Packaging unit

Abstract

The invention pertains to a packaging unit for eggs or similar fragile articles, the packaging unit for instance being made of moulded pulp, and including a bottom part including compartments matching at least partially the outer contours of the articles contained within the unit, a cover part including a top surface and substantially planar front- and rear surfaces and substantially planar end surfaces, the cover part substantially having a rectangular shape with rounded corners, wherein the cover part includes denesting element near the end surfaces near the top surface of the cover part. The invention further pertains to such a packaging unit wherein the cover part at its corners includes portions reflecting the shape of the articles contained within the packaging unit, a portions being formed as a part taken out of a rounded corner and a part of the end surface of the cover part.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]The present invention relates to a packaging unit for eggs and similar articles.[0002]Egg cases or cartons are a well known example of such a packaging unit. An example of such an egg case is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,813,027 and EP-1,373,100. Usually, these egg cartons are made of moulded paper material or synthetic material, and comprise a number of pockets for accommodating eggs of similarly shaped, fragile articles like for instance kiwi fruits. These packaging units usually have a bottom part or tray section which has a number of pockets or compartments for holding the articles.[0003]The packaging units further have a cover section or cover part which may be hingedly connected to the bottom part.[0004]U.S. Pat. No. 3,50,083 discloses an egg carton with a bottom part and a cover part hingedly connected to it. The egg carton has denesting provisions formed from indentations. In order to function properly, the egg carton needs to come in two versions which need ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010]Yet another object of the invention is to provide a packaging unit that can be handled by a machine in a more reliable way or faster.

[0046]In previous packagings, like for instance egg cases, the opening for the cam was merely a through hole in a wall of the packaging. The current shape of the opening of this aspect of the invention, which may be the subject of a divisional application, provides a clear indication of the cam and makes the cam visible when the top surface of the packaging is examined This becomes even more important when the closure of the packaging is improved to provide a better machine handling, for instance. This is for instance the case when the cam has an receiving space and the opening has a lip which reaches into this receiving space when the packaging is closes. The lower side of the lip can for instance be open for receiving this lip. The new opening directs the finger of a used directly in the right direction for pushing the lip towards the inside of the packaging. Additionally, the wall part provides an extra stiffening of the cover part. The wall part thus forms a sort of niche or alcove in the side wall at the location of the opening for the cam. In an embodiment, the recess is formed in a way to be visible when looking down at the packaging on the top surface. In that way, a person wanting to open the packaging can easily see this provision.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, stacking of two stacks may already lead to problems.

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