This standard outlines the specifications for wooden crates used specifically for packing apples in India. It defines four distinct box designs and nine size variations, addressing timber quality, dimensions, construction methods, and labeling to ensure robust and efficient packaging suitable for interstate commerce and long-distance shipment.
Overview
This standard outlines the specifications for wooden crates used specifically for packing apples in India. It defines four distinct box designs and nine size variations, addressing timber quality, dimensions, construction methods, and labeling to ensure robust and efficient packaging suitable for interstate commerce and long-distance shipment.
Audience
Contents
Structure
This section defines the purpose and application of wooden packaging crates for apples, detailing the allowed sizes, styles, and manufacturing tolerances to ensure compatibility and efficiency in handling and transport.
Clarifies key terms used throughout the standard, referencing related IS codes for materials like mild steel wire and steel strips, and explains classification of box sizes and styles with dimensional tolerances.
Specifies the quality and standards for timber, mild steel wire, and metal straps used in construction, including precise tolerances for internal box dimensions and components.
Describes the four standardized box styles with detailed internal dimensions, mass capacities, and acceptable dimensional tolerances for boards and battens.
Provides instructions on constructing the wooden boxes, including thickness requirements, jointing methods, and material tolerances to ensure structural integrity.
Outlines quality expectations for finish, board smoothness, accurate trimming, and proper nailing techniques, including assembly specifics for certain box styles.
Specifies requirements for final product delivery, including dimensions, tolerances, and material quality to meet the standard's criteria for packaging apples.
Details the mandatory marking information such as manufacturer identification, production year, box size and style, as well as guidelines for optional ISI certification marking.
Frequently Asked
According to the standard, timber species suitable for apple packing boxes must be selected from those listed in Appendix A of IS 6662:1980. The use of both coniferous and non-coniferous timber together in one box is prohibited. If a species is not listed in IS 6662, it can only be used with written consent from the purchaser. It is also advised to use a single timber species per box to maintain consistency.
The standard defines four box styles (Style 1 and Styles 2 A, B, C) with nine preferred sizes ranging from 5 kg to 20 kg approximate content mass. Internal dimensions vary accordingly, for example, Style 1 boxes range from 37×21×18 cm to 50×20×20 cm, while Style 2 boxes have larger dimensions such as 46×30.5×28 cm and up to 50×20×40 cm. These standard sizes facilitate uniform handling and stacking.
Nails used must be countersunk head nails conforming to IS 723-1972, with a shank diameter of at least 2 mm and length equal to the combined thickness of boards and battens plus 6 mm. Protruding ends must be properly clinched. Metal bindings such as mild steel wire or metal straps must comply with IS 280-1978, IS 1029-1970, or IS 5872-1975 to ensure adequate strength.
The timber must have moisture content not exceeding 20% and be straight-grained with uniform thickness. Live knots are permissible provided their diameter does not exceed 50% of the board width, are not numerous or clustered, and are at least 15 mm away from nail points. Dead knots that are unplugged must not be larger than 10 mm in diameter and plugged dead knots must be smaller than 25 mm, both kept clear of nail points by at least 25 mm to maintain timber strength.
Each packed case or bundle must be clearly and permanently marked with the manufacturer's name, initials, or trademark, the year of manufacture, and information about the box size and style. These markings should be legible and indelible, such as stamped or printed. Optionally, boxes may carry the ISI certification mark to indicate compliance with the relevant Indian Standards.
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