EP0959018A1 - System for packaging batches of filled, flanged containers stacked upon each other in a tray made of semi-rigid material - Google Patents

System for packaging batches of filled, flanged containers stacked upon each other in a tray made of semi-rigid material Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0959018A1
EP0959018A1 EP99400592A EP99400592A EP0959018A1 EP 0959018 A1 EP0959018 A1 EP 0959018A1 EP 99400592 A EP99400592 A EP 99400592A EP 99400592 A EP99400592 A EP 99400592A EP 0959018 A1 EP0959018 A1 EP 0959018A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
containers
tray
walls
trays
flanges
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99400592A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0959018B1 (en
Inventor
Gérard Deharbe
Bernard Lavocat
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Smurfit Socar SA
Original Assignee
Smurfit Socar SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Smurfit Socar SA filed Critical Smurfit Socar SA
Publication of EP0959018A1 publication Critical patent/EP0959018A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0959018B1 publication Critical patent/EP0959018B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/70—Trays provided with projections or recesses in order to assemble multiple articles, e.g. intermediate elements for stacking
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D71/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans or pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D71/0088—Palletisable loads, i.e. loads intended to be transported by means of a fork-lift truck
    • B65D71/0092—Palletisable loads, i.e. loads intended to be transported by means of a fork-lift truck provided with one or more rigid supports, at least one dimension of the supports corresponding to a dimension of the load, e.g. skids
    • B65D71/0096—Palletisable loads, i.e. loads intended to be transported by means of a fork-lift truck provided with one or more rigid supports, at least one dimension of the supports corresponding to a dimension of the load, e.g. skids the dimensions of the supports corresponding to the periphery of the load, e.g. pallets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D2571/00—Bundles of articles held together by packaging elements for convenience of storage or transport, e.g. portable segregating carrier for plural receptacles such as beer cans, pop bottles; Bales of material
    • B65D2571/00006—Palletisable loads, i.e. loads intended to be transported by means of a fork-lift truck
    • B65D2571/00043—Intermediate plates or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a system for packaging, in a tray of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, lots of stacked full containers with part thereof upper a flange which projects laterally and on which is fixed a sealing cap.
  • the invention also relates to a method of implementing places such batches of containers in this tray.
  • the invention finally relates to the grouping on a pallet handling stacks of trays containing lots of such containers thus conditioned.
  • Containers of this type are, for example, jars of yogurts or other dairy products, as well as other various pasty foods, especially for young children, and they usually include a cylindrical body or frustoconical in plastic material, closed at its part upper by a cover, which is sealed on a body flange protruding laterally towards outside.
  • various pots are attached laterally by these flanges, in which are provided for primers of rupture allowing the consumer to separate the individual pots, and several plates of such pots are generally stacked and held assembled by a flexible belt, for example, made of cardboard, to form a batch, which is offered for sale under this form in stores.
  • the belt flexible usually goes above and below the lot of superimposed pots and grips laterally along two sides parallel, while the pots are visible according to the two other sides, with their protruding flanges laterally.
  • the rims of the pots that make laterally protruding abut against the face internal of the adjoining wall of the tray, which limits the useful volume thereof.
  • the dimensions usual pot collars are such that even in optimally choosing the number of pots of each layer of a batch, the trays used do not cover the entire surface of the handling pallets.
  • the first object of the invention is a set comprising a tray of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, with rectangular bottom and with side walls erected perpendicular to this bottom and adjoining each other and to this one by lines of folding, and, housed in adjoining positions in this tray, lots each consisting of superimposed layers of full containers, each container having a outwardly projecting collar, by which it is attached to the adjoining containers and on which is attached a shutter, the different layers of a lot being assembled using a flexible belt which pass above and below the lot and which surrounds it laterally along two opposite sides, this assembly being characterized in that the parts of the flanges of the containers in the bottom layer of each batch not belt contact of this lot and contiguous to a wall side of the tray protrude above this side wall and preferably rest on it.
  • a tray of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard
  • each batch could possibly be consisting of a single layer of containers, naturally without belt in this case, including the adjacent flanges the four side walls of the tray are supported on these.
  • the invention also relates to a method of realization of the set which has just been defined, this process being characterized in that one of the the other the upper parts of at least two walls opposite of the empty tray intended to be engaged under the container flanges of the first layer of different lots, in that we go down towards the inside of the tray said lots in the position they must occupy in this tray, in that we release the walls separated from each other when the bottom of containers from the bottom layer of each batch arrived below the edge of these walls, but has not yet reaches the bottom of the tray, so that the walls previously discarded return to their original position by elasticity and come to engage under the flanges contiguous containers from the bottom layer, and in that that we bring the batches of containers in their position final in the tray.
  • the opposite walls of the empty tray coming from engage under the flanges, when they are not separated from each other, may be parallel between them or be inclined towards the inside of the tray, so as to come and then firmly grip the body of the containers in the bottom layer of each batch.
  • the bodies of the containers may have a cylindrical or frustoconical shape, with circular section, square or whatever.
  • the trays used have a bottom of dimensions smaller than those of the bottom of usual trays used for the same purpose, since the flanges of the containers, instead of coming up against the inner side of the side walls, protrude above these.
  • the gain in surface area of the bottom of the tray is such that it becomes possible to stack the trays on a handling pallet of usual dimensions (1200 cm x 800 cm) by perfectly covering the surface top of this pallet, without recessed trays or overflowing, with the stacks of trays in mutual contact.
  • batches of containers filled with the type of yoghurt pots having, in their part upper, a flange, which projects towards the exterior and of which a cover is integral are generally housed in cardboard packaging or corrugated cardboard, such as packaging 1 of figures 1 and 2, which have a rectangular section, include side walls of height at least equal to that of the lots packaged and are eventually closed in part superior.
  • the batches do not are more grouped in packaging, the side walls completely wrap them, but in trays with rectangular bottom, against the side walls from which the flanges of the containers no longer come in abutment, but on the edges of which they take support.
  • the trays used can be of different types, for example of the type from the blank 3 of corrugated cardboard precut and repressed shown in Figure 3.
  • This blank has a rectangular bottom portion 4, with which are adjoining, by two fold lines parallel, two transverse walls 5, intended to be erected perpendicular to the bottom 1, and by two lines folding perpendicular to the previous ones, two walls longitudinal 6, also intended to be upright perpendicular to the bottom 1. These walls 6 extend by shutters 7 adjoining these walls by lines of folding intended to be perpendicular to the bottom 4, these flaps 7 coming to be fixed against the internal face of the walls 5, for example by gluing.
  • lots 10 of full containers 11 to be packaged here have three stacked layers of containers but that number could naturally be different.
  • the containers of each layer have at their upper part a collar 12 protruding laterally, by which they are adjacent to and to which adjoins the closure for closing the containers.
  • Layers superimposed full containers are encircled so known by a flexible belt 13, here made of thin cardboard, which passes above and below the batch of containers and the grips laterally along two parallel sides.
  • the different lots 10 of containers are housed in adjoining positions in the trays, against internal face of two walls of which, here the walls transverse 5, apply the belts 13 of the lots, while the other two walls, here the walls longitudinal 6, are engaged below the flanges 12 containers from the bottom layer of each batch, these flanges 12 resting on the edge of the wall 6 contiguous, preferably without overflowing outside.
  • the walls 6 of the empty tray are perpendicular to the bottom 4 of the tray, but, as it was stated above, they can also be inclined towards the inside of the tray, to be straightened outward when the lots of containers.
  • a first advantage of this packaging method is that we considerably reduce the amount of cardboard corrugated used to group lots of containers, this which lowers costs.
  • a second advantage is above all that by reducing the lateral dimensions of the walls of the tray used, in overflowing the flanges of the containers above walls 5 or 6, it is possible to adjust these dimensions in such a way that the full stacks of trays occupy the entire upper surface of the pallets 2 of handling, resulting in much better stability of these batteries, which wedge each other.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Stackable Containers (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Application Of Or Painting With Fluid Materials (AREA)

