Container lids and associated drying methods

Abstract

A lid (107) for a container for transporting dry goods is disclosed, which comprises water guides (200) arranged on its underside (111). These water guides (200) are configured to guide water by centrifugal force and to expel said water from the lid while the lid is rotating about an axis (z) substantially perpendicular to the lid, regardless of whether the lid is rotating alone or as part of a container assembly (100) including a folded container body (104). Thus, the centrifugal force generated using a spin dryer can be utilized to efficiently dry the lid and any such container assembly, thereby achieving significant energy savings over, for example, blow drying techniques.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a container lid for the transport of dry goods, and to an associated container, container assembly, and drying method. [Background technology]

[0002] Containers for transporting dry goods in distribution networks are well known. These goods may include dry raw materials, ingredients, packaging materials, packaged products, and / or bulk goods. These containers are often referred to as cargo containers or shipping containers. In one example, the containers may have a total volume, or volumetric capacity, of approximately 700 liters, but are available in a variety of other sizes and geometric shapes. For example, these containers may have volumes ranging from approximately 1000 liters to approximately 1500 liters, respectively. The container body is typically sized to accommodate a base footprint, which typically corresponds to the footprint of a standard pallet.

[0003] One type of such container is sometimes referred to as a "foldable large container" or "FLC." Typically, an FLC comprises relatively rigid, individually foldable and collapsible side panels (also called "walls").

[0004] Another type of such container is commonly referred to as a "sleeve-pack container" or "SPC." An SPC typically includes relatively flexible side sleeves that are generally foldable and collapsible.

[0005] FLCs and SPCs are particularly beneficial when they are co-used (i.e. used as reusable containers), as this increases the efficiency and thus the cost-effectiveness of reverse logistics in the supply chain. In addition to the side panels and / or sleeves, FLCs and SPCs also generally comprise a base and a removable lid. It is when the lid is removed that the body (i.e. the side panels and / or sleeves) can be conveniently folded or folded into the base of these containers. The lid is then usually retrieved and placed on the folded container. In this way, the empty folded container assembly is prepared for return to the service center after use. In the context of the present application, the term "container assembly" will be understood to refer to a folded or folded container, for example of FLC or SPC type, in which the folded or folded body of the container is placed in a corresponding base and the lid covers said base and the folded body, and also comprises any shelves that may be provided on the container (see further below for a brief description of which).

[0006] In the assembled state, the base, body, and lid of the container define a closed space in which contents may be stored. One or more removable shelves may be provided to divide the closed space, for example into two or more compartments. This may allow for more efficient use of the closed space during transportation of the items. However, once the items are unloaded, the shelves, as well as the lid, are removed and placed into the folded container assembly so that it can be returned to a service center and a new shared use cycle of the container can begin.

[0007] A new shared use cycle usually starts with washing and drying the container parts at a service center. While some washing and drying may be performed on the entire container assembly, the parts that make up the container assembly are washed and dried individually at some stage when they meet or exceed the specified conditions required by the end user. Furthermore, drying of these individual parts is usually done by blowing hot air, which can be particularly inefficient. Only properly washed, dried and folded container assemblies are sent from the service center to the point of use, where the containers can first be assembled, then packed with the goods to be transported, and finally dispatched. It is therefore important to improve the washing and / or drying efficiency at the service center. It is desirable to improve the profit margins and sustainability of the process and / or to reduce costs, while continually ensuring the satisfaction of the end user.

[0008] Container lids are particularly problematic because they typically exhibit various moisture retention features on their underside, such as cavities formed by reinforcing ribs, etc. Described herein are container lids and associated technology that can improve dryness at service centers so that reconditioning of containers such as FLCs and SPCs at service centers can be done more efficiently and sustainably, thereby improving the efficiency of the entire reconditioning chain. Summary of the Invention

[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a lid for a container for transporting dry goods, the lid comprising a water guide disposed on an underside thereof, the water guide configured to centrifugally guide water and expel the water from the lid while the lid is rotating about an axis substantially perpendicular to the lid, thereby advantageously reducing or eliminating water that may otherwise remain trapped in or on or near the lid of a container assembly in which the lid described herein is placed.

[0010] The underside of the lid may be provided with one or more radially extending ribs. It will be appreciated that radially extending ribs are particularly effective at displacing water by centrifugal force. The ribs may extend from a central portion of the underside of the lid, or another location on the underside of the lid, to the periphery of the underside of the lid, or in any case to a relatively more peripheral location on the underside of the lid.

[0011] Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to provide one or more radially extending ribs that radiate from one or more points offset from the center of the underside of the lid. Any of these configurations will enhance the process of driving water away by centrifugal force. In particular, it may be advantageous to arrange one or more ribs in a herringbone configuration. If at least two herringbone radially arranged ribs are provided, they may also be arranged symmetrically around the axis of symmetry of the lid.

[0012] It will be appreciated that in a notional "xy" plane in which the lid extends, the offset may be in any "x" and / or "y" direction, independently, and the axis of rotation may therefore extend generally in the "out-of-plane" or "z" direction relative to such a reference frame.

[0013] In general, it is not necessary for the axis of rotation to pass through the center of the lid (although it may be advantageous for it to do so), and there may not be any other rotational components along the x or y axes (although it may be advantageous for them to do so). However, it will generally be advantageous if the axis of rotation passes through the center of gravity of the lid or container assembly. To facilitate this, it may be possible to place one or more inserts, such as a frame, in the container assembly to hold the folded container body in place, or to place one or more counterweights in the lid or container assembly or in the rotor in which the lid and / or container assembly are placed for spin drying.

[0014] At least one rib may branch off from any other one of the ribs. Branching of the ribs can be particularly advantageous in terms of maximizing the number and extent of the ribs and therefore the water guides for centrifugally guiding water during rotation of the lid.

[0015] At least a subset of the ribs may comprise a (first) rib segment or rib length that preferably extends vertically from a bottom portion of the underside of the lid (as viewed when facing the underside of the lid). Relatively taller ribs are generally found to be particularly effective at draining water by centrifugal force, as they provide more surface area over which water can be guided.

[0016] At least a subset of the ribs may comprise a (second) rib segment or rib length that preferably extends perpendicularly from the raised surface portion of the underside of the lid (as viewed when facing the underside of the lid). Shorter ribs, especially when provided on the raised surface portion of said underside of the lid, may be sufficient to contribute to proper water evacuation, as water is less likely to pool or be retained on these portions of the underside of the lid.

[0017] It will be understood that one or both of the bottom and raised surface portions may be flat. "Flat" is used herein to mean that the corresponding feature appears on a flat or generally flat plane, i.e., on or extending above the notional xy plane of the lid or another flat plane. Thus, the surface portions may be generally parallel but not coplanar.

[0018] Any bottom surface portion of the underside of the lid may correspond to a generally raised surface portion of the front side or exterior of the lid (the underside of the lid also refers to the inside of the lid).

[0019] Conversely, any raised surface portion on the underside of the lid may correspond to a bottom surface portion on the front side of the lid.

[0020] Of course, other configurations may be possible, for example when the cross-sectional thickness of the lid is not the same or generally uniform over the extent of the lid, however, if the lid is made of a polymeric material, it is preferred that the lid have a generally uniform cross-sectional thickness for ease of manufacture, for example by injection molding.

[0021] More specifically, any raised surface portion on the underside of the lid that corresponds to any bottom surface portion on the exterior of the lid may correspond to a container stacking feature for stacking containers on top of each other when fully assembled or folded down. In a preferred configuration, such zones correspond to conventional pallet skids; however, other configurations are possible.

[0022] The radially extending ribs may include at least a subset of ribs having a maximum rib height measured at the first segment and at least a subset of ribs having a minimum rib height measured at the second rib segment.

[0023] The maximum and minimum rib heights may correspond to the same level measured from the bottom surface portion of the lid, such that the taller and shorter ribs reach and terminate at the top surface of the notional lid's inside, which may preferably be parallel to the bottom or raised surface portion of the lid.

[0024] The term "rib" as used herein refers to a single length of ridged material or protrusion that extends linearly along a single direction from a start point to an end point, it being understood that said points define said direction and therefore said rib. Ribs that branch, diverge, or change direction to extend along a new line generally count as different ribs.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the water guide may include one or more sloped surface portions defined by the underside of the lid.

