layer of corrugated cardboard, wherein the outer cardboard layer has a greater shaft density than the inner cardboard layer. The shaft density is the number of waves per unit length perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the waves. In particular, the shaft density in the outer paperboard layer is at least 1.5 times as large as the shaft density in the inner paperboard layer. It is particularly favorable if this shaft density in the outer cardboard layer is at least twice as large as in the inner cardboard layer. This results in a crate that is both stable and perceived as high quality. It has been found that such an appearance is unconsciously very relevant for the acceptance of the crates among the users.

It is advantageous if the floor extends along a floor plane and the ceiling walls each have a Deckenwand- recess having a depth of at least one centimeter with respect to a projection on the ground plane, so that the top wall laterally to the ceiling wall recess a grip width of at least one centimeter. In particular, it is favorable if the grip width is less than three centimeters. Although this ceiling wall recess weakens the ceiling wall, so that they can not be applied to thicker ceiling walls, but the top wall recess facilitates the removal of the crates from a carton. It is particularly advantageous if it is made in one piece from a piece of cardboard and has the top wall recess, since in this case a Particularly high strength for the ceiling wall can be achieved, so that the grip width can be chosen to be particularly small. This in turn allows a particularly high level of user-friendliness, since both the removal from a carton is facilitated and the goods in the tray are visible at a glance.

It is particularly advantageous if the side walls each have a side wall recess, which merges into the top wall recess, wherein the side wall recess has a depth of at least one centimeter. In this recess, which is formed from the side wall recess and the top wall recess, is particularly easy to intervene. Preferably, the first layer of cardboard is integrally connected to the second layer of cardboard by a kink. This leads to a particularly stable ceiling wall with ease of manufacture.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first transverse wall has a first hinged tab and the first transverse wall has a second hinged tab, wherein the tabs can be pressed over the upwardly open trough so that they cover the trough at least predominantly, in particular at least 80%, and Support themselves on the ceiling wall, that they spring back from the position in which they cover the tub in the absence of an external force and release the tub. In other words, the tabs can be pressed with light pressure over the edge formed by open trough. In this state, the tabs protect the contents of the crate against an action from above. Without pressure from the outside, the ceiling walls push back the tabs so that they spring back and no longer cover the tub. The view into the tub is released.

A packaging may also comprise a carton and at least one tray according to the invention. It is particularly favorable if the crate has a cuboid outer structure and the soil is dimensioned in this way is that the crate can be used tightly with play in the outer carton. The game makes sense, so that the crate can be easily removed without forming a negative pressure under the crate. However, the gap between the crate and the outer carton is chosen so small that slipping of the crate relative to the carton is possible only to a small extent. For example, a gap between the crate and the inside of the outer carton is a maximum of one centimeter, in particular a maximum of 5 millimeters.

However, it is also possible that the crates are dimensioned so that two, four or eight crates can be placed together on a floor of the carton, wherein the entirety of the crates is arranged closely adjacent to the inside of the box. If the packaging unit has more than two trays, it is provided according to a preferred embodiment that the trays of all crates are similar in the geometric sense. This means that the aspect ratios are constant. It is particularly favorable if the areas of the bottoms of two crates are in each case integer powers of two. In other words, it is possible for a crate to be exactly half the floor area of a crate. It is then possible to arrange in a carton a crate, two crates, three and so on, which greatly facilitates the logistics when shipping food.

According to a preferred embodiment, the outer carton has a carton width and a carton length and has a cover flap width which corresponds to the carton width and / or whose cover flap length corresponds to the carton length, wherein the carton has a holding strip whose Holding strip width at least 0.8 times the outer carton width corresponds to the cover flap is attached to an upper side of the outer carton and connected to the cover flap, in particular glued, wherein the outer carton has at least one tear thread, by means of which Cover flap is rupturable.

The fact that the retaining strip is mounted opposite the cover flap, pivot the cover flap and the retaining strips in opposite directions, when both from a closed position in which the cover flap and the retaining strip close the carton top, in an open position, are gripped in the interior of the outer carton can, is brought. The retaining strip has the advantage that the tearing is facilitated. When tearing the tearing thread exerts namely a force in the normal direction on the cover flap. Without holding tabs, this would cause the top flap to bulge upwards, giving way to the force pulling the tearing thread. This in turn makes the ripping difficult, which is undesirable. The retaining strip supports the cover flap at the point where the tear thread runs, so that the movement of the cover flap is reduced upwards. The cover flap can be pulled up very easily.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tear thread is arranged between the cover flap and the holding strip, the tear thread preferably extending in a middle third strip of the holding strip. Preferably, the tear thread runs in the immediate vicinity of a side bisector, so that the tear thread is the same distance from the free end of the retaining strip as the edge to which the retaining strip is connected to the side wall.

