ES2729995T3 - Vertical tray, container and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A tray (20) for use in a container (10) having an outer surrounding envelope (14), the tray (20) comprising: at least one compartment (30) having a bottom wall (34), an opening (36 ) opposite the bottom wall (34) and a side wall (32) extending between the bottom wall (34) and the opening (36); a peripheral edge (22) generally flat disposed around the compartment (30) and adjacent to the opening (36); characterized in that at least one flap (40) connected with respect to the edge (22) by means of an associated intersection (26) and extending practically perpendicular with respect to the edge (22) such that the tray (20) can be held on the flap (40) in a generally vertical orientation, where the flap (40) can move around the intersection from a first position, practically parallel with respect to the edge (22), to a second position, practically perpendicular with respect to the edge (22).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Vertical tray, container and method

Countryside

In this report a tray and, in particular, a tray configured to remain vertical on one end, as well as a container incorporating the tray, a method for forming the tray and a method for forming the container incorporating the tray are described.

Background

A common package, such as for food products, includes a tray surrounded by a continuous wrapper. Said trays may include one or more compartments, where each compartment has a bottom wall, an opposite access opening and a surrounding side wall that extends between the bottom wall and the access opening. Such trays also include a peripheral edge that surrounds the compartment or, if there is more than one compartment, that surrounds more than one compartment. However, it may be difficult for said containers to remain vertical on their end because the edge projects outwardly beyond the bottom wall of the compartment. Therefore, when they remain vertical on an edge and supported by an edge of the bottom wall of the compartment and an edge of the edge, a substantial angle of inclination is formed and the center of gravity of the container can be positioned so that it is difficult for the container stay vertical. Although the package could be arranged on its lower face or upper face, that orientation would make a small part of the package visible to a consumer, such as in a retail display or retail shelf.

US-A-4158408 describes a container for candy canes that is a body of resilient synthetic resin material that has a pair of depressions receiving sticks in it. GB-A-1205473 describes a tray for placing cylindrical articles that is formed from a thermoplastic sheet and comprises a generally flat upper surface formed with a plurality of holes. US-A1-2003106829 describes a slotted tray assembly for a perishable food product having a tray body with at least one wrapper layer. US-A-5695798 describes a compartmentalized plastic food container that includes a sealed container and cover having a plurality of individually sealed chambers for different food products.

Summary

The present invention provides a tray according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 14.

This document describes a tray for use in a food container that has an outer surrounding wrapper, such as a continuous wrapper, and configured to remain vertical on one end. The tray can include one or more compartments. Each of the compartments may include a bottom wall, an opening opposite the bottom wall and a surrounding side wall that extends between the bottom wall and the opening. A generally flat peripheral edge is arranged, at least in part and preferably completely, around the periphery of the tray and adjacent to the compartment opening or, if there is more than one compartment, the openings of the compartments. The tray includes at least one and, optionally, a pair of flaps, arranged on opposite sides of the tray, or one side if there is only one flap. Any description herein regarding the structure and function of a pair of flaps will also be applicable to a tray having only one flap. Each of the flaps is connected to the edge by means of an intersection or associated joint and extends practically perpendicular to the edge, so that the tray can rest on one of the flaps in a generally vertical orientation.

In one aspect, each of the flaps, or the flap if there is only one flap, can move from a first position, substantially parallel to the edge, to a second position, substantially perpendicular to the edge. The flaps can move around the intersection from the first position to the second position. The intersection may be one of a channel, an incision, a perforation or a weakened section arranged between the edge and the flap. The intersection may, optionally, have a notch at least one end and, preferably, at each end, to facilitate movement from the first position to the second position.

In another aspect, each of the flaps can have a plurality of tabs. Each of the tabs of at least one of the flaps can generally extend perpendicular to the edge when the at least one of the flaps extends substantially perpendicular to the edge.

In yet another aspect, a part of the side wall of the one or more compartments, adjacent to one of the flaps, may have a narrowing inwardly from the adjacent flap joint. The tabs of one of the flaps may have intermediate segments that increase in depth that generally correspond to the narrowing into the side wall so that when one of the flaps extends substantially perpendicular to the edge, a portion of at least one and preferably more than one of the segments between the flanges is resting against the part of the side wall of one or more compartments. This can advantageously facilitate a generally perpendicular orientation of the container when it is supported by one of the flaps because the flap can rest against the adjacent compartment to further limit the movement into the flap while holding the flap, so that the flap can in turn hold the container in the generally vertical orientation.