Abstract

Selon l'invention, les parties des collerettes (12) des récipients de la couche inférieure de chaque lot non au contact de la ceinture de ce lot et contiguës à une paroi latérale (6) de la barquette font saillie au-dessus de cette paroi latérale et prennent de préférence appui sur celle-ci.According to the invention, the parts of the flanges (12) of the containers of the lower layer of each batch not in contact with the belt of this batch and contiguous to a side wall (6) of the tray protrude above this wall side and preferably lean on it.

Description

La présente invention concerne un système de conditionnement, dans une barquette en un matériau semi-rigide tel que le carton ou le carton ondulé, de lots de récipients pleins superposés, comportant à leur partie supérieure une collerette qui fait saillie latéralement et sur laquelle est fixé un opercule d'obturation.The present invention relates to a system for packaging, in a tray of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, lots of stacked full containers with part thereof upper a flange which projects laterally and on which is fixed a sealing cap.

L'invention concerne également un procédé de mise en place de tels lots de récipients dans cette barquette.The invention also relates to a method of implementing places such batches of containers in this tray.

L'invention concerne enfin le regroupement sur une palette de manutention de piles de barquettes contenant des lots de tels récipients ainsi conditionnés.The invention finally relates to the grouping on a pallet handling stacks of trays containing lots of such containers thus conditioned.

Des récipients de ce type sont, par exemple, des pots de yaourts ou d'autres produit lactés, ainsi que d'autres aliments pâteux divers, notamment pour jeunes enfants, et ils comprennent habituellement un corps cylindrique ou tronconique en matière plastique, fermé à sa partie supérieure par un opercule, qui est scellé sur une collerette du corps faisant saillie latéralement vers l'extérieur. Dans la pratique, divers pots sont attenant latéralement par ces collerettes, dans lesquelles sont prévues des amorces de rupture permettant au consommateur de séparer les pots individuels, et plusieurs plaquettes de tels pots sont généralement superposées et maintenues assemblées par une ceinture souple, par exemple, en carton, pour former un lot, qui est proposé à la vente sous cette forme dans les magasins. Dans de tels lots, la ceinture souple passe généralement au-dessus et au-dessous du lot de pots superposés et l'enserre latéralement suivant deux côtés parallèles, tandis que les pots sont apparents suivant les deux autres côtés, avec leurs collerettes faisant saillie latéralement.Containers of this type are, for example, jars of yogurts or other dairy products, as well as other various pasty foods, especially for young children, and they usually include a cylindrical body or frustoconical in plastic material, closed at its part upper by a cover, which is sealed on a body flange protruding laterally towards outside. In practice, various pots are attached laterally by these flanges, in which are provided for primers of rupture allowing the consumer to separate the individual pots, and several plates of such pots are generally stacked and held assembled by a flexible belt, for example, made of cardboard, to form a batch, which is offered for sale under this form in stores. In such lots, the belt flexible usually goes above and below the lot of superimposed pots and grips laterally along two sides parallel, while the pots are visible according to the two other sides, with their protruding flanges laterally.

Ces lots de pots sont eux-mêmes regroupés dans des barquettes en un matériau semi-rigide tel que le carton ou le carton ondulé, qui, pour leur manutention et leur transport, sont assemblées et superposées sur des palettes de manutention. Les barquettes sont d'un type classique, avec un fond sensiblement rectangulaire, auquel sont attenantes par des lignes de pliage quatre parois latérales articulées entre elles par des lignes de pliage perpendiculaires au fond. Ces parois s'élèvent suivant toute la hauteur du lot de récipients, de manière que les différentes barquettes d'une même pile puissent prendre appui les unes sur les autres lors du gerbage sur palette.These batches of pots are themselves grouped into trays of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, which for handling and transport, are assembled and stacked on pallets Handling. The trays are of a classic type, with a substantially rectangular bottom, to which are adjoining by fold lines four side walls hinged together by fold lines perpendicular to the bottom. These walls rise according to all the height of the batch of containers, so that the different trays of the same stack can take support each other during stacking on a pallet.

