PACKAGE FOR SHIPPING AND STORING PHOTOVOLTAIC PANEL PRODUCTS
A packaging system for storing and transporting one or more flat panel products, the packaging system comprising a plurality of tines, a method of machine-assisted loading a packaging system comprising a plurality of tines, and a method of storing and transporting one or more flat panel products using a packaging system comprising a plurality of tines with alternating channel depths.
1 . A package for shipping one or more flat panel products, the package comprising:
a pallet;
a planar base forming a mounting surface on the pallet;
a container frame;
a plurality of combs affixed to the frame, each of the combs comprising a plurality of tines;
the tines being spaced to define a plurality of channels dimensioned to accept flat panel products having a predetermined thickness;
the tines being dimensioned to create spaces between adjacent channels;
2 . The package of claim 1 wherein the combs are comprised of at least two layers of corrugated cardboard.
3 . The package of claim 2 , wherein the free ends of the tines are rounded.
4 . The package of claim 2 , wherein the free ends of the tines are pointed.
5 . The package of claim 2 , comprising a means for increasing the effective width of the channels during a machined-assisted loading of photovoltaic panels.
6 . The package of claim 5 , wherein the tines are deflected by a distance equal to 50% of the space between tines during the step of machine-assisted loading of the photovoltaic panels.
7 . The package of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels comprise a rounded base section that allows flat panels to be loaded at an angle with respect to an axis perpendicular to the planar base section.
8 . The package of claim 7 wherein the angle with respect to an axis perpendicular to the planar base section is at least 10 degrees.
9 . The package of claim 1 wherein spaces between at least one set of tines comprises:
a first depth;
a second depth;
and wherein the spaces between tines have an alternating and repeating pattern of a first depth and a second depth;
and wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth by an amount greater than or equal to a dimension of an edge mounted feature of the flat panel product.
10 . The package of claim 8 wherein the first depth is between 5 and 8 centimeters and the second depth is between 10 and 16 centimeters.
11 . The package of claim 8 wherein the first depth is between 3 and 11 centimeters and the second depth is between 14 and 25 centimeters
12 . The package of claim 8 wherein the container frame comprises reinforced cardboard.
13 . The package of claim 12 , wherein the free ends of the tines are rounded.
14 . The package of claim 12 , wherein the free ends of the tines are pointed.
15 . The package of claim 12 , comprising a means for increasing the effective width of the channels during a machined-assisted loading of photovoltaic panels.
16 . The package of claim 15 , wherein the tines are flexible during the step of machine-assisted loading of the photovoltaic panels.
17 . The package of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of channels comprise a rounded base section that allows flat panels to be loaded at an angle with respect to an axis perpendicular to the planar base section.
18 . The package of claim 17 wherein the angle with respect to an axis perpendicular to the planar base section is at least 10 degrees.
19 . The package of claim 8 wherein the pallet comprises recycled PET.
20 . A method of storing and transporting one or more flat panel products comprising machine-assisted loading of a flat panel product into a package, and wherein the package comprises:
a pallet;
a planar base forming a mounting surface on the pallet;
a container frame;
a plurality of combs fixed to the frame, each of the combs comprising a plurality of tines;
the tines being spaced to define a plurality of channels dimensioned to accept flat panel products having a predetermined thickness;
and wherein at least one set of tines comprises;
a first depth;
a second depth;
and wherein the spaces between tines have an alternating and repeating pattern of a first depth and a second depth;
and wherein the first depth is greater than the second depth by an amount greater than or equal to a dimension of an edge mounted feature of the flat panel product.
21 . The method of claim 20 wherein the combs are comprised of at least two layers of corrugated cardboard.
22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the free ends of the tines are rounded.
23 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the free ends of the tines are pointed.
24 . The method of claim 20 , comprising a means for increasing the effective width of the channels during a machined-assisted loading of photovoltaic panels.
25 . The method of claim 24 , wherein the tines are flexible during the step of machine-assisted loading of the photovoltaic panels.
26 . The method of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of channels comprise a rounded base section, the method further comprising loading flat panels at an angle with respect to an axis perpendicular to the planar base section.
27 . The method of claim 26 wherein the angle with respect to an axis perpendicular to the planar base section is at least 10 degrees.