[0026] The ramp portion may preferably be flat, such as provided as an inclined plane, or may be curved concavely towards the underside of the lid, ie facing the underside of the lid and recessed upwards.

[0027] At least one of the ramp portions may be peripherally disposed.

[0028] Additionally or alternatively, at least one ramp portion may be provided within a dimple or other small recess or indentation provided on the underside of the lid, thereby allowing water that accumulates or becomes trapped in such dimple, recess or indentation to more easily drain during rotation of the lid.

[0029] A dimple or other small recess or cavity on the underside of the lid may correspond to one or more protrusions on the front side of the lid, and such protrusions may provide one or more retention features for stacking containers or container assemblies on top of each other such that the stacked containers or container assemblies may be held securely in place on top of another container or container assembly.

[0030] In a more preferred embodiment, said sloping surface portion may have a slope from a lower level corresponding to a bottom surface of the underside of the lid to a higher level measured at the edge of the underside of the lid, optionally corresponding substantially to said raised level measured at the raised surface portion of the underside of the lid, to direct water towards the edge during rotation.

[0031] In a highly preferred embodiment, the cooperation of one or more ribs as described herein and one or more ramp portions as described herein causes water to centrifugally move towards at least the periphery of the underside of the lid. Thus, water may be centrifugally displaced from one or more ribs to one of said ramps, and then water from said ramp(s) may centrifugally reach said periphery. However, this does not exclude water simply centrifugally reaching said periphery along at least one of the ribs.

[0032] In a highly preferred embodiment, the water guide comprises one or more drainage channels for draining water from the lid as the lid rotates about its axis.

[0033] At least one of the one or more drainage channels may be located at or near a border of the lid, optionally at or near a corner of the lid where centrifugal force is maximized by rotation of the lid.

[0034] If the lid geometrically defines one or more corners (e.g., if the lid has a generally square or rectangular shape), each drainage channel may be advantageously located at or near each corner of the lid, provided that such corners are further away from the axis of rotation and therefore represent locations where the centrifugal forces acting on the lid are greatest.

[0035] To favour drainage, at least one drainage channel may extend away from the border of the lid, optionally perpendicularly or preferably inclined outwards from the border of the lid.

[0036] To favour the flow of water and / or to receive as much of the incoming water as possible, the at least one drainage channel may have a substantially U-shaped fluid cross-section.

[0037] The lid may have a substantially rectangular shape, as is common in the art.

[0038] The lid may include an outer skirt disposed about the lid, as is also common in the art, and the one or more channels described above may be conveniently defined within said skirt.

[0039] The lid may be made of a substantially rigid plastic, as is also common in the art.

[0040] The lid may be provided as a single injection molded part, as is also common in the art.

[0041] The lid may be adapted to fit snugly onto an assembled container body or a container base adapted to receive a collapsed container body such that the lid may be securely but removably retained on said container body or base. Such an interference fit may be particularly problematic in that water may be retained during rotation of a container assembly covered with such a lid at the interference points, i.e., at the points where the lid forces against the container base. Providing the aforementioned channels at such points may be particularly advantageous.

[0042] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a container assembly including a container base, a folded container body disposed on the container base, and a container lid as described herein, wherein the container lid can be disposed over the container base and the folded body.

[0043] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a container is provided that includes a container base, an assembled container body disposed on the container base, and a container lid as described herein, wherein the container lid is disposed on the assembled container body.

[0044] Of course, the container body may include one or more relatively rigid side panels, as in the case of FLC, but alternatively, the container body may include one or more relatively flexible side sleeves, as in the case of SPC.

[0045] The containers and container assemblies may have a footprint that is sized according to the footprint of a standard pallet (more specifically, the base of the container is so shaped and sized).

[0046] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of drying a lid as described herein or a container assembly as described herein, the method comprising rotating the container lid or container assembly about an axis of rotation.

[0047] The method may include placing the lid with the underside of the lid facing down.

[0048] The method may also include retaining the container body within the container assembly using one or more retainers, such as a frame.

[0049] The method may also include balancing the rotor of the spin dryer prior to rotation.

