Tray for batching, storing and transporting small parts, especially tools and method for using it
View Patent ↗A tray to place small parts ( 8,9 ) the parts each having a through hole ( 15 ) which makes the parts adapted to be spiked on a rod ( 7 ) for further processing or transportation. The tray ( 10 ) includes a top side; a bottom side; and support means ( 12 ) to receive the parts ( 8,9 ). The support means ( 12 ) are formed or arranged such that parts ( 8,9 ) can be placed in at least one row with the through holes ( 15 ) in a line of sight to allow simultaneous picking up of at least one row of parts by introducing the rod ( 7 ) from a side.
1. A combination comprising:
a tray comprising a top side, a bottom side and extending substantially lengthwise and widthwise along a major plane, and support means ( 12 ) to receive a plurality of parts ( 8 , 9 ) having different geometries and to retain said parts arranged alternately in said tray in at least one row;
a plurality of parts ( 8 , 9 ) having different geometries but all of them having a through hole received in said support means and arranged in a row therein, said support means structured so that the through holes of all said plurality of parts arranged in said row, despite their different geometries, are aligned so that all of their respective through holes are aligned along a common line of sight; and
a rod inserted through all of the through holes of all of said parts arranged in said row, said support means, parts and through holes all being arranged and disposed so that said rod is inserted through said through holes from a side of said tray, so that when inserted through said holes said rod is essentially parallel to the major plane of said tray.
2. The tray according to claim 1 , wherein said tray comprises stacking means ( 11 ) to enable stable piling up of one or several trays ( 1 ) upon the other and said tray comprises fixing means ( 13 ) to fix parts being placed in at least one row of the support means of a tray below.
3. The tray according to claim 2 , wherein said support means ( 12 ) and said fixing means ( 13 ) are disposed as alternating rows on both sides of the tray ( 10 ).
4. The tray according to claim 3 , wherein a first of said alternating rows is a row of the support means ( 12 ) and a last of said alternating rows is arow of the fixing means ( 13 ) so that parts ( 8 , 9 ) being placed in the support means ( 12 ) of the tray ( 10 ) can be fixed by fixing means ( 13 ) of a second tray having a same structure as the tray ( 10 ) when second tray has been rotated 180° in a support plane and set on top of the tray ( 10 ).
5. The tray according to claim 1 , wherein the tray ( 10 ) is made from plastics.