tray

Abstract

We provide stackable trays that can withstand external impacts to the corners and remain stable even with vibrations and tilting during transport. [Solution] The present invention provides a corrugated cardboard tray 1 comprising a rectangular bottom wall 30 and two pairs of opposing double side walls S1a, S1b, S2a, S2b, wherein at the top corner of the tray 1, a first projection 41 (or 42) is provided at the upper end of at least one pair of inner walls 21a, 21b (or 22a, 22b) of the two pairs of double side walls S1a, S1b, S2a, S2b to support stacking the trays 1, and a first notch 51 (or 52) is provided at the corner of the bottom wall 30 so as to engage with the first projection 41 (or 42) when stacking the trays 1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cardboard tray.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in the process of distribution and transportation of articles, cardboard trays for accommodating articles have been widely used.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a tray configured to be able to accommodate and stack articles by having a double structure for side plates, providing protrusions on the crossbar portions of the side plates, and providing hole portions at corresponding positions on the bottom plate.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the tray described in Patent Document 1, since the protrusions for stacking and the corresponding hole portions are located far from the corners of the tray and on the central side of the side surface, at the corners of the tray that are easily impacted from the outside, when impacted, it cannot withstand the impact, and the stacked trays may slide and fall, and the accommodated articles may be damaged.

[0006] Also, even if protrusions are simply provided at the corners of the tray, the protrusions may bend outward and the tray may not be stacked properly. There is still room for improvement in the arrangement configuration of the protrusions provided on the tray for stacking.

[0007] An object of the present invention is to provide a stackable tray that can withstand impacts on the corners from the outside and is stable against vibrations and tilts during transportation.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A first embodiment of the tray according to the present invention is made of corrugated cardboard and has a rectangular bottom wall and two pairs of opposing double side walls, wherein a first projection is provided at the top corner of the tray, at least one of the upper ends of the inner walls of the two pairs of double side walls for supporting the stacking of the trays, and a first notch is provided at the corner of the bottom wall so as to engage with the first projection when the trays are stacked.

[0009] A second embodiment of the tray according to the present invention is described as the first embodiment, characterized in that the two pairs of double side walls include a pair of first outer walls rising from a pair of first edges of the bottom wall and a pair of second outer walls rising from a pair of second edges of the bottom wall, the pair of inner walls include a pair of first inner walls connected to the pair of first outer walls via a pair of first connecting edge plates and a pair of second inner walls connected to the pair of second outer walls via a pair of second connecting edge plates, and the first projection is provided on at least the pair of first inner walls.

[0010] A third embodiment of the tray according to the present invention is described as a second embodiment, characterized in that the first projection is further provided on the upper ends of the pair of second inner walls, the two first projections provided on adjacent first and second inner walls respectively have a substantially L-shape when viewed from above, and the substantially L-shaped first projections are arranged at least diagonally in the rectangular opening of the tray.

[0011] A fourth embodiment of the tray according to the present invention is described as the second embodiment, characterized in that, on the first inner wall, a straight line of scribed lines or fragile lines is formed from the end of the first projection that is closer to the center of the first inner wall toward the bottom wall, and the flap portion including the first projection is pivotable with respect to the scribed lines or fragile lines as the axis of rotation.

[0012] A fifth embodiment of the tray according to the present invention is described as the first embodiment, characterized in that the tray is capable of stacking plastic trays on or below it, the first projection engages with a recess in the bottom surface of the plastic tray, and the first notch engages with an extension on the top surface of the plastic tray.

[0013] A sixth embodiment of the tray according to the present invention is described as a second embodiment, characterized in that a second projection is further provided at the center of the side wall, at the upper end of the second inner wall, and a second notch is further provided at the center of the edge of the bottom wall so as to engage with the second projection when the trays are stacked.

[0014] A seventh embodiment of the tray according to the present invention is described as the first embodiment, characterized in that the opening is twice as large so that two of the trays can be stacked side by side on the top surface.

[0015] The eighth embodiment of the tray according to the present invention is described as the fourth embodiment, characterized in that a protrusion is provided at the end of the second inner wall so as to engage with the recess of the flap portion of the first inner wall during assembly, and the end including the protrusion is pivotable by forming a notch and a score line in the second inner wall.

[0016] The tray sleeve according to the present invention is in a folded state in the tray described as the first embodiment.

