IE970135A1

IE970135A1 - Packaging

Info

Publication number: IE970135A1
Application number: IE970135A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Fergus Mcnamee; Clive Smith
Original assignee: Ranleigh Limited
Priority date: 1997-03-03
Filing date: 1997-03-03
Publication date: 1998-09-09
Also published as: GB2322849B; GB9804432D0; IE980154A1; GB2322849A; IE82204B1; IES81332B2; IES990077A2

Abstract

Combined stacking and packaging aids (1,2) have recesses defined by wall (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 (18) 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. <Fig. 1>

Description

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 Invention According to the invention, there is provided a combined stacking and packaging aid for interleaving between layers of substantially flat articles comprising a sheet having a plurality of formations arranged in side by side relation, each of the formations being so shaped as to receive a flat article and prevent lateral movement thereof.

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

In 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 flat articles therebetween.

In an especially preferred embodiment of the invention, finger receiving slot means are provided in a wall of the sheet defining the formation to facilitate access to the flat article for removal from the formation.

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 following 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 similar combined stacking and packaging aid of the invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view illustrating the combined stacking and packaging aids of Figs. 1 and 2 in use; - 3 Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of a combined stacking and packaging aid; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of two of the aids in use; and Fig. 6 is a side view of stack of the aids, in use.

Detailed Description of the Invention Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a first combined stacking and packaging aid 1 and in Fig. 2 a second combined stacking and packaging aid 2 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 of Fig. 1, the articles are arranged in two rows, one outer one containing two plates 3 and a second inner one containing three plates 3. In the case of the aid of Fig. 2, the outer row will contain three plates and the inner row will contain two plates 3 so that when the aids 1, 2 are engaged in side-by-side relation as illustrated in Fig. 3, each layer will accommodate ten plates 3. 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, 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. - 4 Each of the formations 10 is so shaped as to receive a single plate 3 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 3 of different sizes and shapes.

The underside of the sheets 1, 2 also includes recesses 18 which engage between the walls 11, 12 when a plate 3 is located in the formation to sandwich the plate 3 therebetween.

The 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 portions 20 and recessed portions 21 which interengage when the sheets are stacked one upon another as illustrated particularly in Fig. 5.

In use, a first of the sheets 1 is laid on a pallet 30 with the formations 10 facing up. Plates 3 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 30 is then rotated and a first of the sheets 2 is laid on the pallet 30 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 as illustrated in Fig. 6. At the point of use, the plates 3 are removed from the - 5 sheets, the plates 3 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 re5 use.

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

Claims

1. A combined stacking and packaging aid for interleaving between layers of substantially flat articles comprising a sheet having a plurality of formations arranged in side by side relation, each of the formations being so shaped as to receive a flat article and prevent lateral movement thereof.

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 flat articles.

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 cooperate to sandwich a layer of flat articles therebetween.

4. A combined stacking a packaging aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein finger receiving slot means are provided in a wall of the sheet defining the formation to facilitate access to the flat article for removal from the formation.

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

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

7. A combined stacking and packaging aid as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the sheet is thermoformed from a plastics material.

8. A combined stacking and packaging aid as claimed in 5 claim 7 wherein the plastics material is a polyethylene material.

9. A combined stacking and packaging aid substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings .