DE102005031526B4 - Shipping containers - Google Patents

Abstract

Transport container with a pallet base which has a supporting edge, the supporting edge and the pallet base being produced in a twin-sheet process from a deep-drawable plastic material and constructed in two shells from an inner skin and an outer skin, characterized in that a reinforcing frame (2) is provided in the pallet base (2). 14) is integrated, which extends into corner areas of the pallet floor (2), and that foot parts (6) are detachably attached to the corner areas of the pallet floor (2), which are dimensioned such that at least a portion of their base area corresponds to corner areas overlap the reinforcement frame (14).

Description

The invention relates to a transport container with a pallet base, which has a support edge, wherein the support edge and the pallet base are made in a twinsheet process from a thermoformable plastic material and constructed of two shells of an inner skin and an outer skin.

Such a transport container is from the US 5,829,595 A known. The transport container has a pallet base, a Faltwandungsring and a lid, which are each made in a twinsheet process of plastic. The pallet base designed as a twinsheet component is provided with several molded foot parts. On the pallet base, a circumferential support edge is formed, which serves to secure the Faltwandungsringes.

The US 5,722,328 A discloses a transport container with a pallet base, a Seitenwandungsring and a lid, wherein the pallet bottom according to an embodiment of 7 provided with detachable foot parts. In each case several foot parts are connected to each other via a rail.

From the US 2004/0112262 A1 a pallet construction is known which has an upper, made of plastic cover plate. The cover plate is supported by an underlying frame construction, which is constructed in multiple layers. A first, located below the cover plate frame rests on a box-shaped frame construction, are incorporated in the foot parts. Below this frame construction, a subframe is provided as the bottom part. The object of the invention is to provide a transport container of the type mentioned, which has a stable and durable pallet base.

This object is achieved in that in the pallet base, a reinforcing frame is integrated, which extends into corner regions of the pallet base, and that foot parts are releasably secured to the corner regions of the pallet base, which are dimensioned such that they correspond at least to a portion of their base Overlap corner areas of the reinforcement frame. The integration of the reinforcement frame into the pallet floor further enhances the floor surface of the pallet floor. The detachable arrangement of the foot parts advantageously allows for damaged foot parts, the simple replacement of these foot parts, without the entire pallet base must be replaced.

In an embodiment of the invention, the reinforcing frame is constructed as a composite of dimensionally stable hollow profiles. The hollow profiles are preferably made of metal or fiber-reinforced plastic. The hollow profiles can be assembled by plugging together, by releasable or non-releasable fasteners or by material-locking connection means to the composite.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the hollow profiles made of steel and are welded together to the reinforcing frame. This is a particularly stable and durable embodiment.

In a further embodiment of the invention, groove-like or groove-like recesses are provided in an underside of the pallet base, which are tuned in their course and in their dimensions to a contour of the reinforcing frame, that the reinforcing frame is embedded flush in the mounted state in the wells. As a result, the reinforcing frame is positively integrated in the pallet base, so that there is a particularly advantageous stiffening of the pallet base, without the reinforcing frame protrudes beyond an outer contour of the pallet base.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the pallet base releasable foot parts, which are positioned relative to the recesses so that they secure the embedded reinforcing frame form-fitting manner in the assembled state. As a result, separate securing or fastening means for the reinforcing frame are avoided. Preferably, the foot parts engage over the reinforcement frame at its corner regions.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the claims. Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described and illustrated with reference to the drawings.

1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a transport container according to the invention,

2 the transport container 1 in vertical longitudinal section,

3 in an enlarged view of the section III of the transport container after 2 .

4 in an enlarged, perspective view of a pallet floor of the transport container after 1 , seen from below,

5 the pallet bottom of the transport container after the 1 to 4 omitting the support feet,

5 in an enlarged view the section VI of the pallet floor after 5 .

7 in a perspective view of the pallet floor 5 .

8th in perspective the transport container after 1 omitting the Faltwandungsringes,

9 a sectional view of the transport container after 8th .

10 similar in a sectional view 2 the Faltwandungsring for the transport container after 2 .

11 in an enlarged view of the cutout XI of Faltwandungsringes after 10 and

12 in perspective view the Faltwandungsring after 10 in an upright functional condition.

A transport container 1 after the 1 to 12 has a pallet floor 2 , a folding wall ring 3 and a pallet lid 4 on. All three components are made of thermoformable plastic materials in so-called twinsheet process and are thus each clamshell executed by an inner skin and by an outer skin. The inner skin and the outer skin are welded together at suitable areas, so that the corresponding dimensionally stable sections, film hinges, stiffening ribs, Aus- and indentations and the like arise. The folding wall ring 3 and the pallet lid 4 are each designed as one-piece components. The pallet floor 2 is designed in several parts, as will be explained in more detail below.

The pallet stalls 2 on the one hand four support feet also made of corresponding plastic materials by the twinsheet method 6 on, which are fastened by means of releasable fastening means such as in particular screw with a bottom of the pallet base to corresponding preformed receiving portions of the corner regions of the pallet base.

