EP2815991B1 - Bottle tray usable on both sides - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bottle tray for storing and / or transporting bottles according to the preamble of claim 1.

Bottles are transported by different carriers. The best known form is certainly the bottle crate, in which usually 6 to 24 bottles in a plastic box with a trained therein truss or provided quills are separated from each other, slip-proof and completely absorbed. Bottle crates can be stacked on top of each other without any further security measures.

Another type of transport offer so-called trays, which represent flat, pallet-like structures with appropriate receptacles for the bottles. At the bottom of the trays are appropriate receptacles for the bottle heads, so that several bottles filled with trays can be stacked on top of each other. Since the bottles are held over the trays only at the bottom and on the head or neck, the entire container is usually additionally wrapped with a foil or secured with straps.

The advantage of such trays is that they are lighter overall and have a smaller footprint than crates when empty.

Various trays are known from the prior art. EP 0 383 838 A1 shows, for example, a tray in which the bottles of two stacked trays are directly above each other. Out EP 0 662 915 A1 and DE 10 2007 050 061 A1 Trays are known in which the images for the bottle heads are offset between the recordings for the bottle bottoms, so as to reduce the overall stacking height. For this purpose, the respectively stacked trays must be arranged rotated by 180 ° about the vertical axis to each other.

To ensure that the bottles do not twist during transport in the tray, inwardly projecting, resilient holding members have been proposed, which hold the containers in a rotationally fixed manner in the compartment ( EP 0 921 989 A1 and GB 2 476 270 A ).

Today's trays are designed for a specific bottle size and number. Although the two are suitable in EP 0 921 989 A1 and GB 2 476 270 A proposed solutions for bottles of different sizes, but only for the same number of bottles. The solutions proposed there should only be able to compensate for minor differences in bottle diameter and do not offer the opportunity tray once with slim 0.5 liter bottles and another time to stock with thick 1.5 liter bottles, certainly not in a compact container under utilization the space available per location.

The publication US 5,071,026 A discloses a bottle crate, which is in two different orientations for stacking different bottles, but whose side walls are designed so high that bottles that are packed between two such containers can not be explicitly charged by stacking forces. Thus, the document relates US 5,071,026 A not on bottle trays.

The publication DE 2005 029 304 A1 discloses a bottle tray according to the preamble of claim 1, which has only on one side bottle head receptacles, whereas on the other side only receptacles are provided for corresponding bottle bundles.

As the variety of bottle sizes and units in the market continues to increase and beverage suppliers demand greater flexibility in variable delivery, the object of the present invention is to provide a bottle tray having a wider range of uses.

This object is solved by the features of claim 1. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

An inventive bottle tray, which is suitable for storing and / or transporting bottles, cans or similar containers, has on its first side or top first slots for first bottles and on its second side or bottom a corresponding number of first shots for snugly receiving bottle heads and possibly bottle necks or bottle caps and / or bottle shoulders of the first bottles. In addition, the bottle tray on its second side or bottom also has second slots for second bottles and on its first page or top a corresponding number of second shots for snug recording of bottle heads and possibly bottlenecks or bottle caps and / or bottle shoulders of the second bottles.

The first bottles and the second bottles may be of the same or different bottle type.

The first parking spaces on one side are aligned with the first images on the second side and the second spaces on the second side are aligned with the second images on the first page.

This means that the bottle tray according to the invention can be used on both sides, since in each page corresponding bottle locations of a bottle and bottle head shots of the other bottle are provided or integrated.

More precisely, a first number of identical bottles are placed on one side of the bottle tray and an identical bottle tray is placed with its other side on the bottle heads. If the bottle tray is turned over, you can place a second number of the same bottles on the other side of the bottle tray and place a bottle tray of the same design with one side on the bottle heads.

This versatility of the bottle tray creates several possibilities.

While in the known bottle trays, the bottles can only be adjusted on one side or on the top and stacked only with a certain side, i. the underside, can be placed on a filled bottle tray, the bottle tray according to the invention facilitates the automatic filling and stacking of the bottle trays without having to put them on a particular page before because both sides of the tray have corresponding parking spaces and recordings , This assumes, of course, that the bottle spaces and receptacles are identically formed and arranged on both sides of the bottle tray.

However, a major advantage of this solution is to provide on the two sides bottle seats and receptacles of different sizes and arrangement to the same bottle tray depending on the orientation for at least two to be able to use different types of bottles for each unmixed packing unit. According to the invention, therefore, the number of first parking spaces and first recordings differ from the number of second parking spaces and second recordings.