[0017] The tray blank according to the present invention is a tray blank described as a first embodiment, comprising: a rectangular bottom wall having a pair of mutually parallel first fold lines and a pair of mutually parallel second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines; a pair of first outer walls having a third fold line parallel to the first fold lines and connected to the bottom wall via the pair of first fold lines; a pair of second outer walls having a fourth fold line parallel to the second fold lines and connected to the bottom wall via the pair of second fold lines; and a fifth fold line parallel to the third fold line and front of the first outer wall The tray comprises a pair of first connecting edge plates connected via a third fold line, a pair of second connecting edge plates having a sixth fold line parallel to the fourth fold line and connected to the second outer wall via the fourth fold line, a pair of first inner walls connected to the first connecting edge plates via a fifth fold line and having first projections that protrude at the corners of the top surface of the tray when assembled, and a pair of second inner walls connected to the second connecting edge plates via the sixth fold line, wherein the corners of the bottom wall are provided with notches that can engage with the first projections. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] According to the present invention, since protrusions are provided on the corners and inner walls of the tray, it becomes possible to stack trays that can withstand external impacts to the corners and remain stable even with vibrations and tilting during transport. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a tray according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of a tray unfolded according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This diagram illustrates the engagement that occurs when assembling a tray according to the first embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows the state before the inner wall is folded towards the bottom wall, and (b) shows the state after the inner wall is folded towards the bottom wall. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view of a tray according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] It is a plan view of a blank with the tray according to the second embodiment of the present invention developed. [Figure 6] It is a figure which shows the state which piled up and juxtaposed two trays which concern on the modification of the 1st Embodiment of this invention on the tray which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. [Figure 7] It is a figure which shows an example of the stacking of the trays which concern on each Embodiment of this invention, and a plastic tray.

Mode for carrying out the invention

[0020] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. However, the present invention is not limited to the aspects of this embodiment.

[0021] In the description of this specification and the claims, "top surface" and "bottom surface" are referred to as referring to the surfaces defined by the packaging box. However, these terms are for convenience only, and of course do not define the absolute position in the direction of gravity. The same applies to terms such as "upper" and "lower".

[0022] In the description of this specification and the claims, "rectangle" includes rectangles, substantially rectangles, squares, and substantially squares. Further, in the description of this specification and the claims, "parallel" includes not only parallel but also substantially parallel, and "orthogonal" includes not only orthogonal but also substantially orthogonal.

[0023] <First Embodiment> <Structure> FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tray 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of a blank 1B with the tray 1 according to this embodiment developed.

[0024] The tray according to the present invention is configured to be able to accommodate an article inside. The article may be any article as long as the effects of the present invention are exhibited.

[0025] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the tray 1 according to this embodiment is a corrugated cardboard tray comprising a rectangular bottom wall 30 and two pairs of opposing double side walls S1a, S1b, S2a, S2b. At the top corner of the tray 1, a pair of first projections 41 are provided at the upper ends of the first inner walls 21a, 21b of the double side walls S1a, S1b to support stacking the trays 1, and a pair of first notches 51 are provided at the corner of the bottom wall 30 so as to engage with the first projections 41 when stacking the trays 1.

[0026] This configuration provides protrusions on the corners and inner walls of tray 1, allowing it to withstand external impacts to the corners and enabling stable stacking of trays 1 even under vibration and tilting during transport. Furthermore, because the protrusions are located on the inner wall side, they are less likely to bend outwards, allowing for quick stacking of trays 1.

[0027] In this embodiment, side walls S1a and S1b are short-side walls, and side walls S2a and S2b are long-side walls.

[0028] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the two pairs of double side walls S1a, S1b, S2a, S2b include a pair of first outer walls 11a, 11b rising from a pair of first edges L1 of the bottom wall 30, and a pair of second outer walls 12a, 12b rising from a pair of second edges L2 of the bottom wall 30. The pair of inner walls include a pair of first inner walls 21a, 21b connected to the pair of first outer walls 11a, 11b via a pair of first connecting edge plates 61, and a pair of second inner walls 22a, 22b connected to the pair of second outer walls 12a, 12b via a pair of second connecting edge plates 62.

[0029] The bottom wall 30 is composed of a pair of first bottom flap portions 31a, 31b and a pair of second bottom flap portions 32a, 32b.

[0030] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, further, at the corners formed by the first inner wall 21a and the adjacent second inner wall 22a, and at the corners formed by the first inner wall 21b and the adjacent second inner wall 22b, first projections 42 are provided at the upper ends of the second inner walls 22a and 22b of the double side walls S2a and S2b, and first notches 52 are provided at the corners of the bottom wall 30 at the corresponding positions. In this embodiment, when the tray 1 is viewed from above, two pairs of first projections 41 are provided in the rectangular opening, and one pair of first notches 52 are provided on a single diagonal. In this invention, it is sufficient that at least the first projections 41 (or 42) are provided on a pair of inner walls 21a and 21b (22a and 22b), and that a pair of first notches 51 (or 52) are provided on the bottom wall 30 to correspond to them, and the number and location of these are not limited.

[0031] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the two first protrusions 41 and 42, respectively, provided on the adjacent first inner walls 21a and 21b and the second inner walls 22a and 22b, are substantially L-shaped in a top view, and the substantially L-shaped first protrusions 41 and 42 are arranged at least diagonally within the rectangular opening of the tray 1. In a top view, the first protrusion 42 supports the first protrusion 41.

[0032] The second outer walls 12a and 12b are each provided with three vertically elongated circular holes 7A, and the second inner walls 22a and 22b are each provided with three vertically elongated circular holes 7B, with the holes 7A and 7B forming a ventilation hole 7. In this invention, the ventilation hole 7 may also be round. Furthermore, the first outer walls 11a and 11b are each provided with horizontally elongated circular holes 8A, and the first inner walls 21a and 21b are each provided with horizontally elongated circular holes 8B, with the holes 8A and 8B forming a handle hole 8. In this invention, a configuration without holes 7B and handle holes 8 is also acceptable.

[0033] Openings 91 are provided between the first inner walls 21a, 21b and the first outer walls 11a, 11b, respectively, and openings 92 are provided between the second inner walls 22a, 22b and the second outer walls 12a, 12b, respectively. The openings 91 are provided to facilitate folding at the third folding line L3 and the fifth folding line L5, and the openings 92 are provided to facilitate folding at the fourth folding line L4 and the sixth folding line L6. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and configurations in which openings 91 and 92 are not provided are also permitted.

[0034] The tray 1 according to this embodiment can be assembled from a sleeve in which the end of the first outer wall 11b and the end of the second outer wall 12a are bonded together at the joint 13 and folded. In the tray 1 according to this embodiment, the bottom wall 30 has an assembly shape like the 0712 type, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0035] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating the engagement that occurs when assembling the tray 1 according to this embodiment. Figure 3(a) shows the state before the inner walls 21a and 22b are folded towards the bottom wall 30, and Figure 3(b) shows the state after the inner walls 21a and 22b are folded towards the bottom wall 30.

[0036] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, a straight line or weak line (11th folding line) L11 is formed on the first inner walls 21a and 21b from the end of the first projection 41 closest to the center of the first inner walls 21a and 21b toward the bottom wall 30, and the flap portion 211 including the first projection 41 is pivotable around the line or weak line L11 as its axis of rotation. This configuration makes it easy to assemble into a tray shape. Also in this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, a protrusion 221p is provided at the end of the second inner walls 22a and 22b so as to engage with the recess 211r of the flap portion 211 of the first inner walls 21a and 21b during assembly, and the end (folded piece 221) including the protrusion 221p is pivotable by forming a notch C1 and a line (12th folding line) L12 in the second inner walls 22a and 22b. Ruled lines or fragile lines L11 and L12 include not only lead lines but also cut lines (half-cuts), fold lines (fold lines), and perforations.

[0037] <blank> As shown in Figure 2, the blank (also called a blank sheet) 1B of the tray 1 in this embodiment has a first bottom flap portion 31a, 31b having a pair of mutually parallel first fold lines (first edges) L1, a second bottom flap portion 32a, 32b having a pair of mutually parallel second fold lines (second edges) L2 perpendicular to the first fold lines L1, a pair of first outer walls 11a, 11b having a third fold line L3 parallel to the first fold line L1 and connected to the first bottom flap portion 31a, 31b via the pair of first fold lines L1, and a fourth fold line L4 parallel to the second fold line L2 and connected to the second bottom flap portion 32a, 32b via a pair of second fold lines L2 The tray comprises a pair of second outer walls 12a, 12b that are connected, a pair of first connecting edge plates 61 having a fifth fold line L5 parallel to the third fold line L3 and connected to the first outer walls 11a, 11b via the third fold line L3, a pair of second connecting edge plates 62 having a sixth fold line L6 parallel to the fourth fold line L4 and connected to the second outer walls 12a, 12b via the fourth fold line L4, a pair of first inner walls 21a, 21b connected to the first connecting edge plates 61 via the fifth fold line L5 and having a first projection 41 that protrudes at the corners of the top surface of the tray 1 when assembled, and a pair of second inner walls 22a, 22b connected to the second connecting edge plates 62 via the sixth fold line L6. The first bottom flap portions 31a, 31b and the second bottom flap portions 32a, 32b, which correspond to the corners of the bottom wall 30, are provided with notches 51 that can engage with the first projection 41. The second bottom flap portions 32a and 32b each have a 13th folding line L13 formed therein to assist in the assembly of the bottom wall 30.

[0038] The first outer wall 11a and the second outer wall 12a are connected via the seventh bending line L7, the first outer wall 11a and the second outer wall 12b are connected via the eighth bending line L8, the second outer wall 12b and the first outer wall 11b are connected via the ninth bending line L9, and the second outer wall 12a and the joint 13 are connected via the tenth bending line L10.

[0039] Conventionally, cardboard trays have been widely used to hold goods in the distribution and transportation process. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a tray that has a double-layered side panel, with protrusions provided on the crossbar portion of the side panel and holes provided at corresponding positions on the bottom panel, thereby enabling the storage and stacking of goods.

[0040] However, in the tray described in Patent Document 1, the protrusions for stacking and the corresponding holes are located far from the corners of the tray and towards the center of the side. Therefore, the corners of the tray are susceptible to external impacts, and if an impact is received, the stacked trays may not be able to withstand it, causing them to slide and fall, potentially damaging the contents.

[0041] Furthermore, simply adding protrusions to the corners of the trays doesn't solve the problem; the protrusions may bend outwards, preventing the trays from stacking properly. Therefore, there is still room for improvement in the arrangement and configuration of the protrusions on the trays for stacking.

[0042] According to this embodiment, since protrusions are provided on the corners and inner walls of the tray 1, it is possible to stack trays 1 that can withstand impacts to the corners from the outside and remain stable even with vibrations and tilting during transport.

[0043] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the tray can be assembled in fewer steps, prioritizing work efficiency.

[0044] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, the tray can be folded into a sleeve shape by releasing its engagement, allowing for repeated use. Also, the time required for assembly and disassembly is significantly reduced.

[0045] In this invention, it is also possible to provide two different sizes, large and small, and to create a structure in which each size can be mixed with plastic trays and stacked.

[0046] <Second Embodiment> In the second embodiment of the present invention, unlike the first embodiment, the opening is twice as large so that two trays 1 can be stacked side by side on the top surface.

[0047] Figure 4 is a perspective view of tray 1' according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 5 is a plan view of blank 1'B when tray 1' according to this embodiment is unfolded. Among the elements constituting tray 1' according to this embodiment, those having similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and their descriptions are omitted.

[0048] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a second projection 43 is further provided at the center of the side walls S2a and S2b, and at the upper end of the second inner walls 22a and 22b. A second notch 53 is further provided at the center of the edge of the bottom wall 30 so as to engage with the second projection 43 when stacking trays 1.

[0049] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, a pair of first protrusions 42 are provided at the upper ends of the second inner walls 22a and 22b, respectively, and a pair of first notches 52 are provided in the bottom wall 30 corresponding to them.

[0050] Figure 6 shows a state in which two trays 1'' according to a modified example of the first embodiment of the present invention are placed side by side and stacked on a tray 1' according to this embodiment.

[0051] As described above, in the present invention, at least a pair of first projections 41 (or 42) are provided on a pair of inner walls 21a, 21b (22a, 22b), and a pair of first notches 51 (or 52) corresponding to them are provided on the bottom wall 30, and the number and location of these are not limited. Here, a modified version of the first embodiment of the present invention is made simpler by removing the first projection 42. This modified version prioritizes workability and versatility. In this modified version, the first projection 41 is provided so as to be substantially I-shaped when viewed from above.

[0052] As shown in Figure 6, two trays 1'' according to a modified version of the first embodiment can be placed side-by-side and stacked on the tray 1' according to the second embodiment. Of course, instead of using trays 1'' according to a modified version of the first embodiment, two trays 1 according to the first embodiment may be placed side-by-side and stacked on the tray 1' according to the second embodiment. The stacking of trays according to the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0053] Figure 7 shows an example of stacking trays 1', 1'' and a plastic tray P according to each embodiment of the present invention.

[0054] In the present invention, as shown in Figure 7, a plastic tray (so-called plastic container, plastic container) P may be used to stack with the trays 1', 1'' (or 1) according to each embodiment of the present invention. That is, a plastic tray can be stacked on top of or below the tray 1', 1'' (or 1), and the first projections 41, 42 are configured to engage with recesses on the bottom surface of the plastic tray P, and the first notches 51, 52 are configured to engage with extensions on the top surface of the plastic tray P. Plastic trays can be, for example, those manufactured by Ifco Japan Co., Ltd. (e.g., product number 6423) or Sanko Co., Ltd. In this embodiment, the projections 41, 42 are provided on the inner wall side and may be designed to fit into recesses at the corners on the bottom side of the plastic tray, and the notches 51, 52 may be designed to fit into extensions at the corners on the top side of the plastic tray.