The pallet floor 2 has a substantially planar base plate on all sides of a perpendicular to a base surface of the base plate projecting upstanding support edge 8th is surrounded. The base plate has a rectangular shape in the illustrated embodiment. On all longitudinal sides of the base plate, a support edge portion is provided as the side part, which extends over the entire length of the respective longitudinal side. Each support edge portion is by means of a film hinge 16 ( 5 and 6 ) in one piece on the respective longitudinal edge of the base plate of the pallet base 2 formed. The preparation of the support edge portions together with the base plate in a corresponding Twinsheetverfahren by means of a tool in which the support edge portions are aligned with a surface of the base plate horizontally outward. The upright to the base plate erecting the support edge portions is carried out after completion of the pallet base, in which the support edge portions are pivoted about the hinge formed by the respective hinge hinge up until the mutually adjacent side edges of each support edge portion are aligned adjacent to each other. By positive, non-positive or material-locking fastening means, which according to the present embodiment ( 7 ) as fastening screws 15 are executed, the support edge portions are connected together in the region of their adjacent side edges, so that the circumferential support edge 8th results.

In a particularly preferred, but not shown in detail embodiment, the support edge portions of the support edge 8th welded together in the area of their abutting side edges, so that over the entire height of the support edge 8th in the respective corner regions, at which the support edge portions abut each other, results in a continuous cohesive connection. As a result, a particularly good rigidity of the support edge is achieved by the permanent and continuous connection of the support edge 8th with the base plate through the film hinges 16 Overall, a high rigidity of the pallet base 2 leads.

As based on the 4 is visible in a bottom of the pallet floor 2 a reinforcing frame 14 integrated. These are in the bottom of the pallet floor 2 , Namely, in the bottom of the base plate, groove-like recesses are provided, which are dimensioned such that the reinforcing frame 14 can be inserted flush in the groove-like depressions. The reinforcement frame 14 consists of metal profiles, preferably of steel profiles, which are connected to the frame construction in particular by welding together. The reinforcement frame 14 extends into the corner areas of the pallet floor 2 , The reinforcement frame 14 gets through the support feet 6 positively in the groove-like depressions of the bottom of the pallet base 2 held. These are the detachable support feet 6 dimensioned such that they at least with a portion of their Base corner areas of the reinforcement frame 14 as shown 4 spread. The support feet 6 are detachable with fixing screws to the pallet bottom 2 connected. Preferably, corresponding threaded nuts made of metal are integrated between the inner and outer shell of the pallet base, so that a secure attachment of the support legs 6 is guaranteed and in particular a tearing of the internal thread in the range of the pallet base 2 reliably prevented.

As based on the 2 and 3 is recognizable, the Faltwandungsring 3 in the raised support edge 8th of the pallet floor 2 used. when inserted, the Faltwandungsring 3 with the help of locking devices 11 in his in the pallet floor 2 secured state inserted. The locking devices 11 have manually operable slide, which in corresponding receiving slots of a lower edge 7 of the folding wall ring 3 intervention. The receiving slots are shown in the figures, but not specified.

The folding wall ring 3 is also bivalve produced in a Twinsheetverfahren of a plastic inner skin and a plastic outer skin, wherein the Faltwandungsring 3 is produced in a corresponding twinsheet tool not in an annular state, but rather in quasi unwound, flat state. In the production of corresponding corner regions of the Faltwandungsringes 3 Created film hinges along which the individual wall sections of the Faltwandungsringes 3 can be kinked. The open end faces that are open after production are overlapped with one another when the ring is set up in its rectangular cross-sectional contour and in the overlapping region over the entire height of the folding wall ring 3 firmly connected. Based on 1 it can be seen that the connection in the overlapping area is made by riveting. But it is also possible to weld the overlapping faces over their height together or to connect in a different way. The folding wall ring 3 not only has film hinges in its corner areas, but also in intermediate areas, around a folding of the Faltwandungsringes 3 to allow for a flat folding component, that within the through the support edge 8th bounded receiving volume of the pallet base 2 can be accommodated. In addition, in the Faltwandungsring 3 provided corresponding free cuts to create flap or door sections, which also in the erected functional state of the Faltwandungsringes 3 an accessibility to the interior of the transport container 1 enable. The corresponding flap or door sections 5 are preferably on a vertical or horizontal longitudinal side by means of a corresponding film hinge with the remaining Faltwandungsring 3 connected.

The transport container 1 is also with a pallet lid 4 provided, which is also designed clam shell by an inner skin and an outer skin, which are joined together in a two-sheet method of suitably deep-drawing plastic materials to the one-piece component materially. The pallet lid 4 is in the erected functional state of the folding wall ring 3 from above on this attachable, as based on the 2 is recognizable. The pallet lid 4 is provided with a peripheral edge on an upper edge profiling 10 of the folding wall ring 3 can be placed flush. Also in the upper edge area 10 of the folding wall ring 3 are corresponding receiving slots provided for a positive securing the pallet cover 4 on the folding wall ring 3 serve. These are also in the pallet cover 4 corresponding locking devices 11 provided, which is analogous to the locking devices 11 of the pallet floor 2 are designed as manually operable locking slide. The locking slides are in corresponding recesses of the pallet cover 4 inserted and displaceable in the pallet lid 4 stored.

