Abstract: A packaging unit for the packaging of fruit or like articles, comprises a rigid open-top box-like container made of plastics, and a plurality of substantially rectangular pocket trays disposed vertically in the said container, with one side resting on the bottom of said container. Each pocket tray is made of foamed plastic sheet and presents a plurality of staggered parallel rows of upwardly directed pockets, in which the top rim of each pocket has an approximately triangular shape in plan, with curvilinear convex sides, the vertexes of each triangular pocket being arranged at a higher level than the sides joining the said vertexes, whereby two adjacent pockets of one row and the intermediate pocket of the adjoining staggered row define, in correspondence of the common vertex, a triangular pyramidal projection. The side of the triangular pyramidal projection, which is part of the said intermediate pocket, is concave.

Abstract: A rectangular tray for packing and conveying spheroidal fruit, and more particularly for separating layers of fruit lying on top of one another in packing crates. The tray is provided with depressions for accommodating one item of fruit each. The depressions are arranged in rows which are parallel to one side of the tray, adjacent rows being staggered with respect to one another. In order to increase the resistance to bending of the tray with respect to two mutually perpendicular central axes extending parallel to the sides of the tray, in at least some of the rows of depressions at least two depressions in one row are connected together by stiffening channels disposed at an angle to the sides of the tray. The stiffening channels are recessed into one side of the tray and project from the other side of the tray.

Abstract: A forming die including a cup-shaped cavity for the vacuum thermoforming of sheets of thermoplastic material includes, in the center of its bottom, an upwardly directed pointed projection, the height of which is remarkably smaller than the depth of the said cavity. The suction bores through which vacuum is generated at the interior of the cavity are arranged at the periphery of the bottom of the cavity itself.