This disclosure relates to trays and blanks therefor.
As the packaging industry moves more into automation, trays may need to be robotically stacked after forming. However, with traditional trays, if the tray is not formed completely square, for example, then there can be alignment issues of successive trays, disrupting the operation.
Such conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is still a need in the art for improved trays and blanks therefor. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need.
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a tray can include a plurality of first medialization features located at a top portion of the tray, and a plurality of second medialization features disposed at a bottom portion of the tray. The first medialization features can be configured to interact with the second medialization features of an adjacent stacked tray to cause medialization of the adjacent stacked tray to cause tray alignment and automated stacking of trays.
In certain embodiments, the plurality of first medialization features can be or include post tabs extending upwardly from and/or beyond an uppermost portion of the tray. In certain embodiments, the plurality of second medialization features can be or include one or more folding tabs defined in a bottom of the tray. The folding tabs can be configured to be pushed upwardly by the post tabs. The folding tabs and the post tabs can be configured to interact to cause medialization of adjacent stacked trays during stacking.
Each folding tab can be connected to the base panel at a tab fold line. In certain embodiments, the tab fold line is positioned such that the folding tabs fold inwardly while folding upwardly.
The tray can include a plurality of vertical posts. Each vertical post can include a respective post tab extending upwardly therefrom. In certain embodiments, each vertical post can include an inner wall and an outer wall and each vertical post can define a cavity between the inner wall and outer wall such that a tray area of the tray is separated from the cavity by the inner wall of each vertical post.
In certain embodiments, each folding tab is within a respective cavity of each vertical post. In certain embodiments each post tab can be formed from each outer wall of each vertical post.
Each vertical post can be located at a corner, for example. Each post tab can also include a corner shape. In certain embodiments, each post tab can also include a ramp shape. In certain embodiments, each vertical post can include a tab aperture defined at a bottom thereof to receive the post tab to allow the post tab to nest within the tab aperture and/or to move outwardly and inwardly relative to the tab aperture.
The tray can be made of paper material or plastic in certain embodiments. Any suitable material is contemplated herein.
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, a blank can be configured to form a tray as disclosed herein, e.g., as described above. For example, in accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, an embodiment of a blank for a tray can include a base panel configured to form a bottom of the tray, a plurality of folding tabs foldably connected to the base panel at one or more tab fold lines, a plurality of side panel assemblies foldably connected to the base panel at side panel assembly fold line, each side panel assembly comprising a plurality of side panels foldably connected together and configured to form a plurality of vertical posts, and a plurality of post tabs, each post tab extending from each side panel assembly away from the base panel. The post tabs can be configured to interact with the folding tabs of an adjacent stacked tray when formed to cause medialization of the adjacent stacked tray.
Each folding tab can be connected to the base panel at a tab fold line. In certain embodiments, each tab fold line can be positioned at a corner of the base panel, for example.
In certain embodiments, the plurality of side panels of each side panel assembly can include a base side panel foldably connected to the base panel at the side panel assembly fold line, wherein the base side panel includes a side wall portion and two leg portions, a first vertical panel foldably connected to each leg portion at a first vertical fold line, a second vertical panel foldably connected the each first vertical panel via a second vertical fold line, and a third vertical panel foldably connected the each second vertical panel via a third vertical fold line. In certain embodiments, the third vertical panel can include an adhesive. The first, second, and third vertical panels can be dimensioned to allow each third vertical panel to be folded onto an inner face of each respectively associated leg portion of each base side panel to adhere to each respective leg portion to form each vertical post.
In certain embodiments, each post tab can extend from each leg portion and each first vertical panel. For example, the first fold line can be defined on each post tab (e.g., forming a corner shape). In certain embodiments, each post tab can extend from each second vertical panel. Any suitable location for the each post tab and each folding tab to interact and create a medialization force is contemplated herein.
The tab aperture for each post tab can be defined on opposite sides of each side panel assembly having the same shape as the respective post tab. In certain embodiments, each post tab includes a ramp shape. In certain embodiments, a plurality of side support panels can be foldably connected to the base panel at a respective side support fold line perpendicular to the side panel assembly fold line.
These and other features of the embodiments of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:
Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, an illustrative view of an embodiment of a tray in accordance with the disclosure is shown in
Other embodiments and/or aspects of this disclosure are shown in
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, referring to
In certain embodiments, the plurality of first medialization features 101 can be or include post tabs 105 extending upwardly from and/or beyond an uppermost portion of the tray 100. In certain embodiments, the plurality of second medialization features 103 can be or include one or more folding tabs 107 defined in a bottom of the tray 100.
The folding tabs 107 can be configured to be pushed upwardly by the post tabs 105 (e.g., as shown in
Each folding tab 107 can be connected to the base panel 109 at a tab fold line 111. In certain embodiments, the tab fold line 111 is positioned such that the folding tabs 107 fold inwardly while folding upwardly (e.g., as shown in
The tray 100 can include a plurality of vertical posts 113. Each vertical post 113 can include a respective post tab 105 extending upwardly therefrom. In certain embodiments, each vertical post 113 can include an inner wall 115 and an outer wall 117 and each vertical post 113 can define a cavity 119 between the inner wall 115 and outer wall 117 such that a tray area 121 of the tray 100 is separated from the cavity 119 by the inner wall 115 of each vertical post 113.
In certain embodiments, each folding tab 107 is within a respective cavity 119 (e.g., within a planform projection, e.g., as shown in
As shown in
The tray 100 can be made of paper material or plastic in certain embodiments (e.g., cardboard as shown). Any suitable material is contemplated herein.
