Container for receiving, storing, and / or transporting goods, packaging assembly consisting of such containers, and pallet assembly consisting of a plurality of said packaging assemblies
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- GREINER PACKAGING INT
- Filing Date
- 2026-01-27
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-30
Smart Images
Figure AT2026060018_30072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Containers for receiving, storing and / or transporting goods, a packaging arrangement consisting of such containers and a pallet arrangement consisting of a multitude of such packaging arrangements
[0002] The invention relates to a container for receiving, storing and / or transporting goods, a packaging arrangement made of such containers and a pallet arrangement made of a plurality of these packaging arrangements.
[0003] A wide variety of goods, such as food products available in supermarkets, are stored and offered for sale in (re)sealable plastic containers, comprising a container and a sealing lid. These goods must, of course, also be transported in this packaged form from the packaging location to the point of sale.
[0004] For reasons of material conservation, but also for other reasons such as the elastic deformation required for opening or closing resealable containers, both the containers themselves and the lids of such packaging are usually very thin-walled. However, this very high deformability of such plastic containers can cause problems during transport, and additional measures are often necessary to stabilize the transport arrangements of such filled and sealed containers in order to prevent, for example, unintentional opening or damage.
[0005] The object of the present invention was to remedy this situation and to provide a container improved in terms of transport logistics, as well as a packaging arrangement comprising such containers and a pallet arrangement comprising such packaging arrangements, by means of which the transport of the containers and the goods contained therein can be carried out in the simplest possible yet safest way.
[0006] This task is solved, on the one hand, by a container for receiving, storing and / or transporting goods, in particular food products. The container comprises a bowl- or cup-shaped receiving container made of a first plastic material and a closing lid made of a second plastic material for closing the receiving container.
[0007] The goods receiving container comprises a base and a surrounding side wall attached to the base, as well as an opening opposite the base. The side wall has essentially flat sections, with adjacent sections forming an angle of 45° to 120° along a vertical axis. These adjacent sections are connected by rounded corner sections. A circumferential rib with a sealing surface facing away from the base is formed at the opening at the upper end of the side wall. At least one stacking support is provided on an inner and / or outer surface of the side wall.
[0008] The lid has flat wall sections which, when the container is closed, run essentially parallel to the side wall of the receiving container and are located within the receiving container. The lid has a cover surface located between and connected to these wall sections. This cover surface is designed such that, when the container is closed, it extends within the height of the receiving container.
[0009] Specifically, the wall areas and the top surface of the lid form a stacking area. A lid ridge with a sealing surface facing the receiving container is also formed on the wall areas of the lid. This sealing surface corresponds to the sealing surface of the receiving container, and in the container's initial, originally closed state, the lid sealing surface is sealed against the sealing surface of the receiving container.
[0010] This design of the container and its lid allows for the creation of a container with improved properties from a transport logistics perspective. In its initial, sealed state for transport, the container gains increased rigidity by sealing the lid against the container, thus improving stability during transport or packaging. The entire container is thereby stiffened by sealing. In particular, these features, combined with comparable wall thicknesses, result in a container with improved stackability, specifically capable of withstanding higher loads. This, in turn, allows for greater stacking heights and improved flexibility in arranging the container during transport.Conversely, the material thicknesses of the components of the receiving container and the lid can be kept low. For example, the wall thickness of the receiving container's side wall can range from 150 mm to 2200 mm. The stacking area on the lid can be designed to hold the receiving container or its base. Simultaneously, the stacking area can also be designed to hold another lid. This allows for the simple and efficient centering, holding, and stacking of multiple lids or sealed containers, thus improving transport logistics and ensuring the safe transport of lids or filled and sealed containers in transport configurations.For example, the bottoms of the receiving containers of stacked, sealed containers can be supported on the wall areas of the lids or the stacking areas, and thus held more efficiently or securely.
[0011] The first and second plastic materials can be made of different plastic materials, but preferably they can also be made of the same plastic material. Regardless, the first and / or second plastic material can contain, in addition to one or more polymers as are known and customary in the art, fillers, additives, and so on.
[0012] Adjacent wall sections of the closure lid can preferably be connected to each other via wall corner sections, creating a continuous wall section that corresponds at least substantially to the shape of the side wall of the container in the area of the opening. The continuous rib and the container sealing surface, and thus also the closure lid rib and the lid sealing surface, can of course be designed to run essentially horizontally. The stacking area formed by the wall sections and the top surface of the closure lid can be geometrically designed such that it corresponds at least substantially to the geometric shape of the base of the container. This can further improve the stackability of the containers.A suitable stacking arrangement of the containers on top of each other is used to stabilize them for transport.
[0013] The first originally sealed state refers to the condition of the container after it has been initially filled with goods, closed with the lid, and the lid's sealing surface has been sealed against the container's sealing surface. To seal the lid's sealing surface against the container's sealing surface and achieve this first originally sealed state, virtually any known sealing agent, such as hot melt adhesives, sealing lacquers, and so on, can be used. A professional can select a specific sealing agent primarily based on the goods contained or packaged in the container. Essentially, any known sealing method suitable for sealing two surfaces can be used, such as heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, and so on.
[0014] The vertical axis naturally corresponds to a central axis through the container or goods receiving vessel in the vertical direction. The side wall of the goods receiving vessel, or its side wall sections and corner areas, can generally have a parallel, vertical course along the vertical axis. However, it is also possible for the side wall, or its side wall sections and corner areas, to have a conical or downward-tapering course along the vertical axis, as is quite common for such containers.