According to one aspect of the invention, the number of first slots and first shots may be twice as many as the number of second slots and second shots. For example, one side of the bottle tray has 24 slots for smaller bottles and the opposite side of the bottle tray corresponding to 24 receptacles for the bottle heads of the underlying bottle pack of a bottle tray of the same type. When the bottle tray is turned to the other side, this other side provides storage for 12 large bottles, e.g. 1.5 or 2 liter bottles. The corresponding 12 bottle head receptacles are again formed on the corresponding opposite side. This allows, depending on the orientation of the bottle tray and taking full advantage of the dimensions of the bottle tray, i. each in a dense and unmistakable packing form, either a larger number of smaller (thinner) bottles, e.g. 24 x 0.5 liter bottles, or a smaller number of larger (thicker) bottles, e.g. 12 x 1.5 liter bottles, to be stacked and stored or transported.

Thus, the first bottle and the second bottle may differ in diameter, height, volume and / or number.

According to one aspect of the invention, a circumferential first edge may be formed on the first side and a circumferential second edge on the second side. This edge ensures that the bottles do not slip sideways from the tray before wrapping the bundle with a stretch or shrink wrap or after it has been removed. The bottles placed close to each other can thus be held in their desired position over the peripheral edge.

In order to improve the hold even further, the first edge may at selected locations of the outer contour of the first bottle and / or the second edge selected locations of the outer contour of the second bottle adapted. The outer row of bottles is so partially embraced by the edge and held in a particular position. In addition, an even more compact design is achieved.

Although, as just mentioned, a peripheral edge may hold the bottles in a certain position, according to one aspect of the invention, additionally or alternatively on the first side, a number of first positioning means for defining the first locations and lateral support of the first bottles and a number of second positioning means may be provided on the second side for defining the second locations and for laterally supporting the second bottles. These positioning devices, which may support substantially only a bottom portion of the bottles, may also be configured to hold the bottles slightly spaced so as to prevent them from hitting or rubbing against each other during transport.

These positioning devices can be designed according to an aspect of the invention as a mold cavity, walls, truss approaches and / or quills. In addition to the number, the type of positioning devices on the two sides of the bottle tray may be different if different guide or support elements are found to be more suitable for the different bottle types and arrangement.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first positioning means and first receptacles are designed for only a first bottle type and the second positioning means and second receptacles for only one of the first different second bottle type. The optimal and very specific adaptation of the positioning devices and recordings for a specific type of bottle ensures optimum protection of the bottles during transport and prevents the bottles from hitting each other.

Instead of designing the respective positioning devices and receptacles for a plurality of bottle types and thus risking a worse securing of the bottles, the flexible use of the bottle tray according to the invention by the Reversibility of the bottle tray and the associated adaptability to two different bottle types guaranteed.

According to one aspect of the invention, the first parking spaces, the second parking spaces, the first receptacles and / or the second receptacle or the tray may be arranged symmetrically overall. This facilitates automation, since - in contrast to the above-described prior art - no special orientation (about the vertical axis) is necessary when stacking.

The bottle tray can be manufactured in one piece by injection molding. According to one aspect of the invention, the bottle tray can also be formed from two releasably or cohesively connectable mold halves. In particular, this facilitates the manufacture of the respective bottle tray half, especially if larger or more complex shapes on both sides are used to define the locations, e.g. Quills, to be formed, which can not be produced or only with increased effort in a single molding process. In this case, each half can be made by itself and then assembled to the bottle tray.

According to one aspect of the invention, the bottle tray can be of modular design and have a base frame (or a base platform) in which on one side a first insert with first positioning means and second receptacles and on the second side a second insert with second positioning means and second recordings used and detachable or non-detachable with the base frame (basic platform) is connectable. This not only facilitates production of the individual parts, but due to the easier combinability of the inserts further flexibility in the use of the bottle tray.

According to one aspect of the invention, the different tray halves or inserts may differ in color. As a result, the sides of the tray can be better distinguished, which simplifies their handling, in particular their intended positioning.

According to one aspect of the invention, the bottle tray is designed so that two identical bottle trays nest with each other to ensure even more space-saving storage in the empty state or even more space-saving return transport after the beverage delivery.

Brief description of the drawings

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a first side of an empty bottle tray according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 shows the bottle tray of the Fig. 1 in the filled with a first bottle size state and another placed on the bottles bottle tray;
• Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a second side of the empty bottle tray according to the invention;
• Fig. 4 shows the bottle tray of the Fig. 1 in the filled with a second bottle size state and another placed on the bottles bottle tray;
• Fig. 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of Fig. 4 ;
• Fig. 6 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of two stacked empty bottle trays in the longitudinal direction;
• Fig. 7 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of two stacked empty bottle trays in the width direction; and
• Fig. 8 shows a side cross-sectional view of two stacked empty bottle trays;

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

The Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a transport layer according to the invention or a bottle tray 2 according to the invention, which is suitable for transporting and storing bottles.

The bottle tray 2 is preferably made of plastic, in particular of a thermoplastic material.

