AU607695B2 - Stacking system - Google Patents

Description

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A. TATLOCK ASSOCIATES To: The Commissioner of Patents 4 1.

ii: y-p C if g o 0 C o o o 0 0 o o o CCo o0 o t 0C CI I 0 04 o0 o a 6 ti This invention relates to a stacking system and in particular to a stacking system for product loaded pallets.

The invention also relates to support members which are used to form the stacking system of the invention.

Conventionally, goods are stored or transported on pallets designed to be lifted and transported by a fork lift truck.

In many cases, it is required to stack loaded pallets one upon another for transport.

A problem currently encountered in the transportation of goods is that the 10 packaging used for many goods, for example milk products, fruit and vegetable juices, is a relatively weak material, for example cardboard, which although cost effective and satisfactory for containment of the goods, is not suitable for supporting any significant weight. Accordingly, when it is desired to stack one loaded pallet upon another, it is necessary to 15 provide some means by which the upper loaded pallets are supported.

A particular problem occurs when the goods are transported, for example by rail or road, in cargo or freight containers. Even though the upper pallets may be supported above the container one or more ot the supported goods may rupture and release its contents on to the remaining goods.

Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a means by which the stacked goods are stabilized against movement and vibration, particularly goods stacked on the lowest pallets in the stack.

Conventionally, freight or cargo containers are of a width and height sufficient to accommodate pallets two high and two wide. Although there

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:1 i ii Biga/57/March87 Note: No legalization or other witness required To: The Commissioner of Patents P18/7/78 PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys 367 Collins Street Melbourne, Australia i' lli-LC -d a is a small amount of extra clearance this is minimised so as to limit the amount of possible movement during transport.

One current method of stacking loaded pallets in freight containers is to provide the container with horizontal supports extending across the width of the container so as to support the upper pallets.

410 4 4 4 4 4 1 00 10 #494 *r 4 a0 o 44 This method has a number of disadvantages, for example, the supports occupy storage volume thus decreasing the amount of goods stacked on the pallets. Furthermore, expensive modification of the container body is required. Another disadvantage is that the weight of the upper pallets is supported by the sides of the container rather than by the floor, the latter being more preferable.

Another problem is that the pallets and the goods supported thereon, can move during transit increasing the possibility of damage to the goods.

9 ft S 4 4 44 9 44 4 9 It is an object of the invention to provide a stacking system which mitigates the problems referred to above.

In order to achieve this object, the present invention provides a stacking corner rests upon a horizontal base plate to which is fixed the o r end of a rigid vertical elongated member of length at least e to the combined height of the pallet and load and fixed at the er end to a horizontal head plate, and wherein the base plate cluded in each upper layer of loaded pallets rest upon the head ates of the layer immediately below.

Practical mples illustrating systems and support members according to th1=ntintin ^llnoCr bed 04th

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-3- Biga/57/March87 system for stacking loaded pallets in layers, wherein each pallet at each respective corner rests upon a respective horizontal base plate, each of said base plates being fixed to the lower ends of rigid vertical elongated members of length at least equal to the combined height of the pallet and load and to which horizontal head plates are fixed at the respective upper ends of each vertical elongated member wherein the pallets or the base plates included in each upper layer of loaded pallets rests upon the head plates of the n layer immediately below.

for use in such a stacking system comprising a ight, :rigid elongated member comprising two mutual perpendicular webs each of which is adapted to a omodate a respective side of a pallet adjacent a y one of its corners, said elongated member being ength equal to the combined height of a pallet andvad and having fixed at each end at right angles he longitudinal direction of the member a flat i WC 3a r N C' UU- i o ii G I oi t S* I t o a o 0 on o a 4 I I (00 6 01 OO1 1 t t accompanying drawings.

In these drawings: Fig. I is a perspective view of pallets loaded with cartons and stacked according to the system of the present invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation in the direction of the arrow 2 in Fig. 1; and Fig.3 is a cross sectional plan on the line 3-3 of Fig.2.

Referring now to the drawings, four pallets loaded with cartons are grouped together at ground level, the pallets 10, 11 and 12 only being visible in Fig.

1. A further pallet 13 is stacked above these four pallets.

10 At the external corners of the ground layer of the stack, corner load bearing supports 15, 16 and 17 are positioned. Load bearing supports 18, 19 and 34 of different construction are located between the pallets at the side of the stack, and a further load bearing support 20 of yet different construction at the centre of the stack.