[0015] A container for receiving, storing, and / or transporting goods, particularly food products, may be provided, comprising a bowl- or cup-shaped receiving container made of a first plastic material and a closing lid made of a second plastic material for closing the receiving container, wherein the receiving container comprises a base and a circumferential side wall attached to the base, as well as an opening opposite the base, which side wall has essentially flat side wall regions, wherein adjacent side wall regions along the side wall each form an angle to each other in a cross-section along a vertical axis, which angle is from 45° to 120°, wherein the adjacent side wall regions are connected to each other by rounded side wall corner regions.wherein in the area of the opening at an upper end region of the side wall a circumferential rib with a container sealing surface pointing away from the bottom is formed and wherein at least one stacking support aid is formed on an inner side wall surface and / or an outer side wall surface of the side wall, wherein the closure lid has planar wall regions which, in the closed state of the container, extend substantially parallel to the side wall of the goods receiving container and are arranged within the goods receiving container, wherein the closure lid has a cover surface arranged between the wall regions and connected to the wall regions, which cover surface is formed on the closure lid such that, in the closed state of the container, the cover surface is arranged within a height extension of the goods receiving container,and wherein the wall areas and the top surface of the closure lid form a stacking receiving area, and wherein a closure lid rib with a lid sealing surface facing the goods receiving container is formed on the wall areas of the closure lid, which lid sealing surface is formed corresponding to the container sealing surface, wherein in a first originally closed state of the container the lid sealing surface is sealed against the container sealing surface.
[0016] In a further development of the container, interoperable locking means for locking the closure lid to the goods receiving container in the closed state of the container can be formed on the inwardly facing sides or the inner surface of the side wall in the area of the opening, i.e. in the upper area of the goods receiving container, and on the outwardly facing sides of the wall areas of the closure lid.
[0017] Firstly, such locking devices allow the container to be opened and reclosed multiple times. Secondly, they can further improve the stability of a transport arrangement comprising containers formed in this way, especially in their initial, closed state. In particular, they can further prevent the containers from being opened or damaged during transport. These locking devices can be designed, for example, to create a positive or frictional connection between the lid and the container. Such locking devices also provide the user with at least tactile feedback when (re)closing the container, allowing them to feel that the lid has clicked into place.In particular, with positive locking devices, it is advantageous for a user to also be provided with an acoustic perception when the corresponding, positively interlocking locking devices engage.
[0018] In a further embodiment of the container, it can be provided that at least one stacking support aid of the goods receiving container is formed on the inner side wall surface and simultaneously forms a locking means for at least one locking means of the closure lid.
[0019] These features also contribute to increased stability in a transport arrangement. Furthermore, two functions can thus be fulfilled by one and the same element or locking device. For example, at least one locking device of the closure lid can be designed such that, in the initial, originally closed state of the container, it is supported by the locking and stacking support device. The locking device of the closure lid can, for example, be designed as a horizontally extending groove, and the stacking support device can be designed as a horizontally extending extension on the inner side wall of the goods receiving container, so that the groove-shaped locking device engages the stacking support device in the initial, originally closed state and is simultaneously supported by one or the upper wall of the groove.
[0020] Furthermore, the container may be provided with groove sections between the wall areas of the closure lid and the top surface of the closure lid, or with a circumferential groove, wherein a groove base surface is formed in the groove sections or the circumferential groove.
[0021] The outer groove walls, or the outward-facing sides of the groove sections, or the outer groove wall of a circumferential groove, can of course be formed by the wall areas of the closure cover described above. A circumferential groove can be formed, in particular, when, as also described above, adjacent wall areas of the closure cover are connected to each other via wall corners and form a continuous wall area. The cross-sectional shape of the groove sections or the circumferential groove can be rectangular, for example, but can also be trapezoidal with an outer groove wall or wall area that slopes outwards at the top. The width of the groove sections or the circumferential groove can range from 0.15 mm to 20 mm. The distance along the vertical axis, or in the vertical direction, between the cover surface and the base of the groove can, for example, range from 0.1 mm to 30 mm.
[0022] The formation of such groove sections or a circumferential groove has proven beneficial to the stability of a transport arrangement consisting of or comprising containers. Furthermore, by forming the groove sections or the circumferential groove, a laterally acting preload can be introduced into a closure lid, resulting in a further improved locking of the closure lid onto the goods receiving container when the container is closed. This can also provide a container with improved functionality. In particular, the functionality of the stacking area of the closure lid, in combination with the top surface, can be expanded and improved by forming the groove sections or the circumferential groove. The groove sections or the circumferential groove can be...For example, it can be designed as a receiving element for groove walls and a groove base for another, particularly identically designed, closure lid, thus enabling stable, efficient, and space-saving stacking and better secured transport or delivery of a large number of closure lids. The groove sections or the circumferential groove allow, for example, improved and easy centering of the closure lids on top of each other. At the same time, such a stacking receiving area, including the groove sections or the circumferential groove, can also provide efficient stacking of containers on top of each other, and consequently, improved transport of filled and sealed containers, as will be explained in more detail below.
[0023] For example, the locking means of the closure cover may be provided on outwardly facing sides or on an outer groove wall in the area of the groove sections or the circumferential groove. Furthermore, the groove sections or the circumferential groove may have a minimum depth of 0.1 mm.
[0024] Furthermore, it may also be provided that at least one extension is formed on the bottom of the goods receiving container, which extension can be received at least partially in a groove section or the circumferential groove corresponding to it.
[0025] However, it can also be provided that struts are formed in the groove sections or the circumferential groove, so that form recesses are formed by these struts, and that corresponding form extensions are formed on the bottom of the goods receiving container with these form recesses, which can be inserted into the form recesses of the groove sections or the circumferential groove.
[0026] It may further be provided that in an outer groove wall and / or an inner groove wall of the groove sections or the circumferential groove, projections are formed so that corresponding recesses are formed in the groove sections or the circumferential groove, and that corresponding projections are formed on the bottom of the goods receiving container with these recesses, which can be inserted into the recesses of the groove sections or the circumferential groove.
[0027] These design features of the groove sections or the circumferential groove of the lid, as well as the design of the extensions on the base of the container, further improve the transport stability of the containers. In particular, stacked containers can be stabilized against twisting and, especially, against tipping.
[0028] In a further development of the container, the outer side wall surface of the side wall of the goods receiving container can be encased, at least partially along its height and completely, by an outer part wound into a jacket.
[0029] The outer part can be made of a material comprising cellulose fibers and / or plastic.