[0050] Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described, purely by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Brief description of the drawings]

[0051] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an FLC with a removable lid as described herein. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an SPC with another removable lid as described herein. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the removable lid of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 3 illustrates how the FLC with removable lid of the container of FIG. 2 can be folded or folded into a container assembly ready for shipment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a front view of a container assembly as described herein. [Figure 6] A spin dryer for the container assembly (and / or container lid) described herein. [Figure 7] The container assembly of FIG. 5 is shown being loaded into the spin dryer of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of yet another removable lid for a container described herein. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a portion of the removable lid of FIG. 8 showing possible water removal paths. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a rigid container 100 for the transport of dry goods according to the present disclosure. This container falls into the FLC category mentioned above. The general shape and configuration of this rigid container 100 will now be described. The rigid container 100 defines a closed space 105 in which the items to be transported can be stored. The closed space 105 is bounded laterally by one or more container walls or side panels 101, at the bottom by a container base 104, and at the top by a removable container cap or lid 107 that can be folded in half longitudinally as shown in FIG. 1 to facilitate access to the items. However, the lid 107 is usually provided as a single piece.

[0053] The front wall 101 incorporates an openable front door 109 that may be opened to facilitate access to items (or any shelves provided within the container 100 that may support those items). One of the side walls 101 incorporates an openable side door 110 that may be used in a similar manner to the front door 109. One or more removable shelves (not shown) may be disposed within the container 100 to divide the enclosed space 105 into two or more compartments. However, the focus herein is on the lid 107. This type of lid 107 is generally rectangular and is typically injection molded as a single piece from a polymeric material such as plastic.

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a lid 107 according to the present disclosure. Reinforcing ribs 20 are visible in the folded half of the lid 107 exposing the underside 111 of the lid. These reinforcing ribs 20 are conventionally arranged to form a grid 21 on the underside 111 of the lid. It is noted that these ribs 20 are not radial ribs as contemplated herein and therefore do not provide water guiding capabilities as contemplated herein, but the underside 111 of the lid shows angled surface portions 115 arranged on the periphery 112 of the underside 111 of the lid. Each of these angled surface portions 115 constitutes a first illustrated example of a water guiding portion 200 as described herein. The focus of this specification is the water guiding portion 200 provided on the underside 111 of the lid and configured to guide water (not shown) by centrifugal force while the lid 107 rotates about an axis substantially perpendicular to the lid 107 and to expel said water from the lid 107. The axis of rotation is shown in FIG. 1 and is labeled z. In this way, after washing of the lid 107, when it is folded up, water that may otherwise remain trapped on the underside 111 of the lid, for example in a receptacle 22 defined by any one of the ribs 20 provided on the underside 111 of the lid, for example by a grid 21 on either the underside 111 of the lid or, for example, on the side wall 101, can be advantageously reduced or eliminated by rotating the lid about axis z.

[0055] Figure 2 shows a container 100 of SPC type with another lid 107 as described herein. In this case, the container body 101 is provided in the form of a flexible sleeve, as is known. The lid 107 is provided with a set of radially extending ribs 120. These radially extending ribs 120, while still providing the lid 107 with the necessary reinforcement (in the sense of increasing the bending stiffness of the lid 107), are also effective to act as water guides 200 for driving water by centrifugal force when the lid 107 is rotated about a rotation axis z passing through its central part C. The rotation axis z is shown in Figure 1, while the central part C is shown in Figure 3, which reproduces the lid 107 of Figure 2 separated from the container 100.

[0056] 2 and 3, there are eight radially extending ribs 120 extending from a center C of the lid 107 and from the underside 111 of the lid. Four ribs 120x, 120y extend in opposite directions from the center C along notional axes x and y (these coordinates are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3) and divide the underside 111 of the lid into four quadrants, respectively.

[0057] Of the four ribs 120x, 120y that define the four quadrants of the rectangular lid of Figures 2 and 3, the ribs that extend along the y-axis are relatively short in that their height 120s is less than the maximum height 120t of the other ribs 120x. In addition, four more ribs 120b extend from a center C of the underside 111 of the lid and generally bisect each quadrant.

