Products and method for packaging multiple rows of products

Abstract

A method and system are described for providing supports for multiple rows of stacked goods with edge protectors that can be separated at predetermined zones to allow one row of stacked goods to be readily separated from another row. Also described are separable edge protectors for use with the method and system. Also described is a method and system for providing customized packaging adapted for specific goods.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]The present application is based on and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 298,254 filed Jan. 26, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 409,534 filed Nov. 2, 2010.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present disclosure relates to products and methods for packaging goods and methods and systems for customizing protective packaging for specific goods.[0003]Packaged goods, particular those in containers such as cardboard or linerboard boxes, are frequently stacked in multiple rows. Containers such as cardboard or linerboard boxes, wooden crates, plastic bins, and the like may be stacked in a plurality of rows, optionally on a pallet or slip sheet, and then secured together with an overwrap such as stretch wrap or other securement means to form a unit load for convenient handling in transportation. Handling may be done by a clamp truck or forklift, for example. Without additional protection, p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]A separable edge protector has been developed which can protect the edges of a unit load having a plurality of rows, such as two or more rows of cartons, boxes, or other stacked goods in the unit load. The separable edge protector has one or more zones of weakness such as perforations or slits in the material thereof such that it can be fractured or broken apart when rows of product within the unit load are separated by equipment such as a clamp truck, wherein the portions of the edge protector can remain intact with the divided portions of the unit load to continue providing edge protection. In some embodiments, the separable edge protector is tailored for the unit load being handled such that upon properly placing the separable edge protector in contact with the unit load, the zones of weakness are only present in regions corresponding to the breaks between layers of product. In this manner, the sections of the separable edge protector that remain in contact with a layer of products after separation from other layers can be free of perforations and provide higher stacking strength. Thus, separated rows of product can be stacked and handled with greater protection than would be otherwise possible (e.g., in contrast to separated rows without separable edge protector that remain in place, or in contrast to separable edge protectors with zones of weakness at redundant locations therein or in locations that do not correspond to breaks between rows of product in the original unit load.

Problems solved by technology

Without additional protection, products in unit loads may be damaged during handling, especially due to forces applied to the corners or sides of the unit load.

Removal using clamp trucks or other equipment can result in crushing of the containers, especially when an entire row needs to be removed from the top of a unit load or a stack of unit loads.

Moving the entire row without protective corner protectors and protective wrap can also result in damage to corners, tipping, shifting, or falling of individual containers, and other forms of damage to the goods.

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