[0030] These features further improve the stackability of the containers. In particular, they provide increased resistance to crushing due to high weight loads. The first and / or second plastic material can be selected from a single material or a combination of several plastic materials from the following groups: polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, modified polyester, polycarbonate, polyamide, polybutylene terephthalate, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, starch-based thermoplastics, and polylactic acid.
[0031] These plastic materials have proven well-suited for manufacturing the product container and / or the closure lid. As mentioned above, each of these plastic materials or combinations thereof can, of course, contain fillers, additives, and so on, in addition to the polymer(s), as is generally known and common practice.
[0032] Furthermore, the goods receiving container and / or the closure lid can be manufactured using an injection molding, deep drawing, folding, folding and gluing or thermoforming process.
[0033] These manufacturing methods allow the components of the container to be produced efficiently and cost-effectively.
[0034] In an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the angle which the adjacent side wall areas along the side wall enclose each other at the cross-section along the vertical axis is essentially 90°.
[0035] In other words, the side wall of the goods receiving container can be essentially rectangular in cross-section, specifically square, and adjacent side wall areas can be connected to each other via the rounded side wall corner areas.
[0036] This design of the side wall advantageously allows for a space-saving arrangement of the containers next to each other in a transport arrangement.
[0037] Finally, when the container is closed, at least some areas of the outer surface of the lid's wall can be at the same or a greater distance from the container's vertical axis than the inner surface of the receiving container's side wall at the same height as the closed container. This feature allows the lid to be held securely against the receiving container by friction when the container is closed.
[0038] Advantageously, the container can also be designed as a combination packaging container comprising a plastic cup with a circumferential wall and a cardboard insert, which cuffs around the circumferential wall, with the ends of the cardboard insert overlapping to form an overlapping area extending essentially along the height of the cup. Accordingly, the ends of the cardboard insert can be welded together in the overlapping area using a heat-sealable adhesive.
[0039] It may further be provided that the overlap area has at least a first section in which heat-sealable adhesive is applied and the ends of the cardboard blank are not joined together. It may also be provided that at least a second section is provided in which heat-sealable adhesive is applied and the ends of the cardboard blank are joined together. In the overlap area, the surfaces of the ends facing each other may overlap and be joined together. It may be provided that one of the surfaces intended for the overlap is fully or partially coated with heat-sealable adhesive in the initial state of the cardboard blank, i.e., before it is attached to the plastic cup. The other surface may be free of heat-sealable adhesive in its initial state.
[0040] The second section, at least, can be linear or round, for example circular or oval, or polygonal, for example rectangular or diamond-shaped.
[0041] The heat-sealable adhesive could, for example, be a sealing lacquer.
[0042] The object of the invention is also solved by a packaging arrangement.
[0043] The packaging arrangement comprises a plurality of containers, as described above, arranged side by side in rows and columns in a single layer with a single layer height, in their original sealed state.
[0044] In the packaging arrangement, the fill level, specified by the volume ratio of the containers to the total volume of the packaging arrangement, can be between 0.65 and 0.9. These features of the packaging arrangement allow for space-efficient arrangement and transport of the containers side by side. Preferably, the fill level, specified by the volume ratio of the containers to the total volume of the packaging arrangement, can be between 0.7 and 0.9.
[0045] Furthermore, the packaging arrangement may also include a logistics factor of 59 millimeters to 75 millimeters, formed from the product of the fill level and layer height.
[0046] This also provides a space-saving arrangement of the containers for transport. Preferably, the logistics factor of the packaging arrangement, calculated as the product of fill level and layer height, can be between 65 and 75 millimeters.
[0047] Finally, the task is also solved by a pallet arrangement. The pallet arrangement comprises a multitude of packaging arrangements, as described above, stacked vertically and, if necessary, additionally arranged side-by-side in rows and columns within a single layer.
[0048] Because the pallet arrangement includes the containers described above, a stable pallet arrangement, resistant to deformation or damage, can be provided as a transport arrangement or for transport.
[0049] The pallet arrangement may also be designed so that the fill level of the pallet arrangement, specified by a volume ratio of the volume occupied by the containers to the total volume of the pallet arrangement, is between 0.65 and 0.9.
[0050] These features of the pallet arrangement also enable space-efficient placement and transport of the containers side by side and on top of each other. In particular, the fill level of the pallet arrangement, specified by the volume ratio of the volume occupied by the containers to the total volume of the pallet arrangement, can range from 0.7 to 0.9.
[0051] The pallet arrangement can also be configured with a logistics factor, calculated as the product of the fill level and stacking height of the containers, ranging from 0.88 meters to 1.5 meters. These pallet arrangement features also enable particularly space-saving and therefore efficient transport of the containers. Specifically, the logistics factor calculated as the product of the fill level and layer height can range from 1 meter to 1.5 meters.
[0052] To better understand the invention, it is explained in more detail with reference to the following figures.
[0053] They each show, in a highly simplified, schematic representation:
[0054] Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a container with a separately shown goods receiving container and closure lid, in perspective view;
[0055] Fig. 2 shows a sectional view through the container from Fig. 1 in a closed state;
[0056] Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of a container with a separately shown goods receiving container and closure lid, in perspective view;
[0057] Fig. 4 shows a sectional view through the container from Fig. 3 in a closed state;
[0058] Fig. 5 shows a partial embodiment of a groove section of a closure lid in a top view and a partial embodiment of a bottom of a goods receiving container corresponding to the groove section in a bottom view;
[0059] Fig. 6 shows in part a further embodiment for a groove section of a closure lid in a top view and in part an embodiment for a base of a goods receiving container corresponding to the groove section in a bottom view;
[0060] Fig. 7 shows an embodiment of a packaging arrangement in perspective view;
[0061] Fig. 8 shows an embodiment of a pallet arrangement in perspective view; Fig. 9 shows a side view of a combination packaging container according to an embodiment of the invention;
[0062] Fig. 10 shows a view of a cardboard blank in its unassembled state;
[0063] Fig. 11 different embodiments of cardboard blanks in the unassembled state.