[0058] Further radially extending ribs 120 radiate from points P offset from the centre C of the underside 111 of the lid, where the offset is along either the direction indicated by axis x or y (although in alternative configurations these points P may have offsets along both axes x and y). As a result, in this particular configuration there are a total of five outwardly diagonally extending ribs 120 in each quadrant of the underside 111 of the lid, as indicated by reference numerals 120 and corresponding guiding lines in the top right corner of FIG. 3. This lid 107 thus comprises a total of 24 radially extending ribs, which form a network of ribs 120 to facilitate removal of water by rotating the lid about axis z.

[0059] The network of radially extending ribs 120 described is more specifically herringbone-shaped when it is taken into account whether the halves of the lid 107 are determined according to the axis x or the axis y. Each half of the underside 111 of the lid thus determined comprises one herringbone 121 of the radially extending ribs 120. Two herringbones 121x are arranged symmetrically with respect to the x-axis passing through the center C. Two herringbones 121y are arranged symmetrically with respect to the y-axis passing through the center C. The herringbones 121x, 121y so formed by the aforementioned radially extending ribs 120 are also shown in FIG. 3. These configurations enhance the process of driving water by centrifugal force.

[0060] In all configurations described so far, the axis of rotation z is defined as passing through the center C of the lid 107. However, this is not a strict requirement, as it is also possible for the axis of rotation to be offset from the center C, for example coinciding with any of the points P mentioned above. It is also possible that there is no rotation component along the x-axis or y-axis at all, but this is also not a strict requirement. However, as is known in the art, when rotating the entire container assembly 100 rather than rotating the lid 107 alone, it is generally advantageous to have the axis of rotation z pass through the center of gravity of the lid 107 or container assembly 100. To make this possible, the skilled person will now recognize that it is possible to place one or more inserts, such as a frame, any wedge, or other retainer, on the container assembly 100 to hold the folded container body 101 in place so that the center of gravity of the container assembly 100 does not change during rotation, or to place one or more counterweights on the lid 107 or container assembly 100 or on the rotor on which the lid 107 and / or container assembly 110 are placed for spin drying, to balance the load before rotation.

[0061] Figure 4, particularly Figures 4-1 to 4-4, illustrate in a schematic manner how the foldable rigid container 100 of Figure 1 can be prepared for reverse logistics using a lid 107 as shown in Figure 2. In this example, the container 100 is folded by folding one of the side walls 101 (Figures 4-1 and 4-2) on top of the other, onto the base 104 of the container 100, and then folding the front wall 101 and the rear wall 101 onto said side walls 101, as shown in Figures 4-3 and 4-4. All walls are hinged, but the details of these hinges (as well as the hinge of the lid 107) are outside the scope of this specification. Alternatively, the walls 101 may be folded in a different manner, for example by removing each of the walls 101 or all of the walls 101 together from the base 104 of the container 100 and laying them on this base 104.

[0062] With continuing reference to the lid 107 of Figures 2 and 3, and now with further reference to a similar lid shown in Figures 8 and 9 (which is a slightly different lid 107, but has all the main features described in connection with the lid 107 of Figures 2 and 3), it will be appreciated that most of the ribs 120 include one or more first rib segments 120t (or rib lengths 120t) that extend vertically from a bottom surface portion 131 (only shown in Figure 8 for clarity) of the underside 111 of the lid. Instead, all of the radially extending ribs 120 include one or more second rib segments 120s (or rib lengths 120s) that extend vertically from a raised surface portion 132 (also only shown in Figure 8 for clarity) of the underside 111 of the lid. The two ribs 120y that extend along the y-axis are only short in that they do not include a segment or length of the first type described above that has a relatively higher projection. Thus, these ribs 120y represent examples of ribs 120 having a uniform height along their extent, which is possible. Depending on the design of the lid 107, it is also possible for the ribs 120 to have a uniform height depending on the height of the first segment 120t mentioned above.

[0063] In this context, the phrase "flat" means flat or substantially flat. For example, something that extends generally above the notional xy plane shown in Figures 1 and 3 is flat. The bottom surface portion 131 and the raised surface portion 132 described herein above and depicted in Figure 8 are generally parallel, i.e., disposed on parallel planes but not coplanar. Furthermore, the bottom surface portion 131 of the underside 111 of the lid corresponds generally to the raised surface portion 141 of the front side 140 of the lid (i.e., the exterior of the lid in use). Conversely, the raised surface portion 132 of the underside 111 of the lid corresponds to the bottom surface portion 142 of the front side 140 of the lid. The front side 140 of the lid is shown in Figure 5.

