Rigid tray container and method of use

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9284093-B2
Application number	US-201313791788-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2013
Priority date	Mar 8, 2013
Publication date	Mar 15, 2016
Grant date	Mar 15, 2016

Abstract

Embodiments of this disclosure include a rigid tray container and methods and equipment for using the rigid tray container in batched process operations. In one embodiment, a mass container is sized and dimensioned to receive one or several rigid tray containers. In other embodiments, equipment is configured to lid/unlid, secure, stack, load/unload, and buffer rigid tray containers. In other embodiments, equipment is configured to stack and stage mass containers. In some embodiments, methods are provided for batch processing items.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A stackable open ended tray container for use in batch processing articles, the tray container comprising:
a first side opposing a third side;
a second side opposing a fourth side;
a top comprising a single indexing tab, the single indexing tab located proximal to and extending upward from the first side;
a bottom, wherein the bottom comprises an exterior surface, wherein the exterior surface comprises a single indexing cavity, the single indexing cavity located proximal to the third side;
wherein the features of the top and the bottom are configured for stacking tray containers, wherein the indexing tab of the tray container is configured for mating with an indexing cavity of another tray container when the tray containers are rotated relative to each other so as to position the first side of one of the tray containers in proximity with the third side of the other tray container.

2. The tray container of claim 1 , wherein the bottom further comprises at least one indention configured to stabilize the tray container during transport.

3. The tray container of claim 1 , wherein the bottom further comprises a pattern of indentations configured to stabilize the tray container during transport.

4. The tray container of claim 1 , wherein the bottom comprises an interior surface having a plurality of linear protrusions.

5. The tray container of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of linear protrusions extend perpendicularly from interior surface of the bottom.

6. The tray container of claim 1 , wherein the top further comprises a top rim.

7. The tray container of claim 6 , further comprising a lid dimensioned for placement within top rim.

8. The tray container of claim 7 , wherein the top further comprises compliant features configured to securingly engage the lid.

9. The ray container of claim 1 , further comprising a label affixed to the tray.

10. The tray container of claim 9 , wherein the tray container further comprises compliant features configured to securingly engage the label.

11. The tray container of claim 7 , wherein the lid comprises a depressed surface bounded by one or more walls connected to and extending in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the lid.

12. The tray container of claim 11 , wherein the depressed surface comprises one or more protrusions configured to secure a label placed into the depressed surface.

13. The tray container of claim 1 , wherein the tray container further comprises at least one handle.

Assignees

• Us Postal Service

Inventors

• Close Donald R

Classifications

• B65B5/06

  Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles · CPC title

• B65D21/0223

  the closure and the bottom presenting local co-operating elements, e.g. projections and recesses (B65D21/0222 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65D25/2888

  provided near to or at the upper edge or rim · CPC title

• B65D21/064

  the movable parts being an attached or integral cover made of one or two pieces · CPC title

• B65D25/205

  Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; (cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence) · CPC title