[0064] It should be noted at the outset that in the differently described embodiments, identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals or component designations, and the disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied analogously to identical parts with the same reference numerals or component designations. Furthermore, the orientation designations chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refer to the figure directly described and illustrated, and these orientation designations must be applied analogously to the new position if the orientation changes.
[0065] Figures 1 and 2 show an embodiment of a container 1 for receiving, storing and / or transporting goods, in particular food products; Figures 3 and 4 show a further embodiment of a container 1 for receiving, storing and / or transporting goods, in particular food products.
[0066] As can be seen from Figures 1 to 4, such a container 1 for receiving, storing, and / or transporting goods comprises a bowl- or cup-shaped goods receiving container 2 and a closure lid 3 for closing the goods receiving container 2. In Figures 1 and 3, the components of the container 1, i.e., the goods receiving container 2 and the closure lid 3, are shown in separate states; thus, Figures 1 and 3 depict embodiments of the container 1 without a lid. To better illustrate various elements or configurations of the goods receiving container 2 and the closure lid 3, the embodiments of the goods receiving container 2 are shown in perspective views of a top surface in Figures 1 and 3, and the embodiments of the closure lid 3 are shown in perspective views of a bottom surface.Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the embodiment of container 1 from Figure 1 in the closed state, and Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the embodiment of container 1 from Figure 3, also in the closed state. The bowl- or cup-shaped goods receiving container 2 is formed from a first plastic material, and the closure lid 3 is formed from a second plastic material. The first and second plastic materials can, in principle, be made of different plastic materials, but they can also be made of the same plastic material. Regardless, the first and / or the second plastic material can contain, in addition to one or more polymers as is known and customary, fillers, additives, and so on.
[0067] For example, the first plastic material of the goods receiving container 2 and / or the second plastic material of the closure lid 3 can be selected from a plastic material or a combination of several plastic materials from the group polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, modified polyester plastic, polycarbonate, polyamide, polybutylene terephthalate, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, starch-based thermoplastics, polylactide.
[0068] The goods receiving container 2 and / or the closure lid 3 can be manufactured by an injection molding, deep drawing, folding, folding and gluing or thermoforming process.
[0069] As can be seen from Figs. 1 to 4, the goods receiving container 2 comprises a base 4. Furthermore, the goods receiving container 2 comprises a side wall 5 and an opening 6 opposite the base 4, which opening 6 can be closed by means of the closing lid 2 (as can be seen from Figs. 2 and 4).
[0070] As can be seen from Figs. 1 and 3, the side wall 5 has essentially flat side wall regions 7. As also shown, adjacent side wall regions 7 along the side wall 5 form an angle 9 with each other at a cross-section along a vertical axis 8. This angle 9 formed by the adjacent side wall regions 7 ranges from 45° to 120°.
[0071] As illustrated in the exemplary embodiments in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the angle 9 between the adjacent side wall regions 7 along the side wall 5 and the cross-section along the vertical axis 8 can, in a preferred embodiment, be essentially 90°. This allows for a particularly space-saving arrangement of the containers 1 directly adjacent to one another, thus enabling the highest possible packing density in a single container layer. The vertical axis 8 corresponds to a central axis through the container 1 or the goods receiving container 2 in the vertical direction.
[0072] As can be seen from Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the adjacent side wall sections 7 are connected to each other by rounded side wall corner sections 10. In the embodiments shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3, the side wall 5 of the goods receiving container 2 can have a substantially rectangular cross-section, specifically a square cross-section as shown, and adjacent side wall sections can be connected to each other via the rounded side wall corner sections.
[0073] The side wall 5 of the goods receiving container 2, or its side wall sections 7 and side wall corner sections 10, can generally have a parallel, vertical profile along the vertical axis. However, it is also possible for the side wall 5, or its side wall sections 7 and side wall corner sections 10, to have a conical profile or a downward taper towards the bottom along the vertical axis 8, as is shown in the embodiments in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3. The wall thickness of the side wall 5 of the goods receiving container 2 can, for example, range from 150 µm to 2200 µm.
[0074] As can be seen from Figures 1 to 4, a circumferential rib 12 with a container sealing surface 13 pointing away from the base 4 is formed on the goods receiving container 2 in the area of the opening 6 or on an upper end region 11 of the side wall 5. Furthermore, at least one stacking support aid 16 is formed on an inner side wall surface 14 and / or an outer side wall surface 15 of the side wall 5 of the goods receiving container 2, wherein such a stacking support aid 16 can be provided or designed for supporting stacked, empty goods receiving containers 2 and / or as a support for stacked, filled and sealed containers 1.
[0075] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the closure lid 3 has flat wall areas 17. As can be seen particularly in Figures 2 and 4, these wall areas 17 of the closure lid 3, when the container 1 is closed, run essentially parallel to the side wall 5 of the receiving container 2 and are located inside the receiving container 2. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, adjacent wall areas 17 of the closure lid 3 can preferably be connected to each other via wall corner areas 18, so that a continuous wall area is formed, and this wall area corresponds at least substantially to the course of the side wall 5 of the receiving container 2 in the area of the opening 6.
[0076] Furthermore, the closure lid 3 has a cover surface 19 arranged between and connected to the wall areas 17. This cover surface 19 is designed on the closure lid 3 such that, when the container 1 is closed, the cover surface 19 is located within a height extension 20 of the goods receiving container 2, as can best be seen from Fig. 2 and Fig. 4.
[0077] As illustrated in Fig. 2 and Fig. 4, the closure lid 3 is designed such that the wall areas 17 and the top surface 19 of the closure lid 3 form a stacking area 21. This stacking area 21, formed by the wall areas 17 and the top surface 19 of the closure lid 2, can be geometrically designed such that it corresponds at least substantially to the geometric shape of the base 4 of the goods receiving container 2.
[0078] As further illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, a lid rib 22 with a lid sealing surface 23 facing the goods receiving container 2 is formed on the wall areas 17 of the lid 3. This lid sealing surface 23 corresponds to the container sealing surface 13, as can be clearly seen in Figures 1 and 3. The circumferential rib 12 and the container sealing surface 13 of the goods receiving container 2, and thus also the lid rib 22 and the lid sealing surface 23 of the lid 3, can of course be designed to run essentially horizontally.