[0064] Other configurations are possible, for example relating to a non-uniform cross-sectional thickness of the lid. It will be appreciated that while the lid 107 described herein is generally uniform in cross-section, this may not be the case in alternative designs. More specifically, it is observed that the raised surface portion 132 of the underside 111 of the lid not only corresponds to the bottom surface portion 142 of the exterior 140 of the lid, but also corresponds to container stacking zones for stacking the containers 100 on top of each other when fully assembled or folded to form the container assembly 100. In the preferred configuration shown in FIG. 5 and described herein, these zones coincide with the footprint of a conventional pallet skid.

[0065] 2, 3, 8, and 9, the taller and shorter ribs 120 terminate at a notional lid inner top surface 150 that is preferably parallel to the lid's bottom surface portion 131 and raised surface portion 132. Ribs 120 terminating at this notional plane 150 are shown in FIG.

[0066] One or more radially extending ribs 120 act as one or more corresponding water guides 200 to guide water outwardly due to centrifugal force during rotation. In the described lid, at least some of these ribs 120 guide water toward one or more angled surface portions 115 of the underside 111 of the lid, which facilitates displacing water toward the periphery 112 of the underside 111 of the lid and thence toward the edge 113 of the underside 111 of the lid.

[0067] It should be noted that, additionally or alternatively, at least one angled surface portion 115 may be provided in a dimple or any other small recess or depression 133 provided in the underside 111 of the lid. These dimples or small depressions 133 are shown in Figures 8 and 9. In this way, water that accumulates or gets trapped in such small depressions or depressions 133 may be more easily drained during rotation of the lid 107.

[0068] The recesses 133 shown in Figures 8 and 9 correspond to one or more protrusions 143 on the front side 140 of the lid. Such protrusions 140 constitute one or more retention features for stacking the containers 100 or container assemblies 100 on one another. In this way, the stacked containers 100 or container assemblies 100 can be held securely in place. However, returning to the peripheral ramp portion 115, said ramp portion 115 has a slope from a lower level, generally corresponding to the bottom surface 131 of the back side 111 of the lid, to a higher level 134 measured at the boundary 113 of the back side 111 of the lid, so as to direct water towards the boundary 113 during rotation. In the lid 107 described here, this level 134 substantially corresponds to the aforementioned raised level measured at the raised surface portion 132 of the back side 111 of the lid, although other configurations are possible in which this detail differs.

[0069] The cooperation of one or more radially extending ribs 120 described herein and one or more angled surface portions 115 described herein efficiently move water by centrifugation toward the periphery 112 of the underside 111 of the lid and toward the border 113 of the underside 111 of the lid. From there, during rotation the water will tend to pool at one of the corners 114 of the lid 107, which is typically the point furthest from the center C of the lid 107.

[0070] Thus, the lid 107 shown in Figures 2, 3, 8 and 9 also comprises a further water guiding feature 200 in the form of one or more drainage channels 118 configured to drain water from the lid 107 while the lid 107 is rotating about the rotation axis z. Each drainage channel 118 extends at a slight outward incline away from the lid border 113. In the described lid 107, the drainage channels 118 have a substantially U-shaped fluid cross section and are formed in particular in a skirt 117 surrounding the lid 107 and the underside 111 of the lid. Each channel 118 has an inlet 118i in fluid communication with a corresponding corner 114 of the underside 111 of the lid. Each channel also has a fluid outlet 118o to drain water from the lid skirt 117 during rotation.

[0071] Importantly, the lid described herein is adapted to soft snap-fit ​​onto the assembled container body 101 or the container base 104 adapted to receive the collapsed container body 101 such that the lid can be securely yet removably retained on the container body 101 or base 104. Such an interference fit can retain water during centrifugal forces because there is no clearance at these locations for water to drain from the container assembly. Thus, the channels 118 described herein are advantageously formed at locations where the lid 107 can be interference-fitted onto the container body or base, 101, 104. The corners 114 of the lid may or may not be the only locations where the lid fits onto the container body or base, 101, 104.