Dans les barquettes, les collerettes des pots qui font saillie latéralement viennent en butée contre la face interne de la paroi contiguë de la barquette, ce qui limite le volume utile de celle-ci. En outre, les dimensions usuelles des collerettes des pots sont telles que, même en choisissant de façon optimum le nombre de pots de chaque couche d'un lot, les barquettes utilisées ne recouvrent pas en totalité la surface des palettes de manutention.In the trays, the rims of the pots that make laterally protruding abut against the face internal of the adjoining wall of the tray, which limits the useful volume thereof. In addition, the dimensions usual pot collars are such that even in optimally choosing the number of pots of each layer of a batch, the trays used do not cover the entire surface of the handling pallets.

Il en résulte deux inconvénients majeurs :

  • d'une part, le volume total des lots palettisés est inférieur d'au moins 30 % à ce qu'il pourrait être, si les piles de barquettes recouvraient la totalité de la surface de la palette ;
  • d'autre part, du fait qu'elles ne recouvrent pas toute la surface des palettes en se calant mutuellement, les piles de barquettes sont en équilibre instable et ont tendance à s'effondrer au cours du transport de la palette.
This results in two major drawbacks:
  • on the one hand, the total volume of the palletized batches is at least 30% lower than it could be, if the stacks of trays covered the entire surface of the pallet;
  • on the other hand, because they do not cover the entire surface of the pallets by wedging each other, the stacks of trays are in unstable equilibrium and tend to collapse during transport of the pallet.

La présente invention vise à remédier à ces inconvénients en proposant un système de regroupement sur une palette de manutention de piles de barquettes contenant des lots de tels pots, qui permet :

  • d'utiliser des barquettes à section réduite par rapport à celle des barquettes utilisées usuellement dans le même but ;
  • de réduire la hauteur des parois latérales de ces barquettes et par conséquent de minimiser la quantité de carton ou de carton ondulé utilisée pour leur réalisation ;
  • de constituer des piles de telles barquettes qui occupent sensiblement toute la surface des palettes de manutention, en augmentant ainsi notablement le volume de la charge palettisée et en assurant un bien meilleur équilibre des piles de barquettes ;
  • de gerber les différentes barquettes d'une même pile en appui respectivement sur les pots des lots contenus dans la barquette immédiatement inférieure et non plus sur cette barquette.
The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a grouping system on a pallet for handling stacks of trays containing batches of such pots, which allows:
  • to use trays with a reduced section compared to that of trays usually used for the same purpose;
  • reduce the height of the side walls of these trays and therefore minimize the amount of cardboard or corrugated cardboard used for their production;
  • to constitute stacks of such trays which occupy substantially the entire surface of the handling pallets, thereby notably increasing the volume of the palletized load and ensuring a much better balance of the stacks of trays;
  • to stack the different trays of the same stack by pressing respectively on the pots of the batches contained in the tray immediately below and no longer on this tray.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour premier objet un ensemble comprenant une barquette en un matériau semi-rigide tel que le carton ou le carton ondulé, à fond rectangulaire et à parois latérales dressées perpendiculairement à ce fond et attenantes entre elles et à celui-ci par des lignes de pliage, et, logés en positions contiguës dans cette barquette, des lots constitués chacun de couches superposées de récipients pleins, chaque récipient comportant une collerette faisant saillie vers l'extérieur, par laquelle il est attenant aux récipients contigus et sur laquelle est fixé un opercule d'obturation, les différentes couches d'un lot étant assemblées à l'aide d'une ceinture souple qui passe au-dessus et au-dessous du lot et qui l'enserre latéralement suivant deux côtés opposés, cet ensemble étant caractérisé en ce que les parties des collerettes des récipients de la couche inférieure de chaque lot non au contact de la ceinture de ce lot et contiguës à une paroi latérale de la barquette font saillie au-dessus de cette paroi latérale et prennent de préférence appui sur celle-ci.To this end, the first object of the invention is a set comprising a tray of semi-rigid material such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, with rectangular bottom and with side walls erected perpendicular to this bottom and adjoining each other and to this one by lines of folding, and, housed in adjoining positions in this tray, lots each consisting of superimposed layers of full containers, each container having a outwardly projecting collar, by which it is attached to the adjoining containers and on which is attached a shutter, the different layers of a lot being assembled using a flexible belt which pass above and below the lot and which surrounds it laterally along two opposite sides, this assembly being characterized in that the parts of the flanges of the containers in the bottom layer of each batch not belt contact of this lot and contiguous to a wall side of the tray protrude above this side wall and preferably rest on it.

En variante, chaque lot pourra éventuellement être constitué d'une unique couche de récipients, naturellement sans ceinture dans ce cas, dont les collerettes contiguës aux quatre parois latérales de la barquette prennent appui sur celles-ci.As a variant, each batch could possibly be consisting of a single layer of containers, naturally without belt in this case, including the adjacent flanges the four side walls of the tray are supported on these.

L'invention a également pour objet un procédé de réalisation de l'ensemble qui vient d'être défini, ce procédé étant caractérisé en ce que l'on écarte l'une de l'autre les parties supérieures d'au moins deux parois opposées de la barquette vide destinées à être engagées sous les collerettes de récipients de la première couche des différents lots, en ce que l'on descend vers l'intérieur de la barquette lesdits lots dans la position qu'ils doivent occuper dans cette barquette, en ce que l'on relâche les parois écartées l'une de l'autre lorsque le fond des récipients de la couche inférieure de chaque lot est parvenu au-dessous de l'arête de ces parois, mais n'a pas encore atteint le fond de la barquette, de manière que les parois précédemment écartées reprennent leur position initiale par élasticité et viennent s'engager sous les collerettes contiguës des récipients de la couche inférieure, et en ce que l'on amène les lots de récipients dans leur position définitive dans la barquette.The invention also relates to a method of realization of the set which has just been defined, this process being characterized in that one of the the other the upper parts of at least two walls opposite of the empty tray intended to be engaged under the container flanges of the first layer of different lots, in that we go down towards the inside of the tray said lots in the position they must occupy in this tray, in that we release the walls separated from each other when the bottom of containers from the bottom layer of each batch arrived below the edge of these walls, but has not yet reaches the bottom of the tray, so that the walls previously discarded return to their original position by elasticity and come to engage under the flanges contiguous containers from the bottom layer, and in that that we bring the batches of containers in their position final in the tray.

