Sheet packaging apparatus

Abstract

A first aspect of the invention concerns a corner packaging device ( 14 ) which can be used in the packaging of a polygonal pack ( 10 ) of stacked glass sheets. The device includes two identical packaging members ( 12 ) each having a facing element ( 16 ) to lie against an outer surface of the pack at a corner and a pair of transverse flanges ( 22 ) meeting one another at a corner ( 24 ) of the facing element so as in use to lie against adjacent edges of the pack. There is a projection ( 28 ) lying generally in the plane of each flange and extending beyond the inner edge ( 26 ) of the flange and a recess ( 30 ) extending into the flange from that inner edge. With this arrangement, the packaging members can be arranged with their facing elements lying against opposite surfaces of the pack, with their flanges extending towards one another and with the projection of one flange extending over an edge of the pack to be received slidably within the recess of the other flange over a range of different pack thicknesses. Each flange also carries a projecting sling attachment formation ( 44 ) beneath which a lifting sling ( 46 ) can be engaged for the purposes of lifting the pack at an upright attitude when the devices embrace the corners of the pack and are anchored in position by straps ( 40, 42 ) encircling the devices and the pack to hold the pack together. Other aspects of the invention relate to a packaging system incorporating such devices ( 14 ) and the individual packaging members ( 12 ).

1 - 16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . A corner packaging device for embracing a corner of a polygonal pack of stacked glass sheets, the device comprising: 
 two identical packaging members each molded in one piece of a relatively rigid plastics material and each having a facing element which can lie parallel to an outer surface of the pack at a corner thereof and a pair of flanges meeting one another at a corner of the facing element and extending transverse to the facing element so as in use to extend parallel to adjacent edges of the pack, each flange being generally planar and having an edge remote from the facing element,    a projection lying generally in the plane of each flange and projecting beyond an inner edge of the flange and a recess extending into the flange from the inner edge, the width and depth of the recess being greater than the width of the projection and the distance by which the projection projects beyond the inner edge of the flange, whereby the packaging members can be arranged with their facing elements lying parallel to opposite surfaces of the pack and with their flanges extending towards one another and with the projection of one flange extending over an edge of the pack to be received within the recess of the other flange over a range of different pack thicknesses, and    a sling attachment formation, projecting transversely from each flange, beneath which a lifting sling can be engaged for the purposes of lifting the pack at an upright attitude when the corner packaging device is anchored in a position embracing the corner of the pack.    
   
   
       18 . A packaging device according to  claim 17  and comprising a foot formation, on which the pack can stand edgewise, projecting transversely from each flange.  
   
   
       19 . A packaging device according to  claim 18  wherein the sling attachment formation and the foot formation on each flange are spaced apart from one another to provide a landing zone to receive a strap used to encircle the pack and a pair of packaging devices embracing adjacent corners of the pack.  
   
   
       20 . A packaging device according to  claim 19  wherein the sling attachment formation and the foot formation project the same distance from the flange on which they are provided.  
   
   
       21 . A packaging device according to  claim 20  wherein the sling and foot formations are hollow and are reinforced internally.  
   
   
       22 . A packaging device according to  claim 17  comprising a pad for location between the packaging members and the corner of the pack.  
   
   
       23 . A packaging device according to  claim 22  wherein the pad is shaped to embrace a corner of the pack with side and edge panels arranged to extend, at the corner of the pack, over the sides and edges respectively of the pack.  
   
   
       24 . A packaging device according to  claim 23  wherein internal surfaces of the facing panels of the packaging members are ribbed.  
   
   
       25 . A packaging device according to  claim 17  wherein the projection and recess have tapered shapes.  
   