To prevent by inserting the Faltwandungsringes 3 in the support rim 8th the usable internal volume of the transport container 1 is appreciably affected, is the Faltwandungsring 3 in a lower plug-in area 7 opposite to its other wall areas 9 thin-walled. The wall thickness of the lower plug-in area 7 is slightly less than half the wall thickness of the thick-walled wall area 9 ( 3 ), in each case in the section of Faltwandungsringes 3 seen. An inner contour of the Faltwandungsringes 3 is from a lower edge of the plug-in area 7 up to an upper edge of the Faltwandungsringes 3 designed in a straight line, so that the usable internal volume of the Faltwandungsringes 3 in its erected and in the support edge 8th inserted state does not change over its entire height. The transition of the thin-walled plug-in area 7 to the thick-walled wall area 9 via a stepped shoulder 13 that of the inner contour of the Faltwandungsringes 3 is directed away to the outside and at least substantially extends at right angles to the outside. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided, the stepped shoulder 13 relative to the mating area 7 to be oriented at an acute angle, which is preferably slightly smaller than 90 °. As a result, a Zentrierungsmöglichkeit the Faltwandungsringes 3 relative to the support rim 8th of the pallet floor 2 achieved. The support edge 8th has at its upper edge region a thin-walled, web-like edge profiling 12 on top of that through the stepped heel 13 formed inner edge can dip at least slightly and so the centering and securing the Faltwandungsringes 3 relative to the support rim 8th allows. The edge profiling 12 the support edge 8th is also chosen so that as an alternative to the placement of the Faltwandungsringes 3 also the pallet lid 4 with its corresponding peripheral edge directly on this edge profiling 12 can be put on. This makes it possible to the pallet cover 4 omitting the Faltwandungsringes 3 directly on the pallet floor 2 sit up. This variant is advantageous if the transport container 1 must be transported in an empty state to save space. For this purpose, the Faltwandungsring in a simple manner 3 folded and inside the support edge 8th be filed. By placing the pallet cover 4 becomes the support edge 8th covered and the folded folding wall ring 3 inside the pallet floor 2 secured.

The edge profiling 12 jumps from the wall section 9 in the same way by means of a stepped paragraph back, as in the lower plug-in area 7 the Faltwandungsringes is the case. As a result, the pallet cover with its outer contour flush and in alignment with the upper edge region of the Faltwandungsringes 3 be aufgegesezt without the pallet cover 7 beyond the outer contour of the Faltwandungsringes protrudes to the outside. The same applies to placing the pallet cover 4 on the support rim 8th of the pallet floor 2 ,

The pallet lid 4 is provided with pile profiling on its top to ensure safe stacking of another pallet base 2 to enable. Also the edge profiling 12 the support edge 8th can be provided with receiving slots to the positive securing the pallet cover 4 directly on the support rim 8th of the pallet floor 2 by means of appropriate locking devices 11 to enable.

Also the folding wall ring 3 has in the region of its upper edge a circumferential, thin-walled edge profiling 10 which is dimensioned such that they with respect to their outer dimensions and outer contour of the edge profiling 12 the support edge 8th equivalent. This allows the pallet lid 4 alternatively to the placement on the support edge 8th also in the erected state of the Faltwandungsringes 3 on the Faltwandungsring 3 be put on. The peripheral edge of the pallet lid 4 is with the reference numeral 17 Mistake.

Claims (5)

Transport container with a pallet base, which has a support edge, wherein the support edge and the pallet base are made in a twinsheet process of a thermoformable plastic material and bivalves of an inner skin and an outer skin, characterized in that in the pallet floor ( 2 ) a reinforcing frame ( 14 ), which extends into corner areas of the pallet floor ( 2 ) and that foot parts ( 6 ) at the corners of the pallet floor ( 2 ) are detachably mounted, which are dimensioned such that they at least with a portion of its base corresponding corner regions of the reinforcing frame ( 14 ). Transport container according to claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcing frame ( 14 ) is constructed as a composite of dimensionally stable hollow profiles. Transport container according to claim 2, characterized in that the hollow profiles are made of steel and to the reinforcing frame ( 14 ) are welded together. Transport container according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that in an underside of the pallet base ( 2 ) groove-like or depressions are provided, which in their course and their dimensions in such a manner to a contour of the reinforcing frame ( 14 ) that the reinforcing frame ( 14 ) is embedded flush in the recesses in the assembled state. Transport container according to claim 4, characterized in that the foot parts ( 6 ) are positioned relative to the recesses in such a way that, when assembled, they enclose the embedded reinforcement frame (FIG. 14 ) secure in a form-fitting manner.

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