[0079] As illustrated in particular by Figures 2 and 4, in the first originally sealed state of the container 1, the lid sealing surface 23 is sealed against the container sealing surface 13. The first originally sealed state of the container 1 refers to the state that exists after the first filling of the receiving container 2 with goods, closing of the receiving container 2 with the closure lid 3, and sealing of the lid sealing surface 23 against the container sealing surface 13. In principle, all known sealing agents, such as hot melt adhesives, sealing lacquers, and so on, can be used to seal the lid sealing surface 23 against the container sealing surface 13 in order to create the first originally sealed state of the container 1.Basically, all known methods suitable for sealing two surfaces can be used for sealing, such as heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, and so on.
[0080] As illustrated by the embodiments in Figs. 1 to 4, interoperable locking means 26, 27 for locking the closure lid 3 to the goods receiving container 2 in the closed state of the container 1 can be formed on inwardly facing sides 24 of the side wall 5 in the area of the opening 6 of the goods receiving container 2 and on outwardly facing sides 25 of the wall areas 17 of the closure lid 3.
[0081] The corresponding locking elements 26, 27 can be designed, for example, to create a frictional connection or a positive connection. For instance, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, vertically extending, groove-shaped projections 28 are formed on the inwardly facing sides 24 of the side wall 5 of the goods receiving container 2 at the upper end of the side wall 5. These projections can be brought into frictional engagement with the wall sections 17 of the closure lid 3 when the closure lid 3 is inserted into the goods receiving container 2 or its opening 6, and the goods receiving container is thus closed. To create such a frictional connection, the wall sections 17 of the closure lid 3 can, for example, have bulges, as also shown in Fig. 1. In principle, however, the wall sections 17 themselves, either as such or as a whole, can also act as a purely locking element 27.It may be provided, for example, that in the closed state of the container 1, at least partial areas of the outwardly facing sides 25 of the wall areas 17 of the closure lid 3 have the same or a greater distance from the vertical axis 8 of the container 1 or of the goods receiving container 2 as the inner side wall surface 14 of the goods receiving container 2 at the same height of the closed container 1.
[0082] Alternatively or additionally, a positive locking mechanism between the goods receiving container 2 and the closure lid 3 is also possible. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, horizontally extending projections 29 can be formed as locking means 26 on the inwardly facing sides 24 of the side wall 5 of the goods receiving container 2, as shown, and under-engaging lips 30 can be provided as locking means 27 on the outwardly facing sides 25 of the wall areas 17, which under-engaging lips 30 engage the horizontal projections 29 of the goods receiving container in a positive locking manner when the container 1 is closed. Of course, other designs of locking means are also conceivable.
[0083] In particular, at least one stacking support aid 16 of the goods receiving container 2 can be formed on the inner side wall surface 14 and simultaneously form a locking means 26 for at least one locking means 27 of the closure lid 3, as shown in the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 3.
[0084] Figure 5 shows a partial and more detailed top view of the closure lid 3 of the embodiment shown in Figure 1. Figure 5 also shows a partial bottom view of the base 4 of the goods receiving container 2 from the embodiment shown in Figure 1.
[0085] As shown in Fig. 5, but also generally evident from Figs. 1 to 4, groove sections 31 can be formed between the wall areas 17 of the closure cover 3 and the top surface 19 of the closure cover 3, or, as in the embodiments according to Figs. 1 and 3, a circumferential groove 32 can be formed. A circumferential groove 32 can, of course, be formed particularly when, as already described above, adjacent wall areas 17 of the closure cover 3 are connected to each other via wall corner areas 17, 18 and form a circumferential wall area. As can be clearly seen from Figs. 1 and 3, the wall areas 17 of the closure cover 3 can form outer groove walls 34 of the groove sections 31 or an outer groove wall 34 of the circumferential groove 32. As shown in the top view of the closure cover 3 in Fig.As can be seen in Figure 5, a groove base surface 33 can be formed in the groove sections 31 or the circumferential groove 32. In this context, the locking means 27 of the closure cover 3 can be provided on an outer groove wall 34 in the area of the groove sections 31 or the circumferential groove 32.
[0086] The cross-sectional shape of the groove sections 31 or the circumferential groove 32 can be rectangular, for example, but can also be trapezoidal with an outer groove wall 34 or wall area 17 that slopes upwards and outwards, as can be clearly seen in Figures 2 to 4. The groove width of the groove sections 31 or the circumferential groove 32 can range from 0.15 mm to 20 mm. The distance along the vertical axis 8, or in the vertical direction, between the top surface 19 and the groove base 33 can range, for example, from 0.1 mm to 30 mm.
[0087] In particular, the groove sections 31 or the circumferential groove 32 can have a minimum depth of 0.1 mm.
[0088] In particular, such groove sections 31 or such a circumferential groove 32 can be used functionally.
[0089] For example, at least one shaped extension 35 can be formed on the bottom 4 of the goods receiving container 2, which shaped extension 35 can be received at least partially in a groove section 31 or the circumferential groove 32 correspondingly, as is also shown in Fig. 5.
[0090] Figure 6 shows a further embodiment, in which, as in Figure 5, a partial top view of a closure lid 3 and a partial bottom view of a base 4 of a goods receiving container 2 are shown. As can be seen from Figure 6, struts 36 can be formed in the groove sections 31 or the circumferential groove 32, such that these struts 36 form mold recesses 37. Corresponding mold extensions 35 can be formed on the base 4 of the goods receiving container 2 with these mold recesses 37, which can be inserted into the mold recesses 37.
[0091] As shown in the embodiment in Fig. 5, however, projections 39 can also be formed in an outer groove wall 34 and / or an inner groove wall 38 of the groove sections 31 or the circumferential groove 32, so that correspondingly shaped recesses 40 are formed in the groove sections 31 or the circumferential groove 32, and that corresponding shaped extensions 35 are formed on the bottom 4 of the goods receiving container 2 with these recesses 40.