[0072] FIG. 9 shows details of the underside lid 111 of FIG. 8. In particular, FIG. 9 illustrates the drainage of accumulated water achieved by providing a number of useful water guides 200 on the underside lid 111 as described herein. Water may be displaced radially along the radially extending ribs 120. Water may also be displaced outwardly from the recesses 133 or depressions 116 as guided by the action of the ramp portions 115. Water at the periphery 112 or borders 113 of the underside lid 111 may be moved by centrifugal action towards the drainage channels 118 at the corners 114 of the underside lid 111.

[0073] In the described lid, the lid skirt 117, and more particularly the drainage channel 118 effectively formed on the inside of the skirt 117, extends generally vertically, but at a slight outward incline, from the underside 111 of the lid. Water from the periphery 112 and border or edge 113 of the underside 111 of the lid enters the channel 118 laterally via a channel inlet 118i at the underside 111 of the lid, and then centrifugally travels along the channel 118 to exit through a channel outlet 118o provided in the lid skirt 117 distal to the underside 111 of the lid. However, it will be understood that the provision of one or more drainage channels 118 as one of the water guide features 200 described herein is in principle independent of the presence of such a skirt 117. It can also be seen that if water is moved by centrifugal force, the channel 118 is suitably designed to have said generally U-shaped fluid cross-section having an opening accessible to water coming from the lid 107 or the interior of the folded container assembly 110.

[0074] In FIG. 9, all dashed lines represent possible drainage paths for water that may come into contact with the underside 111 of the lid. Said paths are first defined along either the radially extending ribs 120 and the ramp portions 115. FIG. 9 also shows a path through one of the recesses 133 mentioned above. Both of these features, i.e., the radially extending ribs 120 and the ramp portions, promote and facilitate the displacement of water towards the periphery 112 during rotation, and more specifically, towards the borders 113 and corners 114 of the underside 111 of the lid in the described lid 107. Finally, these paths meet at the corners 114 in the described lid 107, all contributing to the reception and drainage of water into the channels 118 during rotation.

[0075] Thus, collectively, the radially extending ribs 120, the angled surface portions 115, and the channels 118 form a set of water guides 200 on the underside 111 of the lid, configured to promote and assist in the displacement and subsequent drainage of excess water during spin drying of the lid 107.

[0076] Efficient spin drying of the lid 107 and container 100 according to the proposed design has been successfully tested in a commercially available spin dryer 300, an example of which is shown in FIG.

[0077] A method of drying the lid 107 described herein or the container assembly 100 described herein comprises loading the container lid 107 and / or container assembly 100 into a spin dryer 300 as shown in FIG. 7 and then rotating the container lid 107 and / or container assembly 100 about a rotation axis z.

[0078] The container was pre-washed with a predetermined amount of water, on the order of several liters at a controlled temperature. The spin dryer was operated at a corner speed, generally on the order of tens of cycles per minute, subjecting the container (and the water held therein) to centrifugal forces generated by a centrifugal acceleration lower than the acceleration of gravity, g. Residual water and / or moisture was detected by weighing the container using a scale of suitable sensitivity. [Explanation of symbols]

[0079] 20 Ribs (conventional technology) 21 Grid 22 Receptacle (prior art) 100 (assembled) container or (folded) container assembly 101 Container Wall 104 Container Base 105 Container closed space 107 Container caps or lids 109 Container Front Door 110 Container Side Door 111 Back of the lid 112 Periphery of the back of the lid 113 Border of the back of the lid 114 Corner 115 Slope section 116 Drainage cavity under the lid 117 Skirt 118 Channels 118i Channel Entrance 118o Channel Exit 120 radially extending ribs (i.e., specifically configured for water removal) 120x Rib running along the x-axis 120y Rib extending along the y-axis 120b Rib bisecting the lid quadrants 120t rib high segment 120s Short segment of rib 120t-s rib height variable segment 121 Herringbone 121x x Symmetrical Herringbone 121y y-symmetric herringbone 131 Bottom part of the back of the lid 132 Raised surface on the back of the lid 133 Recess on the back of the lid 134 The level reached by the sloped surface at the boundary of the underside of the lid 140 Outside (or front) of the lid 141 Lid outer ridge 142 Outside bottom of lid 143 Lid outer protrusion 150 Conceptual plane where the ribs terminate 200 Water Guide Department 300 Spin Dryer z axis of rotation x First plane coordinate y Second plane coordinate C Center of lid P is the point from which the rib radiates

Claims

1. A lid for a container for transporting dry goods, the lid comprising a water guide portion provided on an underside thereof, the water guide portion configured to guide water by centrifugal force while the lid is rotating about an axis substantially perpendicular to the lid, and to expel the water from the lid.

