Candy Manufacturing Support Pallet and Method of Use

Abstract

A manufacturing support pallet includes a support with a substantially planar support surface, and a plurality of rails oriented substantially normal to the support surface and positioned adjacent to the support. The support surface defines a plurality of holding slots where each holding slot is sized substantially identically and configured to receive a manufactured product package. The product package can be a candy cane tray. A method for manufacturing boxes includes producing a consumer product, such as a candy cane tray, aligning one or more of the consumer products in a point of sale insert, and placing the point of sale insert into a holding slot that is located on a support pallet. A manufacturing system includes a support tray defining a plurality of receiving areas configured to receive a manufactured product package, a plurality of support rails, and a transport tray configured to receive a plurality of support trays and a plurality of support rails.

Description

INTRODUCTION[0001]Some candies such as candy canes are seasonal with a bigger demand over the winter holidays. Many of those candies have shelf lives that are longer than a few months. Thus, the candies can be manufactured many months before they are shipped to be sold to consumers. Moreover, it may be advantageous or even required to manufacture candy canes year round due to economics and production limits.[0002]Candy canes are fragile and have an odd shape that can be difficult to support. Manufacturing candy canes well before they are sold requires storage space and special supports that protects the candy canes but also allows for easy loading when the boxes are ready. Thus, a suitable support and storage system that is low cost, light weight, and minimizes space used is desirable.[0003]The packaging for the candies may not be ready until just before the season begins. For instance, the design of a display on a box might be finalized weeks before the candies are shipped. However...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent describes a method for supporting and storing candy canes which are fragile and have a unique shape that is difficult to support. The method requires special supports that protect the candy canes but also allow for easy loading when the boxes are ready. However, this method is expensive, heavy, and requires a lot of space. Therefore, the patent aims to create a new system that is low cost, light weight, and minimizes space used.

Problems solved by technology

Candy canes are fragile and have an odd shape that can be difficult to support.

The packaging for the candies may not be ready until just before the season begins.

However, a few weeks might not be enough time to manufacture all the candy to meet expected consumer demand.

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