EP3650366A1 - Insert for a container and container system with such an insert - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an insert (1) for a container (2) with a bottom (4) and a plurality thereof, in particular vertically, upwardly projecting side walls (6) which form a circumferential side wall and enclose a container interior. The insert (1) can be inserted into the container (2) so that it fills an edge between the bottom (4) and a corresponding side wall (6) and is shaped so that it has an inclined or rounded transition from the side wall ( 6) to the floor (4). The invention further relates to a container system with a container (2) and such an insert (1).

Description

Technical field

The present disclosure relates to an insert for a container according to the preamble of claim 1, a container system having a container and such an insert, and a container.

State of the art

Various containers for transporting different goods are known from the prior art. Such containers are increasingly no longer being loaded by hand, but rather automatically and unloaded. For example, a robot with a suction part can be used for the rapid and automatic unloading of transport goods, in particular parcels or small packages, from a container. This sucks on the top of the transport good or package, lifts it out of the container and places it outside the container. Instead of a suction part, a gripper can also be provided. Such containers are usually packed tightly. However, the smaller the transport goods or packages in the container, the smaller the area on which the suction gripper can start. It is precisely those packets that lie against the inside of the side wall or are located in the corners of the container that are difficult or impossible for the suction gripper to grip because the robot arm has certain dimensions that it requires for stability, electrics, pneumatics or hydraulics - Need feeder to actuate the suction part or the gripper, which is located on the head. As a result, the distance between the suction part or gripper and the side wall is too large to be able to grip the packets located directly on the side wall. As a result, the container may not be fully automatically unloaded and the remaining packets may have to be removed by hand or otherwise.

For this reason, the packages need a certain distance from the edge. If, on the other hand, the parcels are loaded with a certain distance from the side wall, valuable loading space is lost on the one hand, and on the other hand such a minimum distance to the side wall cannot be maintained at all, since the parcels slip towards the side wall during transport.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a container or a device which in a simple manner facilitates the automatic unloading of filling or transport goods, in particular by means of a robot arm, from a container.

Summary of the invention

This object is achieved by an insert with the features according to claim 1 and by a container system or a container with the features of the corresponding independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of dependent claims.

The invention relates to an insert for a container with a bottom and several thereof, in particular vertically, upwardly projecting side walls which form a peripheral side wall and enclose a container interior. This insert can be inserted into the container such that it fills or lines an (inner) edge between the bottom and a corresponding side wall, and is shaped in such a way that it forms an inclined or rounded transition from the side wall to the bottom.

In other words, the invention relates to an insert, in particular a strip-shaped insert, which is formed separately from a container with a bottom and a plurality thereof, in particular vertically, upwardly projecting side walls, which form a circumferential side wall and enclose a container interior, and thus in the edge region It can be used between the side wall and the bottom in that it centers goods to be transported, in particular parcels and / or small packs, which are located in the interior of the container, towards the center of the container. The covered Use the inner corner or edge area between the bottom of the container and the inside of the side wall.

The advantage of such an insert is that it can be inserted into the container if necessary, but can also be removed from it again. The separate production of centering device (insert) and container is therefore cheaper than in a case in which the centering device would be formed integrally with the container. Because the transition from the floor to the side walls is inclined or rounded, packets which are present in the inner corner region of the container lie on the insert at an angle in the region of the insert / inclined towards the center of the container. Alternatively, it is also possible that, as soon as packages located further inside are removed, these inclined packages slide or tilt inward from the insert due to their own weight and are thus at least spaced from the side wall of the container by the width of the insert. This enables the parcels to be unloaded from the container in a particularly simple manner.

Another advantage of the use is that existing containers can be retrofitted with it.

Depending on the dimensions of the goods to be transported, inserts with the appropriate size (with a larger or smaller ramp) can also be used to adapt the centering function to the goods to be transported.

The radius of the rounded transition or the dimension of the inclined transition (cathete) may be greater than or equal to 5 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 10 mm, in particular greater than or equal to 20 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the radius of the rounded transition or the dimension of the inclined transition (cathete) can be less than or equal to 80 mm, preferably less than or equal to 60 mm, in particular less than or equal to 40 mm.

The angle of the transition can be between 15 ° and 75 °, preferably 45 °, to the floor level. This angle can be selected depending on the product.

It is also possible to insert a large number of inserts, in particular four inserts, into the interior of the container in such a way that they cover the entire area of the circumferential (inner) edge between the bottom and the side wall. This has the advantage that the inserts can be assembled / plugged together as required and can be selected according to the container size.

Furthermore, the insert can be designed as a closed, in particular rectangular, frame. This has the advantage that the entire inner corner area of the container is covered by the frame and the frame is stable. This makes it easier to use. Removing / inserting is easier and faster compared to multiple inserts.

It can also be provided that the insert has a triangular cross-sectional profile, the outside of the insert being parallel to the side wall in the inserted state and abutting against it, and the underside of the insert being parallel to the floor and resting on the bottom in the inserted state. The insert is thus inserted into the container in a particularly space-saving manner. An insert with such a triangular cross-sectional profile is particularly easy to manufacture and saves material.

In addition, the insert can be designed such that it has on its outside a first guide device which, when the insert is inserted into the container and in the inserted state, cooperates with a second guide device which is complementary to the first guide device on an inside of the side wall. Such guiding devices on the container and insert enable particularly easy and safe positioning of the insert in the container.

The first guide device can be designed in the form of a, in particular T-shaped or dovetail-shaped, guide lug, which is provided centrally on the insert or on one side of the insert.

Furthermore, it is possible for the first guide device to be in the form of a plurality of, in particular T-shaped or dovetail-shaped, guide lugs, which are distributed over the entire (longitudinal) extent of the insert and are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined, in particular uniform, distance are.

Such a profile of the first guide device can be used to prevent the insert from slipping or shifting relative to the side wall when inserted into the container. Inclination of the insert relative to the floor can also be suppressed with the aid of the first guide device designed in this way.

It is also conceivable for the insert to have a first engagement device on its underside in order to cooperate with a second engagement device which is complementary to the bottom of the container.

The first engagement device permits simple positioning of the insert on the container bottom and, instead of or together with the first guide device, helps to prevent the insert from slipping in the inserted state in the container relative to the side wall and / or bottom.

The first engagement device can be designed in the form of an engagement rib which is arranged perpendicular to the insert and centrally on the insert or on one side of the insert.

Furthermore, the first engagement device can be designed in the form of a plurality of engagement ribs which are arranged perpendicular to the insert and are distributed over the entire (longitudinal) extension of the insert, each extend over the entire underside and at a predetermined, in particular uniform, distance , which preferably corresponds to the distance between two guide lugs, are spaced apart.

This large number of engagement ribs makes it possible to prevent the insert from slipping out of the intended position in a particularly secure manner.

The insert can be formed in one piece, in particular in one material, preferably from plastic.

In the event that the insert is made in one piece, particularly simple handling of the insert and particularly simple insertion / removal of the insert into / from the container are possible. In the event that the insert is single-material and special, in the case that the insert is made of plastic, the use in production is particularly inexpensive.

If the insert has a hollow cross-section, this reduces the weight and material costs of the insert.

Furthermore, a container system is provided with a container with a bottom and a plurality thereof, in particular vertically, upwardly projecting side walls, which form a peripheral side wall and enclose a container interior, and an insert according to the invention.

In the container system of this type, a second guide device can be formed in the container in the form of a plurality of, in particular T-shaped or dovetail-shaped, guide grooves, each of which extends from the upper edge of the side wall to the bottom, is distributed over the entire side wall and in a distance corresponding to the guide lugs are spaced apart.

Additionally or alternatively, a second engagement device can be formed in the container in the form of a plurality of engagement grooves which are spaced apart from one another at the same distance as the engagement ribs and each extend over the entire width or the entire length of the base.

Via these guide grooves or engagement grooves of the container, together with the guide lugs and engagement ribs of the insert, a particularly secure insertion of the insert and a position of the insert secured against slipping in the container can be realized.