In accordance with at least one aspect of this disclosure, referring to
The blank 200 can also include a plurality of side panel assemblies 225 (e.g., two on opposite sides of the base panel 109 as shown) foldably connected to the base panel 109 at side panel assembly fold line 226. Each side panel assembly 225 can include a plurality of side panels 227a, b, c, d foldably connected together and configured to form the plurality of vertical posts 113 of the tray 100, for example.
The blank 200 can include a plurality of post tabs 105. Each post tab 105 can extend away from each side panel assembly 225 away from the base panel 109. The post tabs 105 can be configured to interact with the folding tabs 107 of an adjacent stacked tray 100 when formed to cause medialization of the adjacent stacked tray 100 (e.g., as shown in
In certain embodiments, e.g., as shown, each tab fold line 111 can be positioned at a corner of the base panel 109, for example. Any other suitable locations for each fold line 111 and each folding tab 107 (e.g., to be coincident in stacking with post tabs 105) are contemplated herein.
In certain embodiments, the plurality of side panels 227a, b, c, d of each side panel assembly 225 can include a base side panel 227a foldably connected to the base panel 109 at the side panel assembly fold line 226. The base side panel 227a can include a side wall portion 229 and two leg portions 231. Each side panel assembly 225 can also include a first vertical panel 227b foldably connected to each leg portion 231 at a first vertical fold line 233, a second vertical panel 227c foldably connected the each first vertical panel 227b via a second vertical fold line 235, and a third vertical panel 227d foldably connected the each second vertical panel 227b via a third vertical fold line 237. In certain embodiments, the third vertical panel 227d can include an adhesive 239 (e.g., glue or tape strips as shown or in any other suitable shape or type). The first, second, and third vertical panels 227b, c, d can be dimensioned to allow each third vertical panel 227d to be folded onto an inner face of each respectively associated leg portion 231 of each base side panel 227a to adhere to each respective leg portion 231 to form each vertical post 113 (e.g., as shown formed in
In certain embodiments, each post tab 105 can extend from each leg portion 231 and each first vertical panel 227b (e.g., as shown in
A tab aperture 123 for each post tab 105 can be defined on opposite sides of each side panel assembly 225 having the same shape as the respective post tab 105 (e.g., as shown in
In certain embodiments, each post tab 105 includes a ramp shape (e.g., a trapezoidal, triangular, or other similar shape having ramped edges as shown in
In certain embodiments, the blank 200 can include a plurality of side support panels 241 each foldably connected to the base panel 109 at a respective side support fold line 243 perpendicular to each side panel assembly fold line 226. The blank 200 can include any other suitable panels, e.g., foldover support panels 245, 247, 249 configured to fold over to provide strength support, or for any other suitable purpose. As shown, adhesive 239 can be placed on any suitable panel (e.g., at for adhering foldover panels to side panels, for example) for any suitable purpose, e.g., as shown.
For example, in certain embodiments, each post tab 605 can extend from each second vertical panel 227c (e.g., and a respective tab aperture can also be defined in the second vertical panel 227c). The base panel 609 can define the folding tabs 607 therein instead of having the folding tabs 607 extend from the defined edges of base panel 607. There can also be a gap 651 defined in the base panel 609 between the folding tab 607 and a corner of the base panel 609.
While embodiments have been shown having a four sided base panel, any suitable number of sides and corners is contemplated herein. Thus, any suitable number of vertical posts (e.g., three or more) having any suitable number of first medialization features is contemplated herein. Any suitable number and/or location of suitable second medialization features are also contemplated herein. Any suitable shape base panel is contemplated herein. Any suitable features other than post tabs and folding tabs to cause medialization are also contemplated herein. Moreover, embodiments can be applied to any suitable container type and are not limited to trays.
Embodiments of trays are designed to allow for some degree of misalignment yet reposition/align themselves as a top tray is pushed onto the tray beneath. This can be made possible by way of strategically angled/creased bottom corners working in conjunction with the vertical post top angles to force the alignment of the trays once engaged. For example, a schematic animation showing medialization from a planform view is shown in
Any suitable adhesive can be applied to any suitable panel disclosed herein for any suitable purpose. Any suitable foldable line types are contemplated herein (e.g., perforated, creased, cut/creased, etc.). While the figures may include a legend indicating the line types of the embodiments of the figures, any other suitable line types for the lines shown in the drawings are contemplated herein. Any other suitable panel arrangement (e.g., more or less panels in any suitable location) is contemplated herein.
While embodiments have been described and shown above, any suitable panels and/or other design for a blank to form a package as disclosed above is contemplated herein. Any suitable material for use (e.g., paper, cardboard, plastic board, etc.) and/or one or more combinations thereof are contemplated herein.
Those having ordinary skill in the art understand that any numerical values disclosed herein can be exact values or can be values within a range. Further, any terms of approximation (e.g., “about”, “approximately”, “around”) used in this disclosure can mean the stated value within a range. For example, in certain embodiments, the range can be within (plus or minus) 20%, or within 10%, or within 5%, or within 2%, or within any other suitable percentage or number as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art (e.g., for known tolerance limits or error ranges).
The articles “a”, “an”, and “the” as used herein and in the appended claims are used herein to refer to one or to more than one (i.e., to at least one) of the grammatical object of the article unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. By way of example, “an element” means one element or more than one element.
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e., “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.”
Any suitable combination(s) of any disclosed embodiments and/or any suitable portion(s) thereof are contemplated herein as appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure.
The embodiments of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for improvement in the art to which they pertain. While the subject disclosure includes reference to certain embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63299152 | Jan 2022 | US |