EP0226505A1 - Reinforced loading pallet and method for reinforcing such a pallet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention involves a reinforced loading pallet and a processing for reinforcing same. Under the invention, with the pallet composed chiefly of two matching, superimposed panels each comprising a rigid framework equipped with ties channels are formed in some or all of the ties of at least one of the panels, and reinforcing rods (10) are inserted into said channels. The invention is applied notably to pallets for handling goods.

Description

The subject of the present invention is a method of reinforcing a loading pallet of molded plastic material, formed in particular of two complementary superimposed substantially rectangular panels of the type each comprising a rigid framework comprising connecting crosspieces provided with polygonal hollow feet arranged at least at the four exterior angles of said framework.

Compared to known loading pallets, and in accordance with the invention, the method makes it possible to improve the rigidity and the resistance to the load.

To this end, the process recommended by the invention is characterized in that, in at least some of the crosspieces of at least one of the frames, there are passages in which reinforcement bars are introduced in a determined order and locks at least some of them at their crossing points.

When the pallet is made in this way, a structure is created which, for a given weight and quantity of material, has improved rigidity.

The invention also relates to a reinforced loading pallet obtained by implementing the above method, characterized in that the framework of at least one panels is provided with passages, at least some of which cross in the same plane, intended to receive said reinforcing bars, which extend inside at least some of the crosspieces of said frame.

According to another characteristic of the invention, intermediate pads made of molded plastic material are disposed between each of the legs of the frame of one of the panels and the cooperating legs of the frame of the complementary panel. In this way, the load can be distributed in different places on the pallet; said studs fulfilling the function of shock absorbers and load distributors.

In addition, according to the invention, so as to prevent the load from sliding on the face of the pallet on which it is placed or, possibly, said pallet inadvertently moving on the ground or even on the forks of the handling trolley, non-slip pads are formed on at least one outer face of one of the panels and arranged in cooperating housings in which they lock.

• - la figure 1 présente une vue en perspective de la palette de chargement et de ses éléments constitutifs. Il est à noter que les plots ont été représentés de façon schématique.
• - La figure 2 montre une vue de dessus du plot intermédiaire en position dans un pied de réception.
• - La figure 3 présente une vue de côté, moitié en coupe, moitié en vue extérieure, dudit plot intermé­diaire.
• - La figure 4, montre une vue de côté, en coupe, du patin antidérapant disposé dans son logement.

The invention will appear more clearly with the aid of the description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• - Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the loading pallet and its constituent elements. It should be noted that the studs have been shown schematically.
• - Figure 2 shows a top view of the intermediate stud in position in a receiving foot.
• - Figure 3 shows a side view, half in section, half in external view, of said intermediate pad.
• - Figure 4 shows a side view, in section, of the non-slip pad disposed in its housing.

According to the illustrated embodiment, a loading pallet identified as a whole 1 is composed of two panels 2, 12 superimposed and of substantially rectangular shape. Each panel has a rigid frame 3, 13, comprising several connecting crosspieces 4, 14, 24, 34, 44. It will be noted that in FIG. 1, only the crosspieces 4, 14 ... have been represented. frame 13 of the lower panel 12; however, the framework 3 of the upper panel 2 is, in the embodiment selected and shown, constituted in a similar manner.

The sleepers can, for example, be closed sections. Hollow feet 5, 15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65, 75, 85, of substantially polygonal shape, are arranged at least at four external angles of the upper frame 3. The feet protrude from the frame 3 on the side opposite to the upper external face 7 (loading face) of the upper panel 2. In addition, they fit on legs 6, 16, 26, etc. 86 cooperants provided on the face opposite to the face lower exterior 17 (bearing face) of the frame 13 of the complementary panel 12. So the feet, such as 5, 6; 15, 16; 25, 26; etc ... are joined together in pairs.

In addition, inside and between each of the complementary feet, is arranged a pad 8, 18, 28, 38, 38, 58, ...... 88 intermediate, molded plastic. These studs will be referred to more precisely later.