The insert can be inserted, clipped or welded into the container.

According to an alternative aspect of the invention, the container has a bottom and a plurality thereof, in particular vertically, upwardly projecting side walls, which form a circumferential side wall and enclose a container interior. According to the invention, an inner edge area between the bottom and a corresponding side wall of the container, preferably which has all inner edges between the bottom and the side wall, in particular a 45 ° inclined or rounded transition from the side wall to the bottom. Thus, the transition is not formed by an insert, but is in the container itself, i.e. integral, formed. This container has the same advantages as the container system described above and differs only in that instead of a separate insert, the container itself is provided with an inclined or rounded transition between the side wall and the bottom.

Similar to use, the radius of the rounded transition or the dimension of the inclined transition (cathete) can be greater than or equal to 5 mm, preferably greater than or equal to 10 mm, in particular greater than or equal to 20 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the radius of the rounded transition or the dimension of the inclined transition (cathete) can be less than or equal to 80 mm, preferably less than or equal to 60 mm, in particular less than or equal to 40 mm.

Brief description of the figures

An exemplary embodiment of the insert according to the invention and of the container system is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference symbols are assigned to the same elements.

• Fig. 1 ist eine Perspektivansicht eines Behälters mit einem in den Behälter eingesetzten Einsatz;
• Fig. 2 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht des Einsatzes von oben;
• Fig. 3 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht des Einsatzes von unten;
• Fig. 4 ist eine perspektivische Ansicht des Behälters und des Einsatzes, der in einem Zustand vor dem Einsetzen in den Behälter dargestellt ist;
• Fig. 5 ist eine perspektivische Schnittansicht entlang der Linie I-I und der Linie II-II aus Fig. 1 und zeigt den in den Behälter eingesetzten Einsatz;
• Fig. 6 ist eine Front-Schnittansicht entlang der Linie I-I und der Linie II-II aus Fig. 1 und zeigt den in den Behälter eingesetzten Einsatz und zwei durch den Einsatz angeordnete Pakete;
• Fig. 7 ist eine perspektivische Schnittansicht entlang der Linie I-I und der Linie II-II aus Fig. 1 und zeigt den in den Behälter eingesetzten Einsatz und zwei durch den Einsatz angeordnete Pakete;

The embodiments are only exemplary and the invention is not limited to them.

• Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container with an insert inserted into the container;
• Fig. 2 is a top perspective view of the insert;
• Fig. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the insert;
• Fig. 4 Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the container and the insert shown in a state before being inserted into the container;
• Fig. 5 is a perspective sectional view taken along the line II and the line II-II of Fig. 1 and shows the insert used in the container;
• Fig. 6 Fig. 12 is a front sectional view taken along the line II and the line II-II Fig. 1 and shows the insert inserted in the container and two packages arranged by the insert;
• Fig. 7 is a perspective sectional view taken along the line II and the line II-II of Fig. 1 and shows the insert inserted in the container and two packages arranged by the insert;

Description of an embodiment An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below based on the accompanying figures.

Fig. 1 shows an insert 1, which is inserted into a container 2 and is designed here in the form of a frame. However, it is also possible for the insert to be in the form of a plurality of separate, in particular four, parts which can be joined together to form a frame. The container 2 has a rectangular bottom 4 and four of which vertically projecting side walls 6, which form a peripheral side wall of the container 2. The side wall includes a container interior together with the bottom 4. In the example shown, the insert 1 rests with its underside 8 on the bottom 4 and with its outside 10, which is here in each case parallel to the side walls 6, it lies against the inside of the side wall. On the outside, the side wall has reinforcing ribs 12 for reinforcing them. The reinforcing ribs span the outer surface of the container 2 and divide this outer surface into segments.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the frame 1 from above. In this exemplary embodiment, the frame is designed in such a way that its main side / sloping side 14 is bevelled. However, it is equally conceivable that its main side 14 is rounded inwards (concave) or outwards (convex).

