UNIT FOR TRANSPORTING EGGS WITH INTERMEDIATE PARTITIONS

Abstract

A unit for transporting eggs includes a platform carrying superimposed horizontal layers of egg-holder trays and intermediate partitions interposed between the plurality of superimposed horizontal layers. Parallel to two opposite sides of the partition are stop elements projecting upwards suitable to cooperate with corresponding lower abutments of the egg-holder trays of the lowest layer of the corresponding plurality of superimposed horizontal layers. The stop elements are spaced by the two opposite sides of the partition, towards the inside thereof.

Claims

1. A unit for transporting eggs comprising: a platform with quadrangular base, a first plurality of superimposed horizontal layers of egg-holder trays resting on the platform, at least one second plurality of superimposed horizontal layers of egg-holder trays stacked on said first plurality of superimposed horizontal layers, and intermediate partitions interposed between said pluralities of superimposed horizontal layers, wherein each partition consists of a sheet whose shape corresponds to the platform and stop elements parallel to two opposite sides of each partition and projecting upwards suitable to cooperate with corresponding lower abutments of the egg-holder trays of the lowermost layer of the corresponding plurality of superimposed horizontal layers, and said stop elements spaced from said two sides of the partition, towards the inside of said partition.

2. The transportation unit according to claim 1, wherein each layer of said pluralities of superimposed horizontal layers comprises three rows of four egg-holder trays parallel to said two opposite sides of the partition, the partition is formed, for each of said two sides, with four pairs of said stop elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings, provided purely by way of non-limiting example, wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is an elevational schematic view of an embodiment of the unit for transporting eggs according to the invention,

[0009] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1,

[0010] FIG. 3 is an exploded and partial perspective view of the transportation unit,

[0011] FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view and in larger scale showing a detail of a transportation unit according to the prior art,

[0012] FIG. 5 is a view analogous to FIG. 4 exemplifying the distinctive characteristic of the invention,

[0013] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 4,

[0014] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail of FIG. 5,

[0015] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a partition of the transportation unit according to the invention,

[0016] FIG. 9 showsin a further larger scalea detail of FIG. 5, and

[0017] FIG. 10 is a view analogous to FIG. 9 whose part is represented transparent for greater clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] Initially with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a unit for transporting eggs essentially comprises a platform with rectangular base 1 on which a first plurality 2a of superimposed horizontal layers of egg-holder trays 3 lies. In the case of the illustrated example, the first plurality 2a includes five layers each one of which is formed by three rows of four egg-holder trays 3, thus for a total of twelve egg-holder trays 3 each one of which is made upin a per se known mannerof a body made of moulded plastic material for example defining thirty cells for an equivalent number of eggs.

[0019] On the first plurality 2a of superimposed horizontal layers of egg-holder trays 3 there are stacked further superimposed horizontal layers of egg-holder trays 3, for example a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth layer 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e. Between each pair of pluralities of superimposed layers 2a-2b, 2b-2c, 2c-2d and 2d-2e there is interposed a respective intermediate partition 4 which constitutes the specific object of the present invention.

[0020] Each partition 4 is made up of a sheet made of moulded plastic material, having a rectangular shape corresponding to that of the platform 1 and provided, parallel to the two greater sides 5 thereof, with stop elements of the relative plurality of superimposed layers of egg-holder trays 3, whose function is to determine the precise positioning thereof during the formation of the transportation unit typically carried out by means of mechanised handling equipment. The arrangement, in the case of the illustrated example, is such that the three rows of four egg-holder trays 3 of the various layers are parallel to the larger sides 5,5 of the partitions 4.

[0021] FIGS. 4 and 6 showin detailthe conformation of the stop elements of a partition 4 according to the prior art: they are constituted by containment projections 6 arranged peripherally at each side 5,5 of the partition 4 and abutting against which there are corresponding support feet 7 with which the egg-holder trays 3 of the lowermost layer are provided at the lower part. The mutual distance between the projections 6 of one side 5 and those of the opposite side 5 of the partition 4 is strictly determined by the width-wise overall dimensions of the partition 4, or of the transportation unit as a whole, which can entail the aforementioned problems during the mechanised composition of the transportation unit.

[0022] In order to overcome such problems, the invention provides for, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 7 and in further greater detail in FIGS. 9 and 10, the elimination of the peripheral projections 6, which are replaced by stop elements 8 projecting upwards from the partition 4 and receded, in positions spaced from the sides 5, 5, towards the inside of the partition 4. The internal position of the stop elements 8 is not strictly dependent on the dimensions of the partition 4 and it can thus be selected, when designing the transportation unit, in a manner such to provide a slight positioning clearance (for example measuring a few mm.) of the pluralities of superimposed layers 2b-2e of egg-holder trays 3 with respect to the sides 5, 5 of the relative partitions 4, or in the direction of the width of the transportation unit. This clearance considerably facilitates the formation of the transportation unit carried out by means of mechanised handling equipment.

[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 8, each partition 4 is conveniently provided with pairs of stop elements 8: in the case of the illustrated example, in whichas mentionedeach layer is formed by three rows of four egg-holder trays 3, there are provided for four pairs of stop elements 8 for each of the greater sides 5, 5 of the partition 4. As clearly visible in FIGS. 10 and 11 the stop elements 8 of each pair cooperate with respective lower portions 9 of the corresponding egg-holder trays.

[0024] Naturally, the effects of the present invention also extend to the designs that attain equivalent utility by applying the same innovative concept.