| 摘要 |
A container 10 is provided with externally positioned interlock means 15 to engage the corresponding interlock means of other identical containers positioned side-by-side. This causes the containers to be temporarily retained together without relative motion transverse to their axes except for possible rotational motion about their axes. Additionally, relative motion parallel to their axes can be prevented. Significant advantages are achieved by this when the containers are being processed along a conveyor system, and when they are stacked in large stacks. The interlock means may comprise circumferential toothed racks 22,24 defining alternating projections 26 and recesses 28, eg of conical shape, walls 30 preventing the projections fitting into the recesses from moving in the direction parallel to the axes. The container may be of rectangular cross section with rounded corners, the corners having projections and recesses while the straight sides have ridges and slots (Figs. 7-9). A plurality of rows of such horizontally interlocked containers may be surrounded by a strap and stacked with another layer of strapped, interlocked containers, (Figs. 10 and 11). <IMAGE> |