The bottle tray 2 has a substantially rectangular position or plate 4 with two surfaces 6 and 8, of which in the perspective view of Fig. 1 only the surface 6 is pointing upwards and can be seen. The surfaces 6 and 8 are each bounded by a circumferential, substantially vertical edge 10 and 12. The bottle tray 2 and the surfaces 6 and 8 are designed so that the bottle tray 2 is used on both sides and can be placed both on the surface 6 and on the surface 8 bottles.

The surface 6 is designed so that, as in the Fig. 2 shows pitches 14 for a total of 24 (6 x 4) same bottles 16 a first size offers. The surface 8, however, is designed differently and offers pitches 18 for a total of 12 (4 x 3) same bottles 20 a second size. The bottles 16 are 24 0.5 l bottles with a bottom diameter of about 65.90 mm and the bottles 20 are 12 1.5 l bottles with a bottom diameter of about 95.25 mm.

To hold the bottles 16 and 20 in position, positioning means are formed on the surfaces 6 and 8 in the form of vertically projecting ribs or truss lugs 22 and 24, respectively, which laterally support the 24 bottles 16 and 12 bottles 20 at their bottom portions secure against slipping. In addition, the bottles 16 and 20 are spaced slightly from each other by the truss lugs 22 and 24. In addition, the edges 10 and 12 have cylindrical balancing 26 and 28, respectively, which surround the outer row of bottles 16 and 20 in sections and thereby hold in their desired location.

The balancing 26 and 28 also have a certain stiffening function of the edges 10 and 12, so that the respective edge (edge 12 in the Fig. 2 and edge 10 in the Fig. 4 ) does not buckle when the respective edge placed on the ground has to carry the load of the bottle trays 2 stacked and filled over it.

From the FIGS. 1 and 3 It can also be seen that the bottle tray 2 has on its surface 6 in a matrix arrangement 12 cylindrical depressions or recesses 30 and on its surface 8 24 recesses or recesses 32. The recesses 30 in the surface 6 serve to accommodate the bottle heads 34 of the larger bottles 20 and the recesses 32 in the surface 8 serve to accommodate the bottle heads (not shown) of the smaller bottles 16, so that filled with bottles 16 and 20 respectively Bottle Tray 2 another bottle tray 2 or another transport position can be set, which in turn can be filled with bottles 16 and 20 (see FIGS. 2 . 4 and 5 ).

By the positive connection between the bottle heads 34 and recesses 30 and 32 is on the one hand ensures that the bottle heads 34 and above the bottles 16 and 20 are held, and on the other hand prevents the stacked bottle trays 2 do not slip off the stack.

The surface 6 has, on the one hand, an edge 10 and truss lugs 22 for supporting the bottom portions of the smaller bottles 16 and, on the other hand, 12 receptacles 30 for the bottle heads 34 of the larger 1.5 l bottles 20. The surface 8, however, has an edge 12 and truss lugs 24 defining the slots 18 for 12 large bottles 20, and on the other hand 24 receptacles 32 for the bottle heads 34 for the 0.5 l bottles 16 on. That is, on each side or surface 6 and 8 of the bottle tray 2 guides or support elements 22, 24 for bottle bottoms and receptacles 30, 32 are integrated for bottle heads 34, only for different types of bottles.

The receptacles for the bottle heads 32 on the surface 8 correspond to the parking spaces 14 of the surface 6 and the receptacles 30 for the bottle heads 34 the surface 6 correspond to the parking spaces 16 on the surface 8. By this pairing the bottle tray 2 of the invention allows its use for two different bottle sizes with optimum utilization of the dimensions of the bottle tray. 2

Against this background, the truss approaches 22 and 24 of a bottle pack are to be positioned and designed such that they do not interfere with the receptacles 30 of the other bottle pack. In the Fig. 3 It can be seen that some of the truss lugs 24 are interrupted at the locations of the recesses 32 for the bottle heads 34

Instead of the shown rib-shaped truss lugs 22 and 24, the surfaces 6 and 8 may also include mold cavities, quills or other support or guide elements to define the respective pitches 14 and 16 and to hold the bottles 16 and 20 on the bottom side.

In the Fig. 5 It is shown that the receptacles 30 just record an upper portion of the bottle cap 34. Instead of a so-called cap recording, other known from the prior art solutions in the bottle tray 2 of the invention can be realized, for example, recordings in which the upper bottle tray 2 on the bottle shoulders or on both the bottle cap and on the bottle shoulder is supported.

The FIGS. 6 and 7 show a stack of two empty bottle trays 2. It can be seen that the bottle trays 2 are nestable, so that can be reduced by about 25% empty stack height. If the bottle tray 2 according to the invention has a height of 90 mm, the total height of two nested bottle trays is only 135 mm. This is made possible by the fact that the edges 10 and 12, when the bottle trays 2 are placed on top of each other, embrace each other, more specifically, mutually embrace.

