Abstract:
A palletlike arrangement for packaging goods has a packaging container at least one guide carriage for linear units accommodated removably in the packaging container for stackable storage and protected shipping, the packaging container recess each corresponding to at least one guide carriage and having a shape which is configured for receiving various types of guide carriages that differ in their external dimensions.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The invention described and claimed hereinbelow is also described in German Patent Application DE 20 2007 004 055.5 filed on Mar. 15, 2007. This German Patent Application, whose subject matter is incorporated here by reference, provides the basis for a claim of priority of invention under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d). 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a palletlike arrangement for packaging goods having at least one guide carriage for linear units that is accommodated removably in a packaging container for stackable storage and gentle handling in shipping. 
         [0003]    The field of application of the present invention extends to guide carriages, which form the movable component of linear units. Linear units are used in industrial systems for precise guidance of machine parts, and they essentially comprise a guide base, on which a guide carriage is braced longitudinally displaceably along the axis of the base. 
         [0004]    In the prior art in general, arrangements for packaging goods with guide carriages are used whose packaging containers comprise a simple cardboard box in which an insert of some conventional filler material, such as corrugated cardboard or film or foil, is placed for stabilization and protection of the guide carriage placed in it. Depending on the type of guide carriage, an appropriate box is used, or any unused interstice is filled with a filler material. To protect the guide carriage against external environmental factors, the guide carriage is additionally placed in a film or foil bag before being placed in the box and then stabilized therein with a filler material. In filling the interstices with a filler material, care should also be taken that enough space remains for accommodating documentation papers, such as assembly instructions or advertising documents. 
         [0005]    A disadvantage of this type of packaging is the time required, because of the individual packaging components, for packing the guide carriages. Moreover, boxes of different sizes must be kept on hand for the various types of guide carriage, making the logistical effort and expense greater. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is therefore the object of the present invention to create an arrangement for packaging goods with at least one guide carriage that while using simple packaging means allows speedy packaging of guide carriages of different types in a way that is safe and secure in terms of both storage and shipping. 
         [0007]    In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a palletlike arrangement for packaging goods, comprising a packaging container; at least one guide carriage for linear units accommodated removably in said packaging container for stackable storage and protected shipping, said packaging container having one recess each corresponding to said at least one guide carriage, said recess having a shape which is configured for receiving various types of said guide carriages that differ in their external dimensions. 
         [0008]    The invention encompasses the technical teaching that the packaging container has one recess each corresponding to the at least one guide carriage, and the shape of the recess is embodied so as to be capable of receiving various types of guide carriage that differ in their external dimensions. 
         [0009]    Preferably, a universal-fit strut, raised relative to a bottom face of the packaging container, is provided that can be put into form-locking engagement with a U-shaped open space in the bottom of the guide carriage. 
         [0010]    The advantage of the embodiment according to the invention is in particular that thanks to the individualized packaging attained for guide carriages, significant savings in packing material and packing time can be achieved. It thus becomes possible as a result of the invention for the additional film or foil bags, in which the guide carriage is protected against external environmental factors and which prevents an unwanted escape of lubricant or preservative agents, to be dispensed with. Since a plurality of guide carriages can be accommodated within a single packaging container, the number of documentation papers required can also be reduced, since per packaging arrangement, only one version of the documentation is needed. Since the packaging container of the invention is embodied universally with respect to the types of guide carriage that can be packed in it, it is possible with one packaging container for a plurality of guide carriages to put a customer-specific assortment together directly and keep it on hand in the form of a single arrangement for packaging goods. 
         [0011]    The number of recesses accommodated in the packaging container, each for receiving one guide carriage, can be made variable in a simple way by means of the embodiment of the invention. Since usually what is handled is a multiple of four guide carriages per arrangement for packaging goods, the packaging containers should be capable of receiving a multiple of fours guide carriages per unit. This optimizes the processability of the guide carriages transported with the arrangement for packaging goods of the invention. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the packaging container, comprising thin-walled plastic, is produced by deep drawing. The plastic is so thin-walled that its thickness is optimized for the maximum product weight per size. In dimensioning the wall thickness, multiple stackability of the palletlike arrangements for packaging goods one above the other should also be planned for. In the selection of material for the plastic comprising the packaging container, care should moreover be taken that it be resistant to the oils, greases and other preservative agents used for guide carriages. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment of the invention, the palletlike arrangement for packaging goods is used without a covering, which makes inserting and removing the goods simpler. 
         [0014]    In another embodiment, however, it is also possible to close the packaging container with a cap, in order to protect the guide carriages accommodated in the packaging container especially during shipping. If a reusable cap is wanted as the cap, then it should preferably be capable either of being fitted in internesting fashion over the packaging container or of being mounted on the packaging container by hinge means. This kind of reusable cap can comprise the same plastic as the packaging container and is embodied in intrinsically stable fashion because of the wall thickness and the shaping. However, as an alternative to this, it is also conceivable to provide the packaging container with a film or foil as the cap, attached to the packaging container in material-locking fashion. In this alternative, however, the cap is not reusable. The material-locking connection between the foil- or film-like cap and the packaging container can be accomplished by means of thermal welding or adhesive bonding. 
         [0015]    In conjunction with the use of a cap for the packaging container, it is also proposed that the packaging container be made of a transparent material, so that the number of guide carriages located in the packaging container can be ascertained from outside, without removing the cap. 