[0092] As shown in the embodiment depicted in Fig. 3, in one embodiment of the container 1, the outer side wall surface 15 of the side wall 5 of the goods receiving container 2 may be encased, at least partially along its height 20 and completely, by an outer part 41 wound into a sheath. Such an outer part may be formed from a material comprising cellulose fibers and / or plastic. It may also be provided that the outer side wall surface 15 of the goods receiving container 2 is encased by the outer part 41 in the area of the base 4 of the goods receiving container 2, such that when sealed containers 1 are stacked on top of each other, the outer part 41 projects into the stacking receiving area 21 of the lid 3 of a container 1 arranged below it in a stacking or transport arrangement.
[0093] Figure 7 shows a packaging arrangement 42. As can be seen from Figure 7, the packaging arrangement 42 comprises a plurality of containers 1 arranged adjacent to one another in rows 43 and columns 44 in a level 45 with a level height 46. The containers 1 are designed as described in detail above and are in their first, originally closed state. The containers 1 of the packaging arrangement 42 are thus filled with goods, closed, and a respective sealing lid 3 is sealed against a respective goods receiving container 2.
[0094] The packaging arrangement 42, as shown in Fig. 7, can also be further secured by one or more securing devices. For example, the sealed containers 1 in the packaging arrangement 42 can be held by a connecting device with holes for receiving the containers 1, which is arranged between the bottoms 4 of the receiving containers 2 and the closing lids 3 of the containers 1, such as the perforated plate 54 shown in Fig. 7. Alternatively or additionally, the containers 1 of the packaging arrangement 42 can be secured, for example, by a paper or transparent plastic film wrapping wrapped around the outside of the packaging arrangement 42. Furthermore, it is also possible, for example, for the containers 1 in a packaging arrangement 42 to be separably connected to one another directly at their webs (12, 22), for example by gluing or by means of adhesive tape.
[0095] In the packaging arrangement 42, the fill level of the packaging arrangement 42, specified by a volume ratio of the volume occupied by the containers 1 to the total volume of the packaging arrangement 42, can be from 0.65 to 0.9, preferably from 0.7 to 0.9. Furthermore, a logistics factor formed from the product of the fill level and the layer height 46 of the packaging arrangement 42 can be from 59 millimeters to 75 millimeters, preferably from 65 millimeters to 75 millimeters.
[0096] Finally, Fig. 8 shows a pallet arrangement 47. As shown in Fig. 8, the pallet arrangement 47 comprises a plurality of packaging arrangements 42 stacked one above the other along a vertical 48, as described above. Additionally, further packaging arrangements 42 may optionally be provided, arranged side by side in rows 49 and columns 50 in layers 51.
[0097] In the pallet arrangement 47, the fill level of the pallet arrangement 47, specified by a volume ratio of a volume occupied by the containers 1 to a total volume of the pallet arrangement 47, can be from 0.65 to 0.9, preferably from 0.7 to 0.9.
[0098] A logistics factor formed from the product of the fill level and stacking height 52 of the containers 1 of the pallet arrangement 47 can range from 0.88 meters to 1.5 meters, preferably from 1 meter to 1.5 meters.
[0099] The pallet arrangement 47 can of course be arranged on a pallet 53, as illustrated in Fig. 8.
[0100] Fig. 9 shows an embodiment based on the embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
[0101] Fig. 9 shows an embodiment of a combination packaging container 55, which comprises, firstly, an inner plastic cup or an inner product receiving container 2, which has an open end at its top surrounded by a flange or by a container sealing surface 13 and a closed end at its bottom, which is formed by a base 4. The combination packaging container 55, which tapers downwards towards the base 4, also has, secondly, an outer part 41 or a cardboard blank, which encloses the circumferential wall of the product receiving container 2 in a cuff-like manner. The ends 56, 57 of the outer part 41, which extend essentially along the cup height direction H, overlap each other and thus form an overlap area A located between the end faces 59, 60 of the ends 56, 57, in which the ends 56, 57 of the outer part 41 are welded together by means of a heat-sealable adhesive 58.The outer part 41 is attached to one another. The heat-sealable adhesive 58 is arranged between the mating surfaces of the ends 56, 57. The upper longitudinal edge 61 of the outer part 41 abuts the flange or the container sealing surface 13, and the lower longitudinal edge 62 abuts a shoulder 63 of the receiving container 2, which fixes the outer part 41 to the receiving container 2 in the cup height direction H. To separate the outer part 41 from the receiving container 2, the cardboard blank also has a predetermined separation area 65 with a plurality of perforations 64 and an access opening 66, which are arranged close to the overlap area A on the inner section of the cardboard blank 1. The overlap area A has a first section B in which heat-sealable adhesive 58 is arranged and the ends 56, 57 of the outer part 41 are not connected to each other, and at least one orSeveral second sections C, in which heat-sealable adhesive 58 is applied and the ends 56, 57 of the outer part 41 are connected to each other. This configuration is due to the fact that the outer part 41 is provided such that one of the ends 56, 57 is fully coated with heat-sealable adhesive 58 on one side in the intended overlap area A, but for attaching the outer part 41 to the goods receiving container 2, the heat-sealable adhesive 58 is only partially activated. The overlap area A can therefore, in particular, have a rectangular shape, the connection area(s) C can be located as lines or points within the overlap area A, and the first section B or the multiple sections B are located in the remainder of the overlap area A, in which the connection area(s) C are not located.