Les parois opposées de la barquette vide venant s'engager sous les collerettes, lorsqu'elles ne sont pas écartées l'une de l'autre, pourront être parallèles entre elles ou être inclinées vers l'intérieur de la barquette, de manière à venir enserrer ensuite fermement le corps des récipients de la couche inférieure de chaque lot. Comme indiqué ci-dessus, les corps des récipients pourront avoir une forme cylindrique ou tronconique, à section circulaire, carrée ou autre.The opposite walls of the empty tray coming from engage under the flanges, when they are not separated from each other, may be parallel between them or be inclined towards the inside of the tray, so as to come and then firmly grip the body of the containers in the bottom layer of each batch. As indicated above, the bodies of the containers may have a cylindrical or frustoconical shape, with circular section, square or whatever.

Avec le mode de conditionnement des lots de récipients qui vient d'être décrit, les barquettes utilisées ont un fond de dimensions inférieures à celles du fond des barquettes usuelles utilisées dans le même but, puisque les collerettes des récipients, au lieu de venir buter contre la face interne des parois latérales, font saillie au-dessus de celles-ci. Le gain de surface du fond de la barquette est tel qu'il devient possible d'empiler les barquettes sur une palette de manutention de dimensions usuelles (1200 cm x 800 cm) en recouvrant parfaitement la surface supérieure de cette palette, sans barquettes en retrait ou en débord, avec les piles de barquettes en contact mutuel.With the method of packaging batches of containers which has just been described, the trays used have a bottom of dimensions smaller than those of the bottom of usual trays used for the same purpose, since the flanges of the containers, instead of coming up against the inner side of the side walls, protrude above these. The gain in surface area of the bottom of the tray is such that it becomes possible to stack the trays on a handling pallet of usual dimensions (1200 cm x 800 cm) by perfectly covering the surface top of this pallet, without recessed trays or overflowing, with the stacks of trays in mutual contact.

L'invention a par conséquent aussi pour objet un ensemble de regroupement sur une palette de manutention de piles de barquettes contenant des lots de récipients conditionnés comme défini ci-dessus, cet ensemble étant caractérisé en ce que :

  • les parois contiguës des barquettes disposées à la base de piles contiguës sont en contact mutuel et les fonds des barquettes des différentes piles occupent la totalité de la surface supérieure de la palette ;
  • les barquettes des différentes piles prennent appui sur les lots de récipients conditionnés dans la barquette immédiatement inférieure et non sur cette barquette.
The invention therefore therefore also relates to a grouping assembly on a pallet for handling stacks of trays containing batches of containers conditioned as defined above, this unit being characterized in that:
  • the adjoining walls of the trays arranged at the base of adjoining stacks are in mutual contact and the bottoms of the trays of the different stacks occupy the entire upper surface of the pallet;
  • the trays of the different stacks are supported on the batches of containers conditioned in the immediately lower tray and not on this tray.

En effet, il s'est avéré, de façon surprenante, qu'il n'est nullement nécessaire que les barquettes prennent appui au gerbage les unes sur les autres, mais qu'elles peuvent reposer directement sur les lots d'objets des barquettes inférieures.Indeed, it turned out, surprisingly, that it there is no need for the trays to rest stacking on top of each other, but that they can rest directly on batches of trays lower.

C'est pour cette raison, qui va à l'encontre des enseignements de la technique antérieure, qu'il est possible d'utiliser des barquettes dont les parois latérales sont suffisamment basses pour que les collerettes des récipients de la couche inférieure des lots de récipients conditionnés prennent appui sur ces parois.It is for this reason, which goes against the teachings of the prior art, that it is possible to use trays whose side walls are low enough that the flanges of the containers of the lower layer of batches of conditioned containers are supported on these walls.

On notera que ce mode de conditionnement des lots de récipients et de palettisation des barquettes de conditionnement a pour conséquence une réduction très sensible de la quantité de carton utilisée et, par conséquent, du coût du conditionnement.Note that this method of packaging batches of containers and palletizing trays conditioning results in a very reduced sensitive to the quantity of cardboard used and, by therefore, the cost of packaging.

Il résulte en outre de l'utilisation optimale de la surface de la palette un accroissement considérable, pouvant dépasser 30 %, du nombre de récipients stockés sur une palette, et une réduction concomitante du nombre des palettes à utiliser.It also results from the optimal use of the pallet surface a considerable increase, which can exceed 30% of the number of containers stored on one palette, and a concomitant reduction in the number of pallets to use.

Enfin, les piles de palettes se calent mutuellement sur les palettes et il en résulte une stabilité très supérieure des charges palettisées dans les véhicules de transport.Finally, the stacks of pallets wedge each other on the pallets and this results in a much higher stability palletized loads in transport vehicles.

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de l'invention apparaítront dans la description détaillée qui va suivre, dans laquelle on se réfèrera aux dessins annexés, sur lesquels :

  • Les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en perspective de systèmes de conditionnement de récipients de la technique antérieure, illustrant leurs inconvénients lors de leur palettisation ;
  • La figure 3 est une vue en plan du flan de carton ondulé prédécoupé et refoulé, c'est-à-dire préplié, dont est issue une barquette utilisable dans le cadre de l'invention ;
  • La figure 4 est une vue en perspective illustrant la mise en place des lots de récipients dans cette barquette ;
  • La figure 5 montre un lot de récipients en position de transport dans la barquette ;
  • La figure 6 est une coupe verticale de détail de la figure 5 ;
  • La figure 7 est une vue en perspective illustrant la palettisation de piles de ces barquettes contenant des lots de récipients.
    • Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear in the detailed description which follows, in which reference will be made to the appended drawings, in which:
  • Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views of container packaging systems of the prior art, illustrating their disadvantages when palletizing;
  • FIG. 3 is a plan view of the blank of corrugated cardboard which has been pre-cut and pushed back, that is to say pre-folded, from which comes a tray usable in the context of the invention;
  • Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the placement of batches of containers in this tray;
  • Figure 5 shows a batch of containers in the transport position in the tray;
  • Figure 6 is a vertical sectional detail of Figure 5;
  • Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating the palletization of stacks of these trays containing batches of containers.