In one aspect, each of the tabs in one, or both, flaps can narrow its width toward the intersection. In other words, the tabs may be wider in the far part of the intersection than in the part adjacent to the intersection. Each of the flaps has a free end, opposite the adjacent intersection, which is arranged until almost, but not enough, and generally not reached, the bottom wall of at least one of the at least one compartment. In other words, the flap, or both flaps, do not have a length equal to the distance from the flap to the bottom wall of the compartment or compartments. This can advantageously ensure that the flap or flaps do not interfere with the transport of the tray along a conveyor before the continuous wrapping since the tray can be supported by the bottom wall of the compartment or bottom walls of the compartments . The free ends of each of the flaps can optionally have a small edge that extends outwardly. This small edge can help maintain the shape of the eyelashes, particularly adjacent to it.

In one of the aspects described herein, the tray may include a single compartment or an arrangement of a plurality of compartments each optionally surrounded by the edge, and the arrangement preferably be surrounded, at least partially, by the edge. .

In any of the aspects described herein, the tray may be provided with an outer surrounding wrapper. The wrapping can be applied using a continuous wrapping process. For example, the surrounding outer wrap may be a continuous wrap having a pair of end seals, where the end seals are generally arranged, optionally, perpendicular to the flaps. Food or other products may be deposited in the compartment or compartments before continuous wrapping.

A method of forming a container using the tray described herein may include one or more of the steps of thermoforming or otherwise forming the tray, depositing one or more food products in each of the at least one compartment, folding each one of the flaps from the first position to the second position, before or after the deposit stage, and surrounding the tray with a wrapper, such as using a continuous wrapping process.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a tray according to an illustrative embodiment, showing a plurality of compartments surrounded by a peripheral edge and a pair of opposite flaps that depend on the edge of the edge;

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the tray of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the tray of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an elevation profile view of the tray of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the tray taken along line A-A of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a container having an outer surrounding wrap surrounding the tray of Figure 1;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the container of Figure 6 taken along the line VII-VN;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a tray similar to the tray of Figure 1, but showing the flaps in an unfolded orientation, with other differences described below;

Figure 9 is a bottom perspective view of the tray of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a top plan view of the tray of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is an elevational profile view of the tray of Figure 8; and

Figure 12 is an end view of the tray of Figure 8.

Detailed description

A package 10 is provided that has a tray 20 that has one or more compartments 30 to contain a product, such as a food product 12, and an outer surrounding wrap 14, where the package 10 is configured to remain vertical on one of its ends . This may advantageously allow the Large front face of the container is oriented outward when the container is on a shelf in a store, thus providing a larger space for images and other information. The one or more compartments 30 of the tray are at least partially surrounded by a peripheral edge 22. At least one flap 40 is separated from the compartments 30 by the edge 22. Preferably, but not necessarily, a pair of opposite flaps 40 are separated of the compartments by the edge 22. The flaps have an orientation that is adjacent to the compartments 30 and, in some cases, adjacent to the compartments 30 so that the container 10 can be supported in its vertical orientation by one of the flaps 40 Optionally, the flaps 40 may each include a plurality of flanges 42 with intermediate segments that have a corresponding narrowing or, in some cases, coincide with the narrowing of a side wall 32 of an adjacent compartment 30 so that part of the flaps 40 can rest against the side wall 32 of the compartment 30. This can produce a generally perpendicular angle between re the flap surfaces and the edge 22 to facilitate the support of the container 10 in its vertical orientation.

Turning now to an illustrative embodiment of the tray 20 for use in the container 10, shown in Figures 1-5, the tray 20 includes an arrangement of a plurality of compartments 30. Each of the compartments has a bottom wall 34, shown in Figures 1-3, an access opening 36, as shown in Figure 1, and a side wall 32 extending between the access opening 36 and the bottom wall 34, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The side walls 32 of the compartments 30 may have an inward narrowing, as shown in Figure 5, so that the access opening 36 has a larger area than the area of the lower wall 34. The narrowing may provided as part of a traction angle to facilitate the removal of tray 20 from a mold cavity during shaping. The compartments 30 are sized to accommodate products, such as food products 12, for example, cookies. Although multiple compartments 30 are shown, in the illustrative embodiment of Figures 1-5 the number of compartments may vary, even having a single compartment. In addition, the height of the side wall 32 may vary for a given compartment 30.