It can be seen that the frame 1 has a plurality of projections or guide lugs 16 on its four outer sides 10, which forms a first guide device. The guide lugs 16 are spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance and are attached to the outside 10 of the frame 1 in such a way that they are flush with an upper edge 18 of the frame 1. The guide lugs 16 have a T-profile. The outside of the guide lugs 16 is parallel to the outside 10 of the frame 1. On the lower edges of the outside 10 and the inclined side 14 of the frame 1 there are a plurality of (trapezoidal) projections 20 which are present in the same number as the guide lugs 16 and are each at the same height and are therefore spaced apart from one another by the same distance as the guide lugs 16. The projections 20 thus continue the lower edges of the outside 10 and the inclined side 14 of the frame 1.

Fig. 3 shows the frame 1 in a perspective view from below. It can be seen that the frame 1 is hollow on its underside or on the side facing the floor 4 in the inserted state and has a multiplicity of reinforcing ribs 22 between the inside of the outside 10 and the inclined side 14. The reinforcing ribs 22 have on the underside or the side facing the bottom 4 in the inserted state has a double-T shape and form the projections 20. Each reinforcing rib 22 projects beyond the lower edges of the outside 10 and the inclined side 14 of the insert. The reinforcing ribs 22 are spaced apart from one another by the same distance as the guide lugs 16. It can be seen that the four corners 24 of the frame 1 are further reinforced via reinforcing elements 26 in order to increase the stability of the frame 1.

Fig. 4 shows the container 2 and the frame 1, which is shown in such a position above the container 2 that it can be inserted into the container 2 by a vertical or vertical movement towards the container 2. It can be seen that the guide lugs 16 lie on a vertical straight line with the guide grooves 28 of the container 2, which form the second guide device. The guide grooves 28 are spaced apart from one another by the same distance as the guide lugs 16. The guide grooves 28 are provided so that the guide lugs 16 engage in the guide grooves 28 when the frame 1 is inserted into the container 2 and therefore have a T-profile which is complementary to the T-profile of the guide lugs 16. The guide grooves 28 are continuous and thus form an opening from the interior of the container to the outside of the container 2. The guide grooves 28 are also offset inward from the outer surface of the container 2.

At least two guide grooves 28 are arranged between the reinforcing ribs 12 on the longitudinal side of the container 2, and there is a guide groove 28 between two reinforcing ribs 12 on the transverse side of the container 2. The guide grooves 28 extend from the upper edge of the side wall of the container 2 to one Stop 30 vertically in the direction of the floor. In the inserted state, the underside of the guide lugs 16 bears against the stops 30 of the guide grooves 28. The distance between the floor 4 and the stop 30 is selected such that the lower edges of the frame 1 (in the area between two engagement ribs 22) rest on the floor 4. If the frame 1 is in the state inserted into the container 2, the interaction of guide lugs 16 and guide grooves 28 prevents the frame 1 from slipping and shifting relative to the base 4 and to the side wall.

In the inserted state, the projections 20 and the reinforcing ribs 22 also engage in engagement grooves 32 provided on the bottom, which form the second engagement device. The engagement grooves 32 are at the same distance from one another as the reinforcing ribs 22 and extend over the entire length or width of the base 4 and are aligned parallel to one another and to the side wall. So that the bottom 4 is divided into a plurality of mutually parallel quadrilaterals (rectangles). The interaction between projections 20 or reinforcing ribs 22 and the engaging grooves 32 further counteracts slipping and shifting of the frame 1 relative to the bottom 4 and side wall.

Fig. 5 shows the container 2 in a perspective sectional view. The triangular cross-sectional profile of the frame 1, which is inserted into the container 2, can be clearly seen. Furthermore, the guide lug 16 can be seen in the sectional profile, which abuts the stop 30 and at the same time engages in the guide groove 28. The reinforcing ribs 22 or the projections 20 engage in the engagement grooves 32.

Fig. 6 shows the container 2 in a front sectional view and Fig. 7 in a perspective sectional view. Here too, the frame 1 is in the state inserted into the container 2. A first lower package P1 lies flat on the container bottom 4. Because of the frame 1, it has slipped inwards away from the side wall. The packet P1 is thus spaced apart from the side wall so that it can be gripped and removed by a robot arm with a suction gripper.