Note that, in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the two panels 2, 12 have a similar structure. In particular, feet 5, 6; 15, 16; etc ... between which will be placed the studs 8, 18, 28, etc ... are arranged at the four external angles of each of the frameworks 3, 13 of the panels, substantially at the midpoints of the four crosspieces 4, 14, 24, 34, exterior of each of the panels, and substantially at the midpoint of the central transverse cross member 44. However, the lower panel 12 may be different from the upper panel 2. In particular, it may not include a reinforced lateral cross member 4, 24 or reinforced central cross member 44. At the same time, the feet of the upper panel 2 may have a greater projection height than the complementary feet of the panel 12, with which they cooperate. In fact, it is obvious that the structure of each of the panels 2, 12 is adaptable according to the load to be supported and the desired use.

Referring always to FIG. 1, it is noted that the two frameworks 3, 13 of the two panels 2, 12 are provided with passages 9 situated in the same plane, intended to receive reinforcement bars 10, rigid and rectilinear, which s 'extend inside the crosspieces 4, 14, 24, ... etc ,, of the frames. These bars can in particular be metal tubes, closed profiles, or tubes with a non-circular section. In order not to overload the figure, all the bars and all the passages have not been referenced.

Advantageously, the passages 9 are blind and formed substantially over the entire length inside the sleepers of each of said frames. Also, the passages (and the bars) intersect substantially at right angles at the level of the peripheral crossing feet (5, 15, 25, 45, 55, 65) and 6, 16, 26, 46, 56, 66), and only open onto some of the lateral faces of said crosspieces.

Although FIG. 1 is shown, the two panels (2, 12) being identical and arranged in the same way, it is advantageous to cross their respective arrangement, the center bar 10 (marked C) of the upper panel 2, being disposed between the bars, marked A and E, of this same panel and penetrating into the corresponding reinforced cross-member.

In the embodiment chosen, it can therefore be noted that the bars 10 are arranged along the passages 9 in the crosspieces 4, 14 ... etc. and extend under the feet of each of the panels. The pads 8, 18, 28, ... etc, which fit into the corresponding feet will therefore come to be positioned in contact between the bars 10, when the two parts 2, 12 of the pallet are joined.

Advantageously, the passages 9 have, in section, a substantially square shape. Similarly, in order not to be able to move inadvertently in the passages, the bars 10 have, in section, an adapted shape. They can in particular be of substantially rectangular or square rectangular section.

In addition, in order to maintain the bars 10 in position after their introduction into the passages 9, the free ends of said passages are closed by means of plugs 11. The plugs 11 can be, in particular, injection molded at the free end of said passages or welded to said ends.

If we always refer to the embodiment presented in Figure 1, we note that the crosspieces 4, 14, 24 ... etc have inclined ramps 43 intended to facilitate the introduction of the forks of the handling truck. It should be noted that the ramps can be formed in an inclined elongated wall or in a succession of ribs 43 ′ formed on the walls of the frames 3.13 in contact with said fork.

If we now refer to FIG. 4, we see a non-slip pad 19 formed on some of the faces of the panels 2, 12 of the pallet and partially arranged in a housing 20 provided for this purpose on said panels.

The pads 19 are advantageously composed of a central sole 39 which is relatively flexible and non-slip, of the rubbery type, and of a relatively rigid outer sleeve 22. The rigidity of the latter facilitates the positioning and maintenance of the pad in its housing.

The central sole 39 can in particular be molded into the sleeve 22, in such a way that, on the one hand, the body 39b of the sole is locked tightly to the molding by the internal cooperating internal surface 22a of the sleeve 22, and on the other hand, the head 39a of this sole protrudes slightly, of the order of 1 to 10 mm, relative to the surface (7, 17 ...) on which the shoe is formed.

It will be noted that towards its base, the sole may have a narrowing 51 followed by an enlargement 52 forming a foot (FIG. 4) which closely cooperate with the complementary shapes of the internal surface 22a of the sleeve 22.

In addition, in order to avoid being damaged, the sole 39 can have an inclined wall 30 on the periphery of its head 39a.

The peripheral surface 22b of the sleeve is advantageously provided with asperities (not shown) and is locked against the cooperating wall (20a) of said housing (20). In this way, the sleeve 22 (and therefore the shoe 19) is retained in the housing 20 when a tearing force is applied to the contact area formed by the head 39a.

