| US3915372A | 1975-10-28 | |||
| US3941300A | 1976-03-02 |
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4
CLAIMS
1) A complex tray for the packaging and transport of agricultural and industrial products which is characterized by the fact that the surface of the corrugated board or solid paper is cut and slotted to as to form the sides Al, A3, the base A2, the extension Bl, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 having a length a which can be folded internally up to an angle of 180° and also that the molten sides Pl, P2 are consisting of a flat surface E1E2E3E4 having a thickness of kl, the surfaces vertical to this E1E4E4ε1 ', E2E3E3ε2' and E4E3E3ε4' having a thickness of k2 and a length of i>kl, the vertical columns with a horizontal section Z1Z2Z3Z4Z5 where the Z1Z5 with the Z4Z5 forms an angle less or equal to 135°, the Z5Z1 with the E1E2 forms an angle less or equal to 90°, the distance of point Zl from the internal side of the surface E2E3E3ε2' is equal or longer than the thickness of the corrugated board or solid paper, the distance of point Z4 from the same surface is not less than the double thickness of the corrugated board or solid paper and the length Z1Z5 is equal or a little longer than a, the vertical columns at the bottom, are connected to each other with a bar of the same shape and has the same distance from the internal side of the surface E4E3E3ε4. The sides Al and A3 rotate internally 90° towards the base A2 and then the extensions B1,B2,B3,B4,B5,B6, also internally until they are folded while the Pl and P2 are placed in a way that the above mentioned sides together with the extensions B1,B2,B3 and the B4,B5,B6 respectively enter the grooves that are formed between the surfaces E1E4E4ε1' E2E3E3ε2' E4E3E3ε4' and the vertical columns as well as the bar connecting them, so that following entry each of the extensions B1,B2 5 B3,B4,B5,B6 tends to return to its former position and consequently to be stopped by the surface ZlZl Z5 Z5 and to be trapped by the surface Z5Z5'Z4'Z4.
2) A complex tray according to claim 1 which is characterized by the fact that the vertical columns together with the bar connecting them, is a separate molten part which is fixed to the surface E1E2E3E4 so that when it is removed the disassembly of the complex tray is achieved. Jn this case, the distance of point Z4 from the surface E2E3E3ε2' can be longer or equal to the thickness of the corrugated board or solid paper.
3) A complex tray according the claims 1 and 2 which is characterized by the fact that the surfaces E1E4E4ε1', E2E3E3ε2', E4E3E3ε4' and E1E2E2ε1' form a framework which is a separate molten part which is fixed to the surface E1E2E3E4 so that when it is removed the disassembly of the complex tray is achieved.
4) A complex tray according to claims 1,2, and 3 which is characterized by the fact that at the large molten sides Pl, P2, internally there are one or more projections H so that the molten sides of the complex trays or other kinds of trays, smaller but of multiple dimensions, which are placed on top of them, to be properly supported.
5) A complex tray according to claims 1,2,3 and 4, which is characterized by the fact that at the external side of the surface E1E2E3E4 and along the vertical columns and the bar there is a projection M, so that the edge Z3Z3' of the one side enters the projection M of the other one during their transport.
6) A complex tray according to the claims 1,2,3,4 and 5 which is characterized by the fact that at the surface E1,E2,E3,E4 and along the vertical columns and the bar there are openings O having different geometrical shapes which are useful for the disassembly of the complex tray. ,
7) A complex tray according to claims l,2,3,4,5and 6 which is characterized by the fact that at the surface E1,E2,E3,E4 an extraction-tool is attached and the molten parts are separated from the paper ones which are the flat surface N1,N2,N3,N4 with the surfaces Nl ,N4,N4',N1 ', N4,N3,N3 ',N4', and N2,N3,N3 \N2' vertical to this and the extractors O' of a shape similar to the openings O but of a smaller perimeter than these, whose length is longer than i, that enter the openings O thus achieving the folding of the B1,B2,B3,B4,B5,B6 ^^ following the reverse process than the one followed to form the complex tray and the corrugated board is pushed out of the molten sides Pl and P2. |
COMPLEX TRAY WITH REUSABLE PARTS
The invention refers to a complex tray with reusable parts which is useful for the packaging and transport of agricultural and industrial products.
Until today, the corrugated board trays that are used for the packaging and transport of agricultural and industrial products are both attractive and recyclable but are costly, the wooden trays create problems regarding their collection after use and the folding or non- folding plastic trays which are washed and re-used do not have the user's trade name stamped on them.
The advantage of this invention is that the complex tray is composed of paper (either corrugated board or solid) or another material that may be slotted thus forming the two opposite sides and the base of the tray, and the remaining sides are constructed from a molten material (polypropylene, polyethylene, etc). These materials are connected to each other without glue or staples. Following use, this complex tray may be disassembled in various ways, one of which is described below and the molten parts are washed, disinfected and reused while the other paper part may be recycled. The constructed complex tray is exceptionally durable, attractive, the user's trade name is promoted, it is ecological and the packaging cost is significantly reduced.
In the following description, reference is made to trays 40X60 cm which are combined to trays 30X40 cm both of which fulfill the specifications of the euro-palette having dimensions 80X120 cm. Further to this, trays in these dimensions are combined to each other in order to form a pile when they are placed on top of each other. The description made refer either to one quarter or half of the tray for purposes of symmetry.