Preferably, the cover flap is unattenuated, in particular unperforated, at least on its outwardly facing upper side, at least in an environment of the tear-open thread. The surface of the cover flap is homogeneous in other words, so that any existing perforation can not be seen from the outside. It has heretofore been assumed that a tear thread in cardboard can only be handled with perforation, but it has been established that this assumption is unfounded.

Preferably, the cover flap has at least one handle structure, which a perforation and / or a recess in the cover flap is applied, wherein the handle structure is connected to the tear thread, so that the cover flap can be opened by gripping and moving the handle structure by means of the tear thread. The advantage of the handle structure is that for gripping a larger area is available than the mere tear thread. It can then be applied to the handle structure a significantly lower pressure in order to move the tear thread with a sufficiently large force can, as if the tear thread would be used directly.

It is advantageous if the cover flap is integrally connected to the first transverse wall and the retaining strip is integrally connected to the second transverse wall. In other words, the tray is integrally formed, easy to manufacture and also has a high strength.

According to a preferred embodiment, a crate with tabs is inserted into the outer carton such that the tabs cover the trough when the outer carton is closed. If the carton is opened, usually by the customer, or if it takes another tray, the tabs are no longer held in place, quickly back and reveal the view of the contents of the crate. This allows a particularly fast unpacking of the packaging unit.

According to a preferred embodiment, the packaging unit comprises an insulating box, which has a base body and an insulating cover and dry ice, which emits gaseous carbon dioxide into the body, wherein the dimensions of the insulating box are chosen so that the insulating box is inserted into the outer carton, that they with game tight against the inside of the carton. In particular, the insulating box is dimensioned so that the outer carton, especially the cover flap, the insulating lid presses so strong against the body, that the insulating lid of the gaseous carbon dioxide can not be raised so much that it slips from the body. The Carbon dioxide escapes at so through a thin gap between insulating cover and body. However, it is also possible that the insulating box has at least one vent opening through which gaseous carbon dioxide can escape.

According to a preferred embodiment, the insulating cover has in a side facing away from the base body particularly a depression, in particular a respective depression on two opposite edges. This depression preferably merges into a side surface of the insulating cover, so that the cover can be removed by engaging in the lowering without the side wall having to be touched. This allows easy removal of the insulating cover, when the insulating box is inserted into the carton.

Namely, the insulating box is preferably formed so that there is a circumferential gap of at most 0.5 centimeters between the outer walls of the insulating box and the inside of the outer carton. Without the recess, the outer carton would first have to be pushed aside to be able to remove the lid.

According to a preferred embodiment, all edges of the recess have an edge radius of at least three millimeters. It has been found that such a sink is much less susceptible to contamination.

Figur 1

eine dreidimensionale Draufsicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Steige,

Figur 2a

eine dreidimensionale Teilansicht der Steige im halb gefalteten Zustand,

Figur 2b

die Steige in gefaltetem Zustand,

Figur 3

eine Ansicht einer aufgefalteten erfindungsgemäßen Steige.

In the following invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows

FIG. 1

a three-dimensional plan view of a crate according to the invention,

FIG. 2a

a three-dimensional partial view of the crate in the half-folded state,

FIG. 2b

the crates in folded condition,

FIG. 3

a view of a folded crate according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a tray 110 according to the invention according to the embodiment in a outer carton 112, which together form part of a packaging unit 114 according to the invention. The tray 112 has a bottom 116 and a peripheral rim 118. The rim 118 has a first sidewall 120, a second sidewall 122 opposite the first sidewall, a first transverse wall 124 and a second transverse wall 126. The rim 118 forms with the bottom 116 an upwardly open trough 119th

The floor 116 extends along a bottom level E _116, which in this case corresponds to the plane of the paper. The first side wall 120 comprises a first ceiling wall 128, the second side wall 122 a second Deckeriwand 130. The ceiling walls 128, 130 extend parallel to the ground level E _116th

The first ceiling wall 128 comprises a first layer of cardboard 132.1 and a second layer of cardboard 134.1 (see FIG FIG. 2a ), in the FIG. 1 is covered by the first layer 132.1. The first ceiling wall 128 also has a ceiling wall recess 136.1.

