Can end tray

In combination a plurality of arrays of can ends, each of said can ends having two substantially circular faces, each of said faces having a predetermined diameter, said can ends further having circumferential side portions which connect said two faces, and a can end tray for storing said plurality of arrays of can ends while the can ends are being conveyed, said can end tray comprising:

• a plurality of substantially rectangular upstanding side walls having a height at least equal to said predetermined diameter of the can ends;
• a plurality of can end supports attached to a bottom of said plurality of side walls for supporting said arrays of can ends on the can end circumferential side portions, said can end supports having a plurality of partitions which extend longitudinally between two of said plurality of side walls for holding the arrays of can ends spaced from each other when the arrays of can ends are placed on said can end supports;
• and
• a plurality of spacers disposed on said two of said plurality of side walls in longitudinal alignment with said can end supports for spacing said two of said plurality of side walls and ends of the arrays of can ends from each other when the arrays of can ends are placed on said can end supports, said spacers being arranged such that when the arrays of can ends are placed on said can end supports, the spacers extend across a center of a face of said can ends on the two ends of the arrays of can ends, defining gaps between said two of said plurality of side walls and the can ends on the ends of the arrays of can ends, wherein said gaps are defined at least along said circumferential side portions of said can ends on the ends of said arrays on respective sides of said spacers;
• wherein said first and second abutting portions of each of said spacers are jointly of a substantially triangular shape.

In combination a plurality of arrays of can ends, each of said can ends having two substantially circular faces, each of said faces having a predetermined diameter, said can ends further having circumferential side portions which connect said two faces, and a can end tray for storing said plurality of arrays of can ends while the can ends are being conveyed, said can end tray comprising:

• a plurality of substantially rectangular upstanding side walls having a height at least equal to said predetermined diameter of the can ends;
• a plurality of can end supports attached to a bottom of said plurality of side walls for supporting said arrays of can ends on the can end circumferential side portions, said can end supports having a plurality of partitions which extend longitudinally between two of said plurality of side walls for holding the arrays of can ends spaced from each other when the armsays of can ends are placed on said can end supports;
• and
• a plurality of spacers disposed on said two of said plurality of side walls in longitudinal alignment with said can end supports for spacing said two of said plurality of side walls and ends of the arrays of can ends from each other when the arrays of can ends are placed on said can end supports, said spacers being arranged such that when the arrays of can ends are placed on said can end supports, the spacers extend across a center of a face of said can ends on the two ends of the arrays of can ends, defining gaps between said two of said plurality of side walls and the can ends on the ends of the arrays of can ends, wherein said gaps are defined at least along said circumferential side portions of said can ends on the ends of said arrays on respective sides of said spacers;
• wherein said first and second abutting portions of each of said spacers are jointly of a substantially inverted T shape.