System for the transport of an array of a plurality of self-supporting containers for liquids

Abstract

A novel system for the transport of an array of a plurality of self-supporting containers for liquids is provided. The system includes a cell tray, which is designed for a particular type of containers and has a load carrying surface for receiving bottom portions of said particular containers. The undersurface of the cell tray is on the reverse side to the load carrying surface and is shaped to receive top portions of similar containers of another cell tray beneath the undersurface. The cell tray also has a quadrilateral peripheral edge, which defines a periphery and surrounds the load carrying surface and the undersurface. The system also includes an insert, which features a peripheral edge, which fits within the periphery of the edge of the cell tray. The insert is configured to be removably inserted onto the load carrying surface or to the undersurface of the cell tray. A first surface of the insert is defined by the peripheral edge and configured to engage with a plurality of containers, which are different to those for which the cell tray is designed. A second surface of the insert is on the reverse side to the first surface and defined by the peripheral edge and configured to engage with the cell tray.

I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A system for the transport of an array of a plurality of self-supporting containers for liquids, the system comprising a cell tray designed for a particular type of container and including:
 a load carrying surface for receiving bottom portions of said particular containers,   an undersurface on the reverse side in respect to the load carrying surface and shaped to receive top portions of similar containers of another cell tray beneath the undersurface, and an insert configured to be removably inserted onto the load carrying surface or to the undersurface of the cell tray, the insert comprising:   a first surface configured to engage a plurality of containers different in at least one of design and packaging than those for which the cell tray is intended, and   a second surface on the reverse side with respect to the first surface and configured to engage with the cell tray.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first surface of the insert is an upper surface having a plurality of positions for receiving the bottoms of said containers,   the second surface of the insert is a bottom surface, which is intended for engaging with the load carrying surface of the tray, and wherein   the insert comprises support organs protruding from junctions between four adjacent positions on the upper surface for providing lateral support.   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the support organs of the insert are provided with concavities corresponding to the cross-sectional radius of the containers. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the peripheral edge of the cell tray extends from the load carrying surface to a height, and wherein   the protruding support organs extend from the upper surface to a height, which at most equal to that of the peripheral edge.   
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4  including a first said insert and a second said insert, the second said insert configured to serve as an adapter between the undersurface of the tray and said plurality of containers, which are different than those for which the cell tray is intended. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the insert comprises openings provided to each position for receiving a bottom of a container, the openings connecting the upper and bottom surface of the insert and being dimensioned to receive the bottom of the container in a recessed manner for further lateral support such that the load carrying surface of the cell tray carries the weight of the container. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the upper surface is shaped to receive the bottom of the container and to carry the container separated from the load carrying surface of the tray. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein the underside cell tray comprises a plurality of locking recesses for receiving top portions of the corresponding plurality of containers. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the peripheral edge of the cell tray extends from the load carrying surface to a height, and wherein   the protruding support organs extend from the upper surface to a height, which at most equal to that of the peripheral edge.   
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the cell tray comprises a quadrilateral peripheral edge, which defines a periphery and surrounds the load carrying surface and the undersurface, and wherein   the insert comprises a peripheral edge, which defines the first and second surface of the insert.   
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the peripheral edge of the insert is configured to fit within the periphery of the edge of the cell tray. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first surface of the insert is a bottom surface having a plurality of positions for receiving the top portions of said containers,   the second surface of the insert is an upper surface, which is intended for engaging with the undersurface of the tray, and wherein   the insert is configured to serve as an adapter between the undersurface of the tray and said plurality of containers, which are different to those for which the cell tray is intended.   
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the insert comprises an array of recesses at said positions for receiving the top portions of said containers, which recesses are accessible from the bottom surface, and wherein   the recesses protrude from the upper surface of the insert so as to fit recesses in the undersurface of the tray.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the cell tray comprises a quadrilateral peripheral edge, which defines a periphery and surrounds the load carrying surface and the undersurface, and wherein   the insert comprises a peripheral edge, which defines the first and second surface of the insert.   
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the peripheral edge of the insert is configured to fit within the periphery of the edge of the cell tray.