2. The lid of claim 1 , wherein the water guide comprises one or more radially extending ribs.

3. The lid of claim 2 , wherein the one or more radially extending ribs comprise at least one rib extending from a center of an underside of the lid.

4. the one or more radially extending ribs comprise at least one rib extending from a point offset from the (or the) center of the underside of the lid; 4. A lid according to claim 2 or 3, optionally wherein the at least one rib branches off from at least one rib extending from a central portion of the underside of the lid.

5. 5. A lid according to claim 2, 3 or 4, wherein the radially extending ribs comprise at least a subset of ribs comprising a (first) rib segment or rib length that preferably extends perpendicularly from a bottom portion of the underside of the lid.

6. the radially extending ribs include at least a subset of ribs having a (second) rib segment or rib length extending preferably perpendicularly from a raised surface portion on the underside of the lid; 6. A lid as claimed in claim 2, 3, 4 or 5, optionally wherein one or both of the base surface portion and raised surface portion are flat.

7. The lid of claims 5 and 6, wherein the radially extending ribs include at least a subset of ribs each having a maximum rib height measured at the first segment and a minimum rib height measured at the second rib segment.

8. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the water guide comprises one or more sloped surface portions defined by an underside of the lid.

9. The lid of claim 8 , wherein the ramp portion is flat or concavely curved.

10. At least one of the ramp portions is peripherally disposed; Optionally, at least one of the ramp portions is disposed within a dimple or other small recess or depression in an underside of the lid. A lid according to claim 8 or 9.

11. the sloped surface portion slopes from a lower level corresponding to a bottom surface of the underside of the lid to a higher level measured at an edge of the underside of the lid; Optionally, the higher level corresponds substantially to a raised level measured at the raised surface portion(s).

12. 10. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the water guide comprises one or more drainage channels for draining the water from the lid whilst the lid is rotating about the axis.

13. At least one of the one or more drainage channels is located at or near a border of the lid, optionally at or near a corner of the lid; Optionally, each drainage channel is located at or near each corner of the lid.

14. A lid according to claim 12 or 13, wherein at least one of the one or more drainage channels extends away from the border of the lid, optionally vertically or preferably inclined outwards from the border of the lid.

15. 15. A lid as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein at least one of the one or more drainage channels has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

16. 10. A lid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid has a substantially rectangular shape.

17. A lid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid comprises an outer skirt disposed around the lid.

18. A lid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid is made of a substantially rigid plastic.

19. 10. A lid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lid is provided as a single injection moulded part.

20. the lid is adapted to fit snugly onto a container base adapted to receive an assembled or collapsed container body such that the lid is securely but removably retained on the container body or base; Optionally, the container body comprises one or more relatively rigid side panels; Alternatively, a lid according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the container body is provided with one or more relatively flexible side sleeves.

21. A container assembly comprising a container base, a folded container body disposed on said container base, and a container lid according to any one of the preceding claims, said container lid being disposed on said container base and on said folded body, Optionally, the container body comprises one or more relatively rigid side panels; Alternatively, the container body comprises one or more relatively flexible side sleeves.

22. 20. A container comprising a container base, an assembled container body disposed on the container base, and a container lid according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the container lid is disposed on the assembled container body, Optionally, the container body comprises one or more relatively rigid side panels; Alternatively, the container body comprises one or more relatively flexible side sleeves.

23. 23. The container of claim 22, whose footprint is dimensioned according to the size of a standard pallet.

24. 22. A method of drying a lid according to any one of claims 1 to 20 or a container assembly according to claim 21, said method comprising rotating the container lid or container assembly about said axis.

25. 25. The method of drying a lid of claim 24, wherein the method includes placing the lid with a backside facing down, or holding the container body in place within the container assembly, or balancing a rotor of a spin dryer.

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