    • Comme il a été exposé ci-dessus, les lots de récipients pleins du type des pots de yaourt comportant, à leur partie supérieure, une collerette, qui fait saillie vers l'extérieur et dont est solidaire un opercule, sont généralement logés dans des conditionnements en carton ou carton ondulé, tels que les conditionnement 1 des figures 1 et 2, qui ont une section rectangulaire, comportent des parois latérales de hauteur au moins égale à celle des lots conditionnés et sont éventuellement fermés à leur partie supérieure.As discussed above, batches of containers filled with the type of yoghurt pots having, in their part upper, a flange, which projects towards the exterior and of which a cover is integral, are generally housed in cardboard packaging or corrugated cardboard, such as packaging 1 of figures 1 and 2, which have a rectangular section, include side walls of height at least equal to that of the lots packaged and are eventually closed in part superior.

    Dans ces conditionnements, les collerettes des récipients d'une même couche des différents lots sont attenantes et les collerettes contiguës aux parois latérales viennent au contact de celles-ci.In these packages, the collars of the containers of the same layer of different batches are adjoining and the flanges adjoining the side walls come into contact with them.

    Les dimensions usuelles des collerettes des récipients et celles des palettes 2 de manutention sont malheureusement telles que, jusqu'à présent, il n'a pas été possible de réaliser des conditionnements 1, qui empilés, recouvrent exactement la surface supérieure des palettes 2. Il en résulte que, quelle que soit la disposition relative des piles (voir figures 1 et 2), ces piles forment des ensembles en équilibre instable, qui, dans les véhicules de transport, ont tendance à s'effondrer.The usual dimensions of container flanges and those of the 2 handling pallets are unfortunately such that, to date, it has not been possible to make packages 1, which stacked, overlap exactly the upper surface of the pallets 2. There As a result, whatever the relative provision of batteries (see Figures 1 and 2), these batteries form sets in unstable equilibrium, which in transport vehicles tend to collapse.

    C'est pour remédier à cet inconvénient, pour accroítre le volume des charges palettisées et pour réduire simultanément les quantités de carton ou de carton ondulé utilisées pour réaliser les emballages, que la présente invention propose le nouveau mode de conditionnement qui fait l'objet de la présente invention.It is to remedy this drawback, to increase the volume of palletized loads and to reduce simultaneously the quantities of cardboard or corrugated cardboard used to make the packaging, that this invention proposes the new mode of packaging which is the subject of the present invention.

    Dans ce but, conformément à l'invention, les lots ne sont plus regroupés dans des conditionnements dont les parois latérales les enveloppent complètement, mais dans des barquettes à fond rectangulaire, contre les parois latérales desquelles les collerettes des récipients ne viennent plus en butée, mais sur les tranches desquelles elles prennent appui.For this purpose, in accordance with the invention, the batches do not are more grouped in packaging, the side walls completely wrap them, but in trays with rectangular bottom, against the side walls from which the flanges of the containers no longer come in abutment, but on the edges of which they take support.

    Les barquette utilisées peuvent être de différents types, par exemple du type issu du flan 3 de carton ondulé prédécoupé et refoulé représenté sur la figure 3.The trays used can be of different types, for example of the type from the blank 3 of corrugated cardboard precut and repressed shown in Figure 3.

    Ce flan comporte une partie de fond 4 rectangulaire, à laquelle sont attenantes, par deux lignes de pliage parallèles, deux parois transversales 5, destinées à être dressées perpendiculairement au fond 1, et, par deux lignes de pliage perpendiculaires aux précédentes, deux parois longitudinales 6, destinées également à être dressées perpendiculairement au fond 1. Ces parois 6 se prolongent par des volets 7 attenants à ces parois par des lignes de pliage destinées à être perpendiculaires au fond 4, ces volets 7 venant se fixer contre la face interne des parois 5, par exemple par collage.This blank has a rectangular bottom portion 4, with which are adjoining, by two fold lines parallel, two transverse walls 5, intended to be erected perpendicular to the bottom 1, and by two lines folding perpendicular to the previous ones, two walls longitudinal 6, also intended to be upright perpendicular to the bottom 1. These walls 6 extend by shutters 7 adjoining these walls by lines of folding intended to be perpendicular to the bottom 4, these flaps 7 coming to be fixed against the internal face of the walls 5, for example by gluing.

    Comme on le voit sur les figures 4 à 6, les lots 10 de récipients pleins 11 à conditionner comportent ici trois couches superposées de récipients, mais ce nombre pourrait naturellement être différent. Les récipients de chaque couche comportent à leur partie supérieure une collerette 12 faisant saillie latéralement, par laquelle ils sont attenants aux récipients contigus et à laquelle adhère l'opercule d'obturation des récipients. Les couches superposées de récipients pleins sont cerclées de façon connue par une ceinture souple 13, ici en carton mince, qui passe au-dessus et au-dessous du lot de récipients et les enserre latéralement suivant deux côtés parallèles.As seen in Figures 4 to 6, lots 10 of full containers 11 to be packaged here have three stacked layers of containers but that number could naturally be different. The containers of each layer have at their upper part a collar 12 protruding laterally, by which they are adjacent to and to which adjoins the closure for closing the containers. Layers superimposed full containers are encircled so known by a flexible belt 13, here made of thin cardboard, which passes above and below the batch of containers and the grips laterally along two parallel sides.