   
       26 . A packaging system for a polygonal pack of glass sheets arranged in a stack, the system comprising, for each corner of the pack, a corner packaging device for embracing a corner of the pack, the device comprising: 
 two identical packaging members each molded in one piece of a relatively rigid plastics material and each having a facing element to lie against which can lie parallel to an outer surface of the pack at a corner thereof and a pair of flanges meeting one another at a corner of the facing element and extending transverse to the facing element so as in use to extend parallel to adjacent edges of the pack, each flange being generally planar and having an edge remote from the facing element,    a projection lying generally in the plane of each flange and projecting beyond an inner edge of the flange and a recess extending into the flange from the inner edge, the width and depth of the recess being greater than the width of the projection and the distance by which the projection projects beyond the inner edge of the flange, whereby the packaging members can be arranged with their facing elements lying parallel to opposite surfaces of the pack and with their flanges extending towards one another and with the projection of one flange extending over an edge of the pack to be received within the recess of the other flange over a range of different pack thicknesses, and    a sling attachment formation, projecting transversely from each flange, beneath which a lifting sling can be engaged for the purposes of lifting the pack at an upright attitude when the corner packaging device is anchored in a position embracing the corner of the pack;    and straps which can be arranged to pass around the devices and encircle the pack to hold the glass sheets together.    
   
   
       27 . A packaging system according to  claim 26  which includes edge protectors for embracing edges of the pack between the corners thereof, and further straps passing around the edge protectors and encircling the pack.  
   
   
       28 . A packaging system according to  claim 27  wherein each edge protector has the cross-section of a shallow channel.  
   
   
       29 . A packaging member for use in a corner packaging device for embracing a corner of a polygonal pack of stacked glass sheets, the packaging member being molded in one piece of a rigid plastics material and comprising: 
 a facing element which can lie parallel to an outer surface of the pack at a corner thereof and a pair of flanges meeting one another at a corner of the facing element and extending transverse to the facing element so as in use to extend parallel to adjacent edges of the pack, each flange being generally planar and having an edge remote from the facing element,    a projection lying generally in the plane of each flange and projecting beyond an inner edge of the flange and a recess extending into the flange from the inner edge, the width and depth of the recess being greater than the width of the projection and the distance by which the projection projects beyond the inner edge of the flange, whereby opposing, identical packaging members can be arranged with their facing elements lying parallel to opposite surfaces of the pack and with their flanges extending towards one another and with the projection of one flange extending over an edge of the pack to be received within the recess of the other flange over a range of different pack thicknesses, and    a sling attachment formation, projecting transversely from each flange, beneath which a lifting sling can be engaged for the purposes of lifting the pack at an upright attitude when the packaging member is anchored in a position embracing a corner of the pack.    
   
   
       30 . A packaging member according to  claim 29  comprising a foot formation, on which the pack can stand edgewise, projecting transversely from each flange.  
   
   
       31 . A packaging member according to  claim 27  wherein the sling attachment formation and the foot formation on each flange are spaced apart from one another to provide a landing zone to receive a strap used to encircle the pack and a pair of packaging devices embracing adjacent corners of the pack.  
   
   
       32 . A packaging member according to  claim 31  wherein the sling attachment formation and the foot formation project the same distance from the flange on which they are provided.  
   
   
       33 . A packaging member according to  claim 32  wherein the sling and foot formations are hollow and are reinforced internally.  
   
   
       34 . A packaging member according to  claim 29  wherein the projection and recess have tapered shapes.  
   
   
       35 . A package of rectangular glass sheets, the glass sheets being stacked alongside one another in a rectangular pack, the package including: 
 a corner packaging device at each corner of the pack, the corner packaging device comprising: 
 two opposing, identical packaging members each molded in one piece of a relatively rigid plastics material and each having a facing element lying parallel to an outer surface of the pack at the corner and a pair of flanges meeting one another at a corner of the facing element and extending transverse to the facing element so as extend parallel to adjacent edges of the pack, each flange being generally planar and having an edge remote from the facing element,  
 a projection lying generally in the plane of each flange and projecting beyond an inner edge of the flange and a recess extending into the flange from the inner edge, the width and depth of the recess being greater than the width of the projection and the distance by which the projection projects beyond the inner edge of the flange, whereby the packaging members are arranged with their facing elements lying parallel to opposite surfaces of the pack and with their flanges extending towards one another and with the projection of one flange extending over an edge of the pack and into the recess of the other flange, and  
 a sling attachment formation, projecting transversely from each flange, beneath which a lifting sling can be engaged for the purposes of lifting the pack at an upright attitude,  
 and  
 straps encircling the pack and the packaging devices to hold the pack together.