Figure 1 shows the parts which compose the complex tray according to the invention, in the case which the molten parts are the large sides of the tray while the expansion of the corrugated board or solid paper is cut and slotted accordingly, so that with suitable folding it may be fitted into the grooves existing in the molten sides.
Figure 2 shows an aspect of the complex tray according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a pile consisting of complex trays in 40X60 cm and 30X40 cm dimensions according to the invention.
Figure 4 shows the tool-extractor for the removal of the paper parts of the complex tray following use, according to the invention.
Figure 5 shows the molten sides of the complex trays adjoined so as to be transported for re-use.
Applications of the invention are described below
Figure 1 shows the surface of the corrugated board or solid paper or any other material that can be slotted, which can be cut and slotted according to this in such a way as to form sides Al, A3 of the complex tray, the base A2, me extensions B1,B2,B3,B4,B5,B6, having a length of a can be folded internally up to 180° . It also shows the molten sides Pl, P2 which consist of a flat surface E1E2E3E4 having a thickness of kl, the vertical surfaces to this E1E4E4ε1', E2E3E3'E2'and E4E3E3ε4' having a thickness of k2 and
a length i>kl, the vertical columns with a horizontal section Z1Z2Z3Z4Z5 where the Z1Z5 with the Z4Z5 form an angle less or equal to 135°, the Z1Z5 with the E1E2 form an angle less or equal to 90°, the distance of point Zl from the internal side of the surface E2E3E3ε2' is equal or longer than the thickness of the corrugated board, the distance of point Z4 from the same surface is not smaller than the double thickness of the corrugated board and the length Z1Z5 is equal or a little longer than a. The vertical columns at the bottom, are connected to each other with a bar which has the same shape with them and is in the same distance from the internal side of the surface E4E3E3ε4'. At the external side of the surface E4E3E3ε4', in a distance equal or longer than kl from the straight line E3E4 and equal or longer than k2 from the straight lines E3E3' and E4E4' there is a few millimeter projection while the top of the vertical columns is in a distance from the upper part of the complex tray equal to the projection, so that the projections prevent the slides of the trays when each complex tray is placed on top of the other forming a pile.
Further to this, at the large sides P1,P2 of the 40X60 cm. complex trays, there is a projection H internally and in the middle, so as the molten sides of the 30X40 cm complex trays which are placed on top of them to be properly supported. According to the use, at the sides Pl, P2, gaps and grooves are created in order to economize on material and the packed products in the complex trays to be ventilated, as well as hand holds. Along the vertical columns and the bar there are openings O of different shapes which are useful for the disassembly of the complex tray as well as a groove M, having a depth of a few millimeters, so that the edge Z3Z3' of the one molten side to get into the groove of the other in order not to slide during their mass transport. According to this invention, sides Al and A3 of the complex tray rotate internally at an angle of 90° towards the A2 base and the Bl, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 internal extensions till they are folded. Then Pl and P2 properly forced are placed in a way that the above mentioned sides together with the extensions Bl, B2, B3 and B4, B5, B6 accordingly, enter the grooves which are created between the surfaces El, E4, E4', El' E2, E3, E3', E2' E4, E3, E3 ', E4' and the vertical columns as well as the bar connecting them. Upon entering each of the extensions Bl, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 tends to rotate in the opposite direction and returns to its former position automatically, but this motion stops on the surface Zl, Zl ', Z5', Z5 and are trapped by the surface Z5, Z5 r , Z4', Z4 so that the complex tray is finally formed.
Figure 2 according to the invention shows the complex tray which is formed with the folding of the corrugated board which is cut and slotted accordingly to figure 1 and the molten sides which are connected to the corrugated board in the way shown in this figure.
Figure 3 according to the invention, shows a pile which is comprised of complex trays in case that the molten sides are either the large or the small sides and the way they can be placed - one on top of the other - when their dimensions are 40 X 60 cm and 30 X 40 cm which are the usual dimensions of trays today, based on the dimensions of the 80 X 120 cm. Euro-palette.
Figure 4 according to the invention shows the extraction-tool which enters the molten side of the complex tray and separates the molten parts from the paper ones, hi this case, this extraction-tool is comprised of the flat surface Nl, N2, N3, N4 and the surfaces vertical to this, Nl, N4, N4', Nl ', N4, N3, N3', N4' and N2, N3, N3', N2' of a certain thickness, as well as of the extractors O' of the same shape with openings O, having a diameter or perimeter equal or less than that of the openings O, whose length is longer than i. For the disassembly of the complex tray, the molten sides are placed into the
extraction-tool so as the extractors O' enter into the openings O thus achieving the folding of Bl 5 B2, B3, B4, B5, B6 and following the reverse of the process used to form the complex tray, the corrugated board or solid paper is pushed outwards from the molten sides Pl and P2.
Figure 5 in accordance with the invention, shows the molten sides of the complex tray, attached to each other and are transported for reuse. The existing grooves M, having a depth of a few millimeters, allow the transport of the molten sides without them sliding since the edges Z3, Z3 ' enter the grooves M thus economizing on space.