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EP-4741304-A1 - VERSATILE TRAY FOR BOTTLE PACKS

EP4741304A1EP 4741304 A1EP4741304 A1EP 4741304A1EP-4741304-A1

Abstract

A versatile tray (1) for storing bottle packs is disclosed. The tray's upper base (10) includes a matrix of connectors (14) arranged in a repetitive pattern, preferably circular, with each pattern equidistantly distributed across the base (10). Each connector pattern aligns with grooves in the bottle pack base, allowing secure engagement with a single groove. On the underside of the tray base (10), there is a corresponding arrangement of cylindrical bottleneck nests (25), aligned with the center points of each connector pattern on the upper side. Each bottleneck nest (25) accommodates the bottleneck of bottles within the bottle packs. This design allows for efficient stacking of multiple trays when empty, as well as stable stacking and cross-stacking when loaded with compatible bottle packs of various formats.

Inventors

  • Baeyens, Paul
  • Bleus, Ward
  • SCHURGERS, Bert

Assignees

  • DW Reusables N.V.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241108

Claims (8)

  1. A tray (1), designed to receive bottle packs (30), which comprises a base (10) with an upper and a lower side, a pair of parallel shorter sidewalls (11), and a pair of parallel longer sidewalls (12), where each sidewall (11, 12) is connected with the adjacent different sidewalls by a rounded edge (13), where all sidewalls (11, 12) and rounded edges (13) enclose the said base (10) and form, in the parallel plane containing the base (10), the rectangle with the rounded edges; - wherein the base (10) has on its upper side a plurality of connectors (14) that project upward and are grouped in a rectangular matrix of identical patterns, where adjacent patterns in the said matrix are equidistantly distributed over the said base (10), where each pattern of connectors (14) is capable of engaging only one of the bottle pack grooves (34) situated in the base of the said bottle pack (30), - wherein the base (10) has on its lower side a plurality of cylindrical bottleneck nests (25), whose principal axes coincide with all centers of each repetitive pattern formed on the upper side of the base (10), where each bottleneck nest (25) is capable of receiving bottleneck of the bottles (70, 80) of the said bottle pack (30), - wherein the base (10) has on its lower side spaces used as handle nests (26) for bottle packs handles (36), where said nests (26) are formed by a plurality of plane or curved divider surfaces (27) which are spanned among the bottleneck nests (25) alone, or sidewalls (11, 12) and bottleneck nests (25), - where each sidewall (11, 12) and each rounded edge (13) has an upper stacking edge (18) and a lower stacking edge (19), which allow the bottle pack tray (1) to be stacked, one over another, when empty, and, - where, optionally, a desired pair of sidewalls (11, 12), or all sidewalls, are equipped with handles (17) formed as a part of the said sidewalls (11, 12), extending partially from the lower stacking edge (19) towards the upper stacking edge (18).
  2. The tray (1) according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors (14) is arranged in the matrix of repetitive circular patterns with the radius R.
  3. The tray (1) according to claim 2, wherein the number of connectors (14) in each circular pattern is greater than 2, preferably greater or equal to 4.
  4. The tray (1) according to claims 2 or 3, where the circular patterns are arranged in the matrix 4 x 6.
  5. The tray (1) according to claim 1, wherein its base's lower side is equipped with a plurality of identical cylindrical bottleneck nests (25) with bores (15), where said bores (15) are formed coaxially with the bottleneck nests (25) in the base (10) from which the nests (25) emerge, where each bore's diameter is smaller than the nests' diameter and of the top of the bottles (70, 80) diameters which are in contact with the said bores (15).
  6. The tray (1) according to any of the preceding claims where the handles (17) are formed on the shorter sidewalls (11).
  7. Use of the tray (1) defined in any of the preceding claims 1-6 with the bottle packs (30) with various bottle sizes (70, 80), where packs are selected from those having bottles arranged in 2 x 2, 2 x 3, 2 x 4, 2 x 6, 3 x 4 and 4 x 4 matrix or their combinations, and where the tops of all bottles (70, 80) of each pack (30) lay in the same plane when are loaded on the tray (1), where each bottle pack (30) has beneath each bottle formed a groove (34) that is engaged with one pattern of connectors (14), preferably a circular pattern formed on the base (10) of the tray (1) .
  8. Use of the tray (1) as defined in claim 7, which allows the next tray (1') to be placed entirely or partially over the tray (1) previously loaded with the bottle packs (30) so that bottles (70, 80) tops, situated below the tray (1') enter the bottleneck nests (25') of the said second tray (1'), and to be stopped by the base (10') or beneath the bores (15') of the same tray (1'), allowing the second tray (1') to lay in a parallel plane elevated from the first tray (1) for the height of the used bottle packs (30), where the said trays (1, 1') are stably connected via bottles (70, 80) situated in bottle packs (30) loaded on the tray (1) and the said connection enables further stacking and cross stacking of other trays on the said trays (1, 1') within the same palette (100).