    Conformément à l'invention, comme représenté sur les figures 5 et 6, les différents lots 10 de récipients sont logés en positions contiguës dans les barquettes, contre la face interne de deux parois desquelles, ici les parois transversales 5, viennent s'appliquer les ceintures 13 des lots, tandis que les deux autres parois, ici les parois longitudinales 6, sont engagées au-dessous des collerettes 12 des récipients de la couche inférieure de chaque lot, ces collerettes 12 reposant sur la tranche de la paroi 6 contiguë, de préférence sans déborder à l'extérieur.In accordance with the invention, as shown in the Figures 5 and 6, the different lots 10 of containers are housed in adjoining positions in the trays, against internal face of two walls of which, here the walls transverse 5, apply the belts 13 of the lots, while the other two walls, here the walls longitudinal 6, are engaged below the flanges 12 containers from the bottom layer of each batch, these flanges 12 resting on the edge of the wall 6 contiguous, preferably without overflowing outside.

    Pour mettre en place les lots 10 de récipients dans la barquette, on amène au-dessus de celles-ci les différents lots (voir figure 4, sur laquelle un unique lot a été représenté pour plus de clarté), en repoussant simultanément les parois 6 (et éventuellement les parois 5) vers l'extérieur, suivant la flèche F, à l'aide d'un embossoir. On abaisse alors l'ensemble des lots 13 vers le fond 4 de la barquette et l'on relâche les parois 6 lorsque les fonds des récipients de la couche inférieure sont arrivés à un niveau inférieur à celui de la tranche de ces parois 6, sans avoir encore atteint le fond 4 de la barquette. Les parois 6, reviennent alors par élasticité à leur position initiale et viennent s'appliquer latéralement contre le corps 11 des récipients contigus de la couche inférieure des différents lots, au-dessous de leur collerette 12.To set up lots 10 of containers in the tray, we bring above them the different lots (see Figure 4, where a single lot was shown for clarity), simultaneously pushing away walls 6 (and possibly walls 5) towards the outside, along arrow F, using an embosser. We then lower all the lots 13 towards the bottom 4 of the tray and the walls 6 are released when the bottoms of the bottom layer containers have reached a level lower than that of the edge of these walls 6, without having still reached the bottom 4 of the tray. The walls 6, then return by elasticity to their initial position and are applied laterally against the body 11 of contiguous containers of the lower layer of different lots, below their flange 12.

    Dans le cas du dessin, les parois 6 de la barquette vide sont perpendiculaires au fond 4 de la barquette, mais, comme il a été indiqué ci-dessus, elles peuvent aussi être inclinées vers l'intérieur de la barquette, pour être redressées vers l'extérieur lors de la mise en place des lots de récipients.In the case of the drawing, the walls 6 of the empty tray are perpendicular to the bottom 4 of the tray, but, as it was stated above, they can also be inclined towards the inside of the tray, to be straightened outward when the lots of containers.

    Un premier avantage de ce mode de conditionnement est que l'on réduit considérablement la quantité de carton ondulé utilisée pour regrouper les lots de récipients, ce qui permet d'abaisser les coûts.A first advantage of this packaging method is that we considerably reduce the amount of cardboard corrugated used to group lots of containers, this which lowers costs.

    Un second avantage est surtout qu'en réduisant les dimensions latérales des parois de la barquette utilisée, en faisant déborder les collerettes des récipients au-dessus des parois 5 ou 6, il est possible d'ajuster ces dimensions de façon telle que les piles de barquettes pleines occupent la totalité de la surface supérieure des palettes 2 de manutention, avec pour conséquence une bien meilleure stabilité de ces piles, qui se calent mutuellement.A second advantage is above all that by reducing the lateral dimensions of the walls of the tray used, in overflowing the flanges of the containers above walls 5 or 6, it is possible to adjust these dimensions in such a way that the full stacks of trays occupy the entire upper surface of the pallets 2 of handling, resulting in much better stability of these batteries, which wedge each other.

    Il résulte également de cette occupation optimum de la surface de la palette un accroissement notable, dépassant 30 % du volume des lots palettisés, et une réduction d'au moins 25 % du nombre de palettes utilisées pour acheminer un même volume de lots de récipients.It also results from this optimum occupation of the pallet surface a significant increase, exceeding 30 % of the volume of palletized lots, and a reduction of at least 25% of the number of pallets used to transport the same volume of batches of containers.

    On notera enfin que les différentes barquettes reposent directement sur les lots de récipients conditionnés dans la barquette immédiatement inférieure de la pile, ce qui diffère complètement de la technique antérieure et assure une bien meilleure circulation d'air entre les récipients.Finally, note that the different trays rest directly on the batches of containers packed in the immediately lower tray of the stack, which differs completely from the prior art and ensures much better air circulation between the containers.

    Claims (6)