[0102] Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of the outer part 41, or the cardboard blank, in its flat initial state, before it is wrapped around the plastic cup or the product receiving container 2 in a cuff-like manner and attached to it. The outer part 41 has a first end 56, or a first end face 59, and an opposite second end 57, or a opposite second end face 60, on its transverse sides. On its longitudinal sides, the outer part 41 has an upper longitudinal edge 61 and a lower longitudinal edge 62. In the example shown, heat-sealable adhesive 58 is applied to the surface A' of the first end 56 that points away from the product receiving container 2. Surface A' is located on the front of the outer part 41 shown. Surface A', or the overlap area A, extends over the entire height H of the outer part 41 and has a width of approximately 1 cm. At the opposite end 57 it is clearly shown that the inside orThe surface A" of end 57, facing the receiving container 2, forms the corresponding part of the overlap area A. Surface A" is thus located on the reverse side of the outer part 41 shown. Specifically, this means that when the cardboard blank 1 is wrapped around the receiving container 2, the first end 56 rests against the receiving container 2, and the surface A' of end 56, coated with heat-sealable adhesive 58, points away from the receiving container 2. The second end 57 overlaps the first end 56, with the overlapping ends 56 and 57 forming the overlap area A. The surface A" of end 57, facing the goods receiving container 2, is attached to the surface A' of end 56, which is coated with heat-sealable adhesive 58. The entire surface A' is coated with heat-sealable adhesive 58. However, only the second areas C are used to attach the outer part 41 to the goods receiving container 2, in order to connect surfaces A' and A" together.In the example shown, the areas C have a square surface and are regularly spaced apart. The connected area B shown in the example is not used to join areas A' and A''. To join areas A' and A'', areas C are subjected to pressure and heat. Adjacent to area A', the outer part 41, as shown in Fig. 9, has a predetermined separation area 65 with perforations 64 and an access opening 66.
[0103] Fig. 11 shows various embodiments a)-g) of the outer part 41, in which different shapes of connection areas C are used on the respective surfaces A'. Embodiments a) and e) have diamond-shaped connection areas C, or, in embodiments a) and e), the connection areas C are square but rotated by 45° relative to the side edges 59, 60, 61, 62 of the outer part 41. The connection areas C are of a uniform size, with the areas C of embodiment a) being smaller than the areas C of embodiment e). Embodiments b) and c) have square connection areas C whose side edges are aligned parallel to the side edges 59, 60, 61, 62 of the outer part 41. The connection areas C are of a uniform size in both embodiments, with the areas C of embodiment b) being larger than the areas C of embodiment c).Embodiments d) and f) each have circular regions C. In embodiment d), the regions C are of a uniform size, while in embodiment f), the circular regions are larger towards the longitudinal edges 61, 62 in the direction H and become smaller towards the center of the surface A'. In embodiments a)-f), the connecting regions C are arranged centrally on the surfaces A' perpendicular to the cup height direction H and are regularly spaced apart from one another along the cup height direction H. Furthermore, each individual connecting region C in embodiments a)-f) is completely surrounded by region B. Embodiment g) represents a special form of the invention in which the entire surface A' functions as a connecting region C, and region B thus has a size of zero.
[0104] The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiment variants, whereby it should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiment variants, but rather various combinations of the individual embodiment variants are also possible and this possibility of variation lies within the skill of the person skilled in this technical field due to the teaching on technical action by the present invention.
[0105] The scope of protection is defined by the claims. However, the description and drawings must be consulted for the interpretation of the claims. Individual features or combinations of features from the different embodiments shown and described can, in themselves, represent independent inventive solutions. The problem underlying these independent inventive solutions can be found in the description.
[0106] All references to value ranges in this description are to be understood as encompassing any and all sub-ranges thereof, e.g., the reference 1 to 10 is to be understood as including all sub-ranges, starting from the lower limit 1 and the upper limit 10, i.e., all sub-ranges begin with a lower limit of 1 or greater and end with an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g., 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.
[0107] Finally, for the sake of clarity, it should be noted that, for better understanding of the structure, some elements have been shown not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced. Reference symbol list
[0108] Container 32 Groove Goods receiving container 33 Groove base surface Closure lid 34 Groove wall
[0109] Base 35 Form extension Side wall 36 Strut
[0110] Opening 37 Form-receiving side wall area 38 Grooved wall
[0111] Height axis 39 Shape
[0112] Angle 40 Recess Side wall corner area 41 Outer part
[0113] End area 42 Packaging arrangement Bridge 43 Row
[0114] Container sealing area 44 column, inner side wall area 45, outer side wall area 46, floor height
[0115] Stacking support aid 47 Pallet arrangement Wall area 48 Vertical
[0116] W wall ceiling area 49 row
[0117] Cover area 50 Column Height extension 51 Position Stacking area 52 Stacking height Closure lid bridge 53 Pallet
[0118] Lid sealing surface 54 perforated plate
[0119] Page 55 Combination packaging container Page 56 First end
[0120] Locking agent 57 second end Locking agent 58 adhesive
[0121] Process 59 first frontal face
[0122] Extension 60 second end face underhand lip 61 upper longitudinal edge groove section 62 lower longitudinal edge 63 shoulder
[0123] 64 perforations
[0124] 65 Target separation area 66 Intervention opening H Cup height direction A Overlap area B First section
[0125] Section C, second section
Claims
Patent claims 1. Container (1) for receiving, storing and / or transporting goods, in particular food products, comprising a bowl- or cup-shaped goods receiving container (2) made of a first plastic material, wherein the goods receiving container (2) comprises a base (4) and a circumferential side wall (5) attached to the base (4) as well as an opening (6) opposite the base (4), which side wall (5) has essentially flat side wall areas (7), wherein adjacent side wall areas (7) along the side wall (5) enclose an angle (9) to each other at a cross-section along a height axis (8), which angle (9) is from 45° to 120°, wherein the adjacent side wall areas (7) are connected to each other by rounded side wall corner areas (10), wherein in the area of the opening (6) at an upper end area (11) of the side wall (5) a circumferential rib (12) with a container sealing surface (13) pointing away from the bottom (4) is formed, and wherein at least one stacking support aid (16) is formed on an inner side wall surface (14) and / or an outer side wall surface (15) of the side wall (5).
