IES990077A2

IES990077A2 - Packaging aid for fragile materials

Info

Publication number: IES990077A2
Application number: IE19990077A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Clive Smith; Fergus Mcnamee
Original assignee: Ranleigh Ltd
Priority date: 1997-03-03
Filing date: 1997-03-03
Publication date: 2000-09-20
Also published as: IE82204B1; GB2322849B; IES81332B2; GB9804432D0; IE980154A1; IE970135A1; GB2322849A

Abstract

Combined stacking and packaging aids (1,2) have recesses defined by walls (11,12) to receive one of a multiple of different sized and/or shaped plates (3). The stacking aids (1,2) are used in side-by-side relation to form a pallet sized layer. Both of the aids (1,2) accommodate five plates. The underside of the sheets (1,2) includes recesses which engage between the walls (11,12) when a plate (3) is located in the formation to sandwich a plate (3) therebetween. Each of the walls (11) has finger receiving slots (15) to facilitate access to the plate (3) for removal. <Figure 1>

Description

“Packaging Aid for Fragile Materials” Introduction ι s pi, s 7¾ | B, w .^5 -J? qyjg invention relates to packaging and in particular to a combined stacking and packaging aid for substantially flat articles particularly of fragile material such as plates and the like.

INT CL' 1C P Conventionally, flat fragile articles such as plates used in microwaves are packed using corrugated cardboard and the like. However, it is time consuming to pack each plate individually at the point of manufacture and to unpack it again at the point of use. In addition, such packaging is wasteful of resources as a large amount of waste packaging material is generated. Further, such packaging often does not adequately protect the plates in transit, especially when stacked on pallets.

This invention is directed towards providing a combined packaging and stacking aid which will overcome at least some of these difficulties.

Statements of the Invention According to the invention there is provided a combined plate stacking and packaging aid for interleaving between layers of substantially flat fragile plates comprising a thermoformed sheet having a plurality of plate-receiving formations in side-by-side relation, each of the formations being shaped to receive a plate and to prevent lateral movement of the plate in the formations, finger receiving means being provided in a wall of the sheet defining the formation to facilitate access to the plate for removal from the formation.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, each formation is shaped to receive one of a multiple of different sized and/or shaped plates.

IE 990077 -2In one embodiment of the invention, the sheet has formations such that a first bottom sheet and a second top sheet co-operate to sandwich a layer of plates therebetween.

Preferably, laterally adjacent sheets co-operate to form a pallet-sized layer.

In a preferred arrangement, the sheet is nestable with another similar sheet.

Most preferably, the sheet is thermoformed from a plastics material, especially a polyethylene material.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the foEowing description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a combined stacking and packaging aid according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of another simEar combined stacking and packaging aid of the invention; and Fig. 3 is a plan view Elustrating the combined stacking and packaging aids of Figs. 1 and 2 in use.

DetaEed Description of the Invention Referring to the drawings, there is iEustrated in Fig. 1 a first combined stacking and packaging aid 1 and in Fig. 2 a second combined stacking and packaging aid IE 990077 -32 according to the invention. The combined stacking and packaging aid 1 is for interleaving between layers of substantially flat articles such as plates 3. The stacking aids, 1, 2 are used in lateral side-by-side relation as illustrated in Fig. 3 to form, in use, a pallet sized layer. In this case, each of the stacking aids 1, 2 is designed to accommodate five plates 3 in side-by-side relation. In the case of the aid ofFig. 1, the articles are arranged in two rows, one outer one containing two plates and a second inner one containing three plates. In the case of the aid of Fig. 2 , the outer row will contain three plates and the inner row will contain two plates so that when the aids I, 2 are engaged in side-by-side relation as illustrated in Fig. 3, each layer will accommodate ten plates. The aid 1 will be described in detail and as the aids 1, 2 are of similar construction, like parts will be assigned the same reference numerals.

The stacking aid 1 comprises a sheet which is thermoformed from a plastics, • 15 especially polyethylene material which has relatively high impact resistance with minimum brittleness. The sheet 1 has a plurality, in this case five, formations 10 arranged in side-by-side relation.

Each of the formations 10 is so shaped as to receive a single plate and prevent lateral movement thereof in transit. In this case, to accommodate a range of sizes and shapes of plates, each formation is shaped to receive one of a multiple of different sized and/or shaped plates. Thus, each formation 10 has an outer . upstanding wall 11, and inner upstanding walls 12 which are shaped and positioned to engage the side edge and/or ribs on plates of different sizes and shapes.

The underside of the sheets 1, 2 also includes recesses which engage between the walls 11, 12 when a plate is located in the formation to sandwich the plate therebetween.

IE 990077 -4The outer upstanding wall 11 of each formation 10 has finger receiving slots 15 to facilitate access to the plate for removal from the formation 10.

To facilitate nesting and stacking of the sheets 1, 2, the sheets include raised 5 portions and recessed portions which interengage when the sheets are stacked one upon another.

In use, a first of the sheets 1 is laid on a pallet with the formations 10 facing up. Plates are inserted into each formation 10 and a second of the sheets 1 is stacked onto the first of the sheets 1 housing the plates. The stacking/nesting formations interengage to sandwich the layer of plates therebetween. This is continued until one side of the stack is complete. The pallet is then rotated and a first of the sheets 2 is laid on the pallet so that it interengages with the first sheet 1 and this side is stacked in a similar manner until the stacks are complete and the pallet is full. At the point of use, the plates 3 are removed from the sheets, the plates being accessed through the finger slots 15. When the stack has been emptied of plates, the empty sheets 1, 2 are stacked on the pallet, nesting one on top of the other, for return with the pallet for re-use.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

1. A combined plate stacking and packaging aid for interleaving between layers of substantially flat fragile plates comprising a thermoformed sheet 5 having a plurality of plate-receiving formations in side-by-side relation, each of the formations being shaped to receive a plate and to prevent lateral movement of the plate in the formations, finger receiving means being provided in a wall of the sheet defining the formation to facilitate access to the plate for removal from the formation.

2. A combined stacking and packaging aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein each formation is shaped to receive one of a multiple of different sized and/or shaped plates. 15

3. A combined stacking and packaging aid as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the sheet has formations such that a first bottom sheet and a second top sheet co-operate to sandwich a layer of plates therebetween.

4. A combined stacking and packaging aid as claimed in any preceding claim 20 wherein laterally adjacent sheets co-operate to form a pallet-sized layer.

5. A combined stacking and packaging aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sheet is nestable with another similar sheet.