    Ensemble comprenant une barquette en un matériau semi-rigide tel que le carton ou le carton ondulé, à fond rectangulaire (4) et à parois latérales (5, 6) dressées perpendiculairement à ce fond et attenantes entre elles et à celui-ci par des lignes de pliage, et, logés en positions contiguës dans cette barquette, des lots (10) constitués chacun de couches superposées de récipients pleins (11), chaque récipient (11) comportant une collerette (12) faisant saillie vers l'extérieur, par laquelle il est attenant aux récipients contigus et sur laquelle est fixé un opercule d'obturation, les différentes couches d'un lot étant assemblées à l'aide d'une ceinture souple (13), qui passe au-dessus et au-dessous du lot et qui l'enserre latéralement suivant deux côtés opposés, cet ensemble étant caractérisé en ce que les parties des collerettes (12) des récipients de la couche inférieure de chaque lot non au contact de la ceinture de ce lot et contiguës à une paroi latérale (6) de la barquette font saillie au-dessus de cette paroi latérale et prennent de préférence appui sur celle-ci.Set comprising a tray of material semi-rigid such as cardboard or corrugated cardboard, fully rectangular (4) and with erect side walls (5, 6) perpendicular to this bottom and adjoining them and to this by folding lines, and, housed in positions contiguous in this tray, lots (10) made up each of superimposed layers of full containers (11), each container (11) comprising a flange (12) forming protruding outwards, by which it adjoins the contiguous containers and on which is fixed a cover filling, the different layers of a batch being assembled using a flexible belt (13), which passes above and below the lot and which encloses it laterally along two opposite sides, this assembly being characterized in that the parts of the flanges (12) of the containers the bottom layer of each batch not in contact with the belt of this lot and contiguous to a side wall (6) of the tray protrude above this side wall and preferably build on it. Variante de l'ensemble selon la revendication 1, dans laquelle le lot de récipients (11) comporte une seule couche de récipients sans ceinture souple de regroupement, caractérisé en ce que les collerettes (12) des récipients (11) contigus aux quatre parois (5, 6) de la barquette font saillie au-dessus de ces parois.Variant of the assembly according to claim 1, in which the batch of containers (11) comprises a single layer containers without flexible grouping belt, characterized in that the flanges (12) of the containers (11) adjoining the four walls (5, 6) of the tray protruding above these walls. Procédé de réalisation d'un ensemble selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, ce procédé étant caractérisé en ce que l'on écarte l'une de l'autre les parties supérieures d'au moins deux parois opposées (6) de la barquette vide destinées à être engagées sous les collerettes (12) de récipients (11) de la première couche des différents lots (10), en ce que l'on descend vers l'intérieur de la barquette (10) lesdits lots dans la position qu'ils doivent occuper dans cette barquette, en ce que l'on relâche les parois (6) écartées l'une de l'autre lorsque le fond des récipients (11) de la couche inférieure de chaque lot est parvenu au-dessous de l'arête de ces parois, mais n'a pas encore atteint le fond (4) de la barquette, de manière que les parois précédemment écartées reprennent leur position initiale par élasticité et viennent s'engager sous les collerettes (12) contiguës des récipients (11) de la couche inférieure, et en ce que l'on amène les lots (10) de récipients dans leur position définitive dans la barquette.Method for producing an assembly according to one of Claims 1 and 2, this process being characterized in that spread the upper parts apart at least two opposite walls (6) of the empty tray intended to be engaged under the flanges (12) of containers (11) of the first layer of the different batches (10), in that we descend towards the interior of the tray (10) said lots in the position they must occupy in this tray, in that we release the walls (6) spaced from each other when the bottom of the containers (11) from the bottom layer of each batch is reached below the edge of these walls, but did not still reached the bottom (4) of the tray, so that the previously separated walls resume their position elasticity and engage under the contiguous flanges (12) of the containers (11) of the layer lower, and in that we bring the lots (10) of containers in their final position in the tray. Procédé selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que les parois opposées (5, 6) des barquettes vides destinées à venir s'engager sous les collerettes (12) du récipient (11), sont normalement parallèles entre elles.Method according to claim 3, characterized in that that the opposite walls (5, 6) of the empty trays intended to come to engage under the flanges (12) of the container (11), are normally parallel to each other. Procédé selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que les parois opposées (5, 6) des barquettes vides destinées à venir s'engager sous les collerettes (12) des récipients (11) sont normalement inclinées vers l'intérieur de la barquette.Method according to claim 3, characterized in that that the opposite walls (5, 6) of the empty trays intended to come to engage under the flanges (12) of containers (11) are normally inclined inwards from the tray. Ensemble de regroupement sur une palette de manutention (2) de piles de barquettes contenant des lots (10) de récipients (11) selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, cet ensemble étant caractérisé en ce que : les parois contiguës des barquettes disposées à la base de piles contiguës sont en contact mutuel et les fonds des barquettes des différentes piles occupent la totalité de la surface supérieure de la palette (2) ; les barquettes des différentes piles prennent appui sur les lots (10) de récipients conditionnés dans la barquette immédiatement inférieure et non sur cette barquette. Assembly assembly on a handling pallet (2) of stacks of trays containing lots (10) of containers (11) according to one of claims 1 and 2, this assembly being characterized in that: the adjoining walls of the trays arranged at the base of adjoining stacks are in mutual contact and the bottoms of the trays of the different stacks occupy the entire upper surface of the pallet (2); the trays of the different stacks are supported on the lots (10) of containers conditioned in the tray immediately below and not on this tray.
    EP19990400592 1998-04-20 1999-03-11 System for packaging batches of filled, flanged containers stacked upon each other in a tray made of semi-rigid material Expired - Lifetime EP0959018B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (2)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    FR9804912 1998-04-20
    FR9804912A FR2777549B1 (en) 1998-04-20 1998-04-20 PACKAGING SYSTEM IN A TRAY IN SEMI-RIGID MATERIAL OF LOTS OF FULLY SUPERIMPOSED CONTAINERS, COMPRISING A COLLAR WITH THEIR TOP

    Publications (2)

    Publication Number Publication Date
    EP0959018A1 true EP0959018A1 (en) 1999-11-24
    EP0959018B1 EP0959018B1 (en) 2003-06-04

    Family

    ID=9525437

    Family Applications (1)

    Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
    EP19990400592 Expired - Lifetime EP0959018B1 (en) 1998-04-20 1999-03-11 System for packaging batches of filled, flanged containers stacked upon each other in a tray made of semi-rigid material

    Country Status (4)

    Country Link
    EP (1) EP0959018B1 (en)
    DE (1) DE69908490T2 (en)
    ES (1) ES2195524T3 (en)
    FR (1) FR2777549B1 (en)

    Families Citing this family (1)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    DE20308183U1 (en) * 2003-05-16 2003-07-31 Campina GmbH & Co. KG, 74078 Heilbronn Transport device for milk products

    Citations (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US4244472A (en) * 1979-06-05 1981-01-13 Inland Container Corporation Stacked shipping unit
    FR2622549A1 (en) * 1987-10-29 1989-05-05 Gervais Danone Packaging device of the tray type for a plurality of individual objects, in particular pots or similar
    DE4418425A1 (en) * 1993-07-19 1995-01-26 Wez Kunststoff Stackable plastic container for receiving conical plastic pots, in particular yoghurt pots

    Patent Citations (3)

    * Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
    Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
    US4244472A (en) * 1979-06-05 1981-01-13 Inland Container Corporation Stacked shipping unit
    FR2622549A1 (en) * 1987-10-29 1989-05-05 Gervais Danone Packaging device of the tray type for a plurality of individual objects, in particular pots or similar
    DE4418425A1 (en) * 1993-07-19 1995-01-26 Wez Kunststoff Stackable plastic container for receiving conical plastic pots, in particular yoghurt pots

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    DE69908490D1 (en) 2003-07-10
    DE69908490T2 (en) 2004-05-06
    FR2777549B1 (en) 2000-07-07
    ES2195524T3 (en) 2003-12-01
    EP0959018B1 (en) 2003-06-04
    FR2777549A1 (en) 1999-10-22

    Similar Documents

    Publication Publication Date Title
    WO1998047774A1 (en) Package, assembly of blanks, method and device for packaging an articles or a group of articles of indefinite volume
    EP0579158B1 (en) Stackable and nestable packing crate with skeleton-construction sidewall
    FR2631926A1 (en) Improved stackable container
    EP0337840B1 (en) Modular units, apt to be stacked with units of same type , but with different volume, to form a palletizable batch
    EP0930999A1 (en) Package, method and device for packaging a batch of articles of undetermined volume
    CA2686552A1 (en) Bottle packaging box and corresponding cutouts
    EP0225208B1 (en) Package and method for packaging products in cling films
    EP0122864A1 (en) Method for parallelepipedic packing, and package obtained by this method
    EP0959018B1 (en) System for packaging batches of filled, flanged containers stacked upon each other in a tray made of semi-rigid material
    FR2792290A1 (en) Set of blanks for construction of folding crate form tray and lid and crate has transverse side wall which may be manually torn from remainder of crate
    FR2738220A1 (en) PALLETIZATION PROCESS WITH COMPRESSION RESISTANCE REINFORCEMENT
    JPH09505793A (en) Container with tab for holding articles
    EP2829486B1 (en) Packaging comprising a semi-rigid material and a heat-shrinkable film, blank and method of manufacture
    EP1279618B1 (en) Closed packaging case and lid made of different materials
    FR2617810A3 (en) Folding package of the fruit tray type
    FR2810968A1 (en) Blank for container packaging has base and sidewalls with cut outs shaped to receive sections of packaged containers
    FR2600307A1 (en) Package for bottles laid head-to-tail
    EP2723645A1 (en) Packaging of objects located in one or more layers
    FR2733740A1 (en) Package for grouped objects, e.g. containers of drink, made from two or more cardboard panels and interlocking elements
    FR2689484A1 (en) Stackable carton corrugated packaging - has two parallel walls doubled at top by flaps held by bands and at ends of other walls folding flaps forming wedge for corresponding packaging resting on bands
    FR2862615A1 (en) Stackable tray for e.g. yogurt package, has two opposed lateral walls each comprising flap provided with longitudinal flap to form bead on top part of former flap, and recess situated under bead, where tray is made of cardboard
    FR2776621A1 (en) Cardboard blank for making video cassette presentation package
    FR2481230A1 (en) Tray container made from single material sheet - has extension pieces to sides folded at corners for stacking
    FR2847885A1 (en) NOVEL PACKAGING, PARTICULARLY PALLETIZABLE, PALLET COMPRISING THE SAME AND MANUFACTURING METHODS THEREOF
    FR2737700A1 (en) Corrugated cardboard handling palette - comprises upper and lower panels each having perpendicular flaps inserted into each other and stuck together, second perpendicular flaps on panel edges stuck to corresponding flaps on other panel

    Legal Events

    Date Code Title Description
    PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

    AK Designated contracting states

    Kind code of ref document: A1

    Designated state(s): BE CH DE ES GB IT LI NL

    AX Request for extension of the european patent

    Free format text: AL;LT;LV;MK;RO;SI

    17P Request for examination filed

    Effective date: 20000405

    AKX Designation fees paid

    Free format text: BE CH DE ES GB IT LI NL

    GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

    17Q First examination report despatched

    Effective date: 20020514

    GRAG Despatch of communication of intention to grant

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS AGRA

    GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

    GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

    GRAA (expected) grant

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

    AK Designated contracting states

    Designated state(s): BE CH DE ES GB IT LI NL

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: GB

    Ref legal event code: FG4D

    Free format text: NOT ENGLISH

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: EP

    GBT Gb: translation of ep patent filed (gb section 77(6)(a)/1977)
    REF Corresponds to:

    Ref document number: 69908490

    Country of ref document: DE

    Date of ref document: 20030710

    Kind code of ref document: P

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: NV

    Representative=s name: FREI PATENTANWALTSBUERO

    PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

    Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

    STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

    Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

    26N No opposition filed

    Effective date: 20040305

    PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: IT

    Payment date: 20060331

    Year of fee payment: 8

    PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: ES

    Payment date: 20080328

    Year of fee payment: 10

    Ref country code: CH

    Payment date: 20080314

    Year of fee payment: 10

    PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: NL

    Payment date: 20080318

    Year of fee payment: 10

    Ref country code: GB

    Payment date: 20080320

    Year of fee payment: 10

    PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: DE

    Payment date: 20080321

    Year of fee payment: 10

    PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: BE

    Payment date: 20080430

    Year of fee payment: 10

    BERE Be: lapsed

    Owner name: *SMURFIT-SOCAR

    Effective date: 20090331

    PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: IT

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20070311

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: CH

    Ref legal event code: PL

    GBPC Gb: european patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

    Effective date: 20090311

    NLV4 Nl: lapsed or anulled due to non-payment of the annual fee

    Effective date: 20091001

    PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: LI

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20090331

    Ref country code: DE

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20091001

    Ref country code: CH

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20090331

    PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: NL

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20091001

    Ref country code: BE

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20090331

    PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: GB

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20090311

    REG Reference to a national code

    Ref country code: ES

    Ref legal event code: FD2A

    Effective date: 20090312

    PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

    Ref country code: ES

    Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

    Effective date: 20090312