[0055] Specifically, as shown in Figure 7, two trays 1'' according to a modified version of the first embodiment may be placed side by side, a plastic tray P may be stacked on top of them, and then a tray 1'' according to the second embodiment may be stacked on top of that.

[0056] According to this embodiment, the same effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained, and since large and small trays can be placed side by side or stacked, the variations in stacking can be increased, and consequently, the efficiency of transportation and storage can be improved.

[0057] <Other> The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above or the modifications mentioned in various places, and can be modified or altered as appropriate without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0058] 1, 1', 1'' tray 1B, 1'B Blank S1a, S1b, S2a, S2b side wall 11a, 11b 1st outer wall 12a, 12b Second outer wall 13 Succession 21a, 21b 1st inner wall 211 Flap section 211r recess 22a, 22b 2nd inner wall 221 Bent piece 221p Convex part 30 Bottom wall 31a, 31b First bottom flap section 32a, 32b Second bottom flap section 41, 42 1st protrusion 43 Second protrusion 51, 52 First notch 53 Second notch 61. First connecting edge board 62. Second connecting edge board 7 Ventilation holes 7A, 7B holes 8 handle holes 8A, 8B hole L1~L13 First to thirteenth folding lines

Claims

1. A cardboard tray having a rectangular bottom wall and two pairs of double side walls facing each other, At the top corner of the tray, a first projection is provided at the upper end of at least one of the inner walls of the two pairs of double side walls to support stacking the trays. A tray characterized in that a first notch is provided at the corner of the bottom wall so as to engage with the first projection when the trays are stacked.

2. The two pairs of double side walls include a pair of first outer walls rising from a pair of first edges of the bottom wall, and a pair of second outer walls rising from a pair of second edges of the bottom wall. The pair of inner walls includes a pair of first inner walls connected to the pair of first outer walls via a pair of first connecting edge plates, and a pair of second inner walls connected to the pair of second outer walls via a pair of second connecting edge plates. The tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the first projection is provided on at least the pair of first inner walls.

3. The first projection is further provided at the upper end of the pair of second inner walls, The two first protrusions provided on the adjacent first inner wall and the second inner wall, respectively, have a substantially L-shape when viewed from above. The tray according to claim 2, characterized in that the substantially L-shaped first projection is arranged at least diagonally within the rectangular opening of the tray.

4. In the first inner wall, a straight line or weak line is formed from the end of the first projection that is closer to the center of the first inner wall toward the bottom wall. The tray according to claim 2, characterized in that the flap portion including the first projection is pivotable with respect to the grid line or weak line as the axis of rotation.

5. The aforementioned tray allows for the stacking of plastic trays on top of or below it. The tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the first projection engages with a recess in the bottom surface of the plastic tray, and the first notch engages with an extension on the top surface of the plastic tray.

6. At the center of the side wall, a second projection is further provided at the upper end of the second inner wall. The tray according to claim 2, further characterized in that a second notch is provided in the center of the edge of the bottom wall so as to engage with the second projection when the trays are stacked.

7. The tray according to claim 1, characterized in that the opening is twice as large so that two of the trays can be stacked side by side on the top surface.

8. The end of the second inner wall is provided with a protrusion so as to engage with the recess of the flap portion of the first inner wall during assembly. The tray according to claim 4, characterized in that the end portion including the protrusion is pivotable by forming notches and scribed lines on the second inner wall.

9. A folded sleeve in the tray according to claim 1.

10. A tray blank according to claim 1, A rectangular bottom wall having a pair of mutually parallel first fold lines and a pair of mutually parallel second fold lines perpendicular to the first fold lines, A pair of first outer walls having a third fold line parallel to the first fold line and connected to the bottom wall via the pair of first fold lines, A pair of second outer walls having a fourth fold line parallel to the second fold line and connected to the bottom wall via the pair of second fold lines, A pair of first connecting edge plates having a fifth fold line parallel to the third fold line and connected to the first outer wall via the third fold line, A pair of second connecting edge plates having a sixth fold line parallel to the fourth fold line and connected to the second outer wall via the fourth fold line, A pair of first inner walls are connected to the first connecting edge plate via the fifth folding line, and each has a first projection that protrudes from the corner of the top surface of the tray when assembled, A pair of second inner walls connected to the second connecting edge plate via the sixth bending line, Equipped with, A tray blank characterized in that the corner of the bottom wall is provided with a notch that can engage with the first projection.

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