2. Container (1) according to claim 1, comprising a closure lid (3) made of a second plastic material for closing the goods receiving container (2), wherein the closure lid (3) has planar wall areas (17) which wall areas (17) extend substantially parallel to the side wall (5) of the goods receiving container (2) in the closed state of the container (1) and are arranged inside the goods receiving container (2), wherein the closure lid (3) has a cover surface (19) arranged between the wall areas (17) and connected to the wall areas (17), which cover surface (19) is designed on the closure lid (3) such that the cover surface (19) is arranged within a height extension (20) of the goods receiving container (2) when the container (1) is closed, and wherein the wall areas (17) and the top surface (19) of the closure cover (3) form a stacking area (21), and that a lid seal rib (22) with a lid sealing surface (23) facing the goods receiving container (2) is formed on the wall areas (17) of the closure lid (3), which lid sealing surface (23) corresponds to the container sealing surface (13), wherein in a first originally closed state of the container (1) the lid sealing surface (23) is sealed against the container sealing surface (13).
3. Container (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that on inwardly facing sides (24) of the side wall (5) in the area of the opening (6) of the goods receiving container (2) and on outwardly facing sides (25) of the wall areas (17) of the closure lid (3) there are interoperable locking means (26, 27) for locking the closure lid (3) to the goods receiving container (2) in the closed state of the container (1).
4. Container (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one stacking support aid (16) of the goods receiving container (2) is formed on the inner side wall surface (14) and simultaneously forms a locking means (26) for at least one locking means (27) of the closure lid (3).
5. Container (1) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that groove sections (31) are formed between the wall areas (17) of the closure lid (3) and the cover surface (19) of the closure lid (3) or a circumferential groove (32) is formed, wherein a groove base surface (33) is formed in the groove sections (31) or the circumferential groove (32).
6. Container (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking means (27) of the closure lid (3) are provided on an outer groove wall (34) in the area of the groove sections (31) or the circumferential groove (32).
7. Container (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the groove sections (31) or the circumferential groove (32) has a minimum depth of 0.1 mm.
8. Container (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that at least one shaped extension (35) is formed on the bottom (4) of the goods receiving container (2), which shaped extension (35) is at least partially receivable in a groove section (31) or the circumferential groove (32).
9. Container (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that struts (36) are formed in the groove sections (31) or the circumferential groove (32) such that mold recesses (37) are formed by these struts (36), and that corresponding mold extensions (35) are formed on the bottom (4) of the goods receiving container (2) with these mold recesses (37).
10. Container (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that in the outer groove wall (34) and / or an inner groove wall (38) of the groove sections (31) or the circumferential groove (32) are formed, such that correspondingly formed recesses (40) are formed in the groove sections (31) or the circumferential groove (32), and that corresponding shaped extensions (35) are formed on the bottom (4) of the goods receiving container (2) with these recesses (40).
11. Container ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outer side wall surface (15) of the side wall (5) of the goods receiving container (2) is at least partially enclosed along the height extension (20) and completely enclosed by an outer part (41) wound into a jacket.
12. Container (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the outer part (41) is formed by a material comprising cellulose fibers and / or plastic.
13. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first plastic material and / or the second plastic material are selected from a plastic material or a combination of several plastic materials from the group consisting of polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, modified polyester plastic, polycarbonate, polyamide, polybutylene terephthalate, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, starch-based thermoplastics, and polylactide.
14. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the goods receiving container (2) and / or the closure lid (3) are manufactured by an injection molding, thermoforming, folding, folding and gluing, or thermoforming process.
15. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the angle (9) which the respective adjacent side wall areas (7) along the side wall (5) enclose to each other at the cross-section along the vertical axis (8) is substantially 90°.
16. Container (1) according to one of claims 2 to 15, characterized in that, in the closed state of the container (1), at least partial areas of outwardly facing sides (25) of the wall areas (17) of the closure lid (3) have the same or a greater distance from the vertical axis (8) of the container (1) than the inner side wall surface (14) of the goods receiving container (2) at the same height of the closed container (1).
17. Container (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is a combination packaging container (55), comprising a goods receiving container (2) with a circumferential wall and an outer part (41) which encloses the circumferential wall in a cuff-like manner, wherein the ends (56, 57) of the outer part (41) overlap and thus form an overlap area (A) extending substantially in a cup height direction (H), wherein the ends (56, 57) of the outer part (41) are welded together in the overlap area (A) by means of a heat-sealable adhesive (58).
18. Container (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the overlap area (A) has at least a first section (B) in which heat-sealable adhesive (58) is arranged and the ends (56, 57) of the outer part (41) are not connected to each other, and has at least a second section (C) in which heat-sealable adhesive (58) is arranged and the ends (56, 57) of the outer part (41) are connected to each other.
19. Container (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that the at least one second section (C) is linear or round, for example circular or oval, or polygonal, for example rectangular or rhomboid.
20. Container (1) according to one of claims 17 to 19, characterized in that the heat-sealable adhesive (58) is a sealing lacquer.
21. Packaging arrangement (42) comprising a plurality of containers (1) arranged adjacent to one another in rows (43) and columns (44) in a layer (45) with a layer height (46), designed according to one of claims 1 to 20, in the first originally closed state.
22. Packaging arrangement (42) according to claim 21, characterized in that a fill level of the packaging arrangement (42) specified by a volume ratio of a volume occupied by the containers (1) by a total volume of the packaging arrangement (42) is 0.65 to 0.
9.
23. Packaging arrangement (42) according to claim 22, characterized in that a logistics factor of the packaging arrangement (42) formed from the product of fill level and layer height (46) is from 59 millimeters to 75 millimeters.
24. Pallet arrangement (47) comprising a plurality of packaging arrangements (42) stacked one above the other along a vertical (48) and optionally additionally arranged side by side in rows (49) and columns (50) in layers (51) according to one of claims 20 to 22.
25. Pallet arrangement (47) according to claim 24, characterized in that a fill level of the pallet arrangement (47), specified by a volume ratio of a volume occupied by the containers (1) to a total volume of the pallet arrangement (47), is 0.65 to 0.
9.
26. Pallet arrangement (47) according to claim 25, characterized in that a logistics factor formed from the product of the fill level and the stacking height (52) of the containers (1) of the pallet arrangement (47) is 0.88 meters to 1.5 meters.