It will be noted that the pads 19 are formed at least on the loading face 7 of the panel 2 (fig. 1). However, it may be advantageous to also provide pads 19 on the face opposite to the loading face 7 of the upper panel 2 and on the bearing face 17 of the lower panel 12.

In the selected embodiment, the panels 2, 12 comprise, respectively, a loading face 7 and a bearing face 17 in the form of flat plates in which the housings 20 for receiving the pads 19 are formed. the side opposite to the loading face 7, the housings 20 are formed on the face of the cross members of the frame 2 in contact with the fork of the handling truck when the latter transports the pallets. When the panels 2, 12 do not have faces 7 and 17 in the form of flat plates, the housings 20 are formed in the faces, respectively, of loading and support of the crosspieces of the two frames.

If we refer to Figures 2 and 3, we see one of the intermediate pads, identified 8, whose outer shape, substantially polygonal, fits in a cooperating foot identified 6. The pad 8 has an outer wall 31 on which is formed a peripheral rib 32 extending inwardly 41 free of said stud, several stiffeners 33 projecting from the stud, and positioning elements 40, extending outwardly from the wall 31, which are formed to fit on at least some of the interior faces of the polygonal imprint of the corresponding feet. The positioning elements 40, for example four in number, which extend over the height of the stud 8 may for example be present, in section, each in the form of a U , the end parts of the two branches of which make it possible to position the stud 8 on the four cooperating interior lateral faces of each of the facing legs (5, 6), (15, 16) ... To this Indeed, the positioning elements 40 can be arranged substantially at 90 ° from each other.

When the stud 8 is in position between its complementary feet it comes, in part, into contact with the bars 10 (housed respectively in the passages 9 of the upper and lower frameworks 3, 13); fulfilling its function as a shock absorber and a load distributor. More specifically, and in the embodiment adopted, it is the stiffeners 33 which come into more or less close contact with the bars 10.

In order to facilitate understanding, the bars 10 in position have been represented by dashed lines. Consequently, we see in FIG. 2 two stiffening bars 10 which cross and are arranged, for example, in the lower framework 12. In FIG. 3, two bars 10 are presented, one located in the framework upper 3 and the other in the lower frame 13. If we refer more particularly to Figure 2, we note that the stiffeners, four in number, are arranged substantially at 90 ° from each other; two opposite stiffeners coming into contact with the same bar. It may be noted, moreover, that the stiffeners 33 are formed on the wall 31, between the peripheral positioning elements 40, and extend outside the stud 8, in particular from said wall towards the empty interior space 41 formed towards the part central of said pad.

In order to facilitate the relative positioning of the stud 8 and the bars 10, a space e of reduced size is left between the two elements 8 and 10.

The process for strengthening the pallet described above is carried out as follows:

During the molding, according to a known process, of the two panels 2, 12 of the pallet, at least some of the crosspieces 4, 14, 24, etc., are housed in at least one of the frames 2, 12, passages 9 which intersect, substantially perpendicularly, and which are all located in the same plane, into which are introduced, in a determined order, reinforcing bars 10, some of which lock together at their junction point, the bars which may at their junction points have cooperating locking sections, such as recesses.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, and in the case where the frames of the two panels 2, 12 comprise four external crosspieces 4, 14, 24, 34 and a central lateral crosspiece 44, the passages 9 dug in are introduced into the longitudinal direction of the corresponding crosspieces, first of all the bar A in the crosspiece 24. Then the bars B, C, D are introduced in order, respectively, in the crosspieces 34, 44 and 14. The bars B, C, D, then lock the bar A, in particular the bar B which will cover the end of the bar A. We can then introduce the bar E, which comes to lock the previous bars B, C and D, in the cross member 4 .

It should be noted that the order of insertion of the bars in each of the two panels is indicative and depends on the structure of the frames.

As soon as the bars 10 are introduced, the free end of the passages can be plugged, for example by overmolding.

The various bars 10 having been arranged in preferably blind provided passages, it clearly appears that it suffices to close off the single free insertion end of each of the receiving passages. Also, if each frame is made up of five tra verses, as presented above, each provided with a blind longitudinal passage, it suffices to plug, after introduction of the bars, the five free ends.

