METHOD FOR STACKING BOXES OR OTHER CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS IN A STACKED POSITION.

Abstract

L'invention concerne un procédé de calage en position empilée de boîtes ou autres objets cylindriques (1) dont la face supérieure et le fond (2) sont en retrait par rapport aux arêtes contiguës (3, 4) des parois latérales. Selon l'invention, on interpose, entre les faces en regard de deux boîtes superposées, un élément de calage (6), dont la hauteur est telle qu'il dépasse les parois latérales de la boîte (1) sur laquelle il repose et vient s'engager dans l'évidement inférieur de la boîte superposée d'une longueur égale au plus à la distance dont les parois de cette boîte dépassent le fond, ledit élément de calage (6) ayant une forme telle qu'il soit en contact avec au moins deux points diamétralement opposés des parois de chacune des boîtes.

Description

METHOD FOR STACKING BOXES OR OTHER CONTAINERS IN POSITION CYLINDRICAL OBJECTS. The present invention relates to a method of securing boxes or other cylindrical objects in a stacked position, for example in packaging or on production lines. We know that moving stacks of such cylindrical objects, for example cans of food, must be done with care, because of the precarious balance of the stacked objects. To remedy this drawback, it has indeed been proposed to wrap the stack of objects laterally with a sheath of paper or plastic material, but this system is expensive and impractical, since it does not allow an object to be easily removed from the stack. The invention aims to remedy this drawback by proposing a system for securing stacked objects that is simple, inexpensive and easy to use, and which nevertheless ensures excellent stability of the stacked objects. The invention is based on the observation that the bottom and lid of the cans are recessed from the edges of the side walls, thus defining a hollow part with a cylindrical profile. The invention aims to take advantage of this structural characteristic of tin cans or similar items to ensure the stability of stacked objects by introducing between their facing sides a stabilizing element capable of preventing their relative movement in the lateral direction. The invention therefore relates to a method of securing boxes or other cylindrical objects in a stacked position, the upper face and bottom of which are recessed from the contiguous edges of the side walls, this method being characterized in that a securing element is interposed between the opposite faces of two superimposed boxes, the height of which is such that it exceeds the side walls of the box on which it rests and is engaged in the lower recess of the superimposed box by a length equal at most to the distance by which the walls of this box exceed the bottom, said securing element having a shape such that it is in contact with at least two diametrically opposed points on the inner face of the walls of each of the boxes. The wedging element, housed in the closed space formed by the recessed parts opposite the upper part of one of the bonitos and the bottom of the second box resting on the previous one, thus extends diametrically in this closed space without being able to move laterally and it therefore ensures the lateral wedging of the boxes superimposed on each other. A disc or cushion, solid or not, or part of such a disc or cushion, made of any material, with a diameter equal to the internal diameter of the wall parts extending beyond the contiguous face of the stacked objects, may be used as a cushioning element. It is also possible to use a toroidal element whose external diameter will be equal to the internal diameter of the parts of the wall extending beyond the contiguous face of the tin cans, while the diameter of the torus will be greater than the height by which these walls extend beyond the contiguous face, but will be less than twice this height, so as to be able to fit it entirely between the stacked cans. In a preferred variant, the shim will simply consist of a ring in the shape of part of a cylinder, with an external diameter equal to the internal diameter of the wall parts protruding from the adjacent face of the box and a height greater than the distance by which these wall parts protrude from the associated face but less than twice this distance, so as to be entirely concealed from view by the boxes themselves. It should be noted, in fact, that by judiciously choosing the dimensions of the shoring element, it is possible, in all cases and whatever its shape, to fit it entirely in the space between two superimposed boxes and thus completely conceal it. The shoring element according to the invention can be made of any material, in particular rubber or plastic. Simply put, it can be manufactured from recycled scraps of rubber or plastic, and its cost is then particularly low. One embodiment of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which are not limiting in nature. These drawings Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view, showing two superimposed boxes and the associated shim Figure 2 is a similar view, with the shim in position on the lower box, while the upper box is about to be put into position on the other box. As can be seen in the drawings, two cylindrical tin cans 1, identical or not, but of equal diameter, are intended to be stacked one on top of the other. These cans have, at their lower and upper parts, a rim, respectively 3 and 4, projecting from their base and their upper face. Between the upper face of the box 1 and the lower face of the superimposed box is interposed a shim 6, which, here, has the form of a cylindrical ring 6, whose external diameter is substantially equal to the internal diameter of the rims 3 and 4 and whose height is such that it exceeds the rim 3, without preventing the rim 4 from bearing on this rim 3, thus completely concealing the shim 6 from view. It is understood that the 6th support element, which rests on the lower box by following the internal profile of the rim 3 and is capped by the upper box, whose internal profile of the rim 4 it also follows, prevents any lateral movement of one of the boxes relative to the other and therefore ensures very high stability of the stacked boxes, even over a great height. Naturally, the embodiment of the shim element 6 is not restrictive. The invention therefore provides a simple, inexpensive and easy-to-use means of securing a stack of tin cans or similar cylindrical objects.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Method of securing boxes or other cylindrical objects (1) in a stacked position, the upper face and bottom (2) of which are recessed from the contiguous edges (3,4) of the side walls, this method being characterized in that a securing element (6) is interposed between the opposite faces of two superimposed boxes, the height of which is such that it exceeds the side walls of the box (1) on which it rests and is engaged in the lower recess of the superimposed box by a length equal at most to the distance by which the walls of this box exceed the bottom, said securing element (6) having a shape such that it is in contact with at least two diametrically opposed points of the walls of each of the boxes.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the shimming element (6) has the shape of a disc or a cushion, solid or hollow, or a part of such a disc or such a cushion.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the shimming element (6) has the shape of a toroidal element.

4. Method according to claim i, characterized in that the shimming element (6) has the shape of a cylindrical ring.