The compartments 30 are surrounded by a peripheral edge 22 adjacent to their access openings 36. Specifically, the compartment arrangement is surrounded by the edge 22. The edge 22 may optionally extend between adjacent compartments 30 or partially between adjacent compartments 30. The edge 22 is generally flat, and is optionally generally coplanar with at least a portion of the lower walls 34 of the compartments 30. Although an edge 22 is shown surrounding the arrangement of compartments 30, instead, the edge 22 it could be only on a pair of opposite sides of tray 20 or only on one side of tray 20. The edges could also be arranged on adjacent sides of a corner of the tray, or on all sides of the tray. The edge 22 may also include a small fence 24 turned down, as shown in Figure 9.

A pair of opposite flaps 40 are attached to the edge 22, as shown in Figures 2 and 5. The flaps 40 may be joined with respect to the edge 22 by respective intersections 26, which may optionally be joints. For example, the flaps 40 may be attached directly to the flat part of the edge 22 or attached to the fence 24 of the edge 22. The flaps 40 generally extend parallel to each other and generally perpendicular to the generally flat part of the edge 20. Each of The edges 40 advantageously provide a support surface for supporting the container 10 in a vertical orientation, as shown in Figure 7. Although two edges 40 are shown, a single edge can be provided. Furthermore, although the edges 40 are shown on a longer side of the tray 20, these could alternatively extend on the shorter side of the tray 20, either on a long side or on a short side, or in everywhere. Because the edge 40 protrudes outwardly from the top of the compartments 30, adjacent to the access openings 36, if the flaps 40 were not present, then the tray would be tilted when attempting to remain vertical on one end. That is, the tray, and the container, would be supported by the edges of the bottom wall of the compartments and an adjacent edge of the edge. This inclination is obtained with the cavity of the edges of the lower walls with respect to the adjacent edge of the edge. The inclination can be of such a degree that the package is unstable and cannot be supported or destabilized, in a vertical orientation on one of its ends. The flaps 40 compensate for this cavity and can provide a more stable container 10 capable of being held in a vertical orientation on the end of the container adjacent to one of the flaps 40.

Turning now to the details of the flaps 40, each of the flaps can have a series of tabs 42, as shown in Figure 4. The tabs 42 can provide resistance to the flaps 40, and can extend outwardly away from the compartments 30, in relation to the inner part or segments 44 of the flaps 40 disposed between adjacent flanges 42. The flanges 42 may have a projecting surface that is optionally curved. Incoming segments 44 of the flaps 40 may narrow inward toward adjacent compartments 30, with increasing narrowing as incoming segments 44 move away from adjacent intersection 26. In other words, the depth of the tabs 42 increases as the tabs 42 move away from the intersection 26, thereby placing the incoming segments 44 of the flaps 40 progressively further inward. The narrowing of the incoming segments 44 of the flaps 40 may correspond or coincide with the narrowing of the side walls 32 of the adjacent compartments 30. Advantageously, this may allow the flaps 40, specifically their incoming segments 44, to rest against the side walls 32 of the adjacent compartments 30, as shown in Figure 5, so that the angle between the outer surface of the tabs 42 and the generally flat portion of the edge 22 are generally perpendicular at another preferred angle that facilitates the support of the container 10 on the edge 40 of the tray 20 when the tray 20 is surrounded by the outer wrapper 14. The tabs 42 may also have a width which narrows, increasing in width as the tabs 42 move away from the intersection 26, in addition to the depth of the tabs 42 that narrows. The tabs 42 may optionally extend to the free edges of the flaps 40, and optional edges 46 may extend between the lower edges of the tabs 42. Although it has been described that the tabs 42 protrude outwardly from the incoming segments 44 of the flaps 40, this arrangement could be reversed. For example, the tabs could protrude inward instead of outwardly so that the flanges limit with the compartments and the incoming part of the flaps is now a protruding part of the flaps on which the tray can rest when it is on a extreme.

The flaps 40 preferably have a length that is less than the depth of the compartments 30, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This means that the free edges of the flaps 40 are not coplanar with the bottom walls 32 of the compartments 30 This helps to reduce the elevation of the tray 20 by the flaps 40, such as from a conveyor, during the movement of the tray 20 before and during the continuous wrapping.

As mentioned above, the flaps 40 are connected to the edge of the tray by the intersections 26, which can be joints. The intersection 26 or articulation may optionally be any one of, or combinations of, a channel, an incision, a perforation, an unformed section or a weakened section disposed between the edge 22 and the flap 40. The tray 20 can be formed with the wings 40 in an unfolded orientation, as shown in Figures 8-12, where the flaps 40 are generally coplanar with the generally flat portion of the edge 22 as opposed to the folded orientation of Figures 1-5. Notches 28 may be formed at one or both ends of intersection 26, as shown in Figure 10, to facilitate folding of the flaps 40 to the orientation of Figures 1-5. The trays 20 of Figures 8-12 differ from the trays of Figures 1-5 in that the corners of the flaps 40 do not narrow (see the narrowed corners in Figures 1 and 4), the tabs 42 are not so deep and the flaps 40 are longer.

