A method for realising a package that comprises the following steps: arranging a first longitudinal edge (2) of the package in a substantially horizontal position; stacking a predefined number of ceramic tiles (T) to form a pile (P) on the 5 first longitudinal edge (2); arranging a second longitudinal edge (3) of the package on the pile (P); associating a bottom (4) of the package with a first longitudinal side of the first and of the second longitudinal edge (2,3); associating a first transversal edge (5) of the package with a first 10 transversal side of the first and of the second longitudinal edge (2,3); associating a second transversal edge (6) of the package with a second transversal side of the first and of the second longitudinal edge (2,3); rotating the package resting on the bottom (4).

Disclosed are systems, apparatus and methods for transporting a palletized stack of bottles or other similar bulk-produced containers using a unique pallet base and a unique set of side panels that may be engaged with the base and with each other in order to protect the stacks of bottles on the pallet base during shipping and transport. Embodiments of the invention dampen vibrations, protect the bottles from exterior contaminants, and allow the bottles to be viewed from the outside. Embodiments of the invention also provide reusable pallet systems that are easy to assemble and disassemble, and ship back for reuse.

A packaging and shipping system for dry charged batteries. The packaging system includes a shipping crate having a lower section that defines an open interior. The open interior is sized to receive a dry charged battery and a plurality of electrolyte bottles. Each of the electrolyte bottles contains a volume of electrolyte sufficient to fill one of the individual cells of the dry charged battery. Each of the electrolyte bottles are separately packaged and positioned within the open interior of the shipping crate. Upon reaching the desired destination, the shipping crate can be stored. When the dry charged battery is to be placed into use, the shipping crate is opened and the individual cells of the dry charged battery are filled with electrolyte from the plurality of electrolyte bottles. Once the dry charged battery has been activated, the empty electrolyte bottles can be placed back into the shipping crate and returned for recycling.

A system and method for forming a foundation truss for a box spring or mattress foundation frame includes a first truss rail assembly station having a series of block feeders, a top rail hopper and a filler strip hopper that received stacks of truss components such as blocks, top rails and filler strips and feed such truss components into stacked registration. The stacked truss components are moved into engagement with a series of staplers that secure the filler strips, top rails and blocks together to form first truss rail portions, which are then fed to a second truss rail assembly station where a bottom rail is automatically applied thereto.

A pallet, including a plurality of spaced apart stringers defining a pallet width and a plurality of slats extending lengthwise across the stringers corresponding to the pallet width. The slats have upper surfaces that are coplanar, and at least two of the slats have a length that is less than the pallet width and define undersized slats having upper surfaces that are coplanar with the upper surfaces of the slats to define a planar upper load support surface of the pallet. A slat splice connector bridges between adjacent ones of the undersized slats so that the undersized slats are spliced together to provide a spliced slat have a length corresponding to the pallet width. The slat splice connector has an elevated surface between and supported by a pair of spaced apart legs. The undersized slats of the spliced slat are supported by and attached to the legs of the slat splice connector, and the elevated surface of the slat splice connector is coplanar with the upper surfaces of the spliced slat.

A packaging and shipping system for dry charged batteries. The packaging system includes a shipping crate having a lower section that defines an open interior. The open interior is sized to receive a dry charged battery and a plurality of electrolyte bottles. Each of the electrolyte bottles contains a volume of electrolyte sufficient to fill one of the individual cells of the dry charged battery. Each of the electrolyte bottles are separately packaged and positioned within the open interior of the shipping crate. Upon reaching the desired destination, the shipping crate can be stored. When the dry charged battery is to be placed into use, the shipping crate is opened and the individual cells of the dry charged battery are filled with electrolyte from the plurality of electrolyte bottles. Once the dry charged battery has been activated, the empty electrolyte bottles can be placed back into the shipping crate and returned for recycling.

A packaging and shipping system for dry charged batteries. The packaging system includes a shipping crate having a lower section that defines an open interior. The open interior is sized to receive a dry charged battery and a plurality of electrolyte bottles. Each of the electrolyte bottles contains a volume of electrolyte sufficient to fill one of the individual cells of the dry charged battery. Each of the electrolyte bottles are separately packaged and positioned within the open interior of the shipping crate. Upon reaching the desired destination, the shipping crate can be stored. When the dry charged battery is to be placed into use, the shipping crate is opened and the individual cells of the dry charged battery are filled with electrolyte from the plurality of electrolyte bottles. Once the dry charged battery has been activated, the empty electrolyte bottles can be placed back into the shipping crate and returned for recycling.

Systems and methods for determining shrinkage of a commodity sold by a store are provided which may include: identifying data indicative of a volume of the commodity, associating a label with a container that holds the commodity, collecting the label information with a reader and transmitting collected label information to at least one server, automatically determining data characterizing the material in the container, associating the label information and the data characterizing the material in the container, and determining performance data related to the commodity by comparing the data indicative of the volume of the commodity supplied to the store, the data indicative of the volume of the commodity sold by the store, and the data characterizing the material in the container.

A crate apparatus can at least partially contain and protect articles that may be artificial stone slabs. The crate apparatus can include a crate and one or more partitions mounted to the crate and at least partially positioned in the interior of the crate. The partitions can extend crosswise to, and be spaced apart from one another in, an upright direction. The partitions and holes therein can be cooperatively configured to at least partially define upright receptacles for respectively receiving the articles. The upright receptacles and/or articles therein can extend vertically or be in an inclined configuration.

A pallet component structure body is for loading a packaged object. The pallet component structure body includes a pallet component and a frame structure forming component. The frame structure forming component is secured on the pallet component. The frame structure forming component is foldable flat in a state where adjacent ones of frame structure parts of the frame structure forming component are joined in advance.