In the upper layer of the stack, similar loac' .earing supports are employed. The supports 21 and 22 are of the same instruction as supports 18,19 and 34, and the support 23 is of the same construction as support 20.

The support at the external corner of pallet 13, which is not visible in the drawings, is of the same construction as supports 15, 16 and 17.

The supports 15, 16 and 17 comprise an angle girder 24 of a length equal to the height of the pallet with the cartons loaded on it, to each end of which a flat plate 25, 26 is joined at right angles. Fillets 27 connect the plates to the girders in the vicinity of the joins.

ii 4 I Biga/57/March87 ;i*nu U The supports 18, 19, 21, 22 and 34 each comprise a girder 28 of cross section and of a length equal to the height of the pallet and its load, to each end of which a flat plate 29, 30 is joined at right angles. Fillets 31 connect the central arm of the to the plates.

The supports 20 and 23 comprise a girder 32 of cross section and of a length equal to the height of the pallet with its load, to each end of which a flat plate 33, 34 is joined at right angles.

4t *r 4 8 04e 0 04 0 15 44 1 A typical length for the girders 24, 28, 32 is 112 cm.

In use, referring for example to pallet 10, the pallet with the cartons stacked on it is raised slightly from the floor, and the support members 18, 20 and 34 are pressed against the pallets at the corner so that the girders extend around the corners of the pallet and load for a short distance, and the plates25, 26, 29, 30, 33 and 34 extend over the top and bottom of the load in the vicinity of the corners. The pallet is then lowered to rest on the plates 26, 30 and 34. The support members are thereby held firmly in position.

Loaded pallet 11 is then brought into position alongside pallet 10, and pressed into engagement with the support members 18 and 20. The support members 16 and 19 are pressed against the uncovered corners, and pallet 11 is lowered. The remaining two pallets of the lower group and the relating support members are positioned in a similar manner, with the result that the group is compactly stacked, with the plates 25, 29 and 33 above the top level of the loads.

To stack the next layer, the loaded pallet 13 is raised above the corresponding pallet of the lower layer, the support members 21, 22, 23 and Biga/57/March87 i ii 4Y-7the corner support member identical with members 15, 16 and 17, are fitted around the corners of the pallet and its load, and the pallet 13 is lowered to bring the plates 26, 30 and 34 to rest on the plates 25,29 and 33 respectively of the support members included in the lower layer of the stack. Further pallets can be stacked above the load on pallet 10 in a similar manner, and the second layer of the stack can be completed in the same manner as the lower layer, care being taken to ensure that all the bottom plates rest upon the upper plates of the lower layer.

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*1 10 a 4* 0 4*043 43 o 6443 4, E aI 4( 4344 As the weight of the second and higher layers is transmitted through the plates to the girders 24, 28 and 32, the load is protected against crushing by the pallet above it. Furthermore, the pallets are firmly held in position, resulting in a stable stack.

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Claims (3)

1. A stacking system for stacking loaded pallets in layers, wherein each pallet at each respective corner rests upon a respective horizontal base plate, each of said base plates being fixed to the lower ends of rigid vertical elongated members of length at least equal to the combined height of the pallet and load and to which horizontal head plates are fixed at the respective upper ends of each vertical elongated member wherein the pallets or the base plates included in each upper layer of loaded pallets rests upon the head plates of the layer immediately below.

2. A stacking system according to Claim 1, wherein ""'adjacent corners of adjacent pallets rest upon a common base e o* plate.

3. A stacking system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongated member comprises two mutually perpendicular .:webs each of which accommodate a respective side of the Spallet adjacent the corner to thereby fit closely around the corner. S4. A zupport member fer 1uc-- a otcking system accrd'ng. S' ''to claim 1, comprising a straight, rigid elongated mber comprising two mutually perpendicular webs eac f which is adapted to accommodate a respective side a pallet adjacent any one of its corners, said elong d member being of length equal to the combined heighft a pallet and load and having fixed at each end right angles to the longitudinal direction of t member a flat plate. A upport member according to claim 4, wherein the P b f if tu- 7 z RA 1. -WC 7 A stacking system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. V12 t t v U I ;t It tj IZA& ow:e I I fgb DATED: 3 December, 1990 'PHILLIPS ORMONDE FITZPATRICK Attorneys for: :Off( BIGA NOMINEES PTY. LTD. D C* Ci CC'. CC 4o C C S CC C 'IC Co C 'I I 'S I. C 4 1 ii If -8