We then position the intermediate pads 8 between the corresponding feet so that the positioning elements 40 are received, in part, in the cooperating interior lateral faces of said feet. We can then perform the meeting of the two panels 2, 12 by welding, according to, for example, the known method of the mirror, the feet 5, 15, 25 ... etc, to the complementary feet 6, 16, 26 ... etc . Of course, sufficient space must be provided to allow the operation to be carried out under the best conditions. Also the studs 8 have a height H less than the total height of reception of the complementary feet 5-6, 15-16, etc.

This gives a reinforced pallet with a rigid structure.

Regarding the establishment of the non-slip pads 19, the sleeve 22 is first molded forming a relatively rigid hoop. After cooling, the pad 19 is fitted into the sleeve 22, the head of the sole 39 projecting slightly above said sleeve. Then the assembly is engaged and locked in the corresponding housing 20 of the pallet, the head 39 of the shoe 19 slightly projecting from said housing.

One can, in addition, provide in the wall of the housing 20 an orifice 21 for driving, if worn, the shoe 19 from its housing.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated and described. In particular, it can be provided that the non-slip pad 19 is produced without a rigid sleeve 22 and that it is then only constituted by the sole 39 (not shown). It is then either formed, for example by overmolding, or fitted, for example by force, directly into its housing 20. One or several slots can then be made in the wall of the housings, the pads being inserted, in part, into these slots and thus being locked.

Claims (10)

1. - Method of reinforcing a loading pallet, of molded plastic, formed in particular of two superimposed panels (2, 12) which are substantially rectangular, of the type each comprising a rigid frame comprising crosspieces (4, 14, 24, 34 , 44) of connection provided with polygonal hollow feet arranged at least at the four external angles of said framework, and in at least some of which crosspieces of at least one of said panels are formed passages (9) of which at least some intersect in the same plane and receive bars (10) for reinforcing the pallet, said method being characterized in that said reinforcement bars (10) are introduced into said passages (9) in a determined order and at least some of the locks are locked. 'between said bars at their crossing points. 2. - Reinforced loading pallet, obtained by implementing the method according to claim 1, characterized in that the framework (3, 13) of at least one of the panels (2, 12) is provided with passages ( 9), at least some of which cross in the same plane, intended to receive said reinforcing bars (10) which extend inside at least some of said crosspieces (4, 14, 24, 34, 44) of said framework. 3. - Reinforced loading pallet, according to claim 2, characterized in that the free ends of the passages (9) are closed by means of plugs (11) overmolded by injection into said passages. 4. - Reinforced loading pallet, according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the reinforcing bars (10) are of substantially rectangular rectangular section. 5. - Reinforced loading pallet according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that intermediate pads (8), made of molded plastic, are arranged between each of the legs (5, 15, 25 ... 85) of the framework of one of the panels (2, 12) and the cooperating feet (6, 16, 26 ... 86) of the framework of the additional panel. 6. - Reinforced loading pallet according to claim 5, characterized in that said studs (8) have an outer wall (31) on which is formed a peripheral rib (32) extending towards the inside of said stud, several stiffeners (33) projecting and positioning elements (40) extending towards the interior of said wall and formed to fit on at least some of the internal faces of the imprint of said feet. 7. - Reinforced loading pallet according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that non-slip pads (19) are formed on at least one outer face (7) of one of the panels and arranged in housings (20) cooperants in which they are locked. 8. - Reinforced loading pallet, according to claim 7, characterized in that said pads (19) consist of a sole (39) whose head (39a) protrudes slightly from the face (7, 17) on which the pads (19) are formed and whose body (39b) is held tightly in an outer sleeve (22), said sleeve locking against at least part of a wall (20a) of said housings (20). 9. - Reinforced loading pallet according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that said pads (19) are formed on both sides, upper and lower, of the upper panel (2), as well as on the lower face of the lower panel (12). 10. - Reinforced loading pallet according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that at least some of the crosspieces (4, 14 ...) of at least one of the panels (2, 12) comprise ramps (43) intended to facilitate the introduction of the forks of a handling trolley.

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