Like from the Fig. 6 can be seen, embraced on the short sides of the bottle trays 2, the edge 10 of the edge 12, while on the long sides, as seen from the Fig. 7 can be seen, the edge 12 surrounds the edge 10. In order to allow the change of the respective edge portions 10 and 12 from the inside to the outside, four recesses 36 and 38 are provided in the four corner regions of the edges 10 and 12, which engage in the stack position (see Fig. 8 ). This ensures that the bottle trays 2 can be safely stacked even without bottles and do not slip from each other.

From the FIGS. 6 . 7 and 8th It can also be seen that the edge 12, which supports the larger bottles 20 in the bottom area, is slightly higher than the edge 10, so that the surface 6 of the upper bottle tray 2 rests on the edge of the edge 12. To further prevent bending of the bottle trays 2 in the central region, the truss approaches 22 and 24 are matched in height to each other so that they are stacked in the empty state, as in the FIGS. 6 . 7 and 8th shown, also come into contact and support each other.

The bottle tray 2 according to the invention has been described in detail with reference to a preferred embodiment. This allows a range of application for two types of bottles, each with a unique packing unit.

The bottle tray 2 according to the invention can also be designed differently. So all usual standard dimensions such as 400 x 300 mm, 600 x 400 mm and 800 x 600 mm, with corresponding different number of bottles conceivable.

Instead of the combination of 24 x 0.5 I bottles and 12 x 1.5 I bottles, other combinations are also conceivable, such as 24 x 0.5 l bottles and 12 x 2 l bottles, or combinations of 0.33 l bottles with 0 , 7 l bottles, etc.

The one-piece bottle tray 2 can be made of two tray halves with a dividing line in the region of the plate 4, which are then joined together in a detachable or cohesive manner, e.g. clipped, glued or welded together.

Claims (11)

1. Bottle tray (2) for storing and/or transporting bottles (16, 20), comprising on a first side (6) a number of first storing positions (14) for first bottles (16) and on a second side (8) a corresponding number of first accommodations (32) for custom-fitting accommodation of bottle heads (34) and, if applicable, bottle necks or bottle caps and/or bottle shoulders of the first bottles (16), in order to be able to stack multiple bottle trays (2) filled with first bottles (16) on top of each other,
   wherein
   the bottle tray (2) comprises on its second side (8) a number of second storing positions (18) for second bottles (20), characterized in that
   the bottle tray comprises on its first side (6) a corresponding number of second accommodations (30) for custom-fitting accommodation of bottle heads (34) and, if applicable, bottle necks or bottle caps and/or bottle shoulders of the second bottles (20), in order to be able to use the bottle tray (2) on both sides, wherein
   the number of the first storing positions (14) and the first accommodations (32) differs from the number of the second storing positions (18) and second accommodations (30), and
   the size of the first storing positions (14) for the first bottles (16), in particular 0.5-liter bottles, and the size of the second storing positions (18) for the second bottles (20), in particular 1.5-liter bottles, are different.
2. Bottle tray (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the number of the first storing positions (14) and first accommodations (32) is twice as high as the number of the second storing positions (18) and second accommodations (30).
3. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the first side (6), first positioning units (22, 26) are provided for defining the first storing positions (14) and for laterally supporting the first bottles (16) and on the second side (8), second positioning units (24, 28) are provided for defining the second storing positions (18) and for laterally supporting the second bottles (20).
4. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a circumferential first edge (10) is formed on the first side (6) and a circumferential second edge (12) is formed on the second side (8), wherein the first edge (10) is fitted to the outer contour of the first bottles (16) at selected positions (26) and/or the second edge (12) is fitted to the outer contour of the second bottles (20) at selected positions (28).
5. Bottle tray (2) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the first positioning units (22, 26) are formed by molds, walls, framework bases (22, 24), and/or partitioning sleeves.
6. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the first positioning units (22, 26) and first accommodations (32) are configured for a first bottle type and the second positioning units (24, 28) and second accommodations (30) are configured for a second bottle type which is different from the first one.
7. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottle tray (2) is formed by two detachably or form-fittingly connectable mold halves.
8. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bottle tray (2) is modularly built and comprises a base frame, into which a first insert having first positioning units and second accommodations can be inserted on the one side, and a second insert having second positioning units and first accommodations can be inserted on the second side, wherein the first insert and the second insert can be connected to the base frame in a detachable or non-detachable manner.
9. Bottle tray (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the different tray halves or inserts have different colors.
10. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two identically-constructed bottle trays (2) can be nested into each other.
11. Bottle tray (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first storing positions (14), the second storing positions (18), the first accommodations (32) and/or the second accommodations (30) are symmetrically arranged.

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