Description

Technical Field The present disclosure relates to a novel tray for storing and handling bottle packs, featuring enhanced interconnectivity and stacking capabilities. These trays fall within the technical field of containers with bodies formed as a single piece, typically produced through molding or blow-molding, with or without additional compartments. In this instance, the tray is designed without standard compartments or dividers, enabling it to accommodate bottle packs of various sizes that are compatible with the tray base, i.e., connectors made on the said tray base. Technical Problem Beverage bottles and cans are typically transported in bottle crates, on bottle trays, or packed directly on pallets. In a bottle crate, the edges extend above the height of the bottles, allowing the crates to be stacked on top of one another. This design enables the sides of the crates to support the weight of the crates placed above them, so the stresses caused by stacking and movement are absorbed by the sturdy structure of the crate, rather than placing a load on the bottles themselves. In these crates, individual bottles are arranged in designated spaces on the inner bottom, surrounded by supporting edges. Additionally, there are crates designed to accommodate multi-bottle packs, or multipacks, in which two or more bottles are bound together by a packaging wrapper. In such cases, at least some of the spaces for accommodating bottles at the bottom of the crate must have lower edges or, more commonly, pinnacles instead of divider walls. These features help keep the bottles in place, prevent scuffing, and allow the packs to fit properly in the crate. This design, however, inherently weakens the support for individual bottles. Fortunately, this is not a significant issue, as the edges of the crate extend the entire height of the bottles, preventing them from falling out, even if they may wobble or move laterally. A bottle tray fundamentally differs from a crate in its operational design. The upper surface of a bottle tray base typically features support elements that hold separate bottles and cans in place. Bottle trays are almost always constructed to accommodate both individual bottles or cans and multipacks. To maintain a slim profile, the edges of a bottle tray are kept low, which means they cannot support bottles or cans in the same manner as the higher edges of a crate. Consequently, the vertical load is borne by the beverage packs themselves. To facilitate this, the underside of the bottle tray base is equipped with collars for bottles or support elements that fit the upper ends of cans, effectively locking the containers in place laterally. As a result, when using bottle trays, beverage packs are secured laterally by the tray both above and below, while the packs themselves carry the vertical load. The disclosure presents a specific tray designed to store bottle packs of various sizes. These packs are loaded and secured by their bottoms to the tray's base, which features repetitive patterns of connectors arranged in a rectangular matrix, allowing the tray to maintain a slim profile. The design also facilitates the placement of additional bottle packs into the upper tray, positioned over the tops of those already loaded. Moreover, the disclosed tray allows for the reliable and secure stacking of empty trays, as well as the stacking and cross-stacking of loaded trays on standard pallets. Additionally, the solution enables easy automation for loading and unloading pallets in a robotic manner. State of the Art Single bottle/can trays and bottle pack trays have been on the market for some time, resulting in a crowded patent landscape. Several documents warrant close examination, particularly regarding their intended use-whether they are suitable for single bottles, bottle packs, or both. The next consideration is the trays' stacking capabilities. While all solutions are inherently stackable, a critical aspect is the ability to cross-stack loaded trays securely. The third issue to evaluate is top securing, specifically whether the design is focused solely on securing the tops of the bottles or if it allows the bottlenecks to fit into the upper tray that rests on the bottle packs below. Lastly, the method of securing the bottle packs to the tray is crucial, particularly the connection between the packs and the tray's base. International PCT patent application PCT/FI2009/050897, published as WO2010055204A1 for BOTTLE TRAY is filed in the name of HARTWALL K OY AB [FI]. The disclosed tray is designed for use with both bottle packs and single bottles, and it allows for the stacking of both empty and loaded trays. However, the description does not address the ability to cross-stack, which may pose challenges given the disclosed design's 4 x 5 uniform matrix of bottleneck nests depicted in the corresponding drawings. The versatility of this design is achieved through elements that extend from the upper base surface, dividing