If there is another, second packet P2 on the first packet P1 (as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7), it falls down after the first packet has been removed and is also moved or tilted inward via the incline of the insert, so that it is located essentially at the point at which the first packet P1 was located, ie with a sufficient distance from the side wall so that it can also be easily removed. The principle is described only by way of example using two packets P1, P2. In practice, the container is completely filled with parcels, so that after the parcels located further inside have been removed, the parcels located directly on the side wall slide inwards or overwards over the ramp / slope / rounding of the insert.

As in the embodiment described, the insert 1 can be inserted loosely into the container 2. Alternatively, however, it can also be clipped into it or otherwise connected to the container, for example welded to it. According to another alternative embodiment, the oblique or rounded transition between the side wall and the bottom is formed directly / integrally in the container.

List of reference numbers

1

Insert / frame

2nd

container

4th

Tank bottom

6

side walls

8th

Bottom of the insert

10th

Outside of the insert

12

Reinforcing ribs on the container

14

Main page / sloping side of the insert

16

Leadership of the mission

18th

Top edge of the insert

20th

head Start

22

Reinforcement rib on the insert

24th

Corner of the stake

26

Reinforcing element

28

Guide groove

30th

attack

32

Engaging groove

Claims (10)

Insert (1) for a container (2) with a bottom (4) and several thereof, in particular vertically, upwardly projecting side walls (6), which form a circumferential side wall and enclose a container interior, characterized in that
the insert (1) can be inserted into an inner edge region between the bottom (4) and a corresponding side wall (6) of the container (2) and is shaped such that it has an inclined or rounded transition from the side wall (6) to the bottom (4 ) trains. Insert (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the insert (1) is a closed, in particular rectangular, frame. Insert (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the insert (1) has a triangular cross-sectional profile, the outside (10) of the insert (1) in the inserted state being parallel to and resting against the side wall and the underside ( 8) of the insert (1) in the inserted state is parallel to the floor (4) and rests on the floor (4). Insert (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the insert (1) on its outside (10) has a first guide device which when inserting the insert (1) into the container (2) and in the inserted state cooperates with a second guide device which is complementary to the first guide device on an inside of the side wall. Insert (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the first guide device is in the form of one or more, in particular T-shaped or dovetail-shaped, guide lugs (16) which are arranged in the center or distributed over the entire extent of the insert (1) and are spaced apart from one another at a predetermined, in particular uniform, distance. Insert (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insert (1) has on its underside (8) a first engagement device in order to complement a second on the bottom (4) of the container (2) Interacting device to cooperate. Insert (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the first engagement device is designed in the form of a plurality of engagement ribs (22) which are arranged perpendicular to the insert (1) and are distributed over the entire extent of the insert (1) each extend over the entire underside (8) and which are spaced apart at a predetermined, in particular uniform, distance, which preferably corresponds to the distance between two guide lugs (16). Container system with: a container (2) with a bottom (4) and several thereof, in particular vertically, upwardly projecting side walls (6), which form a peripheral side wall and enclose a container interior; and an insert (1) according to one of the preceding claims. A container system according to claim 8, wherein
a second guide device in the form of a plurality of, in particular T-shaped or dovetail-shaped, guide grooves (28) is formed in the container (2), each extending from the upper edge of the side wall to the bottom (4), which extends over the entire side wall are distributed and spaced apart from one another by a distance corresponding to the guide lugs (16); and or
a second engagement device in the form of a plurality of engagement grooves (32) is formed in the container (2), which are spaced apart from one another by the same distance as the engagement ribs (22) and each extend over the entire width or the entire length of the base (4) extend. Containers (2) with a bottom (4) and several thereof, in particular vertically, upwardly projecting side walls (6), which form a peripheral side wall and enclose a container interior,
characterized in that
an inner edge region between the base (4) and a corresponding side wall (6) of the container (2) has a transition, in particular inclined or rounded by 45 °, from the side wall (6) to the base (4).

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