Returning now to the method of manufacturing the package 10, the tray 20 can be formed from any suitable manufacturing process, such as thermoforming. After shaping, the flaps 40 of the tray 20 can be folded from an unfolded orientation (shown in Figures 8-12) to a folded configuration (shown in Figures 1-5). This folding can be done manually or using automated equipment. The products 12 can be placed in one or more compartments 30 either before folding or after folding the flaps 40. The placement of the product 12 in the compartments 30 can be done manually or using automated equipment. The tray 20 with the product 12 inside and the folded flaps 40 can be advanced through the continuous wrapping equipment to place an outer surrounding wrap 14 around the tray 20. The continuous wrapping equipment can form end seals 16, a which can optionally be bellowed to reduce the width of the end seals 16. The resulting container 10 may advantageously remain vertical and be held in that vertical orientation by one of the edges 40, even if the edge 40 is supported against the side wall 32 of an adjacent compartment 30. The wrapping can be a suitable flexible film, for example, to come into contact with food.

Claims (14)

i. A tray (20) for use in a container (10) having an outer surrounding wrapper (14), the tray (20) comprising: at least one compartment (30) having a bottom wall (34), an opening (36) opposite the bottom wall (34) and a side wall (32) extending between the bottom wall (34) and the opening ( 36); a peripheral edge (22) generally flat disposed around the compartment (30) and adjacent to the opening (36); characterized because at least one flap (40) connected with respect to the edge (22) by means of an associated intersection (26) and extending practically perpendicular with respect to the edge (22) such that the tray (20) can be held on the flap (40) in a generally vertical orientation, where the flap (40) can move around the intersection from a first position, practically parallel with respect to the edge (22), to a second position, practically perpendicular with respect to the edge ( 22). 2. The tray (20) of claim 1, wherein the intersection (26) is one of a channel, an incision, a perforation or a thin section disposed between the edge (22) and the flap (40). 3. The tray (20) of any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the intersection (26) is notched at least one of its ends to facilitate movement from the first position to the second position. 4. The tray (20) of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the flap (40) has a length substantially equal to the side wall of the compartment (30). 5. The tray (20) of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the flap (40) has a plurality of tabs (42). 6. The tray (20) of claim 5, wherein each of the tabs (42) of the flap (40) extends generally perpendicular to the edge (22) when the flap (40) substantially extends perpendicular to the edge (22). 7. The tray (20) of claim 6, wherein a part of the side wall (32) of the compartment (30) adjacent to the flap (40) has a narrowing inward, and wherein the tabs (42) of the flap (40) have intermediate segments (44) that increase in depth generally corresponding to the narrowing into the side wall (32) so that, when the flap (40) extends substantially perpendicular to the edge (22), a part of at least some of the intermediate segments (44) are supported against the side wall part (32) of the compartment (30). 8. The tray (20) of any one of claims 5-7, wherein each of the tabs (42) on the flap (40) narrows in width toward the intersection (26). 9. The tray (20) of claim 8, wherein the flap (40) has a free end, opposite the adjacent intersection (26), and wherein the free end of the flap (40) has a small edge that It extends out. 10. The tray (20) of any one of claims 1-9, wherein a pair of flaps (40) are provided, each of the flaps (40) being on opposite sides of the tray (20). 11. The tray (20) of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the tray (20) comprises a plurality of compartments (30) arranged in an arrangement, and wherein the arrangement of compartments (30) is at least partially surrounded by the edge (22). 12. The tray (20) of any one of claims 1-11, in combination with an outer surrounding wrapper (14), preferably a continuous wrap having a pair of end seals (16), the end seals being (16 ) arranged generally perpendicular to the flap (40). 13. The tray (20) of any one of claims 11 and 12, wherein the compartment (30) contains at least one food product. 14. A method of forming a container (10) using the tray (20) of any one of claims 1 and 2-11, the method comprising: forming the tray (20) and, preferably, thermoforming the tray (20), and, after forming; deposit one or more food products in the compartment (30); folding the flap (40) from a first position, practically parallel with respect to the edge (22), to a second position, practically perpendicular with respect to the edge (22), either before or after the deposition stage; and Wrap the tray (20) and food products in a wrap around the outer wrapper (14).