         [0016]    In a further provision that improves the invention, it is proposed that the packaging container, besides adjacent recesses for receiving guide carriages, has at least one further recess, preferably middle recesses, for receiving documentation papers. Advantageously, the external geometric dimensions of this kind of middle recess are similar to the dimensions of the recesses for receiving guide carriages, and thus despite this additional function, the packaging container still has a checkerboard-like structure. This middle recess is preferably provided at a central point of the packaging container and besides lines used in assembly can also receive other assembly material, such as lubrication nipples. 
         [0017]    A checkerboard-like structure of the packaging container is the prerequisite for being able to make continuous perforation lines between adjacent recesses, or rows of recesses, each for receiving associated guide carriages. These perforation lines serve as a separation aid for individual recesses along with guide carriages accommodated in them. If the packaging container is provided with a cap, then these perforation lines should also be embodied in the cap. This can then be done easily, if the cap comprises a film or foil material. 
         [0018]    In another provision that improves the invention, it is proposed that each recess in the packaging container be equipped with diametrically opposed graspable indentations for removing associated guide carriages. These graspable indentations directly adjoin the recess for the associated guide carriage and can be formed in a simple way during the deep-drawing of the packaging container. The graspable indentations lend the packaging container additional stability. 
         [0019]    An advantageous refinement of the invention is found in the fact that the side face includes a first portion, which extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom face. This first portion can be adjoined by a second portion, which is inclined relative to the bottom face and tapers in the direction toward the bottom face. In that case, narrow guide carriages can rest on the second portion of the side faces, and wide guide carriages can rest on the first portion of the side faces. 
         [0020]    Advantageously, the individual packaging containers equipped with guide carriages can be received by a standardized group carton. As a result, the weight of the guide carriage can be extended to the group carton, via the edge of the container, so that a plurality of group cartons containing the packaging containers can be stacked especially high. This is because the shift in weight within the stack takes place not via the guide carriages stacked one above the other but rather via the container edge that protrudes past the bottom of the recess, so that if stacking is done roughly, the interfering force action is absorbed not via the product but rather via the package. A similar effect can also be attained without group cartons by providing that the protruding container edge is beveled inward and the material thickness is increased accordingly. 
         [0021]    It should also be noted that the packaging container may be embodied on the order of a blister pack. 
         [0022]    The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a palletlike arrangement for packaging goods, comprising a packaging container with a cap; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the packaging container of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a plan view on the packaging container of  FIG. 1 , equipped with guide carriages; and 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the packaging container of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0027]    In  FIG. 1 , the packaging container  1  has a total of nine recesses  2 , each for receiving one guide carriage  3  of a linear unit—the latter not further shown. 
         [0028]    The packaging container  1  comprises a thin-walled plastic and is made by forming, especially by deep drawing. The packaging container  1  can be closed with a cap  4 , which can be fitted in internesting fashion over the packaging container  1 . The edge of the cap  4 , in the closed state, covers approximately two-thirds of the height of the packaging container  1 . The cap  4  is thus connected in form-locking fashion but detachably to the packaging container  1  and is thus reusable. To allow the contents of the packaging container  1  to be seen from the outside, the cap  4  comprises a transparent plastic. 
         [0029]    As seen more clearly in  FIG. 2 , each recess  2  for receiving guide carriages—not shown here—is equipped with graspable indentations  5   a  and  5   b , which are diametrically opposite one another with respect to the receptacle  2  and serve to make it easier to remove the guide carriage  3  accommodated in the recess  2 . Each recess  2  has one strut  7 , which is raised relative to a bottom face  6  of the packaging container  1 , and which by means of a form-locking engagement with a U-shaped open space on the bottom of the guide carriage  3  assures the positioning inside the packaging container  1 . 
         [0030]    As  FIG. 3  shows, the strut  7  is embodied to fit various types of guide carriages  3  and  3 ′. This can be attained because each type of guide carriage  3  or  3 ′ always has an identically embodied U-shaped open space on the bottom. A separate, middle recess  2 ′ is also located centrally inside packaging container  1  and serves to receive documentation papers, such as instructions for use, or the like. Between adjacent recesses  2  or  2 ′, there are continuous perforation lines  8  in the packaging container  1 . The perforation lines  8  serve as an aid in separation, so that individual guide carriages  3  along with their packing part can be separated from the rest of the packaging container  1 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 4  illustrates the form-locking cooperation of the guide carriage  3  with the recess  2  associated with it; the middle strut enters into a form-locking engagement with the U-shaped open space on the bottom of the guide carriage  3 . The position of the guide carriage  3  is moreover determined by side faces  9  that laterally adjoin the bottom face  6 . 
         [0032]    The side face  9  may include a first portion that extends substantially perpendicular to the bottom face  6 . This first portion can be adjoined by a second portion, which is inclined relative to the bottom face  6  and tapers in the direction of the bottom face  6 , so that narrow guide carriages  3  rest on the second portion, and wide guide carriages rest on the first portion, of the side faces  9 . 
         [0033]    The invention is not limited to the preferred exemplary embodiment described above. On the contrary, modifications of this may be created that are covered by the patent scope of the ensuing claims. For instance, it is also possible to use packaging containers  1  that have more than a total of nine recesses  2  and  2 ′. Moreover, the cap  4  for the packaging container  1  need not necessarily be embodied as a cap that can be fitted over the packaging container. On the contrary, it is also possible to form the cap  4  by means of a film or foil or the like that is welded to the packaging container  1 . 
         [0034]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the type described above. 
         [0035]    While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a palletlike arrangement for packing goods, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0036]    Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, be applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.