The second ceiling wall 130 is mirror-symmetrical to a mirror plane which is perpendicular to the ground plane E ₁₁₆ , constructed to the first ceiling wall 128 and has a first layer 132.2 and a second layer 134.2 and a top wall recess 136.2.

The first layers 132 pass through a respective kink 138.1, 138.2 into the second layer 134. It is advantageous if the two layers 132, 134 are glued together, resulting in a higher strength.

The ceiling wall recess 136 has a depth T ₁₃₆ of 20 millimeters with respect to a projection on the ground plane E ₁₁₆ . A ceiling wall width B1 is preferably between 20, in particular 40, and 80 millimeters and in the present case is 70 millimeters.

According to a preferred embodiment, the depth of the top wall recess is at least 0.3 times, in particular 0.4 times, a width of the top wall.

It can be seen that the first side wall 20 has a side wall recess 140.1, which merges with the top wall recess 136.1 and forms a common recess. A depth T ₁₄₀ is 25 millimeters.

FIG. 1 shows that the crate 110 fits snugly, but with play, on an inner side of the outer carton 112. A gap S ₁₂₆ between the second transverse wall 126 and the outer carton 112 and a gap S ₁₂₄ between the first transverse wall 124 and the outer carton 112, respectively, is less than three times a carton thickness of the carton from which the tray 110 is constructed. A gap S ₁₂₀ between the first side wall and the outer carton 112 and a gap S ₁₂₂ between the second side wall 122 and the outer carton 112 are each smaller than twice the thickness of the carton. It can be seen that the ceiling walls 128, 130 in the region of the cover wall recess 136 have a third layer 142 on cardboard, that is to say a third cardboard layer. This third paperboard layer 142 becomes formed by a tab which projects into the Deckenwandausnehmung 136 before. The third cardboard layer 142 is shown in dashed lines, since it is hidden in the view of FIG.

FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of the tray 110. It can be seen that the first paperboard layer 132.1 is connected to the second paperboard layer 134.1 by a perforation 144.1. The second paperboard layer 134.1 is connected to the third paperboard layer 142.1 by a second perforation 146.1 which is in line with the first perforation 144.1. The third cardboard layer 142.1 is formed only in the region of the cover wall recess 136.1.

Both the first perforation 144.1 and the second perforation 146.1 each comprise two non-drawn perforation lines, which run at a distance which is greater than a cardboard thickness of the carton. Therefore, two buckling areas extending adjacent to one another form during buckling, in which the cardboard is bent by about 90 ° in each case. In this way, the force acting on the adhesive bond between the paperboard layers is small, which ensures high stability.

The first paperboard ply 132.1 forms the first ceiling wall 128. The second paperboard ply 134.1 has a width B ₁₃₄ which substantially corresponds to a difference between the width B _{128 of} the first ceiling wall 128 and the depth T ₁₃₆ (see FIG. 7b) of the top wall recess 136 , In other words, the second cardboard layer 134.1 is as wide as possible, so that the handle, which is formed by the three cardboard layers 132.1, 134.1, 142.1 in the region of the cover wall recess 136.1, is as stable as possible. The width B _{134 of} the second paperboard layer 134.1 is as large as possible.

The width B _{142 of} the third layer 142.1 corresponds to the width B _{134 of} the second paperboard layer 134.1. When it is said that the two widths B ₁₄₂ and B ₁₃₄ correspond to each other, it means that they should be as similar as possible to each other. In particular, it is favorable if the widths B ₁₄₂ , B ₁₃₄ differ by no more than 20%.

FIG. 2b shows the cardboard layers 132.2, 134.2, 142.2 in the assembled assembly. It can be seen that a handle width B _{148 of} a handle 148 substantially corresponds to half the width B of the ceiling wall 128. In particular, the handle width B ₁₄₈ deviates by a maximum of 20% from half the width B of the top wall 128.

