Stackable egg-box, stack of egg-boxes and method for destacking said egg-box
View Patent ↗A stackable tray obtained by vacuum molding of a sheet of plastic material, said tray comprising, in open position: a) a top and a bottom; b) at least one receiving cavity opened upwardly; c) spacing means to keep, in a stack of trays, the top portion and the bottom portion of neighboring trays at distance from each other to thereby prevent interlocking. A stack of said trays and a method using said trays.
1. A stackable tray obtained by vacuum molding of a sheet of plastic material, said tray comprising, in open position:
a) a top and a bottom;
b) a first portion with at least two rows of receiving cavities opened upwardly;
c) at least a second portion hinged to the first portion;
d) spacing means to keep, in a stack of trays, the top portion and the bottom portion of neighboring trays at distance from each other to thereby prevent interlocking, the spacing means comprising:
at least one group of first stoppers each having a first horizontal support portion and a first slanted portion in an obtuse angle relation with the first horizontal support portion from top to bottom, and being positioned between one of the rows and the periphery of the tray; and
at least one group of second stoppers each having a second horizontal support portion and a second slanted portion in an acute angle relation with the second horizontal support portion, and being positioned:
(1) between said rows of cavities interiorly of the periphery of the tray; and/or
(2) between one of said rows and the hinge between the first portion and the second portion;
whereby when the trays are stacked, the group of first stoppers of an upper tray are adjacent to but separated from the group of first stoppers of a lower tray, and the group of second stoppers of the upper tray are seated on the group of second stoppers of the lower tray, thereby preventing interlocking between trays about the periphery of the trays and interiorly of the periphery of the trays.
2. A stackable tray according to claim 1 , wherein said tray defines an egg-box obtained from a rectangular sheet of plastic and wherein said receiving cavities are egg receiving cavities.
3. A stackable tray according to claim 2 , wherein the egg-box comprises a first portion provided with the egg receiving cavities, a second portion defining an inner cover, and a third portion defining an outer cover; a fourth portion defining a hinge between the first portion and the second portion, and a fifth portion defining a hinge between the first portion and the third portion.
4. A stackable tray according to claim 3 , wherein each egg receiving cavity is further provided with a set of at least three inwardly projecting ribs for supporting an egg, said ribs having a lower portion substantially straight in the bottom of the cavity and an upper portion curved to substantially fit with a corresponding contour of an egg.
5. A stackable tray according to claim 3 , wherein each egg receiving cavity is further provided with a set of six inwardly projecting ribs for supporting an egg, said ribs having a lower portion substantially straight in the bottom of the cavity and an upper portion curved to substantially fit with a corresponding contour of an egg.
6. A stackable tray according to claim 3 , wherein the second portion is further provided with egg receiving cavities for the upper portion of eggs receiving cavity is further provided with a set of six inwardly projecting ribs for supporting an egg, said ribs having a lower portion substantially straight in the bottom of the cavity and an upper portion curved to substantially fit with a corresponding contour of an egg.
7. A stackable tray according to claim 3 , wherein the third portion is provided with at least one substantially flat surface for receiving thereon a printed label, a printed stamp or both.
8. A stackable tray according to claim 3 , wherein the inner and outer cover are each provided with venting openings.
9. A stackable tray according to claim 3 , wherein the inner cover and outer cover are provided with interlocking means.
10. A stackable tray according to claim 9 , wherein the interlocking means comprise a pair of two parts fastener.
11. A stackable tray according to claim 3 , wherein means are provided to facilitate movement of the tray on an automated packaging/labeling apparatus.
12. A stackable tray according to claim 11 , wherein said means to facilitate movement of the tray through an automated packaging/labeling apparatus comprise pair of small protuberances provided on the outer face of cavities near end of trays.
13. A stackable tray according to claim 1 , further comprising a third portion hinged to the second portion, with the first portion forming an inner cover, the second portion forming a base, and the third portion forming an outer cover, with rows of the receiving cavities being in the first portion and the second portion.
14. A stackable tray according to claim 13 , comprising another group of the second stoppers between one of the rows of receiving cavities of the second portion and the hinge between the second portion and the third portion.