Contoured palletizer layer pad
AssigneeGoldco Industries, Inc.
InventorDonald J. Simkowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A contoured layer pad has first and second pockets with the pockets receiving different portions of unstable articles, such as the base and neck portions of containers. The pockets have end portions at opposite sides with side portions extending from the end portions, and the pockets at the opposite sides are associated and/or in substantial alignment. The contoured layer pad is positioned between first and second layers of the articles with opposite end portions of the articles received in the pockets so that the middle portions of the articles are maintained in close proximity to one another to improve the stability of the layers of articles. The contoured layer pad may be formed to have central and peripheral portions and/or to receive articles in nested relationship.
Claims21
A contoured layer pad that is a contoured spacer sheet with the contoured layer pad having spaced first and second opposite sides and formed to be positioned between first and second layers of palletized unstable articles each having first and second end portions with a middle portion therebetween, said contoured layer pad comprising:
- a first article receiving area at the first side of the contoured layer pad that concurrently receives the first end portions of the unstable articles of the entire first layer of unstable articles to be palletized with said first article receiving area including first pockets formed at the first side of the contoured layer pad, said first pockets receiving first end portions of unstable articles of the first layer of unstable articles with the middle portions of the entire first layer of unstable articles in close proximity to one another;
- and
- a second article receiving area at the second side of the contoured layer pad that concurrently receives the second end portions of the unstable articles of the entire second layer of unstable articles to be palletized with said second article receiving area including second pockets formed at the second side of the contoured layer pad, said second pockets receiving second end portions of unstable articles of the second layer of unstable articles with the middle portions of the entire second layer of unstable articles in close proximity to one another;
- whereby the unstable articles of the first and second layers of unstable articles have improved stability when palletized with the contoured layer pad therebetween.
A contoured layer pad that is a contoured spacer sheet with the contoured layer pad having spaced first and second opposite sides and formed to be positioned between first and second layers of unstable articles with each layer of unstable articles including centrally and peripherally positioned unstable articles and with the unstable articles having first and second end portions with a middle portion therebetween, said contoured layer pad comprising:
- a central portion having substantially flat first and second surfaces at the first and second opposite sides of the contoured layer pad for receiving first and second end portions of the centrally positioned unstable articles of the first and second layers of unstable articles;
- a peripheral portion having first and second surfaces at the first and second opposite sides of the contoured layer pad and substantially surrounding said first and second surfaces of said central portion;
- first pockets formed at said first surface of said peripheral portion at the first side of the contoured layer pad with said first pockets receiving first end portions of the peripherally positioned unstable articles of the first layer of unstable articles with the middle portions of the first layer of unstable articles received at the first side of both the central and peripheral portions of the contoured layer pad being maintained in close proximity to one another;
- and
- second pockets formed at said second surface of said peripheral portion at the second side of the contoured layer pad with said second pockets receiving second end portions of the peripherally positioned unstable articles of the second layer of unstable articles with the middle portions of the second layer of unstable articles received at the second side of both the central and peripheral portions of the contoured layer pad being maintained in close proximity to one another;
- whereby the unstable articles of the first and second layers of unstable articles have improved stability by positioning the contoured layer pad between the first and second layers of unstable articles.
A contoured layer pad having spaced first and second opposite sides and formed to be positioned between first and second layers of unstable articles to be palletized with the unstable articles of each layer being in rows and with the unstable articles of each layer having first and second end portions, said contoured layer pad comprising:
- a group of first pockets at the first side of the contoured layer pad to receive the first end portion of different ones of the first layer of unstable articles with the unstable articles of the rows of unstable articles of the first layer being received and maintained offset from adjacent unstable articles of each adjacent row such that a nested relationship is formed between the unstable articles of the first layer;
- and
- a group of second pockets at the second side of the contoured layer pad to receive the second end portion of different ones of the second layer of unstable articles with the unstable articles of the rows of unstable articles of the second layer being received and maintained offset from adjacent unstable articles of each adjacent row such that a nested relationship is formed between the unstable articles of the second layer;
- whereby the first and second layers of unstable articles have improved stability when the unstable articles of each layer are maintained in nested relationship palletized with the contoured layer pad therebetween with first and second end portions of the unstable articles in said first and second pockets.
A method for improving the stability of palletized unstable articles having first and second end portions with a middle portion therebetween, said method comprising:
- concurrently transferring the unstable articles of a first layer of unstable articles onto a pallet with the first end portions of the unstable articles being closer to said pallet than are the second end portions;
- thereafter inserting a contoured layer pad having closely spaced first and second opposite sides with said first side having first pockets thereat and said second side having second pockets thereat over said first layer of unstable articles then on said pallet with said second pockets at said second side of said contoured layer pad receiving second end portions of said first layer of unstable articles therein with the middle portions of the entire said first layer of unstable articles being in close proximity to one another;
- and
- thereafter concurrently transferring the unstable articles of a second layer of unstable articles onto said contoured layer pad then on said pallet with said first pockets at said first side of said contoured layer pad receiving first end portions of said second layer of unstable articles therein with the middle portions of the entire said second layer of unstable articles being in close proximity to one another and with unstable articles in said first layer of unstable articles being spaced from unstable articles in said second layer of unstable articles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.