FIG. 3 shows a view of a tray according to the invention according to a preferred embodiment. It can be seen that the second layer 134.1 is designed as a tab. The perforation 144.1, which is a preferred embodiment and is transferable to other embodiments, comprises two perforation lines having different perforation pitches. This means that the distances between two slots and / or the width of the slots vary. Likewise, the second perforation 146.1 may be constructed by two perforation lines having different perforation pitches.

Between the carrier tab 172.1.1, by means of which the first ceiling wall 128 is connected to the first transverse wall 124, a slot 174.1.1 is formed. Analog is between the carrier tab 172.1.2, by means of which the first ceiling wall 128 is connected to the second transverse wall 126, a slot 174.1.2 is formed. The presence of the slot is a preferred embodiment and is transferable to other embodiments. These slots facilitate the erection of the crates and allow higher folding speeds. Also serves to achieve higher folding speeds that the tabs 172 taper.

For better handling and easier folding the tab 168 goes in two-sided arcuate Kehlungen 176.1.1, 176.1.2 in the side wall 120 on. The tray 110 is, like the other embodiments also, constructed symmetrically.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

110

walkways

112

carton

114

Packaging Unit

116

ground

118

edge

119

tub

120

first sidewall

122

second side wall

124

first transverse wall

126

second transverse wall

128

first ceiling wall

130

second ceiling wall

132

first location

134

second location

136

Ceiling wall recess

138

first bend line

140

Sidewall recess

142

third location

144

first perforation

146

second perforation

148

handle

168

flap

e

ground level

T

depth

B

width

S

gap

r

edge radius

Claims (6)

1. A crate (110) that comprises

   (a) a base (116) and an edge (118) that surrounds the base (116),

   (b) the edge (118) having

   (i) a first lateral wall (120),

   (ii) a second lateral wall (122) opposite the first lateral wall (120),

   (iii) a first transverse wall (144) that connects the first lateral wall (120) with the second lateral wall (122), and

   (iv) a second transverse wall (166) opposite the first transverse wall (144), and

   (v) forming an enclosed hollow (119) with the base (116) that is open at the top,

   (c) the lateral walls each comprising

   (ii) an internal wall that is connected to the base (116) and

   (iii) a covering wall (128, 130) that is connected to the respective internal wall in a single piece and that runs at an angle to the internal wall,

   (d) the covering wall (128, 130) comprising a first layer (132) of cardboard and at least partially a second layer (134) of cardboard,

   (e) the covering walls (128, 130) each having

   (i) a covering wall recess (136) and

   (ii) a first cardboard layer (132) and

   (iii) a second cardboard layer (134),

   (f) the covering walls (128, 130) each comprising a third cardboard layer (142) in the vicinity of the covering wall recess (136),

   (g) the three cardboard layers (130,136, 142) forming a handle (148), characterized by the fact that

   (h) the second cardboard layer (134) is connected in a single piece to the first cardboard layer (132) by a first perforation (144) and the first cardboard layer (132) is connected in a single piece to the third cardboard layer by a second perforation (146).
2. The crate according to claim 1, characterised by the fact that at least the base (116) and the edge (118) are made from a single piece of cardboard.
3. The crate according to one of the above claims, characterised by the fact that the cardboard (154) comprises an outer cardboard layer made of corrugated cardboard and an inner cardboard layer made of corrugated cardboard, the outer cardboard layer having a greater number of ripples than the inner cardboard layer.
4. The crate (110) according to one of the above claims, characterised by the fact that

   - the base (116) extends along a base plane (E₁₁₆) and

   - the covering walls each comprise a covering wall recess (136) that has a depth (T) of at least one centimetre in terms of a projection onto the base plane (E₁₁₆), such that the covering wall (123, 130) has a handle width of at least one centimetre located laterally to the covering wall recess (136).
5. The crate (110) according to claim 4, characterised by the fact that lateral walls each comprise a lateral wall recess that merges into the covering wall recess (136) and has a depth (T) of at least one centimetre.
6. The crate, according to one of the above claims, characterised by the fact that

   (a) the first transverse wall comprises a first foldable tab and

   (b) the first transverse wall comprises a second foldable tab,

   (c) with the tabs

   - being able to be pressed across the enclosed hollow (119) that is open at the top such that they cover the majority of the enclosed hollow (119), especially at least 80% of it, and

   - supporting themselves on the covering wall (128,130) in such a way that they spring back from the position in which they cover the enclosed hollow (119) when there is no external force acting on them, thereby opening up the enclosed hollow (119).

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